Greyhound Australia

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Parent KordaMentha 85%
Chapman Group 15%
Founded 1928
Headquarters Pinkenba
Service type Coach operator
Destinations Adelaide
Brisbane
Broome
Cairns
Canberra
Darwin
Melbourne
Mount Isa
Sydney
Toowoomba
various regional destinations
Fleet 216 (November 2013)
Website www.greyhound.com.au

Greyhound Australia is Australia's only long national distance coach operator running services in all mainland states and territories. It is owned by KordaMentha (85%) and the Chapman Group (15%).

History

Mills-Tui bodied Scania K380IB at Wagga Wagga railway station in March 2009
Irizar Century bodied Scania K380IB at Wagga Wagga railway station in July 2009
Irizar Century bodied Mercedes-Benz OH1830 in Perth in October 2013 with fluorescent yellow stripe and hazard light for operation on mining sites

Greyhound Coaches was formed in 1928 by Russell Penfold with a service between Toowoomba and Brisbane. In 1962 Greyhound commenced interstate operations and by the end of the decade was operating services to Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide with Perth and Darwin added in the 1970s creating the first national coach company.[1]

In 1975 the South Australian operations were franchised to Adelaide operators Murray Valley Coaches and Stateliner.[2]

In November 1989 the Penfold family sold Greyhound Coaches to Stateliner with the exception of the Brisbane - Gold Coast and Brisbane - Toowoomba services that were sold separately.[3] In 1992 Greyhound, Pioneer and Bus Australia merged with the combined operation rebranded Greyhound Pioneer Australia.[4][5]

In February 1999 Queensland Coach Company was formed by Greyhound Pioneer Australia to body 94 Scania coaches over five years to renew the fleet.[6] Originally an alliance was formed with bodybuilder Alan B Denning with it proposed the Galaxy body design be used. But following the collapse of the Clifford Corporation, the rights to the Austral Pacific Majestic body were purchased.[7] In July 2000 Queensland Coach Company ceased trading and was put into administration.[8]

In March 2000 Greyhound Pioneer Australia entered discussions with McCafferty's Coaches about a potential merge.[9][10] Subsequently Premier Motor Service made an successful takeover bid for the business.[8][11] In September 2000 a takeover bid from McCafferty's was accepted.[5][12][13]

In October 2004 McCafferty's sold the combined business to ANZ Bank and George Chapman with both operations were rebranded as Greyhound Australia.[5] In 2006 ANZ sold their shares to KordaMentha.[14]

In 2005 the Sunshine Coast to Byron Bay services of Suncoast Pacific were purchased.[15] In October 2011 the Oz Experience backpacker business was purchased.[14]

Routes

Greyhound Australia's routes with frequencies as at June 2013 are:[16]

*Note - Sydney to Canberra services do not include services to Melbourne/Adelaide*
**Note - Brisbane to Toowoomba services do not include services to Dalby/Charleville/Mount Isa**

Former routes

Other services

Greyhound Australia provide coaches for transportation of mine workers, coaches used on these duties carry large fleet numbers, fluorescent yellow stripes and a roof mounted flashing orange light. In July 2010 Greyhound Australia began a contract to operate 13 services per week between Lithgow and Gulgong on behalf of NSW TrainLink, extending to Coonabarabran five times weekly and Baradine weekly.[19][20][21]

Fleet

In the 1970s Greyhound imported a fleet of Eagle 05 and 10 coaches.[22] In the 1980s it purchased Austral Tourmasters and Volgren bodied Volvo B10Ms. Since 1995 it has purchased Scania coaches. As at November 2013 it operated 216 coaches.[23] In September 2013 Greyhound Australia placed an order for 30 Volvo B13Rs.[24]

In the 1970s Greyhound adopted an orange and white livery. In 1993 a grey, white and blue livery was introduced following the formation of Greyhound Pioneer Australia. McCafferty's gold livery was applied when they took over the business in 2000 before the current red livery was introduced in 2004.

Other Greyhound operations

Greyhound Australia has never had any affiliation with the FirstGroup owned Greyhound Lines, Greyhound Canada, Greyhound Mexico, or Greyhound UK operations.

References

  1. ↑ "Greyhound Australia" Fleetline May 1988 page 115
  2. ↑ "The odd coachfellows" The Age 25 September 1978
  3. ↑ "Stateliner takes over Greyhound" Australian Bus Panorama 5/5 March 1990 page 23
  4. ↑ "Australian Coachlines Group" Australian Bus Panorama 9/5 January 1994 page 36
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Greyhound Australia's History Greyhound Australia
  6. ↑ "Express" Australian Bus Panorama April 1999 issue 14/5 page 19
  7. ↑ "Greyhound-Pioneer/Queensland Coach Co" Australian Bus Panorama October 1999 issue 15/2 page 21
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Greyhound/QCC/McCafferty's/Premier Motor Service" Australian Bus Panorama August 2000 issue 16/1 page 18
  9. ↑ "Greyhound Pioneer Australia" Australian Bus Panorama 15/5 April 2000 page 38
  10. ↑ Greyhound and McCaffertys talk Australasian Bus & Coach
  11. ↑ McCaffertys welcome Greyhound rejection Australasian Bus & Coach
  12. ↑ "National & Manufacturing" Australian Bus Panorama 16/2 October 2000 page 19
  13. ↑ McCaffertys finally get Greyhound Australasian Bus & Coach
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Greyhound deal to take backpackers along for ride Courier Mail 3 October 2011
  15. ↑ Suncoast Pacific Coaches Bus Australia Fleet Lists
  16. ↑ Routes and Destinations Greyhound Australia
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 Greyhound drop Melbourne-Toowoomba, Perth-Broome services Backpacker Trade News 14 February 2013
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 Greyhound cancels runs Australasian Bus & Coach 1 March 2013
  19. ↑ CountryLink Greyhound Commercial
  20. ↑ Western timetable NSW TrainLink 20 October 2013
  21. ↑ Contract Award Notice Detail - S09014 NSW Government eTendering
  22. ↑ Greyhound Driver Bus Lines
  23. ↑ Greyhound Australia Australian Bus Fleet Lists
  24. ↑ Volvo Greyhound Order busandcoach.com 23 September 2013

External links

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