Buses in Melbourne
Encyclopedia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, are a major form of public transport in Melbourne
Transport in Melbourne
Transport in Melbourne consists of extensive networks and a wide variety of transport services in the city of Melbourne, Australia, including:* The world's largest tram network.* Bus and coach services...
, with an extensive bus
Bus
A bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-decker bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker buses and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are...
network. The network of 323 bus routes (including NightRider, excluding Kew School Services) is operated by a number of privately owned bus companies.
The Melbourne bus network is run by approximately 50 privately-owned bus
Bus
A bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-decker bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker buses and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are...
corporations under a franchise
Franchise agreement
A Franchise Agreement is a legal, binding contract between a franchisor and franchisee, enforced in the United States at the State level.Prior to a franchisee signing a contract, the US Federal Trade Commission regulates information disclosures under the authority of The Franchise Rule...
from the State Government. There are approximately 300 routes in operation with a varying range of service frequencies. A NightRider bus system operates on Friday and Saturday nights, and a Smart Bus orbital bus network is being set up, which is intended to facilitate cross city travel, while the current network is predominantly a radial network. Most of the bus network is a part of the Metlink
Metlink
Metlink, formerly The Met, is the marketing body and umbrella brand for public train, tram and bus transport operators in Greater Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.-Responsibilities:Metlink is responsible for the promotion of travel by public transport...
network and a part of the Metcard
Metcard
"OneLink" redirects here. For the computer/cable company, see OneLink Communications.Metcard is the brand name of an integrated ticketing system used to access public transport in Melbourne, Australia. It is a universal ticket which allows users to ride on the city's Metlink network, consisting of...
ticketing system.
The Skybus Super Shuttle
Skybus Super Shuttle
The Skybus Shuttle is an Australian airport bus service that runs between Melbourne Airport at Tullamarine and Southern Cross Station in the city of Melbourne. In 2008, Skybus carried over 1.6 million passengers a year....
is a non-Metcard based airport bus service. There are nine other bus companies serving Melbourne airport, with services to Ballarat, Bendigo, Dandenong, Frankston
Frankston, Victoria
Frankston is a suburb within the Greater Melbourne metropolitan area in Victoria, Australia. It is located 40 km southeast of the state capital Melbourne at the southernmost edge of Greater Melbourne, near the beginnings of the Mornington Peninsula...
, Mornington Peninsula
Mornington Peninsula
The Mornington Peninsula is a peninsula located south-east of Melbourne in Victoria, Australia. It is surrounded by Port Phillip to the west, Western Port to the east and Bass Strait to the south, and is connected to the mainland in the north. Geographically, the peninsula begins its protrusion...
, Geelong, Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
suburbs, Shepparton and the Riverina
Riverina
The Riverina is an agricultural region of south-western New South Wales , Australia. The Riverina is distinguished from other Australian regions by the combination of flat plains, warm to hot climate and an ample supply of water for irrigation. This combination has allowed the Riverina to develop...
. A daily return service from the states north—starting in Shepparton, passing through Nagambie, Seymour
Seymour, Victoria
Seymour is a township in the Shire of Mitchell in the state of Victoria, Australia and is located north of Melbourne. At the 2006 census, Seymour had a population of 6,063...
and Broadford
Broadford, Victoria
Broadford is a small town in central Victoria, Australia. At the 2006 census, Broadford had a population of 3,054. The town is the headquarters of the Shire of Mitchell Local Government Area and is approximately north of the state capital, Melbourne....
—is operated by Airport Direct.
In addition, several local government councils operate free local community bus services within their local areas. In addition, there are free tourist bus services in the CBD and other tourist attractions.
While the city relies predominantly on an inner-city tram network and radial train network, the outer suburbs of Melbourne are primarily serviced by bus. Melbourne's buses also provide a local feeder to Melbourne's train and tram network
Trams in Melbourne
The Melbourne tramway network is a major form of public transport in Melbourne, the capital city of the state of Victoria, Australia. , the network consisted of of track, 487 trams, 28 routes, and 1,773 tram stops. It was therefore the largest urban tramway network in the world, ahead of the...
. Unlike Melbourne's train and tram networks, up until the 1970s, buses in Melbourne were operated in a largely deregulated free market
Free market
A free market is a competitive market where prices are determined by supply and demand. However, the term is also commonly used for markets in which economic intervention and regulation by the state is limited to tax collection, and enforcement of private ownership and contracts...
by private companies.
Bus use in Melbourne peaked in 1953 at 158 million passenger trips four years after the introduction of the network, but fell dramatically in subsequent years and three decades later passenger numbers had halved. In 2007, a total of 86.7 million passenger trips were recorded on Melbourne’s buses and in recent years patronage has recovered to 1970s levels.
Early history
Many of Melbourne's private bus operators began by running jitneyShare taxi
A share taxi is a mode of transport that falls between taxis and conventional buses. These informal vehicles for hire are found throughout the world. They are smaller than buses, and usually take passengers on a fixed or semi-fixed route without timetables, usually leaving when all seats are filled...
style 7 seat-buses. The use of these small buses may have been an attempt to circumvent State government regulations. While some of these early operators ran fixed routes or regular timetables, there was no State Government agency to regulate, or officially recognise these routes. Many attempted to compete with trams, running along tram routes but charging lower fares. The Motor Omnibuses Acts of 1924 and 1925 removed competition from buses on tramway routes.
The TRAK motor bus company was founded in 1923 by the pioneer and distinguished naval officer Fred Knight and three other partners. All four men were former officers in the British Navy. Fred Knight soon established the KINTRAK bus company in January 1924 with the first route from the City to Caulfield commencing in March 1924. The KINTRAK company had the distinction of originating the employment of female bus conductors.
The Ventura Bus Lines
Ventura Bus Lines
Ventura is a privately owned bus and coach operator in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Today the largest private Melbourne bus company, and operates a number of bus routes under contract from the Victorian State Government. The company purchased National Bus Company for A$45 million, and the Mount...
was founded in 1924 by Harry Cornwall, who began operating a bus route between Box Hill
Box Hill
Box Hill or Boxhill may refer to:*Box Hill, New South Wales, suburb of Sydney, Australia*Box Hill, Surrey, England well known beauty spot in the North Downs**location of Box Hill & Westhumble railway station...
and the city, and later running buses along dirt tracks between Box Hill and Mentone
Mentone
Mentone may refer to one of the following locations:*Australia**Mentone, Victoria*United States**Mentone, Alabama**Mentone, California**Mentone, Indiana**Mentone, TexasIn addition, Menton, France, is sometimes spelled Mentone....
, which roughly equates to the 700 bus route which was integrated into the orbital bus route. Its first depot was the petrol station on the corner of Station Street and Canterbury Road, in Box Hill South.
In 1925, Melbourne and Metropolitan Tramways Board introduced the first tramways buses. Their first bus routes ran down Swanston Street from La Trobe Street, and along Glen Huntly Road to Elsternwick Station.
After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, unlike other Australian cities which began to replace their trams with buses, Melbourne was by the 1960s the only Australian city with a major tram network (there is one tramline in Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
, and there are also trams in Bendigo
Bendigo, Victoria
Bendigo is a major regional city in the state of Victoria, Australia, located very close to the geographical centre of the state and approximately north west of the state capital Melbourne. It is the second largest inland city and fourth most populous city in the state. The estimated urban...
). Melbourne resisted the trend because Melbourne's wide streets and geometric street pattern made trams more practicable than in many other cities. There was also resistance from the unions
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
, and the Chairman of the MMTB, Sir Robert Risson, successfully argued that the cost of ripping up the concrete-embedded tram tracks would be prohibitive.
Grenda was founded in 1945 by George Grenda. After selling his milk truck, he purchased six small buses, four bus routes and the primary foundations of a bus depot in Dandenong that collaboratively would become Grenda’s Bus Services.
1950s - 1960s
From the 1950s onwards, Melbourne's bus operators began replacing jitneys with full-size buses.Between 1952 and 1969, Ventura purchased Clarinda Transport, High Street Road Bus Service and Knibbs Bus Service. It also added a service between Blackburn and Clayton (roughly equivalent to the current service), added Waverley
Waverley
Waverley is the name of several different things:*Waverley , a novel by Sir Walter Scott**The Waverley Novels, the series of which Waverley was the first**The Waverley Overture, a work by Hector Berlioz inspired by Scott's novel...
and East Burwood services, and (in 1957) opened its Oakleigh South depot at the corner of Centre and Warrigal Roads. Also during this time-frame, Ventura closed its Box Hill South depot and replaced it with a new depot at Mahoney's Road, East Burwood.
During the 1960s, the MMTB took over services in the north-eastern suburbs, after the bankruptcy of the private operator. The services would eventually be onsold to the National Bus Company
National Bus Company
The National Bus Company, or NBC, was the Australian brand for National Express Group's mass transit bus services in Melbourne and Brisbane. Its sister companies were Westbus, Hillsbus, and Glenorie in Sydney, Southern Coast Transit in Perth.-Routes:...
. The Tramways Board took the unprecedented step of running its buses to the same level of service as its trams - every 10 to 20 minutes until midnight seven days a week.
In 1969 Ventura purchased several bus routes around Mitcham
Mitcham, Victoria
Mitcham is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 20 km east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Whitehorse. At the 2006 Census, Mitcham had a population of 14,211.-History:...
from C Young.
1970s
In 1970, Ventura acquired Boronia Bus Lines; the two purchases added 12 route services to the company.Kefford Corporation
Kefford Corporation
-Early history:The Kefford Corporation was started in the early 1850s by Richard Papworth Kefford.-Recent history:* In January 1976, acquired Point Cook - Werribee Passenger Service Pty. Ltd.* In December 1981 acquired H. A. Davis Motor Service Pty. Ltd...
entered the Victorian bus market in January 1976, when it acquired Point Cook - Werribee Passenger Service Pty. Ltd.
In 1973 Grenda purchased Peninsula Bus Lines and started Volgren in 1978 also based in Dandenong which has now become Australia's largest bus builder.
Regulation
The collapse of many bus companies led to State Government intervention in Melbourne's bus network in the 1970s. Buses would eventually fall under the responsibility of the Public Transport CorporationPublic Transport Corporation
The Public Transport Corporation was a State Government of Victoria owned corporate body formed under the Transport Act 1983 which operated passenger and freight trains, trams and bus services in Victoria, Australia....
. The Public Transport Corporation would take over running ticketing for Melbourne's bus network, and would contract out the operation of routes to various private operators.
1980s
In 1983 Grenda also expanded with the purchase of Portsea Passenger Service consolidating their presence on the Mornington Peninsula.
In July 1983, the Metropolitan Transit Authority
Metropolitan Transit Authority (Victoria)
The Metropolitan Transit Authority was a State Government of Victoria owned corporate body that operated suburban passenger trains,trams and buses in Victoria, Australia. It was set up under Section 15 of the Transport Act 1983 and commenced operation on 1 July 1983...
, was formed under the Transport Act 1983
Transport Act 1983
The Transport Act 1983 was the main statute establishing government transport organisations and regulating land transport activities in the State of Victoria, Australia for 27 years from mid 1983 to mid 2010...
to integrate Melbourne's tram, train, and bus services. The Metropolitan Transit Authority, commonly known as "The Met", would manage Melbourne's bus network through its Bus and Tram Division, as well as operating the tramways bus services.
The reforms included the integration of bus, train, and tram tickets. From 1983 onwards, the State Government began collecting all revenue from the multi-modal tickets, with private bus operators receiving money for costs one month in advance. Unfortunately, the State Government had trouble increasing the fixed-ticket subsidies in line with inflation. The State Government would introduce a moratorium on new bus purchases, as well as make attempts at forcing the consolidation of the numbers of private bus operators, in attempt to overcome the subsidy problem.
Go or Grow
In an attempt to cut costs, the Cain Government wanted to reduce the number of private operators, while increasing the number of cross-city bus routes. At this stage Melbourne's bus network (aside from the MET buses) was run by a large number of small, family operators which ran no more than a handful of routes each. The Cain Government reasoned that it would be more efficient, and cost effective, to have bus services provided by no more than about half a dozen large companies than dozens of small ones: larger operators would bring in economies of scale on bus purchases, repair costs, staffing, and would require fewer depots. The State Government also believed that it would be easier to negotiate contracts with a smaller number of large bus companies than with a large number of small bus companies. Thus the government put pressure on many of the small operators, in 1986, to either "Go or Grow."In response to the State Government's "Go or Grow" policy, particularly between 1986 and 1988, there was consolidation in the bus industry. 1986 saw Driver Bus Lines amalgamate with Shave Bus Service to form Waverley Transit. The consolidation of small family operators continued into 1987, when Ventura acquired Bentleigh Bus Lines, Rennies Bus Services, Willis Bus Services and Hawthorn Bus Services. As a result of these purchases, Ventura sold its East Burwood depot and replaced it with its larger Knoxfield depot. In August 1987, Kefford Corporation acquired the Bono Bus Services which served Footscray
Footscray, Victoria
Footscray is a suburb 5 km west of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Its Local Government Area is the City of Maribyrnong. At the 2006 Census, Footscray had a population of 11,401....
, Highpoint City, and East Keilor. Also in 1987, Cunningham Bus Lines (who operated route , Essendon to East Brunswick) was taken over by Moonee Valley Bus Lines.
The consolidations continued when, in January 1988, Kefford Corporation acquired Sitch Bus Services (which served Sunshine, North Sunshine, St Albans, Footscray
Footscray, Victoria
Footscray is a suburb 5 km west of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Its Local Government Area is the City of Maribyrnong. At the 2006 Census, Footscray had a population of 11,401....
, Yarraville
Yarraville, Victoria
Yarraville is a suburb 6 km west of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Its Local Government Area is the City of Maribyrnong. At the 2006 Census, Yarraville had a population of 12,726....
, Altona
Altona, Victoria
Altona is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 13 km south-west from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Hobsons Bay. At the 2006 Census, Altona had a population of 9685....
, Laverton
Laverton, Victoria
Laverton is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 17 km south-west from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area are the Cities of Hobsons Bay and Wyndham. At the 2006 Census, Laverton had a population of 4508.-History:...
, and Williamstown
Williamstown, Victoria
Williamstown is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 8 km south-west from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Hobsons Bay. At the 2006 Census, Williamstown had a population of 12,733....
), as well as Sinclair Bus Services (which served Monash University
Monash University
Monash University is a public university based in Melbourne, Victoria. It was founded in 1958 and is the second oldest university in the state. Monash is a member of Australia's Group of Eight and the ASAIHL....
, Elwood
Elwood, Victoria
Elwood is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 8 km south from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Port Phillip...
, and Gardenvale). August 1988 saw Southland Bus Service (which operated the 645 Southland - Mentone - Sandringham, 652 Southland - Beaumaris, 654 Moorabbin - Dingley, 655 Chadstone - Murrumbeena - Southland, 656 Moorabbin - Clayton, and shared the 636 Chadstone - Hughesdale - Southland with Ventura) was taken over by the Grenda Group. Southland bus lines, along with other Grenda Group acquisitions including Blue & Silver Bus Lines, Hampton Red, Hampton Green, and Camden Bus Lines were amalgamated into Moorabbin Transit
Moorabbin Transit
Moorabbin Transit is a bus and coach operator in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. As a Melbourne bus company, it operates a number of bus routes under contract from the Victorian State Government. Moorabbin Transit is a subdivision of Grenda's Bus Services, but covers more area for bus services in...
.
New bus moratorium
The bus operators now funded their operations via a State Government subsidy, partially funded by the sale of multi-modal Met Tickets (rather than each bus company issuing their own tickets). In another attempt to reduce costs beyond the 'go or grow' policy, the State Government refused to subsidise new capital investment into the private bus companies (for instance, spending on new depots) and put a moratorium on the subsidies on bus replacement. Any new additions to the fleets of bus companies would have to be covered out-of-pocketOut-of-pocket expenses
Out-of-pocket expenses are direct outlays of cash which may or may not be later reimbursed.In operating a vehicle, gasoline, parking fees and tolls are considered out-of-pocket expenses for the trip...
by the bus companies themselves. This policy led to the dilapidation of the bus fleet through the late 1980s and into the 1990s, though would later be lifted.
Quince's
In 1988, the then Metropolitan Transit AuthorityMetropolitan Transit Authority (Victoria)
The Metropolitan Transit Authority was a State Government of Victoria owned corporate body that operated suburban passenger trains,trams and buses in Victoria, Australia. It was set up under Section 15 of the Transport Act 1983 and commenced operation on 1 July 1983...
called for tenders on all of Melbourne's bus routes. Prior to the completion of tenders, Met employees reportedly told Waverley Transit 'not to bother' entering tenders for some of their existing routes. At the completion of the tender process, seven bus routes previously operated by Ventura, and three previously operated by Waverley Transit were tendered out to a company called Quince's, which had 60 buses used mostly for charter and school services.
In the case Waverley Transit V Metropolitan Transit Authority, Waverley Transit launched a Supreme Court challenge to the results of the tendering process. The verdict deemed that the State Government had acted inappropriately during the tendering process, and as the contract between the State Government and Quince's was illegal, thus restored the bus routes to Ventura and Waverley Transit. In the wake of this verdict, the Met launched an appeal, with Waverley Transit launching a counter-appeal; the cases lasted into the early 1990s. The final verdict of these cases pointed out that the licenses to operate bus routes, as well as the bus routes themselves, were legally the property of the respective bus companies and not the State Government.
In spite of this, Quince received the rights to operate a number of new cross-suburban bus routes cutting across a number of bus operator territories, including a route from Brighton to Lilydale.
1990s
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
government of Premier
Premiers of Victoria
The Premier of Victoria is the leader of the government in the Australian state of Victoria. The Premier is appointed by the Governor of Victoria, and is the leader of the political party able to secure a majority in the Legislative Assembly....
John Cain
John Cain II
John Cain , Australian Labor Party politician, was the 41st Premier of Victoria, holding office from 1982 to 1990.-Biography:...
tried to introduce economies in the running of the system, which provoked a long and crippling strike by the powerful transport unions in January 1990. When Cain resigned suddenly in August 1990, Joan Kirner
Joan Kirner
Joan Elizabeth Kirner AM , Australian politician, was the 42nd Premier of Victoria, the first woman to hold the position, which she held for two years prior to a landslide election defeat.-Biography:...
was elected Labor leader and thus became Victoria's first female Premier. In October 1992 the Liberals
Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
came to power under Premier Jeff Kennett
Jeff Kennett
Jeffrey Gibb Kennett AC , a former Australian politician, was the Premier of Victoria between 1992 and 1999. He is currently the President of Hawthorn Football Club. He is the founding Chairman of beyondblue, a national depression initiative.- Early life :Kennett was born in Melbourne on 2 March...
in a landslide, as a result of the public's complete disillusionment with the Labor government, which was held responsible for the state's economic and budgetary crisis. The Kennett Government pledged corporatisation of Melbourne's public transport network, however policy shifted to supporting the privatisation of the tram system in the wake of a series of public transport union strikes.
Deregulation and Privatisation
Jeff Kennett
Jeffrey Gibb Kennett AC , a former Australian politician, was the Premier of Victoria between 1992 and 1999. He is currently the President of Hawthorn Football Club. He is the founding Chairman of beyondblue, a national depression initiative.- Early life :Kennett was born in Melbourne on 2 March...
, the state government-run bus routes were privatised. Using the NationalBus
National Bus Company
The National Bus Company, or NBC, was the Australian brand for National Express Group's mass transit bus services in Melbourne and Brisbane. Its sister companies were Westbus, Hillsbus, and Glenorie in Sydney, Southern Coast Transit in Perth.-Routes:...
brand, British operator National Express
National Express
National Express Coaches, more commonly known as National Express, is a brand and company, owned by the National Express Group, under which the majority of long distance bus and coach services in Great Britain are operated,...
purchased the Public Transport Corporation
Public Transport Corporation
The Public Transport Corporation was a State Government of Victoria owned corporate body formed under the Transport Act 1983 which operated passenger and freight trains, trams and bus services in Victoria, Australia....
's bus services in the Northern and Northeastern suburbs of Melbourne, centred around Doncaster
Doncaster, Victoria
Doncaster is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 15 km north-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Manningham. At the 2006 Census, Doncaster had a population of 17,879....
.
National Bus Company commenced operations on the 27th December 1993 with a fleet made up of former Government owned buses including MAN SL200s and Volvo B59
Volvo B59
The Volvo B59 was a rear-engined bus chassis produced by Volvo in Sweden from 1970 until 1980, which features a 10-litre straight-6 diesel engine....
s. The company acquired two depots located at Doncaster
Doncaster, Victoria
Doncaster is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 15 km north-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Manningham. At the 2006 Census, Doncaster had a population of 17,879....
and Fitzroy North
Fitzroy North, Victoria
Fitzroy North is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 4 km north-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area are the Cities of Yarra and Moreland. At the 2006 Census, Fitzroy North had a population of 11,069....
.
In 1994, National introduced the first of 56 Mercedes-Benz LO812 mini buses. These buses were introduced under National's plan to introduce bus services in local areas previously not serviced by bus routes.
In addition, between 1997 and 2005, National has undergone extensive fleet modernisation programs in order to phase out Volvo B59
Volvo B59
The Volvo B59 was a rear-engined bus chassis produced by Volvo in Sweden from 1970 until 1980, which features a 10-litre straight-6 diesel engine....
s and early model MAN SL200s. This has involved the purchase of 68 Mercedes-Benz O405
Mercedes-Benz O405
The Mercedes-Benz O 405 was a highly successful single-decker bus chassis built by Mercedes-Benz from the mid-1980s to the early 2000s. It was the replacement for the Mercedes-Benz O305 chassis and was widely used in Europe, Australia and Singapore....
series buses along with 53 low floor MAN AG buses.
In 1996 Grenda purchased Berwick Bus Lines and amalgamated the business with its Pakenham depot to form Cardinia Transit.
A 1997 press release from then Transport Minister Robin Cooper announced that a consortium of Reservoir Bus Company
Reservoir Bus Company
Reservoir Bus Company is a privately owned bus operator in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. As a Melbourne bus company, it operates a number of bus routes under contract from the Victorian State Government. It also owns East West Bus Company and Melbourne Bus Link in a joint venture with Dyson's...
and Dyson's Bus Services
Dyson's Bus Services
Dyson's Bus Services is a privately owned bus and coach operator in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. As a Melbourne bus company, it operates a number of bus routes under contract from the Victorian State Government. Beyond operating route services, it also owns the Cobb and Co coach company...
were the preferred bidders for the remainder of the Public Transport Corporation's bus routes (particularly in the inner city). In 1998, the routes were sold to the consortium, which operated under the name Melbourne Bus Link
Melbourne Bus Link
Melbourne Bus Link is a Melbourne bus company, owned by a joint partnership between Dyson's and Reservoir Bus Companies to run government operated routes covering the western and south east regions of Melbourne.-Routes:...
.
In 1998, Quince's lost their bus routes. Ironically, Quince's long cross-suburban bus routes were broken up, with sections divided between Ventura, Moorabbin Transit and Driver (for instance, the Monash University - Brighton leg of one Quince's route became part of Ventura route 703, the Glen Waverley - Mitcham section became part of Ventura route ).
Contracting for bus services in Melbourne and throughout Victoria had occurred from 1 July 1989 until 1999 through the Public Transport Corporation
Public Transport Corporation
The Public Transport Corporation was a State Government of Victoria owned corporate body formed under the Transport Act 1983 which operated passenger and freight trains, trams and bus services in Victoria, Australia....
engaging bus operators under subsidised contracting arrangements. In late 1999, the Director of Public Transport
Director of Public Transport
The Director of Public Transport is the Government agency responsible for promoting, providing, coordinating and regulating public transport in the State of Victoria, Australia...
was established as the Government agency which procured bus services and entered into bus contracts with operators for Melbourne and large parts of Victoria.
2000s
Dyson's Bus Services
Dyson's Bus Services is a privately owned bus and coach operator in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. As a Melbourne bus company, it operates a number of bus routes under contract from the Victorian State Government. Beyond operating route services, it also owns the Cobb and Co coach company...
acquired the Nixon Group, which was the parent company of Bell Transit, Cobb & Co., and Rambler Tours.
2002 saw the sale of Sandringham Charter Coaches to the Dineen Group, it now operates under the Sandringham & Brighton Coaches brand.
Grenda purchased Frankston Passenger Service in 2002 an merged it with its Peninsula Bus Lines.
In 2004, Ventura purchased the National Bus Company
National Bus Company
The National Bus Company, or NBC, was the Australian brand for National Express Group's mass transit bus services in Melbourne and Brisbane. Its sister companies were Westbus, Hillsbus, and Glenorie in Sydney, Southern Coast Transit in Perth.-Routes:...
from the National Express Group
National Express Group
National Express Group plc is a British transport group headquartered in Birmingham that operates bus, coach, rail and tram services in the UK, the US and Canada, Spain, Portugal and Morocco and long-distance coach routes across Europe...
for A$45 million, becoming the largest private bus operator in Melbourne. While the company has announced that it will continue to use the National Bus Company brand until bus contracts come under re-tender in July 2008, new National Buses are painted in the Ventura livery. Through National Express, Ventura purchased what remains of the old government fleet, which is often of particular interest to railfan
Railfan
A railfan or rail buff , railway enthusiast or railway buff , or trainspotter , is a person interested in a recreational capacity in rail transport...
s, though this section of the fleet will be phased out over the coming years. Also in 2004, in September, Chris' Coaches (which also traded under the 'Melbourne on the Move' brand, and formerly operated Hope Street Bus Line) changed its name to Olympic Coaches.
2006 saw the acquisition of McKenzie's Tourist Services
McKenzie's Tourist Services
McKenzie's Tourist Services is a bus and coach operator in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. As a Melbourne bus company, it operates a number of bus routes under contract from the Victorian State Government...
by the Dineen Group. In 2007, Moreland Buslines
Moreland Buslines
Moreland Buslines is a bus and coach operator in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. As a Melbourne bus company, it operates a number of bus routes under contract from the Victorian State Government. Moreland Buslines operate 2 routes in the Northern suburbs of Melbourne.-Routes:* 510 Essendon –...
purchased a 50% stake in the Broadmeadows Bus Service.
In 2007 Grenda purchased Blue Ridge Coaches and followed up in 2008 with the purchase of Hastings Coaches, both were integrated into Peninsula Bus Lines and depot in Hastings was established.
In 2008, Dysons
Dyson's Bus Services
Dyson's Bus Services is a privately owned bus and coach operator in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. As a Melbourne bus company, it operates a number of bus routes under contract from the Victorian State Government. Beyond operating route services, it also owns the Cobb and Co coach company...
acquired Northern Bus Lines and ComfortDelGro Cabcharge
ComfortDelGro Cabcharge
ComfortDelGro Cabcharge Pty Ltd is a major Australian operator of commuter buses. The company is the second-largest commuter bus operator in New South Wales, with small operations in Victoria. The company is a joint venture between Singapore-based ComfortDelGro Corporation and Cabcharge Australia...
acquired the bus operations of the Kefford Corporation
Kefford Corporation
-Early history:The Kefford Corporation was started in the early 1850s by Richard Papworth Kefford.-Recent history:* In January 1976, acquired Point Cook - Werribee Passenger Service Pty. Ltd.* In December 1981 acquired H. A. Davis Motor Service Pty. Ltd...
. 2009 saw the acquisition of Invicta Bus Services by the Grenda Corporation
Grenda
Grenda is a third generation Australian family business maintaining its position as one of the major players in the Australian bus and coach industry. Grenda Corporation is a bus manufacturing and mass transit company, delivering over twenty-five per cent of Melbourne’s public bus system. In...
, and US Bus Lines
US Bus Lines
US Bus Lines is a bus and coach operator in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It was previously owned by founder Joe Pulitano. As a Melbourne bus company, it operates a number of bus routes under contract from the Victorian State Government....
by Ventura. Ventura also acquired the Ivanhoe Bus Company
Ivanhoe Bus Company
Ivanhoe Bus Company is a bus and coach operator in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. As a Melbourne bus company, it operates a number of bus routes under contract from the Victorian State Government. Ivanhoe Bus Company operate 6 routes in the North and North Eastern suburbs of Melbourne...
in 2010.
Recent developments
Jeff Kennett
Jeffrey Gibb Kennett AC , a former Australian politician, was the Premier of Victoria between 1992 and 1999. He is currently the President of Hawthorn Football Club. He is the founding Chairman of beyondblue, a national depression initiative.- Early life :Kennett was born in Melbourne on 2 March...
left office in 1999, a number of new policy initiatives have been undertaken in regards to Melbourne's bus network, as spelled out in the Melbourne 2030
Melbourne 2030
The Metropolitan Strategy Melbourne 2030 is a Victorian Government strategic planning policy framework for the metropolitan area of Greater Melbourne, intended to cover the period 2001-2030. During this period the population of the metropolitan area is expected to grow by a million people to over 5...
and Melbourne Transport Plan documents.
These include:
- Improvements to passenger information through MetlinkMetlinkMetlink, formerly The Met, is the marketing body and umbrella brand for public train, tram and bus transport operators in Greater Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.-Responsibilities:Metlink is responsible for the promotion of travel by public transport...
signage
- The introduction of higher-frequency cross-suburban SmartBus routes
- Proposals for a series of orbital bus routes, based on existing and proposed SmartBus routes.
- Progressively upgrading 250 local routes to specified minimum service levels by the state government's Department of TransportGovernment of VictoriaThe Government of Victoria, under the Constitution of Australia, ceded certain legislative and judicial powers to the Commonwealth, but retained complete independence in all other areas...
. These upgrades will mean that most local routes will run until at least 9 pm seven days a week.
- Coordinating bus service reviews based on discussions between local councils, public transport operators and community groups to address issues for service improvements.
Bus usage dropped sharply in 2006, in contrast to rail use which rose sharply, however it has since recovered.
A series of television advertisements for Metlink
Metlink
Metlink, formerly The Met, is the marketing body and umbrella brand for public train, tram and bus transport operators in Greater Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.-Responsibilities:Metlink is responsible for the promotion of travel by public transport...
since 2008 have promoting public transport in Melbourne, in particular buses featured prominent comedian Frank Woodley
Frank Woodley
Frank Woodley is an Australian comedian who is best known for his work alongside Colin Lane as part of the comedic duo, Lano and Woodley. The two performed together for almost 20 years in live shows, a television series and an album of comedic songs, before deciding to pursue individual careers...
.
SmartBus
The first SmartBus service begun on 5 August 2002 and will eventually establish a series of key suburban bus routes, and orbital bus routes, around Melbourne.Key aspects of this program include longer operating hours, higher service frequency, improved information at bus stops, wheelchair accessible services and priority at traffic lights. Current Melbourne SmartBus routes are:
- Middle Brighton - Blackburn via Bentleigh Railway Station, Clayton Railway Station, Monash University, Syndal Railway Station and Forest Hill Chase Shopping Centre. Operated by Ventura.
- Caulfield - Rowville/Stud Park S/C via Chadstone Shopping Centre, Oakleigh Railway Station, Huntingdale Railway Station, Monash University, and Waverley Park . Jointly operated by Grenda and Eastrans (CDC).
- Melbourne Airport - Frankston via Broadmeadows, Roxburgh Park, Epping, Greensborough, The Pines Shopping Centre, Blackburn, Ringwood, Knox City Shopping Centre and Dandenong. Operated by Grenda in conjunction with East West and Tullamarine Bus Lines.
- Airport West - Chelsea via Broadmeadows, Keon Park, Greensborough, Eltham, Doncaster Shoppingtown, Donvale, Nunawading, Glen Waverley, Springvale, Keysborough and Edithvale. Also operated by Grenda in conjunction with East West and Tullamarine Bus Lines.
- Altona - Mordialloc via Sunshine, Essendon, Coburg, Northland Shopping Centre, Heidelberg, Doncaster Shoppingtown, Box Hill, Holmesglen, Chadstone Shopping Centre, Oakleigh and Mentone. Operated by Ventura.
- 905 City - The Pines SC via Eastern Fwy and Templestowe
- 906 City - Warrandyte via Eastern Fwy and Doncaster East
- 907 City - Mitcham via Eastern Fwy, Doncaster and Bulleen
- 908 City - The Pines SC via Eastern Fwy and Doncaster East
SmartBus services typically run every 15 minutes on weekday, 30 minutes during evenings (hourly beyond 10pm on routes 703, 900, 901, 902 and 903) and every 20 to 40 minutes on weekends. The last SmartBus services depart around midnight on weeknights, except on weekends, when services finish earlier, an example could be the 703 and 888/889 weeknight services compared to Saturday/Sunday. The final 703 departing Blackburn is 12:04am, while on Saturdays, the final service is 9:00pm, and on Sundays, the final service is 8:40pm. The southern portions of routes 703 is not considered part of SmartBus and may receive less frequent services. An extreme example of this is the 703 does not run to/from Middle Brighton on Sundays and Public Holidays. All Sunday and Public Holiday 703 services terminate early at Bentleigh Railway Station.
SmartBus 900, is the first truly dedicated SmartBus service. This service only stops at dedicated stops along the route from Caulfield railway station to Stud Park Shopping Centre in Rowville. SmartBus 900 was introduced to alleviate some of the pressure on the State Government to introduce a rail service to Rowville.
NightRider
Melbourne also has a series of 13 dedicated routes which operate after midnight on Friday and Saturday nights, a time when the suburban rail network does not run. The buses fall under the standard Metcard ticketing system, until March 2007 they were covered by their own premium fares. All NightRider buses are fitted with CCTV Surveillance equipment, and mobile phone for arranging pick ups and taxis. These routes are operated under the NightRider brand by private companies under contract to the Department of Transport. Over half of all NightRider routes are operated by DysonsDyson's Bus Services
Dyson's Bus Services is a privately owned bus and coach operator in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. As a Melbourne bus company, it operates a number of bus routes under contract from the Victorian State Government. Beyond operating route services, it also owns the Cobb and Co coach company...
, but Grenda's
Grenda
Grenda is a third generation Australian family business maintaining its position as one of the major players in the Australian bus and coach industry. Grenda Corporation is a bus manufacturing and mass transit company, delivering over twenty-five per cent of Melbourne’s public bus system. In...
also run three, Ventura
Ventura Bus Lines
Ventura is a privately owned bus and coach operator in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Today the largest private Melbourne bus company, and operates a number of bus routes under contract from the Victorian State Government. The company purchased National Bus Company for A$45 million, and the Mount...
run two, and McKenzie's
McKenzie's Tourist Services
McKenzie's Tourist Services is a bus and coach operator in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. As a Melbourne bus company, it operates a number of bus routes under contract from the Victorian State Government...
operates one.
NightRider routes are typically radial in nature, which more services commencing from City Square in Swanston Street, and running to the outer suburbs. A number of loop services were introduced in November 2008 to connect with these routes in the outer suburbs to provide a night service to those who lacked them previously. A new service to Doncaster was also introduced at the same time.
Transport Integration Act
The prime bus statute in Victoria is the Transport Integration ActTransport Integration Act
The Transport Integration Act 2010 is a law enacted by the Parliament of the State of Victoria, Australia. The Act is the prime transport statute in Victoria, having replaced major parts of the former Transport Act 1983....
. The Act establishes the Department of Transport
Department of Transport (Victoria, Australia)
The Department of Transport or DOT is the central Government agency responsible for the coordination, integration and regulation of the transport system in the State of Victoria, Australia...
as the integration agency for Victoria's transport system. The Act also establishes and sets the charters of the state agencies charged with providing public transport services including buses, namely the Director of Public Transport and V/Line
V/Line
V/Line is a not for profit regional passenger train and coach service in Victoria, Australia. It was created after the split-up of VicRail in 1983. V/Line is owned by the V/Line Corporation which is a Victorian State Government statutory authority...
. The Director of Public Transport
Director of Public Transport
The Director of Public Transport is the Government agency responsible for promoting, providing, coordinating and regulating public transport in the State of Victoria, Australia...
is empowered by the Act to enter into contracts with operators for the provision of bus and other public transport services. Specific provisions relating to the contracting regime for buses in Victoria are set out in the Bus Services Act 1995.
Bus Services Act
The Bus Services Act 1995 (previously called the Public Transport Competition Act 1995) sets out a scheme which regulates the bus services contract arrangements between the Director of Public TransportDirector of Public Transport
The Director of Public Transport is the Government agency responsible for promoting, providing, coordinating and regulating public transport in the State of Victoria, Australia...
and bus operators.
Safety
The safety of bus operations in Victoria is regulated by the Bus Safety Act 2009Bus Safety Act
The Bus Safety Act 2009 is a law enacted by the Parliament of the State of Victoria, Australia and is the prime statute regulating the safety of bus operations across the State....
which applies to all commercial and non-commercial operations. The Act creates a framework containing safety duties for all bus industry participants and requires major commercial operators to obtain accreditation prior to commencing operations. Accredited bus operators are also required to have a safety management system
Safety Management Systems
Safety Management System is a term used to refer to a comprehensive business management system designed to manage occupational safety and health elements in the workplace.-Description of SMS:...
to guide their operations.
Sanctions applying to the safety scheme established under the Bus Safety Act
Bus Safety Act
The Bus Safety Act 2009 is a law enacted by the Parliament of the State of Victoria, Australia and is the prime statute regulating the safety of bus operations across the State....
are contained in the Transport (Compliance and Miscellaneous) Act 1983
Transport (Compliance and Miscellaneous) Act 1983
The 'Transport Act 1983' is a prime statute regulating transport activities in the State of Victoria, Australia...
.
Safety regulator and investigator
The safety regulator for buses in Victoria is the Director, Transport SafetyDirector, Transport Safety
The Director, Transport Safety is the independent Government agency responsible for rail, bus and marine safety in the State of Victoria, Australia. The position was created as a statutory office by the Transport Integration Act 2010...
(trading as Transport Safety Victoria) whose office is established under the Transport Integration Act 2010
Transport Integration Act
The Transport Integration Act 2010 is a law enacted by the Parliament of the State of Victoria, Australia. The Act is the prime transport statute in Victoria, having replaced major parts of the former Transport Act 1983....
. The Director is also the safety regulator for trains, commercial shipping and recreational boating in Victoria.
Bus operators in Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
can also be the subject of no blame investigations conducted by the Chief Investigator, Transport Safety
Chief Investigator, Transport Safety
The Chief Investigator, Transport Safety is the independent Government agency responsible for investigation of safety-related trends and incidents in the rail, bus and marine industries in the State of Victoria, Australia. The position was created as a statutory office by the Transport...
. The Chief Investigator is charged by the Transport Integration Act
Transport Integration Act
The Transport Integration Act 2010 is a law enacted by the Parliament of the State of Victoria, Australia. The Act is the prime transport statute in Victoria, having replaced major parts of the former Transport Act 1983....
with conducting investigations into bus safety matters including incidents and trends.
Ticketing and conduct
Ticketing requirements for buses in Victoria are mainly contained in the Transport (Ticketing) Regulations 2006 and the Victorian Fares and Ticketing Manual.. Rules about safe and fair conduct on buses in Victoria are generally contained in the Transport (Compliance and Miscellaneous) Act 1983Transport (Compliance and Miscellaneous) Act 1983
The 'Transport Act 1983' is a prime statute regulating transport activities in the State of Victoria, Australia...
and the Transport (Passenger Vehicles) Regulations 2005.
See also
- List of Victorian Bus Companies
- List of Melbourne bus routes
- Transportation in Australia
- Transport in MelbourneTransport in MelbourneTransport in Melbourne consists of extensive networks and a wide variety of transport services in the city of Melbourne, Australia, including:* The world's largest tram network.* Bus and coach services...
- Department of TransportDepartment of Transport (Victoria, Australia)The Department of Transport or DOT is the central Government agency responsible for the coordination, integration and regulation of the transport system in the State of Victoria, Australia...
- Rail Safety ActRail Safety ActThe Rail Safety Act 2006 is a law enacted by the Parliament of the State of Victoria, Australia and is the prime statute regulating the safety of rail operations in the State...
- Bus Safety ActBus Safety ActThe Bus Safety Act 2009 is a law enacted by the Parliament of the State of Victoria, Australia and is the prime statute regulating the safety of bus operations across the State....
- Transport Integration ActTransport Integration ActThe Transport Integration Act 2010 is a law enacted by the Parliament of the State of Victoria, Australia. The Act is the prime transport statute in Victoria, having replaced major parts of the former Transport Act 1983....
- Transport Legislation ReviewTransport Legislation ReviewThe Transport Legislation Review was a policy and legislation review project conducted by the Department of Transport in the State of Victoria, Australia between 2004 and 2010....
- Director of Public TransportDirector of Public TransportThe Director of Public Transport is the Government agency responsible for promoting, providing, coordinating and regulating public transport in the State of Victoria, Australia...
- Director, Transport SafetyDirector, Transport SafetyThe Director, Transport Safety is the independent Government agency responsible for rail, bus and marine safety in the State of Victoria, Australia. The position was created as a statutory office by the Transport Integration Act 2010...
- Chief Investigator, Transport SafetyChief Investigator, Transport SafetyThe Chief Investigator, Transport Safety is the independent Government agency responsible for investigation of safety-related trends and incidents in the rail, bus and marine industries in the State of Victoria, Australia. The position was created as a statutory office by the Transport...
- Transport Act 1983Transport Act 1983The Transport Act 1983 was the main statute establishing government transport organisations and regulating land transport activities in the State of Victoria, Australia for 27 years from mid 1983 to mid 2010...
- Transport (Compliance and Miscellaneous) Act 1983Transport (Compliance and Miscellaneous) Act 1983The 'Transport Act 1983' is a prime statute regulating transport activities in the State of Victoria, Australia...