Metrobus (stylised as metrobus) is a high frequency, high capacity bus network in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, first introduced in 2008. Metrobus services run every 10 minutes during peak periods, 15 minutes during off-peak weekday periods, and 20 minutes on weekends, linking key commercial suburbs and centres throughout the city, with the intention of making timetables obsolete.
All buses were initially painted in a distinctive red livery but were since reverted to the standard Transport for NSW livery of blue and white. All Metrobus services are wheelchair accessible. All route numbers were prefixed with an "M" followed by a two-digit number.
At its peak, there were 13 Metrobus routes in Sydney. As of June 2026, M90 is the only route still in operation.
History
The network originally operated along bus trunk routes through the inner suburbs, but passed through the CBD rather than terminating there. This reduced overcrowding on the trunk routes without needing to layover extra buses in the CBD. This concept was later diluted with the network's expansion to include long-distance routes servicing major activity centres in outer suburbs.
The first route, M10 from Leichhardt to Kingsford, began operation on a 12-month trial basis on 12 October 2008 and was operated by State Transit.Quarterly Performance Information October to December 2012 State Transit During this period nine regular and six high-capacity buses with different seating arrangements were dedicated to the route."All aboard: super-size buses will leave others standing" Sydney Morning Herald 16 August 2007
In March 2009, an expansion of the Metrobus network with the addition of four further routes serving the inner suburbs (M20, M30, M40, M50) was announced.Expansion of Metrobus Network Across Sydney Office of the Premier of New South Wales 25 March 2009
In July 2010 it was announced a further eight new Metrobus routes were to be rolled out in 2011 to service suburbs in Sydney's west, north, north-west, south and south-west (M41, M52, M54, M60, M61, M90, M91, M92)."Boost for Sydney's red bus network" Sydney Morning Herald 20 July 2010 This saw Hillsbus and Veolia Transport (later Transdev NSW) also become Metrobus operators.
Routes M10, M20, M30, M41 and M50 were included in the transfer of region 6 from State Transit to Transit Systems on 1 July 2018.Transit Systems Boosts Inner West Bus Services Transport for NSW 13 February 2018
During April and May 2019, as part of the opening of Sydney Metro, a number of Metrobus services were renumbered to 3-digit numerical routes, dropping the "M" prefix. Two others were renumbered in February 2020.
During July and August 2023, route M92 was included in the transfer of region 10 from Transdev NSW to U-Go Mobility, while routes M90 and M91 were included in the transfer of region 13 from Transdev NSW to Transit Systems. M92 was later split up into routes 920 and 960 in September that year.
In June 2026, route M91 was withdrawn and split into two routes, 910 and 950.
Operational history + Operational history by route number Route Commenced Ceased Notes M10 12 October 2008 24 October 2020 withdrawn M20 26 October 2009 8 February 2020 renumbered 320, later split into 320 and 119 M30 28 March 2010 8 February 2020 renumbered 430, later split into 430 and 100 M40 18 July 2010 27 April 2019 renumbered 340, later 120 M41 9 December 2010 27 April 2019 renumbered 410 M50 31 October 2010 24 October 2020 withdrawn M52 8 August 2010 24 January 2021 split into 500X and 501Additional bus services for North West Sydney and lower North Shore 3 December 2020, later renumbered 52 M54 10 October 2010 27 April 2019 renumbered 550 M60 7 March 2011 25 May 2019 renumbered 600, later split into 600 and 590 M61 20 December 2010 25 May 2019 renumbered 610X M90 6 December 2010 M91 7 February 2011 21 June 2026 Split into 910 (Parramatta to Bankstown Station) and 950 (Bankstown Central to Westfield Hurstville). M92 14 March 2011 23 September 2023split into 920 (Paramatta to Bankstown Station) and 960(Bankstown Central to Sutherland)
Tickets and fares
Metrobus services have always used the same ticketing system as all other Sydney metropolitan buses.
At time of introduction, this was the MyZone system. The Opal card system was rolled out to all buses throughout 2013–14, and became the sole ticketing system when MyZone was phased out in 2016.
Metrobus routes M10, M20, M30, M40, M50 were full-time pre-pay only services since introduction and required passengers to purchase a ticket before boarding. All other routes gradually became pre-pay between 2018 and 2020, as all Sydney bus depots became cashless.
Routes M10: Leichhardt to Maroubra Junction
Route M10 ran from Leichhardt to Maroubra Junction via Parramatta Road and Anzac Parade, and commenced on 12 October 2008.Metrobus and Service Changes Australian Bus Panorama issue 24/4 December 2008 page 20"Metrobus Developments: Australian Bus issue 41 September 2010 page 16 Route M10 connected with Sydney Trains services at Central and Museum. It also allowed passengers to transfer to regular buses to outer suburbs of Sydney at major transport interchanges such as Broadway, Railway Square, Cleveland Street and Kingsford.M10 timetable Transport for NSW 12 October 2020
On 28 December 2008, route M10 was curtailed to Leichhardt Town Hall, no longer operating to MarketPlace due to issues raised by Leichhardt Council regarding buses laying over in Lords Road. On 14 November 2010, route M10 was extended to the corner of Norton and William Streets at Leichhardt Pioneer Park. On 26 October 2009, it was extended from Kingsford to Maroubra Junction. Route M10 originally proceeded up George Street before turning into Park and Elizabeth Streets. On 4 October 2015, to facilitate the construction of CBD and South East Light Rail, it was altered to operate via Pitt Street, Eddy Avenue and Elizabeth Street in the Maroubra Junction direction, and via Elizabeth Street, Hay Street and Pitt Street in the Leichhardt direction. Operation of the route passed from State Transit to Transit Systems with region 6 on 1 July 2018. On 9 February 2020, M10 was altered to run via Rawson Place, stopping at Haymarket light rail/bus stop to allow cross-platform transfer to and from L2 and L3 light rail services.
It was originally proposed to abolish the city to Maroubra Junction section after the CBD and South East Light Rail was completed. On 25 October 2020, route M10 was withdrawn, with the western portion replaced by additional 440 services and the eastern portion replaced by L3 light rail and other bus services.
M20: Gore Hill to Botany
Route M20 ran from Gore Hill to Botany via the Pacific Highway, Town Hall station and Botany Road, and commenced on 26 October 2009.
It connected with Sydney Trains stations at St Leonards, North Sydney, Wynyard, Town Hall and Central. It also allowed passengers to transfer to regular buses to outer suburbs of Sydney at major transport interchanges such as Queen Victoria Building and Railway Square. Route M20 originally terminated at Mascot, before being extended to Botany shops on 27 February 2011.Metrobus M20 extended to Botany Shops from 27 February 2011 NSW Transport Short-working peak trips were later introduced between Wynyard and Zetland.
Operation of the route passed from State Transit to Transit Systems with region 6 on 1 July 2018. It was renumbered as route 320 on 9 February 2020 and cut back from Botany to Mascot. It was further cut back to Zetland in December 2021, as part of a restructure of the Eastern Suburbs bus network.
On 4 August 2024, route was again cut back, this time from the north, now operating only between Zetland and Central (Chalmers Street), to coincide with the opening of the Metro North West & Bankstown Line. The short section not served by the metro was replaced by a peak only route 119, operating between Gore Hill and North Sydney. On 8 December 2024, the route was amended to terminate at Railway Square instead of Chalmers Street.
M30: Taronga Zoo to Sydenham
Route M30 ran from Taronga Zoo to Sydenham station via Military Road, Town Hall station and King Street, and commenced on 28 March 2010.
It connected with Sydney Trains stations at Wynyard, Town Hall, Central, Newtown and Sydenham. It also allowed passengers to transfer to regular buses to outer suburbs of Sydney at major transport interchanges such as Neutral Bay Junction, Queen Victoria Building and Railway Square. This service was originally planned to terminate at Enmore Park although Sydenham was chosen as a more appropriate terminus.
Route M30 originally operated between Town Hall and Central stations via George Street, but on 4 October 2015, to facilitate the construction of the CBD and South East Light Rail, it was diverted to operate via Park Street, Castlereagh Street, Hay Street and Pitt Street in the Sydenham direction, and via Pitt Street, Eddy Avenue, Elizabeth Street and Park Street in the Spit Junction direction. Operation of the route passed from State Transit to Transit Systems with region 6 on 1 July 2018. It was renumbered as route 430 on 9 February 2020. On 20 December 2020, route 430 was curtailed to operate between Sydenham station and Martin Place, with the rest of the route replaced by route 100 (operated by State Transit) between the Queen Victoria Building and Taronga Zoo.Northern Beaches and Lower North Shore bus service improvements Transport for NSW 9 October 2020 On 8 December 2024, 430 was further curtailed to loop at Central rather than going to Martin Place.
M40: Chatswood to Bondi Junction
Route M40 ran from Chatswood station to Bondi Junction station via Willoughby Road, Wynyard station, Town Hall station and Oxford Street, and commenced on 18 July 2010.
It connected with Sydney Trains stations at Chatswood, Wynyard, Town Hall, Museum and Bondi Junction stations. It also allowed passengers to transfer to regular buses to outer suburbs of Sydney at major transport interchanges such as Chatswood, Queen Victoria Building, Wynyard, and Bondi Junction. M40 was renumbered 340 on 28 April 2019. On 4 October 2015, in conjunction with bus network changes to facilitate the construction of the CBD and South East Light Rail, it was diverted to operate via College Street and Park Street in both directions instead of via Liverpool Street and Elizabeth Street. M40 was renumbered 340 on 28 April 2019 and was withdrawn and replaced by route 120 on 24 January 2021.
M41: Hurstville to Marsfield
Route M41 ran from Hurstville to Marsfield via Bexley North, Clemton Park, Campsie, Burwood, Concord Hospital, Top Ryde City and Macquarie Centre, and commenced on 19 December 2010.M41 – Hurstville to Macquarie Park starts Sunday, 19 December NSW Transport It connected passengers to Sydney Trains stations at Hurstville, Bexley North, Campsie, Burwood, Rhodes, Macquarie Park and Macquarie University. It also allowed passengers to transfer to regular buses to outer suburbs of Sydney at major transport interchanges such as Hurstville, Top Ryde City and Macquarie Centre. Operation of the route passed from State Transit to Transit Systems with region 6 on 1 July 2018. M41 was renumbered 410 on 28 April 2019.
M50: Drummoyne to Coogee
Route M50 ran from Drummoyne to Coogee Beach via Victoria Road, the Anzac Bridge, CBD, Fox Studios, Randwick Racecourse, Randwick shops and The Spot, and commenced on 31 October 2010. Route M50 connected with Sydney Trains stations at Town Hall, and Museum.M50 timetable Transport for NSW 12 October 2020 It also allowed passengers to transfer to regular buses to the Moore Park area. This service was originally planned to terminate at Randwick although Coogee Beach was decided to be a more appropriate terminus.