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This article is about the Australian bus operator. For the former English bus operator, see Busways Travel Services. For other uses, see Busways (disambiguation).

A Custom Coaches bodied Volvo B7RLE in July 2023
ParentRowe family
Commenced operation1942; 82 years ago (1942)
HeadquartersPymble
Service areaAdelaide
Sydney
Central Coast
Mid North Coast
Service typeBus services
Depots20
Fleet1331 (November 2024)
Managing DirectorByron Rowe[1]
Websitewww.busways.com.au
The Busways logo between 2008 and 2019

Busways is an Australian bus company operating services in Sydney, and in the Central Coast, Mid North Coast regions of New South Wales and Adelaide. It is the largest privately owned bus operator in Australia.[2]

History

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A Custom Coaches bodied Scania K230UB at Castle Hill in July 2013
A BusTech 'VST' bodied MAN 18-310 in old white livery

The origins of Busways can be traced to 1942 when Dick Rowe commenced a hire car service from Rooty Hill to Plumpton. 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 purchased Parramatta-Villawood Bus Service followed by Campbelltown Transit 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, Riverstone Bus Service was purchased and merged with Rowe's Bus Service. In June 1986 Higlett's Motor Coach Services, Camden was purchased and rebranded Macarthur Coaches.[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, Charmhaven business on the Central Coast was purchased[9] followed in July 1994 by the neighbouring Peninsula Bus Lines business in Kincumber, Ourimbah and Umina.[3][10]

In June 1991, the Campbelltown to Wollongong service of Farmborough Coaches was acquired.[4] In November 1992 Busways took over operation of the routes of Leslies, Arndell Park following its collapse before purchasing them in May 1993.[4][11]

In September 2003, Busways purchased the Great Lakes and Mid North Coast services of King Brothers from its administrator.[12][13] In January 2008 the school services of Yarramalong Bus Lines, Wyong were purchased[14] followed by those of Kulnura Bus Lines in July 2009.[15]

Between 2014 and 2015, Busways attempted to venture overseas by submitting a bid for the Bulim Bus Package in 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 in Adelaide. Busways took over the operations from SouthLink in July that year.[2]

Current operations

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Western Sydney services

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Bustech CDi double decker, running route T75

Since 2005, Busways' services in the Blacktown area have formed part of Sydney Bus Region 1, held in partnership with Westbus and Hawkesbury Valley Buses. Operating from a depot in Glendenning, scheduled route and school services cover an area encompassed by Seven Hills and Castle Hill in the east; Rouse Hill and Riverstone in the north; Shalvey and St Marys in the west; Minchinbury and Prospect to the south.

The regional centres of Blacktown and Mount Druitt are a focus for all services, with trips also serving the employment centres of Eastern Creek, Huntingwood and Macquarie Park. Bus/train connections are provided at a variety of railway stations. Busways also operates services along the North-West T-way between Blacktown and Rouse Hill.

In March 2007, the Parramatta - Rouse Hill section of the North-West T-way opened. Bus routes 730 (renumbered T63) and 735 (renumbered 616, now 616X) were transferred from Busways to Hillsbus while 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 for Sydney Bus Region 1, took over the operation of services in the St Marys, Penrith, Windsor and Richmond areas from Hawkesbury Valley Buses and Westbus.[19][20]

In May 2019, as part of the Sydney Metro opening, 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 at Tallawong 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

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An Ansair 'Orana' bodied Scania L113CRL at Huntleys Point ferry wharf in August 2024

In July 2021, Busways was announced as the new operator for Sydney Bus Region 7 in the North Shore, Northern and Western regions of Sydney. Busways commenced operating Region 7 on 9 January 2022 as part of an eight-year contract, taking over from State Transit.[23][24]

Central Coast services

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The Central Coast has services provided under the Outer Metropolitan Bus System Contract Region 6. This contract with the NSW Government covers a broad area that stretches from Patonga and Wagstaffe in the south through to Swansea and Morisset in the north; and Dooralong and Mangrove Mountain in the west to Terrigal and MacMasters Beach in the east.

With depots at Kincumber and Woongarrah, the key centres served by Busways routes include Gosford, Tuggerah, Wyong, Lake Haven, Erina Fair and Woy Woy. Occasional trips also serve Charlestown in the north and Spencer in 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

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In September 2003, Busways purchased the services of King Brothers on the Mid North Coast from its administrator.[12][13] Busways provides services throughout Grafton, Kempsey, Wauchope, Laurieton, Coffs Harbour, Port Macquarie, Yamba, Bulahdelah, Heatherbrae, Macksville and Raleigh.

Adelaide Outer South services

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A Volgren bodied Scania L94UA and a Bustech bodied Scania K320UB Hybrid at Noarlunga Centre Interchange in September 2024

In July 2020, Busways took over Adelaide's Outer South network from SouthLink, including the Lonsdale and Seaford depots.

Former operations

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Macarthur services

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From 2005 Busways' services in the Macarthur Region formed Sydney Bus Region 15. Operating from depots at Campbelltown and Smeaton Grange, route and school services operated as far east as Kentlyn and Wedderburn; south to Appin and Wollongong; west to The Oaks and Warragamba; and north to Catherine Field and Raby.

Regional and district centres such as Campbelltown, Macarthur Square, Narellan and 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 the Sydney Bus Region 15 passed to Busabout.[5][26][27]

Coach services

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Rowe's Bus Service previously operated coach services with a fleet of six Dennings until 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 from Forster to Sydney. Busways operate coach services from Newcastle to Taree under contract to NSW TrainLink.

Fleet

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Having traditionally purchased Leyland buses, in November 1978 the first of 30 Volvo B58s were delivered. Since then, Busways have purchased buses from MAN, Mercedes-Benz, Scania and Volvo. 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 white Transport for NSW livery has been applied to the Sydney and Central Coast fleets.

As of November 2024, Busways operates 1,197 buses in NSW, including 26 electric buses,[29] and 134 buses in Adelaide. Busways operates a total of 1,331 buses across Australia.

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Media related to Busways (Australia) at Wikimedia Commons

References

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  1. ^ "Our Company". Busways. Archived from the original on 9 March 2020. Retrieved 10 March 2020.
  2. ^ a b "Busways extends service operations to South Australia, appointed new operator of Adelaide's Outer South contract". Busways. 10 March 2020. Retrieved 10 March 2020.
  3. ^ a b c d The History of Busways Busways
  4. ^ a b c d e New South Wales Bus Operators and Fleet Listings. Sydney: Historic Commercial Vehicle Association. 1993. p. 41.
  5. ^ a b c "Contractor changes in Sydney regions 2 and 15" Australian Bus issue 64 July 2014 pages 36/37
  6. ^ Delwood Coaches Archived 5 May 2014 at the Wayback Machine Australian Bus Fleet Lists
  7. ^ "What Has Changed in 20 Years" Australian Bus Panorama 14/2 October 1998 page 8
  8. ^ "Name change" Fleetline June 1990 page 96
  9. ^ "Ownership changes" Fleetline June 1990 page96
  10. ^ "Peninsula Buslines" Australian Bus Panorama 10/2 August 1994 page 54
  11. ^ "Private operators" Fleetline September 1993 page 193
  12. ^ a b Bus firm buys failed King Bros business Archived 4 December 2014 at the Wayback Machine ABC News 24 September 2003
  13. ^ a b "Busways purchased King Bros Bus Group". Busways. Archived from the original on 10 October 2003.
  14. ^ Yarramalong Bus Lines Archived 8 November 2014 at the Wayback Machine Australian Bus Fleet Lists
  15. ^ Kulnura Bus Lines Archived 9 November 2014 at the Wayback Machine Australian Bus Fleet Lists
  16. ^ "News". Busways Singapore. Archived from the original on 15 March 2016.
  17. ^ "First bus tender draws 11 bidders". The Straits Times. 20 January 2015. Archived from the original on 11 February 2017. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
  18. ^ Improved bus services in the Blacktown region Busways 27 February 2007
  19. ^ Cut costs or bus contracts will go to private sector, minister tells drivers Archived 5 March 2013 at the Wayback Machine Sydney Morning Herald 7 November 2012
  20. ^ Busways win a 300 bus contract in Western Sydney Archived 26 April 2013 at the Wayback Machine Busways 7 November 2012
  21. ^ "Western Sydney bus service adjustments from 26 May". Busways. Archived from the original on 7 May 2019. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
  22. ^ "Busways retains bus operations in rapidly expanding Western Sydney". Busways. 23 February 2023. Archived from the original on 25 March 2023. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  23. ^ "Busways' Sydney operations more than double with award of one of Transport for NSW's largest bus contracts". Busways. 30 July 2021. Archived from the original on 30 July 2021. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  24. ^ Busways wins region 7 bus contract Archived 30 July 2021 at the Wayback Machine Australasian Bus & Coach 30 July 2021
  25. ^ "Services continue smoothly as new Central Coast bus contract starts". Busways. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
  26. ^ More than 60 new buses and improved customer service with new bus contracts Archived 8 September 2013 at the Wayback Machine Transport for NSW 29 August 2013
  27. ^ Busways Campbelltown May 2014, Retrieved 18 April 2014
  28. ^ Hunt's Coaches Archived 26 July 2013 at the Wayback Machine Australian Bus Fleet Lists
  29. ^ Busways Archived 26 July 2013 at the Wayback Machine Australian Bus Fleet Lists
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