Thanks to all our Journey Makers: the drivers, mechanics, office and support staff who keep the buses moving through the eastern suburbs and city.
In 2023, our team provided more than made 49m passengers trips with more than 1.4m scheduled route services and we look forward to serving even more customers this year safely and efficiently.
Multimodal transport operator Transdev chalked up healthy increases in patronage in 2023 – on all the public transport it ran across both Australia and New Zealand.
Transdev’s increase in passenger trips for the 2023 calendar year compared to 2022 included:
• 47% jump on Auckland’s Howick and Eastern buses
• 47% jump on Sydney Light Rail and Sydney Ferries
• 27% increase on Wellington trains and buses
• 24% increase on Brisbane Redlands buses.
It’s a trend that Transdev Australia and New Zealand CEO Brian Brennan said was encouraging across all levels of Transdev’s multi-modal operations.
“The numbers on our services show more and more people here and across the ditch are coming back to public transport post-COVID,” Mr Brennan said.
“With more people on board public transport we’re doing everything to continue that trend and end that love affair with our cars.
“Catching public transport is better for the planet, kinder on your wallet and mostly less stress and hassle and no car parking needed.”
Mr Brennan said the increase had been driven by the return of big events, sporting and international acts and more people back in offices.
“It’s proof that investing in public transport works when you have that service frequency and reliability. I also believe our amazing people have played a part in that too by looking after our customers with brilliant basics every day.”
Globally, Transdev makes about 12 million trips each day on public transport across 19 countries.
| MODE | 2023 TRIPS | 2022 TRIPS |
| Sydney Light Rail | 37.7m | 25m |
| Sydney Region 9 | 49.4m | 28.2m (9mths operation) |
| Sydney Ferries | 15.5m | 10.5m |
| Qld Bus | 2.3m | 1.86m |
| NZ Wellington Rail | 11.4m | 9m |
| NZ Wellington Bus | 100,156 | 79,297 |
| NZ Auckland Bus | 6m | 4.1m |
The airport service, run by Transdev Mana Newlands, made 364,191 trips in its first full year of operation to 20 July 2023 – 128% above expected demand.
Patronage has been particularly strong during the peak travel period of school holidays (December – February) – averaging more than 35,000 each month the last two years in a row.
Transdev’s Mana Newlands Chief Executive Craig Chin said he was pleased the service was on track for another record year.
“The patronage really shows that people have embraced the new, all-electric, sustainable service and find value in it,” Mr Chin said.
“Our local team is friendly and focused on serving customers and getting them to and from the airport as safely and easily as possible.
“Transdev looks forward to continuing to work with Greater Wellington Regional Council for providing sustainable, accessible and convenient public transport.”
More information on Airport Express can be found on the Metlink website.
| Partnering with award winning training group, Athena Leadership Academy, the Elevate program will develop 12 rising stars with between five and 10 years management experience from across Transdev Australia. Transdev’s Head of Learning and Talent Kiersten Hocking said the program would build senior leaders’ influence, leadership impact and confidence. “This program is about investing in our next crop of senior female leaders,” Ms Hocking said. |
“We want these leaders to increase their self-awareness, lead through change, build high-performing teams and work sustainably without burning out.”
Transdev congratulates our first Elevate program candidates: Lucy Loadsman, Kavitha Dey, Rebecca Shearon, Joana Feiteira, Michelle Howley, Kristen Clifton, Gillian McGilviray, Kiersten Hocking, Chloe Scully, Rita Haitas, Shelley Hamer and Katrina Wild.
The Female Leadership program is expected to start in May this year and last six months, with a mix of in-person and online sessions, facilitated by business coach Linda Murray.
Trandsev’s inaugural equality action plan outlines how Transdev will become an even more inclusive employer with actions to improve the gender balance and female participation rates in the next three years.
Some of our targets include:
Transdev’s Chief Financial Officer and Inclusion Ambassador, Alexia Gontier, said Transdev valued the contributions of women in the industry and was actively encouraging growth in their careers.
“Our plan is to attract, develop and engage female talent right across our businesses,” Mrs Gontier said.
“It’s about creating a work environment where women are supported and encouraged to challenge themselves and grow.
“Transdev is enabling women to achieve through our culture, our policies and processes and respect for everything that women bring to their workplace.”
Mrs Gontier said Transdev’s Gender Equality Action Plan included targets not only for workforce participation but also increased communication, mentorship and networking opportunities for women.
Today, Transdev is especially proud to celebrate International’s Women Day and all achievements and contributions of women across the public transport sector.
Transdev celebrated International Women’s Day with celebratory events across all our operations including at the Transdev John Holland bus depot at Port Botany in Sydney this morning.
The Port Botany team and broader community heard from women across teams and levels on their experiences as women in the transport sector but also to hear about the work and expansion of Transdev’s Women on the Move Network.
This network is about empowering women in our workplace and also attracting and retaining women in the workforce. Created at Transdev John Holland in 2023, the program has been instrumental in everything from recruitment campaigns, workforce policy, procedure and training improvements to depot facilities and uniform options.
Our Elevate program, in partnership with Athena Leadership Academy, will develop 12 senior female managers from across Transdev Australia.
Congratulations to Transdev’s first Elevate program participants: Lucy Loadsman, Kavitha Dey, Rebecca Shearon, Joana Feiteira, Michelle Howley, Kristen Clifton, Gillian McGilviray, Kiersten Hocking, Chloe Scully, Rita Haitas, Shelley Hamer and Katrina Wild.
“As an inclusive employer, we’re proud of the actions taken to improve our female participation rates and leadership roles across our business”, said Mrs Gontier.
Mrs Gontier said Transdev valued its external partnerships and work with:
Transdev will continue to explore ways of expanding these connections and capitalising on the opportunities they provide.
 | Also today, six of Transdev’s newest Sydney tram drivers – trained at an innovative all-female driver training school – graduated from our Randwick depot. Graduation certificates were presented to our six amazing new drivers: Nicki Martin, Heather Goodman, Elena Jovanovska, Lissa Bradley-Loftus, Sarah Jane Coffey and Jahsie Paez. Sarah Jane Coffey said the female training school was a supportive environment which she recommended to others. “The trainers were really encouraging and we also supported each other. The more women who join the better, after all, it’s not a man’s job, it’s a person’s job.” |
Transdev also performed well in its first annual Workplace Gender Equality Report recently – compared to our transport sector peers.
Our gender pay gaps have closed year on year and and our average gender pay gap is now -5.0% compared to our industry peers at 4.1% (negative % indicates women are paid more on average than men).
Our progressive parental leave policy exceeds the industry average of 9.8 weeks, providing an average entitlement of 12 weeks leave (up to 16 weeks for primary carers).
After four weeks of intense practical and simulation training, light rail drivers Nicki Martin, Heather Goodman, Elena Jovanovska, Lissa Bradley-Loftus, Sarah Jane Coffey and Jahsie Paez received their driving certificates today at a ceremony at Transdev’s Randwick Light Rail Depot.
Sarah Jane, who joined Transdev in December 2023 after a career driving buses across Europe, said the training was done in a supportive environment.
“The trainers were really encouraging and supportive and one of them commented that they had never seen a group as close as we were,” she said.
“We’re in a male dominated industry so the more women who join this program the better – because, it’s not a man’s job, it’s a person’s job.”
The driver training involved theory on safety and standards, signals and speed zones, training simulator practice with traffic and customer interactions before driving on the network under supervision.
The trainers were really encouraging and supportive... one of them commented that they had never seen a group as close as we were.
Sydney Light Rail Managing Director Arsene Durand-Raucher said the female driving school had been a great success.
“We’ve got 36 female drivers working across the Sydney tram network now and our What Drives You recruitment campaign is hoping to attract a lot more to this rewarding career,” said Mr Durand-Raucher.
“We have another five women in training now who’ll also graduate soon.
“Our all-female driving school is innovative and it’s something that’s getting results and that Transdev is very proud of.”
Transdev is committed to provide a diverse, engaged and resilient working environment. Learn more about the business’ strategy to encourage women to join and stay in our Gender Equality Action Plan.
Our technical engineering leads Hugh McKay and Clarissa Cheong led the Minister and a group on a tour the engine refit of the Balmoral at the Balmain Shipyards.
To date, the engine bed has been prepared and shafts and propellers installed in preparation for the engines to be fitted.
The Balmoral, as well as the Clontarf and Fairlight ferries, are progressively being upgraded with more powerful engines this year that will require less maintenance.
Transdev Australia and New Zealand CEO Brian Brennan said Transdev always proudly embraced Sydney’s premier LGBTQIA+ celebration.
“The buses, ferries and trams Transdev run obviously play a big part in helping people get around Sydney during this iconic festival,” Mr Brennan said.
“You’ll see our people embracing the Festival vibe with rainbow badges and shoelaces.
“You’ll also see rainbow flags on all our ferries and at some ticketing gates, special Mardi Gras wrapped trams, the rainbow road installation at Chalmers St and Circular Quay and rainbow decorated buses.”
“These are all ways we show our pride in encouraging inclusion and celebrate difference because we know that diversity makes us better.
”As JourneyMakers, our Transdev teams go above and beyond not only to run reliable public transport and serve customers but also to represent and be a part of our local communities.
“Mardi Gras is always a busy time of year with the city shining a little brighter. The Festival is something we always work closely with ALTRAC Light Rail and Transport for NSW every year on.”
The Festival, themed Our Future, kicks off today 16 February culminating in the highlight Mardi Gras parade on Saturday 2 March 2024.
Transdev is proud of our PRIDE Network, a dedicated platform for our LGBTQI+ employees and allies since 2019. Our ‘Ride with Pride’ campaign, developed by Transdev employees, is also testament of our commitment towards equality and inclusion.
Transdev is committed to provide a diverse, engaged and resilient working environment.
Transport for NSW this week announced 213 new weekly trips on L1 Dulwich Hill line inner west trams and 96 new weekly trips on Sydney Harbour and Parramatta ferries.
As the operator of Sydney’s trams for more than 20 years and ferries for 14 years, Transdev is pleased to be able to help more Sydneysiders move around their city.
Transdev Australia and New Zealand CEO Brian Brennan said he congratulated TfNSW for the service investment which gave commuters more choice.
“We know more and more people are getting back on public transport and extra services mean greater frequency and an easier decision to leave the car at home,” Mr Brennan said.
“These extra services allow commuters to simply turn up and go on our L1 trams and offer greater capacity on the ferries with people seeing more Freshwater vessels and also Parramatta services.
“L1 trams are now running every six minutes in the morning/evening peaks – which is a more compelling offering to customers to use public transport.
“Early morning services between 6am and 7am on weekdays and Friday nights between 7pm and 9pm, will also increase from a 15-minute frequency to a 10-minute frequency.
“All up the L1 service uplift increases capacity on the L1 line by 33 percent and with the new Urbos 100 light rail vehicles that arrived in the country last year, the fleet has grown from 12 to 16.”
On the ferries, there are an extra 60 services across the F1 and F3 routes during the week and another 36 on weekends, with the larger Freshwater Class vessels permanently uplifted from every two hours to hourly, increasing from five services a day to 10, on weekdays and weekends.
An extra seven services will operate on the F3 Parramatta River route each weekday and an extra 26 on the weekend.
For more information or to plan your trip, visit transportnsw.info.
The iconic vessel had been in dry dock for several months receiving an extensive refit including improved passenger areas such as new seats, bathroom facilities and improved accessibility.
Its first passenger service on Monday will be at 9.31am from Circular Quay to Manly.
Those wanting to be on the Queenscliff’s first trip back will need to come early as we expect this trip will be popular. However, the vessel will return to running right throughout the week and weekends.
Queenscliff service times: From Circular Quay: 09:31 | 11:31 | 13:31 | 15:31 | 17:31. From Manly: 10:11 | 12:11 | 14:11 | 16:11 | 18:11.
The Queenscliff refurbishment included:
Transdev was nominated for providing training pathways for apprentices and trainees in NSW, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and women.
The Australian Training Awards are the peak national awards that showcase best practice in vocational education and training. Transdev qualified after winning the NSW Training Awards in September.
Transdev Australia and New Zealand CEO Brian Brennan said he was proud Transdev was training future transport leaders.
“It’s so rewarding that we’re supporting apprentices and future leaders with us in a range of roles and especially for people from diverse backgrounds,” Mr Brennan said.
“Transdev has supported more than 250 apprentices this year alone – across different transport modes which just shows the depth of our commitment.”
Transdev’s Head of Learning and Talent, Kiersten Hocking, said the Silver award recognised the talents of our apprentices from bus and tram drivers, to maritime trainees, automotive electricians, mechanics, spray painters to vehicle body builders.
“It’s a simple equation – we look after our people so they can look after themselves and our customers,” Ms Hocking said.
“Investing in our people helps them grow and build their own skills then enables them to provide even better customer service.
“Our ethos as Journey Makers at Transdev, is that everyone goes the extra mile and puts customers at the heart of all journeys.”
Ms Hocking said Transdev had responded to industry developments including zero-emission technology.
“As we continue to add electric vehicles to our fleet, we’re upskilling our maintenance employees with nationally accredited and transferrable skills,” she said.
For more information about the National Training Awards, visit here.
The forum, an annual safety event run by Transdev, was held last week at Allianz Stadium to make Sydney tram travel safer for young people and to help authorities better understand how youth use and interact with public transport.
UNSW Psychology Senior Lecturer Dr Susanne Schweizer explained the cognitive thought patterns of youth which impact how they use transport.
Transport for NSW Executive Director, Brand and Marketing Allison Lee spoke about the influences on our attention spans and how to ensure safe travel.
A panel led by ALTRAC Light Rail CEO Duncan Edghill included a range of views on light rail safety on young minds.
Sydney Secondary College Blackwattle Bay Deputy Principal Jane Cuke and Fort Street Public School P&C Executive Member Melanie Tait contributed along with Dr Schweizer and Sydney Secondary College Year 12 student Imak Gastell.
Transdev Australia and New Zealand CEO Brian Brennan said the forum was powerful vehicle for change.
“We do these forums annually and it’s a very practical way to hear a range of different views and latest research,” Mr Brennan said.
“This year – the focus on youth was very apt and an eye opener in hearing how students interact with Sydney Light Rail.
“Transdev is always looking for ways to better understand our customers and make our services safer.
“I was very moved to hear from Imak and the stories I heard from other students I spoke with around their public transport experiences.
“I really want to thank all the groups and level of representation and interest from those who attended and contributed to the forum.”
