Page 1 |
French operator Connex bought its way into the Sydney by first acquiring Southtrans in 1999 which operated, unsurprisingly to the south of the city. The company initially traded as Connex Southtrans, but gradually the Southtrans name was dropped. It picked upsome more services off Crossleys in 2001 as that operator withdrew from bus operation in Sydney, followed in 2005 by adding some of Baxters services in the Parramatta area, some distance from the Southtrans operation. Changes in the French conglomerate resulted in the company being renamed first Veolia and then Transdev. The operation grew with the state franchising services, but shrunk with the loss of the Parramatta area and in 2023 both Transdev Shorelink and the southern services. Leaving only the Eastern Suburbs operation, which became a joint venture with John Holland.
|
New Year's Eve 2000 and Volgren CR221L bodied Mercedes O405NH 122 (MO7239) is seen in the centre of Sydney waiting to return the revellers to the suburbs.
|
  |
The rear view of 122, which was approaching three years old at the time.
|
  |
Also there on New Years's was another Volgren CR221L, but this time on a Volvo B10L chassis, 110 (MO7105) was about to celebrate its third birthday whereas 122 had to wait till March.
|
  |
  |
Seen in Parramatta the same day was one of the many secondhand Mercedes O305 buses in the fleet, this PMC example had been new to Sydney Buses as 1773 in 1977, becoming Connex 59 (MO8263) via Southtrans. |
  |
Page 1 |