Kinetic announces acquisition of Tasmanian bus operator Merseylink

Credit: Kinetic

Australian bus operator Kinetic has announced that it will soon welcome Mersey Bus & Coach Services (Merseylink), Tasmania’s largest private bus operator, to its bus network – further expanding its operation in the Apple Isle.

Owned by Grant and Jan Bingley, Merseylink delivers 51 government-contracted general and school bus services predominantly in north-west Tasmania, with 120 employees and a fleet of 90 buses across four depots.

Kinetic is Australia and New Zealand’s largest mass transit bus network and the region’s biggest operator of zero-emission buses, with its battery electric bus (BEB) fleet growing to 70 vehicles by the end of 2022.

Best known in Tasmania for its popular SkyBus express service from Hobart Airport, Kinetic has owned Tas Redline since 2021, providing government-contracted services across Devonport, Burnie, Launceston and Sorrell, as well as charter bus services for major tour operators.

The acquisition of Merseylink will allow Kinetic to grow and scale its Tasmanian network with a focus on service delivery and customer experience, partnering with the Department of State Growth to drive innovation and enhancement to public transport services. The acquisition is expected to be completed by the end of April 2022.

Kinetic Co-CEO, Michael Sewards, said: “We congratulate Grant and Jan on growing what is a truly impressive business underpinned by service excellence and a community focus, and the experience within their business will complement our focus on delivering bus services that Tasmanians can be proud of. Buses are critically important to Tasmania’s public transport network and tourism industry and, as key economic precincts continue to grow, the demand for reliable, safe, clean and green bus services will only increase. We’re incredibly excited to expand our partnership with the state government to deliver bus services that support the needs of Tasmanians both today and into the future.” 

Merseylink Director, Jan Bingley, said: “We are proud of our legacy and history with buses and what we have done to improve the bus network in north and north-west Tasmania. We feel strongly that Kinetic’s ethos aligns with the same vision we have had for Merseylink and we are excited about where they will take it.”