Forest Coach Lines

Forest Coach Lines
Custom Bus bodied Volvo B7RLE in Sydney
ParentComfortDelGro Australia
Commenced operation1 March 1930; 94 years ago (1930-03-01)
HeadquartersTerrey Hills
Service areaMid North Coast
North West Slopes
Former:
Hornsby
Macquarie Park
Chatswood
Willoughby
Northern Beaches
Service typeBus services
Depots5
Fleet81 (January 2025)
Chief executiveNicolas Yap (as CEO of CDC Australia)
Websitewww.forestcoachlines.com.au

Forest Coach Lines is an Australian bus and coach operator. Founded in 1930 in the Northern Suburbs of Sydney, since 2016 it has expanded with purchases in the Mid North Coast and North West Slopes regions in New South Wales. It became a subsidiary of ComfortDelGro Australia in 2018.

In early 2023, the Forest Coach Lines brand was replaced by ComfortDelGro's CDC NSW branding for the Sydney operations. The Mid North Coast and North West Slopes operations continue to be branded Forest Coach Lines and will be rebranded to CDC NSW in January 2025, with the Forest Coach Lines brand to be phased out.

History

Forest Coach Lines Volvo B7RLE in a green Transport for NSW livery.
Forest Coach Lines Volvo B12BLEA in its corporate livery

In March 1930, Eric and Trevor Royle trading as Royle Brothers, purchased routes 56 Chatswood station to Roseville Chase and 201 Roseville station to Roseville Chase from E Jones with three buses. In October 1941 the first service operated across the Roseville Bridge to Terrey Hills.[1][2]

In March 1947, route 52 Chatswood to Artarmon was purchased but quickly sold in November of that year to Brooks Bros.[3][4] From the late 1940s, the Frenchs Forest area expanded rapidly and by 1960 the Royle Brothers fleet had expanded to 12 buses.[1]

The operation was renamed Forest Coach Lines in February 1964 and relocated to a new depot in Belrose. In May 1965, route 201 ceased. An expansion into coach charter saw Forest Trailways established with a separate depot in Manly Vale. Eric and Trevor Royle retired in the mid-1960s with the Trevor's sons Bernard and Tony taking over.[1]

In 1973, services were extended to Duffys Forest and in February 1982 to Warringah Mall. In August 1979, a new depot was opened in Terrey Hills to replace those at Belrose and Manly Vale.[1]

The Passenger Transport Act 1990 allowed Forest Coach Lines to commence operating services into the Sydney central business district in July 1992.[1][5] In August 1991, the Warringah Bus Lines operation was purchased from Shorelink[6] and in July 1998 part of St Ives Bus Service was purchased.[7][8]

In November 2012, it was announced that Forest had been successful in retaining the contract to operate Sydney Bus Region 14.[9][10]

In December 2014, a majority shareholding in the business was purchased by mid-market private equity firm Next Capital.[11][12]

In September 2016, the business of Manly Coaches was acquired with no vehicles.[13] In November 2016, the Mid North Coast business of Ryan's Bus Service was purchased with depots in Coffs Harbour and Woolgoolga.[14] In April 2017, Sawtell Coaches was purchased with a depot in Toormina.[15][16] In September 2017, Wolters Bus & Coach Service was acquired on the North West Slopes with depots in Narrabri and Wee Waa.[17][18]

In September 2018, ComfortDelGro Australia (CDC) purchased the business.[19][20][21][22] In November 2022, CDC was awarded the contract to retain Region 14. The Forest Coach Lines brand in Sydney was replaced by the CDC NSW brand when the contract commenced on 21 May 2023.[23][24] The Forest Coach Lines brand remained in the regional New South Wales operations. In January 2025, the brand in regional New South Wales will also be phased out for the CDC NSW brand.[25]

Fleet

BusTech bodied Volvo B7RLE, in current Transport for NSW livery

Forest Coach Lines' Sydney depot was located at Terrey Hills with a small fleet stored at Cromer. Regional New South Wales depots were located at Coffs Harbour, Sawtell (Toormina), Woolgoolga, Narrabri and Wee Waa.[26]

As of November 2022 prior to rebranding of the Sydney operations to CDC NSW, the combined fleet consisted of 255 buses and coaches, with 175 in Sydney and 80 in regional NSW. As of January 2025, the fleet in the remaining regional New South Wales depots consists of 81 buses.[26]

Forest Coach Lines built up its fleet with Leyland buses. In 1972 it placed the first Volvo in Sydney in service. Since then most purchases have been on Volvo or Mercedes-Benz chassis. In March 2013 two Bustech CDi double deckers were introduced.

When the business was renamed Forest Coach Lines in February 1964, a new white and green livery was introduced. These remained the fleet colours until 2013 when as part of its new regional bus contract Forest was required to adopt the Transport for NSW white and blue livery.[27]

Routes operated in Sydney

As at time of rebranding to CDC NSW (May 2023):

  • 141: Austlink to Manly via Belrose, Northern Beaches Hospital, Seaforth, Balgowlah & Fairlight
  • 193: Austlink to Warringah Mall via Northern Beaches Hospital, Beacon Hill & Narraweena
  • 194: St Ives Village Shops/St Ives Chase to City QVB via East Killara, East Lindfield, East Roseville, Middle Cove, Northbridge and Cammeray
  • 194X: St Ives Village Shops/St Ives Chase to City QVB via East Killara, East Lindfield, East Roseville & Alpha Road (Express Service)
  • 195: Gordon to St. Ives Chase Loop
  • 196: Gordon to Mona Vale via St Ives Village Shops and Austlink
  • 197: Macquarie University to Mona Vale via Macquarie Centre, Macquarie Park, West Pymble, Gordon Station, St Ives Village Shops and Austlink
  • 260: Terrey Hills to North Sydney via Frenchs Forest, Forestville, Northbridge and Cammeray
  • 270: Terrey Hills to City QVB via Frenchs Forest, Forestville & Alpha Road
  • 270X: Terrey Hills to City QVB via Frenchs Forest, Forestville & Alpha Road (Limited Stops)
  • 271: Terrey Hills/Austlink/Belrose to City QVB via Frenchs Forest, Forestville & Alpha Road
  • 273: Killarney Heights to City QVB via Frenchs Forest, Forestville & Alpha Road
  • 274: Davidson to City QVB via Frenchs Forest, Forestville & Alpha Road
  • 277: Chatswood to Castle Cove
  • 278: Chatswood/Forestville to Killarney Heights
  • 280: Chatswood to Warringah Mall via East Roseville, Forestville, Frenchs Forest, Skyline & Allambie
  • 281: Chatswood to Davidson via Forestville & Frenchs Forest
  • 282: Chatswood to Belrose via Forestville, Frenchs Forest & Davidson
  • 283: Chatswood to Belrose via Forestville & Frenchs Forest
  • 284: Chatswood to Duffys Forest via Forestville, Frenchs Forest & Belrose, Austlink & Terrey Hills

Routes operated in Coffs Harbour

  • 362: Boambee to Coffs Harbour via SCU Coffs Harbour Campus & CH Base Hospital[28]
  • 363: Boambee to Coffs Harbour via Pacific Hwy[29]
  • 364: Sawtell to Coffs Harbour via Hogbin Dr (Loop Service)[30]
  • 370: Sawtell to Coffs Harbour via Toormina & SCU, Coffs Harbour Campus[31]
  • 371: Toormina to Boambee (Loop Service)[32]
  • 372: Coffs Harbour to Grafton via Woolgoolga[33]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e History Archived 2 May 2013 at the Wayback Machine Forest Coach Lines
  2. ^ New South Wales Bus Operators and Fleet Listings. Sydney: Historic Commercial Vehicle Association. 1993. p. 53.
  3. ^ Manny, Leon B (1985). Terminus Please. Sydney: Historic Commercial Vehicle Association. p. 60. ISBN 0 959601 63 5.
  4. ^ Route Histories Routes 51 –75 Archived 4 July 2020 at the Wayback Machine Sydney Bus routes
  5. ^ "Services" Fleetline September 1992 page 173
  6. ^ "Ownership changes" Fleetline February 1992 page 35
  7. ^ "Ownership changes" Fleetline July 1998 page 131
  8. ^ St Ives Bus Services Archived 24 March 2014 at the Wayback Machine, Australian Bus Fleet Lists, Accessed 24 March 2014
  9. ^ Cut costs or bus contracts will go to private sector, minister tells drivers Archived 5 March 2013 at the Wayback Machine Sydney Morning Herald 7 November 2012
  10. ^ Mixed Result for Private Bus Operators Archived 24 April 2013 at the Wayback Machine Bus & Coach Association NSW 7 November 2012
  11. ^ Next Capital finalises Forest Archived 15 December 2014 at the Wayback Machine Australian Financial Review 8 December 2014
  12. ^ Royle Family Sell Forest Coach Lines Archived 20 December 2014 at the Wayback Machine Transitgraphics.
  13. ^ Home Archived 3 October 2016 at the Wayback Machine Manly Coaches
  14. ^ Family owned Coffs Coast bus company calls it a day Archived 3 November 2016 at the Wayback Machine Coffs Coast Advocate 3 November 2016
  15. ^ "Sawtell Sahdra BusLines". www.sawtellcoaches.com.au. Archived from the original on 31 March 2017. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
  16. ^ Forest Coach Lines expands in Coffs Harbour region Archived 23 April 2017 at the Wayback Machine Forest Coach Lines 13 April 2017
  17. ^ Home Wolters Bus & Coach Service
  18. ^ Forest Coach Lines expands in North West Slopes region Archived 10 March 2018 at the Wayback Machine Forest Coach Lines 20 September 2017
  19. ^ "ComfortDelGro Deepens Footprint in Australia with Two Acquisitions Totaling A$134.45 Million". ComfortDelgro. 7 August 2018. Archived from the original on 8 August 2018. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
  20. ^ CDC buys Sydney's oldest privately run family bus company: Forest Coachlines Australasian Bus & Coach 8 August 2018
  21. ^ Forest Change of Ownership[permanent dead link‍] Forest Coach Lines 13 August 2018
  22. ^ End of an era for Forest Coach Lines Manly Daily 28 September 2018
  23. ^ "ComfortDelGro Australia Group Wins Bid to Expand Bus Services in Sydney". CDC NSW. 7 November 2022. Archived from the original on 7 November 2022. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
  24. ^ "ComfortDelGro wins city bus contracts worth A$1.7b in Sydney". The Business Times Singapore. 7 November 2022. Archived from the original on 7 November 2022. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
  25. ^ "Exciting Updates: Refreshed Website and Fresh Bus Branding Coming Soon!". CDC NSW. 28 November 2024. Retrieved 1 January 2025.
  26. ^ a b CDC NSW Archived 10 November 2022 at the Wayback Machine Australian Bus Fleet Lists
  27. ^ Blue over green Forest Coach Lines buses Archived 29 April 2013 at the Wayback Machine Manly Daily 11 January 2013
  28. ^ Forest Coach Lines route 362 Archived 6 July 2020 at the Wayback Machine Transport for NSW
  29. ^ Forest Coach Lines route 363 Archived 4 July 2020 at the Wayback Machine Transport for NSW
  30. ^ Forest Coach Lines route 364 Archived 4 July 2020 at the Wayback Machine Transport for NSW
  31. ^ Forest Coach Lines route 370 Archived 4 July 2020 at the Wayback Machine Transport for NSW
  32. ^ Forest Coach Lines route 371 Archived 4 July 2020 at the Wayback Machine Transport for NSW
  33. ^ Forest Coach Lines route 372 Archived 4 July 2020 at the Wayback Machine Transport for NSW