Keolis Downer
Keolis Downer was a public transport company in Australia that ran buses, trains, trams and ferries. It was a joint venture between Keolis (51%) and Downer Group (49%). The company began on 30 November 2009 and ended in December 2025, when Keolis bought Downer’s share and the business was rebranded under Keolis.
Key operations and milestones
- Melbourne tram network (Yarra Trams): contract awarded in 2009, running from November 2009 for eight years and extended to 30 November 2024.
- G:link tram on the Gold Coast: began in 2014.
- 2015: Keolis Downer bought Australian Transit Enterprises, adding Hornibrook Bus Lines, LinkSA, Path Transit and SouthLink (about 930 buses) to its network.
- Newcastle Transport: took over Newcastle Buses & Ferries in July 2017, and Newcastle Light Rail started in February 2019.
- Adelaide Metro rail: contract started January 2021 for eight years; state government announced early termination with handover on 2 February 2025, while maintenance and some services continued until 2027.
- Keolis Downer Northern Beaches: began Region 8 contract in October 2021 for eight years, serving Sydney’s Northern Beaches and Lower North Shore, with on-demand services since 2017.
Headquarters: Sydney, Australia. Area served: Australia. Chief executive: David Franks.
In December 2025, Keolis bought out Downer’s stake and the joint venture was dissolved, with operations rebranded under Keolis.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 22:52 (CET).