Busabout Sydney Explained

Parent:Joe & Tony Calabro
Commenced:November 1947
Ceased: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

Busabout Sydney was a bus company that operated route bus services in South West Sydney, Australia. It operated on behalf of Transport for NSW.

History

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

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.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: New South Wales Bus Operators and Fleet Listings. 1993. Historic Commercial Vehicle Association. Sydney. 66, 73.
  2. "Contractor changes in Sydney regions 2 and 15" Australian Bus issue 64 July 2014 pages 38/39
  3. "Ownership and route changes" Fleetline October 1994 page 193
  4. http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/parlment/hansart.nsf/86ca1d5c167e46c8ca2571ca000080c8/5a7604a2961dfe29ca2578930023acfd?OpenDocument Tribute to Frank Calabro
  5. "Calabro's Sold" Fleetline November 1989 page 176
  6. "Stateliner takes over Greyhound" Australian Bus Panorama 5/5 March 1990 page 23
  7. "Surfside Bus Lines" Australian Bus Panorama 6/6 February 1991 page 45
  8. "Ownership changes" Fleetline July 1991 page 118
  9. "Liverpool Transport" Australian Bus Panorama 13/2 October 1997 page 44
  10. "Fearne's is sold to Sydney firm" The Daily Advertiser (Wagga Wagga) 7 December 2008
  11. http://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/file/abouttrans/Region-2.pdf Region 2
  12. http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/cut-costs-or-bus-contracts-will-go-to-private-sector-minister-tells-drivers-20121106-28w5t.html Cut costs or bus contracts will go to private sector, minister tells drivers
  13. http://www.transitsystems.com.au/articles/204-transit-systems-awarded-sydney-buses-contract Transit Systems awarded Sydney buses contract
  14. http://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/media-releases/more-60-new-buses-and-improved-customer-service-new-bus-contracts More than 60 new buses and improved customer service with new bus contracts
  15. https://web.archive.org/web/20140510222631/http://busabout.com.au/news.html Busabout News May 2014
  16. https://web.archive.org/web/20140418220602/http://www.busways.com.au/region/campbelltown Busways Campbelltown April 2014
  17. http://busabout.com.au/pdf/newsletter_jun_2015.pdf Busabout Newsletter
  18. http://fleetlists.busaustralia.com/buc.php?search=BUC&depotreq=Busabout+Sydney Busabout Campbelltown, Smeaton Grange & West Hoxton