Sunbus
 | It has been suggested that Sunbus Cairns, Sunbus Rockhampton, Sunbus Sunshine Coast and Sunbus Townsville be merged into this article. (Discuss) Proposed since June 2024. |
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| Parent | Kinetic |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1995 |
| Defunct | 2022 |
| Service area | Cairns Magnetic Island Rockhampton Sunshine Coast Townsville Toowoomba |
| Service type | Bus operator |
| Routes | 200 as of 2022 |
| Depots | Caloundra Garbutt Glenmore Marcoola Nelly Bay Smithfield Wilsonton |
| Fleet | 275 (July 2022) |
| Website | www.sunbus.com.au https://www.wearekinetic.com/ |
Sunbus was an Australian bus operator in the Australian state of Queensland. It operated in 5 regional areas across the state under contract to the Government of Queensland under the Translink banner. As of 2022 Sunbus has changed its name as part of a business re-brand by the parent company, Kinetic. Sunbus has now been dissolved into the Kinetic brand with its fleet of buses reflecting this change.[1]
History
[edit]In 1995, Harry Blundred, the proprietor of Thames Transit in the United Kingdom, was awarded the operating rights to route services in a number of regions in Queensland following the state government deciding to put the operation of these services out to tender. Sunbus were awarded the rights to operate services in the Cairns, Ipswich, Rockhampton, Sunshine Coast and Townsville regions.[2] As part of the deal, Sunbus was also responsible for the operation of school bus services in the region, however these were sold in 1997 to fellow British bus operator Stagecoach.[3][4]
In January 2000, the Ipswich business was sold to the Pulitano Group and in September 2003 Hagan's, Bus Service, Toowoomba was purchased and rebranded Garden City Sunbus and was based at 487 Greenwattle Street, Wilsonton. This was sold in April 2009 to the Pulitano Group.[5][6]
In April 2008, Blundred sold the remaining Sunbus operations to Transit Australia Group.
In November 2008, Magnetic Island Bus Services was purchased[7] and in April 2010 the Townsville operation was expanded with the acquisition of Hermit Park Bus Service.[8][9]
In April 2019, Transit Australia Group was purchased by AATS Group, parent company of Skybus and majority owned by OPTrust.[10] In August 2019, AATS Group was rebranded the Kinetic Group.[11]
In late 2022, Sunbus was officially branded as KINETIC with all new advertising now showing the Kinetic Brand. All new buses will display the Kinetic logo with the current fleet of Sunbus slowly being updated to reflect the new brand name. The current website for Sunbus will stay active until early 2023 before it will be deactivated, directing customers to the new Kinetic website.
Operations
[edit]Sunbus operated as:
- Sunbus Cairns
- Sunbus Magnetic Island
- Sunbus Rockhampton
- Sunbus Sunshine Coast
- Sunbus Townsville
- Garden City Sunbus
Fleet
[edit]As at July 2022, the fleet consisted of 275 buses.[12] When Sunbus commenced it introduced a large number of Mercedes-Benz Vario midibuses. These were replaced by Bustech bodied Volvo B7RLEs, B12BLEs, Bustech MDis and XDis. Fleet livery was light blue.
References
[edit]- ^ "Welcome to Sunbus - the leading regional Queensland bus operator". Sunbus. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
- ^ "Private Operators" Fleetline July 1995 page 237
- ^ "Private Operators" Australian Bus Panorama 13/1 August 1997 page 22
- ^ Buslink Australian Bus Fleet Lists
- ^ Kynoch Coaches and Sunbus Toowoomba sold to Pulitano Group Australian Bus & Coach
- ^ Bus Australia Toowoomba Australian Bus Fleet Lists
- ^ Magnetic Island Bus Service Australian Bus Fleet Lists
- ^ Hermit Park Bus Service Australian Bus Fleet Lists
- ^ Transit Australia Group buys Hermit Park Bus Company Archived 6 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine Transit Australia Group
- ^ "Skybus Operator to Acquire Transit Australia Group - Bustech not Included". Australasian Bus & Coach. 2 April 2019. Archived from the original on 22 April 2019. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
- ^ "Skybus parent relaunched as 'Kinetic'". Australasian Bus & Coach. 8 August 2019. Archived from the original on 20 August 2019. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
- ^ Sunbus Australian Bus Fleet Lists