SHOWBUS AUSTRALIA BUS IMAGE GALLERY
Sydney Busfest 2025
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Congratulations to those responsible for organising Sydney Busfest 2025 at the White Bay Cruise Terminal on November 23rd. A superb collection of bus gems was assembled - and more importantly - displayed in an intelligent manner. Clearly much thought had gone into inviting the exhibits and putting an exhibition together in a great setting. This was the Australian equivalent of SHOWBUS.
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 We start with some general views of the show here featuring modern coaches headed by the Marcopolo G8 demonstrator up from Melbourne and recently featured as our Pic of the Week and online jigsaw.
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 The flank of exhibits on the right beginning with the Kangaroo Motorcoach presented a Kiama Coachlines MAN and an ICharter Austral Pacific Majestic bodied MAN.
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 Two Australia Wide Coaches took centre stage with a new Higer Touring foremost in the largest display area flanked by lines of exhibits either side with plenty of space available to get good photos in the favourable weather. A lucky chance after the weather for the three days prior to the event, you might still spot puddles!
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 Viewed from the other end of the display the NSW police booze bus is on the right, the Australia Wide "Premium" coach in the centre and from Queensland Kangaroo Bus Lines Motorcoach.
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 A better view of 001 (AWC001). The immaculate 21 seat luxury Scania K124EB coach is amazingly 22 years old disguised by its facelifted Coach Design body.
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 With no disrespect to Australian Luxury Travel of Prestons, this Autobus bodied Volvo B7R, TV4000, was not in the same league as the "Prestige". The 53 seater has had several previous owners and was acquired from a Party Bus operation. Prior to that it had been with Martyrs as 42 (6542AO), in Queensland as 407LLN with Tates, with Macphersons in Tamworth as 3700MO, Peel Valley Coaches as MO5748 and Aries Tours
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 Three vehicles represented the Buslines Group starting with this smart rare Autobus bodied Bluebird CSRE, Bathurst Buslines 16 (2211MO) enjoying its second time on show, the previous occasion 23 years earler when new at the 2002 Bus and Coach Show.
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 From Berrima Buslines came this 2000 Custom 516 bodied Mercedes O400, 46 (5472MO).
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 Restored to original 1995 condition after COVID withdrawal is 43 (54663J) a Custom 238 bodied Mercedes O400. Prior to the historic plate its rego was 4824MO, but previously it had been 24 (MO3009).
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 The Busways contingent started with this classic 1979 Custom bodied Volvo B58, 51 (48005H).
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 The fleet was dominated by these Custom 228 bodied buses for many years. These two privately preserved examples from around the turn of the century are both owned by the same person, Scania L94UB 468 (BUS468) right and MAN 18.260 477 (MAN477) left.
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 Sporting its "Movember" moustache was 2000 Custom 510 bodied Mercedes O405 562 (MO5162) ex King Bros 157 (MO5029).
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 Having taken a number of Custom Denning Element electric buses, Busways is mid delivery of new Volgren Optimus bodied Volvo BZL electrics like 5032 (MO8901). Four electrics were gathered at one end of the display under a canopy, which unfortunately had them in the shade, at least the rear offside of 5032 was in the sun.
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 The front nearside of 5032.
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 Alongside 5032 was a Yutong E12 for Keolis Downer, 9593 as yet unregistered.
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 When the King Bros business collapsed the bulk of its operations and fleet was acquired by Busways who retained their livery for some time. It is an ill wind that blows no good, but many operators benefitted from snapping up cancelled King orders or surplus buses. This bus looks like an Ansair bodied vehicle, but is actually a Coachworks rebodied 1999 STA Mark I Mercedes O305. It was originally bodied by PMC and ran as 1960 in Sydney, acquired by Busways with the King Bros business where it was their 28, it became 661 (MO3563). Prior to rebody it was MO8477 with Forest Coach Lines. Since sold it went back to Sydney with Sydney Party Bus (Network North) at Glebe reregistered 5642MO in 2010 and went from them to Telfords. It is now preserved with rego 77826J.
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 Another ex Busways vehicle preserved in full King Bros livery is this Custom bodied Mercedes, 760 (XP79HJ.
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 A third King's bus on show was another Custom bodied Merc, CB60 23, with the apt rego KINGBRO.
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 Preserved privately since 2017 is this tri-axle Volvo B10MT with 1991 Custom Coaches 200 bodywork. Appropriately it was Westbus 200 (MO200) but now sports historic plate 73186J.
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 There was a time when Westbus, owned by the Bosnjak family dominated west Sydney bus services. In 2004, after acquiring Glenorie Coaches the operations were merged under the name of Hillsbus though the Westbus name and livery lives on in London after the Bosnjaks started a coach operation there in 1986. In Sydney in the eighties the Custom Euro II bodied Volvo B10M became a Westbus standard and 7457 (53807H), normally a Sydney Bus Museum resident has lost its one time matching MO rego. The bus was one of those selected to operate the shuttle service linking the White Bay Terminal with the Town Hall and the Museum. Picture ref D9412  |
 The Bosnjaks effectively sold their bus operations to the UK based National Express in 1999, but by 2005 their entire Australian operation - including trams, trains and buses in Melbourne, was in an unstable financial state and was bought up by Singapore based ComfortdelGro Cabcharge, CDC for short. Their New South Wales operations are now branded CDC NSW as seen on Custom CB60 bodied Volvo B10BLE 8339 (MO8339) which had been new to Westbus in 2001 and still retain's its original canary yello livery.
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 Former Hunter Valley 4398 (4398MO) was acquired for preservation in Sydney in 2025. It is hoped it will be restored to the red and cream colours of Toronto Bus Services where it was new as 13 (MO4002) in 2000. It currently sports rego XP82LL.
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 Also recently acquired for preservation in Newcatle was Hunter Valley 7727 (7727MO), a 1998 Custom 550 bodied Mercedes O405.
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 New to Westbus as 7745 (MO7745) in 1999, this Custom 510 bodied Mercedes O405 is still active in the St Marys CDC Charter operation with rego TV907B.
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 Now allocated to CDC's ICharter operation at St Marys is former Blue Mountains Austral Pacific Majestic bodied MAN 22.370 TV555A which was 3755MO in the mountains.
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 Still serving with Blue Mountains in original livery, but with the fleetname replaced by a small CDC NSW sticker is 24 year old Cusom 510 bodied Hino RG230, 3731MO.
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 The Hino was on the left of a trio of former Forest buses, all preserved Mercedes.
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 This is the preserved Forest Mercedes next to the Blue Mountains Hino, former 7712 (MO7712), a 1999 Volgren CR221L bodied Mercedes O405NH.
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 Many former Forest buses continue to work for CDC NSW like 2001 Bustech bodied Mercedes O405NH 7838 (MO7838), this bus having even lost its green stripes. It was deployed on the shuttle service that day and is seen at the Museum, the driver complaining vociferously about cars parked thoughtlessly on the Museum approach, later in the day the service used the Leichhardt depot entrance as an alternative, though several cars were towed
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 Glenorie Coaches resurfaced after the Westbus takeover. The coach fleet presenting many immaculately turned out older secondhand vehicles like this Custom SB50 bodied Iveco Eurorider, TV8487, which had been new to King Bros as 337 (MO4248) in 2002. Alongside is TV516B a 1998 Custom bodied Volvo B10M.
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 A better view of the Custom 510 bodied B10M acquired from Port Stephens Coaches where it has been 18 (3120MO), but was another King Bros vehicle. Appropriately it was displayed next to the Port Stephens entry.
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 Evoking memories of the original Glenorie fleet was this preserved Custom CB60 bodied Mercedes, 88.
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 This Volgren CR221L bodied Mercedes O405 is believed to be a former Glenorie vehicle, now in preservation. Its livery may be from its previous owner, Hillsong Church of Kellyville. It now has rego XP65IZ but was better known as MO8107.
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 From the Gong came this 1999 Autobus bodied Volvo B7R that Warrigal acquired from West Coast Bus Charters of Perth, possibly the only vehicle at the display with WA connections. The coach had been new to Westbus as TV2093 passing via Trotters and Christians with rego 4009AO before crossing the Naullarbor.
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 Alongside the Gong Volvo was this Ansair Orana bodied Mercedes O400 of Kingsgrove, MO8927, which had been new to Carbridge in 1995. At one stage it served for Echuca-Moama Transit as their 2 (1645AO).
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 Another well presented Kingsgrove bus was this Custom 510 bodied Mercedes O405 new in 1999 to King Bros as 66 (MO4696). It was acquired from Busways in 2020, by which time it was 760 (7241MO).
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 Close to the Atlantean was Kennedys Omnibus Services bodied Volvo B8RLE, 28 (8895MO), believed to be a unique vehicle.
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 Evoking memories of times past was this preserved Customs bodied Scania L94IB of John J Hill, an operator absorbed by the Premier Transport Group.
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 Another operator lost to the Premier Transport Group in the Wollongong area was Ruttys, represented by their 28, a restored Custom bodied Mercedes O405.
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 Another operator slowly losing its identity after takeover by the Premier Transport Group is Kiama Coachlines. They presented their 2888MO, a 2000 Coach Design bodied MAN 24.420.
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 The precise identity of this preserved Custom bodied Volvo B10M is not known but it serves as a timely reminder of the Connex Southtrans era.
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 Neither forgotten nor gone, but a shadow of its former self in Sydney is the Punchbowl Bus Company. The company remains active on charter, schools and rail replacemnt work after its bus operations ere commandered by the state. It also has its Goulborn operations to contine to fly the flag plus this preserved Customs bodied Hino RG197K, MO9030, new to Harris Park Transport as MO8957 in 1995. It is here on historic plate 67991J.
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 It was great to see this 2000 Motorcoach Classic II, 14 (KBL014) of Kangaroo Bus Lines down from Brisbane.
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 The Sydney based Red London Bus' Routemaster, RML2353 is often seen around the city on promotional work or participating at bus events. In the UK it had rego CUV353C and CUV353 has been secured for Australian use. The company also owns an ex London Merlin, MB306 (VLW306G), current rego unknown. This is one of its two other known active vehicles, both ex Surfside Bostech bodied Volvos, the other is a B7R coach, but this is a B12BLE bus, former 869 (869HRA) but now sporting rego 103CLT matching that of one time London Routemaster RM1103 (103CLT).
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 Another of the buses performing on the shuttle service to the Museum and Town Hall was this privately preserved Custom CB60 bodied Mercedes O405NH XP93HE. It still bears vestiges of Victoria's PTV livery from its time with Kinetic in Melbourne having been new as 753 (1753AO) to Ventura's National Bus city operation. Hopefully it will be restored to that attractive two tone blue scheme.
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 One of the few regular Museum exhibits on display was this representative from South Australia, a dedicated PMCSA bodied Hino AK176K school bus new in 1990.
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 Former Shorelink Custom 228 bodied Mercedes O405 was new in 1994. The bus joined Windsor Bus Charters in 2025 but still retains its former 8071 fleet number with its new TV020C rego.
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 The one that got away! Seen behind the Marcopolo G8 at the top of the page, this Golden Dragon demonstrator, TV683B, appeared to be leaving the event early, but it might have returned later in the day.
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 Another demonstrator was this Custom Dennis Endeavour bodied Scania.
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 Southside Bus & Coach purchased this former demonstrator, TV077C in 2025. The Denning Phoenix LF was Custom Denning demonstrator XB30LR.
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 NSW Police brought along one of their "Boooze" buses used to breathalyse drivers. A full contingent of officers accompanied the bus complete with tents for display of materials. The bodywork of RDT01 (CA03MJ) was by NCBC on a Daewoo chassis.
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 Former Deluxe Austral HRP2 Minimaster 30 seater was a restoration project by Langley's of Dubbo. The coach was acquired from Red & White where it was 30 (COA30), the rego linking to Red & White's alternative Coach Australia branding. The coach had been new to Deluxe in 1988, in whose livery it is now presented, as 203 (TV8354), Deluxe was the company that crashed spectacularly dumping its huge fleet of new coaches on the second hand market. The Minimaster was snapped up by Hopkinsons as TV533. Its official fleet number is 12 with Langley.
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 This 2002 Custom CB50 bodied Volvo B10M, 14 (MO5075), has been smartly turned out in the latest Port Stephens Coaches livery. It was displayed alongside a former fleet member now with Glenorie Coaches.
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 Normally a resident at the Bus Museum this PMC Progress bodied Leyland Leopard used to work for Rover Motors as their 20 (O899), new in 1981.
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 The Leopard was parked in the site access road where the shuttle buses departed. Later in the day the tender alongside had moved presenting a better image.
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 The tender was the Museum's Leyland Tiger OPS4 which was new to the M&MTB in Melbourne, passing to Perth who initially used it as a bus before converting it to its current form.
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 Performing stirling service on the shuttle linking the White Bay Cruise Ship Terminal, the Town Hall and the Bus Museum was 1969 PMC bodied Leyland Leopard 3752 (32263H).
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 At the Museum with blinds set for the 444 shuttle service was PMC bodied Mercedes O305 2007 (39263H).
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 One of the several non standard buses acquired with North & Western was 3532 (MO4399) here displayed with other former fleet members but the 1998 Custom 516 bodied Mercedes O405 appears to be owned by Taylers Transit now with new rego XQ42UJ.
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 Alongside was another former North & Western bus, 1996 Custom 238 bodied Volvo B10B 3599 (MO5372).
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 Parked separately was PMC bodied MAN SL202 3298 (70346J), one of the batch of fifty 1998 MAN buses. It is preserved privately.
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 Alongside the two ex North & Western buses was a pair of Ansair Oranas, 3406 (MO3406) left and 3405 (MO3405) both with Newcastle, 3405 with the Keolis Downer styled fleetname. Both are Mercedes O405N, 3406 joined the Newcastle fleet when new in 1997, but 3405 went to Sydney initially a few months earlier in 1996 in the yellow and green Airport Express livery.
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 Another Newcastle bus was PMC bodied Mercedes O305 2199 (MO2199) which joined Premier of Illawarra as MO6397 after state service.
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 This Ansair Orana bodied Scania L113CRL, 3511 (MO3511), was new in 1994 also in Airport Express colours. It was the very first low floor bus in Sydney. It stayed with State Transit until withdrawn, gaining the French bkue and white livery in 2011 and the current livery before withdrawal. It is preserved by the Museum on plate 51122J, but was parked all alone at White Bay.
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 Keolis Downer was in the throws of deploying its new electric bus fleet as charging units were being installed at Brookvale depot. This is Yutong E12 9593. yet to be registered for service.
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 Already commissioned was Keolis Downer Custom Denning Element 2 8944 (MO8944) complete with a "Movember" tache.
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 Transit Systems contributed a fourth electric bus to the display, this being a BCI Citirider Electric, 6918 (MO691) which ahad been new to Interline before they lost their bus services to the State.
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 A doubledecker in Sydney always impresses and there was only the Atlantean on display at White Vay. However Transit Systems made one of their Gemilnag bodied Volvo B8L deckers available, 8196 (MO8196) for the inter site shuttle. It is seen loading at White Bay.
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 Another unusual bus from the Transit Systems fleet was this 2017 King Long 6125CG bodied Volvo B7RE, 6854 (MO6954) inherited from the Interline operation.
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 This Transit Systems Hino Poncho HX, L7 (MO6633) is based at the Leichhardt depot adjacent to the Sydney Bus Museum. It is one of several used of the "BRIDJ" on demand services.
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 Not exactly a dying breed, but the old red Metrobus livery is slowly being phased out, though the Metrobus branding has ben removed from most surviviors. This is Transit Systems 2112 (2112ST), the forerunner of the Metrobus artic fleet. That fleet was based on the Volvo B12BEA chassis, but this was the only one built on the Scania N310UA. New in 2009 it was originally registered MO9604 and is also based at Leichhardt.
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 It was disappointing that none of the iconc early post was Sydney deckers were not on display at White Bay, but they were all on view at the Bus Museum and Museum entry on the day gave you access to all the Museum exhibits, the 444 service to White Bay and the Town Hall as well as Busfest. Greeting entrants at the Museum doorway was this trio of AEC Regent III doubledeckers in each of their former liveries in order: red, then green, then blue.
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