Metro Transport Sydney

Until the government takeover in 2012, Metro Transport Sydney owned:

• Sydney Monorail, originally known as Metro Monorail in early MTS years, closed on 30 June 2013.
• Metro Light Rail, the light rail line now known as the Inner West Light Rail.

File:Metro Light Rail Logo.svg

Both Metro Monorail and Metro Light Rail had similar logos to Metro Transport Sydney, with all of them bearing the letter "M", but with the right leg of the letter containing a different word (either "Transport", "Light Rail" or "Monorail"). After the Metro Monorail was rebranded Sydney Monorail, the "M" logo was replaced with a logo of a monorail vehicle.

Metro Transport Sydney advocated for a light rail extension to Circular Quay between the late 1990s and the late 2000s, but did not gain state government support.{{cite web|title=Nominated Loan Council Allocations For 1998–99|url=http://ministers.treasury.gov.au/DisplayDocs.aspx?doc=pressreleases/1998/047.htm&pageID=003&min=phc&Year=1998&DocType=0|website=The Australian Treasury Website|accessdate=12 December 2015|date=7 May 1998|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160406195711/http://ministers.treasury.gov.au/DisplayDocs.aspx?doc=pressreleases%2F1998%2F047.htm&pageID=003&min=phc&Year=1998&DocType=0|archivedate=6 April 2016|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.metrolightrail.com.au/news.asp#news220506|title=Government defies logic on Light Rail issue|date=22 May 2006|accessdate=1 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061008232344/http://www.metrolightrail.com.au/news.asp#news220506|archivedate=8 October 2006|url-status=dead}} After a change of state government in the 2011 state election, this extension has been built as part of the separate CBD and South East Light Rail, with the CBD section to Circular Quay completed in December 2019.

File:MLR - panoramio.jpg Variotram in SLR livery]]

In March 1994, the Sydney Light Rail Company (SLRC) was formed. It was owned by Australian Infrastructure Fund (39%), Utilities Trust of Australia (39%) and Legal & General (22%)"Sydney's new light rail system" Railway Digest September 1997 page 14{{cite web|url=http://data.iguana2.com/hastings/news-item?Number=139955&Code=AIX|title=Stock Exchange Announcement|publisher=Hastings|date=11 August 1998|accessdate=6 April 2019|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150710045813/http://data.iguana2.com/hastings/news-item?Number=139955&Code=AIX|archivedate=10 July 2015|url-status=dead}} and was awarded a 30-year concession to operate the Sydney Light Rail (SLR) system until February 2028 when ownership would pass to the State Government.{{cite web|title=Sydney Light Rail Extension – Stage 1 Inner West Extension Product Definition Report|url=http://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/b2b/rail/SLRE-Stage-1-Final-Product-Definition-Report_Updated-19Jul10.pdf|work=Transport NSW|date=July 2010|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407104941/http://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/b2b/rail/SLRE-Stage-1-Final-Product-Definition-Report_Updated-19Jul10.pdf|archivedate=7 April 2014|df=dmy-all}} The contract gave the company significant control over the commercial arrangements relating to future extensions or interconnecting lines.{{cite journal|last1=Mills|first1=Gordon|date=1997|title=Light Rail in Sydney: Some Privatisation Lessons|url=http://press-files.anu.edu.au/downloads/press/p106321/pdf/article04.pdf|access-date=2 October 2019|language=en|journal=Agenda|volume=4|issue=4|pages=433–444|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191002075622/http://press-files.anu.edu.au/downloads/press/p106321/pdf/article04.pdf|archive-date=2 October 2019|url-status=live}} SLRC contracted operation of the line to TNT Transit Systems. Another TNT subsidiary, TNT Harbourlink, owned the nearby Sydney Monorail.

File:Monorail - panoramio - Peter Gill (cropped).jpeg Mark 3 monorail train travelling along Market Street, 2007]]

After TNT was purchased by Dutch postal company PostNL in January 1997 and merged to form TNT Post Group in 1998, TNT decided to dispose of its businesses not centred on mail and logistics services, including the Sydney monorail.{{cite web|url=http://group.tnt.com/annualreports/annualreport98/report/report_managem/specissue/noncore/middenframe.html|title=TNT Annual Report 1998 - Non-core business|publisher=TNT|accessdate=27 September 2019|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413123220/http://group.tnt.com/annualreports/annualreport98/report/report_managem/specissue/noncore/middenframe.html|archivedate=13 April 2014|url-status=dead}} SLRC formed a joint venture with CGEA Transport named CGEA Transport Sydney to purchase TNT Transit Systems and TNT Harbourlink on 10 August 1998. The share composition of the joint venture were CGEA Transport (51%) and SLRC (49%, with 19% Australian Infrastructure Fund, 19% Utilities Trust of Australia and 11% Legal & General). This purchase resulted in:

• CGEA Transport taking control of the operation of the monorail as the new owner of the monorail{{cite web|url=http://www.metrolightrail.com.au:80/about/monorail.pdf|title=Technical Details (Metro Monorail)|publisher=Metro Light Rail|date=2000|accessdate=1 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040407184901/http://www.metrolightrail.com.au/about/monorail.pdf|archivedate=7 April 2004|url-status=dead}}
• CGEA Transport being awarded the light rail operation contract by the SLRC as the owner of the incumbent operator TNT Transit Systems. SLRC remains the owner of the light rail.

As a result, the operations of both the light rail and the monorail came under the same company (CGEA).

In early 2001, Connex (renamed from CGEA Transport in 1999) sold its share of the monorail to the constituents of SLRC, bringing the monorail and light rail under the common ownership of Australian Infrastructure Fund, Utilities Trust of Australia and Legal & General.{{cite web|url=http://www.metrolightrail.com.au:80/about/company.html|title=Overview of Connex Worldwide and in Australia|publisher=Metro Light Rail|accessdate=1 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030425123814/http://www.metrolightrail.com.au/about/company.html|archivedate=25 April 2003|url-status=dead}} Due to SLRC and CGEA Transport Sydney having the same shareholders, they were subsequently combined to form Metro Transport Sydney. It continued to contract day-to-day operations of the monorail and light rail to Connex,{{cite web|url=http://www.monorail.com.au/contact/about-us/|title=About Us|publisher=Sydney Monorail|accessdate=3 February 2018|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190303074921/http://monorail.com.au/contact/about-us/|archivedate=3 March 2019|url-status=live}} rebranded Veolia Transport Sydney in 2006.{{cite web|url=http://www.veoliatransport.com.au:80/index.php?id=263|title=New South Wales|publisher=Veolia Transport Australia|accessdate=1 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091021092704/http://www.veoliatransport.com.au/index.php?id=263|archivedate=21 October 2009|url-status=dead}}

By 2004, Metro Transport Sydney was owned by three companies: Australia Infrastructure Fund, Utilities Trust of Australia and Colonial First State.{{cite web|url=http://www.metrolightrail.com.au:80/Technical/MonorailTechSheet.pdf|title=Technical Details (Metro Monorail)|publisher=Metro Transport Sydney|accessdate=1 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050127121052/http://www.metrolightrail.com.au/Technical/MonorailTechSheet.pdf|archivedate=27 January 2005|url-status=dead}}{{cite web |url=http://www.metrotransport.com.au/Technical/LightRailTechSheet.pdf |title=Technical Details (Metro Light Rail)|publisher=Metro Transport Sydney |author-link=Light Rail in Sydney |access-date=3 April 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041012050602/http://www.metrotransport.com.au/Technical/LightRailTechSheet.pdf |archive-date=12 October 2004 }}

Transport for NSW, the transport agency of the Government of New South Wales, established the MTS Holding Company on 12 March 2012. It purchased Metro Transport Sydney and its subsidiaries on 23 March 2012 for $19.8 million, which brought the company under the control of Transport for NSW and the government.{{cite web|url=http://www.claytonutz.com/publications/edition/5_july_2012/20120705/light_rail_strategy_for_sydney.page|title=Light rail strategy for Sydney|publisher=Clayton Utz|work=Clayton Utz Insights|date=5 July 2012|accessdate=6 July 2012|author1=Cosgriff, Stuart|author2=Griffiths, Emily|archive-date=14 July 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120714054448/http://www.claytonutz.com/publications/edition/5_july_2012/20120705/light_rail_strategy_for_sydney.page|url-status=live}} The purchase removed the contractual restrictions on expanding the light rail network and allowed the government to dismantle the monorail, assisting its plans to redevelop the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre.{{cite news|last=Campion|first=Vikki|title=Last stop for Sydney Monorail|url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/monorail-to-be-torn-down/story-fnb5f12x-1226308015370|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|date=23 March 2012}}{{cite news|last=Tan|first=Gillian|title=Australian Infrastructure Fund sells Metro Transport stake|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/wall-street-journal/australian-infrastructure-fund-sells-metro-transport-stake/story-fnay3vxj-1226308293323|newspaper=The Australian (from The Wall Street Journal)|date=23 March 2012|access-date=27 June 2013|archive-date=8 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140508154806/http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/wall-street-journal/australian-infrastructure-fund-sells-metro-transport-stake/story-fnay3vxj-1226308293323|url-status=live}} The monorail was shut down on 30 June 2013.{{cite news|last=van den Broeke|first=Leigh|title=Sydney monorail makes its last loop after 25 years of service |url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/sydney-monorail-makes-its-last-loop/story-fni0cx12-1226672054336|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|date=1 July 2013}}

The day after the monorail was shut down, on 1 July 2013, the Metro Transport Sydney brand, along with its subsidiary Metro Light Rail, was phased out as part of a broader rebranding and reorganisation of public transport services in New South Wales. {{cite news|last1=Saulwick|first1=Jacob|title=All together now: Sydney's public transport united under one 'brand'|url=http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/all-together-now-sydneys-public-transport-united-under-one-brand-20130418-2i1zt.html|accessdate=5 April 2015|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=18 April 2013|archive-date=6 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171206074216/http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/all-together-now-sydneys-public-transport-united-under-one-brand-20130418-2i1zt.html|url-status=live}} The light rail was also placed under direct control of the government. Both SLRC and Metro Transport Sydney Pty Ltd were deregistered on 17 July 2013.

The process of shutting down Metro Transport Sydney and transferring assets to Transport for NSW was completed in September 2014 with the deregistration of MTS Holding Company.{{cite web|url=http://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/b2b/publications/annual_reports/tfnsw-annual-report-2013-14.pdf |title=Transport for NSW 2013/14 Annual Report |publisher=Transport for NSW |accessdate=1 January 2015 |pages=329, 344 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141205164711/http://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/b2b/publications/annual_reports/tfnsw-annual-report-2013-14.pdf |archivedate= 5 December 2014 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.abr.business.gov.au/ABN/View?abn=94156211906|title=Historical details for ABN 94 156 211 906|date=November 2014 |publisher=ABN Lookup|accessdate=6 April 2019|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190405231229/http://www.abr.business.gov.au/AbnHistory/View?id=94156211906|archivedate=5 April 2019|url-status=live}}

{{reflist}}

• [http://www.monorail.com.au Sydney Monorail website (2013)] – still operational as of April 2019
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20130502220310/http://www.metrotransport.com.au/index.php/lightrail/home-2.html Metro Light Rail website (May 2013)]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20120321054421/http://www.metrotransport.com.au/index.php/ Metro Transport Sydney website (March 2012)]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20061008232648/http://www.metrolightrail.com.au/index.asp Metro Light Rail website (October 2006)] – also includes Sydney Monorail despite the domain name
• [http://www.metromonorail.com.au Metro Monorail website (early 2000s)] – identical to Metro Light Rail website above, still operational as of February 2018
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20030220083216/http://metrolightrail.com.au/ Metro Light Rail website (February 2003)] – also includes Sydney Monorail

Category:Transport companies established in 1994

Category:Transport companies disestablished in 2013

Category:Australian companies established in 1994

Category:Australian companies disestablished in 2013

Category:Defunct transport companies of Australia

Category:Companies based in Sydney

Category:Transport in Sydney