Supporting Safety, Cleaner Energy and 340 Ongoing Jobs through Public Transport

NT Government

2 June 2022

Public transport services are critical in providing Territorians access to important social, economic and cultural services, such as education, health, employment, and events.

A tender has been awarded to provide public transport services across Greater Darwin including public bus services, school bus services, special needs services and services for special events. This contract is in addition to the Alice Springs, Batchelor and Jabiru school services, which were awarded to CDC entities in late 2021. CDC also continues to operate the urban bus network contract in Alice Springs.

ComfortDelGro Corporation Australia Pty Ltd (CDC), through its subsidiary CDC Darwin Pty Ltd (formerly Buslink NT Pty Ltd), has won the Northern Territory Government tender for a six-year contract as the sole operator of public bus transport services in Darwin, Palmerston, Rural Areas and Special Needs Services within the region.

The new contract starts from 1 July with CDC operating under new CDC Northern Territory branding, replacing the current Buslink branding. The company will expand its operations to employ more than 340 people and operate more than 210 buses in the Northern Territory.

The Darwin and Urban service covers a significant part of Northern Territory’s public transport network, with 170 vehicles operating across more than 180 bus routes, moving approximately 5.7 million passengers every year.

This new agreement will see nine new hybrid buses rolled out on urban routes.

Quotes attributed to the Minister for Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics, Eva Lawler:

“Public transport is vital for our community to function.

“The awarding of the tender will see 340 Territorians supported through employment, and Territorians supported through reliable public transport.

“We are delivering services for Territorians in our urban centres and in the bush, with 170 vehicles operating across more than 180 bus routes.

“The addition of the new hybrid buses supports our commitment to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.”

Quotes attributed to CDC Regional Australia Division CEO, Tony Hopkins:

“We are very pleased that the performance and expertise of our current operations and the way we treat our customers and employees in the Northern Territory has been recognised during the tender process for the Darwin contract.

“For customers, it means they will be served by a long-term operator which has invested significantly in its Northern Territory operations to consistently deliver a safe and reliable service.

“For transitioning employees, it means they will be looked after by a company with a strong track record in retaining staff, providing good working conditions and long-term opportunities.

“For the surrounding communities, it means they are being served by a company which has demonstrated its commitment to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander reconciliation and other important social causes.”

Northern Territory Government

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