Transdev Melbourne
{{Short description|Bus operator in Melbourne, Australia}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Use Australian English|date=May 2013}}
{{Infobox Bus transit
|name = Transdev Melbourne
|logo = Transdev GmbH logo.svg
|image = Transdev Scania K280UB (cropped).jpg
|image_caption = Gemilang Coachworks bodied Scania K280UB at Ringwood in December 2015
|parent = Transdev Australasia
|commenced = {{Start date and age|df=yes|2013|8|4}}
|ceased = {{End date and age|df=yes|2022|1|30}}
|headquarters =
|service_area = Melbourne
|service_type = Bus operator
|routes = 49 (January 2022)
|depots = 6
|fleet = 534 (January 2022)
|website = [https://web.archive.org/web/20220129082213/https://www.transdevmelbourne.com.au/ www.transdevmelbourne.com.au]}}
Transdev Melbourne was a bus operator in Melbourne, Australia, that operated the Melbourne Bus Franchise with a fleet of 534 buses on 49 bus routes from August 2013 until January 2022, when the franchise was awarded to Kinetic Melbourne. It operated approximately 30% of Melbourne's bus network. It was a subsidiary of Transdev Australasia.
History
File:SmartBus (Transdev) number 682 (7972AO) MAN on route 907 in Lonsdale St, 2013.JPG liveried Custom Coaches bodied MAN 18.310 on Lonsdale Street in August 2013]]
File:Transdev bus depot in Fitzroy North viewed from Nicholson Street.jpg depot in February 2014]]
Until the 1990s, most of Transdev Melbourne's routes were operated by the Public Transport Corporation. In December 1993, the Doncaster and Fitzroy North bus depots and associated services were transferred to National Bus Company, formed by Westbus proprietors, Jim Bosnjak and his sister-in-law Carol."National Bus Company" Australian Bus Panorama issue 9/5 January 1994 page 31"PTC Fleet Break-Up Immediately Prior to National Bus Co Takeover" Australian Bus Panorama issue 9/6 February 1994 page 31 The remaining Public Transport Corporation services remained in public ownership until privatised in April 1998, with Dysons and Reservoir Bus Company forming Melbourne Bus Link to take over the services operating out of Footscray and Sandringham depots."Historic Reforms for Melbourne's Buses" Australian Bus Panorama issue 13/3 December 1997 page 35
In June 2012, Public Transport Victoria called for expressions of interest for the Melbourne Metropolitan Bus Franchise, involving 30% of the city's bus network, operated by Melbourne Bus Link and National Bus Company, including three SmartBus routes.{{cite press release |title=Expressions of Interest now open for Melbourne Metropolitan Bus Franchise |date=6 June 2012 |publisher=Public Transport Victoria |url=http://ptv.vic.gov.au/about-ptv/media-centre/media-releases/expressions-of-interest-now-open-for-melbourne-metropolitan-bus-franchise/ |access-date=21 May 2013 |archive-date=3 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130503073214/http://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/about-ptv/media-centre/media-releases/expressions-of-interest-now-open-for-melbourne-metropolitan-bus-franchise/ |url-status=live }} From ten expressions received, a shortlist of five bidders was selected in August 2012, with FirstGroup, Keolis Downer, National Bus Company (Ventura Bus Lines), Transit Systems, and Transdev invited to tender.{{cite press release |title=Public Transport Victoria announces shortlist for Melbourne metropolitan bus franchise |date=24 August 2012 |publisher=Public Transport Victoria |url=http://ptv.vic.gov.au/about-ptv/media-centre/media-releases/public-transport-victoria-announces-shortlist-for-melbourne-metropolitan-bus-franchise/ |access-date=21 May 2013 |archive-date=3 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130503073116/http://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/about-ptv/media-centre/media-releases/public-transport-victoria-announces-shortlist-for-melbourne-metropolitan-bus-franchise/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news|last=Goeldner|first=David|title=First Group named in Melbourne’s final five|url=http://www.busnews.com.au/news/articleid/80794.aspx|access-date=22 May 2013|newspaper=Australasian Bus & Coach|date=27 August 2012|archive-date=27 April 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130427162038/http://www.busnews.com.au/news/articleid/80794.aspx|url-status=live}}
In April 2013, Transdev was awarded the franchise, with operations commencing on 4 August 2013.{{cite news |last1=Carey |first1=Adam |title=Anger as French company lands bus contract |url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/anger-as-french-company-lands-bus-contract-20130426-2ijd1.html |access-date=2021-10-14 |work=The Age |date=2013-04-26 |archive-date=4 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211004033102/https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/anger-as-french-company-lands-bus-contract-20130426-2ijd1.html |url-status=live }}{{cite press release |title=Preferred tenderer announced for the Melbourne Metropolitan Bus Franchise |date=26 April 2013 |publisher=Public Transport Victoria |url=http://ptv.vic.gov.au/about-ptv/media-centre/media-releases/preferred-tenderer-announced-for-the-melbourne-metropolitan-bus-franchise/ |access-date=21 May 2013 |archive-date=2 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130502163517/http://ptv.vic.gov.au/about-ptv/media-centre/media-releases/preferred-tenderer-announced-for-the-melbourne-metropolitan-bus-franchise/ |url-status=live }}{{cite press release |title=Transdev to begin operating the Melbourne Metropolitan Bus Franchise from Sunday 4 August |date=2 August 2013 |publisher=Public Transport Victoria |url=http://ptv.vic.gov.au/news-and-events/news/transdev-to-begin-operating-the-melbourne-metropolitan-bus-franchise-from-sunday-4-august/ |access-date=3 August 2013 |archive-date=4 August 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130804152211/http://ptv.vic.gov.au/news-and-events/news/transdev-to-begin-operating-the-melbourne-metropolitan-bus-franchise-from-sunday-4-august/ |url-status=live }} The franchise was to run for seven years with an option to extend for a further three years.{{cite news|last=Carey|first=Adam|title=Anger as French company lands bus contract|url=http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/anger-as-french-company-lands-bus-contract-20130426-2ijd1.html|access-date=21 May 2013|newspaper=The Age|date=26 April 2013|archive-date=13 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413070917/http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/anger-as-french-company-lands-bus-contract-20130426-2ijd1.html|url-status=live}} In December 2018, it was announced by the government that the three years extension option will not be taken up, but instead a six-month extension was granted, extending the contract to January 2021.{{cite web|url=https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/renewing-melbournes-biggest-bus-fleet/|title=Renewing Melbourne’s Biggest Bus Fleet|publisher=Premier of Victoria|date=15 December 2018|access-date=30 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215171241/https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/renewing-melbournes-biggest-bus-fleet/|archive-date=15 December 2018|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/extension-to-transdev-bus-contract-cut-short-as-100-new-buses-promised-20181214-p50mcg.html|title=Extension to Transdev bus contract cut short as 100 new buses promised|work=The Age|date=15 December 2018|access-date=30 August 2018|archive-date=15 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181215001651/https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/extension-to-transdev-bus-contract-cut-short-as-100-new-buses-promised-20181214-p50mcg.html|url-status=live}} However, in an apparent bid to save jobs and preserve stability in the bus industry due to COVID-19, the contract was extended to 31 January 2022.{{cite web|url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/pandemic-puts-brake-on-plan-for-new-city-bus-contract-20200722-p55ebx.html|title=Pandemic puts brake on plan for new city bus contract|work=The Age|date=26 July 2020|access-date=18 November 2020|archive-date=22 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201022104237/https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/pandemic-puts-brake-on-plan-for-new-city-bus-contract-20200722-p55ebx.html|url-status=live}}
In September 2017, safety inspections by Transport Safety Victoria at two Transdev bus depots found 33 defective buses. Twelve of the buses were in such poor condition that they were removed from service for urgent repairs.{{Cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/off-the-buses-transdev-buses-pulled-off-the-road-after-failing-safety-blitz-20170919-gykwod.html|title=Off the buses: Transdev buses pulled off the road after failing safety blitz|last=Carey|first=Adam|date=2017-09-20|work=The Age|access-date=2017-12-30|language=en-US|archive-date=30 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171230233556/http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/off-the-buses-transdev-buses-pulled-off-the-road-after-failing-safety-blitz-20170919-gykwod.html|url-status=live}}
After being re-tendered, the contract was awarded to Kinetic Melbourne, which took over on 31 January 2022.{{cite web|url=https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/new-bus-franchise-jump-start-zero-emissions-pledge|title=New Bus Franchise To Jump Start Zero Emissions Pledge|publisher=Premier of Victoria|date=2 October 2021|access-date=2 October 2021|archive-date=2 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211002042209/https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/new-bus-franchise-jump-start-zero-emissions-pledge|url-status=live}}
Routes
Transdev Melbourne originally took over the operation of 52 routes spanning Melbourne's metropolitan area, separated into three groups: 40 Eastern routes, nine Western routes and three SmartBus Orbital routes. It also operated 122 school bus services across metropolitan Melbourne.{{cite web|title=Invitation for Expressions of Interest Melbourne Metropolitan Bus Franchise Volume 2 – Melbourne and its Bus and Public Transport Networks|url=http://ptv.vic.gov.au/assets/PTV/PTV%20docs/Bus-franchise-tender-process/EOI-Volume-2.pdf|work=Public Transport Victoria|access-date=19 May 2013|archive-date=5 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105145952/http://ptv.vic.gov.au/assets/PTV/PTV%20docs/Bus-franchise-tender-process/EOI-Volume-2.pdf|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=Our Bus Routes|url=http://www.transdevmelbourne.com.au/travel-information/timetable-services/Urban-Buses/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130826210734/http://www.transdevmelbourne.com.au/travel-information/timetable-services/Urban-Buses/|url-status=dead|archive-date=26 August 2013|work=Transdev Melbourne|access-date=19 November 2013}}{{cite web|title=Metropolitan buses|url=http://ptv.vic.gov.au/timetables/|work=Public Transport Victoria|access-date=19 November 2013|archive-date=18 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131118172441/http://ptv.vic.gov.au/timetables|url-status=live}}
Fleet
Transdev Melbourne inherited a fleet of approximately 500 buses from Melbourne Bus Link, Ventura Bus Lines and SmartBus operators. When operations ceased in January 2022, the fleet consisted of 534 buses.[http://fleetlists.busaustralia.com/vic.php?flsummary=TRA Transdev Melbourne] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141105093356/http://fleetlists.busaustralia.com/vic.php?flsummary=TRA |date=5 November 2014 }} Australian Bus Fleet Lists
The Public Transport Victoria white and orange diamonds livery was being applied, except to SmartBus liveried buses that remained this livery.
Depots
Transdev Melbourne operated from five depots, with two satellite depots. The Eastern network (former National Bus Company) operated out of depots in Doncaster and Fitzroy North, while the Western network (former Melbourne Bus Link) operated depots in Footscray and Sandringham. The SmartBus Orbital fleet operated out of Keysborough depot (formerly owned by Grenda's Bus Service), as well as two interim satellite depots at Dysons in Reservoir, and Tullamarine Bus Lines in Airport West, with a requirement to establish a more permanent storage solution by 2017.
New depots opened at Heatherton, Sunshine West and Thomastown in September 2016, October 2016 and March 2017 to replace the Sandringham, Footscray and satellite depots respectively.[https://web.archive.org/web/20160301170336/http://www.transdevmelbourne.com.au/index.php?mact=NewsManager,cntnt01,frontend_article_details,0&cntnt01article_id=65&cntnt01returnid=21 Transdev to construct three new depots] Transdev Melbourne 27 January 2016[https://web.archive.org/web/20170219012237/http://www.transdevmelbourne.com.au/index.php?mact=NewsManager,cntnt01,frontend_article_details,0&cntnt01article_id=79&cntnt01returnid=21 New Heatherton depot open for business] Transdev Melbourne 7 September 2016[https://web.archive.org/web/20170219012224/http://www.transdevmelbourne.com.au/index.php?mact=NewsManager,cntnt01,frontend_article_details,0&cntnt01article_id=80&cntnt01returnid=21 New Sunshine West depot open for business] Transdev Melbourne 20 October 2016[https://web.archive.org/web/20170219013220/http://www.transdevmelbourne.com.au/index.php?mact=NewsManager,cntnt01,frontend_article_details,0&cntnt01article_id=77&cntnt01returnid=21 Construction begins on new state-of-the-art bus depot] Transdev Melbourne 28 July 2016 The Doncaster and Fitzroy North depots were also rebuilt as part of an upgrade program. A temporary depot was set up in North Melbourne while these works occurred.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{commons category-inline}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20220129082213/https://www.transdevmelbourne.com.au/ Company website]
{{Transdev|state=collapsed}}
Category:Bus companies of Victoria (state)
Category:Bus transport in Melbourne
Category:Defunct bus companies of Australia
Category:Transport companies established in 2013
Category:Transport companies disestablished in 2022