Deluxe Coachlines

Last updated

Deluxe Coachlines
ParentGeoff McIntyre
Len Roden
FoundedDecember 1979
Ceased operationNovember 1990
Headquarters Wangaratta
Service areaAll Mainland Australian states & territories
Service typeLong distance coach services
Fleet193 (September 1990)

Deluxe Coachlines was an Australian interstate coach operator that operated from 1979 until 1990.

Contents

History

Deluxe Coachlines was founded in May 1979 by Sydney based travel agent Len Roden. With a Denning coach hired from Hoys Roadlines of Wangaratta, Roden began operating a weekly service from Sydney to Perth via Melbourne and Adelaide. [1] [2] By October 1979, the service had expanded to twice weekly with a Custom Coaches bodied RFW and two Domino coaches added. [3] Deluxe established its own maintenance facility in Wangaratta in 1981. [4]

It expanded into all other mainland states and territories and became a national operator with the introduction of an Adelaide to Alice Springs service in 1985. [5] [6]

It gradually expanded and by 1988 was Australia's largest coach operator with a 50% market share operating across the country with nearly 200 coaches. [7] A drop off in demand after World Expo 88 as well as the arrival of deregulated discount airlines, brought about the demise of the company. Deluxe was placed in administration in August 1990 by the ANZ Bank with Coopers & Lybrand appointed as administrator. [2] [8] [9] [10]

Operations briefly resumed between Adelaide, Darwin and Perth in November 1990 before Deluxe ceased for good. [11] [12]

Fleet

Deluxe built up a large fleet of Domino and Austral Tourmaster coaches. It later purchased coaches from Denning, MotorCoach Australia and Setra. [13] [14] Deluxe adopted a white with two shades of blue livery that was a familiar sight on Australia's road for many years after its demise courtesy of the number of operators who elected not to repaint former Deluxe coaches they purchased. It also used sub-contractors, with Western Road Liners having seven vehicles painted in Deluxe livery. [15]

Legacy

The Deluxe Coachlines name was revived in the 2000s by a Melbourne coach operator. [16] [17]

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References

  1. ↑ Nationwide Operators Fleetline issue 54 January 1980 page 14
  2. 1 2 Flashback Friday: Rise and fall of a transport icon Australasian Bus & Coach 23 September 2016
  3. ↑ And then there were seven Fleetline issue 80 March 1982 page 55
  4. ↑ Travel by Deluxe Fleetline issue 88 November 1982 pages 170-173
  5. ↑ Deluxe Coachlines completes network with Centre link Truck & Bus Transportation October 1985 page 120
  6. ↑ Nationwide Operators Fleetline issue 124 November 1985 page 174
  7. ↑ Victorian Buses in the Eighties Australian Bus Panorama issue 7/1 August 1991 page 3
  8. ↑ Coach Company Collapses Australian Financial Review 29 August 1990
  9. ↑ ANZ forecloses on Deluxe Canberra Times 29 August 1990 page 6
  10. ↑ Express Coach Companies in Major Rationalisation Australian Bus Panorama issue 6/3 October 1990 page 18
  11. ↑ Deluxe Australia: Dead on Arrival Australasian Bus & Coach December 1990 page 7
  12. ↑ Deluxe Australia Australian Bus Panorama issue 6/5 January 1991 page 35
  13. ↑ Fleet Overview Deluxe Coachlines Reunion
  14. ↑ Germans start race for Australian coach sales Commercial Motor 4 January 1986
  15. ↑ 50 Years on and Going Strong - Western Road Liners Australasian Bus & Coach 23 November 2021
  16. ↑ Hawkesford's International Bus Australia Fleet Lists
  17. ↑ First Impressions Last - Deluxe Coachlines Australasian Bus & Coach 29 December 2018
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