The Bus Safety Reform Strategy is designed to improve safety and service for Darwin and Palmerston commuters. Photo: Darwinbus.
The Northern Territory Government has announced revisions to the Darwin and Palmerston ‘Darwinbus’ bus services to improve safety and reliability for commuters.
On Wednesday 21 May Treasurer and Minister for Infrastructure and Logistics Bill Yan announced the Bus Safety Reform Strategy, a multi-stage plan to reduce anti-social behaviour in bus terminal areas, to improve safety, and to enhance service delivery for passengers and drivers.
“We want every Territorian to feel safe when they catch a bus,” Mr Yan said. “These reforms are about building a public transport system people can trust and use with confidence.”
Some of the reforms will include the closure of Casuarina interchange by October 2025, and staged closures of the Darwin and Palmerston interchanges. Mr Yan said these changes would reduce anti-social behaviour and support a more flexible, responsible network.
Other reforms include upgraded safety measures in the form of expanded CCTV at known hotspots, direct radio connections between drivers and police, and duress alarms on board buses.
A new and improved NT Bus Tracker App will also be launched in August to give passengers the ability to track their bus in real-time, receive arrival notifications, and assistance in planning journeys with walking and/or cycling times factored in.
The government has also committed to the continuation of free bus travel in Darwin and Alice Springs for an additional three months beyond 1 July in an effort to support the increased use of public transport.
“Since the introduction of free travel, the Transit Safety Unit and bus drivers have reported a decrease in anti-social behaviour on bus services,” Mr Yan said.
“New statistics confirm that our efforts to improve bus safety are delivering results with reported assaults on bus drivers down by 75 per cent.
“While this is a significant step forward, our work is far from over,” he added.
“Ongoing reforms will continue to strengthen safety measures and support all users of the public transport network.
“These are real changes that will make a real difference.
“By shutting down outdated interchanges, boosting surveillance, and improving real-time communications, we’re creating a network that’s safer and more reliable for everyone.”
In parallel with the reforms, Mr Yan said a full review of the Darwin and Palmerston bus network was underway, with a focus on reducing wait times, improving routes, and replacing some low-patronage late-night services with on-demand options.
“Whether you’re heading to school, work or home, this is about delivering a transport system that works better and responds to the needs of the community,” he said.
