The Geelong Transit System was the umbrella operating brand of public transport in Geelong, Victoria, Australia. Since 2009 timetables and signage have been branded as Geelong Transit with a standard Viclink orange theme.[1] Ticketing is part of the statewide myki smartcard system.[2]
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Trials of a time-based ticketing system had commenced in Geelong in the early 1980s, as part of a reform of transport ticketing in Victoria,[3] but it was not until 1983 that the Geelong Transit System was introduced.[4] Over time route service buses used in Geelong were painted into the Geelong Transit System livery, of white body and blue stripes. Since Kefford Corporation purchased Benders in 2000[5] their buses have progressively been repainted into their own green livery.[4]
Since April 2006 V/Line railway tickets sold to Geelong, South Geelong, and Marshall railway stations have included GTS travel,[6] as part of the integration of the Victorian public transport fare systems before the introduction of myki. In 2008 the coming availability of daily and weekly tickets was announced.[7]
Until 2009 the GTS also included a unified time-based multi-modal ticketing system, using paper based tickets issues by staff and inspected manually. Tickets are valid for two hours, from the next full hour after it was purchased. Passengers many make unlimited transfers during the time the ticket is valid, on both urban buses and V/Line rail services.[8] GTS tickets are not valid in conjunction with V/Line travel beyond the GTS network boundary.
The only other type of ticket usable for travel was yearly and half-yearly student bus passes,[9] until April 2006 when V/Line railway tickets sold to Geelong, South Geelong, and Marshall railway stations included GTS travel,[6] and when daily and weekly tickets were made available in 2008.[7]
Five types of ticket forms existed at the time of withdrawal:
The Geelong Transit System covers all government contracted urban route buses in Geelong operated by Benders Busways and McHarry's Buslines, as well as V/Line rail services between Lara and Marshall stations on the Geelong line.
The myki smartcard system was introduced on four Geelong bus routes in December 2008,[10] by March 2009 all bus routes in the Geelong and Bellarine Peninsula area had been completely switched to myki, with all old fare equipment removed.[2] V/Line paper tickets continue to be accepted on buses until they are replaced by myki as part of the statewide rollout.
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