Transport for NSW (TfNSW) is a New South Wales government transport and road agency established on 1 November 2011. The agency is a different entity to the New South Wales Department of Transport, a department of the New South Wales Government and the ultimate parent entity of Transport for NSW.
The agency's function is to build transport infrastructure and manage transport services in New South Wales. Since absorbing Roads & Maritime Services (RMS) in December 2019, the agency is also responsible for building and maintaining road infrastructure, managing the day-to-day compliance and safety for roads and waterways and vehicle and driving license registrations.
The agency reports to the New South Wales Minister for Transport, Minister for Roads and the Minister for Regional Transport and Roads. The ministers are responsible to the Parliament of New South Wales.
History
Predecessor transport departments
Ministry of Transport (1932–1990)
In March 1932, the first Department of Transport in New South Wales was formed by the Lang Government. Following the dismissal of the Lang government and the appointment of the Stevens Government in May, in December 1932, the department was replaced by the Ministry of Transport, which was divided into three departments: Department of Railways (until October 1972) Department of Main Roads (until January 1989) – spun out from Ministry of Transport in March 1956 Department of Road Transport and Tramways (until June 1952)
In June 1952, the Department of Road Transport and Tramways was further split into: Department of Transport and Highways, soon renamed the Department of Motor Transport (June 1952 – January 1989) Department of Government Tram and Omnibus Services, soon renamed Department of Government Transport (June 1952 – October 1972)
In October 1972, the Department of Government Transport and Department of Railways were abolished and were replaced by the Public Transport Commission, which continued to be part of the Ministry of Transport. The Ministry of Transport was later briefly known as Ministry of Transport and Highway between January 1975 and October 1978. In January 1989, the Department of Main Roads, Department of Motor Transport, and Traffic Authority of New South Wales merged to form Roads & Traffic Authority (RTA).
Subsequent departments (1990–2011) In January 1990, the Ministry of Transport was abolished and replaced by a new Department of Transport and its successors: Department of Transport (January 1990 – April 2003) – briefly branded as Transport NSW between 2001 and April 2003 Transport Co-Ordination Authority (April 2003 – July 2003) – interim Ministry of Transport (July 2003 – July 2009) Department of Transport and Infrastructure (July 2009 – July 2010) – branded as NSW Transport and Infrastructure (NSWTI) Transport NSW (July 2010 – April 2011)
Creation of Transport for NSW
After winning the 2011 state election, the new Liberal-Nationals government under Barry O'Farrell renamed the transport department from Transport NSW back to Department of Transport. Later that year, in November 2011, the Transport for NSW was formed as a government agency and subsumed the Transport Construction Authority and the Country Rail Infrastructure Authority, and took over the planning and coordination functions of RailCorp, the State Transit Authority and Roads & Maritime Services from the Department of Transport. It also absorbed the functions, assets and/or liabilities of Sydney Metro Authority, Public Transport Ticketing Corporation as well as some functions from the NSW Department of Planning & Infrastructure.
The entities that were under Transport for NSW upon its creation, as underlined in the Transport Legislation Amendment Act 2011, were: Roads & Maritime Services Sydney Ferries State Transit Authority RailCorp
, the Department of Transport continues to exist as a government department and the ultimate parent entity of Transport for NSW and its entities or divisions.
Sydney Ferries
Transport for NSW contracted the Sydney ferry services to Harbour City Ferries in 2011, who started operations in 2012 and then Transdev Sydney Ferries in 2019. Transport for NSW continues to own the ferry fleet and the Balmain shipyard through its entity "Sydney Ferries". This entity is not to be confused with the branding of ferries in Sydney, which also uses the brand "Sydney Ferries".