NEWS
BUSWAYS WINS SYDNEY REGION 7 BUS CONTRACT PRIVATE AUSTRALIAN bus operator Busways has confirmed industry rumours that it has more than doubled its Sydney operations following being awarded the Region 7 contract. NSW Minister for Transport and Roads, Andrew Constance, announced the award of one of Greater Sydney’s largest bus contracts to Busways. From January, 2022, Busways will operate almost 1.1 million trips per year for customers in the Lower North Shore and Inner North West for Greater Sydney Bus Contract 7, extending from Parramatta into the Sydney CBD, Busways says. It is the first time this network will be managed by a private operator, Busways confirms. With an appetite for collaborative government and industry partnerships, the company is working across five of TfNSW’s Future Transport Technology Roadmap’s six priority programs for transport technology and customer benefits, it says. This includes projects in zero-emissions technology, demand-responsive transport, automated passenger vehicle services, and real-time customer 8
information to improve customer experience on the NSW public transport network, it adds. Busways managing director Byron Rowe says Busways will focus on efficiencies, new technologies and improving the customer experience over the new eightyear contract, including the fleet transformation to zero-emissions electric buses. “By appointing Busways, the NSW government has backed an Australian-owned company to deliver world-class services for customers of the integrated transport network,” Rowe said. “We look forward to continuing our highly effective and positive working relationship with the NSW government, our partner for eight decades, to deliver customer value and introduce innovations that help more people to easily, quickly and safely use public transport.”
Above: From January, 2022, Busways will operate almost 1.1 million trips per year for customers in the Lower North Shore and Inner North West for Greater Sydney Bus Contract 7, it explains.
the company says. The win follows Busways’ expansion into South Australia last year. “We’re looking forward to welcoming the region’s employees to join our team,” said Rowe. “This is a priority for us. We will innovate around Covid-19 restrictions. “It’s important for people to have access to information and opportunities to chat and get to know us” he said. Rowe says Busways will make significant investment in enhancing services to improve customer journey experiences in the lower North Shore and inner North West, including fleet-wide upgrades for on-board CCTV, two-way radio systems and fleet presentation standards. Busways will work with Transport for NSW to electrify the fleet,
STAFF, OPERATION EXPANSION Under the contract, Busways will welcome around 900 employees, 453 buses and two depots to the company’s expanding operations, solidifying its position as Australia’s largest privately owned bus operator,
ABC August 2021 busnews.com.au
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17/08/2021 1:08:18 PM