Busabout Sydney
{{Short description|Australian bus company}}
{{Use Australian English|date=November 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox Bus transit
|name =
|logo = Busabout logo.svg
|logo_size =
|image = Transport NSW liveried (mo 5445), operated by Busabout, Bustech 'VST' bodied Volvo B7RLE at Liverpool Interchange.jpg
|image_size =
|image_caption = Bustech bodied Volvo B7RLE at Liverpool station in July 2013
|company_slogan =
|parent = Joe & Tony Calabro
|commenced = November 1947
|ceased = 7 October 2023
|headquarters = Smeaton Grange
|service_area = South West Sydney
|service_type = Bus services
|alliance = Busabout Wagga Wagga
Hawkesbury Valley Buses
|routes =
|hubs = Campbelltown station
|destinations =
|depots = 3
|fleet = 124 (December 2020)
|ceo =
|website = [https://web.archive.org/web/20230322233359/https://www.busabout.com.au/ www.busabout.com.au]}}
Busabout Sydney was a bus company that operated route bus services in South West Sydney, Australia. It operated on behalf of Transport for NSW.
History
File:Busabout_(mo_5198)_Bustech_%27VST%27_bodied_Mercedes-Benz_O500LE_departing_Liverpool_Interchange.jpg bodied Mercedes-Benz O 500LE in previous livery at Liverpool station in July 2013]]
In November 1947, Sid Neville purchased route 58 Liverpool - Leppington - Rossmore - Bringelly from MB & AK Scott. In April 1955, Neville purchased route 94 Liverpool - Ingleburn from Liverpool-Ingleburn Bus Service. In the 1960s, a coach charter business was established under the Coachways brand.{{cite book|title=New South Wales Bus Operators and Fleet Listings|year=1993|publisher=Historic Commercial Vehicle Association|location=Sydney|pages=66, 73}}"Contractor changes in Sydney regions 2 and 15" Australian Bus issue 64 July 2014 pages 38/39
In 1994, Joe and Tony Calabro bought a 50% share of Neville's Bus Service with the operation rebranded as Busabout."Ownership and route changes" Fleetline October 1994 page 193
The Calabro family had a long history with the south-western suburbs, having operated services in Bonnyrigg from 1951[http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/parlment/hansart.nsf/86ca1d5c167e46c8ca2571ca000080c8/5a7604a2961dfe29ca2578930023acfd?OpenDocument Tribute to Frank Calabro] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141112010513/http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/parlment/hansart.nsf/86ca1d5c167e46c8ca2571ca000080c8/5a7604a2961dfe29ca2578930023acfd?OpenDocument |date=12 November 2014 }} Hansard NSW Parliament 6 May 2011 until selling the operation to Westbus in June 1989 with 70 buses and coaches."Calabro's Sold" Fleetline November 1989 page 176 Joe and Tony Calabro subsequently purchased Surfside Buslines in October 1989"Stateliner takes over Greyhound" Australian Bus Panorama 5/5 March 1990 page 23"Surfside Bus Lines" Australian Bus Panorama 6/6 February 1991 page 45 followed by Hawkesbury Valley in November 1990."Ownership changes" Fleetline July 1991 page 118
In September 1997, the Calabros purchased Liverpool Transport Co from the Garrard family, who operated services from Liverpool to Miller, Austral, Hillview and Cartwright."Liverpool Transport" Australian Bus Panorama 13/2 October 1997 page 44 In October 2001, the Calabros purchased the remaining shares in Busabout and it was amalgamated with Liverpool Transport Co at the latter's West Hoxton depot under the Busabout name.
On 2 December 2008, the Calabros purchased the Fearne's Coaches business in Wagga Wagga and Harden and rebranded it as Busabout Wagga Wagga."Fearne's is sold to Sydney firm" The Daily Advertiser (Wagga Wagga) 7 December 2008
From 2005 to 2013, Busabout's services were part of Sydney Bus Region 2, with some routes part of Region 3.[http://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/file/abouttrans/Region-2.pdf Region 2] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120325104347/http://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/file/abouttrans/Region-2.pdf |date=25 March 2012 }} Transport NSW On 13 October 2013, Transit Systems took over Region 3 having won a tender to operate the new region including two routes that were operated by Busabout.[http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/cut-costs-or-bus-contracts-will-go-to-private-sector-minister-tells-drivers-20121106-28w5t.html Cut costs or bus contracts will go to private sector, minister tells drivers] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130305174724/http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/cut-costs-or-bus-contracts-will-go-to-private-sector-minister-tells-drivers-20121106-28w5t.html |date=5 March 2013 }} Sydney Morning Herald 7 November 2012[http://www.transitsystems.com.au/articles/204-transit-systems-awarded-sydney-buses-contract Transit Systems awarded Sydney buses contract] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130425120251/http://transitsystems.com.au/articles/204-transit-systems-awarded-sydney-buses-contract |date=25 April 2013 }} Transit Systems 7 November 2012
On 1 June 2014, Busabout's Sydney Bus Region 2 services passed to Interline and Busabout took over the Sydney Bus Region 15 services from Busways.[http://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/media-releases/more-60-new-buses-and-improved-customer-service-new-bus-contracts More than 60 new buses and improved customer service with new bus contracts] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130908074902/http://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/media-releases/more-60-new-buses-and-improved-customer-service-new-bus-contracts |date=8 September 2013 }} Transport for NSW 29 August 2013[https://web.archive.org/web/20140510222631/http://busabout.com.au/news.html Busabout News May 2014], Retrieved 11 May 2014[https://web.archive.org/web/20140418220602/http://www.busways.com.au/region/campbelltown Busways Campbelltown April 2014], Retrieved 18 April 2014 A new depot in region 15 opened 20 January 2015.[http://busabout.com.au/pdf/newsletter_jun_2015.pdf Busabout Newsletter] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160229145644/http://busabout.com.au/pdf/newsletter_jun_2015.pdf |date=29 February 2016 }} Busabout June 2015
On 8 October 2023, Region 15 services passed from Busabout to Transit Systems NSW, as part of a consolidated Region 2.{{Cite web |date=3 October 2023 |title=As of 8th of October 2023, Busabout will no longer provide Buses services for Region 15 |url=https://www.busabout.com.au/as-of-8th-of-october-2023-busabout-will-no-longer-provide-buses-services-for-region-15/ |access-date=7 September 2024 |website=Busabout Sydney |language=en-AU}}{{Cite web |date=20 February 2023 |title=Transit Systems continues to grow its government bus portfolio |url=https://www.transitsystems.com.au/news/2023/2/20/transit-systems-continues-to-grow-its-government-bus-portfolio |access-date=7 September 2024 |website=Transit Systems |language=en-AU}}
Fleet
As at December 2020, the fleet consists of 124 buses.[http://fleetlists.busaustralia.com/buc.php?search=BUC&depotreq=Busabout+Sydney Busabout Campbelltown, Smeaton Grange & West Hoxton] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140602194737/http://fleetlists.busaustralia.com/buc.php?search=BUC&depotreq=Busabout+Sydney |date=2 June 2014 }} Australian Bus Fleet Lists Since 2001 all purchases have been bodied at the Calabro's Bustech operation. With the introduction of the Busabout name in 1994, a white, green and yellow livery was introduced. In 2010 the Transport for NSW white and blue livery began to be applied.
References
{{Reflist}}
File:Bustech Bodied Man 18.320 HOCL-R-NL.jpg Bodied MAN 18.320 HOCL-R-NL at Campbelltown station]]
External links
- {{commons category-inline}}
- [http://www.showbus.com/australia/gallery/busabout.htm Showbus gallery]
Category:Bus companies of New South Wales
Category:Bus transport in Sydney
Category:Companies based in Sydney
Category:Defunct bus companies of Australia
Category:Transport companies established in 1947
Category:Transport companies disestablished in 2023