Keolis Downer
| Error creating thumbnail: File missing | |
| Company type | Joint venture |
|---|---|
| Industry | Public transport |
| Founded | 30 November 2009 |
| Defunct | December 2025 |
| Headquarters | Sydney |
Area served | Australia |
Key people | David Franks (CEO) |
| Products | Bus, Train, Tram and Ferry operations |
| Owner | Keolis (51%) Downer Group (49%) |
| Subsidiaries | G:link Hornibrook Bus Lines Keolis Downer Northern Beaches LinkSA Newcastle Transport Path Transit SouthLink |
| Website | www.keolisdowner.com.au |
Keolis Downer was a public transport operator that operated bus, train, tram and ferry services in Australia. It was a joint venture between Keolis and Downer Group. It was dissolved in December 2025 after Keolis bought out Downer Group's shareholding.
History
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In June 2009, the Victorian government awarded to Keolis Downer the franchise to operate the Melbourne tram network in Melbourne, Australia[1] for eight years, starting in November 2009.[2][3] Keolis Downer continued to use the Yarra Trams name, which had been used by the previous operator TransdevTSL.[4][5][6] In September 2017, having substantially met performance criteria, the franchise was extended until 30 November 2024.[7] Keolis Downer was not awarded a new tram franchise, and on 1 December 2024, the Yarra Trams operation was handed over to Yarra Journey Makers, a joint venture of John Holland and Transdev.[8]
In July 2014, Keolis Downer began operating the G:link tram operation on the Gold Coast.[6][9] In March 2015, Keolis Downer purchased bus operator Australian Transit Enterprises, which operated the Hornibrook Bus Lines, LinkSA, Path Transit and SouthLink operations with 930 buses.[10]
Keolis Downer, trading as Newcastle Transport took over the Newcastle Buses & Ferries operation in July 2017. It began operating the Newcastle Light Rail in February 2019.[11][12][13]
In January 2021, Keolis Downer began an eight-year contract to operate the Adelaide Metro rail network.[14][15][16] In April 2023, it was announced by the Labor state government that an agreement with Keolis Downer had been reached to terminate the contract early, with operations handed back to state government on 2 February 2025. However, Keolis Downer would continue to provide maintenance, customer and security services until 2027.[17][18]
In October 2021, Keolis Downer Northern Beaches began an eight-year contract to operate Region 8, the Northern Beaches and Lower North Shore, of the Sydney Metropolitan Bus Service Contracts.[19] Keolis Downer has operated on-demand services in the area since November 2017.[20][21]
In July 2025, it was announced that Keolis had agreed terms to purchase Downer's 49% stake in the joint venture.[22] It was completed in December 2025 with the joint venture dissolved.[23]
Operations
[edit | edit source]New South Wales
[edit | edit source]- Newcastle Transport – Bus services in Newcastle, Stockton ferry service and Newcastle Light Rail services
- Keolis Downer Northern Beaches – Region 8 contract
- Keoride – Northern Beaches on-demand bus service
Queensland
[edit | edit source]- G:link – light rail in Gold Coast
- Hornibrook Bus Lines – bus services in the Redcliffe Peninsula
South Australia
[edit | edit source]- LinkSA – in the Adelaide Hills, Barossa Valley, Mid-Murray, Murraylands and Victor Harbor regions
- SouthLink – Bus services in Adelaide under contract to Adelaide Metro
Western Australia
[edit | edit source]- Path Transit – bus services in Perth and Geraldton
Former operations
[edit | edit source]Victoria
[edit | edit source]- Yarra Trams – trams in Melbourne, operated by Keolis Downer between 2009 and 2024
Adelaide
[edit | edit source]- Adelaide Metro rail services, operated by Keolis Downer between 2021 and 2025
References
[edit | edit source]- ^ Melbourne tram and train operators selected Railway Gazette International 25 June 2009
- ^ "Melbourne operators selected" Railway Gazette International August 2009 page 12
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ New train, tram operators for Melbourne Archived 26 June 2009 at the Wayback Machine The Age 25 June 2009
- ^ KDR starts as new Yarra Trams operator Archived 18 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine Downer Group 30 November 2009
- ^ a b Keolis Australia Archived 22 March 2015 at the Wayback Machine Keolis
- ^ Keolis Downer retains contract to operate world's largest tram network Archived 12 September 2017 at the Wayback Machine Metro Report International 12 September 2017
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ The Consortium Archived 10 April 2015 at the Wayback Machine G:link
- ^ Operator ATE Sold Australasian Bus & Coach 11 March 2015
- ^ Keolis Downer awarded contract to run light rail, buses and ferries says Baird government Archived 20 December 2016 at the Wayback Machine Newcastle Herald 12 December 2016
- ^ It's a date - free community open day for Newcastle Light Rail on 17 February Archived 20 May 2019 at the Wayback Machine Transport for NSW 31 January 2019
- ^ Light rail in Newcastle opening from Monday 18 February Archived 4 February 2019 at the Wayback Machine Transport for NSW 3 February 2019
- ^ Keolis Downer awarded $2.14 billion contract to run Adelaide's passenger train network Archived 18 September 2020 at the Wayback Machine ABC News 18 September 2020
- ^ Keolis Downer awarded $2.14bn Adelaide train operations contract Rail Express 18 September 2020
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
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- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Keolis begins new chapter in Australia after acquiring Downer Australasian Bus & Coach 3 December 2025
External links
[edit | edit source]Error creating thumbnail: File missing Media related to Lua error in Module:Commons_link at line 62: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). at Wikimedia Commons
