Transit First facts for kids
Quick facts for kids  |
|
|---|---|
| Parent | Peter Threlkeld |
| Headquarters | Bankstown Airport |
| Service type | Bus services |
| Depot(s) | 1 |
| Fleet | 86 (February 2007) |
| Web site | www.transitfirst.com.au |
Transit First was an Australian bus company. It ran bus services in the south-western suburbs of Sydney.
Contents
History of Transit First
How Transit First Started
Transit First started in August 1982. A person named Peter Threlkeld bought a company called Holsworthy Bus Co. At that time, it had 15 buses. These buses ran routes between Liverpool, Holsworthy, and East Hills. The new company was named Westway Bus & Coach Service.
In July 1987, Westway bought another company. This was Milperra Bus Co. It had routes connecting Milperra and Bankstown.
Growing the Company
In January 1997, Westway bought more routes. These were routes 915 to 921. They were in the Auburn and Bankstown areas. These routes came from Crossley Bus Lines.
Later, in May 2003, Westway bought two more bus services. These were Bankstown-Strathfield Bus Service and West Bankstown Bus Service. They belonged to the Treuer family. By July 2003, all these bus companies were combined. They were then renamed and became known as Transit First.
Changes and New Ownership
In January 2005, new rules for bus services began in Sydney. These were called the Sydney Metropolitan Bus Service Contracts. Because of these rules, some bus routes from Baxter's Bus Lines were moved. They went to Connex and Transit First.
In September 2006, the routes that went to Connex changed again. New services replaced them. Transit First then started operating these new services.
Finally, in February 2007, Transit First was sold. It was bought by Veolia Transport NSW.
Bus Routes and Services
Transit First operated 15 different bus routes. These routes served the south-western part of Sydney.
Regular Bus Routes
Here are some of the main bus routes Transit First operated:
- 900: This route went from Liverpool to Burwood, passing through Bankstown. It used to be called Route 860.
- 901: This route connected Liverpool and Holsworthy, going through Wattle Grove. It was formerly Route 863.
- 902: This route also went from Liverpool to Holsworthy, but it passed through Moorebank. It used to be Route 862.
- 902X: This was an extension of Route 862. It served areas like Voyager Point, Pleasure Point, and Sandy Point.
- 903: This route was a loop, going from Liverpool to Chipping Norton and back to Liverpool. It was formerly Route 861.
- 904: This route connected Liverpool and Fairfield, passing through Lansvale.
- 905: This route went from Fairfield to Bankstown, going through Villawood.
- 909: This route connected Bankstown and Parramatta, passing through Auburn.
- 911: This route went from Bankstown to Auburn, going through Chester Hill.
- 913: This route connected Bankstown and Strathfield, passing through Roberts Road.
- 915: This route went from Lidcombe to the University, passing by TAFE.
- 914: This route connected Greenacre and Strathfield.
- 925: This route went from Bankstown to East Hills, passing through Condell Park.
Special Shopper Hopper Buses
Transit First also had special services called "Shopper Hopper" buses. These were designed to help people get to shopping areas.
- S1: This route went from Lansvale to Cabramatta Shops.
- S2: This route connected Auburn Botanic Gardens to Auburn Shops.
The Bus Fleet (Buses Used)
Types of Buses
When it was Westway, the company used many different types of buses. These included buses made by Albion, Hino, Leyland, MAN, and Volvo. In the late 1990s, the company started using mostly Mercedes-Benz O405 buses.
Bus Colors and Designs
Westway buses had a special design, called a livery. Their buses were white, red, and blue. When the company became Transit First, they changed the design. The new Transit First buses were white, green, and blue.
