Marlin Coast Sunbus
 | |
| Parent | Transit Australia Group |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1995 |
| Headquarters | Smithfield |
| Service area | Cairns |
| Service type | Bus operator |
| Routes | 16 |
| Hubs |
Cairns City Palm Cove Smithfield Shopping Centre Stockland Cairns Westcourt |
| Depots | 1 |
| Fleet | 51 (June 2013) |
| Website | www.sunbus.com.au |
Sunbus is the principal bus operator in Cairns, Queensland operating services under the QConnect scheme in Regional Queensland.
History
In 1995 Harry Blundred, the proprietor of Thames Transit in the United Kingdom, was awarded the operating rights to route services in Cairns by the Government of Queensland.[1] It initially was a joint venture with Beach Bus and West Cairns Bus Service, but Blundred took full control shortly after.[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 April 2008 Blundred sold Marlin Coast Sunbus along with the other Sunbus operations to Transit Australia Group.
Service Area
Sunbus operates from Palm Cove and Trinity Beach in the north, and as far south as Gordonvale and Edmonton. The area with the most coverage is along the Captain Cook Highway between Smithfield Shopping Centre and Cairns CBD.
The service area is divided into 13 fare zones, which simplify the travelling and ticketing system.
- 1 Palm Cove, Clifton Beach
- 2 Kewarra Beach, Trinity Beach
- 3 Trinity Park, Yorkeys Knob, James Cook University, Smithfield, Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, Lake Placid
- 4 Redlynch, Brinsmead, Freshwater, Sratford, Aeroglen, Holloways Beach, Machans Beach
- 5 Whitfield, Edge Hill, Cairns North
- 6 Mooroobool, Westcourt, Earlville
- 7 Bayview, Bayview Heights, Woree
- 8 White Rock, Mount Sheridan, Edmonton
- 9 Southern Edmonton, Wrights Creek
- 10 Gordonvale, Pyramid Estate
- 11 Redlynch Valley
- 20 Cairns City
Fleet
As at June 2013 the fleet consisted of 51 buses, primarily Bustech bodied Volvo B12BLEs, Bustech MDi and XDis.[5] Fleet livery is light blue.