NSW TrainLink Coach Operators

David10 · Post by **David10** » Sun Jan 11, 2015 9:16 am

Parkes - Condobolin has long been a minibus, albeit only a 90 minute journey. Less than ideal as it maybe, given that the majority of the costs of the journey are picked up by the government, if the loadings don't justify a full sized vehicle then a minibus does make sense.

The outgoing operator will often play the 'woe is me' card, claiming the loss of the contract has left them high and dry and having to take a financial hit on a vehicle nobody wants. But drilling down this should not be the case.

IIRC, the contract specify that vehicles dedicated to the service be no older than 8 years old anyway, with a 6 month window at the beginning of the contract allowing for a vehicle up to 10 years of age to be used, presumably to allow for a new vehicle to be delivered. So even if an incumbent operator retains a contract they will still need a new vehicle, maybe not immediately but within the contract life.

Obviously it requires a bit of crystal balling on what the residual value of a vehicle will be at the end of the contract, and whether the 3 year extension will be granted, but common sense would dictate an appropriate depreciation charge be factored into the costings. If a bidder doesn't on the assumption a contract will be rolled over, then that's their problem.

Punchbowl Tiger Cub · Sun Jan 11, 2015 10:17 am

Morning David10,
You have brought up some quite valid points in regards to these contracts.The days of assuming that you will have a contract forever and a day are now long gone - the era of fighting for every contract is an everyday fact of life with often marginal returns at best and even if you provide a good level of service,it is no guarantee of extension to that contract.

What may possibly come to light is some operators will not bid for future contracts as it is just not worth their while (yes,I know,once burnt,twice shy) to pursue such work and will stick with work that is ongoing and with less or no competition and doesn't require or has reduced levels of capital investment.

Regards Punchbowl Tiger Cub

Bidgee · Post by **Bidgee** » Sun Jan 11, 2015 10:48 pm

BDAT wrote:Does any body know who has the contracts for the areas around Tamworth, Armidale, Narrabri and Moree.

Symes Coaches
http://www.inverelltimes.com.au/story/2 ... transport/

I'm not stating that the minibus is unsuitable for the PAX it gets but when you have PR from the local member stating it will be just like how Makehams operated it (with a 'five star' coach) and come the 1st of Jan you have a 'one star' minibus, not the same service at all. NSW TrainLink still expects this minibus to run on a coach timetable? Dysons are in a non winning position ATM, getting slammed by the PAX and no doubt from NSW TrainLink for running late when PAX need the rest room.

Small coaches can still be purchased.

Post by **Fleet Lists** » Mon Jan 12, 2015 4:42 pm

http://www.walgettdistrictnews.com/news ... -services/

There are six coach services operating to and from the Barwon region and these contracts have been awarded to:

Nyngan to Lithgow via Dubbo return service, operated by Swan Hill Buslines
Lightning Ridge to Dubbo return service, operated by Swan Hill Buslines
Broken Hill to Dubbo return service, operated by Swan Hill Buslines
Bourke, Brewarrina via Coolabah and Dubbo return service, operated by Swan Hill Buslines
Moree to Grafton return service, operated by Symes Bus Service
Lithgow to Baradine via Coonabarabran service, operated by Ogdens Coaches

MO9205 · Post by **MO9205** » Mon Jan 12, 2015 7:25 pm

I think Edwards have lost the Armidale to Tenterfield run. Arriving at Armidale station this afternoon was a white single axle Bonluck with the transport logos, same logos as the Dysons bus, accredited to McPhersons Walcha. Had Tenterfield with Guyra, Glen Innes rotating on the Destination display.

David10 · Post by **David10** » Thu Jan 15, 2015 10:33 am

Yesterday Premier Shoalhaven's 7281.MO Scania K320 / Higer was operating the Moss Vale - Goulburn service and Roadcoach's TV.5491 Volvo B7R / Coach Concepts, a Moss Vale - Wollongong service, so does appear the routes are on separate contracts.

Bidgee · Post by **Bidgee** » Fri Jan 16, 2015 9:23 am

Looks like there could be some changes with the Tumbarumba service, not sure what though (hopefully a jig in the timetable allowing for a rest stop or two).

http://www.dailyadvertiser.com.au/story ... es/?cs=148

Though Gundagai and Tumbarumba isn't in Maguire's constituentsy, so he wouldn't have any complaints from those two towns.

burrumbus · Post by **burrumbus** » Tue Jan 20, 2015 2:25 pm

The Goulburn-Moss Vale and Bundanoon-Moss Vale-Wollongong contracts are separate contracts.
Goulburn-Moss Vale is held by Nowra Coaches Pty.Ltd from 1/7/13.
Bundanoon-Moss Vale-Wollongong was retained and won tender from 1/1/15 by Kmet Transport Services Pty.Ltd,t/a Roadcoach,Moss Vale.They also picked up the Coota-Queanbeyan contract from the same day.Nice to see a small operator can win and retain contracts.
Re the Coota-Tumba-Wagga service my observations of the service never showed any more than 15 pax.NSW Trainlink would have specified a minicoach in the tender documents at a rough guess.Just the right size vehicle for the service.
Hope this helps.

Bidgee · Post by **Bidgee** » Wed Jan 21, 2015 8:16 pm

Indeed, most number I've seen has been ten pax, maybe once in a blue moon more than ten. I'm not complaining about the minibus (though I did expect complaints from users of the service) or the change in operator but pointing out the the PR was misleading (Member for Wagga) for the Tumba service and the fact that a toilet break isn't even possible with the current timetable (which was already tight with a coach operating it).

Centralian · Post by **Centralian** » Sun Feb 01, 2015 10:19 pm

Any info on whether the runs Sunstate Coaches were doing up north were involved in this round and whether retained by Sunstate ?

David10 · Post by **David10** » Sun Feb 01, 2015 10:48 pm

According to the fleetlist, Sunstate have a 2014 Volvo B9R in TrainLink livery, suggesting they have retained.

burrumbus · Post by **burrumbus** » Mon Feb 02, 2015 10:27 am

Good morning David10.I believe that the Sunstate contracts commenced in 2010 with 5 year contracts.So they were not tendered with the rest of the Trainlink contracts.
I think the only one remaining to be confirmed is the Oberon-Mount Victoria contract which was operated by Murray Fenton of Oberon.
Cheers.

Bidgee · Post by **Bidgee** » Mon Feb 02, 2015 8:13 pm

Thought the story was a little bias. Dysons seems to be getting the blame but it should be directed at NSW TrainLink/Transport for NSW.
https://au.prime7.yahoo.com/n4/news/a/- ... ers-video/

Bjwh86 · Post by **Bjwh86** » Tue Feb 03, 2015 11:23 am

burrumbus wrote:Good morning David10.I believe that the Sunstate contracts commenced in 2010 with 5 year contracts.So they were not tendered with the rest of the Trainlink contracts.
I think the only one remaining to be confirmed is the Oberon-Mount Victoria contract which was operated by Murray Fenton of Oberon.
Cheers.

So does this mean their contract runs out this year?

As far as i remember, no other operator has had the north coast services in the 2000's.
Only one service is non sunstate and it's run by the cab company.

burrumbus · Post by **burrumbus** » Tue Feb 03, 2015 6:08 pm

Possibly Ben.It depends on whether there is a contract extension clause on the contract.I know a couple of contracts have 3 year extensions on them for good operation.Not sure on this one,however.

David10 · Post by **David10** » Tue Feb 03, 2015 11:30 pm

Bjwh86 wrote:As far as i remember, no other operator has had the north coast services in the 2000's.

Recall that the Far North Coast services were originally operated by Tweed BS (before they sold out to Surfside), then by another small operator (Coastliner?) and then Sunstate. Perhaps the Casino based services are on a different contract cycle dating back from when the XPT was curtailed from Murwillumbah to Casino.

David10 · Post by **David10** » Sun Feb 22, 2015 9:21 pm

Sunstate had two coaches in Sydney on XPT replacement services from Sydney to Grafton today, seems to confirm they are still operating TrainLink services.

Roadcoach's TV.5491 Volvo B7R / Coach Concepts was sighted in Wollongong with its CountryLink stripes removed last week, so either a repaint or replacement on the way.

Centralian · Post by **Centralian** » Mon Feb 23, 2015 2:28 pm

Fentons had their Volvo Coach Design 6929 MO at Mt Victoria Station a couple of weeks ago so I assume they have retained the Oberon - Mt Victoria contract. I assume the allocated vehicle is getting a repaint.

burrumbus · Post by **burrumbus** » Mon Feb 23, 2015 5:41 pm

David10 wrote:Sunstate had two coaches in Sydney on XPT replacement services from Sydney to Grafton today, seems to confirm they are still operating TrainLink services.

Roadcoach's TV.5491 Volvo B7R / Coach Concepts was sighted in Wollongong with its CountryLink stripes removed last week, so either a repaint or replacement on the way.

Roadcoach apparently have 2 new coaches on order for their 2 Trainlink contracts.Cheers.

David10 · Post by **David10** » Wed Mar 11, 2015 8:43 pm

Loader of Grenfell's TV196 Denning Phoenix has been repainted in TrainLink livery, so must be a contract retain.

burrumbus · Post by **burrumbus** » Sun Mar 15, 2015 12:04 pm

David10 wrote:Loader of Grenfell's TV196 Denning Phoenix has been repainted in TrainLink livery, so must be a contract retain.

Loaders Coaches Pty.Ltd have retained the Grenfell-Lithgow contract as from 1/1/15.

David10 · Post by **David10** » Sun Mar 15, 2015 9:36 pm

Edwards of Armidale had coaches (albeit in their livery) in Sydney on Xplorer replacement services a few weekends ago, indicating a likely retain.

MO9205 · Post by **MO9205** » Mon Mar 16, 2015 10:29 am

David10 wrote:Edwards of Armidale had coaches (albeit in their livery) in Sydney on Xplorer replacement services a few weekends ago, indicating a likely retain.

Edwards lost the Countrylink service to Tenterfield. Has been taken over by McPherson's Walcha t/as Oxley Explorer.

Was the Edwards bus the Mills Tui Merc?

Post by **Fleet Lists** » Fri Mar 27, 2015 10:12 pm

Wiki at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NSW_Train ... h_services now shows the full current list of coach operators.

BW44YS · Post by **BW44YS** » Mon Mar 30, 2015 6:08 pm

how come Busways is not listed as doing the broadmedows to Taree service there still operating that right ?