Summary
Busabout Sydney was a bus company that operated route bus services in South West Sydney, Australia. It operated on behalf of Transport for NSW.
 | |
 | |
| Parent | Joe & Tony Calabro |
|---|---|
| Commenced operation | November 1947 |
| Ceased operation | 7 October 2023 |
| Headquarters | Smeaton Grange |
| Service area | South West Sydney |
| Service type | Bus services |
| Alliance | Busabout Wagga Wagga Hawkesbury Valley Buses |
| Hubs | Campbelltown station |
| Depots | 3 |
| Fleet | 124 (December 2020) |
| Website | www.busabout.com.au |
History edit
In November 1947, Sid Neville purchased route 58 Liverpool - Leppington - Rossmore - Bringelly from MB & AK Scott. In April 1955, Neville purchased route 94 Liverpool - Ingleburn from Liverpool-Ingleburn Bus Service. In the 1960s, a coach charter business was established under the Coachways brand.[1][2]
In 1994, Joe and Tony Calabro bought a 50% share of Neville's Bus Service with the operation rebranded as Busabout.[3]
The Calabro family had a long history with the south-western suburbs, having operated services in Bonnyrigg from 1951[4] until selling the operation to Westbus in June 1989 with 70 buses and coaches.[5] Joe and Tony Calabro subsequently purchased Surfside Buslines in October 1989[6][7] followed by Hawkesbury Valley in November 1990.[8]
In September 1997, the Calabros purchased Liverpool Transport Co from the Garrard family, who operated services from Liverpool to Miller, Austral, Hillview and Cartwright.[1][2][9] In October 2001, the Calabros purchased the remaining shares in Busabout and it was amalgamated with Liverpool Transport Co at the latter's West Hoxton depot under the Busabout name.
On 2 December 2008, the Calabros purchased the Fearne's Coaches business in Wagga Wagga and Harden and rebranded it as Busabout Wagga Wagga.[2][10]
From 2005 to 2013, Busabout's services were part of Sydney Bus Region 2, with some routes part of Region 3.[11] On 13 October 2013, Transit Systems took over Region 3 having won a tender to operate the new region including two routes that were operated by Busabout.[12][13]
On 1 June 2014, Busabout's Sydney Bus Region 2 services passed to Interline and Busabout took over the Sydney Bus Region 15 services from Busways.[14][15][16] A new depot in region 15 opened 20 January 2015.[17]
Fleet edit
As at December 2020, the fleet consists of 124 buses.[18] Since 2001 all purchases have been bodied at the Calabro's Bustech operation. With the introduction of the Busabout name in 1994, a white, green and yellow livery was introduced. In 2010 the Transport for NSW white and blue livery began to be applied.
References edit
- ^ a b New South Wales Bus Operators and Fleet Listings. Sydney: Historic Commercial Vehicle Association. 1993. pp. 66, 73.
- ^ a b c "Contractor changes in Sydney regions 2 and 15" Australian Bus issue 64 July 2014 pages 38/39
- ^ "Ownership and route changes" Fleetline October 1994 page 193
- ^ Tribute to Frank Calabro Archived 12 November 2014 at the Wayback Machine Hansard NSW Parliament 6 May 2011
- ^ "Calabro's Sold" Fleetline November 1989 page 176
- ^ "Stateliner takes over Greyhound" Australian Bus Panorama 5/5 March 1990 page 23
- ^ "Surfside Bus Lines" Australian Bus Panorama 6/6 February 1991 page 45
- ^ "Ownership changes" Fleetline July 1991 page 118
- ^ "Liverpool Transport" Australian Bus Panorama 13/2 October 1997 page 44
- ^ "Fearne's is sold to Sydney firm" The Daily Advertiser (Wagga Wagga) 7 December 2008
- ^ Region 2 Archived 25 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine Transport NSW
- ^ Cut costs or bus contracts will go to private sector, minister tells drivers Archived 5 March 2013 at the Wayback Machine Sydney Morning Herald 7 November 2012
- ^ Transit Systems awarded Sydney buses contract Archived 25 April 2013 at the Wayback Machine Transit Systems 7 November 2012
- ^ More than 60 new buses and improved customer service with new bus contracts Archived 8 September 2013 at the Wayback Machine Transport for NSW 29 August 2013
- ^ Busabout News May 2014, Retrieved 11 May 2014
- ^ Busways Campbelltown April 2014, Retrieved 18 April 2014
- ^ Busabout Newsletter Archived 29 February 2016 at the Wayback Machine Busabout June 2015
- ^ Busabout Campbelltown, Smeaton Grange & West Hoxton Archived 2 June 2014 at the Wayback Machine Australian Bus Fleet Lists
External links edit
Media related to Busabout Sydney at Wikimedia Commons- Showbus gallery
