Dion's Bus Service
{{Short description|Australian bus company in Wollongong}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2014}}
{{Use Australian English|date=October 2014}}
{{Infobox Bus transit
|name = Dion's Bus Service
|logo =
|logo_size =
|image = Dion's_Bus_Service_Volvo_B8RLE_(Bustech_VST).jpg
|image_size =
|image_caption = Dion's Bus Service Bustech bodied Volvo B8RLE in November 2020
|company_slogan =
|parent = Dion family
|commenced = 1923
|ceased =
|headquarters = Fairy Meadow
|service_area = Wollongong
|service_type = Bus operator
|alliance =
|routes = 3
|hubs =
|destinations =
|depots = 1
|fleet = 22 (April 2019)
|website = {{URL|http://www.dions.com.au/}}
}}
Dion's Bus Service[https://connectonline.asic.gov.au/RegistrySearch/faces/landing/panelSearch.jspx?searchText=Seapost+Pty+Ltd&searchType=OrgAndBusNm&searchTab=search&_adf.ctrl-state=6lb6r1r10_4 Seapost Pty Ltd] Australian Securities & Investments Commission is an Australian bus company operating services in Wollongong.
History
Dion's Bus Service was founded in 1923 when Thomas Dion commenced operating a service from Wollongong to Balgownie followed by a service to Bellambi.{{cite book|title=New South Wales Bus Operators and Fleet Listings|year=1993|publisher=Historic Commercial Vehicle Association|location=Sydney|page=16}}[http://www.dions.com.au/about-dions/history History] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141027234510/http://www.dions.com.au/about-dions/history |date=27 October 2014 }} Dion's Bus Service It is currently the oldest operating bus operator in the Illawarra.[http://www.boatseat.com.au/boat-seat-articles/2005/4/9/at-85-and-going-strong-les-dion-keeps-on-bussing/ At 85 And Going Strong, Les Dion Keeps On Bussing] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141211143112/http://www.boatseat.com.au/boat-seat-articles/2005/4/9/at-85-and-going-strong-les-dion-keeps-on-bussing/ |date=11 December 2014 }}, Boat Seat, Published 9 April 2005, Retrieved 7 December 2014[http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/1944310/passengers-ride-with-dions-legend/ Passengers ride with Dions legend] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131209202336/http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/1944310/passengers-ride-with-dions-legend/ |date=9 December 2013 }} Illawarra Mercury 2 December 2013
From December 1927 until 1931 a coach service was operated to Sydney. In January 1928 it commenced operating route 1 services from Wollongong to Austinmer, along with five other operators. In August 1929, Barney Dion commenced operating a service from Wollongong to Kiama.
In the late 1940s, the Balgownie and Bellambi routes were sold. By 1964, through a number of acquisitions, the Austinmer service was operated jointly by Dion's and Jim Hill. In December 1976, Dion's became the sole operator of the service and in the same year, selling the Kiama service to John J Hill at the same time. On 24 February 1992, route 4 Wollongong to Bulli was purchased from John J Hill."Routes, timetables and services" Fleetline issue 210 January 1993 page 15
Services
Dion's operates services in the Outer Sydney Metropolitan Bus Service Region 12,{{cite web|url=https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/data-and-research/passenger-travel/buses-on-time-running|title=Sydney Metropolitan and Outer Metropolitan Bus Service Contract on time running results|publisher=Transport for NSW|date=December 2017|access-date=13 February 2018|archive-date=24 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180624063937/https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/data-and-research/passenger-travel/buses-on-time-running|url-status=live}} which was part of Region 9 when the latter was created in 2008.{{cite web|url=http://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/b2b/abouttrans/Outer-Metro-Regions-9-10.pdf|title=Outer Metropolitan Sydney Bus Contract Regions 9 and 10|publisher=NSW Government Transport and Infrastructure|access-date=8 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714162846/http://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/b2b/abouttrans/Outer-Metro-Regions-9-10.pdf|archive-date=14 July 2014|url-status=dead}}
They operate 4 routes in the northern and central suburbs of Wollongong:
On 1 April 2019 their routes were renumbered as follows:[https://web.archive.org/web/20190326060520/https://dions.com.au/news-m/70-bus-route-number-changes-from-monday-1-april-2019 Bus Route Number & Name Changes from Monday 1 April 2019] Dions
- 90: Wollongong, Fairy Meadow, Corrimal, Woonona, Bulli, Thirroul and Austinmer{{Cite New South Wales transport timetables|W90}}
- 91: Austinmer to University via Princes Highway{{Cite New South Wales transport timetables|W91}}
- 92: Wollongong, Fairy Meadow, Corrimal, Woonona, East Woonona and Bulli.{{Cite New South Wales transport timetables|W92}}
- 93: Bulli to University via Princes Highway, East Woonona and Corrimal.{{Cite New South Wales transport timetables|W93}}
- 94N: Friday and Saturday nights only late night service between Wollongong and Thirroul via Princes Highway. (Since ceased).
In addition they operate two free shuttle services from North Wollongong Station to Wollongong University via Kids Uni, URAC, Creative Arts Building and Hope Theatre:-
- 9: UOW North Gong Shuttle - . [https://transportnsw.info/routes/details/private-bus-services/9/369 UOW North Gong Shuttle via Ring Rd] Transport for NSW
- 9N: UOW North Gong Shuttle [https://transportnsw.info/routes/details/private-bus-services/9n/3609N UOW North Gong Shuttle] Transport for NSW
A number of community and government stakeholders funded Dion's "Wollongong Summer Bus", a late night bus service run in central Wollongong during the summer months. The Summer Bus was a drink-drive and drink-walk prevention strategy supported by licensed venues as well as local government, health, police and transport authorities.[https://web.archive.org/web/20130719092431/http://www.nightbus.com.au/wollongong-thirroul Wollongong / Thirroul] Nightbus archived 19 July 2013 It was superseded by route 94N which operated for extended hours on Friday and Saturday nights.[http://www.nightbus.com.au/wollongong-thirroul Wollongong / Thirroul] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130719092431/http://www.nightbus.com.au/wollongong-thirroul |date=19 July 2013 }} Nightbus retrieved 6 January 2015 Route 94N was discontinued from 8 Sept 2019.[https://dions.com.au/route-94n-hassle-free-discontinuation Dions News] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200714080854/https://dions.com.au/route-94n-hassle-free-discontinuation/ |date=14 July 2020 }} 94N discontinued
Fleet
As at April 2019, the fleet comprised 22 buses.[http://fleetlists.busaustralia.com/nsw.php?search=DIO Dion's Bus Service] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141028012327/http://fleetlists.busaustralia.com/nsw.php?search=DIO |date=28 October 2014 }} Australian Bus Fleet Lists The fleet livery was blue and white until 1989 when a metallic grey, blue and black livery was introduced. In 2010, the Transport for NSW white and blue livery was adopted.
In the 1950s and 1960s, Dion's built their own bodies on second-hand Leyland Comet truck chassis. In 1989, Dion's purchased two Hinos, these were the first new buses in over 40 years."Dion's Bus Service" Fleetline issue 177 April 1990 page 61
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|http://www.dions.com.au/}}
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNtUufPO8Bs WIN News report on the 90th Anniversary of Dion's]
{{Regional NSW public transport|state=collapsed}}
Category:Bus companies of New South Wales
Category:Transport companies established in 1923