Parent Dion family Service area Wollongong Routes 3 Headquarters Fairy Meadow | Commenced operation 1923 Service type Bus operator Depots 1 Fleet 18 | |
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Dion's Bus Service is an Australian bus company operating services in Wollongong.
Contents
History
Dion's Bus Service was founded in 1923 when Thomas Dion commenced operating a service from Wollongong to Balgownie followed by a service to Bellambi. It is currently the oldest operating bus operator in the Illawarra.
From December 1927 until 1931 a coach service was operated to Sydney. In January 1928 it commenced operating route 1 services from Wollongong to Austinmer, along with five other operators. In August 1929, Barney Dion commenced operating a service from Wollongong to Kiama.
In the late 1940s, the Balgownie and Bellambi routes were sold. By 1964, through a number of acquisitions, the Austinmer service was operated jointly by Dion's and Jim Hill. In December 1976, Dion's became the sole operator of the service and in the same year, selling the Kiama service to John J Hill at the same time. On 24 February 1992, route 4 Wollongong to Bulli was purchased from John J Hill.
Services
Since 2008, Dion's services have been part of Sydney Outer Metropolitan Bus Region 9.
They operate 5 routes in the northern and central suburbs of Wollongong:
A number of community and government stakeholders funded Dion's "Wollongong Summer Bus", a late night bus service run in central Wollongong during the summer months. The Summer Bus was a drink-drive and drink-walk prevention strategy supported by licensed venues as well as local government, health, police and transport authorities. It no longer operates since route 1 now operates for extended hours on Friday and Saturday nights.
Fleet
As at May 2014, the fleet comprised 18 buses. The fleet livery was blue and white until 1989 when a metallic grey, blue and black livery was introduced. In 2010, the Transport for New South Wales white and blue livery was adopted.
In the 1950s and 1960s, Dion's built their own bodies on second-hand Leyland Comet truck chassis. In 1989, Dion's purchased two Hinos, these were the first new buses in over 40 years.