Buses in Adelaide are the most extensive service of the

South Australia South Australia (commonly abbreviated as SA) is a States and territories of Australia, state in the southern central part of Australia. With a total land area of , it is the fourth-largest of Australia's states and territories by area, which in ...

n capital's

public transport Public transport (also known as public transit, mass transit, or simply transit) are forms of transport available to the general public. It typically uses a fixed schedule, route and charges a fixed fare. There is no rigid definition of whic ...

system, the

Adelaide Metro Adelaide Metro is the public transport system of the Adelaide area, around the capital city of South Australia. It is an intermodal passenger transport, intermodal system offering an integrated network of Buses in Adelaide, bus, Glenelg tram, ...

. A large fleet of diesel, hybrid diesel-electric, and natural gas powered buses operate services which typically terminate in the city-centre or at a suburban interchange. Buses get priority on many roads and intersections, with dedicated

bus lane A bus lane or bus-only lane is a lane restricted to buses, generally to speed up public transport that would be otherwise held up by traffic congestion. The related term busway describes a roadway completely dedicated for use by buses, whilst ...

s and 'B'-light bus only phases at many

traffic lights Traffic lights, traffic signals, or stoplights – also known as robots in South Africa, Zambia, and Namibia – are signaling devices positioned at road intersections, pedestrian crossings, and other locations in order to control the flow o ...

History

Buses in Adelaide have been known under several names. The State Transport Authority (STA) combined the metropolitan rail operations of the former South Australian Railways Commission, and the bus and tram operations of the former

Municipal Tramways Trust The Municipal Tramways Trust (MTT) was established by the Government of South Australia in December 1906 to purchase all of the horse-drawn tramways in Adelaide, South Australia. The Trust subsequently also ran petrol and diesel buses and elect ...

in December 1975. In July 1994, the STA was abolished and government public transport services were transferred to

TransAdelaide TransAdelaide was a publicly owned cooperation in Adelaide, South Australia, and operated the city's Railways in Adelaide, suburban rail, Trams in Adelaide, tram and Buses in Adelaide, bus services. It took responsibilities from the State Trans ...

, a publicly owned corporation. In 1995–96, there was a partial tendering out of bus services.

retained three contract regions,

Serco Serco Group plc is a British multinational corporation, multinational military, defence, Healthcare, health, Space industry, space, private prison, justice, Human migration, migration, customer service, customer services, and transport company ...

, in its first Australian bus operation, won two contract regions, and Hills Transit, a TransAdelaide company, won the Adelaide Hills operating contract. Services were run and marketed under each operator's name, presenting a disjointed network to the public. The 2000 round of tenders saw the end of TransAdelaide's (and therefore the Government's) direct operation of bus services in Adelaide, although it retained tram and rail services. Serco won the North–South, Outer North, and Outer North-East contract areas,

Torrens Transit Torrens Transit is an Australian bus service operator in Adelaide. It operates services as part of the Adelaide Metro network under contract to the Department for Infrastructure & Transport. It is a subsidiary of Transit Systems. History In Ap ...

the east–west contract area and City Free services,

Australian Transit Enterprises Australian Transit Enterprises was an Australian operator of bus services in Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia. History Australian Transit Enterprises (ATE) was founded in 1995 when Hornibrook Bus Lines proprietor Geoff Mountjo ...

(ATE) trading as

SouthLink SouthLink is an Australian bus service operator in Adelaide. It operates services as part of the Adelaide Metro network under contract to the Department for Infrastructure & Transport. It is a subsidiary of Keolis Downer. History In April 20 ...

the Outer South contract area, and

Transitplus Transitplus, formerly Hills Transit, was an Australian bus service operator in Adelaide. It operated services as part of the Adelaide Metro network under contract to the Department of Planning, Transport & Infrastructure. It was a 50/50 joint v ...

, a joint venture between ATE and TransAdelaide, the Hills Contract area. At this time the Adelaide Metro brand was implemented across all transport operators, appearing to the public as a unified network, with common livery, timetable designs and a city Information centre.

Fleet and vehicles

The Adelaide Metro bus fleet consists primarily of

Scania Scania ( ), also known by its native name of Skåne (), is the southernmost of the historical provinces of Sweden, provinces () of Sweden. Located in the south tip of the geographical region of Götaland, the province is roughly conterminous w ...

L (4-series) (L94UB, L94UA) and K-series (K230UB, K280UB, K320UB, K320UA, K360UA) buses with various body styles from

Custom Bus Custom Denning (previously Custom Bus and Custom Coaches) is an Australian bus body builder based in St Marys, New South Wales. History Cycle Components Manufacturing Company In 1935, Stanley Hillsdon founded Cycle Components Manufacturing ...

(CB60, CB60 Evo II, CB80) and BusTech (VST). There is also a significant number of older MAN buses of several models and with several bodies. Smaller numbers of other buses also service the network. Contract operators also own some vehicles, with Torrens Transit/Transit Systems having a diverse fleet of buses transferred from other operations around Australia. As of 2020, deliveries of Scania K320UB hybrid diesel-electric buses with BusTech VST bodies. In September 2022, the Minister for Transport announced that the final pure diesel bus have been delivered, and that all future deliveries would be hybrid diesel-electric or full electric.

Operators

Adelaide Metro buses are split up geographically into six contract regions. The current contracts, awarded in March 2020, began on 5 July 2020 for a period of eight years. Former operators which had operated Adelaide Metro services in the past but no longer operate in Adelaide are: *

Light-City Buses Light-City Buses was an Australian bus service operator in Adelaide. A subsidiary of Broadspectrum, it operated services from October 2011 until June 2018. as part of the Adelaide Metro network under contract to the Department of Planning, Tran ...

- operated the North–South (including the 300 Suburban Connector) and Outer North East contract areas (including O-Bahn services) from 2011 until its purchase by Torrens Transit in 2018. *

- operated the Hills contract area from 2000 until 2010 when joint owner TransAdelaide was abolished and services were taken over by joint owner Australian Transit Enterprises (SouthLink). *

- operated the North-South, Outer North and Outer North East contract areas. Serco ended its contract in 2004, at the contracted half-term break-point. Outer North services were taken over by SouthLink while North-South and Outer North East services were taken over by Torrens Transit.

System features

Go Zones

Many arterial roads leading towards the city have several routes servicing them, allowing for high frequency with a maximum wait of 15 minutes between 7.30am and 6.30pm on weekdays and every 30 minutes at night on weekends until 10pm. These are: There is a Mega Go Zone on the Adelaide O-Bahn which has a 15 minutes maximum wait, 7 days a week. Mega Go Zone buses service Tea Tree Plaza Interchange, Paradise Interchange, Klemzig Interchange and the city.

Limited stop services

Limited stop services combine limited stops with express services to reach the outer metropolitan areas of

Adelaide Adelaide ( , ; ) is the list of Australian capital cities, capital and most populous city of South Australia, as well as the list of cities in Australia by population, fifth-most populous city in Australia. The name "Adelaide" may refer to ei ...

. Limited stop services include: * Elizabeth Interchange via

O-Bahn Guided buses are buses capable of being steered by external means, usually on a dedicated track or roll way that excludes other traffic, permitting the maintenance of schedules even during rush hours. Unlike railbuses, trolleybuses or rubber ...

, Golden Grove Village and

Main North Road Main North Road is the major north–south arterial route through the suburbs north of the Adelaide City Centre in the city of Adelaide, South Australia South Australia (commonly abbreviated as SA) is a States and territories of Australia, ...

* Greenwith via

and Golden Grove Village * Elizabeth Interchange via

, Ingle Farm and

Interchange Interchange may refer to: Transport * Interchange (road), a collection of ramps, exits, and entrances between two or more highways * Interchange (freight rail), the transfer of freight cars between railroad companies * Interchange station, a rai ...

* Mawson Lakes Interchange via

, Ingle Farm and

University of South Australia The University of South Australia is a public research university based in Adelaide, South Australia. Established in 1991, it is the successor of the former South Australian Institute of Technology. Its main campuses along North Terrace are ...

Salisbury Salisbury ( , ) is a city status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city and civil parish in Wiltshire, England with a population of 41,820, at the confluence of the rivers River Avon, Hampshire, Avon, River Nadder, Nadder and River Bourne, Wi ...

via

, Ingle Farm and Bridge Road * Golden Grove Village to

Flinders University Flinders University, established as The Flinders University of South Australia is a public university, public research university based in Adelaide, South Australia, with a footprint extending across a number of locations in South Australia and ...

via

City A city is a human settlement of a substantial size. The term "city" has different meanings around the world and in some places the settlement can be very small. Even where the term is limited to larger settlements, there is no universally agree ...

and Goodwood Road * Golden Grove Village to Marion Centre Interchange via

and

Marion Road Marion Road is a north–south arterial road through the western suburbs of Adelaide, South Australia, named after its traversal through the suburb of Marion and the local government area of City of Marion. It is designated part of route A14. ...

Noarlunga Centre Noarlunga Centre is a suburb in the City of Onkaparinga in the southern suburbs of Adelaide, South Australia. The suburb is mostly commercial, being dominated by the Centro Colonnades shopping centre and the small 'Inspire Noarlunga' estate t ...

via

South Road South Road and its southern section as Main South Road outside of Adelaide is a major north–south conduit connecting Adelaide and the Fleurieu Peninsula, in South Australia. It is one of Adelaide's most important arterial and bypass roads. A ...

via South Road and Southern Expressway * Seaford via South Road and Panatalinga Road * Mount Barker via

South Eastern Freeway South Eastern Freeway is a freeway in South Australia (SA). It is a part of the National Highway network linking the state capital cities of Adelaide, SA, and Melbourne, Victoria, and is signed as route M1. It carries traffic over the Adel ...

* Nairne via South Eastern Freeway * Mount Barker via South Eastern Freeway and Hahndorf *

Aldgate Aldgate () was a gate in the former defensive wall around the City of London. The gate gave its name to ''Aldgate High Street'', the first stretch of the A11 road, that takes that name as it passes through the ancient, extramural Portsoken ...

via South Eastern Freeway and Stirling

Airport services

JetBus airport services were introduced in August 2005. These are direct routes that link

Adelaide Airport Adelaide Airport, also known as Adelaide International Airport, is an International airport, international, Domestic airport, domestic and general aviation airport serving Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. Located approximately 6 km ...

with the city and other key destinations. However, not all services are equipped with upright luggage rack facilities. On 10 November 2014, a new Jet''Express'' bus, namely route J1X began running an express service between Adelaide Airport and the city with a BusTech CDi with

Cummins ISL Cummins Inc. is an American multinational corporation that designs, manufactures, and distributes engines, electric vehicle components, and power generation products. Cummins also services engines and related equipment, including fuel systems ...

engine double-decker bus, equipped with a luggage rack on the lower deck. This bus is the first one of its kind operating in Adelaide public transport system after double-decker trolleybuses were removed from service in 1958. Bus routes are: * Glenelg Interchange to

via Harbour Town Centre Interchange,

and

Sir Donald Bradman Drive Sir Donald Bradman Drive (and its western section as Burbridge Road) is a major arterial road that travels east–west through the western suburbs of Adelaide, South Australia. It is the main route from the Adelaide city centre to the Adelaide ...

via

Grote Street Grote Street is a major street running east to west in the western half of Adelaide city centre, South Australia. It is on the northern border of Chinatown and the Adelaide Central Market, and is a lively centre for shopping and restaurants. Th ...

Wakefield Street Wakefield Street is a main thoroughfare intersecting the centre of the South Australian capital, Adelaide, from east to west at its midpoint. It crosses Victoria Square in the centre of the city, which has a grid street plan. It continues as ...

Pulteney Street Pulteney Street is a main road which runs north-south through the middle of the eastern half of the Adelaide city centre, in Adelaide, South Australia. It runs north-south from North Terrace, through Hindmarsh and Hurtle Squares, to South ...

, North Terrace and

* Harbour Town Centre Interchange to

via

West Beach West Beach may refer to: ;Australia *West Beach, South Australia * West Beach, Western Australia ;United States * West Beach (Santa Barbara), California * West Beach, Beverly, Massachusetts ;South Africa * West Beach, Western Cape See also *''Wes ...

and

* West Lakes Centre Interchange to Marion Centre Interchange via Queen Elizabeth Hospital,

and

* West Lakes Centre Interchange to Marion Centre Interchange via Torrens Road, Arndale Centre Interchange, Queen Elizabeth Hospital,

and

Free city services

Free City Connector buses are zero-fare, wheelchair-accessible circuit routes that service the Adelaide CBD and

North Adelaide North Adelaide is a predominantly residential precinct (Australia), precinct and suburb of the City of Adelaide in South Australia, situated north of the River Torrens and within the Adelaide Park Lands. Laid out in a grid plan in three section ...

daily which are joint of initiative of

Government of South Australia The Government of South Australia, also referred to as the South Australian Government or the SA Government, is the executive branch of the state government, state of South Australia. It is modelled on the Westminster system, meaning that the h ...

Adelaide City Council The City of Adelaide, also known as the Corporation of the City of Adelaide and Adelaide City Council, is a local government area in the metropolitan area of greater Adelaide, South Australia. It is legally defined as the capital city of Sout ...

and

, on four routes: *

Loop Bi-directional loop via North Terrace,

Currie Street Currie Street is a main street in the Adelaide city centre, South Australia.Map
of the

Hutt Street Hutt Street is the easternmost of the five major north–south roads running through the City of Adelaide. It runs from Pirie Street to South Terrace, Adelaide, South Terrace, from where it continues south as Hutt Road. Flanked by leafy side st ...

, Halifax Street, Sturt Street,

Morphett Street Morphett Street is a main street in the west of the city centre of Adelaide, South Australia, parallel to King William Street and numbered from north to south. At its northern end it is part of the West End of Adelaide, a thriving cultural and ...

, Jeffcott Street, Ward Street, Hill Street, Tynte Street, Finiss Street and

Frome Road Frome Road is a connecting road in the South Australian capital city of Adelaide. It starts from North Terrace in the Adelaide city centre, running in a northerly direction past the University of South Australia, the site of the old Royal Adela ...

. The 98A service is an anti-clockwise loop while the 98C is clockwise. *

Loop Bi-directional loop via North Terrace,

Currie Street Currie Street is a main street in the Adelaide city centre, South Australia.Map
of the

, Halifax Street, Sturt Street,

, Victoria Square, King William Street. This service operated under the '99C' only and it was only in 2014 that the name change took place. The 99A service is an anti-clockwise loop while the 99C is clockwise. *The 97A bus ran for a few months, so did the Beeline. There is another free service which only runs during the

Adelaide 500 The Adelaide 500, officially the BP Adelaide Grand Final, is an annual motor racing event for Supercars held on the streets of the east end of Adelaide, South Australia between 1999 and 2020 and again from 2022. The event uses a shortened form ...

O-Bahn Busway

The Adelaide Metro's most frequented route is the O-Bahn

guided bus Guided buses are buses capable of being steered by external means, usually on a Bus lane, dedicated track or roll way that excludes other traffic, permitting the maintenance of Public transport timetable, schedules even during rush hours. Unl ...

way to

Modbury Modbury is a large village, ecclesiastical parish, civil parish and former manor in the South Hams district of the county of Devon in England. Today due to its large size it is generally referred to as a "town" although the parish council has ...

carrying around 9 million passengers a year. It is the world's fastest and until 7 August 2011 the world's longest guided busway, with a maximum permitted speed of 100 km/h (62 mph) and a length of . It has three stations,

Klemzig Interchange Klemzig Interchange is a bus interchange operated by Adelaide Metro in Klemzig, South Australia as part of the O-Bahn Busway. History Klemzig Interchange was built as part of Stage 1 of the O-Bahn Busway to Paradise Interchange. It was offici ...

Paradise Interchange Paradise Interchange is a bus interchange operated by Adelaide Metro in Paradise, South Australia as part of the O-Bahn Busway. History Paradise Interchange was built as the terminating station of Stage 1 of the O-Bahn Busway. It was officia ...

, and

Tea Tree Plaza Interchange Tea Tree Plaza Interchange (previously known as Modbury Interchange) is a bus interchange operated by Adelaide Metro in Modbury, South Australia as part of the O-Bahn Busway. It is a central public transport hub for the north eastern suburbs of ...

at the Modbury end. Buses leave the track at Paradise or Tea Tree Plaza to continue services on normal roads, eliminating the need for passenger transfer.

After midnight services

Available only on Saturday nights, these night services run from midnight until 5am Sunday morning, departing the

every hour. *

/ Golden Grove Village Interchange to

via Golden Grove Road and

* Marion Centre Interchange to

via Goodwood Road *

to Aberfoyle Hub via Goodwood Road and Marion Centre Interchange *

to Wattle Park via The Parade * West Lakes Centre Interchange to

via Military Road and

Henley Beach Road Currie Street is a main street in the Adelaide city centre, South Australia.Map
of the

Newton Newton most commonly refers to: * Isaac Newton (1642–1726/1727), English scientist * Newton (unit), SI unit of force named after Isaac Newton Newton may also refer to: People * Newton (surname), including a list of people with the surname * ...

via Montacute Road and Payneham Road * Ingle Farm to

via Hampstead Road and

North East Road North is one of the four compass points or cardinal directions. It is the opposite of south and is perpendicular to east and west. ''North'' is a noun, adjective, or adverb indicating direction or geography. Etymology The word ''north'' is ...

Gawler Gawler, established in 1839, is the oldest country town in the state of South Australia. It was named after the second Governor (British Vice-Regal representative) of the colony of South Australia, George Gawler. It is about north of the st ...

via Mawson Central Interchange and

Semaphore Semaphore (; ) is the use of an apparatus to create a visual signal transmitted over distance. A semaphore can be performed with devices including: fire, lights, flags, sunlight, and moving arms. Semaphores can be used for telegraphy when arra ...

via

Port Adelaide Port Adelaide is a port-side region of Adelaide, approximately northwest of the Adelaide city centre, Adelaide CBD. It is also the namesake of the City of Port Adelaide Enfield council, a suburb, a federal and state electoral division and is t ...

, Arndale Centre Interchange and Torrens Road * Marion Centre Interchange to

via Glenelg and

Anzac Highway Anzac Highway is an main arterial road heading southwest from the city of Adelaide, the capital of South Australia, to the beachside suburb of Glenelg. Originally named the Bay Road, it mostly follows the track made by the pioneer James Cham ...

* Salisbury Interchange via

and

Fairview Park Fairview Park may refer to: Australia *Fairview Park, South Australia Canada *CF Fairview Park (aka Fairview Park Mall), a shopping centre in Kitchener, Ontario Hong Kong *Fairview Park (Hong Kong), a private residential estate in the New Territ ...

via

and Hancock Road * Moana via Marion Centre Interchange and

Reynella Reynella is a metropolitan suburb of Adelaide, South Australia. It is located 20 km south of the Central Business District of Adelaide in the north of the City of Onkaparinga. It is bordered to the east by Main South Road, to the south by ...

Roam Zone

The Roam Zone concept began operation in the Hallett Cove, Sheidow Park and Trott Park area in September 2001. At specified times passengers can be dropped off or picked up away from bus stops, taking them to their door (or as near as the bus could get). Having done this, the roaming bus returns to its scheduled route. Roam Zones have bright blue bus stops located throughout. Adelaide Metro now features one Roam Zone: * Hallett Cove, Sheidow Park and Trott Park (from 7pm until last service daily) ** Hallett Cove Beach station to

*** Hallett Cove Beach station to Hallett Cove ** Hallett Cove Beach station to Sheidow Park ** Hallett Cove Beach station to Hallett Cove South

Adelaide Oval Footy Express

Adelaide Metro provide services between

Adelaide Oval The Adelaide Oval is a stadium in Adelaide in the state of South Australia. It is located in the Adelaide Parklands, parklands. The venue is predominantly used for cricket and Australian rules football, but has also played host to rugby league, ...

and areas across South Australia. Tickets for the games also act as the ticket to travel free on any Adelaide Oval Footy Express bus, train or tram, in order to alleviate overcrowding on regular services. Most services offer early arrival times and some routes will have services that leave an hour after the final siren. The locations in metropolitan Adelaide include: * Old Reynella Interchange to

via Brighton station, Marion Centre Interchange and

via

and

Glen Osmond Road Glen Osmond Road is a major section of the Princes Highway (and Highway 1) in the city of Adelaide, South Australia. Connecting the Adelaide city centre with the Adelaide Hills via the South Eastern Freeway; Glen Osmond Road carries around 22% ...

via St Bernards Road and

Magill Road Magill Road is a major arterial road in the South Australian capital of Adelaide, connecting its inner eastern suburbs past Magill, South Australia, Magill at the western foot of the Mount Lofty Ranges. It has been designated part of route B27. ...

* Athelstone to

via Payneham Road * Burnside to

via

Greenhill Road Greenhill Road is a major road in Adelaide, South Australia, that provides a connection to the eastern and hills suburbs. Its western section, running along the south side of Adelaide Parklands, forms part of Adelaide's City Ring Route. Route ...

* Rosslyn Park to

via The Parade * Mawson Lakes Interchange to

via

Rosewater Rose water, or rosewater, is a flavoured water created by steeping rose petals in water. It is typically made as a by-product during the distillation of rose petals to create rose oil for perfumes. Rose water is widely utilized to flavour cul ...

via Days Road and Torrens Road *

and Outer Harbor to

via Port Road * West Lakes Centre Interchange to

via Grange Road *

Henley Beach Henley Beach is a coastal suburb of Adelaide, South Australia in the City of Charles Sturt. History Henley Beach draws its name from Henley-on-Thames, England. The land where it stands, sections 448 and 2080 in the Hundred of Yatala, was ini ...

via

Henley Beach Road Currie Street is a main street in the Adelaide city centre, South Australia.Map
of the

Blair Athol to

via Prospect Road * Mitcham Square to

via Unley Road * Mitcham Square to

via

Fullarton Road Fullarton Road is a main road in the South Australian capital city of Adelaide. Route It runs north–south in a straight line from the eastern edge of the CBD to the south-eastern suburbs of the city. Its northern beginning is at the intersect ...

* Glenelg Interchange to

via

and

* Elizabeth Interchange to Mawson Interchange via

Salisbury Highway Salisbury Highway (and its northern section as John Rice Avenue) is a 15 kilometre major connecting road in the northern suburbs of the Adelaide metropolitan area. It is designated part of route A9. Route Salisbury Highway starts at the interch ...

''(transfer required)'' *

Salisbury North Salisbury North is a suburb in the City of Salisbury, part of the greater Adelaide conurbation in South Australia. It was built by the South Australian Housing Trust on a greenfield site in the early 1950s, mainly to house employees of the near ...

to Mawson Interchange via

Paralowie Paralowie is a suburb in the north of Adelaide, South Australia, north of the Adelaide city centre. It is predominantly a residential suburb. History On November 27, 1980, the suburb was officially named, drawing from the Aboriginal languages ...

''(transfer required)'' * Davoren Park to Elizabeth Interchange via Smithfield station ''(transfer required)'' * Aldinga to Noarlunga Centre Interchange via Seaford Interchange ''(transfer required)'' * Greenwith to

via

* St Agnes Depot to

via

* Northgate to

via

and

* Hope Valley to

via

and

Salisbury East Salisbury East ( ) is a suburb of Adelaide, South Australia, located 20 kilometres north of the Adelaide CBD. The residential part of the suburb is in the local government area (LGA) of the City of Salisbury, however the eastern part of the Cob ...

via

and

* Woodcroft Community Centre to

via

Main South Road South Road and its southern section as Main South Road outside of Adelaide is a major north–south conduit connecting Adelaide and the Fleurieu Peninsula, in South Australia. It is one of Adelaide's most important arterial and bypass roads. A ...

South Adelaide Football Club The South Adelaide Football Club, nicknamed the Panthers, is an Australian rules football club based in the Adelaide suburb of Noarlunga Downs, South Australia, Noarlunga Downs. The club competes in the South Australian National Football Leagu ...

via

* Mount Barker to

via

Elizabeth Shopping Centre Elizabeth City Centre is a large regional shopping centre in the outer Adelaide suburb of Elizabeth, South Australia. The centre is the fourth biggest in Adelaide, behind Colonnades Shopping Centre, Westfield Tea Tree Plaza, and Westfield Mario ...

via

* Ottoway to

via Arndale Centre Interchange and Hawker Street * Aberfoyle Hub to

via Goodwood Road * Morphettville Depot to

via

* Oaklands Interchange to

via

Glenelg Oval Glenelg Oval (also known as Stratarama Stadium due to naming rights) is a sports venue located on Brighton Road, Glenelg East, South Australia. The ground is primarily used for Australian rules football and cricket and is the home ground for ...

and

Interchanges and Park and Rides

Connecting various routes and services throughout the transport network in Adelaide are several bus interchanges. These play a critical role in allowing for transfers between bus routes and some furthermore onto trains and trams. Interchanges are located in critical localities on the network where various routes meet. Since 2021, Adelaide Metro has worked to improve the signage throughout these various interchanges, with new totem style signs being implemented in all critical locations.

Experience with Contracted Bus Operations

The tendering out of bus operations has been a bumpy ride for Adelaide commuters. The original 1996 partial service tendering saw services run and marketed under each operator's name, presenting a disjointed network to the public. The Adelaide Metro brand was created in 2000 to restore a unified face to the public. Contract holder

withdrew in 2004, at the contracted half-term break-point, after failing to renegotiate its contract on better terms. Serco had previously informed the Minister for Transport that it was not willing to continue to operate the bus services for a further five years on the terms contained in the then existing Contract. Serco had made a submission to the Department of Transport and Urban Planning proposing to operate the bus services in the contract areas on new terms and conditions. This submission was rejected by the Department of Transport and Urban Planning. The company unsuccessfully rebid for the contract in the subsequent competition.

was awarded two of Adelaide's six public bus contract regions commencing operation in October 2011, taking over the North South and Outer North East Contract Areas from Torrens Transit. These two contract regions cover 43% of the bus services in Adelaide,Minister for Transport - Report on the Adelaide Metro Bus Service Contracts
, August 2011, retrieved 2011-12-03. valued at $567 million over the eight-year life of the contracts.Transfield Services awarded $567 million Adelaide metropolitan bus contract
, Friday, 29 April 2011, retrieved 2011-12-03. The contracts are in place for an initial eight-year term, from 2 October 2011 to 30 June 2019 with an option to extend for a further four years, subject to government approval. Since the start of operations of bus services by

in October 2011 service interruptions and delays which were initially dismissed as teething problems have continued to frustrate commuters. Transfield has claimed most of the problems have been resolved and they are working on resolving the rest, however in May 2012, Transport Services minister

Chloë Fox Chloë Catienne Fox (born 22 February 1971) is an Australian politician who represented the South Australian House of Assembly seat of Bright from 2006 to 2014 for the Labor Party. Personal life Fox is the daughter of Australian children's au ...

imposed a fine of $121,000 for failing to meet Performance Benchmark Targets: * Transfield performed "significantly worse" than the other two companies operating contracted buses in Adelaide in reaching its contractual benchmarks. * The number of Transfield buses running on time from 1 January – 31 March 2012 ranged from as low as 51.6% on Transfield North South contract region to 66.9% on the Outer North East region. Transfield was fined $121,000 for late running buses services as a result. * In the 1 April – 30 June 2012 period Transfield, on-time running increased only marginally to 52.2% for the North South contract region and 71.3% for the Outer North East contract region. Transfield was fined $70,000 for its poor on-time running performance. Transfield have said that new timetables in July 2012 should help get buses running on time. The negative experience following this latest change of operators reflects the advice given to the Government in 2009, when it was recommended that contracts should be extended by negotiation, rather than re-tendered. The expert advice was based on: * the efficiency of existing tender prices * the incumbent operators' service quality performance * the incumbent operators' entrepreneurship in regards to service development The expert advice stated that: * there are significant risks in any transition from one operator to another, including public uncertainty and staff unrest, * there would be difficulties inherent in 'unpicking' the then current network structure and timetables, * any change in operators was likely to present considerable risks, such as reduced service quality, reduced patronage growth, and limited benefits. The South Australian Government went ahead with tenders in 2010. As noted above, the resultant change of operator from the incumbent

in the North South and Outer North East Contract Areas has seen many of the warnings given come to fruition. Professor David Hensher, Director of the Institute of Transport and Logistics Studies at the University of Sydney, has commented that while three rounds of competitive tendering in Adelaide had ironed out the cost inefficiencies and lack of service incentives under the previous public monopoly model, It is not just service performance which is suffering; Government data shows a steady increase in patronage over the first two complete rounds of competitive tendering, followed by a sharp drop-off in the past two years.

References

External links

Adelaide MetroOffice of Public Transport
{{AusPTBus Bus transport in South Australia Free public transport