Residents of Dubbo and Mudgee will now be able to try out same day return-trips between the two locations as part of an expansion of the state government's commitment to deliver coaching services in rural areas.
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Member for Dubbo Dugald Saunders said the expansion came after positive results from earlier trials with other services.
"Feedback from the existing service has been incredibly positive so we worked with the provider, Ogden's Coaches, to provide an additional service in the opposite direction," Mr Saunders said.
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"This is a real boost for the local communities in and around Ballimore, Spicers Creek, Gooma and Gulgong who will have access to two coach services for the first time."
The Ogden supplied coaches use an 'on-demand' application in order to ensure that the trips are as efficient as possible, with no empty services and unnecessary stops eliminated, by having people pre-book their trip and travel route either online at the Ogden Coaches website, or over the phone at 02 6372 2489.
"In many ways this new On Demand service is like designing your own journey, with customers able to pre-book destinations including Orana Mall, Dubbo Railway Station, Dubbo Base Hospital and the TAFE. Special locations will also be considered on request," Mr Saunders said.
Travellers would have to book their place on the service between one day prior and four weeks prior to the date of the trip.
Mr Saunders said that the expansion of the service, as part of the government's pledged thirteen new coach services that would service 44 isolated rural and regional communities.
"This means locals will now have more choice when it comes to visiting friends and families in nearby towns, or attending appointments as they can now choose to take a day trip to either Mudgee or Dubbo, or instead stay a few nights by returning home on the next service."
The expansion of the bus route comes following a prior trial early last year, which connected Mudgee to Dubbo by way of Gulgong as well as many more communities across the Central West.
"It will also build upon the existing pilot that was introduced in April 2019, which connects customers between Mudgee and Dubbo, via Gulgong."
The service departing Dubbo began on Wednesday, February 13 and will proceed every Wednesday for the next six months as part of the introductory trial period.
A further six month period will run following that depending on how successfully the trial performs and how high consumer demand is.
The service from Dubbo to Mudgee will run Wednesday, departing at 7:30am and arriving in Mudgee at 10am, depending on the trip and contingent on road conditions and bookings.
Returning, the service will leave Mudgee at 3:00pm, and arrive home at around 5:35pm.
Trips coming to Dubbo from Mudgee are expected to run on Tuesdays and Fridays, leaving and returning at the same times.