National Bus Company (Australia)

This article is about the National Bus Company in Australia. For the historic British company, see National Bus Company (UK).

Custom Coaches bodied MAN 15.220 in the
Ventura Bus Lines style livery
Slogan We're Moving You
Parent Ventura Bus Lines
Commenced operation 27 December 1993
Ceased operation 3 August 2013
Service area North, North-East, Eastern Melbourne
Service type Bus services
Routes 41
Destinations Bulleen
Kew Junction
Warrandyte
Hubs Deakin University
Doncaster Park & Ride
La Trobe University
Northland Shopping Centre
Pines Shopping Centre, Templestowe Village Shopping Centre
Westfield Doncaster
Stations Box Hill
Canterbury
Croydon
Mitcham
Ringwood
Depots Fitzroy North
Doncaster
Croydon
Website www.venturabus.com.au

National Bus Company was an Australian bus operator in Melbourne. Formed in December 1993 by Jim and Carol Bosnjak following the privatisation of some of the Public Transport Corporation's Melbourne bus services, it also held the pair's 57% shareholding in Sydney operator Westbus. In August 1997 it purchased Brisbane operator Bayside Buslines.

In May 1999 National Bus Company was purchased by British coach operator National Express.[1] In September 2004 National Express sold its Melbourne operations to Ventura Bus Lines, and Brisbane operations to Connex. In August 2013 National Bus Company's Melbourne services were transferred to Transdev Melbourne.

Melbourne

History

In 1993 the Kennett State Government put the state owned Public Transport Corporation services up for privatisation. The tender was won by Jim Bosnjak and sister in law Carol, who together held 57% of the shares in Sydney operator Westbus.

National Bus Company commenced operations on 27 December 1993 with a fleet of 61 Volvo B59 and 170 MAN SL200 former Public Transport Corporation buses and two depots located at Doncaster and Fitzroy North.[2][3]

National Bus Company placed an order for 157 Newnham Custom bodied Mercedes-Benz LO812 and O405 buses.[4] The LO812s were introduced under National's plan to introduce bus services in local areas previously not serviced by bus routes, along the lines of the Nepean Nipper scheme introduced in 1993 by Westbus in Penrith, the O405s were to replace older buses inherited from the Public Transport Corporation.

In September 2004 the Melbourne operations of National Bus Company were purchased by Ventura Bus Lines. At this time the company operated 268 buses along 44 northern and eastern suburbs bus routes.[5][6]

In April 2013 Transdev Melbourne won the tender to operate the Melbourne Metropolitan Bus Franchise from August 2013. The franchise operates 30% of Melbourne's services including those of National Bus Company.[7][8] National Bus Company ceased operating on 3 August 2013.

Ansair bodied MAN SL200 and Newnham Custom bodied Mercedes-Benz LO812 at Westfield Doncaster in March 2008
Ansair bodied MAN SL200 in 1997
Custom Coaches bodied MAN 15.220 outside Flinders Street station in February 2008

Depots

Fleet

When operations ceased in August 2013, National Bus Company operated 276 buses.[9] Upon formation in 1993, National Bus Company adopted the same cream and red colours as related company Westbus. It later adopted an all yellow livery before the two shades of blue of Ventura Bus Lines was adopted in 2004.

Brisbane

In August 1997 National Bus Company purchased the services of Bayside Buslines, Capalaba from Geoff Todd.[10] In September 2004 National Express sold the business to Connex.[11][12][13]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Acquisition of Australian urban bus operator National Bus Company National Express 10 May 1999
  2. ↑ "National Bus Company" Australian Bus Panorama 9/5 January 1994 page 31
  3. ↑ "PTC Fleet Break-Up Immediately Prior to National Bus Co Takeover" Australian Bus Panorama 9/6 February 1994 page 31
  4. ↑ "National Bus Company Hits the Road Running in Melbourne" Australian Bus Panorama 10/1 July 1994 page 11
  5. ↑ Selma Milovanovic (6 September 2004). "New driving force behind Melbourne's buses". The Age. Retrieved 16 February 2012.
  6. ↑ Ventura acquires National Bus Company Victoria Australasian Bus & Coach
  7. ↑ Preferred tenderer announced for the Melbourne Metropolitan Bus Franchise Public Transport Victoria 26 April 2013
  8. ↑ Anger as French company lands bus contract The Age 26 April 2013
  9. ↑ Ventura Group Australian Bus Fleet Lists
  10. ↑ "National Bus Co Takes Over Bayside" Australian Bus Panorama 13/1 August 1997 page 20
  11. ↑ National Express sells buses The Age (Melbourne) 22 September 2004
  12. ↑ Connex pursues further development in Australia Connex press release 7 September 2004
  13. ↑ Connex acquires Brisbane and Perth companies Australasian Bus & Coach
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