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Reservoir Bus Company

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Reservoir Bus Company
Volgren bodied Volvo B10BLE on Oakhill Avenue, Preston
ParentDysons
FoundedDecember 1968
Ceased operation2017
HeadquartersReservoir
Service areaMelbourne
Service typeBus and coach operator
Routes10
StationsEpping
Preston
Reservoir
South Morang
Thomastown
Fleet56 (May 2013)
Websitewww.reservoirbus.com.au

Reservoir Bus Company was a privately owned bus and coach operator in Melbourne, Australia. As a Melbourne bus company, it operated 10 bus routes under contract to the Government of Victoria. The company was bought by Dysons Group in November 2012, and its branding was gradually replaced by Dysons branding until 2017.

History

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In 1954, Pat Cooper owned 51% of the newly-formed East Preston-Epping Bus Service, in partnership with the existing operators of Reservoir Motors. Separate to the partnership, in 1957, Cooper purchased two buses and two charter licences, and registered the Midland Tours charter company. By 1964, other different small operators have joined the East Preston-Epping Bus Service partnership. Management of the partnership also passed from Pat to his son John Cooper.[1] The East Preston-Epping Bus Service partnership evolved into the Reservoir Bus Company, which was formed in December 1968.[2][3] The Cooper family continued to manage both Reservoir Bus Company and Midland Tours.

In August 1980, Reservoir Bus Company formed a joint venture with Dysons, the East West Bus Company, to operate routes that serviced both Reservoir and Dysons operating areas, such as route 560 between Broadmeadows station and Greensborough.[4][5][1] In April 1998, Reservoir formed another joint venture with Dysons, the Melbourne Bus Link, to operate services previously operated by Met Bus in the western and south-east regions of Melbourne.[6]

In November 2012, the Dyson Group purchased Reservoir Bus Company, including the Midland Tours brand.[7] After the sale of Reservoir Bus Company to Dysons in 2012, tTthe Cooper family.[1] The Melbourne Bus Link ceased in August 2013 when Transdev Melbourne took over the former Met Bus routes. The Cooper family sold its 50% share of East West Bus Company to Dysons in February 2014.[8]

Between 2012 and 2017, both the Reservoir Bus Company and Midland Tours brands were gradually replaced by the Dysons and its Cobb & Co brands respectively. Its website closed in 2017 and redirected to the Dysons website until 2019.[9]

Fleet

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As at May 2013 the fleet consists of 56 buses and coaches.[10] Fleet livery is white with maroon and blue stripes.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "Reservoir Bus Company & Midland Tours". Bus and Coach Society of Victoria. 11 April 2017. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
  2. ^ Melbourne Metropolitan Bus Operators and Fleet Listings. Melbourne: Bus & Coach Society of Victoria. 1991. p. 57.
  3. ^ Long, Ash (1 June 1971). "Focus On Reservoir". Ashlong.com.au. Bus and Coach News Sheet. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
  4. ^ "Victorian Buses in the Eighties" Australian Bus Panorama issue 6/1 July 1990 page 12
  5. ^ Melbourne Metropolitan Bus Operators and Fleet Listings. Melbourne: Bus & Coach Society of Victoria. 1991. p. 19.
  6. ^ "Historic Reforms for Melbourne's Buses" Australian Bus Panorama issue 13/3 December 1997 page 35
  7. ^ "Press Release – Reservoir Bus Company". Dyson Group. October 2012. Archived from the original on 10 April 2013.
  8. ^ "Company announcement". Dysons. Archived from the original on 11 April 2014.
  9. ^ Web Archive Calendar - reserviorbus.com.au
  10. ^ Dyson Group of Companies Reservoir MET Australian Bus Fleet Lists
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