CDC Melbourne

{{for|the history of the Westrans and Eastrans brands until 2009|CDC Victoria}}

In February 2009, ComfortDelGro Cabcharge acquired Kefford Corporation including the Eastrans and Westrans operations in eastern and western Melbourne respectively.{{cite news|url=http://www.busnews.com.au/news/articleid/65988.aspx|title=Kefford Group finds a buyer|website=Australian Bus & Coach|date=20 November 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105123501/http://www.busnews.com.au/news/articleid/65988.aspx|archive-date=5 November 2013|url-status=live}} At the time of its acquisition by CDC in 2009, Kefford was the fourth-largest bus operator in Victoria with a 16% market share, and with a fleet of 328 buses and six depots. The Eastrans and Westrans brands were retained following the acquisition.

In July 2011, Eastrans commenced route 601 as a high frequency shuttle between Huntingdale station and Monash University. In July 2013, CDC acquired the route operations of Driver Group with five routes (routes 612 and 623 - 626) and 42 buses, and integrated into the Eastrans brand.{{cite web|url=http://info.sgx.com/webcoranncatth.nsf/VwAttachments/Att_0FB82A3647937BB948257B710017C3C6/$file/ProjectIstanbul_PressRelease.pdf?openelement|title=ComfortDelGro Expands Melbourne Operations Through A $22.0 Million Acquisition|website=ComfortDelGro|date=20 May 2013|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105121117/http://info.sgx.com/webcoranncatth.nsf/VwAttachments/Att_0FB82A3647937BB948257B710017C3C6/%24file/ProjectIstanbul_PressRelease.pdf?openelement|archivedate=5 November 2013|df=dmy-all}}{{cite web|url=http://www.aspecthuntley.com.au/asxdata/20130520/pdf/01410519.pdf|title=Acquisition of further Bus Route Service Business in Melbourne|first=Andrew|last=Skelton|date=20 May 2013|access-date=26 March 2015|archive-date=23 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923175354/http://www.aspecthuntley.com.au/asxdata/20130520/pdf/01410519.pdf|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://cdcvictoria.com.au/newsupdates.html|title=Updates and News|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140606044559/http://cdcvictoria.com.au/newsupdates.html |archive-date=6 June 2014|website=CDC Victoria}}Driver Group sells Melbourne route operations Australian Bus issue 57 May 2013 page 10Driver's Exit Route Bus Services Australian Bus Panorama issue 29/1 July 2013 page 18

In October 2014, Eastrans and Westrans were combined and rebranded as CDC Melbourne.

In December 2017, the Wyndham depot was opened in the suburb of Truganina, replacing the Altona and Werribee depots which were subsequently closed.{{cite web|url=https://cdcvictoria.com.au/files/Unite_March_2018.pdf|title=CDC Victoria - Unite! Newsletter - March 2018|publisher=CDC Victoria|date=March 2018|accessdate=30 August 2019|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190420024938/https://cdcvictoria.com.au/files/Unite_March_2018.pdf|archivedate=20 April 2019|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://cdcvictoria.com.au/files/Unite_September_2018.pdf|title=CDC Victoria - Unite! Newsletter - September 2018|publisher=CDC Victoria|date=September 2018|accessdate=30 August 2019|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190420024904/https://cdcvictoria.com.au/files/Unite_September_2018.pdf|archivedate=20 April 2019|url-status=live}} The head office of CDC Victoria and the Operations and Customer Centre (OCC) were also moved from Altona and Sunshine respectively into the new depot.

In May 2018, Tullamarine Bus Lines was acquired by ComfortDelGro Australia with 34 buses.{{cite web|url=https://www.busnews.com.au/industry-news/1804/cdc-vic-pays-deposit-for-north-west-melbourne-bus-operator|title=CDC Vic pays deposit for north-west Melbourne bus operator|date=13 April 2018|accessdate=20 March 2019|publisher=Australasian Bus & Coach|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180509123933/https://www.busnews.com.au/industry-news/1804/cdc-vic-pays-deposit-for-north-west-melbourne-bus-operator|archivedate=9 May 2018|url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=http://www.cdcvictoria.com.au/images/news/CDCV_release_tullamarine.pdf |title=CDC Victoria further strengthens bus footprint in Victoria|website=CDC Victoria|date=13 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180609132415/http://www.cdcvictoria.com.au/images/news/CDCV_release_tullamarine.pdf|archive-date=9 June 2018|url-status=dead|access-date=8 August 2018}}CDC Takes Tullamarine Bus Lines Australian Bus Panorama issue 34/1 July 2018 page 26 It was rebranded CDC Tullamarine and integrated into CDC Melbourne on 17 August 2018.

CDC Melbourne initially signed a ten-year performance-based contract with the Victorian government in April 2018, due to commence on 1 July 2018.{{cite web|url=https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/new-melbourne-bus-contracts-put-passengers-first/|title=New Melbourne Bus Contracts Put Passengers First|publisher=Premier of Victoria|date=2 April 2018|accessdate=30 August 2019|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180511223316/https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/new-melbourne-bus-contracts-put-passengers-first/|archivedate=11 May 2018|url-status=live}} However, in June 2018, the government offered a seven-year contract to all Melbourne bus operators, with no end-of-term access to staff, depots, fleet and intellectual property.{{cite web|url=https://www.busnews.com.au/industry-news/1806/bus-contracts-backflip-vic-govt-offers-new-seven-year-option-without-assets-acquisition|title=Bus Contracts Backflip; Vic Govt Offers New Seven-Year Option Without Assets Acquisition|publisher=Australasian Bus & Coach|date=18 June 2018|accessdate=30 August 2019|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190419042408/https://www.busnews.com.au/industry-news/1806/bus-contracts-backflip-vic-govt-offers-new-seven-year-option-without-assets-acquisition|archivedate=19 April 2019|url-status=live}} This meant that under this contract, operators are not obliged to transfer any of their assets to the government. CDC Melbourne (including Tullamarine Bus Lines) successfully negotiated with the government and secured a seven-year contracts for its Melbourne metropolitan bus services, which commenced on 1 August 2018.{{cite web|url=https://www.tenders.vic.gov.au/tenders/contract/view.do?id=39902|title=Metropolitan Bus Services Contract - CDC|website=Buying for Victoria|accessdate=30 August 2019|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20191009230123/https://www.tenders.vic.gov.au/tenders/contract/view.do?id=39902|archivedate=9 October 2019|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.tenders.vic.gov.au/tenders/contract/view.do?id=39910|title=Metropolitan Bus Services Contract - Tullamarine Bus Lines|website=Buying for Victoria|accessdate=30 August 2019|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20191009230200/https://www.tenders.vic.gov.au/tenders/contract/view.do?id=39910|archivedate=9 October 2019|url-status=live}}

CDC Melbourne operates from four depots, whose names may differ from the suburbs they are located in:{{cite web|url=https://cdcvictoria.com.au/contact/head-office-and-depots/|title=Head Office and Depots|website=CDC Victoria|accessdate=30 August 2019|archive-date=30 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190830001735/https://cdcvictoria.com.au/contact/head-office-and-depots/|url-status=live}}

• Oakleigh - located in Oakleigh South
• Sunshine - located in Albion
• Tullamarine - located in Airport West, the former depot of Tullamarine Bus Lines
• Wyndham - located in Truganina, also houses the head office of CDC Victoria

CDC Melbourne also used to operate from Altona and Werribee depots until they moved into the Wyndham depot which opened in December 2017.

As of August 2024, the fleet comprised 387 buses and coaches.{{cite web|url=https://fleetlists.busaustralia.com/kef.php?flsummary=KEF|title=CDC Group|website=Australian Bus Fleet Lists|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240806123150/https://fleetlists.busaustralia.com/kef.php?flsummary=KEF |archive-date=6 August 2024 }} Australian Bus Fleet Lists The fleet includes 50 Volvo B5LH buses which was once Australia's largest hybrid bus fleet, as well as eight of Victoria's first Volvo BZL battery electric buses.{{cite web|url=https://cdcvictoria.com.au/latest-news/comfortdelgro-australia-delivers-australias-largest-hybrid-bus-fleet-to-melbournes-streets/|title=ComfortDelGro Australia Delivers Australia's Largest Hybrid Bus Fleet to Melbourne's Streets|publisher=CDC Victoria|date=17 October 2022|access-date=8 August 2024}}{{cite web |title=ComfortDelGro Australia Begins Electric Bus Trial in Melbourne |url=https://cdcvictoria.com.au/latest-news/comfortdelgro-australia-begins-electric-bus-trial-in-melbourne/ |publisher=CDC Victoria |access-date=2023-09-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230203131240/https://cdcvictoria.com.au/latest-news/comfortdelgro-australia-begins-electric-bus-trial-in-melbourne/ |archive-date=2023-02-03 |date=2022-12-16 |url-status=live}}

Westrans fleet livery was white with red stripes for buses at Altona (now closed) and Sunshine depots, and white with blue stripes at the Werribee depot (now closed). Eastrans fleet livery was white with white and green stripes. A few Eastrans buses used for SmartBus route 900 were in the SmartBus livery, six of which remain in this livery as of August 2024.

Since the rebranding to CDC Melbourne, the Public Transport Victoria white and orange livery has been adopted as standard for route service buses. An orange, blue and white livery was adopted for charter buses. A small number of buses at the Tullamarine depot still bear the Tullamarine Bus Lines livery, branded with CDC Melbourne signage.

Westrans 6510AO.jpg|Westrans liveried Volgren bodied Volvo B12BLE in West Footscray in October 2009

Eastrans number 123 (7513AO) Scania on route 605 in Queen St, December 2013.jpg|Eastrans liveried Volgren bodied Scania K230UB in Queen Street in December 2013

Westrans Volvo B7RLE PTV at Williams Landing.jpg|Westrans Volvo B7RLE at Williams Landing in April 2013

File:CDC Melbourne (Wyndham) W90 2002 Volvo B7RLE with Volgren CR221L bodywork.jpg|Volgren bodied Volvo B7RLE at Williams Landing station in December 2023

File:CDC Melbourne (Wyndham) W14 2003 Volvo B12BLE with Volgren CR221L bodywork.jpg|Volgren bodied Volvo B12BLE at Williams Landing station in December 2023

File:CDC Melbourne (Wyndham) W10 2009 Denning Phoenix with Custom Coaches CB60 Evo II bodywork.jpg|Custom Coaches bodied Denning Phoenix at Hoppers Crossing station in December 2023

File:CDC Melbourne (Wyndham) W22 2003 Irisbus Metro with Volgren CR222L bodywork.jpg|Volgren bodied Irisbus Metro at Hoppers Crossing station in December 2023

File:CDC Melbourne (Wyndham) W135 2014 Volvo B9TL with Volgren Optimus bodywork.jpg|Volgren bodied Volvo B9TL double decker at Werribee station in September 2023. This is the only double decker bus in Victoria used on route operations.

{{Reflist}}

• {{commons category-inline}}
• [http://www.cdcvictoria.com.au CDC Victoria website]
• [http://www.showbus.com/australia/gallery/eastrans.htm Showbus gallery Eastrans]
• [http://www.showbus.com/australia/gallery/westrans.htm Showbus gallery Westrans]

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Category:Bus companies of Victoria (state)

Category:Bus transport in Melbourne

Category:ComfortDelGro companies