NSW Liberal Leader Peter Debnam and Shadow Minister for Transport Barry O'Farrell said today the number of State Transit buses travelling more than one million kilometres has jumped nearly 50 percent in the last two years.

According to data obtained by the NSW Liberal/Nationals, there are 272 buses - or 15 percent of the State Transit fleet that have travelled more than one million kilometres. This compares with just 185 buses in 2004 – an increase of 47 percent.

Another 100 buses have travelled more than 900,000 kilometres.

"Under State Transit's operating contract the average age of the bus fleet has to be under 12 years. According to the current annual report, the average age is 12.8 years, up from 12.2 in 2002/03," Mr Debnam said.

"The public have a right to know the detail of the Government's excuses on buses. Morris Iemma must tell the people of NSW today:

• The detail of the removal and stockpiling of old buses, including bus serial numbers and dates they will be removed from service
• The detailed schedule for delivery of new buses which will show how many are being delivered in this term of government, as opposed to promises a few months before the election

"The Government's most-travelled bus is number 2563, which has clocked up 1,378,341 kilometres – or the equivalent of two trips to the moon and back," he said.

A bus that has travelled a million kilometres has done:

• more than 34 trips around the world
• three one-way trips to the moon
• more than 31 return trips to New York

"Passengers expect a safe, reliable, clean service – and if they are travelling on buses that have been to the moon and back twice, it's no wonder public transport is the option of last resort.

"State Transit is in this mess because of Labor's 12 year failure to adequately invest in bus fleets and bus maintenance.

"The Iemma Labor Government only acts to fix serious transport problems when things reach crisis point."

Mr O'Farrell said these buses are still on Sydney streets carrying passengers today.

"The Government must tell passengers when they will be removed from service," Mr O'Farrell said.

"Over the past four years, the number of people using Sydney Buses has fallen from 195.4 million to 186.5 million - that's 8.9 million journeys thrown onto Sydney's grid-locked roads.

"The latest annual report makes it clear the State Transit fleet falls outside the State Government's own requirement for the age of buses which is 12 years old or less.

"In 1994/95 the average Sydney bus was 10.3 years old. Under Labor the average bus age has blown out to 12.8 years old in 2004/05.

"Sydney's bus commuters need more than election eve promises of better services in the future," he said.

Mr Debnam said Morris Iemma and his successive Transport Ministers Carl Scully Michael Costa and John Watkins have failed, as have their Labor colleagues Joe Tripodi, Frank Sartor, Eddie Obeid and John Della Bosca in their respective portfolios.

"NSW deserves higher standards, better services and balanced budgets," he said.