People are slowly returning to public transport but patronage is still down between 60 and 80 per cent compared to this time last year.
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In a sign workers may be starting to return to the office, the number of passenger trips on the region's train lines and Newcastle's buses, ferries and trams all rose last month after being all but deserted during the height of the lockdown in April.
While more people used public transport compared to a month earlier, passenger numbers remain a far cry from what they usually are.
On the Central Coast and Newcastle train line, passenger numbers in May were 80 per cent down on the same period last year.
The line is the state's most used intercity service which thousands of workers usually use each day to commute between the coast and Sydney.
But only 381,387 trips were taken last month, down from more than 2 million in May last year. However, it was a slight rise on the 223,397 trips recorded this April.
On the Hunter train line, about 25,000 trips were taken in May - a quarter of the 99,000 last May but up from the 14,000 taken in April.
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About 50,000 more trips were taken on the Newcastle Transport bus network in May than in April with patronage rising to 159,213 last month. Those numbers were still 65 per cent down on the 452,236 trips taken last May.
Close to 20,000 passenger trips were taken on Newcastle light rail, up from 6068 in April but down 81 per cent on the 103,747 trips last May.
Patronage on the Newcastle-Stockton ferry was 69 per cent down with 15,131 trips taken in May compared to 48,871 a year earlier.
Transport for NSW had announced reduced capacity limits for all modes of public transport in May, but these were later referred to as a "guide" for passengers to adhere to, rather than limits that would be enforced.
Newcastle Transport staff were on Sunday telling ferry customers the 32-person capacity limit had been reached, but they could still board "at their own risk".
It was a similar scene on the trams where, despite signs advising "no dot, no spot" in reference to stickers on seats that encourage social distancing, the reduced capacity of 26 was seemingly ignored by passengers.
A TfNSW spokesperson said on Sunday "physical distancing measures on all modes of public transport will continue for the foreseeable future".
"It is encouraging to see customers are working flexibly where possible, travelling outside the peak, listening to advice around physical distancing and considering other travel options including driving, walking and cycling," the spokesperson said.
"All customers are encouraged to continue considering their travel options and employers should keep providing flexible working arrangements for their employees where possible."