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File:ComfortDelGro Australian logo.png
Hillsbus Volgren bodied Scania K280UB at Castle Hill bus interchange in July 2013
ParentComfortDelGro
Founded2005
Service areaAlice Springs
Ballarat
Blue Mountains
Central Queensland
Canberra-Queanbeyan
Darwin
Geelong
Melbourne
Northern Territory
NSW Central Coast
NSW Far West
NSW Hunter Region
NSW North Coast
NSW Southern Tablelands
Sunshine Coast
Sydney
Victorian Sunraysia Region
Service typeBus services
Taxi services
Patient transport
OperatorBlanch's Bus Service
Blue Mountains Transit
Brunswick Valley Coaches
Buslink
CDC Ballarat
CDC Broken Hill
CDC Fleet
CDC Geelong
CDC Melbourne
CDC Mildura
CDC Travel
Forest Coach Lines
Hillsbus
Hunter Valley Buses
Qcity Transit
Transborder Express
Chief executiveNicolas Yap (Wayne Jeff as CEO of CDC NSW)
Websitewww.cdcbus.com.au (CDC NSW)
www.cdcvictoria.com.au (CDC Victoria)

ComfortDelGro Australia is a major Australian public transport company. Founded in October 2005 as ComfortDelGro Cabcharge, a joint venture between Singapore-based ComfortDelGro (51%) and Australian Cabcharge (49%), today it is a wholly owned subsidiary of ComfortDelGro.

History

Former ComfortDelGro Cabcharge logo

A joint venture, known as ComfortDelGro Cabcharge (CDC), was established between ComfortDelGro (51%) and Cabcharge Australia (49%) in October 2005 to purchase loss-making Westbus Group, which included Westbus (both Australia & UK), Hillsbus and Blue Ribbon from National Express and the Bosnjak family.[1] Blue Ribbon was rebranded Hunter Valley Buses at the same time. After the purchase, Westbus UK continued independently from the Westbus in Australia, despite bearing the latter's name, old logo and livery to this day. It became part of CityFleet Networks, initially also a joint venture between ComfortDelGro and Cabcharge, and now a wholly owned subsidiary of ComfortDelGro in the United Kingdom.[2] Cabcharge sold both of its stakes in CDC and CityFleet to ComfortDelGro in February and June 2017 respectively.[3] [4][5]

In August 2006 the routes of Baxter's Bus Lines were purchased by and absorbed into Westbus Region 3 operations.[6][7] In August 2007, Morisset Bus Service, Sugar Valley Coachlines and Toronto Bus Service were purchased and absorbed into Hunter Valley Buses.[8] In June 2008 a bus charter division was established under the Charterplus name.

Kefford Corporation in Victoria was purchased in November 2008.[9] The group was renamed CDC Victoria, but the names of the bus companies within the group were retained until replaced by the CDC brand in 2014.

In September 2012 Deane's Transit Group comprising Deane's Buslines (renamed as Qcity Transit) and Transborder Express in southern New South Wales were purchased.[10][11] In August 2014, CDC purchased Blue Mountains Bus Company, which was subsequently renamed Blue Mountains Transit in December 2014.[12]

In December 2016 ComfortDelgro announced it had agreed to purchase Cabcharge's 49% stake.[3][13][14] The sale was completed on 16 February 2017 after Foreign Investment Review Board approval was granted.[15] The former joint venture was then renamed ComfortDelGro Corporation Australia, still keeping the abbreviation CDC.

In April 2018, ComfortDelgro acquired Tullamarine Bus Lines in Melbourne and integrated it into CDC Melbourne in August 2018.[16][17] At the same time, it acquired National Patient Transport, one of the largest private providers of non-emergency patient transport services in Australia.[18] In August 2018, ComfortDelgro acquired Coastal Liner on the Central Coast, and in September 2018, Forest Coach Lines with operations in Sydney, the Mid North Coast and North West Slopes.[19][20][21]

In November 2018, the Buslink business was acquired with 401 buses operating in the Northern Territory, Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria.[22][23] In the same month, Charterplus was renamed CDC Travel.

In April 2019, ComfortDelGro acquired Blanch’s Bus Company and Brunswick Valley Coaches with a fleet of 48 buses and coaches in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales.[24][25]

Operations

ComfortDelgro Corporation Australia operates:

CDC NSW

CDC NSW is the largest commuter bus operator having overtaken State Transit in 2018/2019, with the acquisition of Forest Coach Lines and Coastal Liner in that period.

Westbus

Main article: Westbus

Westbus was a bus operator who operated bus services in Western Sydney. It was one of the first companies to be bought by ComfortDelGro Cabcharge in 2005. Until its cessation, Westbus' services were part of Sydney Bus Regions 1 and 3.[26][27] In 2012, these regions were put out to tender by Transport for NSW. Westbus' bids to retain both regions were not successful, with the Region 1 services operating out of St Marys and Windsor passing to Busways, while the Region 3 services operated by Bonnyrigg and Girraween passing to Transit Systems Sydney, both in October 2013.[28][29][30] As a result, Westbus ceased to operate routes, with remaining bus fleet transferred to other ComfortDelGro Cabcharge subsidiaries.

Hillsbus

Main article: Hillsbus

Hillsbus a bus operator who operates bus services in the Hills District in Sydney. It was one of the first companies to be bought by ComfortDelGro Cabcharge in 2005. Since 2005, Hillsbus' services have formed Sydney Bus Region 4.[31] In August 2013 Hillsbus successfully tendered to operate the Region 4 services for another five years from August 2014.[32][33]

Hunter Valley Buses

Hunter Valley Buses is a bus operator who operates bus, coach and charter services in the Central Coast and Hunter regions of New South Wales. Previously known as Blue Ribbon, it was one of the first companies to be bought by ComfortDelGro Cabcharge from in 2005. Since 2008, Hunter Valley Buses' services have formed Outer Sydney Metropolitan Bus Regions 2 and 4.[34] In August 2018, its service area expanded to include Outer Sydney Metropolitan Bus Region 11 after the purchase of Coastal Liner.

The origins of Hunter Valley Buses can be traced back to 1926 when Amos Fogg founded the operation. Having taken control of Hunter Valley Coaches, Maitland and purchased Linsley Brothers, Wallsend along with their Raymond Terrace routes, all were rebranded as Blue Ribbon. In October 1989 Fellowes Bus Service, Swansea was purchased followed by Singleton Bus Service in March 1992.[35][36]

In December 1993, most of the coach operations were sold to Sid Fogg's in exchange for some route services.[37] In 1999 the Maitland, Wallsend and Raymond Terrace depots were consolidated at a new site in Thornton. In February 2000 Blue Ribbon was sold to National Bus Company with 162 buses and coaches.[38] In October 2005 Blue Ribbon was purchased by ComfortDelGro Cabcharge and rebranded as Hunter Valley Buses.

In August 2007, Morisset Bus Service, Sugar Valley Coachlines and Toronto Bus Service were purchased from Robert Hertogs and consolidated into the Hunter Valley Buses operation.[8]

On 1 August 2018, Coastal Liner that operated Outer Sydney Metropolitan Bus Region 11 services and charter operations was acquired.[19][20] It now operates as part of Hunter Valley Buses although the brand is retained.

As of August 2019, Hunter Valley Buses operates 319 buses and coaches across five depots.[6] Upon formation Blue Ribbon adopted a livery of two blues for its route service buses and coaches and white and blue for school buses. Upon being rebranded as Hunter Valley Buses the same allover yellow scheme as used by Hillsbus and Westbus was adopted. In 2010 the Transport for NSW white and blue livery began to be applied.

CDC Travel

CDC Travel is CDC's bus charter division for its Sydney and Blue Mountains operations.[39] Initially established as Charterplus in 2008 to centralise the charter operations between the Hillsbus depots, this was expanded to the Westbus depots in 2009.[40] It organises charters for the CDC group, CDC rail bus workings, as well as CDC's special event commitments. Charterplus was renamed CDC Travel in November 2018. Originally based at Bonnyrigg, all Sydney CDC Travel vehicles are now based at the St Marys depot with some vehicles based in the Blue Mountains.

As of August 2019, CDC Travel operates 55 buses transferred from both the New South Wales and Victorian operations.[6]

Blue Mountains Transit

In August 2014, CDC purchased Blue Mountains Bus Company with 101 buses.[12][41] It operated depots in Emu Plains, Leura and Valley Heights.[42] Founded in 1951 as Pearce Omnibus, it operated services in the lower Blue Mountains. In 1999, it expanded with the purchase of Katoomba-Leura Bus Service, followed in 2002 by Blue Mountains Bus Co. On 1 December 2014, CDC formally took over the operations of Blue Mountains Bus Company and rebranded it as Blue Mountains Transit.

Blue Mountains Transit now operates 89 buses as of August 2019, across the same 3 depots, which includes the recent additions of 14 ex-StationLink buses in July 2019.[43]

QCity and Transborder Express

Main articles: Qcity Transit and Transborder Express
Deane's Buslines P&D Coachworks bodied Volvo B7RLE in Canberra in November 2009

In September 2012, CDC purchased Deane's Transit Group which comprised Deane's Buslines which operates local services in Queanbeyan and into Canberra, and Transborder Express which runs services between Yass, Murrumbateman, Hall and Canberra. Both brands also operate school services within their service region. On 8 July 2013, Deane's Buslines was rebranded as Qcity Transit.

As at August 2019, the combined QCity Transit and Transborder Express fleet consists of 116 buses.[44]

Forest Coach Lines

Main article: Forest Coach Lines

Forest Coach Lines is a bus and coach operator which operates in the Northern Suburbs of Sydney, the Mid North Coast, and North West Slopes regions in New South Wales. It was acquired by ComfortDelGro in August 2018.[19][20]

CDC Victoria

Westrans Volgren bodied Volvo B7L at Sunshine station in December 2013

In November 2008, when ComfortDelGro Cabcharge entered the Victorian bus market with the acquisition of Kefford Corporation for A$149 million,[9] with its fleet of 328 buses and six depots. Kefford was the fourth largest bus operator in Victoria, with a 16% market share. The fleets retained their individual identities and liveries, with small CDC Victoria markings. Initially, the fleet continued to operate as Eastrans and Westrans in Melbourne, Benders Busways in Geelong and Davis Bus Lines in Ballarat.

In July 2013, the route operations of the Driver Group were acquired for A$22 million comprising five routes (612 and 623 - 626) and 42 buses, and integrated into the Eastrans brand.[45][46][47]

On 14 July 2014, CDC Victoria launched a new website for its four Victorian brands. Benders Busways was renamed as CDC Geelong and Davis Bus Lines to CDC Ballarat.[48] In October 2014, Westrans and Eastrans were united and rebranded as CDC Melbourne. At the time, CDC Victoria had six depots and operated 446 buses.[49]

In May 2018, CDC Victoria acquired Tullamarine Bus Lines, with its six routes (477-479, 484, 490 and 543) and 36 buses, and integrated it into CDC Melbourne in August 2018.[16][20][17] Also included in the purchase is Tullamarine's small taxi management business called Cabways, which was renamed CDC Fleet in November 2018, and operates 13CABS and Silver Top branded taxis.[50][51][52]

CDC Victoria's subsidiaries are:

CDC Melbourne is the third-largest commuter bus operator in Melbourne, with 16% of the market share in the city.[56] Ventura Bus Lines is the largest privately owned bus company in Australia and Transdev Melbourne is Melbourne's second biggest bus operator with 1/3 of the market.[57]

Main article: Buslink

Buslink is a bus operator which operates in Alice Springs, Darwin, Jabiru and Humpty Doo in Northern Territory, as well as Gladstone, Sunshine Coast, Broken Hill, Wentworth and Mildura in other Australian states. It was acquired by ComfortDelGro in November 2018.[22] The Broken Hill operations were rebranded CDC Broken Hill in 2019 while the Wentworth and Mildura operations became CDC Mildura, both of which moved to CDC Victoria's control.[55][54]

Blanch's Bus Company

Blanch's Bus Company operate scheduled route and school bus services in the Ballina, Lennox Head, Byron Bay and Mullumbimby areas of Northern NSW out of depots in Ballina and Billinudgel. Established in 1976, Brunswick Valley Coaches was purchased in 2010 with the brand retained.[58] It was acquired by ComfortDelGro in April 2019.[24]

National Patient Transport

National Patient Transport is one of the largest private providers of non-emergency patient transport services in Australia. ComfortDelGro acquired National Patient Transport in April 2018.[18]

Other ComfortDelGro operations in Australia

These operations are operations of ComfortDelGro in Australia that are not part of ComfortDelGro Corporation Australia.

Swan Taxis

Swan Taxis Toyota Camry with Comfortdelgro livery

ComfortDelGro fully owns Swan Taxis, a taxi company operates taxis in Perth. Swan Taxis was formed by Matt Reid in 1928 and in October 2010, it was acquired by ComfortDelGro after an offer was made in July earlier that year.[59][60][61] In October 2017, Swan Taxis acquired Metro WA Taxi Management Pty Ltd (Metro Taxi), the largest taxi management company in Perth.[61] The acquisition marked Swan Taxis' entry into fleet management and ownership.[62]

Being wholly owned by ComfortDelGro since acquisition, the Swan Taxis operation was never part of the ComfortDelGro Cabcharge joint venture, and therefore remains a separate entity to ComfortDelGro Corporation Australia.[62]

Purple Coaches

A second hand Volvo B10M operated by Purple Coaches, seen at Ern Clark Athletic Track in Cannington.

Purple Coaches is a private charter bus operator based in Bayswater, Perth. It was acquired by ComfortDelGro in August 2018.[63] As of December 2018, Purple Coaches (legal name ComforDelGro Swan Pty Ltd) is a subsidiary of Swans Taxis, and hence it is also not a subsidiary of ComfortDelGro Corporation Australia.[56]

References

  1. ^ "New Westbus owners guarantee jobs, services". Sydney Morning Herald. 22 August 2005.
  2. ^ Annual Report year ended 30 June 2014 Cabcharge
  3. ^ a b "ComfortDelGro buys out Aussie subsidiary Cabcharge for $196m". Straits Times. 21 December 2016. Retrieved 10 August 2018.
  4. ^ "ComfortDelGro to buy remaining stake in CityFleet Networks for S$14 million". Business Times. 28 June 2017. Retrieved 10 August 2018.
  5. ^ "Cabcharge sells stake in CityFleet for $13.3m". 29 June 2017. Retrieved 10 August 2018.
  6. ^ a b c CDC Group Australian Bus Fleetlists
  7. ^ "Changes Galore in Sydney" Buses Worldwide November 2007 page 8
  8. ^ a b Toronto Bus Service Australian Bus Fleet Lists
  9. ^ a b Kefford Group finds a buyer Australian Bus & Coach 20 November 2008
  10. ^ Deane's buses sold for $53 million ABC News 4 August 2012
  11. ^ Deane's sold Australasian Bus & Coach 3 August 2012
  12. ^ a b Cabcharge buys bus company for $26.5 million Blue Mountains Gazette 13 August 2014
  13. ^ Acquisition of Shares in ComfortDelGro Cabcharge Pty Ltd Archived 6 January 2017 at the Wayback Machine ComfortDelGro 21 December 2016
  14. ^ Cabcharge departs Aust bus market Special Broadcasting Service 21 December 2016
  15. ^ Australia Bus Archived 3 November 2014 at the Wayback Machine ComfortDelgro
  16. ^ a b "CDC Victoria further strengthens bus footprint in Victoria" (PDF). CDC Victoria. 13 April 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 June 2018. Retrieved 8 August 2018. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  17. ^ a b "CDC Victoria - Unite! Newsletter - September 2018" (PDF). CDC Victoria. September 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 April 2019. Retrieved 30 August 2019. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  18. ^ a b "ComfortDelGro Expands Into Non-Emergency Patient Transport Services In Australia" (PDF). ComfortDelgro. 9 April 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 May 2019. Retrieved 10 May 2019. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  19. ^ a b c "ComfortDelGro Deepens Footprint In Australia With Two Acquisitions Totalling A$134.45 Million". ComfortDelgro. 7 August 2018. Archived from the original on 8 August 2018. Retrieved 8 August 2018. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  20. ^ a b c d "ComfortDelGro invests S$136.5m in Australian bus assets". Channel NewsAsia. 7 August 2018. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
  21. ^ End of an era for Forest Coach Lines Manly Daily 28 September 2018
  22. ^ CDC to Buy Buslink for AUD$190M - Its Largest Australian Purchase to Date Australasian Bus & Coach 6 November 2018
  23. ^ a b "Comfortdelgro Further Deepens Footprint In Australia With A$28.3 Million Bus Acquisition". ComfortDelGro. 23 April 2019. Archived from the original on 8 May 2019. Retrieved 8 May 2019. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  24. ^ ComfortDelGro buys Australian bus operator B&E Blanch for A$28.3m Business Times 23 April 2019
  25. ^ Region 1 Archived 25 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine Transport NSW
  26. ^ Region 3 Archived 25 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine Transport NSW
  27. ^ Cut costs or bus contracts will go to private sector, minister tells drivers Sydney Morning Herald 7 November 2012
  28. ^ Busways wins 300 bus contract in Western Sydney Archived 26 April 2013 at the Wayback Machine Busways 7 November 2012
  29. ^ Transit Systems awarded Sydney buses contract Archived 25 April 2013 at the Wayback Machine Transit Systems 7 November 2012
  30. ^ Region 4 Archived 25 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine Transport NSW
  31. ^ More than 60 new buses and improved customer service with new bus contracts Transport for NSW 29 August 2013
  32. ^ Annual Report 2013 page 4 Archived 5 May 2014 at the Wayback Machine Cabcharge
  33. ^ Outer Metropolitan Sydney Bus Contract Regions 1, 2, 3 and 4 Archived 22 June 2014 at the Wayback Machine, NSW Government Transport and Infrastructure, Retrieved 8 July 2014
  34. ^ New South Wales Bus Operators and Fleet Listings. Sydney: Historic Commercial Vehicle Association. 1993. pp. 20, 115.
  35. ^ Blue Ribbon Coaches Australian Bus Fleet Lists
  36. ^ "Ownership changes" Fleetline March 1994 page 56
  37. ^ "Blue Ribbon Sells to National Express" Australian Bus Panorama issue 15/4 February 2000 page 29
  38. ^ CDC Travel CDC NSW
  39. ^ "History & operations". CDC Victoria. Archived from the original on 20 March 2019. Retrieved 20 March 2019. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  40. ^ "Australia - Sydney, New South Wales". ComfortDelGro. Archived from the original on 3 November 2014. Retrieved 3 November 2014. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  41. ^ Blue Mountains Bus Company Australian Bus Fleet Lists
  42. ^ CDC/Blue Mountains Transit Australian Bus Fleet Lists
  43. ^ Deane's Buslines Australian Bus Fleet Lists
  44. ^ "ComfortDelGro Expands Melbourne Operations Through A $22.0 Million Acquisition" (PDF). ComfortDelGro. 20 May 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 November 2013. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  45. ^ Skelton, Andrew (20 May 2013). "Acquisition of further Bus Route Service Business in Melbourne" (PDF).
  46. ^ "Updates and News". CDC Victoria. Archived from the original on 6 June 2014.
  47. ^ CDC A brand new look for CDC Victoria Archived 3 November 2014 at the Wayback Machine
  48. ^ CDC Group Australian Bus Fleet Lists
  49. ^ "Current details for ABN 65 004 836 551". ABN Lookup. Archived from the original on 20 March 2019. Retrieved 20 March 2019. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  50. ^ "CDC Vic pays deposit for north-west Melbourne bus operator". Australasian Bus & Coach. 13 April 2018. Archived from the original on 9 May 2018. Retrieved 20 March 2019. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  51. ^ "About CDC Fleet". CDC Fleet. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  52. ^ a b United Revamped CDC Victoria June 2019
  53. ^ a b Current details for ABN 45 004 367 471 ABN Lookup
  54. ^ a b "$2 million bus upgrade". Barrier Daily Truth. 5 June 2019. Retrieved 12 August 2019.
  55. ^ a b "Annual Report 2018". ComfortDelGro. Archived from the original on 10 May 2019. Retrieved 10 May 2019. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  56. ^ Off the buses: Transdev buses pulled off the road after failing safety blitz
  57. ^ B&E Blanch Bus Lists of Australia
  58. ^ "About Our Company". Swan Taxis. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
  59. ^ "$38m offer for Swan Taxis". WA Today. 16 July 2010. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
  60. ^ a b "Australia - Perth". ComfortDelGro. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
  61. ^ a b "Annual Report 2017". ComfortDelGro. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
  62. ^ "Australia - Perth". ComfortDelGro. Archived from the original on 30 August 2018. Retrieved 30 August 2019. {{cite web}}: |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch; 30 August 2019 suggested (help); Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
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