Geelong Transit System
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 | |
 Volgren bodied McHarry's Buslines bus in GTS livery in September 2008 | |
| Founded | 1983 |
|---|---|
| Defunct | 2009 |
| Service area | Geelong |
The Geelong Transit System (GTS) was the operating brand of public transport in Geelong, Victoria, Australia. It was a joint venture between the Kefford Corporation's Benders Busways, (since 2008 CDC Geelong) and McHarry's Buslines. From 2009, timetables and signage were branded as Geelong Transit with a standard Viclink orange theme, so it is unclear to what extent the former GTS entity still exists as such.[1] Since 2009, GTS (or Geelong Transit) ticketing has become part of the statewide myki smartcard system.[2]
Although trials of a time-based ticketing system commenced in Geelong in the early 1980s as part of a reform of transport ticketing in Victoria,[3] it was not until 1983 that the Geelong Transit System was inaugurated.[4] Over time, buses delivering route services in Geelong were painted in the Geelong Transit System livery of white body and blue stripes. However, after Kefford Corporation purchased Benders Busways in 2000[5] its buses were progressively repainted into its own green and white livery,[4] and the other GTS operator, McHarry's Buslines, gradually followed suit, with its own overall white livery, including a red, yellow and black stripe. It became clear that after the renewal of the state government contracts governing the remaining two GTS bus operators in 2000, they were no longer required to use the common GTS livery.
From April 2006, V/Line railway tickets sold to Geelong, South Geelong and Marshall railway stations had included GTS travel,[6] as part of the integration of the Victorian public transport fare systems before the introduction of the Myki ticketing system.
Services
The Geelong Transit System covered all government-contracted urban route buses in Geelong operated by CDC Geelong (formerly known as Benders Busways) and McHarry's Buslines, as well as V/Line rail services between Lara and Marshall stations on the Geelong line.
