ABC is the leading bus and coach publication in Australia, providing operators with vital information and market intelligence to help them keep their BUSiness moving. ABC is the major source of vehicle and equipment classifieds for the industry.
Compared to its older siblings in the truck and heavy vehicle industries, the bus and coach sector is relatively small in Australia. Its family feel and welcoming nature is a sticking point for those who are fortunate to meet the fraternity. Yet, this also means the bus and coach industry has been harder to reach for new technology and international developments. After slowly growing its zero-emissions vehicles capabilities, the Australian market is now beginning to see the many helpful ways that other systems and products can streamline operations and lower costs. This very full September edition of ABC is jam-packed with technological developments and solutions that Australian operators may not have even heard of, let alone considered. In the lead-up to the looming Australasian Bus & Coach Expo in Sydney,…
Foton and Transit Systems have entered into an Australian-first partnership on hydrogen fuel cell city buses. Foton Mobility and Transit Systems have announced an Australian first with the arrival of two hydrogen fuel cell buses, marking a new era in mass transport sustainability. The hydrogen buses are equipped with the fuel cell system jointly developed by SinoHytec and Toyota after 10 years of development to reach the point of commercial readiness. The hydrogen fuel cell buses have been added to Transit Systems’ growing green fleet of sustainable transport solutions, which now includes 60 electric buses and two hydrogen buses – making Transit Systems, which is part of the Kelsian Group, Australia’s most experienced sustainable public transport operator. Foton Mobility Australia CEO Neil Wang says the hydrogen buses are in their…
Australasian bus operator Kinetic has officially welcomed NZ Bus Ltd (NZ Bus) to its business in New Zealand after acquiring the company. The acquisition expands Kinetic’s operation into the fast-growing cities of Auckland, Wellington and Tauranga under long-term government contracts. NZ Bus’s accelerated electric bus roll-out program and significant investment in depot conversion and infrastructure will also bolster Kinetic’s sustainability credentials and commitment to zero-emission transport as the region’s largest battery electric bus (BEB) operator, and one of the largest globally. NZ Bus currently operates 70 BEBs and, last year, announced Australasia’s biggest electric bus order in partnership with Auckland Transport (AT), with 152 BEBs to replace around 12 per cent of the diesel bus fleet over the next four years. Kinetic already operates 10 BEBs in Auckland as part…
Figures suggest thousands of bus trips are being cancelled in NSW daily due to driver shortages. Recent union figures supplied to the Herald suggest bus journeys being cancelled courtesy of driver shortages happened to more than 1,200 trips daily across four privatised Sydney regions on an average July weekday. Figures provided show Transdev John Holland-operated Region 9 buses covering the eastern and south-eastern suburbs had 280 cancelled trips on one day due to a staff shortage of nearly 100 drivers. Other services, like the Region 8 northern beaches and lower north shore buses run by Keolis Downer, saw an average of 360 trips cancelled per day due to a shortage of 60 drivers, while inner west buses in Region 6 had 500 journeys lost, with Transit Systems having a driver…
A University of Melbourne researcher has suggested ways to improve Melbourne’s bus network to increase its electric bus transition. The University of Melbourne is suggesting implementing better bus networks in the city’s suburbs as a way for the transport industry to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Dr John Stone says despite the incentive for driving electric cars, finding ways to drive less is the best way of meeting climate targets. A key method to providing alternatives to driving in Melbourne is by addressing the city’s bus system. Stone says the University of Melbourne recently completed its Better Buses for Melbourne’s West and Melbourne’s Zero Emission Bus Transition studies to show how it can transition to clean electric buses operating on a fast and connected network. Stone says the Victorian government’s Zero…
Transdev has joined forces with the Queensland government to invest in hydrogen buses. Public transport operator Transdev has backed a cleaner hydrogen transport future by investing in two hydrogen buses with support from the Queensland government. Queensland Deputy Premier Dr Steven Miles announced a $1.5 million commitment for the buses under the state government’s Hydrogen Industry Development Fund. Transdev will match the $1.5m investment to purchase the two hydrogen fuel cell buses to service the eastern suburbs of Brisbane from its Capalaba depot. Transdev Queensland managing director Mark McKenzie says he is proud of securing the funding and the government’s commitment to growing the hydrogen industry and its opportunities. “The state government has already backed zero-emissions vehicles and now we look forward to what hydrogen has to offer,” McKenzie says.…
