Premier Gladys Berejiklian said it was "joyful" to see public transport patronage increase, adding there were a number of new projects to cater to growing demand. The Rail, Tram and Bus Union says its members will refuse to staff the new Sydney intercity fleet. Credit:Anna Kucera "Please know that investment in transport is also increasing; when you look at the new metro system we're building; when you look at the road networks; the light rail here in Parramatta," she said. "Every time we embark on a public transport project, know that our intention is to provide more choices and options for people so that they can leave their cars at home and use a system which is efficient and modern and can be compared to any in the world." Transport Minister Andrew Constance also welcomed the higher-than-forecast figures.

"No one predicted the growth we have seen in Sydney. At no point in history has the city seen this kind of population boom," he said. "The exciting thing is the next stage of metro is just around the corner, which will really change the way people move around our city." University of Sydney senior transport lecturer Geoffrey Clifton said public transport users could continue to expect "a bit of a squeeze" until the metro lines were built. "We've squeezed almost as much as we can out of the current system. When you add more services in off-peak periods as we've been doing, it means any delays lead to services being affected," he said. Buses on routes in the inner west missed punctuality targets for 10 months last year, while trains on the North Shore line missed seven months.

Loading The target is for at least 92 per cent of peak-hour Sydney Trains to arrive at their destination within five minutes of the timetable, and for at least 95 per cent of bus services to be running on time. A Transport for NSW spokesman said it monitors the performance of all bus operators and works with them to improve services. "Region six in Sydney's inner west remains one of the most challenging regions for bus operations and service delivery with some of Sydney's busiest roads," he said. "The Sydney Train network continues to perform well, with peak punctuality at 91.9 per cent [so far this financial year], less than a percentage shy of the 92 per cent benchmark.