SHOWBUS AUSTRALIA BUS IMAGE GALLERY
Keolis-Downer | MAN ND323F Gemilang Eco doubledeck B-line buses
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 Keolis Downer took over the Lower North Shore and Northern Beaches franchise in October 2021 with the Mona Vale, Brookvale and North Sydney depots. The operation included the high profile and high frequency B-line service from Mona Vale to Wynyard in the city. Seen from the footbridge across to Warringah Mall at Brookvale in October 2022 is MAN ND323F 2873 (2873ST) complete with a Movember tache.
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 The following month 2881 (2881ST) was loading prior to an evening departure from Wynyard.
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 An offside view of 2867 that evening at Wynyard also "Movembered".
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 Seen outside Collaroy'a old Arlington Amusement Hall, now "The Beach Club" is city bound 2867 (2867ST).
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 As 2867 moves forward we get a glimpse of the beautiful sea views you get from the top deck of a B-line.
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The route has seen huge passenger loadings and the buses were working flat out. Three extra buses were diverted before delivery to Keolis Downer in early 2020. This one, 8492 (MO8492), is seen before entering service in March at Mona Vale depot. They commenced service in TNSW blue livery and despite bright B1 blinds, passengers did trust them as the yellow B-line branding had been so successful in a less than three years.
Picture courtesy Ben Comins |
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A second view of 8492 at Mona depot.
Picture courtesy Ben Comins |
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 Seen in December 2022 from a skyscraper dining room near the Rocks is another B-Line MAN heading for the Harbour Bridge and Mona Vale.
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 By April 2024 the trio of blue B-lines had been painted into "proper" livery. Arriving at Wynyard is 8493 (MO8493). The buses stand ot from the rest of the fleet with the extra yellow bands above and below the desto. The rears also have more yellow. The advent of the "extra" yellow painted trio caused regular passengers to think they were new, though they had been running for over a year painted blue!
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 A better view of 8493 as it moves from layover on to the stand at Wynyard.
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 Approaching the Harbour Bridge in December 2024, 2851 (2851ST) leaves a Sydney train in its wake!.
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 Coming off the bridge at the other end by the Rocks that day is another of the trio of diverted buses with its distinctive yellow bands above and below the desto, 8494 (MO8494).
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 Here is 8494 a few minnutes later on layover at Wynyard.
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 MAN 2882 (2882ST) pulls away from the Big Bear Village stop on Military Road in December 2024.
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 Further along Military Road 2864 (2864ST) is seen from a footbridge.
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 Also on Military Road that day was a fourth decker drafted into the B-line fleet, 6931 (MO6931). This one had been new to Forest Coach Lines in 2018 around the time of the CDC takeover. It was transferred to Keolis Downer in October to provide extra journeys on the B1 and - unlike the earlier trio - was immediately painted yellow. The B-line fleet is operating around 100,000 km per bus annually and Keolis Downer do not expect them to last the projected 20-25 year lifespan (surprise!). Ten new buses were ordered in 2025 to help address demand and maintenenace issues.
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