Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 376 i Australasian Bus & Coach

FOR THE SECOND consecutive year, Queensland’s Kangaroo Bus Lines (KBL) has won the top prize under the ‘Tourism: Tours and Transfers’ category, at a 2018 Sunshine Coast Business Awards gala event held in November. The Tourism Award recognises Kangaroo Bus Lines for its outstanding teamwork, business management, innovation and focus on future growth. Celebrating 40 years last year, Kangaroo Bus Lines has been, “delivering superior service and experiences to our clients for 35 years and counting,” it states. Established in 1978, it is a family owned and operated organisation that has experienced significant growth since its humble beginnings of nine buses, operated from a private residence servicing the Moreton Bay district. QUALITY DRIVEN The past 40 years has seen the organisation evolve to encompass a range of “transport solutions and…

A MAJOR European women’s sports tournament used a premium range of Transdev-operated Iveco coaches to transport players across France in December. Between November 29 – December 16, 2018, France hosted the 13th European Women’s Handball Championship. Isilines by Transdev – the official operator of the Men’s French Handball Team in partnership with the French Handball Federation – used 21 Magelys coaches to transport the teams. This is the first time in its history that the Championship washeld in France, where handball teams from 16 nations competed. Isilines ran the coaches within the five French cities chosen to host the competition: Montbéliard, Nancy, Nantes, Brest and Paris. By partnering with the European Women’s Handball Championship, Iveco Bus once again confirms its role as a ‘reference partner’ for major sporting events on…

NEARLY 150 new Volvo 9700 and 9900 coaches – collectively known as ‘the 9000 range’ for tourist and line-haul operations, introduced in May 2018, have been sold to customers around Europe, the company announced at the end of last year. Of the strong demand for the new long-distance buses, Niklas Orre, vice president Retail Segment Volvo Buses, said: “We’re very proud of our new, flexible and competitive range of premium products, which have safety, comfort and environmental properties of absolute world class.” “Their strong sales performance is confirmation that customers truly appreciate the result of our efforts,” he explained. The largest single order so far is 40 buses for Lithuania, says Volvo. Sales also include orders in countries such as Norway (+23 units), Austria (+11 units) and France (+20 units).…

HEAVY VEHICLE OPERATORS – and the broader road transport industry – can expect improved targeting of compliance activities by law enforcement agencies as they operate across state borders, a leading industry body says. In what is seen as “another step toward risk-based national compliance activities”, National Heavy Vehicle Regulator CEO Sal Petroccitto released the NHVR’s final National Compliance and Enforcement Policy, which includes principles on how agencies should tackle high-risk behaviours and non-compliance in the heavy vehicle industry. “Our transport enforcement agencies directly interact with heavy vehicle drivers and operators more than 320,000 times a year and the NHVR has released a policy which outlines how those interactions will be more targeted and risk-based,” Petroccitto said. The policy has been under development since February 2018, and included several rounds of…

AFTER A MASSIVE 46 YEARS, the longstanding sports sponsorship agreement between Mercedes-Benz and the German national men’s football team – which would include luxury coach transport that later extended to the women’s teams – has ended, the company confirms. For the first time, the German Football Association put the automotive partnership out to tender in 2018, and Mercedes-Benz participated in the process. However, differing views regarding activities and financial framework terms have led to Mercedes-Benz and the German Football Association going their separate ways in sports sponsoring as of 2019. To mark the last joint international, Mercedes-Benz is bidding farewell with an advertisement titled The Journey, recounting the many memories of the last 46 years via an emotional journey through Germany’s football landscape, it says. According to Daimler, the joint…

A NEW BUS SERVICE for residents of Ripley Valley, south-east of Ipswich, Queensland, will help meet demand for public transport in the booming region, according to the State Government. Member for Ipswich Jennifer Howard MP said from early in 2019 the new 531 route would connect Springfield Central station and Orion Shopping Centre to Yamanto, via the Ripley Village Priority Development Area for the first time. “This is great news for all those who live, work and visit this rapidly growing district,” Howard said. “I am proud to be part of a government that is providing new public transport infrastructure to link bus and train services and greater transport flexibility for the local community.” Howard adds that with a travel time of just 26 minutes from Ecco Ripley to Springfield…

EDINBURGH’S Forth Bridge – a UNESCO World Heritage site – is to play host to a high-capacity autonomous bus pilot service in 2019, the UK Government announced. The project will convert five full-size Alexander Dennis (ADL) single-decker manually driven busses into autonomous vehicles and these ‘self-driving’ units will provide a service capable of carrying up to 42 passengers 14 miles across the Forth Bridge to Edinburgh Park Train and Tram interchange, it states. “Autonomous vehicles will open up and provide transport services for those who struggle to access both private and public transport.” The buses – operated by Stagecoach East Scotland – will be used autonomously to Level 4 standard, which means that a driver must remain on board during any journey in line with UK regulations, explains ADL. With…

“The aim of the event was to inspire, encourage, develop and promote the next generation of leadership.” AN INNOVATIVE networking ‘think-tank’ initiative brought some of the leading young bus industry talent together – to meet and share ideas – thanks to the joint efforts of BusNSW and Volvo Bus Australia, recently. The 2018 Young Leaders Seminar, held at Sydney’s Park Royal Darling Harbour Hotel, saw BusNSW invited 25 up-and-coming industry professionals to attend a one-day event in a move that responsibly encouraged the next generation of future bus leaders, entrepreneurs and business owners to get more involved in the direction that the bus industry is headed in the state. BusNSW executive director Matt Threlkeld says BusNSW was very pleased to host the 2018 Young Leaders Seminar in conjunction with Volvo…

TRANSPORT MINISTERS have approved a gross mass limit increase for three-axle buses from 20 tonnes to 22 tonnes, according to the National Transport Commission (NTC). NTC’s acting chief executive Dr Geoff Allan announced that the increase in mass limit will bring Australia more in line with international counterparts. “In recent years, bus mass has increased due to regulatory requirements to provide specific mobility, safety and environmental improvements, and the increasing weight of adult Australians and their luggage,” Allan said. “Australia’s limit of 20 tonnes is on average more than four tonnes lower than similar countries,” he said. There are currently more than 2,200 three-axle buses registered in Australia, providing tourist services, long-distance services, metropolitan and regional scheduled services and school transport. The NTC commissioned Taverner Research to investigate the size…

VOLGREN HAS partnered with Volvo to deliver four new Endura-bodied buses to a remote site in Papua New Guinea (PNG) that poses some of the harshest road conditions mine charter vehicles can face. Located in the Western Province of tropical PNG, near the company-operated township of Tabubil, the Ok Tedi open-pit gold and copper mine is located 2,000 metres above sea level in a climate of extremely high rainfall. The four new buses, built on Volvo R6BKSS chassis, are replacements for an original order of eight vehicles delivered to the mine by Volgren and Volvo in 2010. Greg Reichelt, a long-time sales executive at Volgren, travelled to the mine to experience the conditions first-hand and the requirements of the build. “It is an extremely harsh tropical environment. Heat, humidity, high…

AUTOMOTIVE MANUFACTURER BMW – through its BMW i brand – has formally entered into the world of public transport and bus production via Turkish manufacturer Karsan, which launched its new Jest e-bus using i3 running gear, it’s announced recently. Karsan delivered its first customer orders of the Jest Electric bus in December, 2018. With the BMW Group’s i division representing the company’s, “networked mobility services, visionary vehicle concepts and a new premium philosophy that draws strongly on the idea of sustainability,” its foray into public transport is another field for its “pioneering emissions-free drive technologies”, it states. The Karsan Jest electric bus – the first product of the unique collaboration with BMW – is designed specifically for use in inner-city traffic using the electric motors and high-voltage batteries developed for…

They’re an oldie but a goodie now, but back then they were a newie and a goodie – for anything if not representing increased passenger capacity and strikingly different looks when they first rolled past on the street. This one, owned by Driving Services Australia (DSA)’s Murray Kirkman – an Engadine, NSW, company servicing clients Australia-wide in logistic solutions for the transport industry – is no exception to the rule. When ABC magazine spoke with Kirkman we soon got the idea that his company is successfully carving out its own slice of the pie by offering niche transport services to fill the gaps in a constantly changing and increasingly demanding industry. “I started Driving Services Australia about five years ago. Since then, I have brought in a partner, Matt Gersbach,”…

KANGAROO Bus Lines (KBL) is a family-run business that has made a strong mark within the Queensland market, developing a long-lasting relationship within the community. It turned 40 years old on October 27, 2018. Established by Daryl and Jan Webster in 1978 with a fleet of nine buses, the company has grown from strength to strength, offering a range of transport services while becoming a leader in industry, innovation and sustainability. Taking pride in moving people and connecting communities, KBL is strongly immersed in the tourism and education sectors, offering complete and personalised transport solutions. With a fleet of 130 buses across two depots and 210 staff, KBL’s motto is: people, pride and passion. CEO Darren Webster says the business has evolved thanks to the family’s hard work and its…

SYDNEY METRO PROJECT’s distinctive ‘pink faced’ Station Link buses – used to replace train services between Chatswood and Epping during the current rail upgrade – have clocked up more than 1 million customer journeys since the service started, according to a Transport for NSW (TfNSW) spokesperson. TfNSW coordinator-general Marg Prendergast said the milestone earns “a big congratulations to Transport for NSW and our joint-venture partner [Transdev NSW and CDC Australia] staff who have helped ensure that Station Link operates smoothly and kept customers moving around the Macquarie Park precinct”. “We knew it was going to be a big challenge to temporarily close three busy train stations for Sydney Metro upgrades and it’s great to have the community working with us while we build this important project,” she said. “I can’t…

BUSVIC’s VOLVO-SPONSORED Women On Board seminar series was a “trailblazing event” that workshopped societal issues and how the bus industry contributes to remedying these situations, according to organisers. The annual event was again sponsored by Volvo and its partner in Victoria, the CMV Group, which has been supporting for 11 consecutive years. Held at the Crowne Promenade in Melbourne, recently, it focused on inclusion and diversity: how operators and suppliers can be more inclusive employers and community leaders. The event attracted more than 80 delegates to the morning seminar series, and almost double that amount for the luncheon. “With unemployment so low and the demand for bus services so strong, we have to be looking at ways to attract and keep more people. Being more inclusive of labour supply will…

A NATIONAL billion-dollar bioenergy industry continues to be ignored and calls for leadership on the issue have been made, following the release of crucial report at the beginning of December. A collaborative effort between Bioenergy Australia and KPMG, the Bioenergy State of the Nation Report is the first national assessment of its kind that identifies Australia’s significant bioenergy opportunity and provides criteria for kick-starting Australia’s bioenergy economy, it states. The new report shows Queensland is the national leader while Australia lags behind globally with no national strategy. The opportunity for Australia is significant and multi-faceted, offering a AUD$3.5–$5 billion investment opportunity, mostly in regional economies, which the Australian government is being urged to address. Bioenergy Australia CEO Shahana McKenzie said, “The report reviews the policies of states and territories in…

SCANIA OPTIMISE has delivered Transport Canberra (TC) a 16 per cent fuel efficiency bonus as the result of an initial 20-strong, six-month driver monitoring and coaching programme, the company states. The programme’s success has led to a TC pledge to expand the programme in 2019 with 40 drivers from two depots taking part from March. The wider adoption by the transport authority centres around calculations that show on an annualised basis the improved fleet efficiency adds up to a potential saving of around $150,000 in fuel costs across the 20 chassis, it claims. TC ran a programme with 20 drivers drawn from its Belconnen and Tuggeranong depots, operating route buses in the nation’s capital, and utilising all aspects of Scania’s Optimise. The fuel savings derived from the programme exceeded expectations,…

PERTH’S PUBLIC TRANSPORT AUTHORITY (PTA) has announced Flowbird Transport Intelligence as the prime contractor for its SmartRider contactless fare collection system, it’s reported recently. The deal seas the PTA’s Transperth service – which provides the Perth metropolitan region with bus, train and ferry public transport services – effectively extend its partnership with Flowbird, which has been a partner with Perth since the 1980s, it’s stated. Most recently it’s been responsible for creating the multimodal ‘tag-on, tag-off’ ticketing system for the Transperth network, along with the world-class bus stand management and passenger information systems at the city’s new Busport. According to the company, the new contract covers, “the provision of on-going services to the PTA and the expansion of technologies that underpin a transport network covering bus, rail and ferry operations.”…

THE FIRST TWO of a massive 950 Citaro bus order have been delivered in Berlin, Germany, with the customer also ordering another 15 new eCitaro electric buses, it’s reported. In what is Daimler’s largest order ever to Germany’s biggest bus fleet, the models selected are the Citaro solo (city) bus and a Citaro G articulated bus. Rüdiger Kappel, head of sales for fleets and authorities at Mercedes-Benz Buses Germany, handed over the first city buses from the large order to Dr Sigrid Nikutta, chair of the Board of Management and member of the board for Operations at the Berlin Transport Authority (BVG), and Torsten Mareck, BVG Divisional Manager. “We are pleased about the biggest single order ever for our best-selling bus. I am certain: the Citaro will delight its passengers,”…

TRANSIT SYSTEMS SYDNEY BUSES – in various sizes – wore cool black moustaches to help generate men’s cancer awareness in November, as part of ‘Movember’, the company states. The Movember Foundation is the leading charity dedicated to changing the face of men’s health around the world. As the start of Transit System’s involvement, a barbershop quartet called Sydney Harmony serenaded war widows at Sydney’s Concord Repatriation General Hospital Veteran’s Day Centre, who received a special pop-up performance along with Movember ‘Mo Bros’ to help raise awareness of men’s health. Arriving on an inner-West on-demand Bridj bus with its own moustache, the barbershop quartet members and Mo Bro’s Krish Patel, Jeff Morgan and Con Despinidic helped raise awareness of men’s health – each with their own unique story of involvement. The…

A DRIVER TRAINER who is “an absolute asset”, an exceptional tour guide with a great sense of honour, and “the best bus driver in the world” – as described by a young school kid – took the top honours at the BusNSW 2018 Driver of the Year awards, recently. NSW bus drivers Glenn Sharp from Blue Mountains Transit (Metropolitan/Outer Metropolitan Bus Driver of the Year); Lars Hornstra from Picton Buslines (Rural and Regional Bus Driver of the Year); and Henry Vianna from AAT Kings (Coach Driver of the Year) were the worthy winners. The awards were announced at the BusNSW Offices on December 3 by executive director Matt Threlkeld, and presented by John King, BusNSW president, and Clare Gardiner-Barnes, Transport for NSW deputy secretary – Freight, Strategy and Planning. THE…

Did you know Canada invented the first wheelchair-accessible bus in 1947? Did you also know Canada invented – aside from peanut butter, garbage bags, the egg carton and the paint roller – the first motorised wheelchair in 1952? If you did then there’s no need to thank ABC magazine when you win your local pub or church trivia night because those questions had popped up. Yet if you didn’t then, you know … feel free to share your winnings with us – or at least grab us a cheeky drink at the bar later. Based in Canada but now a US subsidiary of New Flyer Industries Inc. (NFI Group) – the largest transit bus and motor coach manufacturer and parts distributor in North America – Motor Coach Industries (MCI) has…

Bus and coach deliveries have reached triple figures again, rising slightly from 102 in October to 108 in November – a better effort than the Australian cricketers, it must be said. For the second month in a row, Scania came out on top for the chassis manufacturers, recording 36 deliveries. Volvo followed on 31, recovering from October’s trough of 22. BCI and Yutong maintained their double-figure tallies. Volgren has been the body-building market leader each month this year, and led again with 35 builds in November. Next best this time was Bustech, which had one of its busiest months of the year; as did BCI, recorded in 15 deliveries. Thermo King has also led the air-conditioning tally each month, and recorded another half-century in November. The remainder of the market…