SYDNEY BUS operator Kingsford Smith Transport (KST) has been awarded a key "on-demand" shuttle route servicing University of Technology Sydney (UTS) students, staff and industry partners, it’s been announced.
A UTS spokesperson confirmed with ABC magazine that KST – an Australian family owned business in operation for more than 50 years – has taken over an existing service, running a scheduled bus service from the UTS city campus to UTS Tech Lab in Botany.
“Passenger numbers fluctuate from day to day, week to week,” they confirmed.
“The service isn’t ‘bookable’, but travellers can track the location of the bus on its route,” the spokesperson added.
KST managing director and CEO George Mavrocordatos of the contract win said: “Congratulations to my team for securing our newly awarded on-demand transport shuttle run contract for Dexus – University Technology Sydney in the Eastern Suburbs.”
“The contract has provided KST with stability during this pandemic. The continuous service and daily requirements has provided hope to the team and management moving forward,” he explained.
Above: (L-R) Father and son duo George and Con Mavrocordatos took over KST in 1998.
SOLID EXPERIENCE
This is not KST’s first on-demand service, it confirms. KST provides this type of service for private schools – primarily in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney – as well as DHL logistics.
In terms of the fleet, the buses providing the service are: 1x MAN CB30 and 1x Iveco Metro, which the company purchased new recently for this route.
“Two buses are required for this on-demand fleet,” Mavrocordatos explained.
“The approximate passenger numbers are 120-180 per day. It’s primarily students and office workers,” he said.
“They don’t book; they just arrive at the bus stop. Pick up is at Botany then to Green square, then to Redfern Train Station and concludes at UTS on Thomas Street, Sydney (Broadway/Central).
“The bus has a one-hour turn-around time.
“The passengers scan a QR code at the bus stop to provide the tracking location of the bus. The app is a KST app,” he stated.
The KST shuttle service for UTS started from 1 December and will run for three years with an option to extend.
Both buses provide wheelchair access with anchorage points, KST confirms.
ABOUT KST
Established in 1946 by the father and son duo Bill and Greg Aikenhead, Kingsford Smith Transport (aka KST Buses), is located in Banksmeadow, Sydney. The company was taken over by George and Con Mavrocordatos, another father-son team, in 1998.
Throughout the many decades, KST’s performance has witnessed a steady growth; this family operated business started with eight buses in 1948 and has grown to 86 buses today, it confirms.
KST is named after the Sydney Airport, Kingsford Smith Airport, as the business was the pioneer of airport shuttle bus services in Sydney when it started out, it states. Previously, the company was popularly known as KST Airporter, Melbourne Airporter, and Sydney Airporter. It was also named as the Holiday King, it explains.
Currently, KST Buses concentrate on school work and private charters only. The company guarantees complete safety and satisfaction for your journey and tries to make it pleasurable, it says.
Photography: courtesy KST