Darwinbus

---

title: "Darwinbus" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["bus-companies-of-the-northern-territory", "companies-based-in-darwin,-northern-territory", "transport-in-darwin,-northern-territory", "transport-companies-established-in-1978", "1978-establishments-in-australia"] description: "Public bus network in Darwin, Australia" topic_path: "sports" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darwinbus" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Public bus network in Darwin, Australia ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox bus transit"]

Field	Value
logo	DarwinBus.png
image	Territory Transit (mo 3952) Custom Coaches CB80 bodied Mercedes O500LE at Bay F of the Darwin Interchange.jpg
image_caption	Territory Transit Custom Coaches bodied Mercedes-Benz OC500LE in June 2016
parent	Northern Territory Government
founded	1978
headquarters	Berrimah
service_area	Darwin, Casuarina, Palmerston and Rural Areas
service_type	Public Transport
routes	39
hubs	Darwin CBD, Casuarina, Palmerston
depots	3
fleet	79
operator	CDC Northern Territory
website	www.transport.nt.gov.au/public/bus/darwin
::

|name = |logo = DarwinBus.png |logo_size = |image = Territory Transit (mo 3952) Custom Coaches CB80 bodied Mercedes O500LE at Bay F of the Darwin Interchange.jpg |image_size = |image_caption = Territory Transit Custom Coaches bodied Mercedes-Benz OC500LE in June 2016 |company_slogan = |parent = Northern Territory Government |founded = 1978 |headquarters = Berrimah |service_area = Darwin, Casuarina, Palmerston and Rural Areas |service_type =Public Transport |routes = 39 |destinations = |stops = |hubs = Darwin CBD, Casuarina, Palmerston |depots = 3 |fleet =79 |operator = CDC Northern Territory |website =www.transport.nt.gov.au/public/bus/darwin}}

Darwinbus is the official operational name of the public bus network which operates within the Greater Darwin region, this includes the satellite cities Palmerston and Casuarina, in addition to the Darwin Rural Area in the Northern Territory. The network is exclusively operated by CDC Northern Territory under a six-year contract with the Northern Territory Government starting from 1 July 2022, and in the financial year prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, carried approximately 3.5 million passengers, equivalent to a 5-6% mode share. Prior to July 2022, the network was operated by two contractors; CDC Northern Territory (previously known as Buslink), and Territory Transit who had shared operation of the majority of urban bus services.

Services formerly operated by Territory Transit had been run by the government-owned Darwin Bus Service ("DBS") until October 2014, who had provided about 40% of all services in the Darwin region since Buslink commenced operation during the 1980s. In December 2013, it was announced that Darwin Bus Service services would be privatised. In July 2014, Transit Systems (owner of Territory Transit) was announced as the successful tenderer. In October 2014, Territory Transit took over the former Darwin Bus Service bus operation.

In May 2022, CDC Northern Territory was announced as the successful bidder after a competitive tender process. While both incumbents placed bids for the tender, Australian Transit Group also placed a bid during the tender process.

Fleet

As of December 2013, the Buslink fleet consisted of 164 buses based out of depots in Berrimah and Humpty Doo, and the then Darwin Bus Service fleet based in Stuart Park consisted of 36 buses.

After assuming control of the former Darwin Bus Service depot and its fleet at Stuart Park in 2014, Territory Transit began replacement of many older buses in the fleet. A total of 17 Mercedes-Benz OC500LE rigid buses with Custom Coaches bodywork were added between 2015 and 2020, with the size of the fleet reducing slightly to 34 buses. While these additions largely displaced older rigid buses produced by MAN and Volvo, three of four Scania L94UA articulated buses were ultimately replaced. A further two buses (which included the last articulated bus) were withdrawn without replacement prior to CDC Northern Territory taking control of the Stuart Park Depot in 2022. A pair of Mercedes-Benz OH1830LE buses, which had previously been used by Buslink-Vivo, were also based at Stuart Park depot but were mostly utilised for charter work.

CDC Northern Territory's depots at Berrimah and Humpty Doo had a combined total of 158 buses as of February 2022, although the vast majority of these buses are not utilised for public bus services, instead performing charter, school bus and special needs transport duties. While a total of 47 buses are painted in the Darwinbus livery of black, white and ochre, 6 of those buses were utilised exclusively as school buses. Since commencement of the new contract, some of these buses have been returned to urban service at the Stuart Park depot.

As of December 2022, CDC Northern Territory operates 192 buses in the Greater Darwin area, and an additional 16 in Alice Springs. The increase in Darwin is largely attributable to inheriting the former Territory Transit fleet at Stuart Park, with the combined urban fleets totalling 79 buses. All Darwinbus services are now exclusively operated by Mercedes-Benz OC500LE buses with a mix of Volgren and Custom Coaches bodywork.

CDC Northern Territory has announced plans to introduce nine Volvo Hybrid Buses to the fleet during the present six-year contract, although a timeframe for their introduction has not yet been made public.

Routes

A total of 39 public bus routes are operated by Darwinbus, with the majority operating 7-days per week, excepting Christmas Day and Good Friday. A variety of services are provided, including all-stops and semi-express routes between the three interchanges at Darwin, Casuarina and Palmerston, in addition to feeder or shopper style services which predominantly run in a uni-directional circuit. During Mindil Beach Market Season (last Thursday in April to last Thursday in October), additional bus services run, and some late-night outbound bus services are extended to commence from Mindil Beach to facilitate access to the markets. For other significant events in Darwin, such as New Year's Eve, Darwin Show Day or Bass in the Grass, additional special event buses run.

Timetables and maps are available separately online from the NT Government Website. Service announcements are publicised on the CDC Northern Territory and NT DIPL Facebook pages, in addition to separate pages on the NT Government Website: Public Bus Alerts & Route Changes, and, Proposed Bus Changes.

All bus services inbound to Darwin Interchange utilise Mitchell Street, whereas outbound services travel via Cavenagh Street. ::data[format=table title=""]

Route	Type	Origin	Destination	Areas Serviced/Notes
OL1	Circular Peak Express	Darwin	Darwin	Operates Monday to Friday peak periods only
OL2	Circular Peak Express	Darwin	Darwin	Operates Monday to Friday peak periods only
1	Circular	Casuarina	Casuarina	Hospital Precinct, Tiwi, Brinkin, Nakara
1h	Circular/Semi-Express	Casuarina	Casuarina	Operates Monday to Friday only
2	Circular	Casuarina	Casuarina	Wanguri, Leanyer, Wulagi, Wagaman
3	Circular	Casuarina	Casuarina	Jingili, Moil, Anula, Wulagi, Wagaman
4	Line Haul	Darwin	Casuarina	Darwin CBD, Mindil Beach, Parap, Ludmilla, Coconut Grove, Nightcliff, Rapid Creek, Charles Darwin University (Casuarina), Casuarina
5	Line Haul	Darwin	Casuarina	Operates Monday to Friday only
6	Circular	Darwin	Darwin	Operates Monday to Friday only
7	Circular	Darwin	Darwin	Operates Monday to Friday only
8	Line Haul	Darwin	Palmerston	Darwin CBD, Stuart Highway (Stuart Park, The Narrows, Winnellie, Berrimah, Pinelands)
9	Line Haul	Casuarina	Palmerston	Vanderlin Drive (Leanyer, Malak), Karama, Berrimah, Pinelands
10	Line Haul	Darwin	Casuarina	Darwin CBD, Stuart Highway (Stuart Park, The Narrows), Bagot Road (Ludmilla, Rapid Creek), Trower Road (Alawa, Casuarina Square Shopping Centre)
11	Circular	Casuarina	Casuarina	Operates Monday to Friday only
12	Circular	Casuarina	Casuarina	Malak, Karama
14	Circular	Darwin	Darwin	Operates either to Cullen Bay Ferry Terminal or to the Waterfront with services to Bayview during the weekend covering parts of route 7.
15	Special Event	Darwin	Darwin	Via Mindil Beach Market, during Mindil Beach Market season only
19	Special Event	Mindil Beach Market	Casuarina	Observes route 4 from Mindil Beach, operating during Mindil Beach Market Season only
21	Peak Express	Darwin	Hospital Precinct	Operates in the peak direction only
22	Peak Express	Darwin	Leanyer	Operates in the peak direction only
24	Circular	Casuarina	Casuarina	Wanguri, Lyons, Muirhead
25	Peak Express	Darwin	Casuarina	Operates in the peak direction only, with AM and PM routes being substantially different
28	Peak Express	Darwin	Humpty Doo	Operates in the peak direction only.
70	Circular	Palmerston	Palmerston	Driver, Moulden
71	Circular	Palmerston	Palmerston	Woodroffe, Gray
72	Circular	Palmerston	Palmerston	Gunn, Bakewell, Roseberry
73	Circular	Palmerston	Palmerston	Driver, Durack, Charles Darwin University Durack Campus
74	Lacial	Palmerston	Palmerston	Farrar, Johnston, Zuccoli. Operates a return service via Temple Terrace, Farrar Boulevard / Zuccoli Parade
76	Circular/Semi-Express	Palmerston	Palmerston	Peak-only service operating every 30mins
77	Circular	Palmerston	Palmerston	Palmerston Indigenous Village, Roseberry and Bellamack
78	Circular	Palmerston	Palmerston	Weekday only service via Kokoda Industries Yarrawonga
87	Circular	Palmerston	Palmerston	Durack Heights and Durack
88	Circular	Palmerston	Palmerston	Direct service to Palmerston Regional Hospital only
440	Rural Circular	Humpty Doo	Humpty Doo	Operates Monday to Saturday only
445	Rural	Palmerston	Humpty Doo	Operates Monday to Saturday only
446	Rural	Palmerston	Bees Creek	Operates Monday to Saturday only
447	Rural	Palmerston	Humpty Doo	Operates Monday to Saturday only
450	Rural	Palmerston	Humpty Doo	Operates Monday to Saturday only
::

References

References

1. (2008-03-02). "Darwin Bus Service". Bus Australia.
2. (2 June 2022). "ComfortDelGro Australia Group Wins Bid To Operate Bus Services In Darwin". CDC Northern Territory.
3. (2019). "DIPL Annual Report 2018-19".
4. (2019-12-30). "Update on Australian transport trends (December 2019)".
5. (2008-04-13). "Buslink". Bus Australia.
6. "Public Transport". Northern Territory Transport Group.
7. [http://www.ntnews.com.au/news/northern-territory/darwin-busses-to-be-privatised/story-fnk0b1zt-1226777082462 NT Government to privatise Darwin buses] ''[[NT News]]'' 6 December 2013
8. [http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-12-06/darwin-bus-service-to-be-privatised-announcement-peter-chandler/5140746 Darwin bus service to be sold off] ''[[ABC News (Australia). ABC News]]'' 6 December 2013
9. [http://www.transport.nt.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/41196/DBS-Media-Release-6-July.pdf New Providers for Darwin Bus Service] {{Webarchive. link. (6 October 2014 Department of Transport 6 July 2014)
10. [http://www.busnews.com.au/news/industry/1407/move-to-nt/ Move to NT] ''[[Australasian Bus & Coach]]'' 7 July 2014
11. [http://www.transitsystems.com.au/articles/354-transit-systems-secures-darwin-urban-bus-services-contract-8-july-2014 Transit Systems secures Darwin Urban Bus Services contract - 8 July 2014] {{Webarchive. link. (6 November 2014 Transit Systems website Retrieved 6 November 2014)
12. [http://www.newsroom.nt.gov.au/mediaRelease/9679 Transit Systems welcomed to the Top End] {{Webarchive. link. (6 October 2014 , Retrieved 2 October 2014)
13. [http://www.transitsystems.com.au/territory-transit Territory Transit Home Page] {{Webarchive. link. (6 October 2014, Retrieved 11 October 2014)
14. (1 July 2022). "CDC Commences Services Under New Darwin Contract". CDC Northern Territory.
15. (23 May 2022). "Darwin Bus Services Contract Update". Kelsian.
16. "Quotations and Tenders Online {{!}} Tender Details".
17. (2013-12-27). "Australian Bus Fleet Lists - Northern Territory Operator Fleet Lists".
18. [http://fleetlists.busaustralia.com/nt.php?search=DAR Darwin Bus Service] Australian Bus Fleet Lists
19. (2021-12-01). "Australian Bus Fleet Lists - Northern Territory Operator Fleet Lists".
20. (2021-11-10). "NT — Transit Systems {{!}} Bus Network Public Transport Operator {{!}} NSW {{!}} SA {{!}} WA {{!}} NT {{!}} UK {{!}} Singapore".
21. (2022-02-25). "Australian Bus Fleet Lists - Northern Territory Operator Fleet Lists".
22. "Australian Bus Fleet Lists - Northern Territory Operator Fleet Lists".
23. admin. (2022-07-01). "CDC Commences Services Under New Darwin Contract".
24. (2017-12-07). "Route Types: Geometry".

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