Moreland Bus Lines

Moreland Bus Lines, branded as MorelandBus, is a school and charter bus operator in Melbourne, Australia. Until October 2023, it also operated two routes under contract to Public Transport Victoria until they were sold to Kinetic Melbourne.

Moreland Bus Lines
Volgren bodied Mercedes-Benz OC 500 LE in December 2014
Commenced operation1955
Headquarters65 Colebrook Street, Brunswick
Service areaNorthern Melbourne
Service typeBus & coach operator
Fleet34 (January 2023)[1]
Chief executivePeter Wright
Websitemorelandbus.com.au

Moreland Bus Lines also has sister operations based in Cowes and Wonthaggi, operating as South Coast Bus and Phillip Island Bus respectively.

History
Austral Denning Majestic bodied Volvo B12R at Wagga Wagga station in July 2009

In 1955, Clarrie Wright began operating a Reo bus on routes 510 Melville Road to High Street and 511 Essendon North to Sydney Road, along with six other operators. By 1969, Wright had bought out the other operators and formed Moreland Bus Lines.[2][3][4]

In 1973, Thompson Roadlines was acquired and Moreland entered the coach charter market, later operating safari tours to Central Australia. In July 1985, Taranto Bus Lines was acquired, which operated route 512 Strathmore to East Coburg, followed by Geographical Tours and Bakers Bus Lines.[3] In 1996, Landmark Tours was acquired and Moreland began to operate services under contract to Greyhound Pioneer Australia to Sydney and Brisbane.[2][4][5][6] Although it no longer operates interstate services, Moreland continues to provide depot facilities for Greyhound Australia.

In 2007, the Wright family acquired a 50% share in neighbouring Broadmeadows Bus Service but, in 2011, that company was sold to Dom Sita of Kastoria Bus Lines.[2][7]

In 2012, Moreland acquired Gippsland Bus Services in Wonthaggi, and in early 2013, Phillip Island Bus Lines was acquired. Wonthaggi and Philip Island then became South Coast Bus and Phillip Island Bus respectively.[2]

In August 2023, it was announced that Kinetic Melbourne has agreed to acquire the two bus routes operated by Moreland Bus Lines (routes 510 and 512), along with ten buses.[8] Kinetic took over the routes on 2 October 2023. No depots were included in the sale, and Moreland Bus Lines would continue to operate school and charter bus services.

Fleet

As at January 2023, the fleet consisted of 34 buses and coaches.[1] The coach fleet livery is off-white with light and dark green stripes, with route buses painted in the Public Transport Victoria orange and white livery.

References
  1. "Moreland Group - Moreland Bus Lines, Brunswick". Australian Bus Fleet Lists (Bus Australia). Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  2. Our History Moreland Bus
  3. Melbourne Metropolitan Bus Operators and Fleet Listings. Melbourne: Bus & Coach Society of Victoria. 1991. p. 40.
  4. Moreland Bus Lines Australian Bus Panorama issue 20/5 March 2005 pages 6-19
  5. Moreland BL Australian Bus Panorama issue 11/9 June 1996 page 44
  6. Greyhound Pioneers Subbies Australasian Bus & Coach July 1996 page 12
  7. Northern Transit Holdings - Broadmeadows Bus Service Australian Bus Fleet Lists
  8. "Kinetic expands Melbourne operation with additional government-contracted bus routes". Kinetic. 15 August 2023. Retrieved 10 September 2023.

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