Victorian Bus Observations 2026

[kineticdriver]

Ventura Oakleigh #1592 seen today running route 109 cruise ships shuttles.

[Linto63]

Kinetic to acquire Dysons to accelerate zero-emissions strategy future across Victoria and New South Wales (Kinetic)

[Heihachi_73]

What's next, CDC buys Ventura?

[1whoknows]

Too late, Ventura has already been fully acquired by a multi national. There is no longer any involvement by the Cornwall family.
The only "family run" route bus operators left in the metropolitan area will now be Sunbury Bus Lines and Cranbourne Transit - both subject to competitive tender in the next couple of years. Then on the outer fringe you have Dineen group with Martyr, McKenzie and Westernport plus Christians at Bacchus Marsh.

[BAMBAM]

Too late, Ventura has already been fully acquired by a multi national. There is no longer any involvement by the Cornwall family.
The only "family run" route bus operators left in the metropolitan area will now be Sunbury Bus Lines and Cranbourne Transit - both subject to competitive tender in the next couple of years. Then on the outer fringe you have Dineen group with Martyr, McKenzie and Westernport plus Christians at Bacchus Marsh.

I believe Mcharrys in Geelong has been potentially on the Market with the right price.

[Heihachi_73]

Kinetic bubble bus 625 spotted randomly in Ringwood at 3:28PM today wishes it was a SmartBus.

[Heihachi_73]

Bubble buses on the 901 in 2026 don't seem to be a one-off either. 594 was doing the rounds today, also spotted at Ringwood station on an interpeak 901 short to The Pines. Must be getting desperate as the 901 isn't exactly known for its awesome frequency (nominally every 18 minutes in the counter direction, every 12-15 the other way, and the handful of Designline SmartBuses (both variants) donated their PIDs to the newer Volgrens and Gemilangs (both 625 and 594 were never SmartBuses to begin with, they had the standard Ventura blue livery until going Chicken Crimpy).

IMG_2898.jpg

[JRBUS123]

All the bubbles you're seeing on 901in Ringwood area are extra free travel services to cope with demand.

This isn't Kinetic being "desperate" or anything like that: Just that they're adding additional services since the buses have all been full up. Same thing with 902.

903 sees extra get put on due to chaotic traffic and to assist with late-running.

[Linto63]

I believe Mcharrys in Geelong has been potentially on the Market with the right price.

All yours for $25 million.

[1whoknows]

McHarry's have some 260 vehlces in their fleet not 50. Their asking price is therefore quite a bit more than $25m!

[Heihachi_73]

This isn't Kinetic being "desperate" or anything like that: Just that they're adding additional services since the buses have all been full up. Same thing with 902.

I was more or less joking, I can just imaging drivers copping old worn out bubble buses with the depot being completely devoid of every single other working bus. Transdev-MK2-on-907 vibes.

[MotorOmnibus8562]

spotted Dyson's Wodonga #180 on AnyTrip and Bus Tracker Victoria with its Tracker turned on earlier.