BREAKING: No fewer than 136 brand new zero-emissions buses proved key to the NSW State Government awarding a Transdev-John Holland Buses (NSW) joint venture (JV) to operate Greater Sydney Bus Contract 9 (Region 9) until 2030, it’s been announced.
The Region 9 win – which includes some of the city’s busiest bus routes, with a patronage of 67 million customer journeys in a typical year – means commuters in Sydney’s CBD and Eastern Suburbs can look forward to a greener, more reliable commute from next year, Transdev explains.
Routes connect Sydney’s CBD to the Eastern Beaches, La Perouse to the south, the suburban centres of Darlinghurst, Kings Cross, Randwick, Redfern, Waverley, Bondi, Coogee and Mascot, and the harbourside suburbs of Elizabeth Bay, Double Bay and Vaucluse.
Transdev Australasia CEO Luke Agati says ‘sustainability’ and keeping people and customers at the heart were critical to securing the contract.
“We are delighted to partner with John Holland to operate Region 9. We will bring our collective know-how to help Transport for NSW [TfNSW] continue to set the pace in the transition to zero-emissions fleets in Australia and deliver broad benefits to the community,” Agati said.
John Holland executive general manager, Rail and Transport Operations, Steve Butcher, said: “The team was excited to build on the region’s strong customer service record.”
“We are proud to be joining Transdev and will bring our experience operating customer-focused networks like Sydney Metro, Canberra Metro and Metro Trains Melbourne to make sure customers are the biggest winners out of the transition,” Butcher said.
Transdev John Holland Buses (NSW) managing director Rachel Spencer says key workers, including all operational employees, will be offered employment with the company on their current terms and conditions of employment with full recognition of service.
“We are looking forward to meeting the team in Region 9 and coming together to deliver customer-focused, safe, reliable and sustainable journeys – carrying on State Transit’s legacy of connecting people and communities in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.
“As an Eastern Beaches local, I’d like to acknowledge State Transit for providing a safe and reliable bus network over many years and thank them for working with us over the next five months to ensure a smooth transition for employees and customers,” Spencer said.
ABOUT THE JV
Transdev John Holland Buses (NSW) is an integrated joint venture partnership between Transdev Australasia and John Holland, combining the know-how of one of the world’s leading mobility companies and one of the nation’s leading integrated infrastructure, transport and building companies, they explain.
The company will commence contracted services from Sunday 3 April 2022, following a period of transition with State Transit Authority.
ABOUT TRANSDEV
Transdev is a leading public transport operator, with more than 82,000 employees worldwide – some 1,894 of whom are working in Sydney operating light rail, ferry and bus services, it states. The company has been operating buses in Sydney since 1998 and is the current operator in regions 10, 12 and 13, it confirms.
Its team of more than 5,600 ‘journey makers’ are at the heart of keeping six of Australia and New Zealand’s biggest cities moving every day, it says.
ABOUT JOHN HOLLAND
John Holland has been driving positive change in Australia for more than 70 years and is now one of the nation’s leading integrated infrastructure, transport and building companies, it states.
From Parliament House to the Alice to Darwin Rail Link, from the MCG’s Great Southern Stand to Sydney Metro, the company has “…had a hand in the Australia we all know today,” it explains.
Photography: courtesy Transdev Australasia