Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 345 i Australasian Bus & Coach

Public transport smart cards have long since been the bane of many commuters. It’s not uncommon to hear capital city natives complaining about their myki or Opal card, and many of the issues associated with them. But commuters in New South Wales will soon be able to use their credit cards to tap on to public transport, following the announcement of a trial in 2017 (p8). “New South Wales is proud to be leading this Australian first. Contactless payment with credit and debit cards would offer customers another easy to use and convenient option for travelling,” New South Wales Minister for Transport Andrew Constance says. “Only a few major mass transit systems, similar in scale and complexity to Sydney’s, have introduced contactless payments. London’s Oyster card system is a well-known…

Transport for NSW (TfNSW) has announced major staff changes, importing talent from Western Australia. The New South Wales (NSW) Government appointed Stephen Troughton as deputy secretary infrastructure and services at TfNSW. Troughton is currently managing director of Main Roads Western Australia and has extensive experience in major infrastructure and project management in both the public and private sector across Australia, the United Kingdom and Middle East. The deputy secretary infrastructure and services oversees services and contracts for trains, buses, ferries and light rail, as well as delivering the massive infrastructure build now underway in NSW, including the $890 million Transport Access Program, new intercity train fleet and Parramatta and Newcastle light rail projects. TfNSW secretary Tim Reardon made the announcement this week. He says TfNSW is getting on with delivering…

Work on a new bus station and stops in Auckland will start later this year as part of a new south Auckland public transport network being introduced in late 2016. Work on the new Mangere Town Centre bus station and new bus stops on Avenue Road in Otahuhu are set to get underway in July and will provide upgraded spaces to wait for connections to public transport. The new network will be simpler and more integrated, helping change the way people travel, and the new station will include seven bus stops, new shelters to extend the covered passenger area, a covered connection to the town centre, a toilet adjacent to the bus shelter, cycle racks, and an additional westbound lane for traffic and paving and landscaping of the area around…

The former leader of Public Transport Victoria (PTV) has been named as the new managing director of the London Underground. Mark Wild will join Transport for London (TfL) in June, leaving his current role as special advisor to the minister and secretary of the State Government of Victoria. Wild was previously chief executive officer of PTV, the integrated transport authority based in Melbourne serving a population of some six million people. His near 30-year career in transport has included running the world’s biggest tram network and large suburban railway and bus services. Wild successfully managed large capital and maintenance programmes, vastly improved customer satisfaction and implemented a complex new ticketing system, according to a statement released by TfL. Wild also formerly worked on a number of major projects in London,…

RedRoo have released their new premium HV2000 shock absorber series. The Smart Ride Control System automatically adjusts to varying loads and road conditions while providing the driver with a more comfortable ride. The HV2000 shock absorber even works in tandem with existing vehicle air suspension. Vehicle owners reap the benefits with the HV2000 series – reduced tyre wear, improved vehicle ride quality, stability as well as safety are key factors of the HV2000’s performance. The HV2000 is suitable for a wide range of heavy vehicles, including buses, and the beauty of the series is it can be configured to virtually all heavy vehicle applications. Development and operation manager Gerard Allen says they wanted to produce the best quality heavy vehicle shock absorber in Australia. RedRoo Shocks is wholly owned by…

As part of the conference, about 130 operators attended the BusNSW Rural and Regional contracts workshop. The workshop was based around issues commonly raised with BusNSW during regional seminars held earlier this year, in which about 630 people attended. Approximately 1500 rural and regional school services commenced on April 1 under new contracts, and a second wave of both school and route services are due to operate under new contracts from June 1. “It has been a major task to achieve these results given the extent of changes to contracts/ payments and the process adopted,” BusNSW executive director Darryl Mellish said. He said there are still a number of Transport for New South Wales (TfNSW) systems that need developing as a result of the new contract requirements, and TfNSW is…

Electric automotive technology is making headlines, led by the Tesla battery-powered car, which seems to be accelerating rapidly off the mark. Less well-known, but no less significant, is electric bus manufacturer BYD, which boasts legendary investor Warren Buffett as a shareholder and says it has sold more than 5000 units globally. This month we test drive a fully electric bus for the first time, in the form of a Chinese-built integral coach. It’s housed at the factory being set up by start-up electric vehicle manufacturing brand Ava. Ava is based in a giant hangar of 12,500sqm leased at Avalon airport near Geelong in Victoria, and its global ambitions extend beyond buses to trucks, cars and motorbikes as well. Ava’s owner is Allen Saylav, who until recently was chief executive officer…

New South Wales (NSW) commuters could soon use their credit cards to ‘tap on’ to public transport, following the announcement of a trial in 2017. NSW Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Andrew Constance kicked off the Future Transport Summit recently, announcing the State Government’s commitment to a trial to allow customers to pay for public transport by tapping on and off with their credit and debit cards. “New South Wales is proud to be leading this Australian first. Contactless payment with credit and debit cards would offer customers another easy to use and convenient option for travelling,” Constance says. “Only a few major mass transit systems, similar in scale and complexity to Sydney’s, have introduced contactless payments. London’s Oyster card system is a well-known example, where they only finalised their…

A bus kitted-out with full shower and bathroom facilities has proven a hit among the homeless in Melbourne, with organisers now working toward introducing a Sydney service. Ventura donated the bus, which was then fitted-out internally with the help of numerous donations. The bus rolled out to service homeless hotspots in Melbourne and regional Victoria for the first time late last year. One Voice founder Josh Wilkins is pleased with how the initiative has been received, delighted at the generosity shown by the bus industry and hopeful about introducing a Sydney service where the need is even greater than in Melbourne. Wilkins came up with the idea after experiencing homelessness himself, giving him an understanding of what people living on the streets really need. The Victorian service currently operates in…

“There is still work to be done” Michael Apps BIC National Secretariat PO Box 6171, Kingston ACT 2604 P: 02 6247 5990 F: 02 6273 1035 E: admin@bic.asn.au Election time is here again, and what can we expect for public transport? Does it matter that the government, under the leadership of the PM, has jumped head first into the cities and public transport space with the release on April 29 of the government’s Smart Cities Plan? The plan is the starting point and includes a strong focus on better planning and investment in public transport infrastructure, and the development of ‘cities deals’ between the federal and state and territory governments. The Federal Opposition, through Anthony Albanese, is taking credit for the government’s announcements – or, as he calls them ‘re-announcements’…

Local councils in Tasmania are being invited to submit applications to construct newer, safer bus stops and associated infrastructure in regional areas. The $300,000 program will lead to improved safety for students and other bus users. Under the grants program, the Tasmanian Government’s commitment is leveraged with matching funds from councils, bringing the total state investment to $600,000. Priority will be given to upgrades at bus stops with high levels of passenger usage, especially student usage. However, the cost and level of risk inherent at a site will also be considered when allocating funding. The program will focus on safety-related improvements to ground-level infrastructure. The creation of car parking or shelters at bus stops is not within the scope of the program. Applications close June 14 and approved projects should…

The New Network for the North Shore plan has been finalised with major improvements to the network. Auckland’s North Shore residents can look forward to an improved bus network which reflects the community’s needs, as the final decisions on the New Network for the North Shore have been released. More than 3100 pieces of feedback were analysed from the consultation that ran for two months, and as a result more than half of the initially proposed routes have been modified. Of the 40 bus services proposed, route changes were made to 21 of these, 15 had timetable changes, two entirely new routes were added, and one route was removed. Due to the scale of change, the New Network will be implemented in phases by area. The North Shore changes are…

The contract for the removal of every dangerous and congested level crossing between Dandenong and the city is signed, and work will start within weeks. Victoria Minister for Public Transport Jacinta Allan and Treasurer Tim Pallas have announced an alliance, including Lendlease, CPB Contractors, WSP Parsons Brinckerhoff, Aurecon and Metro Trains Melbourne has been formally awarded the contract for the Caulfield to Dandenong Level Crossing Removal Project. The $1.6 billion project will remove nine dangerous level crossings, build five new stations, upgrade signalling and power and create 11 MCGs worth of new public open space. The upcoming development will improve the reliability of the metropolitan, regional and freight services, meaning trains will arrive on time more often. Work on the Caulfield to Dandenong project starts at the end of April,…

Meadowbank Wharf will be undergoing important upgrade works next month to make journeys easier and more efficient for all customers, including new bus shelters. The wharf is scheduled to be temporarily closed between May 5 and 25 to allow upgrade work to be carried out safely, as announced by Transport for NSW (TfNSW). During the temporary closure, alternative transport arrangements will be available and customers can continue to use train services running from Meadowbank Station – an eight minute walk from Meadowbank Wharf. The 513 bus service on Victoria Road is also available for those travelling towards the city and Parramatta, or to train services at West Ryde Station. The Meadowbank Wharf upgrade is part of the NSW Government’s Transport Access Program.…

The new Mitchell Street bus interchange in Victoria is complete and taking passengers, Minister for Public Transport and Member for Bendigo East Jacinta Allan announced recently. The new interchange has wider footpaths, better lighting, 80 square metres of undercover space, seating for 45 people and standing room for a further 60. It is also more accessible, making getting on and off the bus easier for wheelchair and scooter users and parents with prams, and has big screens showing when buses are scheduled to arrive. The $900,000 upgrade was delivered by Public Transport Victoria (PTV), in partnership with the City of Greater Bendigo as part of the $3.8 million upgrade of the wider Mitchell Street streetscape.…

The location of key stops and other infrastructure for Newcastle’s light-rail project were announced by the New South Wales (NSW) Government recently. A central station will be built in the CBD, with major stops proposed at Honeysuckle, Civic, Crown Street, Market Street and Pacific Park. The contract to run the new tram and all other public transport networks, under the banner of a new all-encompassing entity called Transport for Newcastle, has now gone out to tender. Once the light-rail project is complete, a tram will arrive every 10 minutes during peak times, with trams able to carry at least 100 customers and transport 1200 people an hour during weekdays. Newcastle coordinator-general Anna Zycki has also been appointed to ensure the transformation of Newcastle’s public transport goes to plan. The aim…

Delegates at the conference were entertained by guest speaker Mick Collis (pictured), who spoke of his long journey to be the first ever vice-captain of the Australian Sudoku team in 2008. Collis had long dreamed of representing his country, but had failed to do so in many sporting areas. After stumbling upon an opportunity to represent the county in the World Sudoku Championships held by the World Puzzle Federation, Collis took the chance in ran with it. Collis and four of his mates made the trip to India eight years ago, with only one of the team members having ever completed a Sudoku puzzle in their lifetime. He retired on top of his game after his first – and only – games of Sudoku in 2008.…

“We are really proud to be leading the way in electric vehicle manufacturing” Former Brighsun chief executive Allen Saylav has taken the helm at the new Australian electric bus manufacturing organisation Avass, and has big plans for its local future. Melbourne-based electric vehicle manufacturer Avass has a newly-leased 12,500sqm factory at Avalon, near Geelong, and will manufacture electric vehicles under the AVA brand, including electric buses, cars, motorcycles and trucks. “Our technology is even stronger than what is currently on the market,” Saylav says. “With AVA we intend on manufacturing in Australia and globally in the respective regions. “We believe AVA will become a worldwide household name when it comes to electric vehicle manufacturing.” Manufacturing mainly commercial vehicles, Avass will focus on 12m city passenger, 12m coach and nine-metre passenger…

“Bus operators need to move into the latest technology era” Nigel Tooth App developer M: 0403 251 867 E: nigel@transportme.com.au www.transportme.com.au www. facebook.com/transportme The importance that technology holds in your bus company is more relevant now than it ever has been. Think back to the 1980s, when operators were only just becoming accustomed to the introduction of the computer in their workplace – typewriters were becoming a thing of the past. Jump to the 1990s, and the use of fax machines was vital for sending important documents quickly and effortlessly. By the mid to late ‘90s, email was the latest and greatest. Licking stamps and posting off letters was slowly being eradicated. Then came the internet, mobile phones, file sharing, smartphones, dropbox accounts, the NBN, tablets, social media ……