National Bus Company

This article is about the National Bus Company in Australia. For the historic British company, see National Bus Company (UK).

National Bus Company

Slogan	We're Moving You
Parent	Ventura Bus Lines
Founded	27th December 1993 by National Express Group
Service area	North, North-East, Eastern Melbourne
Service type	Bus & coach
Routes	41
Destinations	Bulleen, Kew Junction, Warrandyte
Hubs	Deakin University, Doncaster Park & Ride, La Trobe University, Northland SC, The Pines SC, Templestowe Village SC, Westfield Doncaster
Stations	Box Hill, Canterbury, Croydon, Mitcham, Ringwood
Depot(s)	North Fitzroy, Doncaster and Croydon
Chief executive	Andrew Cornwall
Web site	http://www.venturabus.com.au

The National Bus Company, or NBC, was the Australian brand for National Express Group's mass transit bus services in Melbourne and Brisbane. Its sister companies were Westbus, Hillsbus, and Glenorie in Sydney, Southern Coast Transit in Perth.

Melbourne

History

Under the government of Jeff Kennett, the state government-run bus routes were privatised. Using the NationalBus brand, British operator National Express purchased the Public Transport Corporation's bus services in the Northern and Northeastern suburbs of Melbourne, centred around Doncaster.

National Bus Company commenced operations on the 27th December 1993 with a fleet made up of former Government owned buses including MAN SL200s and Volvo B59s. The company acquired two depots located at Doncaster and Fitzroy North.

In 1994, National introduced the first of 56 Mercedes-Benz LO812 mini buses. These buses were introduced under National's plan to introduce bus services in local areas previously not serviced by bus routes.

In addition, between 1997 and 2005, National has undergone extensive fleet modernisation programs in order to phase out Volvo B59s and early model MAN SL200s. This has involved the purchase of 68 Mercedes-Benz O405 series buses along with 53 low floor MAN AG buses.

In September 2004 the Melbourne operations of National Bus were purchased by rival operator Ventura Bus Lines for $45 million. At this time the company operated 268 buses along 44 northern and eastern suburbs bus routes.

Routes

A National Bus Company operated bus with new livery

National Bus Company operated bus built by MAN AG

National Bus Company MAN 15.220

1980s built MAN SL200 ex-Met Bus now operated by bus National Bus Company, at Westfield Doncaster

• 200 City – Bulleen via Kew Junction, Box Hill (every day). Operated by NationalBus.
• 201 City – Westfield Doncaster via Kew Junction, East Kew (every day). Operated by NationalBus.
• 202 East Kew – Box Hill (Monday to Saturday). Operated by NationalBus.
• 203 City – Bulleen via Kew Junction (Monday to Friday). Operated by NationalBus.
• 205 University of Melbourne – Westfield Doncaster via Kew Junction, Bulleen (Monday to Friday (peak)). Operated by NationalBus.
• 207 City – Donvale via Kew Junction, Westfield Doncaster (every day). Operated by NationalBus.
• 235 City – Fishermans Bend (Monday to Saturday (peak)). Operated by NationalBus.
• 237 City – Fishermans Bend (Monday to Friday). Operated by NationalBus.
• 238 City – Port Melbourne (Monday to Friday (offpeak, evening)). Operated by NationalBus.
• 246 Elsternwick – La Trobe University via Richmond RS, Clifton Hill (every day). Operated by NationalBus.
• 250 Garden City – La Trobe University via Carlton North, Clifton Hill (every day). Operated by NationalBus.
• 251 Garden City – Northland SC via Carlton North, Clifton Hill (every day). Operated by NationalBus.
• 253 Garden City – North Carlton (Monday to Friday). Operated by NationalBus.
• 270 Box Hill – Ringwood via Mitcham RS (Monday to Saturday). Operated by Ventura Bus Lines and NationalBus.
• 271 Box Hill – Ringwood via Tunstall Square SC, Park Orchards (every day). Operated by Ventura Bus Lines and NationalBus.
• 273 The Pines SC – Nunawading (Monday to Saturday). Operated by NationalBus.
• 279 Box Hill – Westfield Doncaster (every day). Operated by NationalBus.
• 280 The Pines SC – The Pines SC via Tunstall Square SC, Westfield Doncaster, Templestowe Village SC, The Pines SC (Monday to Saturday). Operated by NationalBus.
• 281 Templestowe – Deakin University via Westfield Doncaster, Box Hill (Monday to Saturday). Operated by NationalBus.
• 282 The Pines SC – The Pines SC via Tunstall Square SC, Westfield Doncaster, Templestowe Village SC, The Pines SC (Monday to Saturday). Operated by NationalBus.
• 284 Westfield Doncaster – Box Hill via Doncaster Park & Ride (Monday to Saturday). Operated by NationalBus.
• 285 Westfield Doncaster – Camberwell via Doncaster Park & Ride, Canterbury RS (Monday to Friday). Operated by NationalBus.
• 286 Box Hill – The Pines SC via Blackburn (every day). Operated by NationalBus.
• 293 Box Hill – Greensborough via Westfield Doncaster (every day). Operated by NationalBus.
• 295 Box Hill – The Pines SC via Westfield Doncaster, Templestowe (every day). Operated by NationalBus.
• 302 City – Box Hill via East Kew (every day). Operated by NationalBus.
• 303 City – North Ringwood (Monday to Friday (peak)). Operated by NationalBus.
• 305 City – Warrandyte via Westfield Doncaster, The Pines SC (every day). Operated by NationalBus.
• 309 City – Donvale via Doncaster Park & Ride (Monday to Friday). Operated by NationalBus.
• 313 City – Doncaster Park & Ride (Monday to Friday (peak)). Operated by NationalBus.
• 315 City – Box Hill (Monday to Friday (peak)). Operated by NationalBus.
• 318 City – Deep Creek (Monday To Friday (peak)). Operated by NationalBus.
• 340 City – La Trobe University (Monday to Friday). Operated by NationalBus.
• 350 City – La Trobe University (Monday to Friday (peak)). Operated by NationalBus.
• 364 Ringwood – Warrandyte (every day). Operated by NationalBus.
• 366 Ringwood – Croydon via Croydon Hills (every day). Operated by Ventura Bus Lines and NationalBus.
• 367 Ringwood – Croydon via Ringwood East (every day). Operated by Ventura Bus Lines and NationalBus.
• 905 City – The Pines SC via Eastern Freeway, Templestowe (every day). Operated by NationalBus.
• 906 City – Warrandyte Bridge via Eastern Freeway, Doncaster East, The Pines (every day). Operated by NationalBus.
• 907 City – Mitcham via Eastern Freeway, Doncaster Park + Ride (every day). Operated by NationalBus.
• 908 City – The Pines SC via Eastern Freeway, Doncaster East (every day). Operated by NationalBus.

Depots

• Doncaster East
• North Fitzroy

Brisbane

National Bus Company took over operation of the failing bus service in the Redlands in 1997 known as Bayside Buslines. Based in Capalaba, the scheduled service and charter operator gradually expanded its operations and replaced the aging Bayside fleet. In 2000 it acquired the company known as Redlands Transport. One year later, in 2001, National Bus drivers won the coveted safety and professionalism award from Queensland Transport. However in late 2003, the company was acquired by Veolia.

See also

• List of Victorian Bus Companies
• List of Melbourne bus routes
• Buses in Melbourne

External links

• Ventura's website
• Park & Ride facility
• Public Timetables