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Rising transport costs were arguably a significant factor in the federal Coalition’s poor election performance, according to analysis by Bus Industry Confederation (BIC) executive director Michael Apps. Apps points out the Liberals did better in the inner-city electorates around Australia. Outer metropolitan electorates were another story. In every Australian city the swing against the Liberals was double that for inner-city electorates. In rural/ regional electorates, the Nationals saved the day because the party focused on local issues, he adds. But what does this tell us? Apps believes the message is that cost of living issues and what he calls “city living” factors saw punters in outer-metropolitan electorates walk away from the Liberals. “The ‘John Howard battlers’ abandoned Malcolm Turnbull, who, because of high-level economic and productivity-based campaigning, was seen as…
The Bus Industry Confederation (BIC) has raised concerns about an amendment to the two-axle bus gross vehicle mass (GVM) limit, which has been increased from 16 to 18 tonnes in New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria, effective August 24. Under changes to Heavy Vehicle National Law, the GVM was raised to account for Australians’ average weight being higher than the average the passenger capacities were based on. BIC executive director Michael Apps says the problem doesn’t lie with the changes made, but rather the changes that weren’t. While the GVM limit has been increased, there has been no change to how passenger capacity is calculated. This remains unchanged in Australian Design Rules at 65kg, substantially below Australians’ average weight of 80kg. “The notice has increased the mass limits from 16…
For the second time in 2016, the number of buses delivered in a month reached triple digits during August. Some 102 buses were delievered in the month, following on from 104 units shipped in July, according to supplier reports. Though two fewer buses were delivered in August, the result is a vast improvement on the corresponding period of last year, which saw deliveries drop 11 units or almost 8 per cent between July and August. Deliveries have been increasing steadily since April to be up 27.5 per cent on the 80 units delievered in that month. This contrasts with a seven per cent decline in the same period of 2015. Leading the charge in August were Scania and Volvo, which accounted for 70 per cent of the total with 38…
The Bus Industry Confederation (BIC) has responded to the National Transport Commission’s (NTC) review of the pay-as-you-go (PAYGO) heavy vehicle charges system by calling for buses to be excluded from the impost. Currently, buses and other heavy vehicles are charged roughly the same rates for their differing road use: 26 cents per litre of diesel used. But BIC executive director Michael Apps argues the bus industry should not be paying so greatly for road maintenance. “The Bus Industry Confederation has been a long-time supporter of heavy vehicle charges that reflected the cost of using the roads, with the view that this should be the stepping stone to a comprehensive road pricing regime for all road users,” Apps says in his response to an NTC discussion paper. He argues buses and…
The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) has launched a five-year plan to move the industry towards being safer and more productive. Titled Setting the Agenda, the plan will bring together three different strategies to make this happen, transport and infrastructure minister Darren Chester says. “This plan focuses on the three national strategies for safety, compliance and assurance, and productivity to guide Australia’s regulatory heavy vehicle agenda between now and 2020,” he says. “As a regulator, the NHVR will set the standard in relation to heavy vehicle safety, while taking a balanced approach to cutting red tape and improving industry access to services and products.” Setting the Agenda will include details on the NHVR’s plans and outline how the strategy will be carried out. Key items of the plan will include:…
Transport Canberra will be adding seven new services to the part-established bus rapid transport (BRT) network, bringing the total number of routes to nine. As well as the current Gungahlin-Fyshwick red line, and the soon-to-be-completed Kippax-Lanyon blue line, Woden, Tuggeranong, Barton and Belconnen will be better linked with at least two rapid connections each. A Woden-City via Barton line and a Belconnen-Gungahlin line are scheduled to be operational next year, while a Woden-City via Western Creek and Belconnen-Watson via Dickson route should commence running during 2018. Transport Canberra also plans to run lines from: Tuggeranong to City via Erindale (2019); Lanyon to Airport via Barton (2020); and Belconnen to Airport via City (2020). Minister for transport and city services Meegan Fitzharris says the new BRT services will complement the planned…
