State Transit Authority

File:Old Logo_of State Transit.jpg

File:3415 L94 (cropped).jpg bodied Scania L113TRB 14.5-metre in previous State Transit livery]]

File:Sydney Buses 3385 Mercedes Benz - PMC "516".jpg bodied Mercedes-Benz O405 at Coogee in February 2013]]

File:Sydney Buses (1706) - Custom Coaches "CB60" bodied Volvo B12BLEA Euro 3.jpg bodied Volvo B12BLEA in May 2009]]

File:Transport NSW liveried (2514 ST), operated by Sydney Buses, Custom Coaches CB80 bodied Volvo B7RLE on Loftus Street in Circular Quay.jpg liveried Custom Coaches CB80 bodied Volvo B7RLE at Circular Quay in June 2014]]

File:State Transit Authority B-Line ND323F A95 Lion's City DD (Euro V, Gemilang Mk III) (2).jpg bodied MAN A95 in June 2018]]

In view of its political sensitivity, the agencies responsible for public transport in New South Wales are frequently restructured. Buses and ferries were the responsibility of the Department of Government Transport until 1972, when it was merged with the Department of Railways New South Wales to form the Public Transport Commission.

In July 1980, the {{Cite Legislation AU|NSW|num_act|taa1980n103314|Transport Authorities Act 1980}} separated the functions of the Public Transport Commission with the State Rail Authority taking responsibility for trains, and the Urban Transit Authority responsibility for buses and ferries.[http://investigator.records.nsw.gov.au/Entity.aspx?Path=\Agency\541 Urban Transit Authority of New South Wales] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120428175929/http://investigator.records.nsw.gov.au/Entity.aspx?Path=%5CAgency%5C541 |date=28 April 2012 }} NSW Government State Records

In January 1989, the {{Cite Legislation AU|NSW|num_act|taa1988n109332|Transport Administration Act 1988}} restructured the Urban Transit Authority as the State Transit Authority, taking over the private bus service functions of the Department of Motor Transport."New name for Urban Transit" Fleetline February 1989 page 22 In October 1989, the Chullora Bus Workshops closed with a smaller facility established at Randwick for mechanical repairs with body repairs contracted to the private sector. The remaining four hydrofoils were replaced by three JetCats and the MetroTen ticketing system introduced a few years before was replaced with the Automated Fare Collection System. The Opal card ticketing system was rolled out from 2013.

In December 1999, North & Western Bus Lines was purchased followed in February 2000 by Parramatta-Ryde Bus Service."State Transit Reaches Parramatta" Fleetline January 2000 page 22"STA Purchases North & Western and Parramatta-Ryde" Australian Bus Panorama 15/4 February 1990

In 2004, the STA's Sydney Ferries business was separated into a separate agency, Sydney Ferries Corporation. In January 2005 most of former Harris Park Transport routes were taken over from Hillsbus, which were then returned to Hillsbus in September 2005 with the exception of routes 623, 624, 628 and 629.[https://web.archive.org/web/20050207000922/http://sydneybuses.info/news.php?id=137 STA operates Harris Park bus services from 28 January 2005], Sydney Buses, Published 27 January 2005, Retrieved 12 January 2025[https://web.archive.org/web/20051203213218/http://www.sydneybuses.info/news.php?id=232 Harris Park Services - Changes to Routes 620 - 630], Sydney Buses, Published 15 September 2005, Retrieved 28 April 2014 On 13 October 2013, the Western Sydney Buses route T80 was taken over by private operator Transit Systems.[https://www.busnews.com.au/industry-news/1712/milestone-for-transit-systems Milestone for Transit Systems] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180620102138/https://www.busnews.com.au/industry-news/1712/milestone-for-transit-systems |date=20 June 2018 }} Australasian Bus & Coach 8 December 2017

Bus services in Sydney were operated under the Sydney Buses brand until 2016, when rebranded as State Transit.

Until 30 June 2017, State Transit also operated services in Newcastle and Lake Macquarie through Newcastle Buses & Ferries. These services are now operated by Newcastle Transport.[https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/story/4349836/keolis-downer-awarded-contract-to-run-newcastle-public-transport-gallery/?cs=305 Keolis Downer awarded contract to run light rail, buses and ferries says Baird government] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220122314/http://www.theherald.com.au/story/4349836/keolis-downer-awarded-contract-to-run-newcastle-public-transport-gallery/?cs=305 |date=20 December 2016 }} Newcastle Herald 12 December 2016

In February 2018, Transit Systems won the tender to take over State Transit's Sydney Bus Region 6 from 1 July 2018, including Burwood, Kingsgrove, Leichhardt and Tempe depots and 600 buses.[http://stayinformed.transport.nsw.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Andrew-Constance-med-rel-Transit-Systems-boosts-Inner-West-bus-services-1.pdf Transit Systems Boosts Inner West Bus Services]{{Dead link|date=May 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Minister for Transport 13 February 2018 In October 2019, it was announced that State Transit's remaining three bus regions are to be contracted out in early 2020.{{cite web|url=https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/news-and-events/media-releases/new-bus-contracts-to-drive-improved-services|title=New bus contracts to drive improved services|publisher=Transport for NSW|date=24 October 2019|access-date=24 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191024233538/https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/news-and-events/media-releases/new-bus-contracts-to-drive-improved-services|archive-date=24 October 2019|url-status=live}} Region 8 was taken over by Keolis Downer Northern Beaches in October 2021 with 410 buses operating out of Brookvale, Mona Vale and North Sydney depots.{{cite web|url=https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/news-and-events/media-releases/new-bus-operator-to-electrify-fleet|title=New Bus Operator to Electrify Fleet|publisher=Transport for NSW|date=28 May 2021|access-date=28 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210528022923/https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/news-and-events/media-releases/new-bus-operator-to-electrify-fleet|archive-date=28 May 2021|url-status=live}} Region 7 was taken over by Busways in January 2022.{{cite web|url=https://www.busways.com.au/news-items/busways-sydney-operations-more-double-award-one-transport-nsws-largest-bus-contracts|title=Busways' Sydney operations more than double with award of one of Transport for NSW's largest bus contracts|publisher=Busways|date=30 July 2021|access-date=30 July 2021|archive-date=30 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210730002543/https://www.busways.com.au/news-items/busways-sydney-operations-more-double-award-one-transport-nsws-largest-bus-contracts|url-status=live}} Region 9 was taken over by Transdev John Holland in April 2022.[https://web.archive.org/web/20211126030516/https://www.johnholland.com.au/who-we-are/latest-news/transdev-john-holland-jv-sets-pathway-to-greener-connections-in-sydney-s-eastern-suburbs/ Transdev John Holland JV Sets Pathway To Greener Connections In Sydney's Eastern Suburbs] Transdev 26 November 2021[https://web.archive.org/web/20211126031934/https://www.busnews.com.au/industry-news/2111/sydney-region-9-bus-contract-secured-john-holland-transdev Sydney Region 9 bus contract secured: John Holland-Transdev] Australasian Bus & Coach 26 November 2021

The State Transit Authority also comprised three former business units.

{{main|Sydney Ferries}}

Sydney Ferries is the public transport authority for ferry services on Port Jackson in Sydney. It was established in 2004 as a government agency, separate of the State Transit Authority.[http://classic.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nsw/num_reg/socafr20042004375618.pdf State Owned Corporations Amendment (Sydney Ferries) Regulation 2004] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180928083152/http://classic.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nsw/num_reg/socafr20042004375618.pdf |date=28 September 2018 }} Government of New South Wales

{{Main|Liverpool–Parramatta T-way}}

File:T-Way livered (mo 1535), operated by Western Sydney Buses, Custom Coaches 'CB60' bodied Volvo B12BLE on Moore Street in Liverpool.jpg CB60 bodied Volvo B12BLE in Liverpool in previous State Transit T-Way livery, July 2013]]

Formed in 2003, Western Sydney Buses operated route T80, a bus rapid transit service in Western Sydney on the Liverpool–Parramatta T-way. Passengers made 2.77 million journeys with Western Sydney Buses in the 2011/12 financial year.[http://www.statetransit.info/publications/STA%20Annual%20Report%202011_12-1.pdf State Transit Authority Annual Report] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140219050656/http://www.statetransit.info/publications/STA%20Annual%20Report%202011_12-1.pdf |date=19 February 2014 }} State Transport Authority 30 June 2012 Western Sydney Buses operated out of a corner of Westbus' Bonnyrigg depot.[http://fleetlists.busaustralia.com/sta.php?search=STA<ype=old STA former fleet list] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006102937/http://fleetlists.busaustralia.com/sta.php?search=STA<ype=old |date=6 October 2014 }} Australian Bus Fleet Lists

In November 2012, Transit Systems won the tender for Sydney Bus Region 3 which included route T80 with the service and 22 buses transferring on 13 October 2013.[https://web.archive.org/web/20120513075240/http://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/media-releases/new-bus-contracts-drive-improvements-customers New bus contracts to drive improvements for customers] Transport for NSW

{{Main|Newcastle Buses & Ferries}}

File:StocktonFerry1.JPG in July 2006]]

Newcastle Buses & Ferries was a bus and ferry service operator in Newcastle and Lake Macquarie. It operated 28 bus routes plus a ferry service across the Hunter River between Queens Wharf and Stockton. The network radiated from a bus terminal near Newcastle station. Major interchanges were located at the University of Newcastle, Wallsend, Glendale, Warners Bay, Belmont, Charlestown Square and Westfield Kotara.

Newcastle Buses & Ferries ceased trading on 30 June 2017, with Newcastle Transport taking over.

{{main|Sydney Metropolitan Bus Service Contracts}}

State Transit operated services in Sydney Metropolitan contract regions 6 to 9.

For school bus services, State Transit used 5/6/7xx series route numbers suffixed with E for East, N for North and W for West, while 89x routes were used for University of New South Wales services.[https://student.unsw.edu.au/transport UNSW Express Bus Service] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180620101509/https://student.unsw.edu.au/transport |date=20 June 2018 }} University of New South Wales Such university routes ceased as from Monday 21 December 2020, having been replaced by the CBD and South East Light Rail.[https://student.unsw.edu.au/notices/2020/12/important-changes-bus-routes Important changes to bus routes] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210119031005/https://student.unsw.edu.au/notices/2020/12/important-changes-bus-routes |date=19 January 2021 }} University of NSW 7 December 2020

State Transit inherited a fleet of 1,565 Leyland Leopards, Mercedes-Benz O305s, Mercedes-Benz O405s and MAN SL202s from the Urban Transit Authority.Annual Report Fleetline issue 175 February 1990 page 27 New buses were primarily purchased from Mercedes-Benz, Scania and Volvo. The fleet peaked at 2,172 buses in June 2017 before privatisation commenced.[https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/news-and-events/reports-and-publications/state-transit-authority-20162017-annual-report Annual report for year ended 30 June 2017] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190329204439/https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/news-and-events/reports-and-publications/state-transit-authority-20162017-annual-report |date=29 March 2019 }} State Transit Authority

In the early 1990s, State Transit adopted a white and blue livery with a red stripe. This livery with minor variations was retained until 2010, when the Transport for NSW white and blue livery was adopted. Buses dedicated to Metrobus services were painted in a red livery.

In 2017, State Transit purchased its first double-decker buses for use on B-Line services. These were painted in a yellow and blue livery.[https://www.busnews.com.au/industry-news/1609/man-double-deckers-for-sydney-northern-beaches MAN double-deckers for Sydney Northern Beaches] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171027015204/https://www.busnews.com.au/industry-news/1609/man-double-deckers-for-sydney-northern-beaches |date=27 October 2017 }} Australasian Bus & Coach 15 September 2016

Prior to privatisation, State Transit operated 14 depots.

• Eastern Region
• Port Botany (P)
• Randwick (R)
• Waverley (W)

• Northern Region
• Brookvale (V)
• Mona Vale (F)
• North Sydney (N)
• Willoughby (M)

• Southern & Western Region
• Burwood (B)
• Leichhardt (L)
• Kingsgrove (K)
• Ryde (Y)
• Tempe (T)

• Newcastle Region
• Belmont
• Hamilton

A fifteenth depot in Enfield closed in September 1989 being sold to the Maronite Church in 1993.Enfield closes Fleetline issue 172 November 1989 page 171Enfield Depot sold Fleetline issue 214 May 1993 page 96

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category|State Transit Authority of New South Wales}}

• [https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/state-transit State Transit Authority] – corporate information
• [http://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/ Transport for NSW] – corporate information

Category:Bus companies of New South Wales

Category:Bus transport in Sydney

Category:Ferry companies of New South Wales

Category: Government agencies disestablished in 2022

Category:Government agencies of New South Wales

Category:Transport companies established in 1989

Category:Transport companies disestablished in 2022

Category:Transport in New South Wales

Category:1989 establishments in Australia

Category:2022 disestablishments in Australia

Category:Defunct government entities of New South Wales