bodied
Scania K94UB at
Sydney Olympic Park in March 2013 bodied
Scania K94UB at
Liverpool Interchange in July 2013 Westbus's history originates from the Bosnjak family, who entered the transport business in 1955 and traded as Bosnjak's Bus Service. At the time, it operated a fleet of five buses on a route connecting the Sydney suburbs of
Canley Vale and
Edensor Park. Bosnjak's purchased a number of bus companies: • 1963: Parramatta Bus Co • April 1974: WJ Bale & Sons,
Penrith • November 1976: Fairlines Bus Service,
Fairfield • 1981: Cleary Brothers in 1981 • October 1983: Bowman's Bus Lines,
St Marys • 1987: Route 715 from Toongabbie Transport • December 1987: Macquarie Towns Coach Lines,
Windsor • December 1988: The rest of Toongabbie Transport • June 1989: Calabro's,
Bonnyrigg • January 1994: Richardson's Bus & Coach Service,
Richmond All companies began to trade as Westbus in October 1984. In 1985 the coach business of
Rowe's was purchased. A fleet of
Volvo B10M coaches were purchased and based at
Northmead. Following the purchase of Calabro's in June 1989 both fleets moved to
Alexandria and later
Arncliffe. The operation ceased in the early 2000s. In the
United Kingdom, Westbus Australia took over Swinards Coaches,
Ashford, Kent and ADP Travel Services of
Hounslow to form Westbus UK in 1986. Since 2005, Westbus UK has continued to exist as a separate entity to Westbus Australia, despite using Westbus Australia's old name, logo and livery, and having the same owners. It is now owned by
CityFleet Networks, also a wholly owned subsidiary of
ComfortDelGro. By 1999, 57% shareholding of Westbus was held by Bosnjak Holdings, the main subsidiary of
National Bus Company, which is also owned by Jim Bosnjak and his sister-in-law Carol. In May 1999, British coach operator
National Express purchased National Bus Company and in turn took the 57% shareholding in Westbus held by National Bus Company. Members of the founding Bosnjak family including Jim continued to hold the remaining shares. Jim Bosnjak also continued to be Chairman of National Bus Company. In December 2004, Westbus'
Northmead and
Seven Hills operations were merged with those of the newly acquired
Glenorie Bus Company under the
Hillsbus brand. With debts of $90 million and National Express unwilling to provide further funding, in January 2005 the company was placed into voluntary administration. Westbus's problems threatened a major disruption to Sydney's transport network: the company ranked second only to government-owned
Sydney Buses in the commuter bus industry. The company was acquired by ComfortDelGro Cabcharge in October 2005. The new owners pledged to honour the company's contractual obligations to customers and staff. The change of ownership saw the company exchange one politically well-connected shareholder, the Bosnjak family, for another,
Cabcharge's Reg Kermode. In August 2006, the routes of
Baxter's Bus Lines were purchased by and absorbed into Westbus
Region 3 operations. Also included in the sale were Baxter's
Girraween depot and some of its bus fleet. From 2005, Westbus services were part of
Sydney Bus Regions 1 and 3. In 2012, these regions were put out to tender by
Transport for NSW. Westbus' bids to retain both regions were not successful, with the Region 1 services operating out of St Marys and Windsor passing to
Busways, while the Region 3 services operated by Bonnyrigg and Girraween passing to
Transit Systems, both in October 2013. The remaining Westbus fleet was transferred to other ComfortDelGro Australia subsidiaries. ==Routes==