Forest Coach Lines was an Australian bus and coach operator. Founded in 1930 in the Northern Suburbs of Sydney, since 2016 it has expanded with purchases in the Mid North Coast and North West Slopes regions in New South Wales. It became a subsidiary of ComfortDelGro Australia in 2018.

In early 2023, the Forest Coach Lines brand was replaced by ComfortDelGro's CDC NSW branding for the Sydney operations. The Mid North Coast and North West Slopes operations continue to be branded Forest Coach Lines and was rebranded to CDC NSW in September 2025, with the Forest Coach Lines brand phased out.

History

In March 1930, Eric and Trevor Royle trading as Royle Brothers, purchased routes 56 Chatswood station to Roseville Chase and 201 Roseville station to Roseville Chase from E Jones with three buses. In October 1941 the first service operated across the Roseville Bridge to Terrey Hills.History Forest Coach Lines

In March 1947, route 52 Chatswood to Artarmon was purchased but quickly sold in November of that year to Brooks Bros.Route Histories Routes 51 –75 Sydney Bus routes From the late 1940s, the Frenchs Forest area expanded rapidly and by 1960 the Royle Brothers fleet had expanded to 12 buses.

The operation was renamed Forest Coach Lines in February 1964 and relocated to a new depot in Belrose. In May 1965, route 201 ceased. An expansion into coach charter saw Forest Trailways established with a separate depot in Manly Vale. Eric and Trevor Royle retired in the mid-1960s with the Trevor's sons Bernard and Tony taking over.

In 1973, services were extended to Duffys Forest and in February 1982 to Warringah Mall. In August 1979, a new depot was opened in Terrey Hills to replace those at Belrose and Manly Vale.

The Passenger Transport Act 1990 allowed Forest Coach Lines to commence operating services into the Sydney central business district in July 1992."Services" Fleetline September 1992 page 173 In August 1991, the Warringah Bus Lines operation was purchased from Shorelink"Ownership changes" Fleetline February 1992 page 35 and in July 1998 part of St Ives Bus Service was purchased."Ownership changes" Fleetline July 1998 page 131St Ives Bus Services , Australian Bus Fleet Lists, Accessed 24 March 2014

In November 2012, it was announced that Forest had been successful in retaining the contract to operate Sydney Bus Region 14.Cut costs or bus contracts will go to private sector, minister tells drivers Sydney Morning Herald 7 November 2012Mixed Result for Private Bus Operators Bus & Coach Association NSW 7 November 2012

In December 2014, a majority shareholding in the business was purchased by mid-market private equity firm Next Capital.Next Capital finalises Forest Australian Financial Review 8 December 2014Royle Family Sell Forest Coach Lines Transitgraphics.

In September 2016, the business of Manly Coaches was acquired with no vehicles.Home Manly Coaches In November 2016, the Mid North Coast business of Ryan's Bus Service was purchased with depots in Coffs Harbour and Woolgoolga.Family owned Coffs Coast bus company calls it a day Coffs Coast Advocate 3 November 2016 In April 2017, Sawtell Coaches was purchased with a depot in Toormina.Forest Coach Lines expands in Coffs Harbour region Forest Coach Lines 13 April 2017 In September 2017, Wolters Bus & Coach Service was acquired on the North West Slopes with depots in Narrabri and Wee Waa.Home Wolters Bus & Coach ServiceForest Coach Lines expands in North West Slopes region Forest Coach Lines 20 September 2017

In September 2018, ComfortDelGro Australia (CDC) purchased the business.CDC buys Sydney's oldest privately run family bus company: Forest Coachlines Australasian Bus & Coach 8 August 2018Forest Change of Ownership Forest Coach Lines 13 August 2018End of an era for Forest Coach Lines Manly Daily 28 September 2018 In November 2022, CDC was awarded the contract to retain Region 14. The Forest Coach Lines brand in Sydney was replaced by the CDC NSW brand when the contract commenced on 21 May 2023. The Forest Coach Lines brand remained in the regional New South Wales operations. It was later announced that the brand was to be completely phased out for the CDC NSW brand in January 2025, which was then delayed to March 2025. The rebranding was eventually completed on 1 September 2025.

Fleet

Forest Coach Lines' Sydney depot was located at Terrey Hills with a small fleet stored at Cromer. Regional New South Wales depots were located at Coffs Harbour, Sawtell (Toormina), Woolgoolga, Narrabri and Wee Waa.CDC NSW Australian Bus Fleet Lists

As of November 2022 prior to rebranding of the Sydney operations to CDC NSW, the combined fleet consisted of 255 buses and coaches, with 175 in Sydney and 80 in regional NSW.

As of March 2025, the fleet in the remaining regional New South Wales depots consists of 86 buses.

Forest Coach Lines built up its fleet with Leyland buses. In 1972 it placed the first Volvo in Sydney in service. Since then most purchases have been on Volvo or Mercedes-Benz chassis. In March 2013 two Bustech CDi double deckers were introduced.

When the business was renamed Forest Coach Lines in February 1964, a new white and green livery was introduced. These remained the fleet colours until 2013 when as part of its new regional bus contract Forest was required to adopt the Transport for NSW white and blue livery.Blue over green Forest Coach Lines buses Manly Daily 11 January 2013

Routes operated in Sydney As at time of rebranding to CDC NSW (in 2023): 141: Austlink to Manly via Belrose, Northern Beaches Hospital, Seaforth, Balgowlah & Fairlight 193: Austlink to Warringah Mall via Northern Beaches Hospital, Beacon Hill & Narraweena 194: St Ives Village Shops/St Ives Chase to City QVB via East Killara, East Lindfield, East Roseville, Middle Cove, Northbridge and Cammeray 194X: St Ives Village Shops/St Ives Chase to City QVB via East Killara, East Lindfield, East Roseville & Alpha Road (Express Service) 195: Gordon to St. Ives Chase Loop 196: Gordon to Mona Vale via St Ives Village Shops and Austlink 197: Macquarie University to Mona Vale via Macquarie Centre, Macquarie Park, West Pymble, Gordon Station, St Ives Village Shops and Austlink 260: Terrey Hills to North Sydney via Frenchs Forest, Forestville, Northbridge and Cammeray 270: Terrey Hills to City QVB via Frenchs Forest, Forestville & Alpha Road 270X: Terrey Hills to City QVB via Frenchs Forest, Forestville & Alpha Road (Limited Stops) 271: Terrey Hills/Austlink/Belrose to City QVB via Frenchs Forest, Forestville & Alpha Road 273: Killarney Heights to City QVB via Frenchs Forest, Forestville & Alpha Road 274: Davidson to City QVB via Frenchs Forest, Forestville & Alpha Road 277: Chatswood to Castle Cove 278: Chatswood/Forestville to Killarney Heights 280: Chatswood to Warringah Mall via East Roseville, Forestville, Frenchs Forest, Skyline & Allambie 281: Chatswood to Davidson via Forestville & Frenchs Forest 282: Chatswood to Belrose via Forestville, Frenchs Forest & Davidson 283: Chatswood to Belrose via Forestville & Frenchs Forest 284: Chatswood to Duffys Forest via Forestville, Frenchs Forest & Belrose, Austlink & Terrey Hills

Routes operated in Coffs Harbour As at the time of rebranding to CDC NSW (in 2025): 362: Boambee to Coffs Harbour via SCU Coffs Harbour Campus & CH Base HospitalForest Coach Lines route 362 Transport for NSW 363: Boambee to Coffs Harbour via Pacific HwyForest Coach Lines route 363 Transport for NSW 364: Sawtell to Coffs Harbour via Hogbin Dr (Loop Service)Forest Coach Lines route 364 Transport for NSW 370: Sawtell to Coffs Harbour via Toormina & SCU, Coffs Harbour CampusForest Coach Lines route 370 Transport for NSW 371: Toormina to Boambee (Loop Service)Forest Coach Lines route 371 Transport for NSW 372: Coffs Harbour to Grafton via WoolgoolgaForest Coach Lines route 372 Transport for NSW

References

External links

Bus Australia gallery