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SHOWBUS AUSTRALIA BUS IMAGE GALLERY
Melbourne's SmartBus Network
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| For more SmartBus pictures see the Transdev Melbourne gallery |
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 The Melbourne transport authorities supplemented the city's transport system with a network of SmartBus routes. These tendered services fell into two categories and Ventura's MAN 16.240 with New Zealand built Designline bodywork is seen at the heart of the network in Doncaster in April 2010. From the Doncaster environs express routes operate via the Freeway to the city downtown area. MAN 639 (7262AO) is not on one of these routes but one of the outer orbital services linking various townships and shopping centres with the radial train network. Besides the distinctive silver and orange livery the services are characterised by real time displays, a large example of which is seen in Doncaster Bus Station at the Westfield shopping plaza. The routes also feature a variety of bus priority measures. In 2013 Ventura supplied vehicles for almost the whole network and had made an early start at rebranding all Grenda SmartBuses as Ventura. The Doncaster commuter routes had long been dual branded Ventura and National Bus. The orbital routes with end to end journey times of several hours take group vehicles beyond the company's normal areas of operations and involved other Melbourne operators garaging vehicles, for example Tullamarine and Westbus at Altona. 
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 The long distance 903 orbiter from Altona in the western suburbs to Mordialloc on the coast in the east passes conveniently through Oakley, passing Ventura's main depot. MAN 648 (7271AO) is seen in the town in April 2010 working the 86 kilometre long route connecting eleven railway stations and nine tram lines.
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 Seen near Oakleigh depot on a "short" working to Heidelberg Station is an earlier Designline bodied MAN 16.220. Whilst the striking Designline models above spearheaded Ventura and National Bus SmartBus routes, older vehicles like this 2007 MAN 577 (6540AO) gained SmartBus livery as seen in this March 2012 photo.
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 Whilst the high profile Orbiter routes started in 2009, followed by the Doncaster-CBD routes the following year, the concept had been experimented with in 2002 with routes 703 from Middle Brighton to Blackburn operated by Ventura and routes 888/889 from Nunawading to Chelsea operated by Grenda. The 903 was originally the 700 from Mordialloc to Box Hill started in 1975. Designline Orbitor bodied MAN 16.220 569 (6337AO) is seen in Box Hill Station after a 700 run in April 2006.
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 Another Orbitor bodied MAN 16.220 - the body name being appropriate for the work the bus is engaged on - is 563 (6342AO) seen at Essendon, having just left the station there in April 2010.
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| For more SmartBus pictures see the Transdev Melbourne gallery |
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