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Newcastle Herald
Newcastle Herald
National

Free transport as large Anzac crowds expected

COMMEMORATION: The Nobbys dawn service is expected to be popular again.

Free bus, ferry, light rail and park and ride services will run from 3.30am on Anzac Day to cope with huge crowds expected at the city's first public dawn service in three years.

Up to 50,000 people are anticipated at the Nobbys dawn service, and organisers are urging people to consider public transport with roads set to close for commemorative events.

Public transport is free until April 26, however travellers still must tap on and off.

The light rail will run every 7.5 minutes and ferry services every 20 minutes from 3.30am. There will be more bus services on routes 11, 13, 14 and 23 from 3.20am.

A park and ride bus will run from McDonald Jones Stadium to Queens Wharf from 3.30am to 12pm.

"With a number of road closures to accommodate the dawn service and the march later in the morning, Novocastrians are best to leave the car at home and take advantage of the free travel, park and ride and extra public transport services to get to and from the CBD," Keolis Downer Hunter general manager Emmanuel Genlot said.

A further incentive to catch public transport is the return of double demerits, for what will be a second consecutive long weekend.

The additional penalties apply from 12.01am Friday until 11.59pm Monday.

Throughout the five-day Easter operation, seven lives were lost on NSW roads, more than 186,000 random breath tests were conducted, and 320 people charged with drink driving.

During double demerit periods, points apply for offences such as speeding, illegal use of mobile phones, not wearing a seat belt and riding without a motorcycle helmet.

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