Archive, Industry News

BUSWAYS WINS SYDNEY REGION 7 BUS CONTRACT

BREAKING: Private Australian bus operator Busways has confirmed industry rumours that it has more than doubled its Sydney operations following being awarded the Region 7 contract, as officially announced today.

NSW Minister for Transport and Roads, Andrew Constance, announced the award of one of Greater Sydney’s largest bus contracts Busways earlier this morning.

From January, 2022, Busways will operate almost 1.1 million trips per year for customers in the Lower North Shore and Inner North West for Greater Sydney Bus Contract 7, extending from Parramatta into the Sydney CBD, Busways says.

It is the first time this network will be managed by a private operator, Busways confirms.
Busways, an Australian-owned and Sydney-based bus operator, has been innovating in the evolving Australian public transport landscape for eight decades, it explains.

With an appetite for collaborative government and industry partnerships, the company is working across five of TfNSW’s Future Transport Technology Roadmap’s six priority programs for transport technology and customer benefits, it says.

This includes projects in zero-emissions technology, demand-responsive transport, automated passenger vehicle services, and real-time customer information to improve customer experience on the NSW public transport network, it adds.

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AUSTRALIAN OWNED

Busways managing director Byron Rowe says Busways will focus on efficiencies, new technologies and improving the customer experience over the new eight-year contract, including the fleet transformation to zero-emissions electric buses.

“By appointing Busways, the NSW government has backed an Australian-owned company to deliver world-class services for customers of the integrated transport network,” Rowe said.

“We look forward to continuing our highly effective and positive working relationship with the NSW Government, our partner for eight decades, to deliver customer value and introduce innovations that help more people to easily, quickly and safely use public transport.

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STAFF, OPERATION EXPANSION

Under the contract, Busways will welcome around 900 employees, 453 buses and two depots to the company’s expanding operations, solidifying its position as Australia’s largest privately owned bus operator, it says.

The win follows Busways’ expansion into South Australia last year.

“We’re looking forward to welcoming the region’s employees to join our team,” said Rowe.

“This is a priority for us. We will innovate around Covid-19 restrictions.

“It’s important for people to have access to information and opportunities to chat and get to know us” he said.

Rowe says Busways will make significant investment in enhancing services to improve customer journey experiences in the lower North Shore and inner North West, including fleet-wide upgrades for on-board CCTV, two-way radio systems, and fleet presentation standards.

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Busways will work with Transport for NSW to electrify the fleet; deliver a substantial capital works program to increase depot capacity; and introduce smart technology and real-time passenger information at bus stops, with necessary planning already underway, it confirms.

“We are a passionate and energised team backed by a solid and respected track record, Rowe added.

“We’re a unique Australian story. We started running one passenger service in 1942 driven by the belief that people need great public transport.

“Almost eight decades later we’re still passionate and committed to providing a valued bus service that can be relied on,” Rowe stated.

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ABOUT BUSWAYS

Busways is Australia’s largest privately owned bus operator with 79 years’ experience in the transport industry, operating services across NSW, including Western Sydney, Central Coast and the Mid-North Coast, and in South Australia, it states.

The company began as a single-man operation and has now grown into an extraordinary transportation business with more than 1750 staff members and 18 depots, it explains.
With almost 900 buses in the fleet, in excess of 26 million passengers travel on a Busways journey every year, it confirms.

Through the provision of school and route bus services across metropolitan, regional and rural contract environments, Busways has honed specialist expertise in transport operations, scheduling, asset management, transport brand management, and customer communications and experience, it adds.

Busways is at the forefront of future transport innovation leading a stream of technology-driven projects in partnership with state and local government and industry, it states. This includes developing and managing regional Australia’s first automated vehicle trial and designing and delivering the world’s fastest growing on-demand passenger transport service, Cooee Busways.

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THE PLAN

Busways’ proposal for the Lower North Shore and Inner North West bus network Busways has committed to delivering enhancements for customers and the network, including:

· Thirty-five zero emissions buses (ZEBs);

· Substantial depot capital works program to increase depot capacity and electrify the fleet;

· CCTV upgrades fleet-wide for improved safety and security;

· New 4G two-way radios fleet-wide for better service reliability and customer information;

· Cleaning and repair program to lift fleet presentation standards and passenger comfort;

· Solar-powered smart technology at selected bus stops with real-time service information;

· Proactive and preventative maintenance regime backed by its ISO 55001 accredited Asset Management System

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REGION 7 – IN BRIEF

According to Busways, more than 410,000 people live in Sydney’s CBD, north west, northern harbour and riverside suburbs. The Greater Sydney Bus Contract 7 (GSBC7) bus services enable people to get to jobs, education, health and leisure activities by serving:

· key commercial and retail areas such as the Sydney CBD, Chatswood, North Sydney, Parramatta, Macquarie Park, Epping, Ryde and Sydney Olympic Park;

· secondary and tertiary education facilities including Macquarie University and Western Sydney University;

· major health precincts such as Royal North Shore Public and North Shore Private Hospitals, the Mater, and Macquarie University Hospital;

· a range of residential areas from harbour side communities to public housing estates;

· key tourism and sporting destinations including Sydney Olympic Park, Bankwest Stadium. and Luna Park.

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Photography: courtesy Busways

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