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Outer Sydney Metropolitan Bus Service Contracts

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The Outer Sydney Metropolitan Bus Service Contracts (OSMBSC)[1] are contracts issued by the Government of New South Wales to bus operators in areas surrounding Sydney. These regions include the Hunter Region, Central Coast, Illawarra and the Blue Mountains. In 2016–17, 21.6 million passenger journeys were made on Outer Metropolitan bus services.[2]

History

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Red Bus Services' Express bodied Iveco Metro in Transport for NSW livery in September 2013

The OSMBSC was initially made up of ten bus system contract regions, OSMBSC 1 to 10.[3] These regions were declared and appeared in the NSW Government Gazette on 1 August 2008.[3][4]

Unlike the Sydney Metropolitan Bus Service Contracts which are put out to open tender, the government has indicated it does not intend to go down this path with the OSMBSCs, but negotiate with the incumbent operators.[5][6]

Like the bus contracts in Sydney, a requirement of the OSMBSC contracts is that operators cease using their own liveries and adopt a standardised white and two blues livery as prescribed by Transport for NSW. This livery was first implemented from 2010. As of 2014, the transition to the standardised livery is ongoing.

Originally, regions OSMBSC 6 and OSMBSC 9 each had two operators.[7] In 2013-2014, each of the operators in OSMBSC 6 and OSMBSC 9 were offered separate individual contracts, resulting in the creation of two new regions OSMBSC 11 & 12 from OSMBSC 6 and OSMBSC 9 respectively.[8] This gives a total of 12 regions, with each region having one operator. There was no change of operators or takeover of services between operators. However, Coastal Liner (now Hunter Valley Buses) continues to operate some trips on routes 78, 80, 91 and 98 in Busways region OSMBSC 6.[9][10][11][12]

All OSMBSC contracts were renewed between 1 July 2014 and 2 January 2015, including the Newcastle Buses & Ferries contract for region 5, which was renewed for three years from 1 July 2014.[8][13] At the end of the three year renewal, region 5 was replaced by NISC 001, with Keolis Downer operating as Newcastle Transport taking over bus and ferry services from Newcastle Buses & Ferries in July 2017.

It was announced in July 2021 that OSMBSC regions 6 and 7 would be put up to tender.[14] OSMBSC region 7 was put out to tender in September 2021.[15] Both incumbent operators for OSMBSC regions 6 and 7 (Busways and Red Bus Services respectively) retained the contracts, with the new contracts commencing on 28 and 6 July 2024 for seven and eight years respectively.[16][17]

Regions

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The list of regions and its respective operators in the Transport for NSW or the eTendering NSW website.[7] The information is accurate as of July 2024.

Hunter, Newcastle & Central Coast

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Region Location Operators End date of
current contract
OSMBSC 1[18] Cessnock, Kurri Kurri Rover Coaches
(Buslines Group) 		30 June 2028[19]
OSMBSC 2[18] Maitland, Raymond Terrace Hunter Valley Buses
(CDC NSW) 		30 June 2028[20]
OSMBSC 3[18] Port Stephens Port Stephens Coaches 30 June 2028[21]
OSMBSC 4[18] Toronto, Wyee, Morisset Hunter Valley Buses
(CDC NSW) 		30 June 2028[22]
NISC 1
(formerly OSMBSC 5) 		Newcastle, Charlestown Newcastle Transport
(Keolis Downer) 		30 June 2027
OSMBSC 6[23] Wyong, Tuggerah, Gosford Busways 27 July 2031[16]
OSMBSC 7[23] Gosford, The Entrance Red Bus CDC NSW
(CDC NSW) 		30 June 2032[17]
OSMBSC 11 Wyong Hunter Valley Buses
(CDC NSW) 		30 June 2028[24]

OSMBSC 11 used to be part of OSMBSC 6 until 2014, when it was created as a separate contract region.[8][23] Its routes were formerly operated by Coastal Liner until it was acquired by ComfortDelGro Australia and its subsidiary Hunter Valley Buses on 1 August 2018.[25]

NISC 001 used to be OSMBSC 05 until July 2017, and was operated by Newcastle Buses & Ferries.

OSMBSC 7 was operated by Red Bus Services until July 2024, when the latter was rebranded as Red Bus CDC NSW and fully acquired by ComfortDelGro Australia.

Blue Mountains

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Region Location Operators End date of
current contract
OSMBSC 8 Katoomba, Springwood, Penrith Blue Mountains Transit
(CDC NSW) 		30 June 2028[26]

Blue Mountains Transit routes were formerly operated by the Blue Mountains Bus Company until taken over by ComfortDelGro Cabcharge (now ComfortDelGro Australia) and its subsidiary Blue Mountains Transit in December 2014.

Illawarra

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Region Location Operators End date of
current contract
OSMBSC 9[27] Helensburgh Premier Charters
(Premier Transport Group) 		30 June 2028[28]
OSMBSC 10[27] Wollongong South Premier Illawarra
(Premier Transport Group) 		30 June 2028[29]
OSMBSC 12 Wollongong North Dion's Bus Service 30 June 2028[30]

Premier Charters' region 9 routes were operated by Green's Northern Coaches, until taken over by Premier Transport Group in February 2015. OSMBSC 12 used to be part of OSMBSC 9 until 2014, when it was created as a separate contract region.[8][27]

Patronage

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Outer Sydney Metropolitan Bus Contract patronage between 2017-2020
Annual Patronage per Region from 2017 to 2021 [31]
Rank Region Operator 2017 2018 2019 2020[a] 2021[a] Total
 % Change
2017-20[a] 		Total
 % Change
2020-21[a]
1 NISC Newcastle Transport 4,840,734 5,445,887 4,775,355 3,075,518 2,686,682 -36.47% -12.60%
2 OSMBSC 10 Premier Illawarra 4,294,690 4,343,188 4,337,631 3,154,189 2,594,513 -26.56% -17.74%
3 OSMBSC 6 Busways 4,071,489 4,559,199 4,797,179 3,046,639 2,458,669 -25.17% -19.30%
4 OSMBSC 7 Red Bus Service 2,565,850 2,391,899 2,350,896 1,541,501 1,428,086 -39.92% -7.36%
5 OSMBSC 2 Hunter Valley Buses 1,741,286 1,430,096 1,472,078 870,123 667,901 -50.03% -23.24%
6 OSMBSC 8 Blue Mountains Transit 1,208,318 1,223,773 1,267,793 696,522 514,236 -42.36% -26.17%
7 OSMBSC 4 Hunter Valley Buses 908,598 880,380 981,596 620,029 499,236 -31.76% -19.48%
8 OSMBSC 12 Dion's Bus Service 661,649 721,573 753,457 536,794 460,813 -18.87% -14.15%
9 OSMBSC 1 Rover Coaches 581,377 577,492 494,007 330,797 248,180 -43.10% -24.98%
10 OSMBSC 3 Port Stephens Coaches 363,488 368,397 412,164 224,934 211,262 -38.12% -6.08%
11 OSMBSC 9 Premier Charters 321,232 331,140 342,676 229,651 163,517 -28.51% -28.80%
12 OSMBSC 11 Hunter Valley Buses 102,797 88,912 78,333 41,849 29,039 -59.29% -30.61%
TOTAL 21,661,508 22,361,936 22,063,165 14,368,546 11,462,898 -33.67% -20.22%
  1. ^ a b c d Patronage was lower than previous years due to people staying at home and not taking public transport to school or work during the COVID-19 pandemic

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Buses and coaches Archived 11 July 2015 at the Wayback Machine, Transport for NSW, Retrieved 23 July 2016
  2. ^ "Bus Patronage - Monthly Figures". Transport for NSW. Archived from the original on 9 December 2017. Retrieved 13 July 2017.
  3. ^ a b Outer Metropolitan Bus System Contract Regions Archived 2014-11-04 at the Wayback Machine, Transport for NSW, Retrieved 8 July 2014
  4. ^ NSW Government Gazette 1 August 2008 Archived 14 July 2014 at the Wayback Machine, Retrieved 8 July 2014
  5. ^ Annual Report 2012 Archived 27 March 2014 at the Wayback Machine Bus & Coach Association NSW
  6. ^ Bus Customers to Benefit from Outer Metropolitan Contract Negotiations Minister for Transport 27 April 2013
  7. ^ a b "Sydney Metropolitan and Outer Metropolitan Bus Service Contract on time running results". Transport for NSW. June 2018. Archived from the original on 24 June 2018. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
  8. ^ a b c d Transport for NSW 2013/14 Annual Report (PDF), Transport for NSW, p. 39, archived from the original (PDF) on 5 December 2014, retrieved 17 April 2015
  9. ^ "Busways and Hunter Valley Buses route 78". Transport for NSW.
  10. ^ "Busways and Hunter Valley Buses route 80". Transport for NSW.
  11. ^ "Busways and Hunter Valley Buses route 91". Transport for NSW.
  12. ^ "Busways and Hunter Valley Buses route 98". Transport for NSW.
  13. ^ Annual Report 30 June 2014 page 89 Archived 14 February 2018 at the Wayback Machine State Transit Authority
  14. ^ "Outer Sydney Metropolitan Bus Contracts". Australia New Zealand Infrastructure Pipeline. Archived from the original on 10 September 2021. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  15. ^ "Future of iconic Central Coast bus service in doubt". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  16. ^ a b "Services continue smoothly as new Central Coast bus contract starts". Busways. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
  17. ^ a b "Red Bus CDC NSW start services on the Central Coast". ComfortDelGro Australia. 8 July 2024. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
  18. ^ a b c d "Outer Metropolitan Sydney Bus Contract Regions 1, 2, 3 and 4" (PDF). NSW Government Transport and Infrastructure. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
  19. ^ "Outer Metropolitan Bus Service Contract - OMBSC001". eTendering NSW. Archived from the original on 10 September 2021. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  20. ^ "Outer Metropolitan Bus Service Contract - OMBSC002". eTendering NSW. Archived from the original on 10 September 2021. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  21. ^ "Outer Metropolitan Bus Service Contract - OMBSC003". eTendering NSW. Archived from the original on 10 September 2021. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  22. ^ "Outer Metropolitan Bus Service Contract - OMBSC004". eTendering NSW. Archived from the original on 10 September 2021. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  23. ^ a b c "Outer Metropolitan Sydney Bus Contract Regions 6 and 7" (PDF). NSW Government Transport and Infrastructure. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
  24. ^ "Outer Metropolitan Bus Service Contract - OMBSC011". eTendering NSW. Archived from the original on 10 September 2021. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  25. ^ "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.
  26. ^ "Outer Metropolitan Bus Service Contract - OMBSC008". eTendering NSW. Archived from the original on 10 September 2021. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  27. ^ a b c "Outer Metropolitan Sydney Bus Contract Regions 9 and 10" (PDF). NSW Government Transport and Infrastructure. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
  28. ^ "Outer Metropolitan Bus Service Contract - OMBSC009". eTendering NSW. Archived from the original on 10 September 2021. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  29. ^ "Outer Metropolitan Bus Service Contract - OMBSC010". eTendering NSW. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  30. ^ "Outer Metropolitan Bus Service Contract - OMBSC012". eTendering NSW. Archived from the original on 10 September 2021. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  31. ^ Opal Trips - Bus Archived 17 August 2019 at the Wayback Machine Transport for NSW Open Data
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