ABC is the leading bus and coach publication in Australia, providing operators with vital information and market intelligence to help them keep their BUSiness moving. ABC is the major source of vehicle and equipment classifieds for the industry.
NOW THIS IS EXACTLY what I’m talking about... It’s 3.00AM in the morning, the magazine’s on deadline, I’m already sleep deprived this week to get the issue out the door with the team, and this here editorial is the last thing I have to write. At the time you are reading this (assuming anyone actually reads magazine editorials these days; I know I don’t) you are probably wondering why on Earth the Setra TopClass 500 S 531 DT double-decker is on the cover of your favourite monthly tome, Australasian Bus & Coach (ABC) magazine. That’s us, by the way. Just in case. ;) A model from a brand that probably won’t reach our shores, nor get anywhere near mass public transit use locally even if it did – unless there’s…
A MAJOR BUS ORDER from Transport Canberra (TC) means Volgren has added 45 new workers to its Eagle Farm manufacturing facility in Brisbane, as the massive Australian-based bus-body manufacturer grows its production volumes to suit, the company announced recently. Volgren won the TC contract late 2017. This is in addition to the 60 buses it will deliver to Brisbane City Council in 2018 as part of its long-running prime contractor agreement. Peter Dale, chief executive officer of Volgren, said staff in Brisbane are busy working on the first of 20 low-floor rigid and 10 articulated city buses to be delivered to the national capital by the end of September. “Queensland is an important part of our manufacturing capability and we’re proud that the facility is now producing buses not just…
AUSTRALIAN BUS BODY-MAKER Volgren has won the prestigious Supplier of the Year Award at the 2018 BusNSW Member Conference recently, officiated at by The Hon. Andrew Constance, Minister for Transport and Infrastructure. Held at the Crowne Plaza Resort in the Hunter Valley, the awards recognise excellence in a range of disciplines throughout the NSW bus and coach industry. Winners were as follows: • Industry Achiever Award - Michael Kerr from Rover Motors • Innovative Operator of the Year - Punchbowl Bus Company (accepted by Alex Murray) • Outstanding Industry Contribution - Frank D’Apuzzo (accepted on his behalf by Peter Ferris) • Supplier of the Year - Volgren (accepted by John Allen). Volgren CEO Peter Dale said on behalf of the entire company he was delighted and humbled to win Supplier…
AN ESTIMATED 200 protesters representing hundreds of state-wide bus operators and organisations gathered outside on the Victorian Parliament House steps recently to decry the “reprehensible” Melbourne Metro Bus contracts currently under negotiation and the State Labor Government’s plans to nationalise the private metropolitan bus network, according to organisers. BusVic executive director Chris Lowe delivered an impassioned speech to those assembled, labelling the contracts being offered as, “reprehensible”, “unconscionable” and “anti-small business” among a raft of other terms. Ultimately, his “anti-family business” assertion seemed to resonate strongly with listeners, it’s claimed. “Minister Allan has told nine small-to-medium family business bus owners out of the 13 that operate in Melbourne that the Government will give them a new contract or license to operate only if they agree to transfer their new vehicles,…
THE BUS ASSOCIATION VICTORIA INC (BusVIC) says the State Labor Government has reneged on a deal it made whilst in Opposition to not put bus operator assets ‘on the table’ when negotiating new contracts. As part of the current contract negotiations, Government is insisting that operators be obliged to ‘hand over’ varying parts of their family-owned and run bus business assets to Government or their nominee at the end of the new contract term, for use thereafter by any future contract holder the Government chooses, says BusVIC executive director Chris Lowe. “What we are doing at present is fighting a war with the [Andrews] Government over assets ownership,” Lowe stated. To date, as reported in the past issue of Australasian Bus & Coach (ABC) magazine, of the 13 Melbourne Metro…
DESTINATION UNKNOWN WHEN IT COMES to thinking outside the box for desto design, this ‘in your face’ concept certainly grabs the attention. On the Eco Concept BUS Credo E-Bone, designer Peter Simon’s vision for the hydrogen fuel cell’d and electric bus gets top marks for randomness. Nice one! Check out more at: http://funfragrance.blogspot.com.au/2010/12/ BARRING UP! WHETHER IT’S THE bars across it or the fact it looks better than most bars in third-world airports, would you believe two of these costing NZ$1million were built – but they turned out to be ‘unroadworthy’ lemons. It would have got extra points if not for the missing Jacuzzi. Check it: http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/7794166/Napiers-1m-deco-refit-buses-not-safe BUS AD OF THE MONTH! WHILE THERE have been some shockers, certain bus advertising seen around the world are pretty darned cool and…
