In 1987 competition between bus and rail services in New South Wales was permitted for the first time on two transport corridors: the Sydney-Canberra and Sydney-North Coast. In 1988 long-distance bus services in the rest of the state were deregulated. Deregulation effectively ended the 57-year monopoly of intrastate passenger transport by the railways. The legislative framework of long-distance passenger travel in New South Wales between 1920 and 1988 is outlined, changes in passenger profiles are described, and structural changes on the Sydney-Canberra and Sydney-North Coast corridors following deregulation are examined. The conclusions from this study indicate that deregulation has had significant and positive effects on the intrastate long-distance travel market through lower fares, increased service, better modal choice of consumers, and increased industry efficiency through rationalization.
Abstract