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MELBOURNE BUS CONTRACTS OVERHAUL

THREE METROPOLITAN Melbourne bus operators, making up around two thirds of the services to be re-contracted, signed new 10-year deals with Public Transport Victoria, yesterday.

The new bus contracts begin 1 July, 2018, and will run for 10 years if the operators meet strict performance targets, the State Labor Government states.

In a move claimed to ‘put passengers first’ and ‘improve services’, Minister for Public Transport Jacinta Allan MP announced the Labor Government had signed new contracts with Ventura, CDC Victoria and Donric.

More than 117 million trips are taken on Melbourne’s extensive bus network every year, with the industry supporting more than 4500 local jobs.

The new contracts provide more flexibility to improve and expand services where they are needed most, according to the Government.

The contracts also emphasise on-time running and customer service, to provide passengers with a more professional and reliable service, it’s stated.

The Cornwall family (trading as Ventura) has been operating bus services since 1924, growing from a single route between Box Hill and Melbourne CBD to become Victoria’s largest bus operator.

Donric, another local family operated business, has been delivering bus services in and around Sunbury and Diggers Rest since the early 1980s.

CDC Victoria began providing bus services in 2009 to passengers in the inner-east and western suburbs of Melbourne and the Greater Cities of Ballarat and Geelong.

Contract negotiations with the remaining metropolitan bus operators are progressing and are expected to be finalised before the contracts expire in June 2018, it’s stated.

“We are modernising, expanding and upgrading Melbourne’s extensive bus network to deliver better services for passengers,” Minister Allan MP said.

“Our new metropolitan bus contracts put passengers at the centre of bus service design and delivery.”

“It’s great to see both small and large operators working with us on these new contracts that put passengers first.”

Long-term Vision

CDC Victoria, a subsidiary of ComfortDelGro, is one of the largest land transport companies in the world.

Nick Yap, CEO of CDC Victoria, said: “We’re looking forward to a productive and long-term relationship with the Government to deliver better bus services in the communities that we serve.”

“This includes servicing the fast-growing City of Wyndham, where we have recently invested AUD$15 million to build a new modern facility equipped to serve the ever expanding population in the West.”

CDC Victoria began providing bus services in 2009 and currently provides services to passengers in the inner-east and western suburbs of Melbourne, as well as to the greater cities of Ballarat and Geelong.

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