ABC #395

NEWS
SYDNEY ‘REGION 8’ BUS
TENDER OPEN
THE TENDER for Sydney’s
Northern Beaches and the Lower
North Shore bus contract –
Region 8 – is now officially open,
Transport for NSW (TfNSW) has
announced.
The “competitive tender
process” for operating Region 8
bus services is an opportunity
for leading transport operators
from both Australia and overseas
to demonstrate how they will
deliver improved services to
customers on behalf of the NSW
government, TfNSW explains.
“We’re looking for an operator
to deliver new and innovative
services for our customers on
the North Shore and Northern
Beaches. This will mean more
frequent and convenient services
throughout the day, including
turn-up-and-go and on-demand
routes,” said Elizabeth Mildwater,
deputy secretary – Greater Sydney,
at TfNSW.
“We’re also looking for operators
to show us how they can help
the government transition to
zero-emission buses, and improve
real-time information that will
help customers to better plan
their journeys and connect
with other transport modes,”
Mildwater added.
The start of the competitive
tender process in Region 8
follows several months of market
sounding late 2019 and earlier this
year. It will close on September
30, 2020, with the transition to
the new operator expected
during the final quarter of 2021,
TfNSW explains.
ASSETS KEPT
As part of the franchising process,
the NSW government will
maintain control of routes, fares,
assets such as buses and the
existing depots at North Sydney,
Brookvale and Mona Vale, it says.
“All operational staff, including
bus drivers and maintenance
staff, will have the opportunity
to transfer to the new operator
with a two-year job guarantee
on the same award terms and
conditions,” said Mildwater.
“Every effort will be made to
“All operational staff,
including bus drivers
and maintenance
staff, will have the
opportunity to transfer
to the new operator.”
Above:
As part of the
franchising
process, the NSW
government will
maintain control
of routes, fares,
assets such as
buses and the
existing depots
at North Sydney,
Brookvale and
Mona Vale, it says.
find roles for non-operational
award employees before services
change hands to the new
operator, either with the new
operator or within the public
sector,” she added.
Prospective tenderers can
register to participate by
visiting the NSW government’s
eTenders website.
The competitive tender process
for the two other regions currently
operated by State Transit – Region
7 in Sydney’s north and Region
9 in Sydney’s east – are currently
planned to open in August and
November 2020, respectively.
8
ABC July 2020 busnews.com.au