Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 361 i Australasian Bus & Coach

 Brisbane’s Cross River Rail project will create jobs, bust congestion and allow for a turn-up-and-go public transport system, the recently released business case for the project demonstrates. Queensland Deputy Premier and Minister for Infrastructure Jackie Trad says the Cross River Rail Business Case details the challenges and opportunities facing South East Queensland’s rail network. “The Queensland Government has fully funded Cross River Rail and the business case demonstrates what we have already known for a decade, that we need another rail crossing to increase rail services in the south east,” she says. “Our rail network has a key choke point at its core preventing extra train services being brought into regions like the Gold Coast, Logan, Caboolture and the Redlands. “Nearly two million people will move into South East Queensland…

E-Leather, a UK-based environmentally friendly materials technology company, is helping bus and coach operators provide passengers a seat with a difference. E-Leather is easy to clean and will maintain its high-quality appearance without scuffing or bagging over time. Therefore offering the bus and coach industry a real advantage, as well as giving customers a premium travel experience. Alexandra Bennett, E-Leather Global Manager for Ground Transport, discusses: “It’s no secret that most operators are focusing their attention on the customer experience, with the aim of adding value to journey’s through enhanced comfort, cleanliness and better services. Something we have worked hard on is finding ways to make it easier for operators to achieve this.” Selecting high-quality materials, such as a leather fibre composite from E-Leather, helps ensure customers receive a clean,…

This year 2017 marks the 10th anniversary of transport fabric company Camira’s acquisition of John Holdsworth & Co, the famous 200 year old English textile company. John Holdsworth & Co was and remains a world recognised moquette manufacturer supplying fabric for all types of passenger vehicles. In the space of 10 years, Camira has doubled its turnover, now selling eight million metres of fabric a year to 70 countries; expanded from 260 to over 700 employees; increased from two to five manufacturing sites in West Yorkshire; opened a manufacturing facility in Lithuania as well as warehousing and showrooms in China and USA. In Australasia there have been improvements in quality and service and an increased range of products, while preserving the values and traditions of the long-term relationships synonymous with…

Alexander Dennis Limited (ADL) is set to deliver 90 low-emission double-deck buses to Mexico City. The order from Metrobús, first announced in October 2015, has been ADL’s biggest single deal from a single customer in a brand-new market. United Kingdom Prime Minister Theresa May visited the British bus and coach manufacturer to announce export finance support for British businesses more broadly and to celebrate the major order recently. This contract is supported by the Department for International Trade, whose UK Export Finance agency made a £44 million finance deal available to ADL recently, as part of a wider £1.7 billion programme of support for UK companies in international markets. ADL chief executive Colin Robertson welcomed the announcement saying it was an honour to have the Prime Minister on site to…

‘Beaconsfield Mine disaster survivor Todd Russell will share his experiences with delegates on day one’ THE AUSTRALASIA BUS & COACH EXPO is set to be the industry event of the year with more than 100 exhibitors gathering together to showcase the best of their products and services. The event kicks off at the Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre on Sunday, September 24, with the Volvo Welcome Reception. The expo will officially open at 9am on Monday, September 25, and run for a full two days, with the Optare Expo Dinner to be held on Monday night. The dinner is now sold out, but registrations are still available for the free trade show itself and the welcome reception. Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has been invited to open day one of…

IN AUSTRALIA’S HARSH, dry climate and often unpredictable conditions, it is essential that buses and coaches are equipped with a suitable fire suppression system. Despite this, many buses on our roads still do not have an adequate fire protection system. You can prevent this hazard to public safety and your property by installing appropriate bus fire suppression systems on your vehicle. They are your first defence against fire. At Bulbeck Fire, we choose to supply Compact Line fire suppression systems to protect the engine compartment of buses and coaches. How the Compact Line system works The Compact Line system uses a proprietary linear sensor tube to reliably and accurately detect fire in its early stages and automatically initiate release of the extinguishing agent. Upon detection of fire, the heat of…

FIRESTORM FIRE PROTECTION was successful in being awarded a NSW tender to retrofit more than 2250 buses. All buses were fitted with a ‘P’ Mark compliant Fogmaker Fire Suppression System and a Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) supervising the rear axle. The project had a very tight schedule of 10 months, commencing in November 2016 with completion in August 2017. At the height of the project, Firestorm surpassed 120 employees. Fogmaker Australia’s General Manager Kieran McHatton (right) says: “This is currently the largest ‘P’ Mark fire suppression project in the world. “In May, we installed over 330 fire systems with the final project number approximately 2250 units. “This, coupled with the ongoing national and international works, has made 2017 our busiest year yet. “Firestorm has been busy in designing vehicle…

Clark’s Buses has received a brand-new Hino Poncho bus, which is now in service in Holmview, Logan. Hino Australia general manager of brand and franchise development Bill Gillespie says Australia is the first overseas market for the Hino Poncho bus outside of Japan, meaning Holmview locals will be the first in Australia to realise its benefits, including quick wheelchair boarding that takes less than a minute. “We have been working with Hino Japan for several years to identify and introduce the right bus for the community transport market – in addition to its public transport potential, it provides an affordable, flexible option for organisations like aged care providers, schools and universities,” he says. “There really isn’t another bus like it in the Australian market – this particular bus has a…

Australian Capital Territory drivers are using less fuel per 100 kilometres compared to other areas, the recently released Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics (BITRE) report shows. The Australian Capital Territory has the least fuel-intensive passenger vehicles — averaging 9.7 litres per 100km — due to a higher than average proportion of smaller vehicles with four or less cylinders and late-model vehicles in its vehicle fleet. Outside of Canberra, the most fuel-efficient vehicles are Brisbane CBD, Brisbane West, Sydney CBD, and Sydney’s eastern suburbs. Inner city residents tend to have lower average rates of fuel consumption than middle and outer suburban residents, due to the greater prevalence of small vehicles in inner city areas. Vehicle type, fuel type, number of cylinders and year of manufacture were all considered as…

‘The fact is, you can’t do any of this stuff without great people behind you and I’m lucky to have that support’ The current director of Whitmores Bus Lines says the purchase of this 20-bus operation in regional Victoria is a natural progression for him, and local residents who rely on its services will benefit; once his plan to improve services in the area is complete. Predominantly a school bus operator, Whitmores is a Central Victorian based third-generation family business that also has route services that connect residents with their local train stations and main shopping areas. Situated in Boort, Whitmores Bus Lines is owned and operated by the Whitmore family and grew from small beginnings in the 1950s with a school bus contract. The organisation conducts day tours and…

Scania is set to deliver 140 buses for public transport in Kristiansand, southwest of the Norwegian capital Oslo. The delivery includes Scania Fleet Care, with the company taking full responsibility for repair and maintenance of the fleet. All of the buses can run on biodiesel, while 70 of them have hybrid technology, making it Scania’s largest single distribution of hybrid vehicles to date. “This is an example of Scania’s wide range of sustainable transport solutions,” Scania senior vice president and head of buses and coaches Karin Rådström says. “We’re not focusing on one solution, but many, which has helped us to fulfil the customer’s requirements.” The delivery includes Scania Citywide LE Suburban Hybrid, Scania Citywide LE Suburban and Scania Higer A30 buses, each in a range of specifications. All buses…

‘Bus operators are already embracing this technology, with ComfortDelgro Corporation Australia (CDC) equipping more than 1000 buses’ THE BUS INDUSTRY is now able to harness the benefits of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems and collision avoidance technologies. Head over to your local car dealership (pick any brand) and you’ll notice that two or three models in their range will include collision mitigation technology. Each automotive brand has their own unique name for them, but collectively they’re known as Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). Essentially, these systems use the latest in sensor and artificial vision technologies to constantly monitor the road ahead and aim to assist the driver in preventing collisions. With varying levels of integration, some will apply the brakes. But the most common are less intrusive and will simply alert…

AUTOMOTIVE GLASS INDUSTRY stalwarts Alan Bamford and Jeff Perrie came together to create Australasian Bus & Coach Glass, which launched at last year’s show in Sydney with an enthusiastic response. With their combined 70 years’ experience in the automotive glass industry these two invaluable forces have got you covered when it comes to knowledge and access to the largest range and supply of bus and coach glass in Australia and NZ. Alan Bamford has been supplying and fitting bus and coach glass for 28 years through his own business with his wife Lorraine based in Melbourne; and working in the automotive glass industry for almost 40 years. They supply and fit bus and coach glass all over Australia. Jeff Perrie has more than 30 years’ experience in the Industry starting…

ESTABLISHED IN 1982, WALES is a family owned and operated Australian business that is committed to ‘excellence’ in customer service and has responded to the growing demand for a specialist in the bus and coach sector. What makes WALES really different is they have the proven experience and expertise to deliver on every aspect of a quality bus repair or refurbishment so that your bus is back in business faster. Faster Assessment and Approval You can count on WALES for a faster assessment, quote and approval of your claim. Highest Quality Repair or Refurbishment You can count on WALES to repair your bus to OEM condition or refurbish it to your custom specifications. World Leading Paint Refinish You can count on WALES to give your bus a high quality, fleet…

Booths AUSTRALASIAN BUS & COACH MAGAZINE . . . . . . . . . . . 68AUSTRALASIAN BUS & COACH GLASS . . . . . . . . . . . . . .104BOSTIK AUSTRALIA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57 & 58BRAKEMATE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89BULBECK FIRE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .…

 Queenslanders are more likely to still own a car in 10 years’ time than any other Australian, new research undertaken by the Tourism and Transport Forum Australia (TTF) shows. The research, undertaken as part of TTF’s report The Future of Mobility, has also found the car is by far Queenslanders’ favourite mode of transport, with 64 per cent indicating it is their favourite way to get around, compared to the national average of 57 per cent. “While most experts predict that autonomous and on-demand transport services will quickly lead to the end of private car ownership, a new nation-wide survey undertaken as part of this research has shown that a staggering 80 per cent of Queenslanders still believe that they will own their own car in 10 years’ time, compared…

Green space created as part of Melbourne’s level crossing removal project should be used to build walking and cycling tracks, sports and exercise infrastructure and dog parks, the Community Open Space Expert Panel recommended recently. The $1.6 billion project will elevate sections of the Cranbourne-Pakenham line, removing nine rail level crossings that hold up private cars, coaches and city buses. The Victorian Government is confident that the new pedestrian and bike paths will encourage even more people to use public and active transport modes, rather than their cars. Victorian Minister for Public Transport Jacinta Allan says this is one of the biggest releases of new parkland ever seen in Melbourne. “We have brought together top experts to help us get it right,” she says. “The work done by the expert…

SURA Australian Bus and Coach national manager Matt Etheredge has been helping bus and coach owners and operators protect their business assets for many years. What that requires of an insurance underwriter, he says, is to embrace innovation and change. “Our bus and coach owner and operator clients and their insurance brokers have always expected us to improve our proposition. That’s why they continue to choose us as their preferred provider,” Etheredge says. Under the ABC Underwriting brand, Etheredge and his specialist team have led the market since 1979 with purpose-built cover for all risks faced by bus and coach businesses. Now a part of the SURA-branded family of specialist underwriters, the same team, industry-specific products and commitment to service begin a new era as SURA Australian Bus and Coach.…

‘We have also seen a reduction in fuel consumption for like operations with the new B8R product in Perth, especially within the CAT operations.’ Here we are, driving the B8RLE Euro 6 CAT (Central Area Transit) bus only moments before its delivery to the Public Transport Authority (PTA) of Western Australia. Let’s hope for an incident-free drive! Before the drive, I was told this new B8 CAT is a very lightweight, ultra-quiet eight-litre turbo-diesel on a Volvo B8RLE chassis – with Euro 6 low-emission technology and some pretty great claims made by Volgren about its buses; so I was interested to see how it achieved this and what sets a Volgren bus apart from the others. Volgren’s Western Australia state manager Matthew Smith says the bus will be used for…

‘Deliveries increased in August 2017 with 110 brand new buses delivered throughout Australia.’ Deliveries increased in August 2017 with 110 brand-new buses delivered throughout Australia. This easily beats July, during which 100 new bus deliveries were reported by manufacturers, representing an increase of 10 vehicles. The August delivery number stacks up very well compared to the 102 new buses delivered at the same time last year. Volvo had a strong month, its deliveries increasing from 36 in July to 40 in August. Scania followed with 36, which was slightly down on last month’s 41. Iveco also had a strong month, reporting nine deliveries. Most other manufacturers delivered less than six vehicles respectively, with BCI performing well with six deliveries reported. The body builders posted promising results overall, with Volgren leading…

‘ZF’s EcoLife six-speed automatic transmission is engineered to improve performance and fuel economy’ ZF SERVICES AUSTRALIA will use the upcoming Australasia Bus & Coach Expo to celebrate its 30th anniversary, and to showcase its newest intelligent connectivity platform, Openmatics. Establishing a new telematics standard in the market, Openmatics is a unique platform delivering unlimited possibilities for connectivity and expansion, independent of vehicle type. Complete with numerous interfaces, Openmatics can exchange data with all relevant vehicle systems, and can be used not only for fleet management, but also for passenger information, vehicle diagnosis or multimedia applications. The innovative architecture of the platform ensures it is manufacturer neutral and compatible with third-party providers such as vehicle manufacturers, component providers, or other application developers. The Openmatics system will provide the bus transportation sector…

‘Tru Vision now has one of the widest wiper offerings in Australia and New Zealand’ TRU VISION has been designing, manufacturing, importing and supplying wiper parts and systems for more than 20 years and is now a leader in the wiper industry within Australia. Over the past 10 years the company has targeted and specialised in the truck, bus and industrial markets, and supplies a wide range of wiper parts and systems to suit all applications. Tru Vision now has one of the widest wiper offerings in Australia and New Zealand. The Brisbane-based company looks at the long-term needs of the market and continues to supply parts for competitor branded wipers that are no longer available from the original manufacturers. Tru Vision currently supplies many Australian original equipment bus manufacturers…