{{Short description|Former bus company in Geelong, Australia}} <noinclude>{{Requested move notice|1=Buses in Geelong|2=Talk:Geelong Transit System#Requested move 29 May 2026}} </noinclude>{{Use Australian English|date=January 2018}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2018}} {{Infobox Bus transit |name = Geelong Transit System |logo = Geelong-transit-system-logo.jpg |image = McHarrys-Geelong-Transit-System-bus.jpg |image_caption = Volgren bodied McHarry's Buslines bus in GTS livery in September 2008 |parent = |routes = |founded = 1983 |defunct = 2009 |headquarters = |locale = |service_area = Geelong |service_type = |hubs = |stations = |lounge = |fleet = |operator = |ceo = |website = }} The '''Geelong Transit System''' ('''GTS''') was the operating brand of public transport in Geelong, Victoria, Australia. It was a joint venture between the Kefford Corporation's Benders Busways, (since 2008 CDC Geelong) and McHarry's Buslines. From 2009, timetables and signage were branded as '''Geelong Transit''' with a standard Viclink orange theme, so it is unclear to what extent the former GTS entity still exists as such.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://raildocs.wongm.com/bus-stops/geelong-bus-booklet-01-cover.jpg.html|title=New Geelong bus timetable booklet, no mention of GTS any more|work=Wongm's Rail Gallery|date=September 2009|publisher=wongm.railgeelong.com|accessdate=2009-11-16}}</ref> Since 2009, GTS (or Geelong Transit) ticketing has become part of the statewide myki smartcard system.<ref name=switch>{{cite web|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/geelong-switches-to-myki/story-e6frf7kx-1111119008496|title=Geelong's public transport switches to myki smartcard system|work=Herald Sun|date=2 March 2009|author=Ashley Gardiner|publisher=www.heraldsun.com.au|accessdate=2009-11-16}}</ref>
==History== Although trials of a time-based ticketing system commenced in Geelong in the early 1980s as part of a reform of transport ticketing in Victoria,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.robx1.net/victkt/nhood/html/nhback.htm|title=The Neighbourhood System - Background|publisher=www.robx1.net|accessdate=2008-04-22|archive-date=24 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724044416/http://www.robx1.net/victkt/nhood/html/nhback.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> it was not until 1983 that the Geelong Transit System was inaugurated.<ref name=ptua>{{cite web|url=http://www.ptua.org.au/media/2001/press35.shtml|title=PTUA: Geelong Branch Media Release - Bring Back the Booklet|publisher=www.ptua.org.au|accessdate=2008-04-22|archive-date=2 September 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070902012509/http://www.ptua.org.au/media/2001/press35.shtml|url-status=dead}}</ref> Over time, buses delivering route services in Geelong were painted in the Geelong Transit System livery of white body and blue stripes. However, after Kefford Corporation purchased Benders Busways in 2000<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.geelonginfo.com/search/webpage.asp?clientid=12943|title=Geelong Info - Benders Busways|accessdate=2007-07-26}}</ref> its buses were progressively repainted into its own green and white livery,<ref name=ptua/> and the other GTS operator, McHarry's Buslines, gradually followed suit, with its own overall white livery, including a red, yellow and black stripe. It became clear that after the renewal of the state government contracts governing the remaining two GTS bus operators in 2000, they were no longer required to use the common GTS livery.
From April 2006, V/Line railway tickets sold to Geelong, South Geelong and Marshall railway stations had included GTS travel,<ref name="www.dpc.vic.gov.au">{{cite web |url=http://www.dpc.vic.gov.au/domino/Web_Notes/newmedia.nsf/8fc6e140ef55837cca256c8c00183cdc/48834ff802d37191ca25715600825dcd!OpenDocument |title=Media Release: BETTER VALUE FOR V/LINE TICKETS FROM THIS SATURDAY |publisher=www.dpc.vic.gov.au |accessdate=2008-04-22 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110519080112/http://www.dpc.vic.gov.au/domino/Web_Notes/newmedia.nsf/8fc6e140ef55837cca256c8c00183cdc/48834ff802d37191ca25715600825dcd!OpenDocument |archivedate=2011-05-19 }}</ref> as part of the integration of the Victorian public transport fare systems before the introduction of the Myki ticketing system.
==Services== The Geelong Transit System covered all government-contracted urban route buses in Geelong operated by CDC Geelong (formerly known as Benders Busways) and McHarry's Buslines, as well as V/Line rail services between Lara and Marshall stations on the Geelong line.
==Ticketing== thumb|Pre-printed ticket for use on rail services within the GTS area thumb|upright|Former (pre-myki) Benders bus ticket
Until the introduction of the Myki ticketing system on GTS buses in March 2009, the network used a unified, time-based, multi-modal ticketing system, employing paper tickets issued by bus drivers and inspected manually. Tickets were valid for two hours, from the next full hour after they were purchased. Passengers could make unlimited transfers during the time the ticket is valid, on both urban buses and V/Line rail services within the GTS boundary.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.viclink.com.au/fares_tickets/regional_city_fares_tickets|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080207220918/http://www.viclink.com.au/fares_tickets/regional_city_fares_tickets|url-status=dead|archive-date=2008-02-07|title=Regional city fares & tickets - Viclink - Your guide to public transport in Melbourne and Victoria|publisher=www.viclink.com.au|accessdate=2008-04-22 }}</ref> GTS tickets were not valid in conjunction with V/Line travel beyond the GTS network boundary.
The only other type of tickets available were yearly and half-yearly student bus passes,<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.mcharrys.com.au/GTSPrices.html |title = McHarry's Geelong Transit System - Ticketing Information |publisher = www.mcharrys.com.au |accessdate = 2008-04-22 |url-status = dead |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20080504024132/http://www.mcharrys.com.au/GTSPrices.html |archivedate = 2008-05-04 }}</ref> until April 2006 when V/Line railway tickets sold to Geelong, South Geelong, and Marshall railway stations started including GTS travel for no extra cost,<ref name="www.dpc.vic.gov.au"/> and when daily and weekly tickets were made available in 2008.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.viclink.com.au/news/media_releases/regional_buses/new_ticket_system_on_the_way_for_victoria_s_town_buses |title=New ticket system on the way for Victoria's town buses - Viclink - Your guide to public transport in Melbourne and Victoria |publisher=www.viclink.com.au |accessdate=2008-04-22 }}{{dead link|date=June 2020}}</ref>
Five types of tickets existed at the time the system was replaced: * McHarry's bus issue: old style paper ticket * Benders bus issue: thermally printed paper ticket * Preprinted: paper ticket on which the valid date was clipped out * V/Line rail ticket: standard V/Line thermal ticket with GTS code marked on it * V/Line rail ticket: standard V/Line conductor issued ticket with GTS code marked on it
thumb|V/Line rail ticket with GTS travel included
The myki smartcard ticketing system was introduced on four Geelong bus routes in December 2008,<ref>Channel 7 News (12 Dec 2008 - reporter Andrew Lunn)</ref> and on 2 March 2009 all Geelong and the Bellarine Peninsula bus routes were switched to myki.<ref name=switch /> Short-term myki tickets were sold on Geelong buses until their use was discontinued in April 2013, in line with state government policy not to introduce them in Melbourne when its public transport system was switched to myki.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ptv.vic.gov.au/news/news-promotions/myki-replaces-2-hour-and-daily-tickets-in-geelong-this-week |title=myki replaces 2 hour and daily tickets this week - Public Transport Victoria |publisher=Public Transport Victoria |accessdate=2013-04-20 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130419012807/http://ptv.vic.gov.au/news/news-promotions/myki-replaces-2-hour-and-daily-tickets-in-geelong-this-week |archivedate=2013-04-19 }}</ref>
Until myki became the only valid ticket for V/Line "commuter" services, V/Line paper tickets could be used for bus travel to or from Geelong area railway stations, with no extra charge. The fare concession continued after myki was introduced on V/Line services. {{clear all}} ==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20071122183219/http://www.mcharrys.com.au/McHGTS.html McHarry's: Geelong Transit System] *[http://www.bendersbusways.com.au/ Benders Busways] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080425044230/http://www.bendersbusways.com.au/ |date=25 April 2008 }}
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Category:Transport in Geelong