A well-connected site at Macquarie Park will become Sydney's first purpose-built electric bus depot, with the awarding of the contract to build the facility and release of new concept designs.
Sydney's first purpose-built electric bus depot is an important moment in the transition to battery electric buses as the Minns Labor Government plans a phased switch from the 8000-strong diesel and gas fleet over the next two decades.
Construction of the $145 million depot, funded 50:50 by the NSW and Commonwealth governments, is expected to begin early in the New Year and be operational in 2028.
Subject to final design, the Macquarie Park depot, located alongside the M2 on Talavera Road, will operate about 150 buses that willservice areas from the northwest suburbs to Ryde, Parramatta and the lower north shore.
These new buses will support the existing Ryde and Willoughby bus depots that were opened in 1953 and 1958 respectively.
The Macquarie Park depot will employ 160 staff, including drivers, maintenance workers and administration personnel.
Each electric bus can travel up to 300 kilometres on a single charge, providing quieter, smoother and cleaner public transport that will progressively replace the entire diesel and gas fleet in Sydney over the coming decade.
In September, Brookvale became the first of Sydney's 11 bus depots to be fitted out for the electric change, with Australia's first gantry-mounted fast-charging station installed.
Leichhardt and Kingsgrove are expected to have electric bus charging technology installed in 2026.
The NSW Government's Zero Emissions Bus Program will deliver more than 1,200 new electric buses by 2028, with up to 300 hitting the road in coming months.
The Minns Labor Government's 2025-26 Budget addressed rising demand for more bus services across Sydney and regional NSW, with an additional $452 million to increase the number of services and accelerate the rollout of new buses on to the road.
Delivering on an election commitment, we are returning the direct link between Parramatta and the Sydney CBD through the Ryde area by expanding the 500X route to Parramatta. The former Liberal-National government cut the connection when it binned the M52 bus.
Fulton Hogan Construction Pty Ltd has been awarded the design and construct contract to build the purpose-built depot which will feature both standard (75kW) and fast (150kW) plug-in chargers to suit operational requirements.
Minister for Transport John Graham said:
"Building a new bus depot in such a centrally located part of Sydney is a rare occurrence and an important milestone in this massive transition to cleaner and quieter buses powered by renewable energy.
"Passengers can look forward to a smoother ride as we phase out the oldest diesel buses first."
Federal Member for Bennelong Jerome Laxale said:
"Locals have been calling for more reliable, sustainable public transport, and this investment by the Albanese and Minn's Governments delivers.
"This is what the future of public transport looks like - better services powered by clean energy, supporting local jobs, and cutting the emissions that drive climate change.
"This is the kind of investment that Bennelong wants to see in our community"
City of Ryde councillor Lyndal Howison said:
"Our neighbourhoods are changing, so it's fantastic to see new public transport infrastructure being delivered to support it.
"Zero emissions buses are different, they are clean and quiet, so this depot will be a real community asset not only today but into the future."
