Moreland Bus Lines-Cedar Herald Index

Moreland Bus Lines, branded as MorelandBus, is a school and charter bus operator in Melbourne, Australia. Until October 2023, it also operated two routes under contract to Public Transport Victoria until they were sold to Kinetic Melbourne.

Moreland Bus Lines also has sister operations based in Cowes and Wonthaggi, operating as South Coast Bus and Phillip Island Bus respectively.

Moreland Bus Lines

History

In 1955, Clarrie Wright began operating a Reo bus on routes 510 Melville Road to High Street and 511 Essendon North to Sydney Road, along with six other operators. By 1969, Wright had bought out the other operators and formed Moreland Bus Lines.

Moreland Bus Lines

In 1973, Thompson Roadlines was acquired and Moreland entered the coach charter market, later operating safari tours to Central Australia. In July 1985, Taranto Bus Lines was acquired, which operated route 512 Strathmore to East Coburg, followed by Geographical Tours and Bakers Bus Lines. In 1996, Landmark Tours was acquired and Moreland began to operate services under contract to Greyhound Pioneer Australia to Sydney and Brisbane. Although it no longer operates interstate services, Moreland continues to provide depot facilities for Greyhound Australia.

Moreland Bus Lines

In 2007, the Wright family acquired a 50% share in neighbouring Broadmeadows Bus Service but, in 2011, that company was sold to Dom Sita of Kastoria Bus Lines.

In 2012, Moreland acquired Gippsland Bus Services in Wonthaggi, and in early 2013, Phillip Island Bus Lines was acquired. Wonthaggi and Philip Island then became South Coast Bus and Phillip Island Bus respectively.

In August 2023, it was announced that Kinetic Melbourne has agreed to acquire the two bus routes operated by Moreland Bus Lines (routes 510 and 512), along with ten buses. Kinetic took over the routes on 2 October 2023. No depots were included in the sale, and Moreland Bus Lines would continue to operate school and charter bus services.

Fleet

As at January 2023, the fleet consisted of 34 buses and coaches. The coach fleet livery is off-white with light and dark green stripes, with route buses painted in the Public Transport Victoria orange and white livery.