FlixBus arrives in Australia with a $9.99 Canberra to Sydney service. The company has spread to five continents since 2011. Photo: FlixBus.
Until now, Canberra travellers heading to Sydney without a car have had three main choices.
There’s a train from Kingston to Central for $42.95 in economy class. It’s comfortable enough – and has a buffet car – but without long-promised track upgrades from the ACT, NSW and Federal governments, the trip still takes around four hours – and tickets often sell out days ahead. Delays (and failing Eftpos machines at the buffet) are also not uncommon.
Then there’s Murrays, the dominant player on the corridor. Its coaches run hourly from the Jolimont Centre to Sydney Airport and Central, with fares from $54. Greyhound Australia also offers services on the same route, starting at $51.
However, from Thursday, 20 November, a fourth option will be added to the mix.
FlixBus is launching an average of 12 daily services between Canberra’s Jolimont Centre and Sydney for a headline-grabbing $9.99 each way – at least for a limited time.
The company will also run multiple Melbourne-Canberra-Sydney services, stopping at both Sydney airports, Central Station and Albury.
Founded in Germany in 2011, FlixBus has grown into a global budget-coach giant, now operating across Europe, North America, South America, India and Mexico. Australia becomes its 45th country and fifth continent.
Part of its rapid expansion comes from buying or partnering with local operators – including taking over Greyhound Lines in the US. In Australia, it’s teaming up with Deanes Coaches Group and Sunbury Coaches.
FlixBus senior managing director for Australia, Yvan Lefranc-Morin, says the local launch is a “major milestone”.
“These new routes embody our commitment to making sustainable travel affordable to everyone at a time when Australians face growing cost-of-living pressures,” he said.
“By providing frequent departures and streamlined connectivity, we aim to set a new benchmark for comfort, safety and accessibility.”
Founder and CEO André Schwämmlein said he’s confident the brand will “resonate with Australians by setting a new benchmark for convenient, affordable and sustainable travel”.
“This is a significant milestone in our mission to shape the future of long-distance coach travel.”
Onboard, passengers can expect free Wi-Fi, power outlets, reclining seats, toilets and relatively low emissions (the company says a Sydney-Melbourne coach trip emits just 17 kg of CO2 per passenger, compared to 105 kg by car and 185 kg by plane).
Tickets include one 7 kg carry-on item plus two pieces of stowed luggage, each up to 20 kg. The Canberra-Sydney trip is scheduled to take 3 hours and 10 minutes.
FlixBus interior. Photo: FlixBus, Facebook.
It’s not yet clear how long the $9.99 introductory fare will run, but after that, prices will rise to between $37.98 and $41.98 each way.
From Canberra, the first FlixBus service leaves the Jolimont Centre at 1 am, with the last at 6:30 pm. From Sydney, the first departure is from Central Station at 6:45 am, and the final one is at 10:40 pm.
Murrays has already fired back, announcing a sale on its Frequent Traveller Pass, offering passengers 10 to 20 Canberra-Sydney trips from $29.95 per seat. The sale ends on 15 November.
Visit FlixBus Australia to book tickets.
Original Article published by James Coleman on Region Canberra.
