Metro Tasmania

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Metro Tasmania
Overview
Brands	Metro Hobart Coaches
Mode	Commuter bus Bus rapid transit
Owner	Government of Tasmania
Area	Tasmania (Statewide)
Business
Key People	Jim Cox (Minister for Infrastructure) Tony Sim (CEO) Sally Denny (Chairman)
Founded	1955 (in current form)
Operations
Fleet	200 buses
Network	800 commuter bus routes
Depots	6
Wharves	0
Ticketing	"Metrofare" Automated Fare Collection System
Patronage	9,850,000 (annually)
Public transport |  v • d • e

Metro Tasmania is the primary provider of public transport in the Australian state of Tasmania. It operates only buses, as there are no longer any pulic transport trains, trams or trolley buses operating in Tasmania, and the few passenger ferries in Hobart are small independent operations.

As such it is by far the largest transport network in the state, and has it's three major operations in the largest population centres of Hobart, Launceston, and the North-West.

Metro Tasmania is a growing network catering to the changing needs of Tasmania's main population centres. Currently employing over 400 people (75% of which work in Hobart), they have over 200 buses on 800 routes which do more than 630,000 trips per year covering over 10.5 million kilometres. They own and operate 6 interchanges, 1800 bus stops, and 200 permanent shelters. Metro Tasmania's service caters for an average of 9,850,000 passenger trips per annum.

Metro Tasmania's history goes back over 100 years. It's precursor, The Hobart Electric Tram Company began operation in 1893, one of the earliest such operators in the world. The Hobart City Council purchased the company in 1913 and operated as Hobart Municipal Tramways.

In 1955 a statutory authority, the Metropolitan Transport Trust (MTT) was formed, this entity took over the Tramways from the Hobart City Council along with the Launceston Municipal Tramways, which had been operated by the Launceston City Council since 1911. On commencement MTT operated trams, trolley, petrol and diesel buses.

In 1960 MTT acquired the operations of Norton Coaches which provided bus services in the Burnie area. This resulted in the MTT operating transport services in the South, North and North-West regions of Tasmania.

MTT continued to operate until rebranded in the 1990's as Metro. Metro Tasmania Pty Ltd is a state owned company established in February 1998. In May 1999 Metro purchased Hobart Coaches which operates services to New Norfolk, Richmond, Blackmans Bay and the Channel area; outlying areas of Hobart. Hobart Coaches is now the regional services division of Metro.