Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 408 i Australasian Bus & Coach

LOCAL ADELAIDE bus fans are loving being at the right place, right time to luckily spot the very first Bustech-bodied articulated Scania bus undergoing testing on the city’s O-Bahn transit system, scoop pics reveal. The keen interest is being heightened by the fact the last new Scania ‘artic’ delivered to the O-Bahn and Adelaide’s nice wide city streets was in 2013, nearly 10 years ago, trainspotters (bus-spotters?) have explained. As ABC magazine understands, the Euro 6-emissions K360-chassis bus in action is one of three artics, part of a 20-bus order all due to be delivered by December, 2021. Additionally, we understand these are the very first artics that either Precision or Bustech have ever done. Benefits of Euro6 artics, as experts will profess, include lower carbon emissions, less noise, they…

A $15 MILLION Western Sydney gas plant will be generating ‘green hydrogen’ for use by transport and industrial customers from early 2022 following a joint commercial agreement announced recently. Energy infrastructure company Jemena – backed by the State Grid Corporation of China and Singapore Power – and gas company Coregas will collectively be supplying green hydrogen, available to New South Wales for the first time, for the state’s transport sector, they confirm. Buses, trucks and cars powered by green hydrogen could soon be a reality thanks to the new agreement touted as a ‘boost to NSW’, which takes effect from early 2022, they state. Jemena general manager for renewable gas, Gabrielle Sycamore, says the agreement further demonstrates the potential of green hydrogen to store renewable energy and integrate future gas,…

AUSTRALIAN bus and coach air-conditioning expert Coachair has further expanded its commitment to customer support in appointing a new national parts manager, it’s announced. Bringing a wealth of experience to the role, Coachair – established in 1978 as the first Australian designer and manufacturer of bus air conditioning systems to the market – has appointed Peter Soleski to the above-mentioned role, expanding the organisation’s commitment to customer support and service, it states. Mechanically minded and with a strong background in parts, Soleski is described as an asset to the company. “One of Peter’s great strengths is his ability to understand the mechanical reasons behind a breakdown and use that expertise to interpret the parts requirements to find a solution,” said Garry Webb, Coachair general manager, sales and marketing. “He is…

FROM DEPOT WITH LOVE A British bus operator’s Bond-themed bus name has been doing the rounds on socials recently, even though it was actually unveiled in November, 2019.’Bussy Galore’ - punning on Goldfinger character Pussy Galore - plies its trade around the northwest of England but is not the only unusually named bus out there, as online commentators pointed out. Coach operator Megabus actually has 46 named buses on the UK’s roads, ranging from Al Bus Dumbledore and Bussy the Vampire Slayer to I am Spartabus and – in homage of nautical favourite Boaty McBoatface – Mega McMegaface. For a full list, visit: https://uk.megabus.com/spot-our-named-coaches NON-HEINOUS Missing the thrill of a live music performance in these lockdown times? You’re not the only ones. Canadian groove rock band The Carbons have taken…

With 2021 marking the 50th anniversary of Volvo Bus Australia (VBA), the company has reflected on its long-standing partnership with industry leading global parts supplier, ZF. Not long after Volvo Bus reached Australian shores in 1971, the company established itself as an automotive pioneer of quality, safety and environmental care, and became a well-connected industry original equipment manufacturer, it explains. Volvo Bus prioritised finding trusted and reliable industry partners to support its operations and customer success – with ZF being one of its earliest partners, it confirms. Established in Friedrichshafen, Germany – 12 years prior to Volvo’s conception in Gothenburg, Sweden, in 1927 – ZF and Volvo both share European heritages and have, “…maintained similar visions since the beginning, in creating innovative, safe and reliable transport solutions,” they state. LED…

It’s no secret that the long-distance coach tourism sector – not just in Australia and New Zealand – has taken a shellacking since the Covid-19 outbreak started near 18 months ago. What was once a burgeoning segment of the industry itself, arguably the sexy and glamourous side of the bus-travel experience, took a hit from the global fallout of planes grounded and advance bookings cancelled virtually overnight. Fastforward about 18 months and while few would say the pandemic is over (and there are more than enough out there saying that it was never meant to be), the industry in pockets has shown promising ‘green shoots’ of undergrowth that gives much hope for the future of coach travel, as it picks itself up from the floor, dusts itself off and rises…

Sharing a common global bus industry link via the use of Chinese BYD electric bus chassis, the agreement would see Nexport – an Australian owned supplier and producer of electric buses – assemble bodies from the Alexander Dennis Enviro family on BYD chassis for the Australian market. Nexport will also lead the customer sales and service relationship, it confirms. ADL and BYD’s electric vehicle partnership has been a great success in the UK, Ireland and New Zealand, where they have delivered and taken orders for more than 1,000 battery-electric vehicles. The supply agreement will bring a range of new locally assembled electric bus products, providing bus types that are currently not available to local bus operators in Australia, the entities explain. The first of the range released will include a…

Whether it is passenger cars, light commercial vehicles, trucks, or buses and coaches, ZF technology has been central to the safety, performance and efficiency of these vehicles for generations. And in the e-Mobility space, ZF’s years of research and development continues to place it ahead of the competition. “For over 100 years, ZF has globally developed a reputation as a leader in automotive systems, and has subsequently been at the forefront of the move towards electrification in the commercial vehicle segment,” said Shane Trenbath, technical services manager, ZF Services Australia. “What makes ZF unique is that the expertise for all of the different components of the EV system are available from a single source, which truly sets us apart.” THE NEXT STEP The AxTrax AVE portal axle has already been…

While the first 39 units of Ebusco’s lightweight 3.0 electric bus have been confirmed for use in their native Dutch homeland in 2022, the first of the new Australian-delivered 2.3 e-buses are due to land here end 2021, local sources confirm. Acompany spokesperson confirmed Ebusco will now be doing so outright itself, with the first new 2.3 variant landed before the end of 2021. They highlight that only the impact of Covid thus far had affected the logistics of testing the 3.0 in Europe during the past 12 months, along with the finalisation of what will be the first Australian 2.3 e-bus due here soon (then it will be SKD kits using local content for the 3.0). The investment by Transdev Netherlands in the Ebusco 3.0 represents significant confidence in…

PRIVATE AUSTRALIAN bus operator Busways has confirmed industry rumours that it has more than doubled its Sydney operations following being awarded the Region 7 contract. NSW Minister for Transport and Roads, Andrew Constance, announced the award of one of Greater Sydney’s largest bus contracts to Busways. From January, 2022, Busways will operate almost 1.1 million trips per year for customers in the Lower North Shore and Inner North West for Greater Sydney Bus Contract 7, extending from Parramatta into the Sydney CBD, Busways says. It is the first time this network will be managed by a private operator, Busways confirms. With an appetite for collaborative government and industry partnerships, the company is working across five of TfNSW’s Future Transport Technology Roadmap’s six priority programs for transport technology and customer benefits,…

VOLVO BUS AUSTRALIA (VBA) has made key new appointments to support its bus electro-mobility projects, the company recently announced. Dean Moule has been promoted to the newly created role of electromobility product director, Asia Pacific Region (APAC), and Mark Fryer consequently promoted to the role of national sales engineering and bodybuild manager, Volvo Bus Australia – effective July, 2021. With 35 years’ experience in the automotive industry and having spent the past 12 years as the sales engineering and bodybuild manager at Volvo Bus Australia, Moule brings with him a wealth of knowledge and insight, Volvo says. He was involved in VBA’s first electro-mobility initiative with its hybrid project, developing and introducing the B5L S-Charge chassis to the Australian market a decade ago and, more recently, has been the electro-mobility…

THE DUTY to meet Chain of Responsibility (COR) accountability and updated NVHR standards’ compliance was a motivation behind Scania Australia’s national bus and truck technician certification programme, which completed recently, it reports. With the minimum aim to ensure all its technicians are fully qualified and compliant with state and national certification for the jobs they undertake, Scania says it is proud to have some of the best technicians in the industry, who all have access to the special tools, vehicle data, service manuals and training allowing them to, “…diagnose and service Scania trucks, buses and engines better than anyone else.” As the company explains, the Australian transport industry is heavily regulated and COR is an important consideration for operators. Service and repair workshop technicians require more than factory training and…

AUSTRALASIA’s favourite bus and coach industry publication, ABC magazine, is undergoing an exciting relaunch of key products and services under its new ownership with Prime Creative Media (PCM), the company has announced. As the nation’s largest B2B publisher, Australian-owned PCM recently acquired ABC magazine (www.busnews.com. au) along with a suite of other leading industry titles, in a galvanising move that brings to market an enhanced experience for all involved in the local and international bus and coach scene. ABC magazine will now utilise the extensive resources and strengths of PCM, with a slew of developments including a new-look weekly newsletter and a dedicated business development manager (BDM), bringing a more tailored approach to communicating with and supporting avid readers and valued commercial partners alike. Investing in both print and digital…

These leading industry ISO certification benchmarks for asset management systems, quality management systems, safety management systems and environmental management systems are absolutely critical in safely and responsibly operating a global public transport company, Transit Systems states. Rigorous certification of ISO 55001 – Asset Management – is now held by the operator in three states, which Sealink Travel Group (Sealink owns Transit Systems) CEO Clint Feuerherdt says very few bus operators have achieved. “In addition, all of the recent certifications encompass Torrens Transit’s newest operations in the northern suburbs of Adelaide, all within one year of commencing operations, evidencing the pursuit of quality service delivery,” he said. Feuerherdt adds that the achievement was a reflection of the commitment from the entire team. “From our chief of operations and general manager to…

Every profession has good days and bad. Some days we are chuffed just to do our job and other days perhaps not so much and keep sneaking peeks at the clock to see if it is time to go home yet. How refreshing it is to meet someone whose love and enthusiasm for their profession is borderline unreal. Trevor Kerton is one such person. He is the owner and operator of Kerton Investments, a small bus and charter business based in Bairnsdale in the Gippsland Lakes region of Victoria. One of the things that came across many times during our interview was Kerton’s genuine admiration of people involved in the bus industry. Anyone who chats with him for more than a minute about the bus industry will be able to…

The future is here, with fully electric propulsion the next revolution in technology to hit the transport world, it seems. With the current push to make operations more ‘sustainable’ and reduce air pollution in our urban areas, major manufacturers are now unveiling their takes on electric buses and Aussie and Kiwi operators are starting to put them on the road. As with all new technology, there will be challenges to overcome, not least of which the infrastructure required to support an electric bus network. There’s also the general republic’s response to a far quieter vehicle than they are used to when navigating busy roads. After worries were raised by a university report into the potential for pedestrian collisions once more electric buses are on the roads, specialists stepped forward to…

In being the first “Panel 3-approved Australian vehicle for NSW”, the Bustech Group also states it has a new Newcastle, NSW-based production facility in development. The Bustech Group’s 12.5-metre ZDi 450 e-bus – built to “…accelerate the future of clean, efficient and emission-free transport solutions for NSW and Australia while also ‘harnessing domestic capabilities’” – will use Proterra Powered supplied batteries, it explains. A Bustech spokesperson told ABC magazine its first-gen ZDi (latest-gen pictured) ADR-compliant vehicle is “in operation here in Adelaide” (Adelaide Metro confirming that set-up uses Toshiba batteries) and in Dubai and that its second-generation Proterra ZDi (450) will be in operation in QLD and NSW in Q4 this year. The first ZDi 450 Panel 3-compliant buses have already commenced manufacture. “Our admission to the NSW procurement panel…

The ‘quieter and cleaner’ bus journeys in Sydney’s south west will see Interline’s new electric BCI Citirider EV bus initially operate on routes 859 (Carnes Hill to Edmondson Park) and 858 (Oran Park Town Centre to Leppington), Transport for NSW confirms. The BCI e-bus is capable of running for up to seven hours on a full charge, TfNSW explains. NSW Minister for Transport and Roads Andrew Constance says it is one of more than 50 new electric buses being delivered across Sydney this year. “Five electric buses have already been trialled in Sydney’s inner west and now it is time for customers in the south-west to start reaping the benefits of this amazing technology,” Minister Constance stated. “We are one step closer to creating a greener, cleaner and healthier future…

A QUIET REVOLUTION is happening at Dyson’s bus depot in Shepparton, Victoria, where, since 2019, the Dyson Group has welcomed and trained three special women as bus drivers – breaking down traditional cultural boundaries and creating career pathways for a new generation of professional bus drivers, the company explains. In 2019, Gurpreet Kaur was looking for a career change. She recalled: “I used to be an aged care worker, but I wanted to do something new, something that had not been done by the woman of my community before. “I took the initiative to get my bus license and the Dyson Group offered me a job. “I am very proud to be the first woman in my community to become a bus driver. “The job gives me independence and control…

PRIOR TO ITS new BZL electric bus chassis debuting on Australia shores this year, Volvo Bus Australia (VBA) is reminding the local market of the value of its S-Charge hybrid bus, essentially given the still relative infancy of e-bus fleet charging infrastructure here. Touted as “…the next-best alternative to electric buses” – and with more than 10 years of electro-mobility experience in the Aussie market – VBA is acknowledging the major role that its B5L S-Charge chassis has made in, “…paving the way towards this technology, with these hybrid vehicles ranking in as the next-best alternative to electric buses.” Following the initial release of the B5L S-Charge chassis in 2013, Volvo’s S-Charge chassis has been making waves in the industry where there are few of its kind, the company states.…

VIRTUALLY INSTANTANEOS bus diagnostic and repair-need information – based on Apple iPad tablet technology – is now being rolled out across Scania’s company-owned branches Australia-wide, the company announced, recently. Scania’s paperless Workshop Information Online innovation is helping to speed up servicing and repairs, getting customers’ buses back on the road more quickly, it states. The iPad-based technology is providing technicians with real-time information about the buses they are working on, a complete work order list, as well as the ability to attach photos of damaged or broken components, which can be seamlessly sent to the customer in order to gain approval to proceed with repairs, Scania explains. The service and repair information is then saved as part of the vehicle’s electronic history held on file by Scania, which can be…

Hong Kong-based Tor Investment Management, a private alternative asset manager focused on Asia-Pacific markets with more than US$2 billion (A$2.7 billion) in assets under management, provided the new funding line, True Green confirms. Burnvoir Corporate Finance Limited supplied financial advice for the raise, it adds. Environmental social and governance accelerator and active impact investor True Green Impact Group (True Green) will use the funds as growth capital for the Nexport Group, which is currently leading the clean mobility-tech evolution across Australia, it states. This includes boosted funding to support the NSW government with its transition to an electric bus fleet and to introduce a range of mobility product offerings to the corporate and consumer markets, it explains. The funding injection also supports the renaissance of clean-tech manufacturing in Australia with…

A Yutong-manufactured 40-seater E12 bus operates on a Logan Coaches continuous loop from all Yarrabilba stops along Yarrabilba Drive to Loganlea, Logan Hyperdome and as far as Beenleigh. Yutong’s E12 electric bus features 12 batteries, with overnight charging delivering a driving range of up to 380 “noise-free” kilometres, it states. Assistant general manager of Logan Coaches Robbie Harrop said at the bus service’s launch: “The introduction of a state-of-the-art fully electric bus to our fleet represents an important milestone for our company and we are delighted to take a lead in environmentally friendly public transport. “We started looking at the technology in late 2018 and would like to acknowledge the ongoing support and input of Lendlease, as well as Yutong for supplying the bus. “Apart from the environmental benefits, the…

If you are a bus operator and concerned about the electric bus transition in Australia and how to successfully navigate it, these are valid feelings and concerns given all the aspects that need to be covered – and that’s where partner trust comes in. There is much that needs to occur, all the way from e-bus choice, battery longevity and driver training up to a charging infrastructure point of view to ensure the success of your EV fleet. So, trusted experience from companies like ABB is key. Just as you can’t grow a healthy, bountiful fruit tree overnight, you need to get the groundwork right; fertile soil, good location, plenty of sun and nutrients for energy will form the solid basis for productive long-term growth. Bus fleets are no different.…

In Europe, MAN’s e-bus tech and stylish body design is winning it all sorts of awards and plaudits from within industry. MAN’s local distributor Penske Australia has now confirmed it expects MAN’s Lion’s City E bus here no later than 2025. Penske Australia’s Brisbane-based head of MAN Bus and Coach, Crinel Geaboc, who explains to ABC magazine that bringing such a product out to market here has been greatly influenced by ensuring the latest optimised battery technology is successfully married to the overall Lion’s City E12 and E18 plan. “The Australian EV bus is yet to be named, but will have the same specification as our highly successful Lion’s City 12E in Europe, using 480kWh NMC batteries developed internally by MAN.…

What goes up must come down, as the saying goes, with Australian bus and coach deliveries following that mantra in July after June’s yearly high. The context here is the turn of the financial year, with 114 deliveries at the end of the last one, and only 69 to start the new one; a number comparable to the lows of last year’s market contraction as the Covid-19 pandemic took a hold around the globe. This decline is reflected in the chassis sector by Scania’s trajectory, which saw a yearly high of 44 in June and 11 in July. Volvo, meanwhile, recorded a carbon copy 29 deliveries, aided by a 10-unit fleet order by Busways Pacific. Mercedes-Benz was the only brand to see a significant month-on-month increase, from six to 15.…