Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 401 i Australasian Bus & Coach

AS THE LARGEST bus manufacturing plant in Europe, the Vysoké Mýto Iveco Bus facility–located 180km east of the Czech Republic capital city Prague–has celebrated its 125-year anniversary of production, the company announced recently. Home to local iconic companies Sodomka and Karosa, the Iveco Vysoke Myto plant has a long-lasting tradition of producing intercity buses and coaches since foundation 125 years ago, the company explains. With more than 3,800 employees, plus 1,700 subcontractors, it is.one of the largest employers in the Czech Republic and Eastern Europe, and Europe’s largest bus manufacturer, with more than 4,000 vehicles made per year, Iveco confirms. This 125th anniversary is, above all, an opportunity to highlight the constant innovations achieved by Josef Sodomka Jr. and his successors, Iveco explains. Original technical solutions have become the basis…

AN INNOVATIVE multi-partner-backed bus driver training scheme is helping 16 new potential drivers enter the industry, addressing their long-term unemployed status in the process. Not-for-profit organisation Youth Activating Youth (YAY) is creating job opportunities during the pandemic for the 16 long-term unemployed Victorians to become bus drivers via its new Journey Maker Employment Program in January 2020, in a partnership with the Victorian government, Transdev and Australia Industry Group. The aim was always to create ongoing job opportunities for community members experiencing long-term unemployment; however, within weeks the program was forced to rethink its delivery strategy due to COVID-19 restrictions, which meant no physical contact with community members, Transdev explains. “The aim of the Journey Maker Employment Program is to help disadvantaged members of our community experiencing long-term unemployment to…

UK PASSENGER TRANSPORT software specialist Omnibus has digitalised Buslines NSW’s scheduling processes to aid the company’s continued expansion, according to the company. Australian bus operator Buslines operates a fleet of 380 buses, servicing a network of bus routes in major regional towns throughout NSW. The Group’s operations carry more than 10 million customers annually and employs more than 500 staff. Buslines operates across 13 locations in rural and regional NSW: Berrima, Picton, Ulladulla, Lithgow, Bathurst, Orange, Dubbo, Griffith, Tamworth, Forster, Wingham, Ballina and Northern Rivers. The operator adopted Omnibus scheduling software to replace its previous manual system for creating shifts and rosters. The aim was to digitalise the process to allow for continued growth of the business and build a scheduling capability within Buslines’ existing employees who have long-term operational,…

With a Moscow-based company presenting an IT platform for electric bus manufacturers, the developers promise to reduce energy consumption of electric vehicles by 25 per cent and increase the power reserve of e-buses to up to 150km, Moscow Transport (MT) explains. During a recent working meeting with Maksim Liksutov, the deputy mayor of Moscow for Transport, Russian manufacturer of automotive components NPP ITELMA showed a prototype of an e-bus equipped with modern Russian-made components. The proposed equipment allows replacing the batteries of an electric bus, “…in five minutes at terminal stations using pit-stop mobiles, as well as to monitor batteries online,” the company states. The system will also make it possible to create an electric bus from any modern bus, it adds. “We welcome innovative solutions and are always looking…

Founded by David Bishop four years ago, Coachcare is a small family run business located in Nambucca Heads on the Mid North Coast of NSW. It is capable of any type of repair or interior and exterior refurbishment job. Bishop prides in relying on local suppliers for things like glass and windscreens. “We employ two tradesmen on the floor. We’re not a huge concern. We’re just out there to give some people some work and put a little money into our economy,” he said. Bishop was born in a bus family, with his father running a bus-building interior business (now known as Express Bus Builders) in the 1970s. In 2011 Bishop was trying to set up his own business, but at that time his agenda was to steer away from…

IN ITS ENDEAVOUR to kick-start its Zero-Emission Transition Plan for Transport Canberra, a ‘market sounding’ for 90 zero-emission battery electric buses – as well as associated operating requirements such as charging infrastructure, maintenance and energy supply – has commenced, the ACT government has announced. Minister for Transport and City Services, Chris Steel says the ACT government is exploring opportunities to partner with providers on this transformation of the ACT’s bus fleet and is keen to hear from all parts of industry to inform the future procurement of the 90 battery electric buses in mid-2021. “Transport is the ACT[’s] largest source of emissions, and we are getting on with our plan of replacing every diesel and compressed natural gas bus in Transport Canberra’s fleet with modern, zero-emission buses,” Minister Steel said.…

MOBILITY COMPANY Transdev intends to create up to 300 new trainee jobs throughout 2021, with up to 100 of those due to commence by the end of January, the company has announced. As more Aussies start returning to their workplaces and daily routines, Transdev will be undertaking a training and recruitment blitz in the coming months to provide customers with peace of mind when travelling and meet increased demand, it explains. Transdev Australasia chief people and culture officer Paul Birch says a variety of different skills were required within the public transport sector, beyond simply driving a vehicle. “Every day our team of ‘Journey Makers’ provides thousands of Australians with safe, reliable and comfortable journeys on our services, and having a highly skilled workforce is essential,” Birch said. “The opportunities…

THE WESTERN AUSTRALIA state government has matched the federal government’s $45 million Stirling Bus Interchange upgrade contribution, bringing total project investment to $90 million for a massive modern 30-stand bus facility, it’s been announced. To be delivered by the Main Roads WA as part of Stephenson Avenue Extension project, the McGowan government has allocated the $45 million to upgrade one of Perth’s busiest bus interchanges in the northern suburbs. The Stirling Bus Interchange project, adjoining Stirling Station and the Mitchell Freeway, includes upgrading the existing 18-stand facility to a 30-stand bus interchange, along with construction of a new pedestrian access bridge between Stirling Station and the southern car park, the government confirms. Rail patronage at Stirling is predicted to almost double by 2031, based on planned land use intensification and…

News of his passing broke on various social media channels recently, with the Australian Trucking Association’s (ATA) vale capturing a sense of the man he was for both those who knew him personally and professionally, as well as for many who didn’t. It reads: “Former ATA deputy CEO Michael Apps and good friend of many in the industry, sadly passed away on Boxing Day 2020 after a long and courageous battle with cancer. “Michael joined the Australian Trucking Association as government relations manager in 1994 as the organisation emerged and grew its resource strength from its early foundation years. “He played a key role and made great contributions in expanding and deepening the reach of the Association as it developed into a dynamic national advocate and contributor to the effective…

As a key part of its growth strategy, Go West Tours – a WA supplier of charter, rental and tour vehicles, servicing the mining, education, tourism and government sectors as well as private parties – seeks to ensure it continues to offer the latest technology systems to clients to track and manage vehicle speed, driver fatigue, maintenance and safety, it states. Go West engaged Teletrac Navman to develop a bespoke solution with the broad range of capability it required, it explains. According to the company, Teletrac Navman’s solution specialists worked closely with Go West to create a tailor-made system, including passenger scanning, fatigue management, geo-fencing, speed management, GPS vehicle tracking and electronic document management. The custom solution provided comprehensive data harvesting and analysis, so the business could track each trip…

Meet Alan Ng, the next generation of Australian bus industry operators. Founder and operations manager of Glenorie Coaches, Ng was 27 when he set up the business in the Hills District of New South Wales with a single coach. Ten years on, the charter-only business owns a fleet of 17 coaches, although only 10 remain in operation at present due to the Covid-19 induced downturn. The business mainly runs school charters both short and long distance, as well as corporate, seniors and group travel in the Hills District and upper North Shore. It has a depot in Dural and workshop in Middle Dural. JOURNEY TO BUSES Ng had an interesting foray into the bus industry. “As a kid I grew up loving anything with a motor, so catching the Harris…

The Sydney Bus Museum has more than 250 members that work together to preserve a rare collection of historic buses dating as long ago as 1920. Housed in the Old Tram Building in the Inner West suburb of Leichhardt, NSW, the building is the perfect industrial backdrop to showcase these great vehicles that are meticulously restored by the members, who have an incredible eye for authentically recreating the past. For die-hard busies, a visit here is always a real privilege and delight. There are buses here with important historic significance to our industry; it’s a timeline of change and growth preserved for future generations. For today’s drive we have a bus painted in livery and signage that was part of many’s childhood and younger years; a real trip back in…

AUSTRALASIA’S LARGEST transport accident-repair specialist Royans has announced the acquisition of Brisbane-based bus and coach specialist Coachworks, recently. With more than 30 years in the business, Coachworks is an industry leader specialising in the repair and refurbishment of buses and coaches, with services including: accident repairs, refurbishment, retrofitting, refinishing, mini bus conversions and spare parts sales, it states. Coachworks’ Scott Isaacs will continue to manage the business and customers can expect to receive the same personal local service from the whole Coachworks team, Royans confirms. Coachworks is located in Acacia Ridge, Queensland, and now provides new owner Royans with a second Brisbane metro location just 20 minutes away from its Wacol branch, it says. This now provides customers with three specialised workshops in Brisbane following the recent construction of a…

TWO NEW Mercedes-Benz chassis with BCI bodies have received ‘the thumbs-up’ on V/Line runs in the return Melbourne to Mildura and Swan Hill areas, according to Swan Hill Bus Lines (SHBL), in Victoria. The family bus company added two new three-axle MB Euro 6 OC500RF based coaches with BCI ‘Cruiser’ bodies to its V/Line service for the long country runs. Owned by husband and wife Peter and Sue Pickering and operated by a very experienced team that includes their children Emma and Lachlan, Peter says they are very happy with them and that: “They are extremely quiet and comfortable. “Most importantly, they are fitted with the most advanced safety features like advanced emergency braking and a lane departure warning system, and keeping our passengers and the community safe is paramount…

SINGLE AND DOUBLE-DECK e-buses produced via the current Alexander Dennis Limited (ADL) and BYD (UK) partnership for the British domestic market will use BYD chassis “designed and assembled” locally, starting from the second half of 2021, the companies have jointly announced. This significant step has been taken in response to the increasing demand for zero-emission vehicles, they state. It further strengthens the partnership’s market-leading position while underpinning jobs in Britain and developing skills in the growing market for clean vehicle technology, they add. The move will ensure completed vehicles are built in ADL’s facilities in the UK, they say. Electric bus chassis assembly will take place in ADL’s facilities with on-the-ground support from the BYD team, and is planned to commence in the second half of 2021, the companies confirm.…

TRANSDEV MELBOURNE loaned ‘the big man in red himself’ Santa Claus a specially decorated Christmas bus to stand in for his reindeer and help spread some cheer to children and families staying in Very Special Kids’ Hospice in Malvern East over Christmas. Transdev staff were happy to help Santa with an early Christmas surprise for children with life-threatening illnesses by dropping in on one of Very Special Kids’ music therapy sessions, according to the company. Very Special Kids is a children’s charity supporting families across Victoria that have a child with a life-threatening condition. The music therapy session is just one of the ways Very Special Kids supports approximately 850 families across Victoria, Transdev explains. Other services include counselling, advocacy, sibling programs, bereavement support and specialist care at the Very…

Following the recent introduction of Volvo’s Zone Management System, global key customer ComfortDelGro Corporation (CDC) is having this clean and innovative technology integrated into its Volvo B5LH S-Charge buses in its Victorian fleet to promote sustainable transport. CDC Victoria (CDCV) currently operates the largest existing self-charging bus electric fleet in Australia and maintains a shared focus with Volvo Bus Australia in having this technology lead the way towards long-term environmental sustainability, it states. This newly introduced system will enable CDCV’s existing S-charge bus fleet to achieve zero emissions in designated zones by operating exclusively in electric drive mode without relying on the electricity grid or requiring expensive infrastructure for charging, Volvo explains. In addition to offering environmental benefits, this innovative ‘Zone Management’ technology also has the capacity to enhance the…

With visits to showrooms and customers off the cards for significant parts of the past year, the 2021 Brisbane Truck Show presents the best opportunity to come together and reconnect with customers, peers and the entire industry. It also allows for these new products, models or innovations to be seen up close. That applies across the full range of trucks, trailers, components, technology, equipment, accessories and even merchandise. On the opening morning of the show, highly anticipated new models will be unveiled to an eager audience. Before the doors open the halls are busy with sales teams putting a final polish on every item and every counter. It is a beautiful thing to see the lights come on, screens light up and the doors open. But first is the media…

It’s not new news that we at ABC have constantly highlighted and rued the sorrowful plight of the uber-advanced Euro 6 commercial diesel engine, if all the pundits promoting the EV revolution are to be believed - given the forced inevitability of such a transition. And to the layman such a demise would very much seem to be the case. Yet, while global manufacturing and sales of new fully diesel buses have reportedly plummeted, that in no way reflects any reduction of interest in the tech. Well, the engine part at least. That is, all the R&D from so many bus-makers over years into the latest, ‘cleanest’ iteration of such a powerplant would be such a shame to waste. And thankfully, even as 2030 approaches, that doesn’t necessarily need to…

It’s not yet a repeat of the months we used to see with 100+ deliveries pre-Covid, but December’s bus and coach numbers show glimpses of optimism for a return to form in 2021. The final tally of 80 is 10 more than November, and includes a more diverse range of original equipment manufacturers and body building brands than previously. The most interesting development in the chassis sector is regular market leader Volvo easing to third with its lowest monthly tally for the year (13). Fellow Swede Scania instead took top spot with 26 deliveries. Mercedes-Benz had a good showing, moving up to second with its second-best figure for the year of 19, just below July’s 22 and well above November’s eight. Volgren held a firm grip at the top of…