Newcastle Transport

ParentKeolis Downer
Commenced operation1 July 2017
HeadquartersHamilton, New South Wales
Service areaNewcastle
Lake Macquarie
Service typeBus, ferry, light rail
Chief executiveCampbell Mason
Websitewww.newcastletransport.info

Newcastle Transport is a public transport operator in Newcastle, New South Wales. A subsidiary of Keolis Downer, it operates bus, ferry and light rail services under contract to Transport for NSW.

History and operations

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A Volgren bodied Volvo B7RLE
MV Shortland approaching Queens Wharf
CAF Urbos 3 tram on Hunter Street

In November 2015, the Government of New South Wales announced its intention to contract out the operation of Newcastle Buses & Ferries services to the private sector.[1][2] Keolis Downer and a Transit Systems/UGL Rail consortium announced their intentions to bid.[3][4] In December 2016, a ten-year contract was awarded to Keolis Downer effective from 1 July 2017.[5][6]

Ticketing

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All public transport services under Newcastle Transport utilise the Opal ticketing system.

Services

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Bus

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Main article: Buses in Newcastle, New South Wales

In January 2018, the bus route network was completely redesigned with the number of routes reduced from 27 to 21.[7][8] In the same year, Newcastle Transport began trialling an on-demand bus service[9] within the Lake Macquarie area, servicing the suburbs of Dudley, Mount Hutton and Warners Bay.[10]

Newcastle Transport commenced operations with a fleet of 172 MAN, Mercedes-Benz and Volvo buses.[11] Buses are operated out of depots in Belmont and Hamilton.

In February 2023, Newcastle Transport began using zero emission electric buses built by Bustech on the ZDI-450 electric integral chassis.[12]

Ferry

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Main article: Stockton ferry service

Newcastle Transport operates a passenger ferry service that takes five minutes to cross the Hunter River between Queens Wharf and Stockton. The 1986 built ferries are MV Hunter and MV Shortland.

Light rail

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Main article: Newcastle Light Rail

Newcastle Transport operates the Newcastle Light Rail between Newcastle Interchange and Newcastle Beach station in Newcastle East with six CAF Urbos 3 trams. The light rail opened in February 2019.[13][14]

References

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  1. ^ Building tomorrows Newcastle: A New Approach to Transport Transport for NSW 5 November 2015
  2. ^ Transport for Newcastle: private operator to integrate city’s public transport ABC News 5 November 2015
  3. ^ Keolis Downer eyes acquisitions ahead of Newcastle public transport bid Sydney Morning Herald 3 December 2015
  4. ^ Transit Systems and UGL announce intention to jointly bid for Newcastle iso Transit Systems 26 February 2016
  5. ^ Keolis Downer awarded contract to run light rail, buses and ferries says Baird government Archived 2016-12-20 at the Wayback Machine Newcastle Herald 12 December 2016
  6. ^ Downer awarded Newcastle Transport Contract Keolis Downer 12 December 2016
  7. ^ Newcastle timetables to change Transport for NSW 1 December 2017
  8. ^ Transport changes Newcastle Transport
  9. ^ Newcastle Transport Launches on Demand Service Newcastle Transport 29 November 2017
  10. ^ Newcastle Transport On Demand Information Newcastle Transport 18 February 2019
  11. ^ Newcastle: all change Australian Bus issue 83 September 2017 page 12
  12. ^ Newcastle Transport begins journey with first electric bus Australasian Bus & Coach 22 February 2023
  13. ^ It's a date – free community open day for Newcastle Light Rail on 17 February Transport for NSW 31 January 2019
  14. ^ Light rail in Newcastle opening from Monday 18 February Transport for NSW 3 February 2019
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