Public Transport Victoria (PTV) has tendered the Melbourne Metropolitan Bus Franchise in a bid to replace five bus companies with a single operator.
The PTV last week called for Expressions of Interest for the operation of the public transport network.
PTV Chair Ian Dobbs says the request marks the beginning of a worldwide competitive tender process.
He says it is the first time such a significant portion, 30 percent, of Melbourne’s public bus network has been publicly tendered.
"Melbourne’s bus services are a vital part of our public transport network" Dobbs says.
Dobbs says recent market sounding confirmed interest in the network from experienced national and international operators.
The Melbourne Metropolitan Bus Franchise is comprised of a fleet of around 500 buses.
The eastern area bus network includes 40 routes running in excess of 2500 services per week day and servicing the eastern suburbs and Melbourne CBD, including the four Doncaster Area Rapid Transit (DART) services, plus 106 school-only services.
The western area network includes nine routes running in excess of 700 services per week day and servicing the western suburbs, south-eastern suburbs and the Melbourne CBD, plus 16 school-only services.
The SmartBus Orbitals include three bus routes, Yellow (route 901), Green (route 902), and Red (route 903), running in excess of 545 week day services through Melbourne’s outer suburbs.
These services run at a high frequency from 5am to midnight Monday to Friday, 6am to midnight on Saturday and 7am to 9pm on Sunday.
It is expected that the contract will be awarded for an initial period of seven years.