Customer Service / Total cost review of regular bus services operated by Sydney Buses - T01/2009

As part of IPART’s current review of metropolitan bus fares, IPART will determine how much revenue is required annually to provide the contracted bus services in the four regions operated by Sydney Buses based on forecast efficient operating and capital costs to deliver the necessary quantity and quality of services specified in the service contracts.  The quality and quantity of the required services is specified in detail in the bus service contracts.

IPART is now seeking a suitably qualified consultant to:

·       review and update recent benchmarking studies which include Sydney Buses

·       estimate the efficient operating and capital costs associated with the provision of  regular passenger services in Sydney Buses regions for the five calendar years 2010 to 2014

-         identify causes of cost inefficiency

-         identify technical, managerial constraints or Government policy that may prevent STA achieving efficient costs

-         indicate a transition strategy that would enable STA to move toward a more efficient cost structure.

For the purposes of this Review, a test of efficiency requires an assessment of operating and maintenance and capital expenditure from a least-cost perspective over the life-cycle of the assets.

Level8

1 Market Street

Sydney 2000

Final report required by 21 August 2009