Interline Bus Service to hand over southwest Sydney bus services to Transit Systems after privatisation

After more than six decades in southwest Sydney, a family-owned business will see their final bus service operate this Saturday after the former government’s retendering ousted their company.

Interline Buses will no longer operate in Macarthur and southwest Sydney after 60 years.

The move to privatise a southwest Sydney bus network was pushed through just weeks before the state election this year, with a family-run business ousted after servicing the region for 60 years.

Ingleburn Bus Services - trading as Interline - has been the incumbent operator for region two of the Sydney bus network, which covers Liverpool, Ingleburn, Hoxton Park, Bringelly, Glenfield, Campbelltown, Camden, Narellan and Macarthur for six decades.

Director Domenica Oliveri said the business had the current contract awarded to them in 2013 but, in a few days, will have to hand over their routes after the former government privatised the networks.

“Unfortunately, the retendering of bus service contracts by the NSW government has resulted in multinational companies taking over traditionally family-run private bus operations, including Interline,” she said.

“Despite our best efforts and collaborations with other community-serving families, we were unsuccessful in retaining the contracts.

“We want to take this opportunity to express our deepest gratitude for your support throughout the years. Your loyalty has been invaluable to us and has played a significant role in our success.”

Ms Oliveri said the final Interline bus service would be the 869 trip from Liverpool to Ingleburn Station, departing at 11.42pm on Saturday.

The buses have been a familiar fixture around the region for decades.

A driver who has worked for Interline for more than a decade said he wished to remain anonymous as his employment’s future was uncertain.

“It is sad to see the company go after managing a business through generations,” he said.

“The small family-run business feel will no longer be as it is taken over by a larger organisation. After 60 years and many staff that have been there for over half this time, it is a big end to the era and change for all.”

A spokeswoman for NSW Transport Minister Jo Haylen said the former NSW Liberal Government announced it would privatise 13 of Sydney’s 14 bus contracts in October 2019.

She said the tender process for the region had been completed just six weeks before the 2023 NSW election by the former government, and it was awarded to Transit Systems NSW SW Pty Ltd.

“Due to the significant issues created by the former Government’s privatisation of bus services across Sydney, the NSW Government has set up the Bus Industry Taskforce to deliver better bus services for passengers across NSW,” the spokeswoman said.

“The Bus Industry Taskforce has already issued recommendations to help alleviate the shortage of drivers and is also looking at service delivery, service growth and how to ensure that bus contracts put passengers first.”

The new operator will begin services this October 8, and Ms Haylen’s spokeswoman said all transferring employees of the existing bus operator can transfer to Transit Systems on their current terms and conditions.

“Customers can expect to turn up to existing bus stops and catch their usual services from Sunday, October 8 2023, with the exception of the Interline Connect On Demand trial in Edmondson Park,” the spokeswoman said.

“The new contract for Region 2, which was signed by the former NSW Government prior to the March 2023 election, did not include the continuation of this trial.

“Transport for NSW has established a dedicated team and is working in conjunction with all operators to manage the transition process.”