Transport offers dedicated buses that run from local catchment areas directly to schools. However, not all schools have access to this service, so some students may need to catch public transport buses instead.
We monitor the network, looking for ways to improve bus journeys for primary and high school students to create a better-connected public transport experience. This includes additional services on key routes, more seats, timetable changes and route changes.
Planning your trip to and from school
Use Trip Planner to find school bus routes from A to B or see your travel options. (Refer to How to use the Trip Planner for more information.)
Tip: Make sure to use the Refine option and select School Bus as your Transport Mode to see school bus services.
You can also use the Trip Planner in the Opal Travel app.
How we plan school services
Transport aims to provide regular route services and/or school buses arriving between 30 and five minutes, before the morning bell and after the afternoon bell. Where this is not possible, we make every effort to adjust bus service times to match.
School bus services are based on:
- Opal card registration data
- Number of passengers
- School start and finish time
- Location of schools.
They are mainly provided for students who live too far to walk to their public primary or high school.
Subsidised travel to and from school
To find our whether your child is eligible for fee or subsidised travel, please visit School student travel.
More information
Visit Bus changes at Transport for more information about bus changes across NSW.
We encourage safe travel for all school students. Transport is responsible for:
- Student behaviour on buses.
- Developing and reviewing the Student Code of Conduct for students travelling on buses. This includes information for parents, carers and transport operators. This is done in consultation with schools, bus operators, parent groups and bus driver representatives.
- Promoting school bus safety education.
- Approving the location of bus stops with local councils.
- Installing or moving a bus stop with local council.
- the School Student Transport Scheme.
- Administrating contracts for school bus services.
- Changes to school bus routes or timetables.
- Authorisation and licensing of bus drivers.
- Accreditation of bus operators in NSW.
Private bus and coach operators in NSW
Private operators who provide school bus services in Sydney and across NSW are responsible for student behaviour on buses.
Find out more about Bus and coach operators in NSW.
Transport for NSW
Transport provides information for drivers and operators of buses and coaches. We are responsible for:
- authorisation and licensing of bus drivers
- accreditation of bus operators in NSW
For more information regarding safety around schools, visit Safety around schools.
Appointed school bus stops
Often called ‘fixed’ or ‘formal’ bus stops, appointed school bus stops are those regularly used by school children. Appointed school bus stops are mostly used for school buses, but are often also used for other route services.
The Guide to Appointed School Bus Stops (PDF 439.6KB) helps councils and our staff decide appropriate and consistent locations, features and layouts for appointed school bus stops in both urban and rural areas, and on roads managed by councils and Transport for NSW.
The guide does not provide regulations and requirements for bus stops situated at schools and school zones. These types of bus stops form part of a ‘school bus stop zone’ as described in NSW Road Rules 2008.
Informal school bus stops
There are thousands of informal school bus stops across NSW. Unlike public bus stops, there are no signs to indicate informal school bus stops.
Be Bus Aware – Informal bus stops
This video highlights the need to take extra care when driving along bus routes in rural and regional areas of NSW. Be aware of children and slow down to 40km/h when bus lights flash.
Advice for choosing locations of informal school bus stops (PDF 104.48KB) is available to help anyone involved in selecting or reviewing locations for informal school bus stops.
For government schools: Coordinated by Schools Infrastructure NSW (SINSW), who work directly with Transport and bus operators through established processes (including regular meetings before and up to 2 years after opening).
For non-government schools: We encourage early engagement with local council to ensure school design supports bus access and aligns with opening timeframes.
Local council will refer relevant development applications (DAs) to us for assessment. Additional information may be requested, or we may choose to support or oppose the proposal.
If we choose to support the proposal, the consent authority will be advised of any requirements (conditions, licences, additional approvals etc) through recommended conditions to include in their Development Consent Documentation.
If schools would like to engage with us prior to submitting their DA, please contact the Development Services team:
- Sydney region – development.sydney@transport.nsw.gov.au
- South region – development.south@transport.nsw.gov.au
- North region – development.north@transport.nsw.gov.au
- West region – development.west@transport.nsw.gov.au
Contact us
For more information contact Transport services.