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same as westbus, resurrect article due to increased information of hillsbus in last 13 years, and ComfortDelGro Australia page is getting too packed due to increase in number of subsidiaries
Tag: Removed redirect
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{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2019}}
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#REDIRECT [[ComfortDelGro Australia#Hillsbus]]
{{Use Australian English|date=May 2019}}
{{Infobox Bus transit
|name = Hillsbus
|logo =
|logo_size =
|image = Hillsbus (mo 9877) Volgren 'CR228L' bodied Scania K230UB at Castle Hill Interchange.jpg
|image_size =
|image_caption = Hillsbus [[Volgren]] bodied [[Scania K UB|Scania K230UB]] at [[Castle Hill, New South Wales|Castle Hill]] bus interchange in July 2013
|company_slogan =
⚫
|parent = [[ComfortDelGro Australia]]
|founded = February 2002 (brand)<br>December 2004 (company)
|headquarters =
|service_area = [[Hills District]]
|service_type = Bus services
|alliance =
|routes =
|depots = [[Seven Hills, New South Wales|Seven Hills]]<br>Foundry Road (Seven Hills)<br>[[Dural, New South Wales|Dural]]<br>[[Northmead, New South Wales|Northmead]]
|hubs =
|operator =
|ceo =
|website = [https://www.cdcbus.com.au/hillsbus www.cdcbus.com.au/hillsbus]
}}
[[File:HillsBus.JPG|right|thumb|Hillsbus [[Custom Coaches]] bodied [[Mercedes-Benz O405]] Mk II on Clarence Street, [[Sydney central business district|Sydney CBD]] painted in Westbus cream & red in October 2007]]
[[File:Transport NSW liveried (mo 6088), operated by Hillsbus, Bustech CDi at Castle Hill Interchange.jpg|thumb|[[Bustech]] CDI double-decker in [[Transport for NSW]] livery at [[Castle Hill, New South Wales|Castle Hill]] interchange]]
[[File:Busways (mo 9707) and Metrobus livered (mo 5317) operated by Hillsbus at Castle Hill Interchange (1).jpg|thumb|[[Metrobus (Sydney)|Metrobus]] liveried Hillsbus [[Volgren]] CR228L bodied [[Volvo B7RLE]] at [[Castle Hill, New South Wales|Castle Hill]] bus interchange in July 2013]]
'''Hillsbus''' is an Australian bus operator who operates bus services in the [[Hills District]] of [[Sydney]]. Since 2005, it is a subsidiary of [[ComfortDelGro Australia]], formerly ComfortDelGro Cabcharge.


==History==
In 1996 Westbus established a separate Hillsbus brand to run express services from the [[Hills District]] to the [[Sydney central business district|Sydney CBD]] and [[North Sydney, New South Wales|North Sydney]], initially via the [[Anzac Bridge]] and from 1997 via the [[M2 Hills Motorway]].<ref>"Second City Private Service Starts" ''Australian Bus Panorama'' issue 11/9 June 1996 page 25</ref> However the Hillsbus brand seemed to have disappeared by the 2000s as these services were classified as Westbus rather than Hillsbus in early versions of the Westbus website.<ref>[http://www.westbus.com.au/PublicRoutes/RouteList.asp?RouteType=WEEKDAYS/ Westbus Weekdays Timetables April 2001], Retrieved 10 July 2014{{dead link|date=February 2017|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> These Westbus services, however, are still referred to by Westbus as "Hills City Express".<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20050924185834/http://www.westbus.com.au/about_westbus/history.asp Westbus Website - History September 2002], Retrieved 4 August 2015</ref>

On 11 February 2002, Hillsbus was recreated as a joint venture between Westbus and National Express' newly acquired [[Glenorie Bus Company]], and introduced a new bus route 642 under the Hillsbus brand.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20020610033841/http://www.glenoriebus.com.au/timetables/m2.htm M2 City Express Service], ''Glenorie Bus Company'', Published 2002, Retrieved 10 July 2014</ref> This service linked [[Dural, New South Wales|Dural]] and the [[Sydney central business district|City]] via the [[M2 Hills Motorway|M2]] and was therefore known as a "M2 City" express service. On 8 July the same year, Hillsbus introduced three more M2 City routes 650, 652 and 654.<ref name=hillsbus2002>[https://web.archive.org/web/20020810090601/http://www.hillsbus.com.au/ Hillsbus Home Page August 2002], Retrieved 10 July 2014</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20021024121448/http://www.hillsbus.com.au/new_services/new_hills_bus_service_650-2-4_press_release.htm M2 Services Doubled With Introduction of West Pennant Hills Valley Services], ''Hillsbus'', Published 2002, Retrieved 10 July 2014</ref> According to the Hillsbus timetables, these Hillsbus services were operated by Glenorie,<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20050329045936/http://www.glenoriebus.com.au/timetables/m2map.pdf M2 Bus Map July 2004], ''Glenorie Bus Company'',Retrieved 10 July 2014</ref> even though neither Westbus nor Glenorie buses were used.<ref name=hillsbus2002/><ref>[http://www.nationalexpressgroup.com/lib/docs/094525-ar2001.pdf National Express Annual Report 2001 Page 7] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111014135727/http://nationalexpressgroup.com/lib/docs/094525-ar2001.pdf |date=14 October 2011 }}, Retrieved 10 July 2014</ref>

In December 2004, all Westbus routes operating out of [[Northmead, New South Wales|Northmead]] and [[Seven Hills, New South Wales|Seven Hills]] depots, as well as the rest of [[Glenorie Bus Company]], were rebranded Hillsbus.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070928125036/http://www.hillsbus.com.au/ Hillsbus Home Page September 2007] Hillsbus</ref> At the same time, Hillsbus took over the operation of [[Harris Park Transport]] routes 620 - 630, following the latter ceasing operation. The services were transferred from Hillsbus to [[State Transit Authority|Sydney Buses]] on 28 January 2005.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20050307130533/http://www.hillsbus.com.au/schools/harris%20park%20bus%20finish%20a4%20poster.pdf Cessation of some Hillsbus services], Published January 2005, Retrieved 10 July 2014</ref> On 25 September 2005, after the purchase of Hillsbus by ComfortDelgro Cabcharge, routes 620, 625, 626, 627 and 630 were transferred back to Hillsbus.<ref>[http://fleetlists.busaustralia.com/nsw.php?info=HPT Harris Park Transport] Australian Bus Fleet Lists</ref>

Despite the rebranding to Hillsbus, the new Hillsbus website was only launched in January 2006, about a year after the rebranding.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20060111073248/http://hillsbus.com.au/ Hillsbus Home Page January 2006], Retrieved 10 July 2014</ref> The delay could be related to the debt of Westbus and was only resolved after the sale of Westbus and Hillsbus to CDC. After the launch of the new website, it still did not show any timetables of the former Glenorie-operated timetables until May/June 2006, and during this period, customers were asked to check the Glenorie website instead.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20060116061935/http://www.hillsbus.com.au/timetables/timetable_list.asp Hillsbus Timetables May 2006], Retrieved 10 July 2014</ref>

When the Parramatta - Rouse Hill section of the [[North-West T-way]] opened on 10 March 2007, routes 730 (renumbered T63) and 735 (renumbered 616, now 616X) were transferred from [[Busways (New South Wales)|Busways]] to Hillsbus with route 718 transferred from Hillsbus to Busways.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070830192105/http://www.busways.com.au/viewnews.asp?newsid=233 Improved bus services in the Blacktown region] Busways 27 February 2007</ref>

Since 2005 Hillsbus' services have formed [[Sydney Metropolitan Bus Service Contracts|Sydney Bus Region 4]].<ref>[http://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/file/abouttrans/Region-4.pdf Region 4] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120325104217/http://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/file/abouttrans/Region-4.pdf |date=25 March 2012 }} Transport NSW</ref> In August 2013 Hillsbus successfully tendered to operate the Region 4 services for another five years from August 2014.<ref>[http://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/media-releases/more-60-new-buses-and-improved-customer-service-new-bus-contracts More than 60 new buses and improved customer service with new bus contracts] Transport for NSW 29 August 2013</ref><ref>[https://www.cabcharge.com.au/pdfsubframe.htm?/pdf/Annual_Report_2013.pdf?sel=conditions Annual Report 2013 page 4] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140505131601/https://www.cabcharge.com.au/pdfsubframe.htm?%2Fpdf%2FAnnual_Report_2013.pdf%3Fsel=conditions |date=5 May 2014 }} Cabcharge</ref>

On 30 June 2014, the [[Opal card]] was rolled out on all of Hillsbus' [[NightRide]] and [[Sydney Metropolitan Bus Service Contracts|Region 4]] routes (including school services).<ref>{{Cite web|url =http://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/media-releases/opal-rolls-out-almost-600-buses-sydney%E2%80%99s-north-west-free-trips-hit-4-million|title =Opal rolls out to almost 600 buses in Sydney’s North West as free trips hit 4 million|date =|accessdate =23 June 2014|website =|publisher =|last =|first =|archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20140623133338/http://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/media-releases/opal-rolls-out-almost-600-buses-sydney%E2%80%99s-north-west-free-trips-hit-4-million|archive-date =23 June 2014|dead-url =yes|df =dmy-all}}</ref><ref>[http://www.transportnsw.info/sites/en/transport-status/news/2014/opal-forest-rollout.page Opal extends to all CDC Hillsbus routes from 30 June] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140702062705/http://www.transportnsw.info/sites/en/transport-status/news/2014/opal-forest-rollout.page |date=2 July 2014 }}, ''Transport Info NSW'', Retrieved 23 June 2014</ref>

In May 2019, as part of the [[Sydney Metro]] opening, there were bus reorganisation in the HIlls District, with some services were rerouted to stop at Sydney Metro stations.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.busways.com.au/service-updates/western-sydney-bus-service-adjustments-26-may|title=Western Sydney bus service adjustments from 26 May|website=Busways|accessdate=7 May 2019|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20190507014811/https://www.busways.com.au/service-updates/western-sydney-bus-service-adjustments-26-may|archivedate=7 May 2019|deadurl=no}}</ref>

==Routes==
Hillsbus operates the following services:
*M6x series [[Metrobus (Sydney)|Metrobus]] routes
**[[Metrobus (Sydney)#M60: Parramatta to Hornsby|M60]] from [[Hornsby, New South Wales|Hornsby]] to [[Parramatta]] (to be renumbered 600 in May 2019)
**[[Metrobus (Sydney)#M61: Castle Hill to City|M61]] from [[Castle Hill, New South Wales|Castle Hill]] to [[Queen Victoria Building]] (to be renumbered 610X in May 2019)
*[[North West T-Way|T-way]] routes T60 to T66 along the [[North West T-Way]] in Sydney's north-western suburbs ([[Parramatta]], [[Westmead, New South Wales|Westmead]], [[Rouse Hill]])
*Bus routes 601 to 653 in Sydney's north-western suburbs, including
**60x series along the [[North West T-Way]]
**Express services along the [[M2 Hills Motorway]] and [[Lane Cove Tunnel]] to [[Macquarie Park, New South Wales|Macquarie Park]], [[North Sydney, New South Wales|North Sydney]] and [[Queen Victoria Building]]
*Bus routes 700 to 715 in Sydney's western suburbs ([[Wentworthville]], [[Seven Hills, New South Wales|Seven Hills]], [[Blacktown]])
*S8 route (Wentworth to Constitution Hill) for "shopper hopper" route.
*[[Station Link]] Series SLx ([[Epping railway station, Sydney|Epping]], [[Chatswood railway station|,Chatswood]][[Macquarie Park railway station|,Macquarie Park]], [[Eastwood railway station|Eastwood]], [[Macquarie University railway station|Macquarie University]], [[Beecroft railway station|Beecroft]] and [[St Leonards railway station|St Leonards]] stations), joint operation with [[Transdev NSW]]
*[[Metro North West Line|North West Night Bus]] (from May 2019)

==Fleet==
As of December 2018, Hillsbus operates 620 buses across four depots Seven Hills, Foundry Road (Seven Hills), Dural and Northmead.<ref>[http://fleetlists.busaustralia.com/index-cdc.php CDC Group] Australian Bus Fleetlists</ref> Hillsbus also operates 62 buses at the Camellia depot designated for Station Link. Thus brings the Hillsbus bus total to 682. Upon formation Hillsbus adopted Westbus' cream and red livery. This was simplified in the early 2000s to plain yellow. In 2010 the [[Transport for NSW]] white and blue livery began to be applied.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External Links==
*[https://www.cdcbus.com.au/hillsbus Hillsbus website]

{{ComfortDelGro}}
[[Category:Bus companies of New South Wales]]
[[Category:Bus companies of New South Wales]]
[[Category:ComfortDelGro companies]]
[[Category:ComfortDelGro companies]]
[[Category:National Express companies]]
[[Category:Transport companies established in 2004]]
[[Category:Transport companies established in 1996]]

Revision as of 06:32, 9 May 2019

Hillsbus
Hillsbus Volgren bodied Scania K230UB at Castle Hill bus interchange in July 2013
ParentComfortDelGro Australia
FoundedFebruary 2002 (brand)
December 2004 (company)
Service areaHills District
Service typeBus services
DepotsSeven Hills
Foundry Road (Seven Hills)
Dural
Northmead
Websitewww.cdcbus.com.au/hillsbus
Hillsbus Custom Coaches bodied Mercedes-Benz O405 Mk II on Clarence Street, Sydney CBD painted in Westbus cream & red in October 2007
Bustech CDI double-decker in Transport for NSW livery at Castle Hill interchange
Metrobus liveried Hillsbus Volgren CR228L bodied Volvo B7RLE at Castle Hill bus interchange in July 2013

Hillsbus is an Australian bus operator who operates bus services in the Hills District of Sydney. Since 2005, it is a subsidiary of ComfortDelGro Australia, formerly ComfortDelGro Cabcharge.

History

In 1996 Westbus established a separate Hillsbus brand to run express services from the Hills District to the Sydney CBD and North Sydney, initially via the Anzac Bridge and from 1997 via the M2 Hills Motorway.[1] However the Hillsbus brand seemed to have disappeared by the 2000s as these services were classified as Westbus rather than Hillsbus in early versions of the Westbus website.[2] These Westbus services, however, are still referred to by Westbus as "Hills City Express".[3]

On 11 February 2002, Hillsbus was recreated as a joint venture between Westbus and National Express' newly acquired Glenorie Bus Company, and introduced a new bus route 642 under the Hillsbus brand.[4] This service linked Dural and the City via the M2 and was therefore known as a "M2 City" express service. On 8 July the same year, Hillsbus introduced three more M2 City routes 650, 652 and 654.[5][6] According to the Hillsbus timetables, these Hillsbus services were operated by Glenorie,[7] even though neither Westbus nor Glenorie buses were used.[5][8]

In December 2004, all Westbus routes operating out of Northmead and Seven Hills depots, as well as the rest of Glenorie Bus Company, were rebranded Hillsbus.[9] At the same time, Hillsbus took over the operation of Harris Park Transport routes 620 - 630, following the latter ceasing operation. The services were transferred from Hillsbus to Sydney Buses on 28 January 2005.[10] On 25 September 2005, after the purchase of Hillsbus by ComfortDelgro Cabcharge, routes 620, 625, 626, 627 and 630 were transferred back to Hillsbus.[11]

Despite the rebranding to Hillsbus, the new Hillsbus website was only launched in January 2006, about a year after the rebranding.[12] The delay could be related to the debt of Westbus and was only resolved after the sale of Westbus and Hillsbus to CDC. After the launch of the new website, it still did not show any timetables of the former Glenorie-operated timetables until May/June 2006, and during this period, customers were asked to check the Glenorie website instead.[13]

When the Parramatta - Rouse Hill section of the North-West T-way opened on 10 March 2007, routes 730 (renumbered T63) and 735 (renumbered 616, now 616X) were transferred from Busways to Hillsbus with route 718 transferred from Hillsbus to Busways.[14]

Since 2005 Hillsbus' services have formed Sydney Bus Region 4.[15] In August 2013 Hillsbus successfully tendered to operate the Region 4 services for another five years from August 2014.[16][17]

On 30 June 2014, the Opal card was rolled out on all of Hillsbus' NightRide and Region 4 routes (including school services).[18][19]

In May 2019, as part of the Sydney Metro opening, there were bus reorganisation in the HIlls District, with some services were rerouted to stop at Sydney Metro stations.[20]

Routes

Hillsbus operates the following services:

Fleet

As of December 2018, Hillsbus operates 620 buses across four depots Seven Hills, Foundry Road (Seven Hills), Dural and Northmead.[21] Hillsbus also operates 62 buses at the Camellia depot designated for Station Link. Thus brings the Hillsbus bus total to 682. Upon formation Hillsbus adopted Westbus' cream and red livery. This was simplified in the early 2000s to plain yellow. In 2010 the Transport for NSW white and blue livery began to be applied.

References

  1. ^ "Second City Private Service Starts" Australian Bus Panorama issue 11/9 June 1996 page 25
  2. ^ Westbus Weekdays Timetables April 2001, Retrieved 10 July 2014[dead link]
  3. ^ Westbus Website - History September 2002, Retrieved 4 August 2015
  4. ^ M2 City Express Service, Glenorie Bus Company, Published 2002, Retrieved 10 July 2014
  5. ^ a b Hillsbus Home Page August 2002, Retrieved 10 July 2014
  6. ^ M2 Services Doubled With Introduction of West Pennant Hills Valley Services, Hillsbus, Published 2002, Retrieved 10 July 2014
  7. ^ M2 Bus Map July 2004, Glenorie Bus Company,Retrieved 10 July 2014
  8. ^ National Express Annual Report 2001 Page 7 Archived 14 October 2011 at the Wayback Machine, Retrieved 10 July 2014
  9. ^ Hillsbus Home Page September 2007 Hillsbus
  10. ^ Cessation of some Hillsbus services, Published January 2005, Retrieved 10 July 2014
  11. ^ Harris Park Transport Australian Bus Fleet Lists
  12. ^ Hillsbus Home Page January 2006, Retrieved 10 July 2014
  13. ^ Hillsbus Timetables May 2006, Retrieved 10 July 2014
  14. ^ Improved bus services in the Blacktown region Busways 27 February 2007
  15. ^ Region 4 Archived 25 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine Transport NSW
  16. ^ More than 60 new buses and improved customer service with new bus contracts Transport for NSW 29 August 2013
  17. ^ Annual Report 2013 page 4 Archived 5 May 2014 at the Wayback Machine Cabcharge
  18. ^ "Opal rolls out to almost 600 buses in Sydney's North West as free trips hit 4 million". Archived from the original on 23 June 2014. Retrieved 23 June 2014. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  19. ^ Opal extends to all CDC Hillsbus routes from 30 June Archived 2 July 2014 at the Wayback Machine, Transport Info NSW, Retrieved 23 June 2014
  20. ^ "Western Sydney bus service adjustments from 26 May". Busways. Archived from the original on 7 May 2019. Retrieved 7 May 2019. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  21. ^ CDC Group Australian Bus Fleetlists
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