Kinetic is continuing to grow in Tasmania after acquiring a north-east bus group
Kinetic is set to expand its presence in Tasmania’s north-east with the announcement of an agreement to acquire family-run business East Tamar Bus Lines.
Established by Darrell and Glenda Lee in 2020, East Tamar operates three government contracted bus services primarily between Launceston and George Town. The Lee’s also operate a charter business, Lee’s Coaches, which won’t be included in the sale.
East Tamar has six buses and 10 employees with all staff to be offered continued employment with Kinetic.
Kinetic also operates SkyBus Hobart, Redline Coaches and MerseyLink with its network in Tasmania now including 209 buses and 244 people. It is the largest privately owned government contractor in the state.
The investment will expand Kinetic’s commitment to Tasmania and partnership with the Department of State Growth to deliver bus services that are safe and reliable and which have a positive social impact.
In May, Kinetic launched Tasmania’s first two battery-electric buses (BEB) on its SkyBus service which connects people between Hobart Airport and the city. Kinetic will have 180 BEBs on the road by the end of this year as Australasia’s largest owner and operator of zero-emission buses.
Kinetic Co-CEO Michael Sewards says he’s excited to welcome the East Tamar team to the Kinetic family and continue delivering vital bus services for people in Tasmania’s north-east.
“This is a fantastic family-run business, and we congratulate Darrell and Glenda personally with a commitment to building on the legacy they have created,” Sewards says.
“We are committed to making bus travel safer, cleaner and greener for Tasmanians and that’s something we’ve been passionate about since launching SkyBus at Hobart Airport in 2018.
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“This year we put our first two fully electric buses on the road, which have had an immediate impact displacing around 36 tonnes of CO2, and we will continue to invest in sustainable transport for generations to come.
“It’s an exciting road ahead for buses in Tasmania and we have a growing team of genuine and passionate people working with government and community stakeholders to make people proud of their local bus networks.”
Reflecting on a long family contribution to the bus industry, Darrell and Glenda Lee say they feel comfortable knowing that East Tamar Bus Lines will be in safe hands with Kinetic.
“Mum and Dad started school bus services on Flinders Island when I was six, so this is somewhat of a nostalgic feeling for us as we, and our family, say goodbye to buses with no remaining connection to the industry,” Glenda says.
“Darrell drove with Dad’s company, Sainty’s Coaches, prior to us buying the George Town passenger service and school runs, and even though it’s our own business we feel like it’s a family legacy with a responsibility to our family about who takes it over.”
Darrell and Glenda say the sale to Kinetic will be positive for passengers and East Tamar staff and extended their thanks to the George Town and East Tamar communities for their support and patronage over the last 17 years.
“Kinetic is widely known and respected and at the end of the day, that makes us comfortable that we are doing the right thing by our staff and our customers,” Glenda says.
“We have had wonderful and loyal staff members over the years who have also gone away and come back to work with us – and that loyalty is something that is really appreciated.”
The sale is expected to complete at the end of September.