Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 335 i Australasian Bus & Coach

In Melbourne, the statistics are good. More than 1 million public transport tickets are reportedly being checked each month by authorised officers, helping reduce the estimated $50 million-plus that is lost in revenue each year, according to the Public Transport Victoria (PTV) website. More than 600 officers patrol the city’s public transport network, offering customer support and generally keeping an eye on things. Earlier this year, on-the-spot penalty fares were also introduced, which has also attributed to a decrease in fare evasion. “Over the six months from August 2014 to February 2015, authorised officers in the metropolitan area checked 6,743,300 tickets across Victoria,” a statement from earlier this year says. “In total, 103,229 reports of noncompliance and 41,001 on-the-spot penalty fares were issued.” The statistics are good. As the editor…

More park and ride facilities will be established at a key public transport hub on Sydney’s southern fringe. The new multi-storey car park in Sutherland has a capacity of 388 and opened on July 6. NSW minister for transport and infrastructure Andrew Constance says the addition will make public transport an option for hundreds more of those needing to commute a considerable distance into Sydney’s CBD and inner suburbs. The car park will provide almost 50 more commuter spaces than what was initially planned. Miranda Shire MP Eleni Petinos says so many people work in the Sydney city limits and rely heavily on public transport services to get them to their jobs, but faced a logistical nightmare in finding somewhere to park to connect with these services. The car park…

Commuters in Sydney’s west and north-west will benefit from 315 extra weekly bus services. The services will include a brand new bus route with 175 extra weekly Hillsbus services connecting Blacktown and Parramatta, as well as 140 extra services on existing routes. This takes the number of extra public transport services introduced by the New South Wales Government to more than 14,000. Minister for transport and infrastructure Andrew Constance is determined to ensure the best possible public transport services are available to people in NSW. The new Hillsbus route (the 706 service) will operate between Blacktown and Parramatta via Kings Langley, Winston Hills and Northmead. Hillsbus is also introducing extra weekly services on popular routes connecting suburbs including Rouse Hill, Parramatta, Castle Hill and the city. The extra weekly services…

Three firms have been shortlisted for the Myki tender, after it was announced the lucrative contract for Victoria’s public transport ticketing system will be re-tendered next year. The Victorian Government is seeking an experienced operator to run the existing system and deliver maximum value for money for Victorian taxpayers. Accenture Australia, Cubic Transportation Systems Australia and NTT Data Victorian Ticketing System have been selected to continue to the next stage of the tender process. Public Transport Victoria (PTV) CEO Mark Wild says the expression of interest process delivered an extremely high standard of responses from the market. The Myki system is made up of more than 25,000 devices installed on train stations, trams and buses and processes more than one million transactions per day. The tender process is expected to…

Politicians are increasingly calling for Federal Government to directly fund key public transport initiatives in Australia’s major cities. The Infrastructure Australia report is just one of number of case studies that have recommended investment at a national level is required to ease congestion, maximise the productivity of each state and increase service levels so that public transport becomes a real option for private vehicle commuters. Victorian senator Janet Rice used the example of two Melbourne commuters to highlight the need for national investment during her speech in the senate recently. While public transport is often an option for those who live close to the city, it is sometimes not for those on the outer fringes — largely due to inadequate bus services, she explains. For those in the outer-suburbs, it…

Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel (conference venue) Copthorne King’s Hotel (5 minute walk to conference venue) Studio M Hotel (10 minute walk to conference venue) Location and Booking details Room Rates All property venues guarantee up to 22% off the best available rate if you book before October 8 2015 Each accommodation venue has an online booking system for our conference group. Please use the booking website as shown above for each venue. Group room rates as shown are valid for Check-in/Check-out dates November 5 through to November 14. All Room Rates incur surcharge of 7% GST and 10% service tax. Check-in | Check-out is 14:00 | 12:00 for each venue. All non-Club rooms include unlimited internet access, complimentary buffet breakfast for 1 person. Additional breakfasts can be arranged at $20++…

50% DISCOUNT applies to: a) Bus and Coach Operators as a member of: BIC or any Australian State or International or non-Australian Passenger Transport Association b) A Manufacturer or Supplier Member of BIC c) A representative from Australia or other country: Government, Tourism, Educational or not-for-profit organisation. IMPORTANT READING! 1.  The number of delegates is not restricted to the space on this form. Please include an addendum as required.2.  Provide an accurate email address for each delegate.3.  Indicate social attendance for each individual delegate, partner or child. Boxes left blank will be confirmed as non-attendance.4.  Indicate the Age for each Child. This information is provided to venues and transport facilitators to ensure health and safety compliance and to assist with catering requirements.5.  The prices as they appear on this form…

The old saying ‘two birds with one stone’ accurately describes the set-up of the Watson family business. Grant and Fiona Watson are the directors of their own company Parts Supply Solutions, and run the Australian subsidiary of United Kingdom-based Hanover Displays. Both companies operate from the 450 square-metre premises in Mitcham, Victoria — splitting the cost of overheads between the two. The Australian Hanover branch is one of seven subsidiaries around the world, and the Watsons are also expanding into New Zealand and Indonesia. The couple started Parts Supply Solutions more than a decade ago in the family garage, and brought Hanover Displays on board about six years ago. Grant has a long history working within the Victorian bus industry beforehand, allowing him to build up the knowledge required for…

Nine people have been charged with fraud-related offences in relation to a $2.3 million contract awarded for bus-shelter installation. The charges come after an Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC) investigation dubbed ‘Operation Fitzroy’, during which individuals and their phone conversations were monitored for more than five years. IBAC announced that the nine individuals were charged on Friday, June 12. Prior to this, only two individuals had been accused of offences relating to this $2.3 million contract, among other tenders won by companies that the accused were allegedly connected with. More than 100 charges are among the alleged offences, and include conspiracy to cheat and defraud, obtaining financial advantage by deception, misconduct in public office, giving and receiving secret commissions and furnishing false information. One of the individuals involved used to…

Michael Apps BIC National Secretariat PO Box 6171, Kingston ACT 2604 P: 02 6247 5990 F: 02 6273 1035 E: admin@bic.asn.au Did you feel that shift over the last month or so, the shift of language, the subtle messaging of politicians transitioning to a new stance on an issue? We are halfway through the Parliamentary term and I’ve no doubt the Federal Government is lining its ducks in a row, and positioning itself from a policy perspective for the next Federal election. I’m not saying there will be an early election; the polls will not support that decision at this time. But, things are on the turn for Tony Abbott, evidenced by the declining popularity numbers for Bill Shorten — 28 per cent, the Australian Workers Union scandal we are…

Acquiring real-life skill to become a bus driver can seem like a daunting task, but not for participants as part of the new Get Bussing program where the students have access to a real bus. Allan Miller Driving School, a division of Transport Training Solutions, has recently announced they received funding for the Get Bussing program. The program is designed to create a realistic simulated work environment that allows participants to gain direct experience relevant to the job of a bus and coach driver. This is an initiative of the Government of South Australia as part of the Skills for Jobs in Regions program — Strategic Employment Fund (SEF). Participants can gain real training and competency practice in skills unique to this job such as bus and coach handling, route…

Volvo “Riverside City Lights” Riverside at the Grand Copthorne Waterfront Sunday 8 November 6 – 8pm Smart Casual Volvo will welcome delegates with their customary cocktail party on Sunday night. Cool down with a beverage and take in the lights and breezy surrounds on the river. Mercedes-Benz “Garden Rhapsody” Gala Dinner Gardens by the Bay Monday 9 November 6.30 - 10.30pm (buses depart Grand Copthorne at 5.45pm) Smart Casual Mercedes-Benz look forward to welcoming guests into their world of spectacular and innovative design at the Flower Dome. Step into another dimension where nature meets science. Scania “Chinese Dragon” Dinner Party Grand Waterfront Copthorne Tuesday 10 November 7 – 10:30pm Smart Casual Scania invite guests to join them for a ceremonial 8-course banquet in the imperial court of the Chinese Dragon.…

When Harry Forsyth started selling spare parts for Leyland buses in the 1970s, he never dreamed it would become the biggest independent truck and bus parts supplier in the country. Things looked promising when Multispares was listed on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX) in 1988, but future success was not 100 per cent guaranteed. Now after 40 years in the game and in the midst of expansion, Multispares is looking to the future with a gleam in its eye. The bus parts industry can be challenging at times, but Multispares southern states manager Brad Allison says his team is in it for the long haul. “What we are seeing is the rationalisation of an entire industry,” he says. “I also think the industry is becoming more professional.” The Multispares business…

Western Australia’s Integrity Coach Lines is celebrating a successful first year of its Tom Price timetable. The service, which travels between Perth and Broome, stopping in at Tom Price once a week has been running successfully since its launch one year ago. The service was launched with the aim of providing more travel options for the locals of Tom Price and surrounds. It has proved popular not only with locals but also with visitors to Western Australia using their Hop-on Hop-off pass to travel to Karijini National Park with Integrity’s touring partner, The Flying Sandgroper.…

Bus passengers were allowed to board at the rear during the afternoon peak at seven Sydney city stops, as part of a 10-day trial last month. The trial is aimed at improving traffic flow in the CBD that is notoriously slow, reducing waiting times for passengers at bus stops and streamlining the boarding process. The trial only applied at selected bus stops during the afternoon peak of 4pm to 7pm. Boarding via rear doors was only available with an Opal card and with a marshal present; to keep an eye on passengers and ensure everyone boarded safely.…

Wellington will improve its bus network and introduce hybrid buses, as part of the Greater Wellington Regional Council’s 2015- 2025 plan. The council has also purchased land for a new 250 person park-and-ride on Kapiti Coast and intends to invest heavily in more park-and-ride facilities by purchasing suitable land in the years ahead. The city’s diesel buses will be replaced with a new fleet of hybrid-diesels and one card system for all public transport will be developed. A further $500,000 will be spent investigating the costs and benefits of a dedicated bus lane through central Wellington.…

Passengers are benefiting from bus services that are more frequently on time in Canberra. Minister for territory and municipal services Shane Rattenbury says the new Australian Capital Territory Internal Omnibus Network (ACTION) Bus weekday timetable has led to better on-time running and improved service reliability. “Since introducing the new weekday timetable, 79 per cent of bus services have been on time,” he says. “That has exceeded our network target of 75 per cent and improved on the figure of 73 per cent for the previous timetable. “Service reliability is also tracking well at 99.6 per cent, and ACTION is on target to deliver 99.6 per cent reliability for June.” These figures build on the findings of our municipal services survey, which found 76 per cent of people who use ACTION…

Graeme McDonald A member of the Money Resources Group P: 03 8699 5000 F: 03 9690 9484 M: 0401 189 160 E: graeme@moneyresources.com.au Welcome to a new financial year. In a business all the clocks and targets are reset to zero at July 1 and it all begins again — what happened last year is not worth anything. While on the last year did you know that the last financial year was actually longer than the year before? They actually had to add one second to the year to keep it in line with the sun and moon … strange, but true. Over the last few weeks and months you haven’t been able to pick up a paper or watch the news without there being some reference to negative gearing…

Singapore – History Singapore is recognised as a thriving mega city. Its origins began as a small trading sea town in the 13th century. The beginnings of Singapore “city” started in the early 1900’s largely due to the political and trade endeavours of the entrepreneurial Sir Thomas Raffles. Singapore thrived as a trading post until war struck its shores with the invasion of Japan during World War II. After the surrender of Japan, Singapore became a British colony in 1946. A decade later, Singapore was on its way to establishing its own nationalism. Self-governance was achieved in 1959 with the People’s Action Party (PAP) winning majority with Lee Kuan Yew appointed as Singapore’s first Prime Minister. Lee Kuan Yew (commonly known as LKY) is well regarded as the founder of…

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Nikki Brouwers The Interact Group founder and managing director P: 02 9460 2444 F: 02 9957 1000 E: nikki@interactgroup.com.au Earlier this year, together with the Bus Industry Confederation (BIC), the Interact Group launched the inaugural Bus and Coach Health and Wellbeing Study so it could gain a deeper understanding of the types of mental, physical and emotional health challenges facing the bus and coach industry. In doing so, it spent time with one of New South Wales’ largest bus operators to understand what ‘a day in the life of a bus driver’ was really like so it could easily identify the demands affecting drivers. The Interact Group then used this knowledge to measure the impact that these pressures have on an individual driver’s health and wellbeing. Once it had this…