Transit Systems will being operation in Darwin later this year after a successful tender
Transit Systems will become the new provider of public bus services for the Greater Darwin area after successfully tendering for the contract.
Transit Systems Chief Executive Officer Clint Feuerherdt says the company will take over operation of the Darwin Bus Service depot but the assets will still be owned by the Territory Government.
“It’s a model we would advise for all governments to adopt,” he says.
“The model that Adelaide, Perth and now Darwin are adopting, I think, is the right model.”
The acquisition of Darwin Bus Services is a “great opportunity,” according to Feuerherdt.
“We’ve looked at a number of things in Darwin over the years,” he says.
“This gives a reasonable business within the territory to expand our broader transport offerings.”
Feuerherdt expects Transit Systems to be operating the services in September which will bring the total number of buses the company runs in Australia to about 1100.
“It’s not a big operation in the great scheme but I think for us it’s quite a significant one.”
NT Department of Transport Chief Executive Clare Gardiner-Barnes says the provision of public transport services by a commercial operator is a key component of the Territory Government’s strategic priority to enable economic and social development.
“Transferring the operation of bus services to the private sector has the potential to improve innovation and service delivery and means that the Department of Transport can focus on its role to set the direction, design and delivery of efficient transport services, rather than the day-to-day running of the public transport business,” she says.
“As well as improving efficiencies and facilitating growth in the local economy, the new contract will provide almost 13 per cent savings per kilometre for government.”
All current ongoing staff at Darwin Bus Service will be offered employment with Transit Systems.
For users of the Darwin Bus Service, there will be no impact on the current level of services – routes and fares will remain the same.