The Collie Visitor Centre and the Collie community have expressed support for the continued use of the Runaway Bus service.
Collie Visitor Centre manager Fran Kenneally said the Runaway Bus provides a convenient and unique experience.
“It’s a nice idea in the Summer because from Collie generally with the bus services it is extremely difficult to just do a day trip to Busselton or Dunsborough as it only allows you about an hour there, so this way people can have most of the day in one of those towns,” she said.
“It’s just a convenient way to get to some of the coastal locations if you don’t have public transport.”
Mrs Kenneally said the service had been well received over the past few years.
She said the service suited people in town looking for options to entertain kids during the school holidays.
She said the bus gives travellers four hours at Smiths Beach in Yallingup before making the return leg.
Mrs Kenneally said more transport services could be developed between different towns across the South West.
“We get asked for that a lot, we’re lucky at least that we do have a service to Bunbury five days a week but we certainly lack something on the weekends,” she said.
Mrs Kenneally said there was a need for a transport service from Collie to and from Australind train station on the weekends.
She said the withdrawal of the service made it difficult for Collie residents to travel throughout WA.
Runaway Bus traveller Robert Brown said the bus provided an important service for people in Collie, creating easier access to other areas of the south west.
Running throughout the school holidays, the bus picks Collie citizens up from the Collie Visitor Centre at 7.30am.
The bus then travels to towns including Bunbury, Manjimup, Balingup, and Yallingup before returning to Collie at 5.30pm.
South West Coach Lines’ Runaway Bus runs from Monday to Friday in January.
The Runaway Bus service has been provided for families, adults, teenagers and holiday makers.
