Sydney Explorer

Last updated

Big Bus Sydney
Overview
Operator City Sightseeing
Began service23 November 1980
Ended service2016
Former operator(s) State Transit Authority
Urban Transit Authority
Route
Locale Sydney
Start Circular Quay
Via Sydney central business district
Sydney Harbour Bridge
EndCircular Quay

Big Bus Sydney, previously Sydney Explorer, is a hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus tour in Sydney, Australia.

Contents

History

On 23 November 1980, the Urban Transit Authority commenced operating the Sydney Explorer looping the Sydney central business district in partnership with Department of Tourism. It was numbered 111. [1] [2]

The initial 17 kilometre route had 20 stops running from Circular Quay via the Opera House, Royal Botanic Garden, Sydney Hospital, Mrs Macquarie's Chair, Art Gallery, Kings Cross, Elizabeth Bay House, the Australian Museum, Central station, George Street and The Rocks. [3] [4]

From May 1982 it was diverted to operate via Pier One at Dawes Point. [5] In September 1991, the route was extended across the Harbour Bridge to McMahons Point. [6] From September 1992 it was altered to operate over the Harbour Bridge in the northbound direction, and via the Sydney Harbour Tunnel southbound. [7] [8]

In June 1993, it was altered to operate via the Sydney Aquarium and Wynyard Park in lieu of Pier One. On the same date, it resumed travelling across the Harbour Bridge in both directions, but to Milsons Point in lieu of McMahons Point. [9] [10] In 2002 it ceased to operate via Elizabeth Bay after the installation of speed bumps in Greenknowe Avenue that buses were unable to travel over. [11]

In November 2010, the Sydney Explorer service was sold by State Transit to City Sightseeing who had been operating open top bus tours in Sydney since the early 2000s. [12] [13]

No buses were included in the sale, with City Sightseeing continuing to operate its existing routes only with its fleet of MCW Metrobuses. From May 2012 new Anhui Ankai buses were introduced on these routes. Operations initially operated under the City Sightseeing brand, before the Big Bus name was introduced in 2016 and the Sydney Explorer brand retired. [14]

Vehicles

The Sydney Explorer was initially operated by a fleet of five Pressed Metal Corporation bodies Mercedes-Benz O305s out of Randwick Bus Depot. [15] These were replaced by four new O305s in 1985 which were replaced by six Mercedes-Benz O405s in 1990. [16] The first two fleets, apart from being painted in red Sydney Explorer livery and having a public address system, were identical to those used in normal service. [17] The last fleet were fitted out with coach seating.

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References

  1. ↑ Sydney Explorer Electric Traction December 1980 page 191
  2. ↑ UTA in new city tourism venture Truck & Bus Transportation January 1981 page 99
  3. ↑ Here & There Australian Railway Historical Society Bulletin issue 519 January 1981 page 2
  4. ↑ Sydney's Modern Day Explorer State Wide October 1981 page 8
  5. ↑ Urban Transit Authority Fleetline issue 85 August 1982 page 134
  6. ↑ Services Australian Bus Panorama issue 8/1 August 1992 page 33
  7. ↑ Explorer goes under the harbour Truck & Bus Transportation November 1992 page 112
  8. ↑ State Transit Australian Bus Panorama issue 8/5 February 1993 page 24
  9. ↑ Services Fleetline issue 217 August 1993 page 164
  10. ↑ Other Sydney Services Australian Bus Panorama issue 9/2 September 1993 page 31
  11. ↑ Sydney Explorer Fleetline issue 285 August 2003 page 112
  12. ↑ Changes to Explorer services and SydneyPass tickets from Sunday 28 November Sydney Buses November 2010
  13. ↑ Sydney Explorer Services Sold Australian Bus issue 43 January 2011 page 19
  14. ↑ "Big Bus rebrands Sydney Explorer tour as its own" Buses issue 747 June 2017 page 19 Archived 18 July 2024 at the Wayback Machine
  15. ↑ Sydney Explorer Trolley Wire issue 191 December 1980 page 23
  16. ↑ Urban Transit Authority Fleetline issue 119 June 1985 page 101
  17. ↑ Travers, Greg (1982). From City to Suburb...a fifty year journey. Sydney: Historic Commercial Vehicle Association. p. 201. ISBN   0959601627.
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