Buswaysis an Australian bus company operating services inSydney,and in theCentral Coast,Mid North Coastregions ofNew South WalesandAdelaide.It is the largest privately owned bus operator in Australia.[2]
 | |
 ACustom CoachesbodiedVolvo B7RLEin July 2023 | |
| Parent | Rowe family |
|---|---|
| Commenced operation | 1942 |
| Headquarters | Pymble |
| Service area | Adelaide Sydney Central Coast Mid North Coast |
| Service type | Bus services |
| Depots | 20 |
| Fleet | 1332 (January 2025) |
| Managing Director | Byron Rowe[1] |
| Website | www |
History
edit
The origins of Busways can be traced to 1942 when Dick Rowe commenced a hire car service fromRooty HilltoPlumpton.In 1946 Rowe purchased his first bus and further expansion saw a depot established in Plumpton in 1958.[3][4]
In 1958, in partnership with Fred Bowman, Rowe purchasedParramatta-Villawood Bus Servicefollowed byCampbelltownTransit on 13 May 1967 in partnership with Roger Graham and Jim Newport. In 1970, Rowe had taken full ownership of Campbelltown Transit and in January 1978 sold out of Parramatta-Villawood.[3][4][5][6]
In 1984,RiverstoneBus Service was purchased and merged with Rowe's Bus Service. In June 1986 Higlett's Motor Coach Services,Camdenwas purchased and rebrandedMacarthurCoaches.[3][4][5][7]
In 1988, Campbelltown Transit, Macarthur Coaches and Rowe's Bus Service were all rebranded as Busways.[8]In February 1990 the Seargent's,Charmhavenbusiness on theCentral Coastwas purchased[9]followed in July 1994 by the neighbouring Peninsula Bus Lines business inKincumber,OurimbahandUmina.[3][10]
In June 1991, the Campbelltown toWollongongservice of Farmborough Coaches was acquired.[4]In November 1992 Busways took over operation of the routes of Leslies,Arndell Parkfollowing its collapse before purchasing them in May 1993.[4][11]
In September 2003, Busways purchased theGreat LakesandMid North Coastservices ofKing Brothersfrom its administrator.[12][13]In January 2008 the school services ofYarramalong Bus Lines,Wyongwere purchased[14]followed by those ofKulnuraBus Lines in July 2009.[15]
Between 2014 and 2015, Busways attempted to venture overseas by submitting a bid for theBulim Bus Packagein Singapore. It was among the 10 local and foreign bus operators who had submitted a bid for the tender. The bid was ultimately unsuccessful.[16][17]
In 2020, Busways was successful in expanding its bus operations outside of New South Wales, when it was awarded the contract to operate the Outer South bus network inAdelaide.Busways took over the operations fromSouthLinkin July that year.[2]
Current operations
editWestern Sydney services
edit
Since 2005, Busways' services in theBlacktownarea have formed part ofSydney Bus Region 1,held in partnership withWestbusandHawkesbury Valley Buses.Operating from a depot inGlendenning,scheduled route and school services cover an area encompassed bySeven HillsandCastle Hillin the east;Rouse HillandRiverstonein the north;ShalveyandSt Marysin the west;MinchinburyandProspectto the south.
The regional centres of Blacktown andMount Druittare a focus for all services, with trips also serving the employment centres ofEastern Creek,HuntingwoodandMacquarie Park.Bus/train connections are provided at a variety of railway stations. Busways also operates services along theNorth-West T-waybetween Blacktown and Rouse Hill.
In March 2007, the Parramatta - Rouse Hill section of theNorth-West T-wayopened. Bus routes 730 (renumbered T63) and 735 (renumbered 616, now 616X) were transferred from Busways toHillsbuswhile bus route 718 was transferred from Hillsbus to Busways.[18]In November 2007, the Blacktown - Parklea of the North-West T-way opened. Existing Busways bus routes were amended and renumbered to become new T-way routes (T70, T71, T74 and T75) and ran mainly along the new section.
In October 2013, Busways after winning the tender forSydney Bus Region 1,took over the operation of services in theSt Marys,Penrith,WindsorandRichmondareas fromHawkesbury Valley BusesandWestbus.[19][20]
In May 2019, as part of theSydney Metroopening, all Busways T-way services were renumbered from "T7x" to "73x", and the former Hawkesbury Valley Buses services (661-664) were renumbered to "67x" or "74x". Some services were also rerouted to stop atTallawong station.[21]
Between 2022 and 2023, the contract for region 1 was put out to tender and was subsequently retained by Busways. The new contract commenced in December 2023 for a period of seven years.[22]
Sydney North Shore & West services
edit
In July 2021, Busways was announced as the new operator forSydney Bus Region 7in theNorth Shore,NorthernandWesternregions of Sydney. Busways commenced operating Region 7 on 9 January 2022 as part of an eight-year contract, taking over fromState Transit.[23][24]
Central Coast services
editTheCentral Coasthas services provided under theOuter Metropolitan Bus System Contract Region 6.This contract with theNSW Governmentcovers a broad area that stretches fromPatongaandWagstaffein the south through toSwanseaandMorissetin the north; andDooralongandMangrove Mountainin the west toTerrigalandMacMasters Beachin the east.
With depots atKincumberandWoongarrah,the key centres served by Busways routes include Gosford,Tuggerah,Wyong,Lake Haven,Erina FairandWoy Woy.Occasional trips also serveCharlestownin the north andSpencerin the west.
Between 2021 and 2023, the contract for region 6 was put out to tender and was subsequently retained by Busways. The new contract will commence on 28 July 2024 for a period of seven years.[25]
North Coast services
editIn September 2003, Busways purchased the services ofKing Brotherson theMid North Coastfrom its administrator.[12][13]Busways provides services throughoutGrafton,Kempsey,Wauchope,Laurieton,Coffs Harbour,Port Macquarie,Yamba,Bulahdelah,Heatherbrae,MacksvilleandRaleigh.
Adelaide Outer South services
edit
In July 2020, Busways took over Adelaide's Outer South network fromSouthLink,including the Lonsdale and Seaford depots.
Former operations
editMacarthur services
editFrom 2005 Busways' services in theMacarthur RegionformedSydney Bus Region 15.Operating from depots atCampbelltownandSmeaton Grange,route and school services operated as far east asKentlynandWedderburn;south toAppinandWollongong;west toThe OaksandWarragamba;and north toCatherine FieldandRaby.
Regional and district centres such as Campbelltown,Macarthur Square,Narellanand Camden were the focus of all routes. Busways operated the free Macarthur CBD shuttle which was terminated in August 2014. In June 2014 operation of theSydney Bus Region 15passed toBusabout.[5][26][27]
Coach services
editRowe's Bus Service previously operated coach services with a fleet of sixDenningsuntil the coach licences were sold to Westbus in 1986. Macarthur Coaches also operated some coaches that were sold in 1990.[28]Until October 2011 Busways operated a service fromForsterto Sydney. Busways operate coach services fromNewcastletoTareeunder contract toNSW TrainLink.
Fleet
editHaving traditionally purchasedLeylandbuses, in November 1978 the first of 30Volvo B58swere delivered. Since then, Busways have purchased buses fromMAN,Mercedes-Benz,ScaniaandVolvo.In the 1970s the Rowe fleet livery was white with a red stripe, with an orange stripe added in 1988. Since 2010, the blue and whiteTransport for NSWlivery has been applied to the Sydney and Central Coast fleets.
As of January 2025, Busways operates 1,198 buses in NSW, including 26 electric buses,[29]and 134 buses in Adelaide. Busways operates a total of 1,332 buses across Australia.
External links
edit
Media related toBusways (Australia)at Wikimedia Commons
References
edit- ^"Our Company".Busways.Archivedfrom the original on 9 March 2020.Retrieved10 March2020.
- ^ab"Busways extends service operations to South Australia, appointed new operator of Adelaide's Outer South contract".Busways. 10 March 2020.Retrieved10 March2020.
- ^abcdThe History of BuswaysBusways
- ^abcdeNew South Wales Bus Operators and Fleet Listings.Sydney:Historic Commercial Vehicle Association.1993. p. 41.
- ^abc"Contractor changes in Sydney regions 2 and 15"Australian Busissue 64 July 2014 pages 36/37
- ^Delwood CoachesArchived5 May 2014 at theWayback MachineAustralian Bus Fleet Lists
- ^"What Has Changed in 20 Years"Australian Bus Panorama14/2 October 1998 page 8
- ^"Name change"FleetlineJune 1990 page 96
- ^"Ownership changes"FleetlineJune 1990 page96
- ^"Peninsula Buslines"Australian Bus Panorama10/2 August 1994 page 54
- ^"Private operators"FleetlineSeptember 1993 page 193
- ^abBus firm buys failed King Bros businessArchived4 December 2014 at theWayback MachineABC News24 September 2003
- ^ab"Busways purchased King Bros Bus Group".Busways.Archived fromthe originalon 10 October 2003.
- ^Yarramalong Bus LinesArchived8 November 2014 at theWayback MachineAustralian Bus Fleet Lists
- ^Kulnura Bus LinesArchived9 November 2014 at theWayback MachineAustralian Bus Fleet Lists
- ^"News".Busways Singapore.Archived fromthe originalon 15 March 2016.
- ^"First bus tender draws 11 bidders".The Straits Times. 20 January 2015.Archivedfrom the original on 11 February 2017.Retrieved9 February2017.
- ^Improved bus services in the Blacktown regionBusways 27 February 2007
- ^Cut costs or bus contracts will go to private sector, minister tells driversArchived5 March 2013 at theWayback MachineSydney Morning Herald7 November 2012
- ^Busways win a 300 bus contract in Western SydneyArchived26 April 2013 at theWayback MachineBusways 7 November 2012
- ^"Western Sydney bus service adjustments from 26 May".Busways.Archivedfrom the original on 7 May 2019.Retrieved7 May2019.
- ^"Busways retains bus operations in rapidly expanding Western Sydney".Busways. 23 February 2023.Archivedfrom the original on 25 March 2023.Retrieved25 March2023.
- ^"Busways' Sydney operations more than double with award of one of Transport for NSW's largest bus contracts".Busways. 30 July 2021.Archivedfrom the original on 30 July 2021.Retrieved30 July2021.
- ^Busways wins region 7 bus contractArchived30 July 2021 at theWayback MachineAustralasian Bus & Coach30 July 2021
- ^"Services continue smoothly as new Central Coast bus contract starts".Busways.Retrieved19 July2024.
- ^More than 60 new buses and improved customer service with new bus contractsArchived8 September 2013 at theWayback MachineTransport for NSW 29 August 2013
- ^Busways Campbelltown May 2014,Retrieved 18 April 2014
- ^Hunt's CoachesArchived26 July 2013 at theWayback MachineAustralian Bus Fleet Lists
- ^BuswaysArchived26 July 2013 at theWayback MachineAustralian Bus Fleet Lists