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More than 200 bus routes in Sydney’s inner west will be privatised. The tender will go out next month, with the successful contact bidder to be announced by the end of next year. Sydney Buses will continue to operate services in the inner metropolitan areas of the eastern, southern and northern suburbs as well as the CBD, but the general feeling is that these too will eventually be privatised. Some 1200 Sydney bus drivers went on strike for 24 hours on Thursday, May 18, following the announcement that one-third of Sydney’s public bus network will be privatised. Infrastructure Australia supports the gradual privatisation of bus services – the operational responsibility, not selling off public transport infrastructure and assets (p.26). The Bus Industry Confederation (BIC) view is that if key performance…
Results of the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) National Roadworthiness Baseline Survey show only 2 per cent of buses checked had major non-conformities. The NHVR coordinated a nation-wide survey of 7130 heavy vehicle combinations across Australia between August and November last year but the results have only just recently been released. During the survey period, 364 transport inspectors inspected rigid trucks, semi-trailers, B-doubles, road trains, buses and special purpose vehicles (SPV) at 168 inspection sites, including roadside check points, in state inspection facilities, and transport operator depots. The data clearly shows the buses and coaches that were inspected were much more compliant with safety regulations than all other heavy vehicle types. Only 147 of the 11,066 vehicles inspected were grounded. Major non-conformities create a critical concern over the safety of…
“We have maintained our position as one of the pre-eminent suppliers of city bus and coach chassis” After eight years heading the Scania business unit in Australia, Roger McCarthy is to stand down as managing director on July 1. Mikael Jansson will take up the position as managing director from July, replacing the decades-long Scania veteran McCarthy. Jansson joins Scania Australia from Scania in Sweden, where he held the position of senior vice president and head of parts and service, Scania CV AB. He joined the company in 1984. McCarthy warmly welcomed Jansson to Scania Australia, and reflected that over the past eight years the company has undergone a substantial change in direction. “Since joining the company in 2009 we have welcomed many new customers to the Scania family, and…
A major roads project is set to remove a key bottleneck for buses by creating a dedicated bus lane between the Eastern Freeway and Hoddle Street. Expressions of interest closed for construction of the first section of the Streamlining Hoddle Street project between Johnston Street and the Eastern Freeway in late May. Victorian Minister for Roads Luke Donnellan says a range of other improvements are also being investigated, including changes to bus and tram stops, improved cycling paths, and ways to reduce bus travel times. “We’re making Hoddle Street faster and more reliable so people spend less time stuck in traffic and more time at home with their families,” he says. “Along with streamlining four major intersections, the upgrade is investigating the use of technology to reduce travel times for…
“We are prepared for a seamless transition with a new depot at Centennial Park” Swan Transit will expand its regional bus operations in Western Australia after being awarded the contract to operate Albany Regional Town Bus Services recently. The move comes as a result of a proven track record of high-quality bus operations, according to Transit Systems CEO Clint Feuerherdt. “We have continually demonstrated a commitment to partnering with the West Australian Public Transport Authority [PTA] to improve regional public transport outcomes, and we’re excited to expand our service offering as part of the network,” he says. “We are prepared for a seamless transition with a newly built public transport depot located at Centennial Park, Albany, and we look forward to working with the community and PTA to provide the…
Brisbane Airport is set to roll out a fleet of 11 electric buses, with Carbridge awarded the contract to build, operate and maintain its new fleet. The five-year contract is worth more than $5 million per year starting on July 1, with the new electric bus fleet coming into full operation in February 2018. Brisbane Airport head of parking and transport services Martin Ryan says the move will reinforce its ongoing commitment to a cleaner, greener environment and an improved passenger experience. “The new fleet will be super quiet and environmentally clean, having reduced noise pollution and zero tail pipe emissions,” he says. “In fact, swapping out our current fleet for electric buses will result in a reduction of 250 tonnes of carbon emissions each year, equivalent to taking 100…
