A local business that missed out on a government contract to operate long-distance coach services hubbing at Dubbo has had to reduce the size of its staff and fleet.
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Ogden's Coaches was unsuccessful in an open tender process for a number of NSW TrainLink services, with two Victorian-based companies securing five routes in the western NSW area.
Swan Hill Bus Lines, awarded four of the contracts, yesterday told the Daily Liberal it had recruited 12 local drivers to provide the NSW TrainLink services from January 1.
The Ogden family business had held the contracts for more than seven years.
Ogden's Coaches Dubbo manager Peter Ogden said it was disappointing to have missed out but found no fault with the open tender process and said they would focus on the business's school bus services.
"We were a little surprised not to be successful with our tender," he said.
"There should be a level playing field, but I think local content is important - and it's hard to go past local knowledge, but it wasn't our call.
"Everything should be and was fair and above board to our knowledge."
The manager confirmed there were "some staff that are no longer with us as a result of losing this contract".
Losses included both drivers and yard staff.
"You develop a good working relationship with your employees and we were sorry to lose them," Mr Ogden said.
Other changes had also been made.
"We're downsizing our fleet, we've relocated some vehicles and are disposing of some that are surplus to our needs," Mr Ogden said.
Despite having only limited success with the NSW TrainLink contracts - Ogdens will operate the Lithgow to Baradine via Coonabarabran service - Mr Ogden was looking to the future.
"We'll focus our energies and efforts into our school bus services, running in the towns of Wellington, Dubbo, Narromine, Trangie, Gulargambone, Gilgandra, Mudgee, Goolma and Condobolin," he said.
"We also have the contract to provide the Townlink service between Wellington, Dubbo and Narromine, which is very successful, a great service and we'll continue to offer that."
Swan Hill Bus Lines owner Peter Pickering said his business had employed 12 local drivers, 10 from Dubbo and two from Lightning Ridge, to provide the services.
Interim coaches with Victorian registration would be progressively replaced in the next couple of months with new coaches that would be NSW accredited and registered, he said.
"We're using a local bus company's facilities for workshop maintenance and cleaning - we're using local mechanics," he said.
Dyson Group was awarded the NSW TrainLink contract for the Dubbo-Cootamundra-Bathurst run, the company's website said.
