Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 368 i Australasian Bus & Coach

GERMANY: Daimler’s new Setra S 531 DT double-decker bus has been unleashed upon European media, who are lapping up a range of new features and elegant styling cues. Positioned and marketed as a statement of “maximum efficiency, variability, comfort and safety”, it’s all wrapped up in an exciting design, with the S 531 DT of the TopClass 500 ilk said to ‘set new standards in its class’. Daimler says its “superlative aerodynamics” will ‘enable this impressive touring coach to establish new fuel efficiency records in its segment’. Given the claimed flexibility of the lower deck, it covers the entire scope of applications in touring and line service, the company says. The interior boasts an impressive standard of comfort, from what we can tell – as would be expected of the…

THREE METROPOLITAN Melbourne bus operators, making up around two thirds of the services to be re-contracted, signed new 10-year deals with Public Transport Victoria. The new bus contracts begin 1 July, 2018, and will run for 10 years if the operators meet strict performance targets, the State Labor Government states. In a move claimed to ‘put passengers first’ and ‘improve services’, Minister for Public Transport Jacinta Allan MP announced the Labor Government had signed new contracts with Ventura, CDC Victoria and Donric. More than 117 million trips are taken on Melbourne’s extensive bus network every year, with the industry supporting more than 4500 local jobs. The new contracts provide more flexibility to improve and expand services where they are needed most, according to the Government. The contracts also emphasise on-time…

FUN OVER 50 – an unusual name for a travel company to some, but Springwood, Queensland-based owners Rob Archibald and Toni Brennan knew what they were doing offering amazing V.I.P coach experiences and sustainable tours to that discerning target market. Tours ensuring passengers are having adventures with like-minded, active peers and experiencing the very best Australia has to offer. And they deliver experiences well outside the box, enhanced by the recent acquisition of a very spacious and ‘sparkly’ (guess how!) Irizar i6 to the fleet. BUSINESS CLASS ON WHEELS With this being the fourth Irizar purchased – the others making up Fun Over 50’s (FOF) prestigious Gold Class of coaches – Archibald was quick to point out why they’ve stuck by the Spanish brand. “About nine years ago I was…

THERE’S A LITANY of words that come to mind when most clients think about bus seating and McConnell. Comfort and support. Industry leader. Safety and quality. Honesty and integrity. And that’s because after more than 60 years in business this iconic Australian company has forged its solid reputation in the transport seating game from epitomising these qualities in everything it does when it comes to conceptualising, designing and delivering world-class bus and rail seating in a tough and competitive market. ABC spoke exclusively with McConnell GM James Lowe about its new Melbourne production facility, company expansion and future direction in the local bus-seat game. “We’ve been at the new location for a bit over a year now. We are working out of a 15,000sqm facility under one roof, whereas we…

‘Deliveries soared in March 2018, with 109 brand-new buses delivered throughout Australia.’ Deliveries soared in March 2018, with 109 brand-new buses delivered throughout Australia. This is a big step up compared to February and January, when 91 and 65 deliveries were reported, marking strong month-on-month increases in 2018. Encouragingly, this number also nearly doubles the tally of 55 recorded at the same time last year. Volvo once more remains atop of the chassis manufacturer pile, marking 33 deliveries, its best result of the year (29 previously). Scania maintained second spot, but also had a bumper month of 30, beating its previous best of 19. Likewise BCI, which has jumped from four in January to 16 and 17 in February and March respectively. The chasing pack had less than nine each.…

A NEW INCREASED WEIGHT LIMIT for all NSW 3-axle buses and coaches means the push for national uniform adoption is closer to being achieved, according to industry experts at a NSW Government media announcement. Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight Melinda Pavey says raising the gross mass limit for 3-axle buses from 20.5 tonnes to 22 tonnes would help bus operators improve efficiency, while others have welcomed the increased safety aspects for passengers and drivers alike. “Today’s coaches carry a lot of extra equipment – from wheelchair lifts to entertainment and toilet facilities – which all add considerable weight to the vehicles,” the Minister says. “NSW Bus operators will now be able to apply for a permit for the increased 22-tonne mass limit to operate on our roads.” The latest…

VOLVO BUS AUSTRALIA Headquarters takes up its new prime position this August at a $30 million facility and dealership in the massive $350 million, 90-hectare Metroplex Westgate Business Park, near Wacol, south-west of Brisbane. In addition, there will be a VCV Brisbane South dealership and paint and panel workshop, with around 350 people relocating from other Volvo worksites nationwide into the new area. Overall, more than 550 employees will still work at Volvo Group Australia’s five other sites in Wacol. Metroplex Westgate is a JV between The GPT Group and local developer Metroplex. A recently opened $20 million road link greatly improves access to the Western Business District site. Once complete Metroplex Westgate (divided into three section: East, West and South, the latter where Volvo will be based) will include…

REPRESENTATIVES from Tokyo Metropolitan Government (TMG) and Scania Japan have given ‘highly positive’ feedback after recently visiting Volgren’s manufacturing headquarters in Dandenong, Victoria, for their first customer inspection of its low-floor bus order. The delegation was on hand to inspect and finalise the first units for TMG, the first of a 29-strong, low-floor route bus order made in December, 2017. Nick Carnie, product manager and industrial designer for Volgren says the low-floor bus product is completely different to Tokyo Metropolitan’s current fleet – making the inspection all the more important. “The ability to review the finished product together in person, discuss elements of the body design and the specification was immensely valuable to both parties,” Carnie said. “For our international customers it removes any ‘lost in translation’ situations and you…

AUSTRALIAN BUS OPERATORS are keenly watching developments in Germany with the new fully electric drive, ‘zero-emissions’ Citaro city bus to make its world debut in September at the 2018 IAA Commercial Vehicles show. With the start of series production also taking place this year, local Daimler insiders were just shy of confirming to ABC magazine that the all-electric Citaro would land in Australia - pending any ADR, width and emissions compliance issues as has greeted previous diesel Citaros here. The 12-metre variant is said to offer, “an impressive and hitherto unknown standard of energy efficiency. The intelligent modular concept for its battery and charging technology is similarly compelling.” In the hands of operators and on the roads here and in Australasian conditions, all will be revealed. On paper, though, it’s…

SEATBELTS AND SAFETY were strong themes at a 100th Yutong bus celebration at North Sydney Bus Charters yesterday, during a stylish event at its Artarmon headquarters. In an evocatively emotional presentation from NSBC CEO Scott Riley – a professional tennis coach and former pro tennis player – he exuded pride in declaring his company’s focus on customer safety, with its fleet of Yutong buses and coaches all factory-fitted with seatbelts. NSBC is part of the NSBC Group, a highly successful local Sydney business owned by Riley, and it’s said to be one of Australia’s largest Australian-owned bus and charter coach companies. It now boasts a fleet of more than 100 charter vehicles, ranging from mini-coaches to midi coaches, and standard buses through to large luxury coaches – but its flagship…

DON’T LET THE SEATING capacity fool you (there are ways around that - stay tuned), the idea is to have on-demand shuttles like SEDRIC pick up the kids, deliver and return them to school safely, and give parents more time to get their shopping, washing, cooking, cleaning and Netflix binges sorted – or so one would think. Or hope. Although SEDRIC as a concept is not new – it debuted in its original form about a year ago at the 2017 International Geneva Motorshow – this school bus version recently wowed punters at the Volkswagen Group Night Geneva – Shaping the Future - Urban Mobility event, this month. According to the spiel, “The company underscores the importance of SEDRIC (Self DRIving Car) as the cross-brand ideas platform for sustainable, safe,…

Got a cool, crazy or candid picture of busie people doing busie things – or even if they are not busie things, but fun – that you’d like to share on our social page? Then feel free to pop them along to fabian.cotter@bauertrader.com.au…

INDUSTRY rumours regarding changes to the 2-axle bus mass increase and a Class 3 Notice for Victorian operators – so they can operate as they were – have been confirmed, according to the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator, recently. NHVR spokesperson Andrew Berkman says the NHVR has been consulting with the bus industry and state and territory governments to provide consistent higher mass limits for 2-axle buses with dual tyres to operate up to 18 tonnes, along with some additional safety features. This supports recommendations made in the 2014 NTC Discussion Paper ‘Mass Limits for 2-Axle Buses’, he says. “The regulation would allow buses in South Australia, ACT and Tasmania to operate at increased mass limits, similar to those in Queensland, NSW and Victoria,” Berkman explained. “The existing fleet in Victoria…

FOLLOWING THE FEBRUARY FIXNSWTRANSPORT protest rally in the Sydney CBD, the next stage of related public displays against recent changes to the NSW toll roads, train and bus services are set for Saturday April 14 and Sunday May 6, according to organisers. Actioned in response to perceived problematic and incorrect changes to key sections of the NSW public transport system, as well as an alleged misuse of public funds for projects like the multi-billion-dollar WestConnex, the protest events are seeing many union groups and angry residents affected by such Government moves uniting to illustrate their cause, spokespeople say. Speaking exclusively to ABC, former independent candidate for the Inner West Council, Leichhardt Ward, and now current spokesperson for transport-activist organisation NoWPT, John Lozano says ‘enough is enough’ and that these protests…

AS REPORTED BY THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD newspaper, a bus caught fire or reported “excessive heat” and smoke every four days, on average, in NSW last year, according to the Office of Transport Safety Investigations (OTSI) report into all buses and coaches in NSW. There were 21 bus fires and 69 “thermal incidents” in 2017, up 16 per cent compared to 2016, it’s stated. The number of buses with such problems has increased each year since 2013, from 28 in that year to 90 in 2017. The increase “appears to be a result of a combination of increased reporting by operators and a rise in thermal incidents”, the report finds. The incidents affected 865 passengers, with a school bus holding 70 passengers the busiest to be stopped due to overheating…

WESTERN SYDNEY BUS COMMUTERS travelling on Transit Systems-run routes across a range of areas in the region have been invited to actively give honest feedback about the services, as part of a customer engagement programme the company enrolled in, recently. Transit Systems has undertaken the Customer Service Institute of Australia International Customer Service Standard (ICSS) process, in striving to: “…create an environment that provides patrons and employees with excellence in the safe provision of public transport services,” the company states. To demonstrate an ongoing commitment to optimising its bus services in the Liverpool, Hoxton Park and Fairfield regions, Transit Systems has just completed five sessions of a new programme called ‘Ask Our Managers’. The new customer service initiative was rolled out across six stations over the past four weeks –…

THE NEW GENERATION of Mercedes-Benz light commercial vehicles is headed for Australia in the fourth quarter of this year – already a market leader down under, but with even more to offer this time. Since the Sprinter was first launched in 1995 about 3.4 million units have been sold, but Mercedes-Benz isn’t complacent, aiming to deliver the most technologically advanced light commercial vehicles to market. With a focus on connectivity, user experience and efficiency, Mercedes-Benz showcased its updated range of powertrains, interior technology and an all-electric offering. The holistic systems approach taken for the new Sprinter saw the introduction of the Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) and telematics functionality, better equipping the vehicle for commercial fleet use. A high level of vehicle customisability is offered, with a total of 1734 different…

CAMIRA is a textile innovator recognised for designing and manufacturing the most innovative and adventurous fabrics. The fabrics take you on a journey – around the country and the world – in style, comfort and safety, according to the company. The journey for the UK-based textile company started almost 200 years ago as John Holdsworth & Co, a name well known and respected in Australasia’s bus and coach industry for decades. The company says with its unrivalled manufacturing capabilities it can weave different constructions to create different surface effects – the ever-popular plush moquette (pile fabric), cut and loop pile, flat-woven, and ancillary trims. Camira also provides leather and vinyl options. Camira’s high-performance fabrics stand up to endless ‘sitting down’ in the most demanding public transport environments and are guaranteed…