Transit Systems Victoria

Transit Systems Victoria, formerly Sita Buslines, is a bus and coach operator in Melbourne, Australia. It is a subsidiary of Transit Systems and operates 18 bus routes under contract to Public Transport Victoria.

Transit Systems Victoria
Volgren bodied Volvo B7RLE in December 2014
ParentTransit Systems
FoundedJanuary 1972
HeadquartersWest Footscray
Service areaWestern Melbourne
Service typeBus & coach operator
Routes19
HubsAltona Gate Shopping Centre
Brimbank Central Shopping Centre
Footscray
StationsAscot Vale
Footscray
Melton
Newport
Sunshine
Williamstown
Yarraville
Fleet166 (December 2022)[1]
WebsiteTransit Systems Victoria

History

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Volgren bodied Volvo B10B in Moonee Ponds

In 1966, Frank Bono and George Sita purchased route 406 Footscray - East Keilor. In 1968, Sita sold his share to Frank Bono.[2] In January 1972, Sita purchased Grangers Bus Lines, which operated route 472 Moonee Ponds Junction - Williamstown Beach. Subsequently purchased were Murrays Coaches in 1975, Nidis in 1979, West Newport Bus Service in November 1980, Sunshine Bus Lines in April 1982 and Starline Coaches in 1985.[3][4][5]

Sita commenced coach operations in 1982, initially with second hand Denning vehicles, before building up a large Austral Tourmaster fleet after 1984.[4][6] In 1995, Sita purchased the Coachtrans coach operation on the Gold Coast and commenced operations in Sydney.[7] The latter operation has since ceased.

On 1 July 2018, Sita commenced a new ten-year performance-based contract to operate its bus services.[8] In April 2019, Sita was purchased by Transit Systems,[9] and was re-branded Transit Systems Victoria in November 2020.[10]

Fleet

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As at December 2022, the Transit Systems fleet consisted of 166 buses and coaches.[1] Sita's bus livery was white at the top and fawn at the bottom with an orange stripe. A special orange, white and black livery was used on buses dedicated to the 401 shuttle from North Melbourne station to Melbourne University via the Royal Melbourne Hospital. Coaches wore a red, yellow and white livery, but are now painted white.

References

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  1. ^ a b "Transit Systems, West Footscray". Australian Bus Fleet Lists (Bus Australia). Retrieved 13 December 2022.
  2. ^ "Firefly" Fleetline November 1990 page 171
  3. ^ Tilley, Bruce (1984). Melbourne Private Bus Fleets Vol 1. Berverley South Australia: Railmac Publications. p. 33. ISBN 0-949817-34-1.
  4. ^ a b "Victorian Buses in the Eighties" Australian Bus Panorama issue 6/2 September 1990 page 13
  5. ^ Melbourne Metropolitan Bus Operators and Fleet Listings. Melbourne: Bus & Coach Society of Victoria. 1991. p. 59.
  6. ^ "Victorian Buses in the Eighties" Australian Bus Panorama issue 6/4 November 1990 page 5
  7. ^ "Sita" Australian Bus Panorama issue 11/6 March 1996 page 39
  8. ^ "Metropolitan Bus Services Contract - Sita Bus Lines". Buying for Victoria. Archived from the original on 9 October 2019. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
  9. ^ "Transit Systems Expands into Melbourne Bus Network". Transit Systems. 9 April 2019. Archived from the original on 29 April 2019. Retrieved 29 April 2019.
  10. ^ Sita Buslines rebrand complete: Transit Systems Victoria Australasian Bus & Coach 9 November 2020
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