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 April 2000, Torrens Transit began operating the Adelaide Metro East–West contract, with 255 buses under contract to the Department for Infrastructure & Transport.Adelaide Bus Tendering Results Announced Australian Bus Panorama issue 15/4 February 2000 page 21Private Contractors Scoop TransAdelaide Truck & Bus Transportation March 2000 page 86Adelaide Bus Tendering Results Australian Bus Panorama issue 15/5 April 2000 page 29
In April 2005, Torrens Transit began operating the North–South and Outer North East contracts that had previously been run by Serco.New metropolitan bus contracts for Adelaide Australasian Bus & Coach March 2005 page 13Serco bus drivers end strike ABC News 19 February 2005New Adelaide Bus Service Contracts Transit Australia April 2005 page 118Adelaide Metropolitan Bus Contracts Australian Bus issue 9 May 2005 page 7
In July 2011, Torrens Transit began operating a new eight-year East–West contract, with an optional four-year extension exercisable based on performance criteria.New contractors for Adelaide bus services Department of Planning, Transport & Infrastructure 29 April 2011Metropolitan Bus Contracts Department of Planning, Transport & Infrastructure 2 December 2015 The North–South and Outer North East area contracts passed to Light-City Buses in October 2011.Transfield Services awarded $567 million Adelaide metropolitan bus contract Transfield Services 29 April 2011
In April 2013, Light-City Buses was stripped of eight routes for continued poor performance, with these being returned to Torrens Transit.Bus company Transfield stripped of eight routes and fined for being late Adelaide Advertiser 24 April 2013Bus company stripped of routes ABC News 25 April 2013SA operator forfeits routes due to poor performance Australasian Bus & Coach 26 April 2013 In November 2014, Torrens Transit began operating a new service between the CBD and Adelaide Airport with a double deck Bustech CDi.Double-decker buses back on our streets with express service between the city and Adelaide Airport Adelaide Advertiser 26 October 2014
In June 2018, the Light-City Buses business was integrated with Torrens Transit, following Transit Systems purchasing it from Broadspectrum, doubling the fleet to 700 buses.Torrens Transit acquires local rival Light City Buses News.com.au 9 May 2018Torrens Transit acquires Light City Buses Transit Systems 4 June 2018Transit Systems expands in Adelaide and Sydney Australian Bus issue 88 July 2018 page 5 This marked the return of Light-City routes to Torrens Transit after seven years.
In July 2020, Torrens Transit retained its East West, Outer North East and North South contracts, and took over the Outer North contract from SouthLink. All four bus contracts will run for eight years. Its North–South contract was expanded to include the Glenelg tram line and was operated by Torrens Connect, a joint venture between Torrens Transit, UGL Rail and John Holland.Adelaide Bus and Public Transport Contracts Announced Australasian Bus & Coach 10 March 2020Welcome to a new era for public transport in South Australia Department of Planning, Transport & Infrastructure 20 March 2020UGL and John Holland to operate Adelaide trams Metro Report International 12 March 2020
Fleet As at February 2026, the fleet consisted of 835 buses.Torrens Transit Australian Bus Fleet Lists As well as using buses leased from the Department for Infrastructure & Transport, Torrens Transit has supplemented its fleet with five Mercedes-Benz O405s from Harris Park Transport, six Mercedes-Benz OC500LEs from Transport for Brisbane and 17 Iveco Metros.More Buses for Torrens Transit Australasian Bus & Coach December 2006 page 23
Depots Torrens Transit operates seven depots in Edinburgh North, Glengowrie, Mile End, Morphettville, Newton, Port Adelaide and St Agnes.South Australia Transit Systems
References
External links
Official website Flickr gallery