Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 423 i Australasian Bus & Coach

In a major change, Euro VI emissions will become standard within the next two years. The federal government will introduce tighter noxious emissions standards for new trucks and buses, saving lives while preventing toxic air pollution and providing significant environmental and economic benefits for communities. The new standards, known as Euro VI, will be phased in over 12 months from November 1, 2024. The federal government’s Bureau of Infrastructure and Transport Research Economics estimates introducing Euro VI will save the Australian community $6.4 billion over 25 years from fewer premature deaths and chronic illnesses. Euro VI standards are already in place in the European Union and United Kingdom, and equivalent standards also apply in most developed countries, including the United States, Japan. China and India. Introducing Euro VI will mean…

Transdev in the North of England is to compete in five categories in the UK bus industry’s biggest celebration of innovation and excellence. The UK Bus Awards has celebrated the industry’s highest performers for 25 years, with more than 450 awards presented in that time to winners throughout the country. Having sifted through dozens of entries from bus firms across the United Kingdom, senior industry leaders on five expert judging panels have announced their shortlists for the 2022 Awards – and Transdev is in the running for five awards, including: • Supporting the Customer Experience – for Transdev’s unique ‘Sky Class’ premium specification twin-deck buses• Culture Change – recognising Transdev’s team communications, training, and development, including its 2022 recruitment drive• Marketing – for Transdev’s successful transformation of Team Pennine• Partnering…

As Jason Healey drove his bus to Marsden State High School, Australia’s largest secondary school, something unusual happened. Coming from the opposite direction was a bus driven by a young man from the same operator. As the buses moved closer, Jason soon realised he knew the person behind the wheel. It was his son, Matt Healey. A smile broke across Jason’s face. “I saw Matt as he was getting closer,” Jason told ABC. “It was an amazing moment – we flashed our headlights and gave each other a wave. “I never thought I’d have that memory of waving to my own son in the same company’s bus going in the opposite direction.” This reunion on the roads has happened since and left Jason feeling proud every time. Jason has had…

As a global tax services and software provider, Ryan was looking for ways to expand its offerings to customers in the transport industry. It became a valuable member of the Australian bus and coach industry when it officially became a Geotab reseller earlier this year. It was a major boost for Ryan senior director of indirect tax Anthony Harmer. Having previously worked on a Linfox refrigerated trailer case ruling that fuel not used for travelling on a public road was entitled to a larger tax claim, Harmer has spent the past 12 years specialising in fuel tax credit claims for Australian operators. When he took his expertise in the area to Ryan in 2021, Harmer knew there was potential for the company to expand into the bus industry. By partnering…

Fallon’s Bus Services has been ordering MAN Truck & Bus chassis for nearly a decade. The family-owned operator was established in 1962 in Gippsland and now runs a range of services in north-east Victorian regions. After starting off with a couple of local Bedford school buses, Fallon’s now has more than 110 vehicles driving a range of charter, school and route services. More than 35 of the chassis in its fleet come courtesy of MAN. It all began when Fallon’s made an acquisition. “Our first experience with MAN was when we took over Fall’s Creek Coach Service near Mount Beauty,” Fallon’s Bus Services key principal told ABC. “With that acquisition we took on three MAN buses in two school vehicles and a coach. “All three were big 18-tonne chassis. We…

It’s been the dream of many to run a beer bus. In the Canadian city of Guelph in southwest Canada, a local group is making it a reality. It all started in the town known as the ‘Royal City’. When Guelph. Beer, a unique association of Guelph commercial brewers, reached out to the local operator Guelph Transit in May 2019, it wanted to increase the popularity of the city’s breweries. The idea of a beer bus sought to boost companies like Canada’s oldest independently owned microbrewery in the Guelph-based Wellington Brewery. The brewery joined with Fixed Gear Brewing, Sleeman Brewing, Brothers Brewing and Royal City Brewing Co to create Guelph. Beer. The group then looked to partner with Guelph Transit in providing free shuttles to local breweries. “The beer bus…

Kelsian Group has continued its WA expansion through its latest acquisition. Australian multi-modal transport operator Kelsian Group has announced it will acquire Horizons West Bus and Coachlines (Horizons West). Established in 1985, Horizons West, with its highly visible brand, is well recognised in the Perth metro area for bus hire and coach charter services provided to the education sector. The Horizons West business specialises in serving schools, universities and government with approximately 157 employees operating a bus fleet of 138 buses from two depots. Horizons West currently operates 21 contracts for the WA government and provides services to a university and more than 400 schools. Kelsian Group CEO Clint Feuerherdt says Horizons West provides Kelsian with a platform to grow in the large and fragmented education transport market and will…

Siemens Australia says it is working with Applied EV to continue work on autonomous vehicle systems. Australian technology company Applied EV, who specialise in digital control systems for autonomous vehicles, is utilising Siemens’ high-tech industrial software systems to support the design, quality assurance and build of its next generation autonomous vehicles. Siemens’ cloud-based Teamcenter® X software for product lifecycle management (PLM), was recently made available in Australia on Amazon Web Services’ (AWS) regional servers and is a trusted tool for Applied EV’s design and product quality workflows to help decrease costs and reduce time-to-market. The announcement follows Applied EV’s recent success testing a self-driving cabinless commercial vehicle on European streets. Julian Broadbent, co-founder and CEO of Applied EV, says collaborating with global technology giant Siemens is strategic to progressing the…

Kinetic says it plans to continue growing in both Australia and Europe following its latest major acquisition. Australasian-based bus operator Kinetic is set to expand its global leadership in sustainable busing after completing the acquisition of UK-based Go-Ahead Group under a joint venture arrangement. The transformative acquisition was completed under a consortium with Globalvia Inversiones. With more than 27,000 employees and a fleet of more than 6,000 buses across the UK, Ireland, Sweden and Singapore, Go-Ahead is responsible for a quarter of London’s buses for Transport for London. The company also operates rail services in the UK, Norway and Germany. Go-Ahead has taken significant steps towards decarbonising its business and is now one of London’s largest operators of electric buses. The company will shortly begin operating its first hydrogen buses…

When many people hop onboard a bus, they don’t think about what is needed from a passenger information system to provide information for everyone. A next stop passenger information system needs to provide concise information about the journey, with both visual and audio messages to give customers confidence when they travel. This necessity is heightened especially if they are not familiar with the route or have a disability, such as a vision or hearing impairment. Hanover Displays is leading the charge in making sure its range of passenger information products cater for all passengers. It’s doing so by ensuring its systems maintain compliance with the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA). These standards outline what is required to make buses and bus stops accessible for people with a disability. “The DDA requirements…

The future is quickly coming in the Australian bus and coach industry. HESS is helping lead the charge as part of a new network in Brisbane. Commencing in 2024, Brisbane Metro will deliver a new era of connected transport featuring Australian-first vehicles helping to future proof Brisbane’s public transport network. The new-age buses run by Brisbane Metro were designed in Switzerland and tested on the streets of Greater Brisbane. Its biarticulated battery electric vehicles will not only evolve the way Brisbane commuters and holiday-goers travel – it’s reshaping how Australian operators consider the future of public transport. HESS HESS says in many ways the lighTram® 25 defies categorisation given that it offers operators both the high passenger capacity one might expect from a tram or light rail vehicle, and the…

2022 BIC NATIONAL CONFERENCE 13–16 NOVEMBER 2022 BRISBANE The Bus Industry Confederation will hold its National Conference in Brisbane from 13 to 16 November. The theme for the National Bus Industry Conference is ‘Moving People – Navigating Change’. The conference aims to engage high level discussion on current and emerging issues, trends and challenges for our moving people industry. The program will include presentations from highly regarded policy leaders and policy thinkers to engage delegates on what our future cities and regions look like and future transport needs. The industry is currently experiencing a number of external factors that, for many, will mean a new or adapted sustainable business model for the future. The conference will include a blockbuster session on zero emissions and examine business agility and resilience in…

The new subsidiary of BLK Auto has announced its truck range will begin production. BLK Auto has released the unveiling of its new subsidiary HDrive, which will now begin entering the hydrogen fuel cell truck market through a new range in production. The trucks will be produced after passing a design and engineering period. HDrive says it has already taken several orders for its HFCV trucks, including for a dual control side lifter waste truck and a 6x4 prime mover recently purchased by fuel provider Pure Hydrogen for use by their clients. HDrive’s HFCV trucks have been designed and engineered in Australia, using high-quality components sourced from its trusted network of suppliers to develop the company’s fuel cell and other market-leading technology. In a joint venture, HDrive trucks will initially…

Manufacturer Agrale has launched a new electric bus to meet emissions requirements in the Argentinian capital. A new Agrale electric bus, developed by electrification specialist Equipmake in collaboration with the brand’s Argentine-Brazilian automaker, and featuring the company’s latest-generation zero-emission powertrain, has been launched in Buenos Aires. Debuted in the context of the C40 World Mayors Conference, held from October 19 to 21 in the Argentine capital, the zero-emission Agrale MT17.0 LEe bus was one of the stars of the event, which brought together mayors from around the world, as well as leading decision makers, with the objective of showing innovative sustainability solutions. Following successful tests by the Agrale manufacturer in Argentina, the new bus will now begin in-service trials on the streets of Buenos Aires. Having committed to halving its…

Current insights into passenger behaviour show most of a passenger’s experience is actually offboard. It starts before a passenger has left their house for the day, or before they leave the office in the afternoon, when they want to know the best way to get to their destination ahead of time. Consat Telematics managing director Lachlan Mackay says the company has grown its passenger information solutions to provide a wider range of capabilities for customers. “Passenger information is now about the overall experience for a passenger that starts long before the actual bus journey,” Mackay told ABC. “Passengers now want to know well before they get on a bus what time it is arriving, where it stops and how full it is. “People want to know all of this information…

Committed to a green future, Webasto Australia is shaping the e-mobility transition through close collaboration with its partners and customers. Building on more than 90 years of expertise, Webasto has developed a modular and scalable concept for the electrification of commercial vehicles and construction machinery. Manufacturing in a state-of-the-art German facility, Webasto offers a complete plug and play solution providing everything from one primary source: battery, vehicle interface units and thermal management. The core of the system is the CV standard battery with a configuration of 400v and 800v. Designed to withstand the harshest environments, the battery has been homologated against recognised standards ECE R100, ECE R10 and tested against the highest industry safety requirements. The CV standard battery offers manufacturers flexible integration into the vehicle due to vertical and…

Ever since BLK Auto launched the newly formed company HDrive earlier this year, it’s been looking for an opportunity to showcase its vehicles in Australia. In late October, HDrive continued to surge into the hydrogen heavy vehicle market after agreeing to a five-year supply deal with Pure Hydrogen and Wisdom Motors for up to 12,000 trucks over five years. Now, BLK Auto and HDrive are turning to procuring hydrogen buses in Australia. “It’s very exciting for Wisdom Motors to give us the opportunity to bring this bus down to Australia and show it to the industry,” Pecotic told ABC. “Wisdom has loaned the bus to us for one month from Hong Kong to show bus operators and government officials how a hydrogen bus works in person.” On November 29, HDrive…

The bus and coach industry’s bumper year is extending into the final months of 2022, with sales for October coming close to yet again breaching the triple-figures mark. After September finished with 89 deliveries, October has risen by eight to record 97 deliveries. When it came to chassis, Volvo once again emerged as the market leader with 27 delivered for the month. Scania improved on its September sales by seven after delivering 24 chassis in October, while Yutong remained close behind with an improved 21 deliveries. There was daylight behind the top three, with I-Bus and Mercedes-Benz (5 each) falling behind the leading pack, while BCI (4) closely followed. In an even share of the final 11 deliveries, MAN and King Long both registered three units, while BLK Auto recorded…