Dion's Bus Service

Dion's Bus Service[1] is an Australian bus company operating services in Wollongong.

Dion's Bus Service
ParentDion family
Commenced operation1923
HeadquartersFairy Meadow
Service areaWollongong
Service typeBus operator
Routes3
Depots1
Fleet22 (April 2019)
Websitewww.dions.com.au

History

Dion's Bus Service was founded in 1923 when Thomas Dion commenced operating a service from Wollongong to Balgownie followed by a service to Bellambi.[2][3] It is currently the oldest operating bus operator in the Illawarra.[4][5]

From December 1927 until 1931 a coach service was operated to Sydney. In January 1928 it commenced operating route 1 services from Wollongong to Austinmer, along with five other operators. In August 1929, Barney Dion commenced operating a service from Wollongong to Kiama.[3]

In the late 1940s, the Balgownie and Bellambi routes were sold. By 1964, through a number of acquisitions, the Austinmer service was operated jointly by Dion's and Jim Hill. In December 1976, Dion's became the sole operator of the service and in the same year, selling the Kiama service to John J Hill at the same time.[3] On 24 February 1992, route 4 Wollongong to Bulli was purchased from John J Hill.[2][6]

Services

Dion's operates services in the Outer Sydney Metropolitan Bus Service Region 12,[7] which was part of Region 9 when the latter was created in 2008.[8]

They operate 4 routes in the northern and central suburbs of Wollongong: On 1 April 2019 their routes were renumbered as follows:[9]

In addition they operate two free shuttle services from North Wollongong Station to Wollongong University via Kids Uni, URAC, Creative Arts Building and Hope Theatre:-

  • 9: UOW North Gong Shuttle - . [14]
  • 9N: UOW North Gong Shuttle [15]

A number of community and government stakeholders funded Dion's "Wollongong Summer Bus", a late night bus service run in central Wollongong during the summer months. The Summer Bus was a drink-drive and drink-walk prevention strategy supported by licensed venues as well as local government, health, police and transport authorities.[16] It was superceeded by route 94N which operated for extended hours on Friday and Saturday nights [17]. Route 94N was discontinued from 8 Sept 2019 [18].

Fleet

As at April 2019, the fleet comprised 22 buses.[19] The fleet livery was blue and white until 1989 when a metallic grey, blue and black livery was introduced. In 2010, the Transport for NSW white and blue livery was adopted.

In the 1950s and 1960s, Dion's built their own bodies on second-hand Leyland Comet truck chassis. In 1989, Dion's purchased two Hinos, these were the first new buses in over 40 years.[3][20]

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References
  1. Seapost Pty Ltd Australian Securities & Investments Commission
  2. New South Wales Bus Operators and Fleet Listings. Sydney: Historic Commercial Vehicle Association. 1993. p. 16.
  3. History Dion's Bus Service
  4. At 85 And Going Strong, Les Dion Keeps On Bussing, Boat Seat, Published 9 April 2005, Retrieved 7 December 2014
  5. Passengers ride with Dions legend Illawarra Mercury 2 December 2013
  6. "Routes, timetables and services" Fleetline issue 210 January 1993 page 15
  7. "Sydney Metropolitan and Outer Metropolitan Bus Service Contract on time running results". Transport for NSW. December 2017. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
  8. "Outer Metropolitan Sydney Bus Contract Regions 9 and 10" (PDF). NSW Government Transport and Infrastructure. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
  9. Bus Route Number & Name Changes from Monday 1 April 2019 Dions
  10. "Dion's Bus Service route 90". Transport for NSW.
  11. "Dion's Bus Service route 91". Transport for NSW.
  12. "Dion's Bus Service route 92". Transport for NSW.
  13. "Dion's Bus Service route 93". Transport for NSW.
  14. UOW North Gong Shuttle via Ring Rd Transport for NSW
  15. UOW North Gong Shuttle Transport for NSW
  16. Wollongong / Thirroul Nightbus archived 19 July 2013
  17. Wollongong / Thirroul Nightbus retrieved 6 January 2015
  18. Dions News 94N discontinued
  19. Dion's Bus Service Australian Bus Fleet Lists
  20. "Dion's Bus Service" Fleetline issue 177 April 1990 page 61
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