Australasian Bus & Coach Issue 393

If it ‘looks too good to be true’ then it probably is, and ‘it all comes out in the wash’. These and other such philosophical musings regurgitated by the old man throughout my youth no doubt instilled in me the healthy dose of cynicism that I proudly cherish to this day. So … are we social distancing, or are we not social distancing? I ask this because either there are way too many people on different pages, or it’s just that some of us ‘didn’t get the memo’. Right about now restrictions have started to ease a little bit – which is great news. I say a little bit because, for example, in Sydney the amount of people I saw in a major shopping mall on the telly on the…

A NSW state government $250 million cleaners’ ‘stimulus package’ has seen more than 550 new and redeployed cleaners boosting the state’s ‘first line of defence’ against Covid-19, it’s been announced. NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian says the fresh wave of cleaners had resulted in enhanced cleaning of vital public infrastructure including schools, TAFE and transport facilities. While these cleaners are improving hygiene across the state, this package will provide a much-needed social and economic boost across the state,” Premier Berejiklian said. “Not only will this package support jobs and businesses, importantly it will also give the public the peace of mind that the government is ensuring our public transport and education facilities remain as clean as possible at all times.” NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet says the state government was on track…

A NEW SCANNING and sensor tech solution called RollCall Services aims for transparency in bus and business cleaning practices. A transport industry IT solution to the coronavirus pandemic’s hygiene challenge has been launched, which sees cleaners ‘scan in’ to record when and where buses, vehicles and locations have been cleaned. Melbourne-based software company RollCall Safety Solutions unveiled RollCall Services recently to transport and bus companies with the aim of helping reduce the risk of a Covid-19 outbreak. And if one should occur on the premises or in a vehicle, RollCall Services will seek to minimise interruption to the company operations, work cover claims and downtime duration, it says. Transport and logistics industry identities Dean Langenberg, Andrew Thornberry and Peter Ferrari operate RollCall Safety Solutions, which has been servicing the education…

TO ‘KEEP QUEENSLAND MOVING’ during Covid-19, the state government has allotted $54.5m to help transport operators support their customers during the coronavirus-induced downturn, it’s been announced. The joint statement – issued by Premier and Minister for Trade The Hon. Annastacia Palaszczuk and the Minister for Transport and Main Roads The Hon. Mark Bailey says the state government had approved a $54.5 million package that will allow regional air, bus and ferry services to keep running while social distancing measures remain in place. “This helps people in regional Queensland stay in jobs … as well as helping communities access essential supplies and services,” the Premier said. Minister Bailey says transport was an essential service during the Covid-19 crisis. Operators can’t afford to keep running these services when passenger numbers are down…

Regional Buses – Support for bus operators to continue running services in Cairns, Innisfail, Townsville and Magnetic Island, Bowen, Whitsundays, Mackay, Yeppoon, Mt Morgan and Gracemere, Rockhampton, Gladstone, Bundaberg and Elliott Heads, Maryborough and Hervey Bay, Gympie, Maleny, Kilcoy and Woodford, Minjerribah, Toowoomba and Warwick. Heavy Vehicles – Continuing the existing registration freeze by a year – Removing de-registration and re-registration fees Regional Aviation – Support for QantasLink, Regional Express (Rex), Skytrans and Hinterland Aviation to continue running air services on reduced schedules to regional and remote communities, to complement Federal Government grant funding, which will contribute to rebuilding to a more frequent timetable Regional Ferries – Support for ferry operators to keep running services on a reduced schedule to Thursday Island, Magnetic Island, Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island), Southern Moreton…

“WORLD-CLASS transport operators” are now invited to register their interest for the last remaining NSW government-controlled bus regions, Transport for NSW (TfNSW) has announced. The tenders are for operating bus services on behalf of the NSW Government on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, North Shore, northern and eastern suburbs, it confirms. “We are looking for world-class operators with significant experience delivering transport services,” said a TfNSW spokesperson. “From today, operators interested in delivering these vital services for customers can register on the Government’s eTenders website to receive background information that will help them prepare for when the tender process kicks off,” they explained. “Already, private operators run services for the NSW government in 11 of our 14 bus regions in the Sydney Metropolitan area. Franchising the three remaining bus regions currently operated…