The first Volgren bus made in New South Wales has entered service in Sydney, less than three months after the
The first Volgren bus made in New South Wales has entered service in Sydney, less than three months after the Victorian-based company began production.
The bus began work on Monday June 22 on Hillsbus’ 620 route, which runs from Dural to the City along the M2.
The bus was officially handed over to NSW Transport Minister David Campbell at a ceremony in Sydney on June 18.
“We are delighted to deliver our first NSW-produced bus,” says Peter Dale, the Managing Director of Volgren Australia.
“This bus comes from our plant in Newcastle, which opened three months ago.
“Our main facility, currently under construction, will be fully operational by October, creating more than 250 jobs in the Newcastle region.
“This will enable us to deliver an ongoing supply of safe, high-quality buses that will help strengthen public transport services in NSW.”
Campbell says the bus is the first of 113 buses promised for Sydney’s north west, bringing with them new jobs for bus builders and new jobs for bus drivers.
“The NSW Government announced it would deliver 300 extra buses in November and we are now delivering those buses, ahead of schedule,” he says.
“This means better services for commuters and an important boost to the economy.
“The delivery of the growth buses will translate into 400 new jobs for bus drivers, 150 new jobs in bus building and sustaining 700 existing bus building jobs.”
The Minister says the 300 buses will now start coming into service across Sydney, the Hunter, Central Coast and the Illawarra.
“From the time they enter service these new buses will mean more seats for passengers delivered through a high frequency of services,” Campbell says.
“It’ll make public transport an even more attractive alternative to driving.”
Campbell says the 300 buses will be delivered to north-west Sydney (113 buses), western/south-western Sydney (62 buses), southern Sydney (25 buses), northern Sydney (20 buses), north shore/northern beaches (20 buses), central/east Sydney (20 buses), Illawarra (20 buses) and Hunter/Newcastle/central coast (20 buses).
Volgren is Australia’s largest bus body-building company. Its buses are built using a unique aluminium system, which makes the buses stronger, lighter and more energy efficient than traditional steel buses.
It is a family-owned company, with bus-building plants in Melbourne, Perth and Newcastle, and a new facility under construction in Brisbane.