newy.com.au – Lake Macquarie residents will gain 20 extra trips under Newcastle Transport timetable changes taking effect on Sunday 11 October, when bus, light rail and school service schedules will also be adjusted.
Keolis Hunter general manager Arsene Durand-Raucher said the changes were intended to improve reliability and would include longer weekday operating hours for Lake Macquarie residents.
“We are also making it easier for Lake Macquarie residents to get home on weekdays, with operating hours extended until 7pm.”
“While most trips have been adjusted by only a few minutes, we encourage everyone to check their trip to see if the changes affect you.”
Some morning bus services will leave earlier. Students and parents are being urged to check whether their usual journeys will be affected, particularly those preparing for HSC exams.
Newcastle Transport said schools using its dedicated school services had been notified before the school holidays. A summary of school service changes is available on the Newcastle Transport website.
The timetable changes come after the NSW Government extended Keolis Newcastle Transport’s operating contract until mid-2028. The agreement covers buses, ferries and light rail. Transport for NSW said the extension would allow more time to develop future service arrangements and align Newcastle’s agreement with other passenger service contracts across the state.
Passengers can check their journeys using Trip Planner before the new schedules take effect. Further details are available on Newcastle Transport’s timetable changes page.
New Lake Macquarie weekday bus services
The new timetable takes effect on Sunday 11 October 2026. These four additional trips run Monday to Friday, starting Monday 12 October, providing 20 extra trips over a normal five-day working week. Public holidays use the Sunday and public holiday timetable.
| Route | From | Departs | To | Arrives |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 41 | Charlestown, Pearson Street Stand B | 6.52pm | Belmont, Glover Street opposite Church Street | 7.42pm |
| 43 | Charlestown, Pearson Street Stand B | 7.00pm | Belmont, Glover Street opposite Church Street | 7.33pm |
| 48 | Warners Bay, John Street near Lake Street | 5.30pm | Belmont, Glover Street opposite Church Street | 6.35pm |
| 48 | Belmont, Lake Macquarie Retirement Village, Gibson Street | 6.50pm | Warners Bay, John Street near Lake Street | 7.51pm |
Route 41: Charlestown to Belmont
| Timetable timing point | Time |
|---|---|
| Charlestown: Pearson Street Stand B | 6.52pm |
| Mount Hutton: Wilsons Road opposite Lake Macquarie Square | 7.06pm |
| Eleebana: Wyndham Way before Tingira Drive | 7.13pm |
| Valentine: Berringar Road near Allambee Place | 7.23pm |
| Belmont Hospital: Green Point Drive | 7.32pm |
| Belmont: Ross Street before Evans Street | 7.36pm |
| Belmont: Pacific Highway opposite Macquarie Street | 7.39pm |
| Belmont: Glover Street opposite Church Street | 7.42pm |
Route 43: Charlestown to Belmont
| Timetable timing point | Time |
|---|---|
| Charlestown: Pearson Street Stand B | 7.00pm |
| Mount Hutton: Lake Macquarie Square, Wilsons Road | 7.12pm |
| Tingira Heights: Violet Town Road opposite Regent Street | 7.19pm |
| Belmont: Pacific Highway opposite Macquarie Street | 7.30pm |
| Belmont: Glover Street opposite Church Street | 7.33pm |
Route 48: Warners Bay to Belmont
| Timetable timing point | Time |
|---|---|
| Warners Bay: John Street near Lake Street | 5.30pm |
| Charlestown: Pearson Street Stand A | 5.44pm |
| Whitebridge: Dudley Road Shops, Dudley Road | 5.57pm |
| Dudley: Ocean Street opposite Knoll Avenue | 6.02pm |
| Redhead: Cowlishaw Street near Woods Street | 6.08pm |
| Jewells: Ntaba Road opposite Dalrymple Parade | 6.19pm |
| Belmont North: Wommara Avenue after Pacific Highway | 6.26pm |
| Belmont: Pacific Highway opposite Macquarie Street | 6.32pm |
| Belmont: Glover Street opposite Church Street | 6.35pm |
Route 48: Belmont to Warners Bay
| Timetable timing point | Time |
|---|---|
| Belmont: Lake Macquarie Retirement Village, Gibson Street | 6.50pm |
| Belmont: Pacific Highway before Macquarie Street | 6.54pm |
| Jewells: Ntaba Road opposite Dalrymple Parade | 7.06pm |
| Redhead: Cowlishaw Street near Woods Street | 7.15pm |
| Dudley: Ocean Street opposite Knoll Avenue | 7.21pm |
| Whitebridge: Dudley Road Shops, Dudley Road | 7.26pm |
| Charlestown: Pearson Street Stand B | 7.36pm |
| Warners Bay: Bayview Street opposite Taylor Crescent | 7.46pm |
| Warners Bay: John Street near Lake Street | 7.51pm |
Another evening change: Route 48’s existing 6.05pm weekday departure from Warners Bay moves to 6.30pm and finishes at Belmont Bus Depot at 7.20pm. It does not continue to the Belmont town centre and is not included in the four additional trips above.
Times are scheduled and shown in NSW local time. These are the timing points published in the timetable; buses also serve other stops along each route. Check your nearest stop and live service information using Transport for NSW Trip Planner.
Sources: Newcastle Transport’s new timetable, valid from 11 October 2026, compared with its existing timetable. See also the timetable changes page.
