Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 366 i Australasian Bus & Coach

The NSW Government will crack down on drug-affected drivers by strengthening laws and boosting roadside drug testing, Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced. Berejiklian says it had become clear that more action was needed to boost road safety after 392 fatalities on NSW roads in 2017. Preliminary data shows drugs were a major contributing factor in 36 fatal accidents in the first half of 2017, resulting in 42 deaths. “This summer has been a tragic time for too many on our roads,” Berejiklian says. “Many families and friends have been left with the heartache of losing loved ones while thousands will now live with lifelong injuries from crashes.” The number of roadside drug tests will increase from 100,000 a year to 200,000 a year by 2020; cocaine will be added to the…

Sydney bus operators came to rescue amidst major rail disruption that ensued despite a major strike being called off last month. Sydney Trains and NSW TrainLink continue to negotiate with the Rail, Tram and Bus Union to avoid further disruptions after a period of frustrations for commuters coinciding with major changes to Sydney’s PT network. “We are very pleased with this result, and planning to return back to a regular train timetable,” Transport for NSW coordinator general Marg Prendergast says. “It takes time to change the train timetables we had put in place due to the previously planned industrial action, so we’re asking customers to be patient and allow that little bit of extra travel time.” Consequently, Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Andrew Constance announced a report will be instigated…

Australia’s first two-way radio style transceiver on a cellular network has been launched, providing previously unavailable push-to-talk communication across Australia, powered by Telstra. ToooAir says its products drive Australia’s operational communications into the digital age, including: nation-wide push-to-talk communications; GPS tracking; dispatching software; instant voice and text messages; tunnel, basement and in-building coverage, and more. One of its products includes Push-to-Talk over Cellular (PTToC). The three-product range comprises a compact unit, mobile mounted unit and handheld device, offering two-way, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) communications. Unlike traditional private mobile radio (PMR) or land mobile radio (LMR) networks, ToooAir’s PTToC provides Australia-wide communication through a simple one-to-one or one-to-many radio-style system, but utilising the cellular mobile phone network. Due to this use of cellular multi-site technology, operational teams across Australia can…

Deliveries decreased in January 2018, with 65 brand-new buses delivered throughout Australia. This is a huge drop compared to December, during which 113 new bus deliveries were reported by manufacturers, representing an decrease of 48. The January delivery number also stacks up poorly when compared to the 92 new buses delivered at the same time last year. Volvo had a strong month, its deliveries increasing from 18 in December to 29 in January. Scania followed with 15, which was well down on last month’s 46. King Long and MAN had a strong month, reporting five deliveries each. Most other manufacturers delivered less than four vehicles each. The body builders posted fairly average results overall, with Volgren leading the pack on 21, that figure being well below the 31 reported in…

The Buckley Street level crossing in Essendon will be the latest to be removed as part of the Victorian Government’s $114 million level crossing removal project. The construction will include the relocation of underground utilities and vegetation removed with work sites established at the location. The Buckley Street level crossing is said to be one of Melbourne’s worst, with boom gates down for about 78 minutes during the two-hour morning peak – affecting 11,000 drivers daily. According to the Victorian Government, removing the crossing will improve journey times and traffic flow, and make the area safer for drivers, local pedestrians and hundreds of students who travel to nearby schools each day. “Removing the level crossing at Buckley Street and 49 others around Melbourne will make our city safer, reduce road…

Sydney bus manufacturer Custom Bus has laid off more than 100 staff after going into voluntary administration on January 18. The Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU) says 109 production staff were made redundant, while another 13 walked off the factory floor. The union says 39 administrative and management staff would continue to work at Custom Buses in Sydney, while Custom Bus staff in South Australia had not been informed of any job losses at their site in Adelaide. Partners Simon Cathro and Aaron Lucan of Worrells Solvency and Forensic NSW and ACT have been appointed as the administrators. Custom Bus, which operates out of Villawood in New South Wales and Wingfield in South Australia, fell into financial distress late last year as a result of production problems and operational challenges.…

The needs of customers with disabilities will remain at the centre of planning and decision-making for the transport system under the Disability Inclusion Action Plan 2018-22. The plan is an integral part of the new Future Transport Strategy, a document which will provide a framework for transport needs in NSW through to 2056. “Building on the work of the 2012 Plan, more than 160 new actions to reduce transport disadvantage have been identified, ranging from journey planning, to staff training, customer services and the interaction between transport modes,” a Transport for NSW spokesperson says. “The previous plan resulted in 165 railway stations becoming fully accessible, with upgrades including new ramps and lifts and a commitment to further improvements to access across the transport network.” Transport for NSW says it recognises…

With so much happening on Australian shores prior to Christmas, it has taken us a while to bring you this report on the New Zealand Bus & Coach Association 2017 Annual Conference, which was held in Rotorua late last year. The celebrity speaker was Kiwi Paralympic champion and double amputee Liam Malone, who is the second-fastest 400m sprinter in New Zealand of all time. His awards include the New Zealand Order of Merit, Disabled Sportsperson of the Year and M2 New Zealand Man of the Year. Malone spoke with great honesty and self-deprecating humour about his inspirational journey from ‘rock bottom’ to his incredible triumph at the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games, where he won three medals (two gold and one silver) and broke the previous Paralympic records set by South…

Quick Search To find these products online, go to busnews.com.au and enter the TA code shown below in the Keyword search panel. SCANIA K124 2009 Scania K124 Chassis 12.5m Irizar Bodied 48 Seat Belted Cloth Recliners Toilet Equipped Tv DVD Airconditioned Wheel Chair Equipped Manual Transmission Alloy Wheels $181,500-00 Includes GST QLD  07 3171 1766 $181,500 inc GST 2005 SCANIA K94 7 speed Comfort Shift. Mills Tui body, 12.5m. 48 cloth reclining seats. Toilet, vinyl floor, drivers bunk, 1 x LCD screen. Travelled approx. 1,071,000kms. Delivered white. Vehicle is based in Sydney NSW  0412 034 337 $95,000 inc GST 2001 SCANIA L94IB 4X2 01 scania 4x2 53 seater (stylerider reclyn) carrier a/c, auto trans (ZF) verticle exhaust stack FOR SALE DUE TO FLEET UPGRADE. OPEN TO OFFERS WITH IN REASON…

Volvo Buses has launched a new double-deck chassis, capable of meeting the demanding high-capacity transport needs in Asia Pacific and beyond. The new Euro 6 product was launched in Hong Kong last month and is said to be fuel efficient, with lower emissions and lower operating costs. The new Volvo B8L replaces the B9TL with over 4000 units sold in the Asia Pacific Region. It is manufactured in Borås, Sweden, and units have already been widely tested in the demanding city environments of Hong Kong and Singapore. The new B8L product replaces Volvo’s B9TL, with over 4000 units sold in the Asia Pacific Region alone. Powered by Volvo’s proven D8K engine, the B8L delivers 350hp (258kW) and 1400Nm of torque between 1200 and 1600rpm. The D8K engine is matched with…

A number of changes to Melbourne’s transport system are underway during the Metro Tunnel project. Road closures, lane reductions and major construction will be required to facilitate one of the biggest public transport projects in the state’s history, according to the Victorian Government. “We encourage motorists to plan ahead and allow extra travel time as we get on with the new stations, Metro Tunnel and turn-up-and-go trains for Melbourne,” Acting Minister for Public Transport Luke Donnellan says. “These works will be disruptive but are absolutely necessary to build the badly-needed Metro Tunnel as safely and quickly as possible.” As part of the works, St Kilda Road will be reduced to one lane in both directions for around 800 metres between Kings Way/Toorak Road West and Dorcas Street for up to…

Detailed design works to remove the Oaklands Park level crossing, south of Adelaide, will begin immediately after the major contract for the $174.3 million project was awarded to the Public Transport Projects Alliance (PTP Alliance) consisting of McConnell Dowell, Mott MacDonald and Arup. Federal Minister for Urban Infrastructure and Cities Paul Fletcher says PTP Alliance was selected after a competitive tender process and work will soon progress on upgrading the Oaklands Crossing. “Building a rail underpass at Morphett Road will significantly reduce delays for the 42,000 vehicles which travel through this level crossing each weekday,” Fletcher says. “On an average weekday, the boom gates at Oaklands Crossing are lowered for approximately 25 per cent during peak traffic times, so removing this level crossing will slash delays for people using this…

Melbourne’s family-owned bus businesses Dyson Group is marking its 65th year by embarking on a digital transformation in collaboration with cloud IT specialist PrimeQ. This digital software makeover will help future-proof the fourth-generation family business, which was established in 1952. Dysons administers a large part of Melbourne and Victoria’s metropolitan bus services as well as school and charter coach services throughout regional Victoria and New South Wales. “Dysons operates more than 490 buses and coaches and employs around 930 people in metropolitan Melbourne, regional Victoria and New South Wales,” group manager business improvement Vivienne Eyles said. “Our new cloud-based IT system will allow us to provide more detailed reporting to our customers and will support our achievement of key contract deliverables. “It will also create a platform for new innovations…

The landmark Enviro400 is characteristic of Alexander Dennis Limited’s (ADL’s) influence in the UK bus industry’s shift to high-quality, low-floor, easy-access buses over the last two decades, the centrepiece of company’s 10,000th delivery celebrations. “It is fitting that we celebrate this 10,000 landmark with a double-decker that demonstrates the huge strides we have made in taking product options to a whole new level,” ADL chief executive Colin Robertson says. “This trend is a far cry from two decades ago when buses were fairly down-to-earth, no-frills vehicles.” The 78-seat executive Enviro400 will join ADL’s demonstration fleet as the company continues to promote high-specification double decks as an attractive option for premium services. The vehicle comes with leather seats, wood-effect flooring, seat belts, Wi-Fi, USB charging points, mobile phone holders, skylight roof…