Queensland urban bus patronage - updated FY 22/23

[ozbob]

[SurfRail]

The operator names are a bit misleading.  Of the 18 different operations in regional QLD, we are down to the following only in substance.  There are 16 networks (2 have 2 operators present).

Kinetic - 5 operations
- Bundaberg (except Routes 621-622)
- Cairns
- Mackay
- Capricorn (Rockhampton)
- Townsville / Magnetic Island

ComfortDelgro Corporation (CDC) - 2 operations
- Gladstone
- Capricorn (Yeppoon / Gracemere)

Trans North - 2 operations
- Bowen
- Innisfail

Others (part of larger operations) - 3 operations
- Cavglass (Sunshine Coast Hinterland) - part of Cavbus Group based in Logan and which runs route 587 to Yarrabilba.
- Transit Systems (North Stradbroke) - took over at end of 2022 from previous operator, part of Kelsian which runs numerous ferry services throughout QLD including all TransLink ticketed ferry services in SEQ (Brisbane River + Southern Moreton Bay Islands) but has no bus business in QLD at present outside this.
- Bus Queensland (Toowoomba / Highfields) - part of Pulitano Group which runs buses in the Lockyer Valley, Ipswich, Park Ridge, and some Victorian operations.

Independents - 6 operations
- Whitsunday Transit (Airlie Beach and Proserpine)
- Polley's (Gympie / Rainbow Beach)
- Wide Bay Transit (Maryborough / Hervey Bay)
- Stewart & Sons (Bundaberg Route 621 and 622)
- Haidley's (Warwick)
- Christensen's (Kilcoy)

In 10 years' time I'd be surprised if any of the 6 "independents" were still around.  Since tendering isn't a feature of the QLD landscape, I expect most or all of these businesses will be bought out by bigger fish.  The trend is towards consolidation and a lot of family businesses are selling up for a good price to institutional investors who put a premium on acquiring safe government funded income streams. 

I expect Stewart & Sons could eventually give up their route services to Kinetic (either through a full buy-out or just of that part of the business), and Christensens may end up doing the same with one of the neighbouring TransLink operators in and around Caboolture - and in which case the service might become part of the SEQ ticketing system. 

The other 4 are stand-alone and don't touch anything else - in Gympie's case not even Gympie North station - and so they would more likely be bought out in full.

The Capricorn region is going to be interesting because that is the only regional area where there are 2 multinationals operating under the same ticketing system.  Bundaberg is the only other region with 2 operators (but barely).

I'd like to see the State also try and get something happening with local bus services not currently on the grid - I suspect there would be at least a few where some sort of official service could work locally and/or as a connection to a larger network nearby (eg Emerald, Mount Isa, Dalby, Kingaroy, Ayr / Home Hill, Misson Beach / Tully, Atherton / Mareeba - even a few gaps in SEQ like Tamborine, Dayboro, Boonah etc).

[ozbob]

^ thanks.  The operators are as supplied by Translink. Perhaps they need to update. 
I think it is more historical than actual.