National Bus Company
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{{Infobox Company
|name = National Bus Company
|logo = [[Image:Nationalbus.gif|130px]]
|type = [[Private company|Private]]
|genre =
|foundation = [[27 December]] [[1993]]
|founder = [[National Express Group]]
|location_city = {{flagicon|AUS}} [[Melbourne]], [[Australia]]
|location_country =
|location = <!--modifies "Headquarters" entry-->
|origins =
|key_people =
|area_served =
|industry =
|products =
|services = Bus<br>Park & Ride facility
|revenue =
|operating_income =
|net_income =
|num_employees =
|parent = [[Ventura Bus Lines]]
|divisions =
|subsid =
|owner = [[Ventura Bus Lines]]
|slogan = We're Moving You
|homepage = http://www.venturabus.com.au
|dissolved =
|footnotes =
}}
:''This article is about the National Bus Company in Australia. For the historic British company, see [[National Bus Company (UK)]]''
The '''National Bus Company''', or '''NBC''', was the Australian brand for [[National Express Group]]'s [[mass transit]] [[bus]] services in [[Melbourne]] and [[Brisbane]]. Its sister companies were [[Westbus]], [[Hillsbus]], and [[Glenorie Bus Company|Glenorie]] in Sydney, [[Southern Coast Transit]] in Perth.
==Melbourne==
The National Bus Company purchased the [[Public Transport Corporation]]'s bus services in the Northern and Northeastern suburbs of Melbourne, centred around [[Doncaster, Victoria|Doncaster]]. NBC's purchase of these services was part of a [[privatization|privatisation]] program undertaken by former [[Premiers of Victoria|Victorian Premier]] [[Jeff Kennett]], which also saw the sale of inner city bus services to the [[Melbourne Bus Link]] consortium of [[Reservoir Bus Company]] and [[Dyson's Bus Services]].
[[Image:Nationalbusoldlogo.jpg|right|thumb|The old National Bus Company logo]]
National Bus Company commenced operations on the 27th December 1993 with a fleet made up of former Government owned buses including [[MAN SL200]]s and [[Volvo B59]]s. The company acquired two depots located at [[Doncaster, Victoria|Doncaster]] and [[Fitzroy North, Victoria|Fitzroy North]].
In [[1994]], National introduced the first of 56 [[Mercedes-Benz LO812]] mini buses. These buses were introduced under National's plan to introduce bus services in local areas previously not serviced by bus routes.
In addition, between 1997 and 2005, National has undergone extensive fleet modernisation programs in order to phase out [[Volvo B59]]s and early model [[MAN SL200]]s. This has involved the purchase of 68 [[Mercedes-Benz O405]] series buses along with 53 low floor [[MAN AG|MAN]] buses.
In September [[2004]], National Bus Company was on-sold to [[Ventura Bus Lines]] upon National Express Group's withdrawal from the Melbourne market. Ventura has announced that it will continue to use the "National" brand in the Melbourne market until at least [[2009]], when government bus contracts will come up for renewal. Buses purchased prior to Ventura's acquisition continue to use National's yellow-and-red livery, while buses acquired since Ventura's purchase are in Ventura's light blue, dark blue and yellow livery.
====Routes====
[[Image:Man melbourne sst.jpg|thumb|250px|National Bus Company operated bus built by [[MAN AG]]]]
[[Image:National Bus MAN 15.220.jpg|thumb|250px|National Bus Company [[MAN AG|MAN]] 15.220]]
[[Image:National289.jpg|thumb|right|250px|1980s built [[MAN AG|MAN]] SL200 ex-Met Bus now operated by bus National Bus Company, at [[Westfield Doncaster]]]]
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===Depots===
*Doncaster East
*North Fitzroy
==Brisbane==
National Bus Company took over operation of the failing bus service in the [[Redlands, Queensland|Redlands]] in 1997 known as [[Bayside Buslines]]. Based in [[Capalaba]], the scheduled service and charter operator gradually expanded its operations and replaced the aging Bayside fleet. In 2000 it acquired the company known as [[Redlands Transport]]. One year later, in 2001, National Bus drivers won the coveted safety and professionalism award from [[Queensland Transport]]. However in late 2003, the company was acquired by [[Veolia Environnement|Veolia]]
==See also==
*[[List of bus companies#Victoria|List of Victorian Bus Companies]]
*[[List of Melbourne bus routes]]
*[[Buses in Melbourne]]
== External links ==
* [http://www.venturabus.com.au Ventura's website]
* [http://www.nationalbus.com.au/nat_park.html Park & Ride facility]
* [http://www.nationalbus.com.au/nat_time.html Public Timetables]
{{MelbournePublicTransport}}
[[Category:Transport companies of Australia]]
[[Category:Bus transport in Melbourne]]