New Transport Operator

WITH ALMOST 5,000 EMPLOYEES W AND A PRESENCE IN FIVE STATES, A KEOLIS DOWNER IS A LEADING OPERATOR AND INTEGRATOR OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT IN AUSTRALIA. THE COMPANY ENABLES 250 MILLION PASSENGER JOURNEYS EVERY YEAR AND OPERATES ONE OF THE WORLD’S LARGEST TRAM NETWORKS IN MELBOURNE.

MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION

IN CASE YOU WEREN’T AWARE, NORTHERN BEACHES BUSES HAVE A BRAND NEW OPERATOR. AND WITH THEIR HEARTFELT MANTRA, ‘THINK LIKE A PASSENGER’, KEOLIS DOWNER ARE COMMITTED TO CARING FOR LOCALS.

If you jump on a bus on the Northern Beaches this Summer, you’ll be happy to know you’re in good hands.

Earlier this year, Transport for New South Wales announced that Keolis Downer would operate and maintain bus services in the Northern Beaches and the lower North Shore as part of an eight year contract from October 31, 2021.

The company is Australia’s largest provider of multi-modal public transport and the contract includes 406 buses out of Brookvale, Mona Vale, and North Sydney depots. It will also see the introduction of 125 electric buses over the next eight years, which means smarter and more sustainable transport from two newly electrifi ed depots in Brookvale and Mona Vale.

“We are very proud to partner with TfNSW to support the future growth and transformation of the Northern Beaches. Drawing on our experience locally and globally, we will launch a range of new initiatives to enhance the customer experience building from the already excellent bus services in the area,” comments David Franks, Keolis Downer CEO.

KEEPING IT LOCAL

Working closely with State Transit Authority, Keolis Downer is really pleased to welcome close to 900 experienced operational, maintenance and support staff to continue the great service passengers are used to.

Mark Dunlop, Managing Director of Keolis Downer Northern Beaches (KDNB), said, “It’s an honour to be welcoming such an experienced workforce to continue providing quality service for our customers.”

“Most of our bus operators have been driving local bus routes for years. They know the network and are committed to delivering high quality customer service while getting passengers from point A to point B.”

“Leveraging off this wealth of knowledge, Keolis Downer Northern supports a diverse workforce and encourages all to apply.

Mark Dunlop, Managing Director of Keolis Downer Northern Beaches says, “What makes working with us so special is our culture, one that embraces our core values and shared commitment to an inclusive, customer and safetyfocused approach.

“We are proud to recruit, train and retain talented professionals throughout our operations, and are looking for hard working people to join us in servicing the transportation needs of our local community in the Northern Beaches and Lower North Shore.”

Beaches will continue to build on their customer service values and promote the Think Like a Passenger ethos.”

Many locals are already familiar with Keolis Downer thanks to Keoride, an On Demand transport service, connecting customers from Palm Beach to North Narrabeen to B-Line bus stops. The popular app-based service has been operating on the Beaches since 2017 and has clocked up over half million passenger trips. Keoride will become a permanent feature of the public transport network as part of Keolis Downer Northern Beaches operations.

With Keoride being the most successful On Demand service in Australia, CEO David Franks confi rms, “The Keolis Downer customer culture is a major reason for the success of this service.

“Our drivers are part of the community and go through extensive training enabling them to deliver an optimal passenger experience. They are committed to go above and beyond to keep our customers happy.”

Keoride will be introducing four new vehicles to the already eight strong fl eet. Four accessible mini-buses will allow for increased passenger capacity, with the ability to transport up to 18 people including wheelchairs and prams.

With new headquarters planned for Warriewood by the end of this year, Keoride will be an established operation and a familiar face on the beaches, offering safe and reliable transport to complement a busy and complex bus service.

PANDEMICPROOF EMPLOYMENT

While many businesses have suffered over the past 18 months, Keolis Downer have continued to recruit nationally with a new focus at a local level to meet renewed demand for public transport.

As we emerge from COVID, there are great opportunities for the Northern Beaches community. Keolis Downer is advertising for Bus Operators of all levels of experience. Future campaigns will be targeted at a range of roles including apprentices. Keolis Downer For information on Keolis Downer Northern Beaches, visit www.kdnorthernbeaches.com.au and for information to plan your trip visit www.transportnsw.info.

TRAINEESHIPS & APPRENTICESHIPS

With a commitment to ongoing traineeships for operational staff, and apprenticeships in mechanics and maintenance, Keolis Downer continues to nurture interest in transport services and supports individuals who are looking to start their work journey or change career direction later in life.

Learning and Development programs are open to all staff and cover topics such as cultural awareness, inclusion and diversity, transport accessibility and disability awareness, to name a few. With a holistic approach to learning and development, staff are able to apply what they learn into real world environments.

For information about careers and traineeships visit www.kdnorthernbeaches.com.au/ career-opportunities •

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