National Bus Trader The Magazine of Bus Equipment for the United States and Canada Volume XLV,No. 12

of Bus Equipment for the United States and Canada

Industry Legend Patricia Ziska Retires from MCI (by Larry Plachno)

Patricia Ziska will retire at the end of 2022 following 46 years in the bus industry She has been a leader in the industry and took customer service to new levels Patricia Ziska has made the bus industry a better place.

Alternative Drivelines for City Buses in Europe (by Larry Plachno)

This analysis of trends in alternative drivelines for city buses in Europe is based on research by Wim Chatrou of CME Solutions. One questions whether we will see similar trends in the United States and Canada.

Trailways Teamwork Aces Golf Tournament Shuttle Service (by Pat Plodzeen)

Dean Transportation and Fullington Trailways partner to provide transportation at the recent Detroit PGA tournament More than 70,000 fans, volunteers, caddies and players were brought to the PGA event

The Driver is the Captain of the Bus (by Dave Millhouser)

Dave brings up the point that like the captain of a boat or airplane, regardless of what you do or do not do, the driver is the captain of the bus and ultimately responsible for safety and operations.

Equipment News

MCI Academy Welcomes Back In-Person Classes

M o t o r C o a c h I n d u s t r i e s ( M C I ) , a s u b s i d i a r y o f N F I G r o u p I n c ( N F I ) , a n d N o r t h A m e r i c a ’s m o t o r c o a c h l e a d e r backed by reliable in field technical exper t i s e , 2 4 / 7 ro a d s i d e a s s i s t a n c e a n d p a r t s s u p p o r t , re c e n t l y a n n o u n c e d t h e re o p e n i n g o f M C I A c a d e m y i n p e r s o n c l a s s e s a t t h e N a t i o n a l Tr a i n i n g C e n t e r i n L o u s v i l l e , K e n t u c k y

A s t h e o n l y m o t o rc o a c h i n d u s t r y t r a i n i n g i n s t i t u t i o n t o e a r n t h e A u t o m o t i v e S e r v i c e E x c e l l e n c e ( A S E ) a c c re d i t a t i o n a n d one of NFI’s centers for training and work f o r c e d e v e l o p m e n t , M C I A c a d e m y i s p r o u d t o c o n t i n u e p r o v i d i n g i t s n o c o s t t r a i n i n g p ro g r a m s f o r a l l l e v e l s o f t e c h n i cians with in person classes which star ted i n O c t o b e r 2 0 2 2

M C I A c a d e m y, a f i v e t i m e a w a rd w i n ning training program, is committed to pro viding the highest quality training available in the motorcoach industr y for all levels of t e c h n i c i a n s u s i n g o n l i n e c o u r s e s , c l a s s room sessions, written tests and practical skills demonstration MCI Academy’s com

prehensive educational program will equip m o t o rc o a c h p ro f e s s i o n a l s w i t h t h e k n o w l edge and skills to maintain, diagnose and re p a i r s y s t e m s o n M C I m o t o rc o a c h e s t o maximize on road time, passenger safety a n d o p e r a t o r p ro f i t a b i l i t y

2022 In-Person Class Schedule

• October 31 November 4, 2022 Tech nician 3

• November 7 11, 2022 HVAC 201

• November 15 18, 2022 HVAC 101

• December 5 9, 2022 Electrical 101

• December 12 16, 2022 Technician 3

W i t h i t s A S E re c e r t i f i c a t i o n c o m p l e t e d i n S e p t e m b e r o f 2 0 2 2 , A S E a c c re d i t a t i o n of the MCI Academy training program has b e e n e x t e n d e d t o 2 0 2 7 M C I A c a d e m y students can ear n all three technician cer t i f i c a t e s a n d c o m p l e t e t w o s p e c i a l i s t diploma programs to become MCI Master Te c h n i c i a n s F o r m o r e d e t a i l s a b o u t t h e p ro g r a m s , v i s i t m c i a c a d e m y c o m

“ W o r k f o r c e d e v e l o p m e n t i s a p r i o r i t y f o r M C I a n d i t s c u s t o m e r s D e v e l o p i n g skilled coach technicians is critical for our o p e r a t o r s a n d i m p o r t a n t t o re c r u i t i n g a n d

r e t a i n i n g t a l e n t , a n d M C I A c a d e m y i s m e e t i n g t h a t c r i t i c a l i n d u s t r y n e e d , ” s a i d B r e n t M a i t l a n d , v i c e p r e s i d e n t , p r i v a t e s e c t o r s a l e s a n d m a r k e t i n g “ We a re n o t o n l y p ro u d t o w e l c o m e s t u d e n t s b a c k t o t h e c l a s s r o o m , b u t a l s o v e r y e x c i t e d t o have our program be accredited by Auto m o t i v e S e r v i c e E d u c a t i o n f o r a n o t h e r f i v e y e a r s t o c o n t i n u e p ro v i d i n g t h e i n d u s t r y ’s p re m i e r t r a i n i n g p ro g r a m ”

MCI Academy may add additional ses s i o n s t o m e e t t h e g ro w i n g d e m a n d f o r i t s e d u c a t i o n a l p r o g r a m T h e 2 0 2 3 c l a s s s c h e d u l e w i l l b e a v a i l a b l e s o o n o n m c i a c a d e m y c o m To re g i s t e r f o r a n M C I A c a d e m y p ro g r a m o r t o b e i n c l u d e d o n a c l a s s w a i t l i s t , c o n t a c t M C I A c a d e m y b y e mail or phone (214) 208 6608

MCI is North America’s public and private market motorcoach leader Products include the luxur y J Series (an industr y best seller f o r m o r e t h a n a d e c a d e ) , t h e w o r k h o r s e D Series and the brand new zero emission luxury and commuter coaches: the battery e l e c t r i c J 4 5 0 0 C H A R G E ™ , D 4 5 C R T C H A R G E ™ a n d M C I D 4 5 C R T L E C H A R G E ™ M C I a l s o p r o v i d e s m a i n t e nance, repair, 24 hour roadside assistance, p a r t s a n d t e c h n i c i a n t r a i n i n g t h ro u g h t h e industr y’s only Automotive Service Excel lence (ASE) accredited and award winning MCI Academy

Leveraging 450 years of combined expe rience, NFI is leading the electrification of mass mobility around the world With zero emission buses and coaches, infrastructure a n d t e c h n o l o g y, N F I m e e t s t o d a y ’s u r b a n demands for scalable smar t mobilty solu tions Together, NFI is enabling more livable c i t i e s t h ro u g h c o n n e c t e d , c l e a n a n d s u s tainable transpor tation

W i t h 7 , 5 0 0 t e a m m e m b e r s i n n i n e c o u n t r i e s , N F I i s a l e a d i n g g l o b a l b u s m a n u f a c t u r e r o f m a s s m o b i l t y s o l u t i o n s under the brands New Flyer® (heavy duty t r a n s i t b u s e s ) , M C I ® ( m o t o r c o a c h e s ) , A l e x a n d e r D e n n i s L i m i t e d ( s i n g l e a n d d o u b l e d e c k b u s e s ) , P l a x t o n ( m o t o r c o a c h e s ) , A R B O C ® ( l o w f l o o r c u t a w a y and medium duty buses) and NFI Par ts™ N F I c u r r e n t l y o f f e r s t h e w i d e s t r a n g e o f s u s t a i n a b l e d r i v e s y s t e m s a v a i l a b l e , i n c l u d i n g z e ro e m i s s i o n e l e c t r i c ( t ro l l e y, batter y and fuel cell), natural gas, electric h y b r i d a n d c l e a n d i e s e l I n t o t a l , N F I s u p p o r t s i t i n s t a l l e d b a s e o f m o r e t h a n 1 0 5 , 0 0 0 b u s e s a n d c o a c h e s a ro u n d t h e w o r l d

Motor Coach Industries announced the reopening of MCI Academy in person classes at

National Training Center in Louisville, Kentucky Classes started in early October and were scheduled through the end of the year. The MCI Academy has earned the Automotive Service Excellent accreditation

Equipment News

MAX Transit Launches Birmingham Xpress with Low-Emission NFI Buses

O n S e p t e m b e r 2 2 , t h e B i r m i n g h a m J e ff e r s o n C o u n t y Tr a n s i t A u t h o r i t y ( M A X Tr a n s i t ) h e l d a r i b b o n c u t t i n g c e r e m o n y d e d i c a t e d t o o p e n i n g i t s B i r m i n g h a m X p re s s , a n e w re g i o n a l p u b l i c t r a n s i t s y s t e m t h a t w i l l s e r v e t h e B i r m i n g h a m c o m m u n i t i e s M A X Tr a n s i t ’s n e w X c e l s i o r ® c o m p r e s s e d n a t u r a l g a s ( C N G ) t r a n s i t b u s e s , p r o u d l y b u i l t b y N e w F l y e r, w e r e l a u n c h e d i n t o s e r v i c e

New Flyer Regional Sales Manager Chris D a b b s j o i n e d R a n d a l l Wo o d fi n , m a y o r o f Birmingham; Yvette G Taylor, Federal Transit Administration regional administrator, Region 4, and Charlotte Shaw, MAX Transit’s exec utive director and CEO, during the event

MAX Transit’s new CNG buses emit 90 p e rc e n t l e s s n i t ro g e n o x i d e c o m p a re d t o traditional propulsion and will deliver more e f fi c i e n t a n d l o w e m i s s i o n m o b i l i t y w h i l e c o n t r i b u t i n g t o m o re b re a t h a b l e a i r i n t h e Alabama region

D45 CRT – The New ZeroEmission, Batter y-Electric, High-Floor Commuter Transit Coach

NFI Group Inc (NFI), a leading indepen d e n t b u s a n d c o a c h m a n u f a c t u re r a n d a leader in electric mass mobility solutions, on September 28 announced that its sub sidiar y Motor Coach Industries (MCI) has u n v e i l e d i t s n e w z e ro e m i s s i o n , b a t t e r y electric, high floor commuter coach the D45 CRT CHARGE™

T h e D 4 5 C R T C H A R G E a z e r o e m i s s i o n v e r s i o n o f t h e b e s t s e l l i n g D 4 5 Commuter Rapid Transit (CRT) series pub l i c t r a n s i t c o a c h i n t e g r a t e s p r o v e n C H A R G E p r o p u l s i o n f r o m N e w F l y e r, i n c l u d i n g re g e n e r a t i v e b r a k i n g , a n d f e a t u re s d e s i g n a d v a n c e m e n t s o f M C I ’s n e x t g e n e r a t i o n D 4 5 C R T c o m m u t e r t r a n s i t c o a c h e s , i n c l u d i n g e n h a n c e d re l i a b i l i t y, e f fi c i e n c y a n d h i g h p e r f o r m a n c e

“ T h e D 4 5 C R T C H A R G E m a r k s t h e eighth unique zero emission bus (ZEB) NFI has introduced in the past two years Our market leading electric vehicle (EV) portfolio continues to expand, demonstrating NFI’s undeniable leadership in the electrification of mass mobility,” said Chris Stoddart, pres ident, North American Bus and Coach, NFI “ W i t h e l e c t r i c d r i v e c o m p o n e n t s , M C I ’s s m o o t h r i d i n g s u s p e n s i o n a n d re a l t i m e smar t analytics on aboard, this fully acces sible coach delivers an outstanding combi n a t i o n f o p e r f o r m a n c e a n d s u s t a i n a b i l i t y benefits to transit operators ”

T h e B u y A m e r i c a c o m p l i a n t D 4 5 C RT CHARGE harnesses three high performing technologies to deliver a more efficient and sustainable commuter vehicle, including a high torque electric drive system delivering u p t o 9 0 p e r c e n t e n e r g y r e c o v e r y a n d designed to efficiently handle long distance applications at highway speeds; next gen eration, high energy, long range batteries delivering a range of more than 225 miles with 520 kWh of batter y capacity and inter o p e r a b l e p l u g i n b a t t e r y c h a r g i n g f r o m empty to full in less than four hours

“MCI continues to suppor t Nor th Amer ica’s operators in transitioning to 100 percent z e r o e m i s s i o n c o a c h fl e e t s , u l t i m a t e l y advancing their climate change action plans for a more sustainable future,” said Jennifer McNeill, vice president of public sector sales a n d m a r k e t i n g , N e w F l y e r a n d M C I “ T h e D45 CRT CHARGE will avoid the equivalent of approximately 80 metric tons of green h o u s e g a s e m i s s i o n s a n n u a l l y, d e l i v e r i n g

A ribbon cutting ceremony on September 22 marked the start of the Birmingham Xpress, a new regional public transit system that will serve the Birmingham communities Launched at the same time were the new Xcelsior CNG buses from New Flyer Powered by compressed natural gas, these new buses emit 90 percent less nitrogen oxide compared to traditional propulsion systems.

MCI has introduced another new “D” coach battery electric model, the D45 CRT CHARGE. This is a high floor commuter coach model styled similar to the C45 CRT LE but without the lower level and middle entrance door It is Buy America compliant, has a range of more than 225 miles and will find application in commuter coach operations

immediate emission reduction for more sus tainable and healthier communities across Nor th America ”

T h e B u y A m e r i c a c o m p l i a n t D 4 5 C RT CHARGE comes with MCI’s legendary qual ity and reliability, retaining the class leading features of the D45 CRT series, known as w o r k h o r s e s i n t h e p u b l i c t r a n s i t i n d u s t r y Through common systems and production, a rugged stainless steel frame for maximum durability, modern styling and optional 360 degree camera system and tire monitoring system, the D45 CRT series contributes to lower operating costs and provides an out standing passenger experience during the entire life of the coach

The D45 CRT CHARGE uses the same interoperable charging equipment that sup por ts all heavy duty electric vehicles and leverages NFI Infrastructure Solutions™, a full suite service providing proven project m a n a g e m e n t f o r s m a r t m o b i l i t y p ro j e c t s T h e D 4 5 C RT C H A R G E i s a l s o e q u i p p e d with NFI Connect™, an exclusive, advanced telematics solution providing real time over sight of an entire fleet, improving bus uptime and lowering operating costs

T h i s l a u n c h c o n t i n u e s M C I ’s v i s i o n t o bring its common coach architecture to the market, which includes the new D45 CRT and the other D series models, including the D 4 5 2 0 f o r p r i v a t e s e c t o r o p e r a t i o n s T h e common platform was initially launched with t h e i n d u s t r y l e a d i n g J 4 5 0 0 , w h i c h i s n o w available in zero emission and clean diesel,

Equipment News

and brings best in class legroom and com mon vehicle systems for improved quality and ease of maintenance

All MCI coaches are backed by MCI sup port services, including in field expertise, a t e c h n i c a l c a l l c e n t e r a n d 2 4 / 7 r o a d s i d e assistance; ongoing technical training from the industry’s only Automotive Service Excel lence (ASE) accredited MCI Academy tech n i c i a n t r a i n i n g c e n t e r ; p a r t s s u p p o r t f ro m NFI Parts™, the industry’s largest parts sup plier; MCI Service Centers and finally, on the go support with the MCI Operators App and MCI Companion App

To p ro v i d e w o r k f o rc e d e v e l o p m e n t o n D45 CRT CHARGE technologies, MCI will h o s t a n o c o s t v i r t u a l t r a i n i n g s e s s i o n o n D e c e m b e r 8 , 2 0 2 2 , t h ro u g h N F I ’s Ve h i c l e Innovation Center (VIC) To register for the VIC session or to lear n more about the D45 C RT C H A R G E f u e l c e l l e l e c t r i c b u s , v i s i t mcicoach com/electric

NFI is a leader in zero emission mobility, w i t h Z E B s o p e r a t i n g o r o n o rd e r ) i n m o re than 110 cities in six countries NFI offers the widest range of zero emission batter y and fuel cell electric buses and coaches, and its vehicles have completed more than 70 million EV service miles

Today, NFI supports growing North Amer ican cities with scalable, clean and sustain able mobility solutions through a four pillar approach that includes buses and coaches, t e c h n o l o g y, i n f r a s t r u c t u re a n d w o r k f o rc e

d e v e l o p m e n t N F I a l s o o p e r a t e s t h e V I C , the first and only innovation lab of its kind d e d i c a t e d t o a d v a n c i n g b u s a n d c o a c h technology and providing workforce devel opment Since opening in late 2017, the VIC has hosted more than 300 interactive events, welcoming 5,000 industr y professionals for EV and infrastructure training

FMCA Sees Strong Opening Registration for 2023 Geor gia Convention

FMCA’s 106th Inter national Convention & RV Expo is set for March 15 18, 2023 at t h e G e o r g i a N a t i o n a l F a i r g ro u n d s & A g r i center (GNFA) in Perry, Georgia If early reg istration is any indication, this will be the RV association’s largest gathering in years

I n t h e fi r s t w e e k , m o re t h a n 7 0 0 RVe r s s i g n e d u p f o r t h e “ L u c k y 1 3 ” e v e n t , a p t l y named since this is FMCA’s 13th convention to be held at GNFA, the most at any single location According to event organizers, the exceptional registration numbers are a tes tament to the venue and to FMCA members’ excitement surrounding this convention

“ T h e r e ’s n o d o u b t t h a t t h e G e o r g i a National Fairgrounds is one of premier facil ities for hosting an FMCA event,” said Doug Uhlenbrock, director of events with FMCA “It has everything we look for in a convention site: plenty of great parking space; a wide array of building for our seminars, exhibits, enter tainment and offices; beautiful, well kept grounds and a convenient location just off Interstate 75 Plus, such a great staff to work with who really understand FMCA and w h a t w e n e e d t o p r e s e n t a s u c c e s s f u l event ”

FMCA’s 2021 convention at GNFA was its first following the COVID 19 shutdown in 2020 and required numerous restrictions to satisfy Georgia and Houston county proto c o l s a t t h e t i m e W h i l e m a n y a t t e n d e e s deemed the convention a success, the num bers were much lower than previous FMCA events at the grounds Now, as pandemic uncertainties subside, the 2023 registration figures suggest FMCA RVers are eager to return to their Southern convention “home ”

“Our attendees consistently tell us that Perry is one of their favorite places to go, so t h a t ’s w h y w e ’ r e b a c k f o r o u r 1 3 t h s h o w there,” Uhlenbrock said “After COVID 19 minimized the oppor tunities for large gath erings in 2020 and 2021, and the spike in fuel prices kept folks from traveling as much in 2022, our members are ready to get back to the fun and excitement that only an FMCA c o n v e n t i o n p ro v i d e s We h a v e n u m e ro u s c h a p t e r s a n d g ro u p s w h o c a n n o t w a i t t o converge in middle Georgia for a week of socializing with friends they may not have seen in a few years ”

The Family Motor Coach Association

are going well for their forthcoming

event held

in

has been the most popular

rated by

members

General registration for the convention i s $ 2 5 0 p e r c o u p l e f o r a l l e v e n t a c t i v i t i e s a n d o n s i t e p a r k i n g A d d i t i o n a l p a r k i n g o p t i o n s a re a v a i l a b l e t o t h o s e w h o w o u l d like to purchase 30 amp or 50 amp electric RVe r s w h o w a n t t o a t t e n d t h e c o n v e n t i o n a s f u l l re g i s t r a n t s b u t d o n o t w a n t t o s t a y on site can register for a two person Pass por t for $185

To register for FMCA’s “Lucky 13” con vention, phone FMCA’s Events Depar tment a t ( 8 0 0 ) 5 4 3 3 6 2 2 o r r e g i s t e r o n l i n e a t w w w f m c a c o m / f m c a p e r r y 2 0 2 3 l e a r n more

Four Vicinity Buses for Honolulu Airpor t

Vicinity Motor Corp , a Nor th American supplier of commercial electric vehicles, on October 8 announced that it has received an order from strategic partner Sustainability Par tners LLC (SP), an ESG focused Public Benefit Company committed to eliminating d e f e r r e d m a i n t e n a n c e i n f r a s t r u c t u r e b y enabling sustainability, for four Vicinity Light ning™ electric buses via Soderholm Sales & Leasing Inc (Soderholm), Vicinity’s Pacific Islands distributor

The Vicinity Lightning shuttle buses will be used at the Daniel K Inouye International

Airport in Honolulu, the largest airport in the State of Hawaii serving 12 million passen gers per year The State of Hawaii Depar t ment of Transportation will utilize SP’s Electric Vehicles as a Service™ (EVaaS) program to finance the conversion of traditional gov ernment fleets to Vicinity’s electric vehicles Soderholm will facilitate the sale and provide long ter m technical and maintenance sup p o r t f o t t h e p ro j e c t T h e o rd e r o f f o u r n e w electric buses is scheduled for deliver y in 2023

“ A s t h e S t a t e o f H a w a i i w o r k s t o m e e t its sustainability goals and accelerate fleet e l e c t r i f i c a t i o n , o u r E V a a S p r o g r a m re p l a c e s o u t d a t e d a n d c o s t l y f l e e t i n f r a structure with moder n electrified solutions l i k e t h e Vi c i n i t y L i g h t n i n g , ” s a i d T h o m a s C a i n , C E O a n d f o u n d e r o f S u s t a i n a b i l i t y P a r t n e r s “ S P c a n p a y f o r 1 0 0 p e rc e n t o f t h e p u r c h a s e p r i c e w h i l e c o n c u r r e n t l y ensuring the vehicles are continually main t a i n e d i n a s t a t e o f g o o d r e p a i r w i t h e m b e d d e d l o n g t e r m s u p p o r t f r o m S S L a n d Vi c i n i t y We l o o k f o r w a rd t o p ro v i d i n g H a w a i i a n d i t s l a r g e s t a i r p o r t a n e l e c t r i c solution with a uniquely structured, month to month use based service alter native to t h e t r a d i t i o n a l p u r c h a s e o f g o v e r n m e n t f l e e t s ”

G a b i S o d e r h o l m o f S S L a d d e d : “ W e look forward to suppor ting SP’s EVaaS pro g r a m a n d t h e i n t e g r a t i o n o f V i c i n i t y ’s medium duty, accessible, ADA compliant, f u l l y e l e c t r i fi e d l o w fl o o r s h u t t l e b u s i n t o the Honolulu airpor t fleet The transition to zero emission airpor t fleets will suppor t not o n l y H a w a i i ’s s u s t a i n a b i l i t y g o a l s b u t a l s o s e r v e a s a p o w e r f u l e x a m p l e o f t h e b e n e fi t s o f E V s t o t h e m i l l i o n s o f p a s s e n g e r s v i s i t i n g o u r s t a t e e a c h y e a r ”

“We continue to see significant interest from regional and inter national airpor ts for EV passenger shuttle services given their inherent advantages,” concluded William Trainer, founder and CEO of Vicinity Motor C o r p “ S t a t e a n d a i r p o r t a u t h o r i t i e s a r e i n c r e a s i n g l y c o n c e r n e d b y a i r q u a l i t y impacts to local health from traditional gas a n d d i e s e l b u s e s a t a i r p o r t c u r b s i d e s , exposing passengers to increased levels of air pollution Today, more than 40 airports in the U S including Honolulu are par ticipating in the Federal Aviation Adminis t r a t i o n ’s ( FA A ) A i r p o r t S u s t a i n a b i l i t y P l a n to integrate sustainability into airpor t plan ning Progressive airpor ts are including a s h i f t t o c l e a n e r s h u t t l e b u s o p t i o n s t o reduce emissions and address community needs in their strategy ”

T/CCI Manufacturing Awarded Illinois’ First Reimagining Electric Vehicle Tax Incentive Package

T/CCI Manufacturing, a global leader for compressor technology, has received Illinois’ first Reimagining Electric Vehicle (REV Illi nois) Tax Incentive package established by G o v e r n o r J B P r i t z k e r a n d t h e I l l i n o i s Depar tment of Commerce and Economic Oppor tunity (DCEO)

To fur ther the state’s goal of developing a world leading Electric Vehicle Innovation Cluster, T/CCI is being awarded the first REV Illinois tax credit to support significant efforts i n c o m p o n e n t m a n u f a c t u r i n g , i n n o v a t i o n a n d w o r k f o r c e d e v e l o p m e n t T / C C I w i l l i n v e s t m o r e t h a n $ 2 0 m i l l i o n t o r e t o o l i t s Decatur, Illinois facility to transition to electric compressor manufacturing, which will create more than 50 new jobs, while retaining 103 positions of its current workforce for a min imum total of 150 positions

As par t of the larger incentive package, the State of Illinois has granted $15 3 million to Richland Community College and $6 mil lion to the City of Decatur in capital grants to create an EV Innovation Cluster at T/CCI’s global headquar ters in Illinois

“This is a significant moment for T/CCI, the City of Decatur and the State of Illinois, as we embark on new programs to transition our industr y toward widespread electrifica tion,” said Richard Demirjian, president of T/CCI Manufacturing “T/CCI is recognized i n t h e i n d u s t r y a s a l e a d e r i n c o m p re s s o r

technology, already having developed the largest range of EV compressors in the mar k e t We ’ re e x c i t e d t o u s e o u r e x p e r t i s e i n innovation and component manufacturing t o a d v a n c e I l l i n o i s ” p o s i t i o n a n d c re a t e a s u c c e s s f u l p a r t n e r s h i p t h a t d r i v e s l o n g lasting economic growth ”

The state granted $21 3 million in capital grants to the City of Decatur and Richland Community College to create a first of its k i n d re s e a rc h a n d i n n o v a t i o n f a c i l i t y a n d training program in par tnership with T/CCI, which includes a full scale climatic center for testing and simulations

“Less than 10 months ago, I signed Illi nois’ groundbreaking Reimagining Electric Ve h i c l e s A c t i n t o l a w To d a y, I ’ m p ro u d t o announce we’re welcoming yet another elec tric vehicle investment to Illinois and the first of many that ambitious legislation will produce,” said Gover nor JB Pritzker “And T/CCI isn’t just investing in their own suc cess they’re bringing the Decatur commu nity along for the ride We’re bringing all of Illinois into the 21st centur y economy, with good jobs and business opportunities, and this investment is yet another way we’re mak ing that our reality ”

The groundbreaking climatic Center for Innovation & Research will support technol ogy advancements and climatic testing for high voltage systems, batter y cooling and both A/C and heat pump capabilities The C l i m a t i c C e n t e r w i l l i n c l u d e a D C f a s t charger for electric vehicles for testing capa

b i l i t y f o r f a s t c h a r g i n g E V s u n d e r b o t h extreme cold and hot conditions

Next European ZEB Conference at Busworld Europe 2023

T h e fi f t h e d i t i o n o f t h e E u ro p e a n Z e ro E m i s s i o n B u s ( Z E B ) C o n f e r e n c e w i l l b e o r g a n i z e d c o n c u r r e n t l y w i t h t h e 2 6 t h B u s w o r l d E u r o p e e d i t i o n f r o m O c t o b e r 9 12, 2023 in Brussels, Belgium ERM Group company, Element Energy, organizer of this c o n f e re n c e , i s p a r t n e r i n g w i t h B u s w o r l d Foundation Together they aim to create the b e s t e d i t i o n o f t h e E u ro p e a n Z E B c o n f e r ence yet

The Zero Emission Bus Conference is an event series created by Element Energy and Center for Transpor tation and the Environ m e n t ( C T E ) t o a c c e l e r a t e t h e t r a n s i t i o n t o z e r o e m i s s i o n b u s t e c h n o l o g i e s S i n c e l a u n c h i n g i n 2 0 1 6 , n i n e s u c c e s s f u l Z E B e v e n t s h a v e b e n e h e l d t o d a t e i n E u ro p e and America Previous European editions of the conference took place in Paris (2021), o n l i n e v i a a s e r i e s o f Z e b i n a r s ( 2 0 2 0 ) , i n Cologne (2018) and London (2016)

T h e fi f t h e d i t i o n o f t h e E u r o p e a n Z E B Conference will be held in Brussels along side Busworld Europe As the home of Bus world Europe and European politics, while being easily accessible from all cor ners of Europe, Brussels provides the perfect loca t i o n f o r Z E B 2 0 2 3 , w h i c h i s e x p e c t e d t o attract 400 attendees from the zero emission bus sector

The collaboration brings considerable benefits to both events Attendees will gain insights from the ZEB conference, which will be delivered through four half day sessions covering all aspects of zero emission buses a n d c o a c h e s , w h i l e h a v i n g a c c e s s t o t h e biggest B2B bus and coach trade show in the world All ZEB attendees will automati c a l l y h a v e f re e e n t r a n c e t o t h e B u s w o r l d Europe exhibition and the program will be built in a way that confernece and exhibition can go hand in hand

The European ZEB 2023 program is cur rently being finalized and is designed to give bus and coach operators, public transpor t authorities and policy makers a complete overview of the considerations for deploying zero emission fleets at scale The Advisor y Board helping to shape the conference con sists of a consortium of experts from the bus and coach industr y

N e w i n t h i s e d i t i o n w i l l b e t h e s p e c i a l a t t e n t i o n f o r z e ro e m i s s i o n l o n g d i s t a n c e and tourism coaches while still maintaining attention on batter y electric technologies and hydrogen fueled buses The coach sec tor needs to prepare itself for the emerging zero emission zone cities

Newport Aquarium, Newport, Kentucky –

Photo by Newport Aquarium

Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal, Cincinnati, Ohio – Photo by Robert Webber

The Beast Roller Coaster at Kings Island, Mason, Ohio – Photo by Kings Island

National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, Cincinnati, Ohio – Photo by Mark BealerNorthern Kentucky Skyline with Roebling Suspension Bridge – Photo by Liz Dufour

Ark Encounter, Williamstown, Kentucky – Photo by Ark Encounter

Equipment News

Jan Deman, director of Busworld Foun dation, explains: “The combined exper tise of the network of Busworld Foundation and Element Energy guarantees the perfect sym b i o s i s b e t w e e n t e c h n i c a l a n d e c o n o m i c insights and field experience coming from manufacturers and operators The fact that i t i s b e i n g o r g a n i z e d a t B u s w o r l d E u ro p e helps to bring together theory and practice What we talk about in the conference, can be seen and experienced in the exhibition ”

M i c h a e l D o l m a n , p a r t n e r a t E l e m e n t Energy, said: “The Zero Emission Bus con ferences provide an excellent oppor tunity for all with an interest in zero emission public transport to share lessons, gain insights into the latest technology and policy develop ments and build networks and partnerships We’re delighted to be collaborating with Bus world Foundation to maximize the value and impact of the 2023 edition ”

Alexander Dennis’ Automated Enviro200 Bus

F ro m S e p t e m b e r 7 8 , N F I ’s A l e x a n d e r Dennis Limited (Alexander Dennis) exhibited i t s a u t o m a t e d E n v i r o 2 0 0 b u s f o r t h e C AV F o r t h p r o j e c t , w i d e l y v i e w e d a s t h e world’s most ambitious and complex auto mated bus pilot, at the Cenex CAM industry event in Millbrook, England

Project CAVForth, which is jointly funded b y t h e U K G o v e r n m e n t ’s C e n t re f o r C o n nected and Autonomous Vehicles and project par tners Fusion Processing, Stagecoach, Alexander Dennis, Bristol Robotics Labora tory, Edinburgh Napier University and Trans port Scotland, includes five Alexander Dennis Enviro200 single deck buses operating at SAE Autonomous Level 4 on a 14 mile route that includes the iconic For th Road Bridge near Edinburgh, Scotland

Irun Chooses Electric Buses from Irizar e-mobility

T h e C I t y o f I r u n h a s a w a r d e d I r i z a r e m o b i l i t y t h e c o n t r a c t f o r m a n u f a c t u r i n g and supplying four zero emissions buses along with the charging infrastructure Three buses wll be fast charging and one will be ovenright charging

The buses will be used on Irunbus line 2 (Ventas Centro) and more than 400,000 trav elers a year can be transpor ted with them It is an innovative and sustainable means of transpor t that will doubtlessly improve pas senger experience

Deliver y is expected for mid 2023

I n t h e w o r d s o f T x e m a O t e r o , I r i z a r e mobility commercial director for Spain and Portugal, “We’re extremely proud to be able to provide our turn key electromobility solu tions to the city of Irun and, in that way, con

tribute to their decarbonization and sustain able mobility goals Our production plant is b a re l y 3 0 K m f ro m I r u n a n d i t ’s w h e re w e develop and manufacture our vehicles, bat teries and charging infrastructure The buses stand out because of their design, accessi bility and high degree of personalization In addiiton, they’re quiet and environmentally friendly, which will contribute to improving the quality of life for Irun residents ”

On the other hand, Mobility Delegate for the City of Irun Borja Olazabal, pointed out, “It’s another step the city is taking towards m o re s u s t a i n a b l e m o b i l i t y We ’ v e h a d t h e main L 1 line electric since 2019 And ver y shor ty the L 2 will also be electric, making 9 0 p e r c e n t o f o u r p u b l i c t r a n s p o r t m o v e u s i n g c l e a n e r m e t h o d s t h a t c o n t r i b u t e t o fighting the effects climate change produces on our local environment ”

Irizar recently was awarded a contract for four zero emission buses for the city if Irun, Spain Included will be the charging infrastructure for three fast charging buses and one for overnight charging The buses are 39 feet long, have three doors and will carry up to 75 passengers All of these tram type buses come equipped with digital rear view mirrors and cameras

Alexander Dennis recently exhibited its automated Enviro200 bus at an industry event in Millbrook, England The Alexander Dennis autonomous buses were designed and built for the CAVForth project that involves Autonomous Level 4 operations on a 14 mile route near Edinburgh, Scotland that includes crossing the Forth Road Bridge

The vehicles, which are 12 meter long I r i z a r i e t r a m m o d e l s , h a v e 2 2 s e a t s , o n e d r i v e r ’s s e a t , t w o w h e e l c h a i r / p r a m a re a s a n d t h e y c a n c a r r y u p t o 7 5 p a s s e n g e r s The vehicles have three doors, two ramps, space reserved for wheelchairs and prams, as well as stop buttons in Braille, to ensure accessibility

The buses are equipped with the latest g e n e r a t i o n b a t t e r i e s u s i n g I r i z a r t e c h n o l o g y ( 4 3 0 k W h f o r o v e r n i g h t c h a r g e v e h i c l e s a n d 9 0 k W h f o r o p p o r t u n i t y c h a r g e v e h i c l e s ) a n d 2 0 6 K W t r a c t i o n m o t o r s I r i z a r e m o b i l i t y w i l l a l s o p r o v i d e a f a s t c h a r g i n g s t a t i o n t h a t w i l l b e i n s t a l l e d a t the end of line 2 (firefighter’s area) and an o v e r n i g h t c h a r g i n g s y s t e m T h e c h a r g e r s a r e f r o m t h e J e m a E n e r g y b r a n d , w h i c h b e l o n g s t o t h e I r i z a r G ro u p c o m p a n y

The buses have digital rear view mirrors with cameras that provide optimized visibility and improved ergonomics, which is an inno vative and efficient solution for urban buses that replaces conventional rear view mirrors w i t h h i g h d e fi n i t i o n c a m e r a s a n d i n t e r i o r screens

Twelve Electric Buses by Irizar e-mobility for Palma

I r i z a r e m o b i l i t y w i l l p ro v i d e t h e P a l m a E M T w i t h 1 2 1 0 0 p e r c e n t e l e c t r i c z e r o e m i s s i o n s b u s e s T h e d e l i v e r y o f t h e fi r s t units is expected for early 2023 The buses will contribute to the energy transition and accelerate the decarbonization process of the capital of the island of Mallorca

One new feature is that the vehicles will have solar panels on top that will be used to power the auxiliary systems of the buses

Equipment

Recently the Irizar e mobility facilities in Aduna, Gipuzkoa were visited by the mayor o f P a l m a J o s é H i l a , t h e c o u n c i l p e r s o n f o r sustainable mobility francesc Dalmau and Director of the Empresa Municipal de Trans portes (EMT Palma) Mateu Marcús In addi tion to visiting the facilities and production p l a n t w h e re t h e i r b u s e s w i l l b e m a n u f a c tured, during their stay they were also able to go over the technical specifications of the b u s e s t h e y w i l l s o o n h a v e i n t h e i r fl e e t s a l o n g s i d e r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s f r o m I r i z a r e mobility

During the visit the mayor of Palma noted: “We’re working on having a more sustain able city and public transport is fundamental to achieving that The EMT needs to have buses that use clean energy And that’s what we’re doing ”

Txema Otero, Irizar e mobility commer cial director for Spain and Por tugal, noted: “ T h i s o rd e r i s s t r a t e g i c f o r u s b e c a u s e o f the visibility Palma has in the tourism mar k e t We ’ re e x t re m e l y p ro u d t o b e a b l e t o c o n t r i b u t e t o i m p ro v i n g t h e q u a l i t y o f l i f e o f i t s r e s i d e n t s T h e v e h i c l e s , w h i c h w i l l have Irizar batter y technology, will be com p l e t e l y q u i e t a n d w o n ’ t c r e a t e p o l l u t i n g e m i s s i o n s T h e I r i z a r i e t r a m c a n b e i d e n t i fi e d b y b e i n g a b u s w i t h a m i n i m a l i s t design without or namentation where ever y f e a t u re h a s a s p e c i fi c f u n c t i o n a l p u r p o s e which creates an identity and image easily re c o g n i z a b l e b y u s e r s ”

The Irizar ie tram model vehicles will be 1 2 m e t e r s l o n g a n d t h e y w i l l h a v e t h r e e doors, 22 seats (four of which for PRM) and a wheelchair area and they will be able to carr y up to 70 passengers They will have

430 kWh Irizar batteries and can be charged using an inver ted pantograph or a Combo 2 c h a r g i n g o u t l e t T h e d r i v e u n i t w i l l b e a 206 kW central motor

Accessibility, safety, circulation flow and p a s s e n g e r c o m f o r t i n s p i r e d t h e i n t e r i o r a rc h i t e c t u re o f t h e I r i z a r i e t r a m I t s l a r g e s i d e w i n d o w s a l o n g s i d e t h e i n t e r i o r L E D lighting and the open air style central vault provide luminosity that will give users a spa cious, enjoyable and safe space

The project received financing from the European Union NextGenerationEU, Recov e r y Tr a n s f o r m a t i o n a n d R e s i l i e n c e P l a n f u n d s t h r o u g h t h e M i n i s t r y o f Tr a n s p o r t , Mobility and Urban Agenda

The order is framed by the second phase of renewing the EMT fleet, which star ted in late Januar y and will include upgrading 59 buses with clean energy vehicles that will make it possible to stop emitting 8,000 tons of carbon dioxide

W i t h t h i s n e w o rd e r, I r i z a r e m o b i l i t y i s r e a f fi r m i n g t h e i r l e a d e r s h i p i n p r o v i d i n g tur nkey electromobility solutions for cities They also continue investing in alter native e n e r g i e s a n d e x p a n s i v e p ro j e c t s t o c o n tribute to sustainable, safe and connected mobility of the future

Electric Buses: VDL Bus & Coach: Market Leader in Europe

In the first half of 2022, a total of 1,767 electric buses were registered in Europe VDL Bus & Coach is the European market leader with 242 registered electric buses T h i s i s a c c o rd i n g t o fi g u re s f ro m C h a t ro u CME Solutions

I r i z a r i s p r o v i d i n g 1 2 electric buses for oper ation in Palma on the Spanish Island os Mal l o r c a i n t h e M e d i t e r r a n e a n T h e 3 9 f o o t b u s e s w i l l b e a b l e t o carry up to 70 passen g e r s a n d c a n b e charged using either an inverted overhead pan tograph or a charging o u t l e t A n i n t e r e s t i n g feature of these buses is the solar panels on t h e r o o f t h a t w i l l b e u se d to ch a rg e a u xi l i a r y s y s t e m s o n t h e buses

W i t h 1 , 3 8 5 re g i s t r a t i o n s i n t h e fi r s t h a l f of 2021, registrations in the first half of 2022 i n c r e a s e d b y 2 8 p e r c e n t T h e p r e v i o u s y e a r a l s o s a w a s h a r p r i s e i n t h e n u m b e r of electric buses: 48 percent more e buses w e r e r e g i s t e r e d i n E u r o p e i n 2 0 2 1 t h a n 2 0 2 0 L a s t y e a r, a t o t a l o f 3 , 2 8 2 e b u s e s w e re re g i s t e re d ; i n 2 0 2 0 , t h e n u m b e r w a s 2 , 2 1 0 T h e n u m b e r o f re g i s t e re d e l e c t r i c b u s e s i n E u ro p e h a s p a s s e d t h e 1 0 , 0 0 0 m a r k f o r t h e fi r s t t i m e S i n c e t h i s c e n s u s w a s t a k e n i n 2 0 1 2 , t h e e x a c t n u m b e r s t a n d s a t 1 0 , 2 7 0

“If you look at the figures, it is of course striking that the market is becoming larger and at the same time more open, meaning that more players are active,” says Alex de Jong, business manager public transpor t o f V D L B u s & C o a c h “ A s t h e f ro n t r u n n e r, we have been holding our own for years, as the registrations for the first half of 2022 once again show With the developed new gen eration of VDL Citea, we are also introducing a versatile mobility platfor m to the market, which will allow us to remain at the forefront of the public transpor t market in the years to come ”

A t t h e e n d o f J u l y, V D L B u s & C o a c h c e l e b r a t e d t h e m i l e s t o n e o f 2 0 0 m i l l i o n electric kilometers Today, the 1,300 elec tric VDL Citeas cover around 240,000 kilo m e t e r s e v e r y d a y i n 1 1 E u r o p e a n c o u n t r i e s a n d 7 7 c i t i e s a n d re g i o n s T h e 2 0 0 m i l l i o n e l e c t r i c a l l y d r i v e n k i l o m e t e r s d e l i v e r a s a v i n g s o f a l m o s t 2 8 m i l l i o n k i l o g r a m s o f C O 2 e m i s s i o n s

T h e N e t h e r l a n d s h a s t h e m o s t e l e c t r i c V D L v e h i c l e s a n d h a s t h e re f o re a l s o c o v e re d t h e m o s t e l e c t r i c k i l o m e t e r s : a l m o s t 165 million, which is more than 4,000 times around the world Approximately 650 elec t r i c b u s e s a r e o p e r a t i o n a l i n 3 5 c i t i e s W h e n i t c o m e s t o t h e n u m b e r o f e l e c t r i c k i l o m e t e r s d r i v e n , V D L B u s & C o a c h i s making rapid progress in Ger many, where m o re t h a n 1 2 m i l l i o n k i l o m e t e r s h a v e n o w been driven by 270 electric Citeas in oper a t i o n i n 1 5 c i t i e s S c a n d i n a v i a a l s o remains one of the most impor tant markets for VDL Bus & Coach In Norway, Sweden, F i n l a n d a n d D e n m a r k , 2 5 0 V D L C i t e a s h a v e c o v e r e d a r o u n d 2 5 m i l l i o n e l e c t r i c k i l o m e t e r s

Over the past decade, VDL Bus & Coach has become one of the leading players in Europe in the field of e mobility Since the introduction of the first Citea SLF 120 Electric in Geneva, during the UITP Mobility & City Tr a n s p o r t e x h i b i t i o n i n 2 0 1 3 , V D L B u s & C o a c h h a s f o c u s e d s t r o n g l y o n e l e c t r i c mobility

Based on the VDL vision, a bus concept has been developed that is based entirely

Equipment News

on an electric drive train and that is ready for the future, with zero emissions as a matter of course Batteries in the floor, a one piece c o m p o s i t e s i d e w a l l , c l e v e r e n e r g y m a n a g e m e n t , a s o p h i s t i c a t e d c l i m a t e c o n t ro l system and an ergonomic driver’s environ ment With these five important innovations, VDL Bus & Coach is introducing the project r a n g e o f t h e n e w g e n e r a t i o n V D L C i t e a , which consists for four improved length vari ants and five types

The new generation of Citeas has already been sold in several countries and will be d e p l o y e d i n a n u m b e r o f c i t i e s a n d a re a s star ting this year: The Netherlands (Eind hoven), Finland (Kotka and Lahti), Belgium (all of Flanders), Germany (Oberhausen and Braunschweig) and France (Bordeaux)

20 New Zero-Emissions Buses from Irizar for Pamplona

I r i z a r e m o b i l i t y h a s c l o s e d a c o n t r a c t t o s u p p l y 2 0 1 0 0 p e r c e n t e l e c t r i c z e r o e m i s s i o n s b u s e s w i t h t r a n s p o r t s C i u t a t C o m t a l ( T C C ) f r o m t h e M o v e n t i s g r o u p , t h e c o m p a n y t h a t c u r re n t l y m a n a g e s t h e urban regional transpor t fleet in Pamplona, Spain They will be buses where the cutting e d g e f u t u r i s t i c d e s i g n p l a y s a m a j o r ro l e T h e d e l i v e r y o f t h e fi r s t u n i t s i s e x p e c t e d f o r m i d 2 0 2 3

They are 12 meter long (39 feet) Irizar ie tram model buses The buses have some aesthetic attributes of a tram, and they are a c c e s s i b l e , e n v i ro n m e n t a l l y f r i e n d l y a n d destined to enrich passenger experience

Iñigo Azcona, Irizar e mobility commer cial manager for Spain and Portugal, added, “We’re extremely happy to be able to con tribute to the ambitious sustainable public transpor t projects being under taken by the mancommunity of the region of Pamplona For us, it’s strategic that a region like Pam plona has chosen a local product with high technological content The vehicle model they’ve chosen, the Irizar ie tram, is our flag ship model The ie tram is a hook product that is revolutionizing electromobility in cities I t s h i g h d e g r e e o f p e r s o n a l i z a t i o n , h i g h capacity, ease of access and comfor t are among its great virtues We hope the people of the region of Pamplona can enjoy all the advantages of the vehicle soon ”

With the latest generation 430 kWh Irizar batteries and equipped with 206 kW traction engines, the vehicles have three doors, 25 s e a t s f o r p a s s e n g e r s ( f o u r f o r P R M ) , t w o wheelchair and pram areas, a ramp for dis a b l e d p e o p l e a n d t h e y c a n h o l d u p t o 8 0 passengers The buses will have the option to be charged using an inverted pantograph or by slow charging in the garage

A s a n e x a m p l e o f t h e t e c h n o l o g y, i n s t e a d o f c o n v e n t i o n a l re a r v i e w m i r ro r s t h e v e h i c l e h a s t w o d i g i t a l c a m e r a s t h a t p ro j e c t i m a g e s o n s c re e n s i n t h e c o c k p i t , which guarantees excellent visibility under all lighting conditions In addition, special e m p h a s i s w a s p u t o n p a s s i v e s a f e t y, where ADAS (advanced driver assistance system) help minimize risky situations that c a n a r i s e w h i l e d r i v i n g

VDL has been a leader in producing electric buses for the European market Recent figures show that 2021 saw 48 percent more electric buses registered in Europe than in 2020 While the Netherlands is the electric bus leader in Europe, several other countries including Germany, Sweden, Finland and Denmark are rapidly adding electric buses to their fleets

Equipment News

TCC Pamplona has a fleet of 159 buses, 135 of which are in service during rush hour The network has 553 stops (328 with shelter) along 24 daytime urban lines and 10 night lines

B e c a u s e o f t h e s i g n i f i c a n t u r b a n g ro w t h h a p p e n i n g i n t h e re g i o n o f P a m p l o n a , t h e n u m b e r o f t r i p s o n t h e T U C ( Tr a n s p o r t e U r b a n o C o m a r c a l ) h a s i n c re a s e d i n re c e n t y e a r s

Transpor t for Greater Manchester Orders 50 Alexander Dennis Zero-Emission Buses for Franchised Bee Network

Alexander Dennis (ADL), a subsidiary of NFI Group Inc (NFI), one of the world’s lead ing independent global bus manufacturers, r e c e n t l y a n n o u n c e d t h a t Tr a n s p o r t f o r Greater Manchester has ordered 50 zero emission double deck buses from Alexan d e r D e n n i s f o r t h e fi r s t p h a s e o f t h e f r a n chised Bee Network bus system which will launch in September 2023

The electric buses will be built in Britain a t A l e x a n d e r D e n n i s ’s f a c t o r y i n S c a r b o r o u g h , N o r t h Yo r k s h i r e a n d a r e d u e t o o p e r a t e i n W i g a n a n d B o l t o n , w h e re b u s franchising will be rolled out on September 1 7 , 2 0 2 3 , a h e a d o f o t h e r p a r t s o f G re a t e r M a n c h e s t e r f o l l o w i n g i n 2 0 2 4 a n d 2 0 2 5

T h e A l e x a n d e r D e n n i s z e r o e m i s s i o n buses will be the first to bear the branding of the new Bee Network Greater Manches t e r ’s b o l d a m b i t i o n f o r a f u l l y i n t e g r a t e d , London style integrated transpor t system c o m p r i s i n g b u s e s , t r a m s , w a l k i n g a n d cycling and eventually trains The distinctive black and yellow design was unveiled by

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham

The 50 new buses will be funded from the government’s City Region Sustainable Trans port Settlement, with around 300 more elec tric buses to be delivered from 2024 through to 2027

A l e x a n d e r D e n n i s P re s i d e n t a n d M a n a g i n g D i re c t o r P a u l D a v i e s s a i d : “ We a re delighted to have been chosen by Transport

for Greater Manchester as supplier for the first tranche of zero emission buses for the new Bee Network We look forward to play ing our par t in transfor ming bus services in Wigan and Bolton with these iconic buses, which will be built in the North of England at our factor y in Scarborough and suppor ted l o c a l l y f ro m o u r A D 2 4 a f t e r m a r k e t h u b i n Skelmersdale

Transport for Greater M a n c h e s t e r r e c e n t l y o r d e r e d 5 0 d o u b l e d e c k e l e c t r i c b u s e s f r o m A l e x a n d e r D e n nis The buses will be built at the Alexander Dennis factory in Scar b o r o u g h , N o r t h Yo r k shire and are expected t o o p e r a t e i n W i g a n a n d B o l t o n T h e y w i l l b e u s e d o n t h e n e w Bee Network, Greater Manchester ’s plan for an integrated transport system similar to Lon d o n ’ s t h a t i n v o l v e s franchising operations

Transports Ciutat Comtal (TCC) in Pamplona, Spain, will be operating 20 new electric zero emission Irizar buses in mid 2023 These ie Tram model buses will transport up to 80 passengers and can be recharged with either an overhead inverted pantograph or slow charging in the garage. The company operates 159 buses on 24 daytime routes and 10 night routes

“ C h o o s i n g A l e x a n d e r D e n n i s s h o w s Transpor t for Greater Manchester and the m a y o r ’s c o m m i t m e n t t o b u i l d i n g b u s e s l o c a l l y i n t h e U n i t e d K i n g d o m , f o r w h i c h we are grateful The new liver y will inspire p r i d e i n M a n c h e s t e r ’s B e e N e t w o r k a n d t h e i m p r o v e m e n t s i t w i l l d e l i v e r f o r t h e re g i o n ”

Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burn h a m s a i d : “ T h e c o u n t d o w n t o b r i n g i n g buses back under local control for the first time in 36 years is well and truly on With the o rd e r p l a c e d f o r o u r fi r s t 5 0 n e w e l e c t r i c b u s e s a n d s t ro n g i n t e re s t f ro m o p e r a t o r s who want to run the first franchised services a year from now, the Bee Network is gath ering real momentum

“ I a m a l s o d e l i g h t e d t o u n v e i l a s n e a k p e e k o f w h a t t h e B e e N e t w o r k i s g o i n g t o l o o k l i k e We ’ re b u i l d i n g o n M a n c h e s t e r ’s symbolic bee and Metrolink colors both of which are synonymous with our city region to deliver something modern and iconic that reflects the first class transpor t network it will become ”

Equipment News

Marcopolo Shows Hydrogen Coaches at IAA 2022

Marcopolo, in par tnership with Sinosyn ergy, Feichi Bus and Allenbus, par ticipates in the project to develop a coach powered by hydrogen fuel cells The project, still in the approval phase, was presented at IAA 2022, one of the largest inter national com mercial vehicle events, which was held in Hanover from September 19 25

Marcopolo developed the bus body, the Audace 1050 model, produced at its unit in China Sinosynergy provides the core par t of the fuel cell technology, including mem b r a n e s a n d f u e l c e l l d r i v e , a n d F e i c h i Bus/Allenbus, provides the fuel cell chassis of the bus The companies have already pro duced two prototype buses One will be on display at IAA 2022 and the other is in China w h e r e i t h a s b e e n s u b m i t t e d t o t e s t s f o r approval

T h e h y d ro g e n p o w e re d A u d a c e h a s a PBT of 19 thousand kg, capacity to carry 53 passengers and autonomy of up to 600 kilo meters The model presented is 12,000mm

in total length, but the model will be offered i n t o t a l l e n g t h o p t i o n s f ro m 1 1 , 9 0 0 m m t o 12,600mm, width of 2,480mm and wheel b a s e f ro m 6 , 1 0 0 m m t o 6 6 5 0 m m I t h a s a D a n f o s e n g i n e , s y n c h ro n o u s p e r m a n e n t magnet, with a rated power of 143 kw (peak of 235 kw) and rated torque/peak of 495/720 Nm, two fuel cell Sinosynergy G80 001 bat teries, 160 kw, four 700 bar 4 type hydrogen tanks, and a water cooling system, with four packs of CATL LiFeO (Lithium Iron) storage batteries

I t i s a l s o e q u i p p e d w i t h f o u r s p e e d Editron Amt transmission, ZF RL82EC inde pendent front axle, ZF AV133 rear axle drive, ZF THP90 hydraulic box, Knorr air suspen s i o n s y s t e m a n d K n o r r b r a k e s ( w i t h E B S , ESP, AEB, LDWS)

The Audace developed by the compa nies’ par tner will also be produced with a pure electric power train option, with power batteries: CATL, LiFeO, (Lithium Iron) fo 423 kwh, with 12 packs and autonomy of up to 400 kilometers in urban conditions q

Marcopolo displayed their new hydrogen fuel cell coach at the recent IAA 2022 show in Hanover, Germany While hydrogen fuel cell buses are becoming increasingly popular in Europe since 2019, this is one of the first attempts to put hydrogen fuel cell power in a coach Although still in the approval stage, this new coach model will be produced in lengths of 39 and 41 feet

Industry Legend Patricia Ziska Retires from MCI

by Larry Plachno

Mo t o r C o a c h I n d u s t r i e s r e c e n t l y a n n o u n c e d t h a t P a t r i c i a Z i s k a w o u l d b e r e t i r i n g a t t h e e n d o f 2022. In addition to being a wife and mother, Pat has spent her life working with bus own e r s a n d h a s b e c o m e o n e o f t h e m o s t respected people in the field. On December 6 , 2 0 2 2 s h e w i l l m a r k 4 6 y e a r s o f i n v o l v e ment in the bus industry In a business where customer service, customer support and cus tomer loyalty are important, she has become a legend. For many years she has been suc cessful in maintaining a great relationship between MCI and its customers while being appreciated by all. Pat originally started with Hausman Bus Sales which has an interesting background with MCI For those who do not k n o w, o r h a v e f o r g o t t e n , w e c a n t a k e a minute to explain about MCI and Hausman in earlier years.

Following an anti trust suit against Gen eral Motors buses filed by the U.S. Depart ment of Justice, Greyhound began looking for another source of coaches and turned to MCI in Winnipeg. MCI had been building coaches for Greyhound of Canada and were

partially owned by them In 1958, MCI was a c q u i r e d b y G r e y h o u n d C o r p a n d s o o n began to develop new models suitable for G r e y h o u n d i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s . M C I opened their new facility in Pembina, Min nesot a in 1963 t o finish t hese coaches and s o o n b e g a n d e l i v e r i n g t h e i r M C 5 m o d e l coaches to Greyhound

E x p e c t e d l y, o t h e r c o a c h o p e r a t o r s s a w t h e n e w M C I c o a c h e s a n d w a n t e d t h e m t o o . U n l i k e G r e y h o u n d , a c o m p a n y t h a t h a n d l e d i t s o w n s u p p o r t a n d u s e d c o a c h s a l e s , o t h e r o p e r a t o r c u s t o m e r s re q u i re d s o m e s a l e s a n d c u s t o m e r s u p p o r t . M a n y o f t h e m a l s o w a n t e d t o t r a d e i n o l d e r coaches To provide this type of support to M C I c u s t o m e r s , H a u s m a n B u s S a l e s w a s appointed as MCI’s exclusive U S distrib u t o r o n M a y 1 , 1 9 7 2 . F o u n d e d i n 1 9 4 6 t o h a n d l e u s e d p a r t s a n d e q u i p m e n t f r o m G re y h o u n d , G e r a l d H a u s m a n h a d d e v e l o p e d t h e c o m p a n y i n t o a p a r t s a n d u s e d coach business Headquartered in Chicago, by 1968 the company had branch offices in N e w J e r s e y a n d C a l i f o r n i a p l u s o t h e r, s m a l l e r l o c a t i o n s

With secretarial and shorthanded train ing, Pat Ziska started working for Hausman Bus Sales on December 6, 1976 At that time Hausman was still located at the old facility o n A r c h e r Av e n u e j u s t s o u t h w e s t o f Chicago’s downtown Reports are that she quickly won over Hausman executives. MCI sales grew so rapidly in the following years as MCI moved into the leadership position in the market that Hausman soon outgrew t h e e x i s t i n g f a c i l i t y I n 1 9 8 3 , t h e c o m p a n y moved to a larger and better facility in the northwest suburb of Des Plaines at the cor ner of Golf and Mt Prospect Roads [see the O c t o b e r, 1 9 8 3 N AT I O N A L B U S T R A D E R f o r details]

Pat’s talents in sales and marketing may have come from her father, Thomas Delaney, who was a building material salesman. One of his favorite sayings was: “Take care of the customer That’s what good salesmanship is about; nothing matters if the customer isn’t satisfied ” Pat’s mother was a teacher who gave her a deep appreciation for knowledge Pat obtained her Bachelor of Science Degree while working at Hausman Bus Sales She

In September of 2022 MCI announced that Patricia Ziska would be retiring at the end of the year. By then she will have amassed more than 46 years of service to the bus industry having started in the office of Hausman Bus Sales and moving up to one of the highest industry positions in marketing and customer service. Pat has not only become a legend in the bus business, but her presence has obviously made the industry a better place MCI

MCI ran a pair of coaches coast to coast to support the AASHTO convoy marking the 50th anniversary of the U S interstate system in 2006 Expect edly, Pat Ziska was on hand to meet the convoy and spread publicity for the bus industry and MCI After the convoy arrived in Washington, Pat poses with Peter Pantuso from the American Bus Association (left) and MCI Bus Driver Dave Kane (right). MCI

a l s o c o m p l e t e d s e v e r a l M B A c o u r s e s a t Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management She and her husband, Jim, h a v e t h r e e b o y s a n d a d a u g h t e r : J i m , Matthew, Mike and Kaitlyn

Her tenacity, determination and intelli g e n c e w e r e r e c o g n i z e d a t H a u s m a n B u s Sales where she took on more responsibility and began adding to her list of accomplish ments Already by 1985 Pat was in charge of the service coordinators who supported cus tomer orders through the factory A major c h a n g e c a m e i n 1 9 8 9 w h e n M C I a c q u i re d Hausman Bus Sales and began merging sales and customer service into the parent com pany Expectedly, Pat moved into and up in the MCI sales and service organization.

Pat usually represented MCI at the trade shows including this United M o t o r c o a c h A s s o c i a t i o n s h o w i n L a s Ve g a s i n 2 0 0 5 . T h e p e o p l e f r o m Louisiana Coaches Trailways saw the new MCI D4005 on the show floor and decided to buy it. Shown are Peter Cotter, MCI executive vice president of sales; Louis Sanders and his father, Don Sanders, of Louisiana Coaches; Pat Ziska, MCI vice president of marketing and major accounts and Rob Lessor, MCI regional sales manager. MCI

A t M C I , P a t b e g a n a s s u m i n g m o r e re s p o n s i b i l i t y i n s a l e s a n d c u s t o m e r s e r v i c e I n 1 9 9 6 s h e b e c a m e t h e f i r s t f e m a l e v i c e p re s i d e n t a t M C I a n d t o o k o v e r t h e C e n t r a l R e g i o n a l S a l e s Te a m F o u r y e a r s later, in 2000, she moved up to the position o f v i c e p re s i d e n t o f m a r k e t i n g a n d m a j o r accounts In this position she began work ing with many of MCI’s top tour and char t e r a c c o u n t s . T h i s w a s a v e r y re s p o n s i b l e position since these accounts were respon s i b l e f o r a s u b s t a n t i a l p o r t i o n o f M C I ’ s sales

U n d e r h e r d i re c t i o n , M C I ’ s c u s t o m e r o p e n h o u s e e v e n t s w e r e e x p a n d e d a n d road shows were developed that were well a t t e n d e d . T h e s e e v e n t s e n c o u r a g e d M C I

customers to come and see the latest mod els and hear about what new developments were on the horizon Noteworthy achieve m e n t s i n c l u d e d w o r k i n g w i t h c e l e b r i t y spokesperson and bus industry supporter J o h n M a d d e n t h ro u g h a l l f i v e o f h i s M C I c o a c h e s . S h e a l s o p u t f a m o u s b a s k e t b a l l l e g e n d M i c h a e l J o r d a n i n a n M C I “ D ” series coach when he played for a baseball t e a m i n B i r m i n g h a m , A l a b a m a . I n a d d i t i o n , P a t w a s h e a v i l y i n v o l v e d w i t h t h e l a u n c h a n d i n t r o d u c t i o n o f s e v e r a l k e y M C I m o d e l s i n c l u d i n g t h e R e n a i s s a n c e ( E 4 5 0 0 ) , t h e n o w i n d u s t r y l e a d i n g J 4 5 0 0 , t h e n e w d e s i g n D 4 5 0 5 a n d D 4 0 0 5 a s w e l l as the ultimate LX model

Pat took on substantial responsibility in sales, marketing and customer service dur ing her career She was active in advertising, public relations, trade shows and industry events A few of the special events included the AASHTO 50th Anniversary of the Inter s t a t e H i g h w a y S y s t e m a n d t h e M C I G o Green campaign She took charge of press events and directed the MCI marketing staff in charge of advertising materials, sales lit erature and the MCI Website She was also responsible for FYI from MCI, a customer e newsletter that started with a few hundred customer readers and later grew into a cir culation of thousands

A f t e r c e l e b r a t i n g 3 0 y e a r s i n t h e b u s industry, Pat moved up to a new role at MCI in 2007 Recognizing her abilities to work with customers, she became the vice presi dent, chief customer service officer for MCI This was a new position for both MCI and the industry

L a r r y K i l l i n g s w o r t h , M C I ’ s t h e n v i c e p r e s i d e n t o f s a l e s a n d m a r k e t i n g , e x p l a i n e d t h e n e w p o s i t i o n “ P a t h a s f o c u s e d o n t h e c u s t o m e r f o r t h e p a s t 3 0 y e a r s N o w w e h a v e a p o s i t i o n t h a t i s

Over the years, Pat Ziska has been an MCI spokesperson with customers and at industry events. She promoted MCI’s local Open House events and has usually been on hand for most major industry events. Here, Pat meets with the Beach Boys at an MCI event in October of 1996. MCI.

s o l e l y re s p o n s i b l e f o r f i n d i n g n e w w a y s t o w i n f o r t h e c u s t o m e r. P a t h a s p u t h e r o w n s t a m p o n t h e i n d u s t r y i n a w a y t h a t v e r y f e w e x e c u t i v e s h a v e b e e n a b l e t o d o This position gives her a chance to get even c l o s e r t o t h e c u s t o m e r a s w e b e g i n t o ro l l o u t a n u m b e r o f n e w i n i t i a t i v e s ” I n t h i s p o s i t i o n , Z i s k a w i l l a l s o t a k e o n a b i g g e r ro l e w i t h i n d u s t r y a s s o c i a t i o n s

By 2007, Pat was already well known and respected in the field Her movement into t h i s n e w a n d u n i q u e p o s i t i o n w a s m e n t i o n e d i n a n a r t i c l e i n t h e J a n u a r y, 2 0 0 7 NATIONAL BUS TRADER that brought forth compliments from industry leaders “She is the backbone of the industry, and respected by all of her peers,” said Victor Parra, pres ident of the United Motor Coach Associa tion “There is no one else like her ”

John Crosswell, president of Crosswell Bus Lines in Williamsburg, Ohio, knew Pat from her earliest days at Hausman His com ments were probably reflected by many in the industry who had the pleasure to work with Pat “Pat brings class, dignity, profes s i o n a l i s m , g o o d h u m o r a n d g r a c e t o o u r i n d u s t r y E v e n t h e n s h e s t o o d o u t A s s h e ro s e t h ro u g h t h e m a n a g e m e n t r a n k s , P a t never overcompensated or changed; she has b e e n a b l e t o k e e p h e r s t y l e S h e ’ s u n i q u e because she demonstrates unwavering loy alty for the customer, her company, cowork e r s a n d t o t h e i n d u s t r y a l l a t o n c e We who know her are blessed ”

I n re p l y, P a t o ff e re d h e r o w n t h o u g h t s “ I l o v e M C I , ” s h e s a i d . “ I ’ m e x t r e m e l y proud of what we’ve accomplished When I s e e a n M C I c o a c h g o i n g d o w n t h e ro a d ,

I f e e l a g re a t s e n s e o f s a t i s f a c t i o n t h a t a l l o f u s a t M C I c o n t r i b u t e t o t h e c o n f i d e n c e o u r c u s t o m e r s h a v e i n o u r b r a n d O p e r a t o r s k n o w t h e y c a n s e n d a n M C I m o d e l o u t w i t h g r o u p s o f p e o p l e t o g e t f r o m p o i n t t o p o i n t w i t h p e a c e o f m i n d We ’ re t ru s t e d ”

After her 2007 promotion, Pat continued w o r k i n g w i t h c u s t o m e r s a n d p u t a d d i t i o n a l e ff o r t i n t o e v e n t s a n d a s s o c i a t i o n s The MCI Rally and open house events gave customers an opportunity to meet with the MCI staff and suppliers, see the latest prod u c t s a n d h e a r a b o u t n e w d e v e l o p m e n t s a n d d i re c t i o n s W h i l e m a n y w e re h e l d a t s e v e r a l M C I S e r v i c e f a c i l i t i e s n a t i o n w i d e , some events took place in special locations l i k e r a c e t r a c k s t o s h o w c a s e n e w s y s t e m s a n d d e v e l o p m e n t P a t w o r k e d w i t h a s s o c i a t i o n s , h e l p e d p re s e n t M C I s p o n s o re d c u s t o m e r a w a rd s a n d b e c a m e a c t i v e w i t h t h e Wo m e n i n B u s e s g ro u p

Typical of the esteem Pat received from a s s o c i a t i o n s w a s b e i n g g i v e n t h e A l l i a n c e P a r t n e r o f t h e Ye a r Aw a rd b y t h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l M o t o r C o a c h G ro u p ( I M G ) i n 2 0 1 0 The Award honors Alliance members that h a v e d e m o n s t r a t e d e x c e p t i o n a l s e r v i c e and commitment to the industry and espe c i a l l y t o I M G m e m b e r s . S h e w a s c h o s e n b y I M G m e m b e r s a s t h e y e a r ’ s re c i p i e n t of the yearly award from among her indus t r y p e e r s

“IMG recognized Pat for her support of o u r o r g a n i z a t i o n , h e r l e a d e r s h i p r o l e i n f o r m i n g t h e M o t o rc o a c h C o u n c i l a n d t h e c o m m i t m e n t s h e h a s t o t h e i n d u s t r y a s a whole,” said Steve Klika, president of IMG “She and her MCI team are engaged in every aspect of IMG She is a great friend to us and the industry We appreciate her commitment and leadership.”

“We’re very honored to have Pat singled out for the award,” said Tom Sorrels, MCI president and CEO “She goes the extra mile

Over the years, Pat Ziska was heavily involved with running the MCI Cus tomer and Open House events This one in 2010 took place in Joliet, Illinois at a racetrack so MCI could show its new driver assistance system. NBT

T h i s M C I C u s t o m e r R a l l y e v e n t t o o k p l a c e a t t h e M C I f a c i l i t y i n D e s Plaines, Illinois in 2016 Pat Ziska lines up for a photograph with several others in front of a new MCI J4500 going to Village Charters. NBT

for each and every MCI coach owned and is t r u s t e d b y a l l S h e g r e a t l y d e s e r v e s t h e honor, and we extend our congratulations.”

In 2011, Pat took another step up the lad der at MCI. In her former role as vice presi d e n t a n d c h i e f c u s t o m e r o f f i c e r P a t w a s responsible for MCI’s private sector sales to major accounts, MCI’s sales force in Canada and had responsibility for executing MCI’s marketing programs including internet and

Web based communications as well as pub lic relations

Pat had been behind MCI’s “Go Green, G o C o a c h , G o M C I ” c a m p a i g n t h a t s u p ported the environmental benefits of motor c o a c h t r a v e l S h e a l s o h a s b e e n s e r v i n g a s MCI’s representative to a number of indus t r y o rg a n i z a t i o n s a n d m a r k e t i n g g ro u p s including the American Bus Association and Trailways.

N o w, i n 2 0 1 1 , a f t e r 3 5 y e a r s i n t h e industry, Pat was named vice president of sales and marketing for the private sector.

I n t h i s n e w ro l e , P a t w a s re s p o n s i b l e f o r t h e n e w c o a c h p r i v a t e s e c t o r s a l e s re p re sentatives in the United States and Canada as well as the company’s marketing group

In making the announcement, Rick Heller, M C I c h i e f e x e c u t i v e o f f i c e r, s a i d : “ I t i s w i t h o u t q u e s t i o n t h a t o u r c u s t o m e r s a n d sales team have the highest regard for Pat. S h e h a s t h e c re d e n t i a l s a n d d e s e r v e s t h i s

National

Patricia Ziska was very active in working with associations and presenting awards. Luke Busskohl, Arrow State Lines COO (left), and his brother Alex, corporate operations and marketing specialist (right) accept the MCI sponsored 2019 UMA Environmental Leadership Award from Pat Ziska, MCI vice president of new coach sales, at the 2019 UMA show. UMA.

In 2011, after 35 years in the industry, Pat was named MCI’s vice president of sales and mar k e t i n g f o r t h e p r i v a t e s e c t o r P a t b e c a m e responsible for the new coach private sector sales representatives in the United States and Canada as well as the company’s marketing group. MCI

When not behind her desk, Pat could be found helping customers and delivering new coaches. Southeastern Stages celebrated its 80th anniversary in 2013 with an outing to an Atlanta Braves b

Scully. MCI

D

M C

35 foot J3500 coach to Cliff Dorsey and the staff at Tuscaloosa Charter Service. MCI

O n J a n u a r y 2 6 , 2 0 1 7 , P a t r i c i a Z i s k a w a s h o n o r e d w i t h a Wo m e n i n B u s e s Aw a r d a t t h e A B A Marketplace in Cleve l a n d f o r h e r u n p a r a l leled industry knowl e d g e , p i o n e e r i n g l e a d e r s h i p a n d p e r s o n a l t o u c h . T h e Wo m e n i n B u s e s award recognizes the r o l e o f w o m e n i n t h e m o t o r c o a c h i n d u s t r y w h o w o r k c o l l a b o r a t i v e l y o n i s s u e s a n d c o n c e r n s o f w o m e n b u s i n e s s l e a d e r s a s w e l l a s i n d u s t r y s p e cific trends Pat, who holds one of the high e s t p o s i t i o n s i n t h e i n d u s t r y, h a d j u s t recently celebrated 40 years in the bus busi n e s s t h e p r e v i o u s December

role. She is not only dedicated to MCI, but ultimately to our customers’ success I look forward to working more closely with Pat a s w e l l a s o u r s a l e s t e a m t o f u r t h e r i m p ro v e o u r m a r k e t s h a re a n d m a x i m i z e o u r c u s t o m e r re l a t i o n s h i p s

S e v e r a l p e o p l e c o m m e n t e d t h a t i t w a s h a rd t o k e e p u p w i t h P a t . W h e n s h e w a s not at her desk in the office, she was active with customer events, making coach deliv e r i e s t o c u s t o m e r s a n d w o r k i n g w i t h c u s t o m e r s a n d p re s e n t i n g a w a rd s a t s h o w s N o t e w o r t h y e x a m p l e s i n c l u d e P a t ’ s i n v o l v e m e n t i n f o u n d i n g t h e M o t o rc o a c h C o u n c i l i n 2 0 0 7 t h a t h e l p e d e d u c a t e a n d s u p p o r t b u s o p e r a t o r s i n m a r k e t i n g . I n 2 0 0 8 P a t e s t a b l i s h e d t h e A m e r i c a n B u s Association’s Green Spirit Award as a way to recognize operators promoting the envi ro n m e n t a l b e n e f i t s o f m o t o rc o a c h t r a v e l This included MCI’s green tool kit for oper ators to use to promote their efforts to pas s e n g e r s a n d c l i e n t s a l i k e

“ S h e i s m a g n i f i c e n t t o d e a l w i t h S h e k n o w s w h a t ’ s s h e ’ s d o i n g a n d p u t s o u r b u s i n e s s f i r s t . S h e ’ s f o c u s e d o n w h a t ’ s i n f ro n t o f h e r a n d o n h e r j o b S h e ’ s p i c k e d u p a w e a l t h o f k n o w l e d g e a n d t h a t ’ s a g r e a t a s s e t t o u s a n d t h e i n d u s t r y, ” s a i d J o h n M c C o m m o n , o w n e r o f C l i n e To u r s i n M i s s i s s i p p i .

“ S h e i s t h e m o s t g e n u i n e , d e p e n d a b l e p e r s o n w e ’ v e d e a l t w i t h i n t h i s i n d u s t r y, ” said Allen Lamers, president of Green Bay based Lamers Bus Lines Lamers built a 52 y e a r c a re e r i n t h e c h a r t e r a n d s c h o o l b u s family business he ran with his brother and

c h i l d re n . “ [ P a t ] i s a c re d i t t o t h e i n d u s t r y a l l a r o u n d S h e ’ s n o n o n s e n s e D o e s n ’ t m i s s a b e a t S h e f o l l o w s t h ro u g h , s t a y s i n t o u c h a n d t a k e s c a re o f t h i n g s . M C I i s f o r t u n a t e t o h a v e h e r ”

P a t h a d j u s t c e l e b r a t e d 4 0 y e a r s i n t h e industry when she received another award A t t h e A B A M a r k e t p l a c e i n C l e v e l a n d o n J a n u a r y 1 6 , 2 0 1 7 , s h e w a s h o n o re d w i t h a Wo m e n i n B u s e s Aw a rd f o r h e r u n p a r a l leled industry knowledge, pioneering lead e r s h i p a n d p e r s o n a l t o u c h “ M C I s a l u t e s Pat on receiving this prestigious and well deserved award,” said Patrick Scully, MCI e x e c u t i v e v i c e p re s i d e n t o f s a l e s a n d m a r k e t i n g . “ We ’ re p ro u d o f h e r a c c o m p l i s h m e n t s a t M C I a n d d e d i c a t i o n t o h e l p i n g c u s t o m e r s a t e v e r y t u r n P a t h a s a l w a y s b e l i e v e d c u s t o m e r n e e d s a n d p a s s e n g e r d e s i re s c o m e f i r s t ”

I n 2 0 1 5 , M C I w a s a c q u i r e d b y N e w Flyer Initial changes were minimal and Pat continued on doing what she did so well. After the pandemic hit in 2020, a new com p a n y w i d e t r a n s i t i o n w a s p u t i n p l a c e called “NFI Forward” to rationalize busi n e s s u n i t s a n d f a c i l i t i e s i n t h e l i g h t o f t h e new normal As a result, NFI and MCI were combined into one business unit. The com bined company continued offering all mod els of transit buses and MCI coaches. Work was already underway to offer battery elec tric power Pat continued to lead the private new coach sales team.

It was on September 6, 2022 when MCI announced that Pat would be retiring at the e n d o f t h e y e a r, s o o n a f t e r c o m p l e t i n g 4 6

years in the industry. To help with the tran sition, Tom Wagner had rejoined MCI and would be working alongside Pat Tom orig inally joined MCI’s public sector sales team in 2005 and was involved with the D series coach including coaches to New Jersey Tran sit as well as the launch of compressed nat u r a l g a s a n d h y b r i d e l e ct r i c p o w e r t r a i n s He rose to a vice president position before leaving in 2020

“MCI has provided me with an astound ing career, and I value the friendships I’ve made along the way,” Pat said “Our lead ership team will be strengthened by Tom’s contributions, and I look forward to many more MCI milestones ahead of us.”

I t w o u l d b e d i ff i c u l t f o r m e n o t t o a d d m y p e r s o n a l c o m m e n t s a f t e r h a v i n g known Pat through most of her bus indus try career I had visited Hausman Bus Sales l o o k i n g f o r b u s e s f o r a m u n i c i p a l o p e r a t i o n I w a s w o r k i n g w i t h w h e n P a t f i r s t started there. N ATIONAL B US T RADER was founded a year after Pat joined Hausman While there have been bus industry people w h o d e v e l o p e d a re p u t a t i o n f o r c u s t o m e r s e r v i c e a n d w e re re s p e c t e d b y b u s o p e r a t o r s , P a t t o o k t h i s t o a s u b s t a n t i a l l y n e w a n d h i g h e r l e v e l . I k n o w o f n o o n e w h o served in this area for as long and brought c u s t o m e r s u p p o r t a n d s e r v i c e u p t o t h i s professional and comprehensive level She i s u n i q u e i n t h e i n d u s t r y a n d m a n y o f u s re s p e c t h e r f o r t h a t . T h a n k y o u , P a t , f o r a job well done Our wishes go with you for a g re a t re t i re m e n t O u r b u s i n d u s t r y i s a b e t t e r p l a c e b e c a u s e o f w h a t y o u h a v e d o n e a n d w h a t y o u a c c o m p l i s h e d q

Alternative Drivelines for City Buses in Europe

W e continually get questions from re a d e r s o n s a l e s , z e ro e m i s s i o n a n d a l t e r n a t i v e f u e l b u s e s J u s t re c e n t l y w e w e re h a n d e d s o m e i n f o r m a t i o n a n d s t a t i s t i c s f r o m Wi m C h a t r o u o f C M E S o l u t i o n s c o v e r i n g 1 0 y e a r s o f a l t e r n a t i v e d r i v e l i n e c i t y b u s re g i s t r a t i o n s i n E u r o p e S i n c e m a n y p e o p l e f e e l t h a t t h e E u ro p e a n s a re a f e w y e a r s a h e a d o f u s i n t h i s a re a , i t m i g h t b e i n t e re s t i n g t o t a k e a l o o k a t w h a t h a s b e e n h a p p e n i n g i n E u ro p e w i t h a l t e r n a t i v e d r i v e l i n e s s i n c e s o m e o f i t m i g h t re l a t e t o w h a t i s o r w i l l happen in North America If any reader is i n t e re s t e d i n m o re d e t a i l e d i n f o r m a t i o n , p l e a s e l e t u s k n o w a n d w e w i l l p u t y o u i n t o u c h w i t h C h a t ro u w h o c a n h e l p y o u b y p ro v i d i n g m o re i n f o r m a t i o n

Moving Away From Diesel Engines

One observation I feel is appropriate is that this movement away from diesel power h a s c h a n g e d t h e n u m b e r a n d t y p e o f b u s

m a n u f a c t u r e r s t o a s u b s t a n t i a l e x t e n t i n recent years When buses were built around diesel engines, it was the engine manufac turers that controlled the market to a greater or lesser extent In 1956 the U S Department of Justice filed an antitrust suit against GM Buses and three other companies. The com p l a i n t c h a rg e d t h a t G M h a d a m o n o p o l y because they built 84 percent of all the large buses in the United States in 1955 and Flxible had built another seven percent

Having both driven and trained drivers on those old GM coachs and buses, I might look at things differently. Those GM buses were durable, reliable and easy to keep running In addition, GM offered financing for those who needed it Coach and bus operators who could afford to, bought GM products, but a key item in the suit was GM’s Detroit Diesel engines. Originally developed in the late 1930s, GM’s Detroit Diesel engines were taking over the market from gasoline engines much like the move from diesel to battery electric today

A n a l a r m i n g n u m b e r o f A m e r i c a n b u s builders were going out of business in the 1 9 5 0 s , m a n y n e v e r h a v i n g g r a d u a t e d t o d i e s e l e n g i n e s . P a r t o f t h e c o n s e n t d e c re e that resolved the antitrust suit required GM to make their Detroit Diesel engine available to other bus builders in 1958 While things never got to this point in Europe, it can be said that the major engine builders like Mer cedes Benz, M A N , Volvo and Iveco were major players in the bus market For many years these four engine builders dominated the market with 75 80 percent of bus sales a n d t h e r e m a i n d e r E u r o p e a n s a l e s s p l i t among the smaller bus builders.

The push towards battery electric buses has changed the list of bus builders on both sides of the Atlantic Until a decade ago, the l i s t o f b u s b u i l d e r s o n b o t h s i d e s o f t h e Atlantic also included several bus builders who did not make engines On the European side, the more popular names would include Van Hool, VDL, Temsa, Solaris, Alexander

Shown here is a Solaris Urbino 12 electric bus crossing a bridge in Tampere, Finland Solaris is the largest electric bus builder for the European market, barely edging out VDL. Their 12-meter (39-foot) electric Urbino is one of their most popular models. Solaris is based in Poland and also offers articulated and tram buses. SOLARIS

Dennis, Irizar, Wrightbus and several others O n t h e A m e r i c a n s i d e o f t h e A t l a n t i c t h i s c a t e g o r y w o u l d i n c l u d e N e w F l y e r, N o v a b u s , G i l l i g a n d b o t h M C I a n d P re v o s t a s coachbuilders.

M o re re c e n t l y, w e a re n o w s e e i n g n e w names enter the market that have never built diesel buses in the past Noteworthy on the European market would be BYD from China and Ebusco. On the American side, both Pro terra and BYD could be included It appears that other new entrants into the electric bus field are joining this group

B e f o r e l o o k i n g a t t h e n u m b e r s , t h e r e a re a c o u p l e o f i t e m s w o r t h m e n t i o n i n g An obvious one is that in spite of a smaller a re a t h a n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s , E u ro p e t r a d i t i o n a l l y h a s m o re b u s e s P a r t o f t h i s m a y b e b e c a u s e o f t h e i r h i g h p o p u l a t i o n , b u t good transportation helps and they are not f a c e d w i t h t h e A m e r i c a n ’ s l o v e o f t h e i r a u t o m o b i l e s . W h i l e A m e r i c a n s u b u r b a n r a i l ro a d s t a t i o n s h a v e h u g e p a r k i n g l o t s f o r a u t o m o b i l e s , o u t l y i n g E u ro p e a n r a i l road stations have huge bike racks. I might a l s o n o t e t h a t a t l e a s t t h re e E u ro p e a n b u s b u i l d e r s ( Va n H o o l , S o l a r i s a n d I r i z a r ) o ff e r t r a m b u s e s t h a t h a v e y e t t o m a k e a n a p p e a r a n c e i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s

T h e n u m b e r s s h o w n i n t h e f o l l o w i n g c h a r t s a n d l i s t i n g s w e r e c a r e f u l l y researched by Chatrou and come from offi c i a l a u t h o r i t i e s i n e a c h c o u n t r y F i n a l l y, I s h o u l d a l s o m e n t i o n t h a t t h e E u ro p e a n s t e n d t o u s e p e r i o d s a n d c o m m a s w i t h numbers just the opposite of the American w a y. D o n o t a s k m e w h y. H e n c e , 2 4 , 5 p e r c e n t w o u l d b e t h e e q u i v a l e n t o f 2 4 5 p e r c e n t i n A m e r i c a a n d 1 7 6 8 i n E u r o p e would be the equivalent to 1,768 in Amer i c a F o l l o w i n g a r e e x p l a n a t i o n s f o r t h e c h a r t s a n d n u m b e r s s h o w n

Development of Alternative Drivelines

This full width graph shows new Alter native Driveline buses by year for a 10 year p e r i o d f r o m 2 0 1 2 t o 2 0 2 1 W h i l e t h e l a s t t w o t i m e p e r i o d s o n t h e r i g h t a p p e a r t o s h o w a d e c l i n e i n n u m b e r s , t h e y a c t u a l l y represent the first two quarters of 2021 and t h e f i r s t t w o q u a r t e r s o f 2 0 2 2 o n l y h a l f t h e p e r i o d o f t i m e i n t h e f u l l y e a r s f r o m 2012 to 2021; the 10 time periods on the left F o u r t y p e s o f A l t e r n a t i v e D r i v e l i n e s a r e i n c l u d e d : h y b r i d b u s e s , C N G b u s e s , b a t t e r y e l e c t r i c b u s e s a n d h y d ro g e n f u e l c e l l b u s e s . Tr o l l e y b u s e s a r e n o t i n c l u d e d i n t h e s e n u m b e r s b e c a u s e t h e y a re p re s u m a b l y n o t “ a l t e r n a t i v e d r i v e l i n e s ”

Vi r t u a l l y a l l o f t h e n u m b e r s re f l e c t c i t y b u s e s a l t h o u g h a f e w o t h e r s , p re s u m a b l y s h u t t l e a n d i n t e ru r b a n , a re i n c l u d e d T h e black “Total” line at the top represents the t o t a l o f t h e A l t e r n a t i v e D r i v e l i n e b u s e s a n d n o t t o t a l b u s e s i n c l u d i n g d i e s e l a n d other traditional fuels If you add the four l o w e r n u m b e r s , t h e y s h o u l d e q u a l t h e number on the “Total” line Here are some o b s e r v a t i o n s o n t h e l i n e s o n t h e b o t t o m representing the four alternative drivelines b e i n g f o l l o w e d

Not unexpectedly, hybrid buses took an e a r l y l e a d o v e r t h e o t h e r a l t e r n a t i v e s a n d maintained this lead for several years. This would be anticipated since hybrid technol ogy was mature and proven while at least two of the other alternatives were not As the other alternative drivelines become more mature, we see hybrid technology declining. An interesting side note on this is that here i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s , a n o l d e r g r o u p o f hybrid buses were replaced by a new group with clean diesel engines because the new

clean diesel buses were actually cleaner than the older hybrids

Next, we can note that CNG power was the second most popular alternative drive l i n e f o r m a n y y e a r s a n d s t i l l c o n t i n u e s t o have some following Reports are that CNG power is increasingly popular in interurban applications and hence may continue in pop ularity Battery electric buses got off to a slow start but have increased in popularity as you might expect

T h a t r e d l i n e a t t h e b o t t o m i n d i c a t e s s a l e s o f f u e l c e l l b u s e s b y y e a r o r t i m e p e r i o d . A s y o u c a n s e e , t h e n u m b e r s w e re l o w u n t i l 2 0 1 9 w h e n t h e y s t a r t e d t o increase More recent numbers in 2021 and 2 0 2 2 s u g g e s t t h a t n u m b e r s a re s t a r t i n g t o increase from year to year There are people i n t h e i n d u s t r y s u g g e s t i n g t h a t f u e l c e l l b u s e s m a y b e m o re p o p u l a r i n t h e f u t u re i f t h e i r c o s t b e c o m e s m o r e r e a s o n a b l e a l t h o u g h t h e i r c u r r e n t s a l e n u m b e r s a r e s u b s t a n t i a l l y l o w e r t h a n t h e o t h e r t h r e e a l t e r n a t i v e d r i v e l i n e s s h o w n

Total Number of City Buses With Alternative Drivelines Registered in Q1+Q2 2022

T h e s e a re t h e m o s t re c e n t n u m b e r s f o r re g i s t r a t i o n s a n d c o v e r t h e f i r s t t w o q u a r t e r s o r f i r s t h a l f o f 2 0 2 2 T h e n u m b e r s o n t h e f a r r i g h t re p re s e n t t h e t o t a l s f o r e a c h category for this six month period Hence, there were 4,452 buses with hybrid, electric, C N G a n d f u e l c e l l p o w e r N e x t w e se e 5 6 8 b u s e s i n o t h e r s e g m e n t s w h i c h w o u l d include increased use of CNG in interurban s e r v i c e T h e t h i rd l i n e , C i t y B u s S e g m e n t , i s e s s e n t i a l l y t h e y e l l o w l i n e m i n u s t h e w h i t e l i n e . N e x t , t h e t o t a l c i t y b u s m a r k e t f o r t h e s e s i x m o n t h s , i n c l u d i n g d i e s e l a n d a n y o t h e r p o w e r, i s 6 , 0 1 9 w h i c h e x c l u d e s

3 2 t ro l l e y b u s e s . T h i s g i v e s u s s o m e i d e a of the size of the European city bus market s i n c e t h i s 6 , 0 1 9 o n l y r e p r e s e n t s h a l f o f a y e a r

T h e l i n e a c r o s s t h e b o t t o m g i v e s y o u some idea of the percentage of the total mar ket for the city bus segment of each fuel alter native. Hence, these percentages would be the blue line numbers divided by 6,019 For this six month period the four alternative driveline fuel alternatives represent 64.5 per cent of all new registrations If you wanted to add in the 32 trolley buses, the percentage would be 65 1

O t h e r t h i n g s y o u c a n n o t e f ro m t h e s e f i g u r e s i n c l u d e t h e f a c t t h a t t h e e l e c t r i c b u s e s h a v e b e c o m e t h e m o s t p o p u l a r o f t h e f o u r a l t e r n a t i v e d r i v e l i n e s a n d n o w a c c o u n t f o r t h re e o u t o f e v e n 1 0 n e w re g istrations. Equally interesting is that CNG h a s r e m a i n e d p o p u l a r a n d i s n o w b e i n g u s e d f o r i n t e ru r b a n b u s e s T h e n u m b e r o f hybrid buses appears to be declining while fuel cell buses represent less than one per c e n t , b u t s a l e s s e e m t o b e i n c re a s i n g f ro m y e a r t o y e a r.

Registrations of Electric City Buses in Q1+Q2 2022

T h i s p i e c h a r t t r a c k s r e g i s t r a t i o n s o f battery electric buses by country in the first t w o q u a r t e r s o f 2 0 2 2 f o r t h e d e s i g n a t e d c o u n t r i e s o f E u ro p e . T h e t o t a l n u m b e r o f b u s e s i s 1 , 7 6 8 a n d i n c l u d e s c i t y s e r v i c e , interurban buses as well as others It is inter

esting that more than half of these registra tions are in four countries

N e a r l y 2 0 p e rc e n t o f t h e n e w b a t t e r y electric bus registrations are in the United Kingdom Germany follows as the second highest with 13.9 percent. In third position i s F r a n c e w i t h 1 3 3 p e rc e n t F o l l o w i n g a re D e n m a r k , S w e d e n a n d N o r w a y w i t h b e t w e e n 8 5 a n d 7 2 p e rc e n t O t h e r c o u n

tries are less than six percent For the most p a r t i t a p p e a r s t h a t t h e c o u n t r i e s t h a t a re o r d e r i n g t h e m o s t b a t t e r y e l e c t r i c b u s e s a re t h o s e t h a t h a v e b e e n c o n c e r n e d a b o u t g o i n g g r e e n f o r t h e l o n g e s t t i m e T h e r e d o e s n o t s e e m t o b e a n y l i n k b e t w e e n t h e c o u n t r i e s a n d t h e l o c a l a v a i l a b i l i t y o f b a t t e r y e l e c t r i c b u s e s A s t h e n e x t p i e c h a r t will show, the company building the most i s S o l a r i s i n P o l a n d A l t h o u g h I s u s p e c t

T h i s V D L b a t t e r y e l e c t r i c b u s o p e r a t e s f o r H e l s i n g b o r g Expressen in Southern Sweden. VDL was an early leader in electric b u s e s i n E u r o p e a n d came in a close second for the number of elec tric buses registered in Europe. The Citea has been a popular transit b u s i n E u r o p e a n d i s available with differ e n t p o w e r o p t i o n s VDL.

Registrations of Electric City Buses by Manufacturer 2012 - Q2 2022

This pie chart covers all battery electric city buses registered from 2012 to the second quarter of 2022 for these designated coun tries of Europe The total number of buses is 10,271, and they are broken down by man u f a c t u r e r. A s y o u c a n s e e , t h e r e a r e n o w n u m e ro u s m a n u f a c t u re r s i n t h i s m a r k e t This gives you some idea of which manu facturers are the leaders in electric buses on the European market

Solaris comes in first with 11 9 percent of the total Based in Poland, Solaris has offered a range of diesel powered city buses includ ing articulated and tram buses They were one of the first to offer battery electric buses a n d o b v i o u s l y h a v e d o n e w e l l w i t h s a l e s . S e c o n d , a n d o n l y s l i g h t l y b e h i n d , i s V D L Bus & Coach with 11 8 percent VDL is based in the Netherlands and is a merger of smaller companies, some of which go back decades They offer both city buses as well as coaches and began providing an electric version of their popular Citea model at an early date

BYD is a Chinese company with a back ground in batteries They never built diesel buses but have been offering electric coaches and buses in many countries Alexander Den nis is a part of the NFI Group, is the largest bus builder in the UK and the largest double deck bus builder in the world Predecessor compa nies go back more than 100 years and have

t h e B Y D p a r t n e r s h i p w i t h A l e x a n d e r D e n n i s w a s m o t i v a t e d a t l e a s t i n p a r t b y

d e m a n d f o r b a t t e r y e l e c t r i c b u s e s i n t h e U K

Some of the battery electric buses charge up overnight at the garage while others can top off their charge with brief stops at the end of their routes Here is a Solaris Urbino 12 parked beneath a modern charging station at the end of a route A pantograph like device extends upward from the roof of the bus to reach the electrical connection above. SOLARIS

offered bodies and chassis as well as diesel powered buses The partnership with BYD allows them to offer a line of battery electric buses than have become popular Yutong is a Chinese company considered to be the largest bus builder in the world They have been very active with electric buses in recent years

Mercedes Benz (Germany), Volvo (Swe den), Iveco (Italy) and MAN (Germany) are a l l e n g i n e b u i l d e r s t h a t a l s o b u i l d b u s e s . Irizar from Spain offers their i6 diesel coach on the American market and has been very active with electric buses in Europe in recent years They even have a factory dedicated to electric buses in Northern Spain. I do not know much about most of the other builders listed, but it is obvious from this pie chart that there are numerous companies already building electric buses

Registrations of Hydrogen City Buses in 2012 up to and Including Q2 2022.

While hydrogen fuel cell buses have had the lowest sale and registration number of the four types of Alternative Drivelines cov

e re d , t h e y c o n t i n u e t o g a t h e r s u b s t a n t i a l i n t e r e s t I h a v e h e a r d i t s a i d t h a t a s t h e

hydrogen fuel cell buses become less expen sive to build, more will be sold The figures shown here seem to confirm this because the numbers are getting higher in recent years

On the left side is a list of manufacturers who have built hydrogen fuel cell buses for Europe over the past decade Columns show totals for each year at the bottom in yellow with the total for each manufacturer in blue on the right While no new hydrogen fuel cell buses were recorded in 2018, the num bers have started to climb since 2019 as more manufacturers offer fuel cell buses.

I note that Van Hool is in the lead with a total 106 buses over the years. They first got into hydrogen fuel cell buses in 2003 when three Van Hool transit buses were set up for hydrogen fuel cell operation at AC Transit in the East Bay area Van Hool offers a wide range of power options on their buses so their lead ership in this area would not be unexpected

I t i s i n t e r e s t i n g t h a t n u m b e r t w o i n q u a n t i t y i s Wr i g h t b u s f ro m t h e U K T h e y

h a v e b u i l t d i e s e l b u s e s i n t h e p a s t i n c l u d i n g d o u b l e d e c k e r s f o r L o n d o n b u t a re a r e l a t i v e l y r e c e n t e n t r a n t i n t o b u i l d i n g hydrogen fuel cell buses Number three is S o l a r i s f ro m P o l a n d . I n a d d i t i o n t o b e i n g a leader in building battery electric buses, t h e y h a v e a l s o m o v e d a h e a d w i t h h y d ro gen fuel cell buses. There are two notewor thy items on this page One is that up until 2 0 1 7 t h e r e w e r e o n l y t h r e e b u s b u i l d e r s o f f e r i n g h y d r o g e n f u e l c e l l b u s e s o n t h e E u ro p e a n m a r k e t S i n c e 2 0 1 9 , e i g h t n e w b u i l d e r s h a v e h a v e e n t e r e d t h i s m a r k e t T h e s e c o n d n o t e w o r t h y i t e m i s t h e s u b s t a n t i a l i n c re a s e i n n e w h y d ro g e n b u s e s s t a r t i n g i n 2 0 1 9 . I f m y f i g u re s a re c o r re c t , s o m e t h i n g l i k e 9 3 p e rc e n t o f n e w h y d ro g e n f u e l c e l l b u s re g i s t r a t i o n s h a v e c o m e i n t h e t h re e a n d a h a l f y e a r s s i n c e 2 0 1 9 .

Our thanks to Chatrou from CME Solu t i o n s f o r p ro v i d i n g t h i s i n f o r m a t i o n t h a t w e c a n s h a r e w i t h y o u I f y o u a r e i n t e r e s t e d i n l o o k i n g i n t o t h i s i n m o re d e t a i l , o r o t h e r E u r o p e a n t r e n d s , p l e a s e l e t u s k n o w a n d w e c a n c o n n e c t y o u w i t h C h a t r o u a n d C M E S o l u t i o n s t o a n s w e r y o u r q u e s t i o n s q

Trailways Teamwork Aces Golf Tournament Shuttle Ser vice

by Pat Plodzeen Photos courtesy of Trailways

Tr a i l w a y s ’ D e a n Tr a n s p o r t a t i o n a n d Fullington Tours have flawlessly trans ported fans to the prestigious Detroit PGA golf tournament While professional golfer Tony Finau dominated the field to win the Rocket Mortgage Classic at the Detroit Golf Club on July 28 31, 2022, two members o f Tr a i l w a y s , D e a n Tr a n s p o r t a t i o n a n d Fullington Tours, conquered the logistics of

shuttling more than 70,000 fans, volunteers, c a d d i e s a n d p l a y e r s ’ f a m i l i e s t o t h e P G A Tour event

D e a n Tr a n s p o r t a t i o n , t h e l a r g e s t b u s operator in Michigan and a member of the Trailways team, has been the preferred trans portation provider for the tournament since

2 0 1 9 a n d w i l l c o n t i n u e i n t h a t r o l e f o r another four years.

Tr a i l w a y s i s a n a t i o n w i d e n e t w o r k o f independently owned charter bus compa nies that prioritize service, comfort, profes sionalism and reliability When Dean needed more vehicles and staff for the Rocket Mort gage Classic in 2021 and 2022, the company

Dean Transportation partnered with Fullington Trailways to provide transportation for fans going to the PGA Golf Tournament. The Rocket Mortgage Classic was held at the Detroit Golf Club on July 28 31, 2022. Professional golfer Tony Finau dominated the field to win the classic.

t u r n e d t o F u l l i n g t o n Tr a i l w a y s , a f e l l o w member operator based in Clearfield, Penn sylvania.

“It’s reassuring to know that when you’re managing a large event and all the logistics that go into it, you can count on a fellow Trail ways partner to execute at a high level,” said Sarah Ring, Dean’s general manager “We've worked with Excursions and Kobussen Trail ways for this same event in the past, and with Fullington for the last two years Their staff really knows what they're doing and their drivers are the utmost professionals at what they do We know we can count on our Trail ways partners to provide the outstanding ser vice associated with our brand "

This year ’s tournament required 50 vehi cles along with a mechanic and two ground staff employees The ground staff helped direct guests to the proper shuttle areas, assisted with loading and unloading of passengers, man aged the bus flow and helped with other duties to support the effort, Ring said

“ We e n j o y d o i n g t h i s e v e n t b e c a u s e Rocket Mortgage always wants to provide a great customer experience for their guests a n d t h a t ' s w h a t w e d o b e s t , ” s h e s a i d To assure a flawless flow of pick up and drop off for passengers, Dean starts planning for t h e R o c k e t M o r t g a g e C l a s s i c s i x m o n t h s ahead with meetings, site visits and dry runs to determine routes, loop times and how to

avoid any construction or traffic congestion problems during the event.

To l e a r n h o w a Tr a i l w a y s o p e r a t o r c a n help you ace a tournament or move a large

c ro w d , c h e c k o u t i t s f re e o n l i n e d i re c t o r y To b e c o m e a Tr a i l w a y s m e m b e r, c o n t a c t S a b i n a D h a m i , Tr a i l w a y s d i r e c t o r o f a c c o u n t i n g a n d o f f i c e m a n a g e m e n t , a t s a b i n a @ t r a i l w a y s . c o m . q

Moving fans to the Rocket Mortgage Classic at the Detroit Golf Club in July of 2022 was not an easy task. Dean Transportation and Fullington Tours flawlessly moved 70,000 fans, volunteers, caddies and players during the four day event This partnership between two Trailways companies is credited for a smooth running event

Partnering with Dean Transportation for the golf classic was Fullington Trailways of Clearfield, Pennsylvania. A total of 50 vehicles plus a mechanic and two ground staff were required to provide transportation to move the fans Planning for the event started six months in advance to provide a flawless flow of pick ups and drop offs for passengers.

T h e D r i v e r i s t h e C a p t a i n o f t h e B u s

by Dave Millhouser

De a d h e a d i n g a S c e n i c ru i s e r t h ro u g h D e t ro i t o n I n t e r s t a t e 7 5 , I s p o t t e d a GBB (Great Big Busline) 4107 on the shoulder Long on ego (and short on wisdom) I pulled up behind him and offered help

A parking brake chamber on the drive axle h a d l o c k e d t i g h t , a n d t h e b u s w o u l d n o t budge Rolling under the bus with a wrench, I l o o s e n e d t h e b o l t s h o l d i n g t h e p o t t o t h e bracket. It slid forward and released the brake on that wheel

Striking a manly pose, I told the driver he would make it to the Detroit terminal if he drove carefully, because three quarters of his braking system still worked

Silly goose off he went.

A few miles up the road I passed a lonely brake chamber, and a bit farther on was the 4 1 0 7 s t u c k i n t h e t r a v e l l a n e H e h a d h i t a

bump, the body lifted, the chamber shifted farther along the shaft and the descending body chopped it off. It dragged until the air hose holding it parted, setting the remaining parking brake and bringing him to a screech ing halt.

F i g u r i n g t h i s o u t a s I r o a r e d b y, t h e r e seemed no reason to stop, because I had done enough damage for one day

I waved

Best guess is that the GBB driver ’s boss, responding to his excuse, explained to him that he was nuts trusting a passing moron. H e u l t i m a t e l y w a s r e s p o n s i b l e f o r t h e mechanical condition of his coach

A driver tragically died several years ago ( a l o n g w i t h 1 7 p a s s e n g e r s ) i n a n a c c i d e n t There were multiple causes, mostly mechan ical and regulatory failures, but his relative

s a i d h e w a s “ s c a re d t o d r i v e ” t h a t v e h i c l e Then why did he? Without getting into the details of this crash, it is important to under stand that just like an airline pilot, or a ship’s captain, a professional driver is ultimately accountable for the machine they are operat ing If it is not safe, do not take it out

We are not talking about rejecting a coach b e c a u s e a r e a d i n g l i g h t i s p u n k , b u t i t i s important for drivers to understand that once you wheel a bus out of the shop, that baby is yours If a known defect causes (or exacer bates) an accident, blaming the mechanic or management will not get you off the hook

If you are hurtling down the highway and a parking brake arbitrarily locks up, it is not your fault until you let a moron (in a manly pose) decide what is safe for your vehicle

When your bus poops out mid trip, head q u a r t e r s c a n r e m o t e l y t r o u b l e s h o o t a n d

The PD4107 model was the successor to the popular General Motors PD4106 Many people called this design “Buffalo Buses” while in the Northeast they were known as

GM later offered a 40-foot, two-axle version with the same design. This example was one of the earliest built in 1966 and operated for Wilson Bus Lines in East Templeton, Massachusetts. ROBERT REDDEN, REDDEN ARCHIVES

T h e P D 4 5 0 1 S c e n i cruiser has become an icon and legend in the bus industry. Many of t h e m a m a s s e d m o r e t h a n t h r e e m i l l i o n m i

g f o r Greyhound and were then sold to other bus companies for contin ued service This one was preserved by Tom McNally in Peoria and w a s p h o t o g r a p h e d w h i l e o n i t s w a y t o Scenicruise 2010. NBT

s

advise, but you are the one who is respon s i b l e f o r d e c i d i n g i f i t i s s a f e t o c o n t i n u e . Have an accident and they may be held par tially accountable, but you will be the focus, because the driver is always where the buck (rightfully) stops If it is not safe, do not risk passengers lives.

It was 9:55 on a stormy night in Custer, Montana. In five minutes the diner would

c l o s e , a n d a l o n g w i t h i t a c c e s s t o t h e o n l y telephone for a zillion miles. The electrical system on the old Scenic refused to charge, and my buddy on the phone at the garage in Colorado said, “Jam a matchbook in the ‘810 relay The alternator will ‘full tilt boogie’ Don’t forget to take it out when you stop.”

All this with no idea of what had caused the crises. Later we found that the problem

was a dead short in a big, unprotected wire Talk about a fire hazard, jamming the relay b y p a s s e d t h e s a f e t y s y s t e m s M y p a l w a s willing to risk me

Striking a manly pose, I did what I was t o l d , j a m m e d t h e ‘ 8 1 0 a n d m o t o r e d o n through the night

Do not do as I do, do as I say. q

The point being made here is that just like the captain of a ship or the captain of an airplane, the bus driver is the captain of the bus. He or she has the responsibility to make decisions to keep passengers safe and prevent harm to the bus and its equipment If you ask for help, be careful that what you are getting is help. MAN.

Sur vival and Pr osperity

by Ned Einstein

Making Public Transportation Work Part 1: Alternative Work Schedules

To b e b l u n t , p u b l i c t r a n s p o r t a t i o n h a s become our nation’s worst industry. Worse t h a n B i g P h a r m a Wo r s e t h a n B i g E n e rg y Worse even than the U S Healthcare indus try although these bastions of corruption, incompetence, waste and reckless disregard share many characteristics in common with public transportation The tragedy is that it was not always this way

approaches alt ernat ive work schedules. Among these approaches, alternative work schedules present, by far, the greatest oppor t u n i t y t o t h i n t r a f fi c a n d i n c r e a s e p u b l i c transportation ridership. Obviously, faster movement on the roadways would benefit p u b l i c t r a n s p o r t a t i o n j u s t a s m u c h a s i t would benefit personal occupancy vehicles (POVs).

Peaks and Troughs

Traffic is unmistakably a significant bane to both productivity and the enjoyment of modern urban life This problem is greatly e x a g g e r a t e d b e c a u s e m o s t t r a f fi c t e n d s t o s q u e e z e i n t o t w o b r o a d s e t s o f d a y s a n d times: The five day workweek (focusing on the same five days every week) and, during those five days, between roughly 6 9 a m a n d 3 : 3 0 6 : 3 0 p m ( T h e s e “ p e a k ” o r r u s h hours tend to begin and end a bit earlier in more rural parts of the country )

Even in “The Car Country,” public trans portation had plenty of great moments and great thoughts. Regrettably, most of these occurred in the 1960s and 1970s More trag ically, many of these ideas are even more fea sible and far more needed now

On the positive side, internal combustion engines are exponentially cleaner (and we a re s l o w l y t r a n s i t i o n i n g a w a y f ro m t h e m a l t o g e t h e r ) . Wo r s e n i n g t r a f fi c , i n c re a s i n g p o v e r t y a n d i n fl a t i o n a r e i n c r e a s i n g t h e u rg e n c y t o e x p l o re a l t e r n a t i v e s , w h i l e w e fail to The corruption of certain transporta tion sectors most notably AMTRAK, com mercial airlines and transportation network companies (TNCs) have opened floodgates for new opportunities in more traditional modes. Unfortunately, precious little water is flowing through those gates

O n t h e n e g a t i v e s i d e , T N C s h a v e d i s rupted the logical (at least in theory) hierar chy of modes decimating the taxi industry, and already penetrating and distorting the transit, schoolbus and motorcoach sectors s t e a l i n g r i d e r s h i p f ro m t h e m b y t h i n n i n g their densities Among the worst examples, ridership on fixed route transit had dropped by roughly 10 percent per year during the two years before COVID struck. At the same time, and partly responsible for this decline, the transportation industry has basically lost interest in the promises of a half century ago

T h i s i n s t a l l m e n t a d d r e s s e s t h e m o s t p r o m i s i n g o f t h e s e f o r g o t t e n o r i g n o r e d

In the past, the reasons for this concen tration were understandable. Most workers had to be on the job in the same places at the same times Even the most infantile efforts to change this (e g , paying workers more for traveling outside these peak days and hours) have been so ignored that most read ers probably never thought of them Yet as technology has evolved from private tele phone service (not “party lines”), answering machines, telex and fax machines, personal computers, the internet, cell phones, social media and Zoom (and its brethren), remote a c c e s s t o c o m p u t e r s , e t c . , t h e n e e d f o r employees to work mostly the same hours at the same places has become increasingly less and less necessary

decrease in transit ridership is only a small c o n s e q u e n c e

The trough is the enormous increase in workspace density, as more and more huge buildings are increasingly erected closer and c l o s e r t o g e t h e r, a n d t a l l e r a n d t a l l e r T h i s t re n d w a s c o m p o u n d e d b y o t h e r d i s r u p tion the openly stated goal of Silicon Val ley and other start ups As an example, as TNC’s flooded the urban market, the per centage of ride time compared to deadhead t i m e f o r m o s t l y e x c l u s i v e r i d e d e m a n d responsive modes (TNCs, taxis and limou sines) as well as all forms of paratransit ser v i c e s h r u n k M o re a n d m o re v e h i c l e s a re increasingly needed to ferry the same num ber of passengers (and even more to ferry their increasing numbers) adding to traffic, and slowing the movement of vehicles of all types.

Enormous Potential and Extraordinary Disinterest

I t s h o u l d n o t b e h a r d t o u n d e r s t a n d w h y a l t e r n a t i v e w o r k s c h e d u l e s h a v e s o m u c h m o r e p o t e n t i a l n o w t h a n t h e y d i d 50 years ago A small sample of the factors i n c l u d e :

• The flexibility of workers not needing to work at the same time at the same place has grown exponentially, as noted Frankly, with Zoom, Facetime and similar technolo gies, workers in many industries may rarely if ever need to work physically face to face

• Even in factory environments includ ing industrial farming the extraordinary increases in automation have thinned out the need for workers altogether

• C o m p u t e r s h a v e a l s o e x p o n e n t i a l l y r e d u c e d t h e n e e d f o r h a r d c o p y s t o r a g e space For example, an otherwise traditional office could easily be occupied by two (or even three or four) shifts of workers, since none of them would require much storage s p a c e F i l e c a b i n e t s , i n p a r t i c u l a r, h a v e become relics

A s C O V I D s o c l e a r l y d e m o n s t r a t e d , a c o n s i d e r a b l e s e g m e n t o f t h e p o p u l a t i o n needs not travel to work at all. Further, the systematic replacement of most stores with o n l i n e p u rc h a s i n g a n d d e l i v e r y s e r v i c e s f u r t h e r d e c e n t r a l i z e d t h e w o r k f o rc e Ye t t h e s e e x t r a o rd i n a r y c h a n g e s d i d n o t h i n g to reduce traffic In contrast, ever increas ing greed and corruption increased it The

• T h e c o s t o f p a r k i n g , a n d d e c re a s i n g space for it, also compound the need to use this same space simultaneously With alter n a t i v e w o r k s c h e d u l e s , a p a r k i n g g a r a g e c o u l d a c c o m m o d a t e t w o s h i f t s C h a rg i n g each motorist half as much would yield the s a m e p r o fi t s ( e v e n w h i l e t h i s i s n o t h o w American businesses operate)

• Wi t h t h e t h i n n i n g o f t r a f fi c , p u b l i c transportation travel speeds would increase, and their multiple stops would become less of a nuisance or consideration lessening

Public transpor tation has b e c o m e o u r n a t i o n ’s worst industr y.

A considerable segment o f t h e p o p u l a t i o n n e e d s not travel to work at all.

the incentives to travel by modes that make few or no intermediate stops

• Culturally and physiologically, many w o r k e r s a c t u a l l y p re f e r m o re u n c o n v e n tional hours This is especially true for fam ilies with children where both spouses work (another dynamic far more rare half a cen tury ago).

Yet this caldron of urgency fails to alle viate a spoonful of traffic

Evolution and Effortlessness

The notion that most people need a good e i g h t h o u r s ’ s l e e p , o r t h a t o n e c a n e a s i l y adjust his or her sleep hours, is not accurate. B e n j a m i n F r a n k l i n ’ s ru b r i c “ E a r l y t o b e d , e a r l y t o r i s e , m a k e s a m a n h e a l t h y a n d w e a l t h y a n d w i s e ” i s c o m p l e t e n o n s e n s e Franklin knew less about sleep than the aver age tree, and far less about it than the aver a g e b e a r A s a p h y s i o l o g i c a l re a l i t y, m o s t p e o p l e ’ s s l e e p c y c l e s t e n d t o f a l l i n t o t w o patterns:

• T h o s e w i t h l o n g e r t h a n 2 4 h o u r sleep/wakefulness cycles who tend to be late sleepers (known to sleep researchers as “owls”)

• T h o s e w i t h s h o r t e r t h a n 2 4 h o u r s l e e p / w a k e f u l n e s s c y c l e s w h o t e n d t o a w a k e n e a r l y ( t h e s e “ e a r l y r i s e r s ” a r e known as “larks”).

Interestingly, what “sets” one’s biological c l o c k ( o r s l e e p / w a k e f u l n e s s c y c l e ) i s t h e time one awakens not the time he or she retires Exhaustive studies of individuals’ sleep/wakefulness cycles have found that those of larks tend to occur about four hours earlier than those of owls. In primitive times before clocks and electric lights those at the extremes did not do well:

• A late sleeper would likely be eaten by a “day active” animal.

• I n c o n t r a s t , s o m e o n e a r i s i n g i n t h e dark could fall into a pit or off a cliff

This example is, of course, already over simplified since those not living at or near the equator experience considerable varia tion in the light darkness patterns, through out the year, to which their sleep/wakeful ness cycles could not possibly adjust (Areas b a re l y a b o v e t h e A rc t i c C i rc l e , a n d b e l o w the Antarctic Circle, have six weeks a year o f t o t a l d a r k n e s s , a n d s i x w e e k s a y e a r o f total light ) Even so, one’s ability to make moderate adjustments to these conditions

Sur vival and Pr osperity

such as a small village or even a family let t i n g a l a t e s l e e p e r re t i re l a t e , a n d a n e a r l y riser awaken early could soften these risks somewhat by letting the extremists indulge their bodies’ tendencies and “stand guard” over the others The shortcomings of even these approaches help to explain why the average lifespan, until perhaps the last cen tury or so, was about 20 years in most parts of the world Thomas Edison changed a lot m o r e t h i n g s t h a n m o s t p e o p l e a c k n o w l edge: Where electricity is scarce or non exis tent, life spans are still much shorter than in highly industrial parts of the world

These patterns also changed a bit in the last millennium largely because of stimu lants (most commonly the past few hundred years because of coffee, as it reached Europe in the 17th Century) that allow the larks to extend their cycles to match the 24 hour rota tion of the Earth on its axis In contrast, sleep ing pills (without dangerous side effects) are largely a modern phenomenon (For those unaware, alcohol is a poor sleep inducer, as i t u n d e r m i n e s t h e q u a l i t y o f s l e e p ) T h i s dichotomy meant that the larks whose nat ural sleep/wakefulness cycles might be 20 or slightly more hours long could easily stretch out their cycles with a short nap and a few slugs of coffee In contrast, those with longer cycles suffered immeasurably (and many still do): Their “solution” was, and is, mostly wak ing up prematurely, and being tired much of the day as a consequence (which helped some, but not all of them, at least fall asleep the fol lowing night). Worse still, because their nat ural sleep/wakefulness cycles are already longer than normal, most owls cannot nap

Regardless, as the preferences of most of these individuals’ sleep needs are forced to conform to the survival needs of a 24 hour rotation of the Earth on its access, most indi v i d u a l s ’ c y c l e s t e n d t o s o r t t h e m i n t o t w o groups, whose hours are roughly four hours apart Until recently, the need for most work ers to coalesce at the same places at the same t i m e o n l y m e a n t t h a t t h e “ o w l s ” s u ff e re d m o re T h e v i v i d d i s t i n c t i o n s b e t w e e n t h e sleep needs of owls versus larks was rarely if ever employed to lessen traffic or accom plish anything else.

All this is unfortunate As the dumbest of the dumb can see immediately even in a w o r l d w h e r e m a n y w o r k e r s m u s t s t i l l o v e r l a p a t t h e s a m e p l a c e f o r m u c h o f t h e same time having two “shifts” of workers traveling sloppily four hours apart would virtually eliminate the pattern of peak period travel (or “rush hours”) For example, the early birds (or larks) could travel to work f ro m 5 9 a m , w i t h t h e s e c o n d w a v e ( l a t e sleepers, or owls) traveling to work from 9 a m 1 p m Then, from 1 5 p m , the larks could head home At 5 p m , with half of the

workers (the larks) already off the road, the second wave (the owls) could return from 5 9 p m As a consequence, two heavily con c e n t r a t e d p e a k p e r i o d s f ro m ro u g h l y 5 8 p.m. and 3:30 6:30 p.m. a six hour span would be spread out into a 16 hour span of time Traffic levels would essentially be cut i n t o a t h i rd ( i n t h e o r y ) N o t w o r k i n g p e r fectly, with some obvious need for overlaps, traffic levels would more likely be cut in half

Bipartisan and Biblical

To be fair, the busload of modern factors contributing to the extraordinary flexibility w e e n j o y t o d a y w a s u n a c h i e v a b l e , i f n o t unthinkable, a mere 50 years ago Our failure t o s l a s h t r a f fi c l e v e l s i n h a l f w i t h a s i n g l e , simple tool (to which are bodies are naturally attuned) is not a transportation failure It is, frankly, a symptom of a failed state It would be challenging to even conceive of any seri ous downsides to alternative work sched ules, while the upsides would seem as effort less as they are obvious

To a transportation professional coming upon this notion for the first time, the almost complete failure to implement this solution must be deeply disappointing. Particularly a s a l t e r n a t i v e w o r k s c h e d u l e s w e re a h o t topic 50 years ago in U S public transporta tion circles, its complete absence as a solution t o d a y i l l u s t r a t e s t h a t w e a re s i m p l y i n c a p a b l e o f m a k i n g s o c i e t y w i d e c h a n g e s I t represents the failure of business as much as it represents the failure of politics Frankly, a more bipartisan failure one could not find. Quite simply, it reflects a failure of leader ship Otherwise, the failure to employ this solution is hardly unique to America It is sparsely if ever employed in any industrial nation (other than incidentally) including those nations that are genuinely “industrial ”

Unlike the rapidly growing cause of so many other problems mostly from corrup t i o n a n d a d i s t r i b u t i o n o f w e a l t h t h a t w a s inconceivable only a few decades ago the root cause of our failure to endorse and employ solutions as simple and obvious as alternative work schedules is effectively the failure to bother If we cannot solve a major problem with such a simple, effortless solution devoid of a single downside, it is no wonder we are failing to solve more complex challenges

Most educated Judao Christian Ameri cans know that only two of the original Ten Commandments (murder and stealing) are

M a n y w o r k e r s a c t u a l l y p r e f e r m o r e u n c o n v e ntional hours.

Traffic levels would more likely be cut in half.

Sur vival and Pr osperity

actually illegal (a third “bearing false wit ness,” or perjury is technically illegal, but almost never punished just as an interest in penalizing petty theft is waning ) Regard less, I do not recall anything related to sloth being among the Commandments That was l a r g e

y b e

d

U n t

recently, if you did not work, you died

If we could “amend” these Command ments, “Thou shalt not fail to bother” might top the list Otherwise, among them, the only C o m m

prohibited is murder We should be troubled that sloth is slowly choking us to death.

The opinions expressed in this article are that of the author and do not necessarily represent the opinions of NATIONAL BUS TRADER, Inc. or its staff and management q

Ned Einstein is the president of Transporta tion Alternatives (www

com [1]),

Einstein (einstein@transit com) specializes in catastrophic motorcoach accidents

HUNTINGTON PLACE • DETROIT, MI

NOWHERE ELSE will you see this collection of Motorcoach, School Bus and other Bus Suppliers in ONE LOCATION FOR FREE!

WHY YOU NEED TO ATTEND:

NO OTHER SHOW allows operators and non-exhibiting suppliers to attend for free

NO OTHER SHOW will showcase the newest innovations in the world of bus, motorcoach and school bus industries

NO OTHER SHOW creates this kind of environment where business relations grow and prosper

NO OTHER SHOW gives you access to so many new prospects in one place

NO OTHER SHOW provides the latest trends in your market

A t r i g h t

C

B

O

Photographs

To

, Maine celebrates 110 years in business in 2022 The company operates school service, charters, tours and a scheduled line run. This photo was taken in 2012 of their 100th anniversary bus, a Setra We hope to provide an article on Cyr Bus Line Soon.

B e l o w : C o a c h A t l a n t i c M a r i t i m e B u s r e c e n t l y t o o k d e l i v e r y o f 1 0 P r e v o s t H3 45 coaches. These are the first of 50 o r d e r e d o v e r t h e n e x t fi v e y e a r s . T h e company operates 275 pieces of equip ment in Eastern Canada. This photo was t a k e n a t t h e P r e v o s t f a c t o r y i n S t e Claire, Quebec.

“ T h e C u r i o u s C o a c h o w n e r ” i s a q u e s t i o n a n d a n s w e r c o l u m n t h a t p ro v i d e s s i m p l e a n s w e r s t o s i m p l e q u e s t i o n s t h a t a re t o o shor t to warrant a full ar ticle or inclusion in one of our regular columns We will accept re a s o n a b l y s i m p l e t e c h n i c a l o r h i s t o r i c a l questions on commercial coaches or con ver ted coach shells by letter, fax, e mail or phone If our staff is unable to answer them, w e w i l l c a l l u p o n o u r p a n e l o f e x p e r t s Names and addresses should be submitted w i t h y o u r q u e s t i o n s , b u t w e w i l l w i t h h o l d n a m e s f r o m p u b l i c a t i o n o n r e q u e s t W e reserve the right to modify questions to make them more useful to our readers

Q What are “Buzz Stops?” I read that they are becoming increasingly popular in Europe.

Reader in Canada

A Buzz Stops are simply standard bus stop shelters with roofs covered with plants and flowers that attract bees and other insects while bringing some green back to metro politan city centers

We need to star t out by understanding that Europe is more crowded than vir tually all of the United States and Canada Grass, green areas and wildflowers have long since dis appeared from many city centers This has made it increasingly difficult for bees, but terflies and hoverflies to survive

T h e c o n c e p t o f B u z z S t o p s o r i g i n a t e d i n U t re c h t i n t h e N e t h e r l a n d s s e v e r a l y e a r s ago Dutch cities were increasingly worried that urban bee populations were becoming destabilized because of the lack of green a re a s , w i l d fl o w e r s a n d s i m i l a r h a v e n s f o r bees and butterflies

As a result, some of the Dutch cities started a “No Roof Unused” policy to help improve this situation The result is that every roof will be greened with plants and mosses or have solar panels This seemed to help a great deal with the city bee and butterfly populations

In fact, it was so successful that someone g o t t h e b r i l l i a n t i d e a o f u s i n g t h i s s a m e concept on the roof of regular, rectangular b u s s t o p s h e l t e r s T h i s w a s i m m e d i a t e l y declared to be successful since the plants a n d w i l d f l o w e r s o n t h e ro o f a t t r a c t e d t h e b e e s , b u t t e r f l i e s a n d h o v e r f l i e s a n d h e l p e d m a i n t a i n t h e i r p o p u l a t i o n U t re c h t

The Curious Coachowner

n o w h a s m o r e t h a n 3 0 0 B u z z S t o p s t h ro u g h o u t t h e c i t y

It did not take long for this same idea to start s p re a d i n g t h ro u g h o u t E u ro p e N u m e ro u s o t h e r c i t i e s w e r e f a c e d w i t h d e c r e a s i n g green areas for the insects, and the colorful roofs of the bus stop shelters proved to be increasingly popular

From Utrecht, the Buzz Stop concept spread to other Dutch cities and then to Denmark and Sweden More recently, the concept is becoming popular in France, Belgium and the United Kingdom

Leicaster in the East Midlands of England a p p e a r s t o h a v e t a k e n t h e l e a d i n t h e U K T h e y h a v e a l re a d y i n s t a l l e d m o re t h a n 3 0 B u z z S t o p s s i n c e 2 0 2 1 D e r b y i n E n g l a n d n o w h a s 1 8 a n d t h e y a r e a p p e a r i n g i n S o u t h a m p t o n , N e w c a s t l e , S u n d e r l a n d , O x f o r d , C a r d i f f a n d e v e n G l a s g o w i n S c o t l a n d

W h a t i s i n t e re s t i n g i s t h a t t h e B u z z S t o p s h a v e s t a r t e d t o b e c o m e s o p o p u l a r i n Europe that a company called Clear Chan nel UK has stepped in to install and manage them They currently manage 30,000 com mercial shelters on behalf of councils but are finding a strong movement away from conventional bus stops and to the new Buzz Stops that cater to insect wildlife

T h e p e o p l e f r o m C l e a r C h a n n e l s a y t h a t there are pros and cons on the movement from conventional bus stop shelters to the increasingly popular Buzz Stops One prob lem they are faced with is that conventional bus stop shelters have a “shelf life” of about 20 years Hence, some places are reluctant to replace existing bus stops if they are still in good shape and are limiting the transition t o s h e l t e r s t h a t a re o l d e n o u g h t o re q u i re replacement

A second problem is that the Buzz Stop shel ters are more expensive because they need t o b e m o re s u b s t a n t i a l t o s u p p o r t t h e s o i l and plant life on the roof This, again, is a reason why the changeover is going slowly in many areas

On the other hand, Clear Channel says that once built and installed, maintenance is rel a t i v e l y e a s y o n t h e B u z z S t o p s h e l t e r s I f built correctly, the roofs capture rainwater t h a t k e e p s t h e p l a n t l i f e g o i n g I n m a n y cases the Buzz Stop roofs only require main

tenance twice a year The roof gets a weed a n d t r i m w h e n t h e r e s t o f t h e s h e l t e r i s checked for any problems

C l e a r C h a n n e l h a s b e e n w o r k i n g w i t h W i l d l i f e Tr u s t s t o m a k e s u re t h a t t h e ro o f s benefit wildlife Native flowers are used that include kidney vetch, thyme, selfheal and wild marjoram They attract a large range of p o l l i n a t o r s i n c l u d i n g h o v e r fl i e s , p e a c o c k and tor toiseshell butterflies as well as com mon carder and buff tailed bumblebees

The company says that the Buzz Stops are becoming increasingly popular as time goes on They are already receiving inquiries from as far away as Canada and Australia Pre sumably, the Buzz Stops will eventually show up on this side of the Atlantic

Q. Have there been any developments in regard to the power grid, electric buses and hydrogen fuel cell buses?

Several Readers

A The recent August issue of National Bus Trader contained an ar ticle on Carrington Events that disrupt electrical systems and components Since then we have received several comments and questions from read ers on various aspects of this We will tr y to answer some of them briefly

T h e r e s t i l l s e e m s t o b e a d i s c o n n e c t b e t w e e n t h e p o w e r g r i d p e o p l e a n d t h e politicians pushing for electric buses Read e r s re c e n t l y t o l d u s t h a t C a l i f o r n i a i s c o n cer ned about electrical outages or brown o u t s H o w e v e r, a t t h e s a m e t i m e t h e y a re pushing for more electric cars and buses

This same kind of thing is happening in other places Some people have expressed con cer n that our national power grid needs to be improved and strengthened because it is vulnerable to problems

As far as alter native fuels are concer ned, t h e l a t e s t fi g u r e s f r o m E u r o p e s h o w a n i n c re a s e i n i n t e re s t i n h y d ro g e n f u e l c e l l buses Since 2019, eight new builders have entered this market Production of hydrogen fuel cell buses has increased substantially recently Something like 93 percent of new registrations have come in the three and a half years since 1919 We will tr y to include this in a future ar ticle

A n s w e r s n o t c r e d i t e d t o o t h e r i n d i v i d u a l s are provided by Larry Plachno q

BACK ISSUES

EVERY ISSUE IS NEW UNTIL YOU HAVE READ IT!

NATIONAL BUS TRADER continues to receive requests on the availability of back issues so that readers can either locate desired information or obtain missing issues

While they last, the following back issues are available Issues beginning with June, 1979 thru

u r r e n t a r e $ 3 U S , $ 4 5 0 C a n a d a a n d $ 5 International (US) each postpaid

Several issues are already “out of print,” hence we suggest that you indicate second choices We

requested are no longer available

q Vol II, No 7 June, 1979 q Vol II, No 10 September, 1979 q Vol III, No 4 March, 1980

Vol III, No 5 April, 1980 q Vol III, No 6 May, 1980 q Vol. III, No. 9 August, 1980 q Vol III, No 10 September, 1980 q Vol. III, No. 12 November, 1980 q Vol IV, No 5 April, 1981

q Vol. IV, No. 6 May, 1981

q Vol IV, No 7 June, 1981

q Vol. IV, No. 9 August, 1981

q Vol IV, No 10 September, 1981 q Vol. IV, No. 11 October, 1981

q Vol V, No 2 January, 1982 q Vol. V, No. 3 February, 1982 q Vol V, No 6 May, 1982 q Vol V, No 11 October, 1982

q Vol V, No 12 November, 1982 q Vol VI, No 2 January, 1983 q Vol VI, No 5 April, 1983 q Vol VI, No 7 June, 1983

q Vol. VI, No. 9 August, 1983 q Vol VI, No 10 September, 1983 q Vol. VI, No. 11 October, 1983

q Vol VI, No 12 November, 1983

q Vol. VII, No. 5 April, 1984

q Vol VII, No 9 August, 1984 q Vol. VII, No. 10 September, 1984 q Vol VII, No 11 October, 1984

q Vol. VII, No. 12 November, 1984

q Vol VIII, No 2 January, 1985 q Vol. VIII, No. 4 March, 1985

q Vol VIII, No 6 May, 1985

Vol VIII, No 7 June, 1985

q Vol VIII, No 8 July, 1985

q Vol VIII, No 10 September, 1985

q Vol VIII, No 12 November, 1985

q Vol IX, No 5 April, 1986

q Vol. IX, No. 6 May, 1986

q Vol IX, No 8 July, 1986

q Vol. IX, No. 9 August, 1986

q Vol IX, No 10 September, 1986

q Vol. IX, No. 12 November, 1986

q Vol X, No 2 January, 1987

Vol. X, No. 4 March, 1987

q Vol X, No 5 April, 1987

q Vol. X, No. 6 May, 1987

q Vol X, No 9 August, 1987

q Vol X, No 10 September, 1987

q Vol X, No 11 October, 1987

q Vol X, No 12 November, 1987

q Vol XI, No 2 January, 1988

q Vol XI, No 3 February, 1988

q Vol. XI, No. 4 March, 1988

q Vol XI, No 5 April, 1988

q Vol. XI, No. 6 May, 1988

q Vol XI, No 11 October, 1988

q Vol. XI, No. 12 November, 1988

q Vol XII, No 2 January, 1989

q Vol. XII, No. 3 February, 1989

q Vol XII, No 4 March, 1989

q Vol. XII, No. 5 April, 1989

q Vol XII, No 6 May, 1989

q Vol. XII, No. 7 June, 1989

q Vol XII, No 10 September, 1989

q Vol XII, No 11 October, 1989

q Vol XIII, No 2 January, 1990

q Vol XIII, No 4 March, 1990

q Vol XIII, No 6 May, 1990

q Vol XIII, No 5 April, 1990

q Vol. XIII, No. 7 June, 1990

q Vol XIII, No 8 July, 1990

q Vol. XIII, No. 10 September, 1990

q Vol XIV, No 2 January, 1991

q Vol XIV, No 4 March, 1991

q Vol XIV, No 7 June, 1991

q Vol XIV, No 10 September, 1991

q Vol. XIV, No. 11 October, 1991

q Vol XIV, No 12 November, 1991

q Vol. XV, No. 2 January, 1992

q Vol XV, No 3 February, 1992

q Vol. XV, No. 4 March, 1992

q Vol XV, No 6 May, 1992

q Vol. XV, No. 7 June, 1992

q Vol XV, No 8 July, 1992

q Vol. XV, No. 9 August, 1992

q Vol XV, No 10 September, 1992

q Vol. XVI, No. 7 June, 1993

q Vol XVI, No 11 October, 1993

q Vol XVI, No 12 November, 1993

q Vol XVII, No 2 January, 1994

q Vol XVII, No 3 February, 1994

q Vol XVII, No 4 March, 1994

q Vol XVII, No 6 May, 1994

q Vol. XVII, No. 7 June, 1994

q Vol XVII, No 10 September, 1994

q Vol. XVII, No. 11 October, 1994

q Vol XVII, No 12 November, 1994

q Vol. XVIII, No. 2 January, 1995

q Vol XVIII, No 3 February, 1995

q Vol. XVIII, No. 4 March, 1995

q Vol XVIII, No 6 May, 1995

q Vol. XVIII, No. 7 June, 1995

q Vol XVIII, No 8 July, 1995

q Vol. XIX, No. 2 January, 1996

q Vol XIX, No 3 February, 1996

q Vol XIX, No 4 March, 1996

q Vol XIX, No 8 July, 1996

q Vol XIX, No 11 October, 1996

q Vol XIX, No 12 November, 1996

q Vol XX, No 2 January, 1997

q Vol. XX, No. 5 April, 1997

q Vol XX, No 6 May, 1997

q Vol. XX, No. 6 May, 1997

q Vol XX, No 7 June, 1997

q Vol. XX, No. 8 July, 1997

q Vol XX, No 9 August, 1997

q Vol. XX, No. 10 September, 1997

q Vol XX, No 12 November, 1997

q Vol. XXI, No. 2 January, 1998

q Vol XXI, No 3 February, 1998

q Vol XXI, No 5 April, 1998

q Vol XXI, No 7 June, 1998

q Vol XXI, No 8 July, 1998

q Vol XXI, No 9 August, 1998

q Vol XXI, No 10 September, 1998

q Vol. XXII, No. 2 January, 1999

q Vol XXII, No 4 March, 1999

q Vol. XXII, No. 5 April, 1999

q Vol XXII, No 6 May, 1999

q Vol. XXII, No. 7 June, 1999

q Vol XXII, No 8 July, 1999

q Vol. XXII, No. 9 August, 1999

q Vol XXII, No 10 September, 1999

q Vol. XXII, No. 11 October, 1999

q Vol XXII, No 12 November, 1999

q Vol. XXIII, No. 2 January, 2000

q Vol XXIII, No 3 February, 2000

q Vol XXIII, No 4 March, 2000

q Vol XXIII, No 5 April, 2000

q Vol XXIII, No 6 May, 2000

q Vol XXIII, No 7 June, 2000

q Vol XXIII, No 8 July, 2000

q Vol. XXIII, No.9 August, 2000

q Vol XXIII, No 10 September, 2000

q Vol. XXIII, No.11 October, 2000

q Vol XXIII, No 12 November, 2000

q Vol. XXIV, No.3 February, 2001

q Vol XXIV, No 4 March, 2001

q Vol. XXIV, No.5 April, 2001

q Vol XXIV, No 6 May, 2001

q Vol. XXIV, No.7 June, 2001

q Vol XXIV, No 9 August, 2001

q Vol. XXIV, No.10 September, 2001

q Vol XXIV, No 11 October, 2001

q Vol XXIV, No 12 November, 2001

q Vol XXV, No 2 January, 2002

q Vol XXV, No 3 February, 2002

q Vol. XXV, No. 4 March, 2002

q Vol. XXV, No. 5 April, 2002

q Vol XXV, No 6 May, 2002

q Vol XXV, No 8 July, 2002

q Vol XXV, No 9 August, 2002

q Vol XXV, No 11 October, 2002

q Vol. XXVI, No. 4 March, 2003

q Vol. XXVI, No. 6 May, 2003

q Vol XXVI, No 7 June, 2003

q Vol XXVI, No 8 July, 2003

q Vol XXVI, No 9 August, 2003

q Vol XXVI, No 10 September, 2003

q Vol XXVI, No 11 October, 2003

q Vol. XXVI, No. 12 November, 2003

q Vol. XXVII, No. 2 January, 2004

q Vol XXVII, No 3 February, 2004

q Vol XXVII, No 4 March, 2004

q Vol XXVII, No 5 April, 2004

q Vol XXVII, No 8 July, 2004

q Vol. XXVII, No. 9 August, 2004

q Vol. XXVII, No. 10 September, 2004

q Vol XXVII, No 11 October, 2004

q Vol XXVII, No 12 November, 2004

q Vol XXVIII, No 2 January, 2005

q Vol XXVIII, No 3 February, 2005

q Vol. XXVIII, No. 4 March, 2005

q Vol. XXVIII, No. 5 April, 2005

q Vol. XXVIII, No. 6 May, 2005

q Vol XXVIII, No 7 June, 2005

q Vol XXVIII, No 9 August, 2005

q Vol XXVIII, No 10 September, 2005

q Vol XXVIII, No 11 October, 2005

q Vol. XXVIII, No. 12 November, 2005

q Vol. XXVIV, No. 2 January, 2006

q Vol XXVIV, No 3 February, 2006

q Vol XXVIV, No 4 March, 2006

q Vol XXVIV, No 5 April, 2006

q Vol XXVIV, No 6 May, 2006

q Vol. XXVIV, No. 7 June, 2006

q Vol. XXVIV, No. 8 July, 2006

q Vol XXVIV, No 9 August, 2006

q Vol XXVIV, No 10 September, 2006

q Vol XXVIV, No 11 October, 2006

q Vol XXVIV, No 12 November, 2006

q Vol. XXX, No. 1 December, 2006

q Vol. XXX, No. 2 January, 2007

q Vol XXX, No 3 February, 2007

q Vol XXX, No 4 March, 2007

q Vol XXX, No 5 April, 2007

q Vol XXX, No 6 May, 2007

q Vol. XXX, No. 7 June, 2007

q Vol. XXX, No. 8 July, 2007

q Vol XXX, No 9 August, 2007

q Vol XXX, No 10 September, 2007

q Vol XXX No 11 October, 2007

q Vol XXX, No 12 November, 2007

q Vol. XXXI, No. 1 December, 2007

q Vol. XXXI, No. 2 January, 2008

q Vol. XXXI, No. 3 February, 2008

q Vol XXXI, No 4 March, 2008

q Vol XXXI, No 5 April, 2008

q Vol XXXI, No 6 May, 2008

q Vol XXXI, No 7 June, 2008

q Vol. XXXI, No. 8 July, 2008

q Vol. XXXI, No. 9 August, 2008

q Vol XXXI, No 10 September, 2008

q Vol XXXI, No 11 October, 2008

q Vol XXXI, No 12 November, 2008

q Vol XXXII, No 1 December, 2008

q Vol. XXXII, No. 2 January, 2009

q Vol. XXXII, No. 3 February, 2009

q Vol XXXII, No 4 March, 2009

q Vol XXXII, No 5 April, 2009

q Vol XXXII, No 6 May, 2009

q Vol XXXII, No 7 June, 2009

q Vol. XXXII, No. 8 July, 2009

q Vol. XXXII, No. 9 August, 2009

q Vol XXXII, No 10 September, 2009

q Vol XXXII, No 11 October, 2009

q Vol XXXII, No 12 November, 2009

q Vol XXXIII, No 1 December, 2009

q Vol. XXXIII, No. 2 January, 2010

q Vol. XXXIII, No. 3 February, 2010

q Vol XXXIII, No 4 March, 2010

q Vol XXXIII, No 5 April, 2010

q Vol XXXIII, No 6 May, 2010

q Vol XXXIII, No 7 June, 2010

q Vol XXXIII, No 8 July, 2010

q Vol. XXXIII, No. 9 August, 2010

q Vol XXXIII, No 10 September, 2010

q Vol. XXXIII, No. 11 October, 2010

q Vol XXXIII, No 12 November, 2010

q Vol. XXXIV, No. 1 December, 2010

q Vol XXXIV, No 2 January, 2011

q Vol. XXXIV, No. 3 February, 2011

q Vol XXXIV, No 4 March, 2011

q Vol. XXXIV, No. 5 April, 2011

q Vol XXXIV, No 6 May, 2011

q Vol. XXXIV, No. 7 June, 2011

q Vol XXXIV, No 8 July, 2011

q Vol XXXIV, No 9 August, 2011

q Vol XXXIV, No 10 September, 2011

q Vol XXXIV, No 11 October, 2011

q Vol XXXIV, No 12 November, 2011

q Vol XXXV, No 1 December, 2011

q Vol. XXXV, No. 2 January, 2012

q Vol XXXV, No 3 February, 2012

q Vol. XXXV, No. 4 March, 2012

q Vol XXXV, No 5 April, 2012

q Vol. XXXV, No. 6 May, 2012

q Vol XXXV, No 7 June, 2012

q Vol. XXXV, No. 8 July, 2012

q Vol XXXV, No 9 August, 2012

q Vol XXXV, No 10 September, 2012

q Vol XXXV, No 11 October, 2012

Vol XXXV, No 12 November, 2012

q Vol XXXVI, No 1 December, 2012

q Vol. XXXVI, No. 2 January, 2013

Vol XXXVI, No 3 February, 2013

Vol. XXXVI, No. 4 March, 2013

Vol XXXVI, No 5 April, 2013

Vol. XXXVI, No. 6 May, 2013

Vol XXXVI, No 7 June, 2013

Vol. XXXVI, No. 8 July, 2013

Vol XXXVI, No 9 August, 2013

Vol. XXXVI, No. 10 September, 2013

Vol XXXVI, No 11 October, 2013

Vol. XXXVI, No. 12 November, 2013

Vol XXXVII, No 1 December, 2013

Vol XXXVII, No 2 January, 2014

Vol XXXVII, No 3 February, 2014

Vol XXXVII, No 4 March, 2014

Vol XXXVII, No 5 April, 2014

Vol XXXVII, No 6 May, 2014

Vol. XXXVII, No. 7 June, 2014

Vol XXXVII, No 8 July, 2014

Vol. XXXVII, No. 9 August, 2014

Vol XXXVII, No 10 September, 2014

Vol. XXXVII, No. 11 October, 2014

q Vol XXXVII, No 12 November, 2014

Vol. XXXVIII, No. 1 December, 2014

Vol XXXVIII, No 2 January, 2015

Vol. XXXVIII, No. 3 February, 2015

q Vol XXXVIII, No 4 March, 2015

q Vol. XXXVIII, No. 5 April, 2015

q Vol XXXVIII, No 6 May, 2015

q Vol XXXVIII, No 7 June, 2015

q Vol XXXVIII, No 8 July, 2015

q Vol XXXVIII, No 9 August, 2015

q Vol XXXVIII, No 10 September, 2015

q Vol XXXVIII, No 11 October, 2015

q Vol. XXXVIII, No. 12 November, 2015

Vol XXXIX, No 1 December, 2015

Vol. XXXIX, No. 2 January, 2016

q Vol XXXIX, No 3 February, 2016

q Vol. XXXIX, No. 4 March, 2016

q Vol XXXIX, No 5 April, 2016

q Vol. XXXIX, No. 6 May, 2016

q Vol XXXIX, No 7 June, 2016

q Vol. XXXIX, No. 8 July, 2016

q Vol XXXIX, No 9 August, 2016

q Vol XXXIX, No 10 September, 2016

q Vol XXXIX, No 11 October, 2016

q Vol XXXIX, No 12 November, 2016

Vol XL, No 1 December, 2016

Vol XL, No 2 January, 2017

q Vol XL, No 3 February, 2017

q Vol XL, No 4 March, 2017

q Vol. XXXX, No. 5 April, 2017

q Vol XXXX, No 6 May, 2017

• UMA Motorcoach Expo in St Louis

• The Prize Winning Aerocoach at the Museum of Bus Transportation

• Rochester City Lines Still Making, Preserving and Celebrating History

q Vol XXXX, No 7 June, 2017

• Industry History From UMA Shows Installment I

• Extended Service Protection on Your Bus Fleet

• Bus History on a Wall

q Vol XXXX, No 8 July, 2017

• Vicinity A Mid Size Bus Success Story

• Prevost Conversion Shells for All Types of Coaches

• The Bus Accident in Red Lion, Delaware

q Vol. XXXX, No. 9 August, 2017

• “J” is for Jackpot with the 2018 J4500

• Industry History from UMA Shows Installment II

• Book Review

q Vol. XXXX, No. 10 September, 2017

• Propane Continues to be Clean and Economical

• H&L Charter The Best Comes in Small Packages

• Industry History from UMA Shows Installment III

q Vol XXXX, No 11 October, 2017

• ABC & Van Hool Celebrate 30 Years

• Taking a Venture in Norfolk

•The Five “No’s” You Must Overcome to Sell Your Bus Business q Vol XXXX, No 12 November, 2017

• MCI Reliability Rally 2017

• BusCon 2017 in Indianapolis

• Exit Planning Becoming More Complicated for Family Owned Bus Businesses q Vol. XXXXI, No. 1 December, 2017

• Complete Coach Works and the Carson Heritage

• The Busboys Vintage Bus Rally in Evansville, Indiana

• Virginia’s Commonwealth Coach and Trolley Museum Ravaged by Fire

• Re Energizing the North American Diecast Model Bus Scene

q Vol XXXXI, No 2 January, 2018

• Prevost Again Moves Ahead in Support, Service and Parts

• New 2018 J4500 Highlights Busy Season for MCI

• Common Rail Technology and the GHG17 Volvo Engine q Vol. XXXXI, No. 3 February, 2018

• Walking the Irizar Assembly Line in Ormaiztegi

• Busworld 2017 in Belgium q Vol XXXXI, No 4 March, 2018

• UMA Motorcoach Expo 2018i

• Van Hool to Build Buses in Eastern Tennessee

• The New MCI D45 CRT LE q Vol XXXXI, No 5 April, 2018

• Charging Ahead with Electric Buses

• Holiday Tours Puts Customers First

• How Chicago’s “Party Bus” Ordinance is Affecting Bus Tourism q Vol XXXXI, No 6 May, 2018

• The CHTC HT45 amd HT35 Coaches

• The Pacific Bus Museum From Hobby to Formal Museum

• Twenty Tips on Hiring Bus Drivers

• Van Hool Builds Bus Factoryin Morristown, Tennessee q Vol. XXXXI, No. 7 June, 2018

• MCI Academy Wins Fans Across Industry

• Where are the Buses Built? #1

• The Campaign Bus for the President of the Philippines

• The Penn Highway Transit Company q Vol. XXXXI, No. 8 July, 2018

• Farber Continues Custom Coach Traditions

• Prevost’s New Flat Floor Slide Outs

• Liberty Coach Busch Bus q Vol XXXXI, No 9 August, 2018

• ZF Components for Electric Buses

• Museum of Bus Transportation Spring Fling Open House Success

• “Friends” of the NJ Heritage Center Takes Eight Vin tage Coaches to the 2018 MOBT Spring Fling q Vol XXXXI, No 10 September, 2018

• Van Hool’s CX35 Small in Size, Big in Quality

• Diecast Model Buses Impress in a Big Way

• Master ’s Transportation Where to go to increase your fleet quickly or temporarily q Vol. XXXXI, No. 11 October, 2018

• ZF Technology Day in Friedrichshafen

• MCI’s 2018 Reliability Rally

• How Will Autonomous Cars Impact the Bus Industry?

q Vol XXXXI, No 12 November, 2018

• Peter Pan Celebrates 85 Years on the Road

• Clean Up Your Fleet with a Bitimec Wash Bot q Vol XXXXII, No 1 December, 2018

• Prevost Unveils New Features and New Possibility on the Volvo 9700 at UMA Expo

• MCI’s New J3500 Small in Size, Big in Features

• The e GO Mover Filling a Gap in Transportation with ZF Technology

• Giving Buses a Second Life at Complete Coach Works q Vol. XXXXII, No. 2 January, 2019

• BusCon 2018 in Indianapolis

• Panorama Tours Keeps Things in the Family

• How Will Demand or Congestion Toll Pricing Impact Bus Operations?

q Vol XXXXII, No 3 February, 2019

• Test Driving the New Electric MCI J4500e CHARGE

• Stagecoach Group Sells Coach USA and Coach Canada

• The Story of the Australian Scenicruiser q Vol XXXXII, No 4 March, 2019

• UMA 2019 Motorcoach Expo in Fort Lauderdale

• Angel Tours Celebrates 20 Years

• The Saga of #5496, a 1937 Yellow Coach Model 733 q Vol XXXXII, No 5 April, 2019

• Buses at the 2019 ABA Marketplace in Louisville

• Are Pre Owned Coach Sales Declining?

• The Six Levels of Autonomous Vehicles q Vol XXXXII, No 6 May, 2019

• Temsa North America Inc Temsa’s Increased Sup port for the American Market

• MCI Launches Motorcoach Technician Apprentice ship Program

• 2019 Spring Fling Announced q Vol XXXXII, No 7 June, 2019

• Looking Beyond the Driver Shortage to Demography and the Global Economy

• Are the Reasons for Coach Seat Belts Changing?

• The Passengers Left Behind Take the Accessible Information Test q Vol. XXXXII, No. 8 July, 2019

• Prevost Motorhome Expo

• Featherlite Luxury Coaches

• Emerald Luxury Coaches Unveils First H3 45 Conversions

• Ten Things to Consider When Choosing a Luxury RV q Vol XXXXII, No 9 August, 2019

• NFI Group Acquires Alexander Dennis

• Getting the Glow Take a look inside the “New Look” of Liberty

• Book Review Chicago Motor Coach

q Vol. XXXXII, No. 10 September, 2019

• The 2019 Spring Fling in Hershey

• Congestion Pricing May Affect Bus Operators

• In the Beginning The Bus Industry Prior to Regula tion in 1935 q Vol XXXXII, No 11 October, 2019

• Proterra Launches Proterra Powered™ Vehicle Electri fication Solutions for Commercial Fleets

• Bendix Tech Tips: Avoiding the “Gotchas”

• The “Shorty” Flxibles of Pikes Peak q Vol XXXXII, No 12 November, 2019

• 30 Years of Foxy Travel & FTI Coach

• Fleet Graphics is an Art at ABC Companies

• MCI debuts 2020 model line up with a SNEAK PRE VIEW of the battery electric D45 CRTe LE CHARGE at Bay Area Reliability Symposium on October 1 q Vol XXXXIII, No 1 December, 2019

• Temsa’s Redesigned TS 30

• BusCon 2019 in Indianapolis

• Hammond Transportation q Vol XXXXIII, No 2 January, 2020

• Anchor Transportation 30 Years and Counting in a Growing Nashville

• David Thomas Tours and Their Short Temsa Coaches

• Museum of Bus Transportation to Merge with Antique Automobile Club of America Museum q Vol XXXXIII, No 3 February, 2020

• Busworld 2019 in Brussels, Part I

• Heroes’ Honeymoon

• Philadelphia to New York Every Half Hour q Vol XXXXIII, No 4 March, 2020

• Busworld 2019 in Brussels, Part II

• The Changing Bus Industry q Vol XXXXIII, No 5 April, 2020

• ABA Marketplace 2020 in Omaha

• Procedure and Liability After a Collision with an Automated Vehicle

• Impaired Drivers q Vol. XXXXIII, No. 6 May, 2020

• Bringing Back the Bus Industry

• Bus Industry Suggestions from Shriver Insurance

• What Can Bus Companies Do To Reduce Insurance Costs During COVID 19?

• UMA Motorcoach Expo 2020 in Nashville

• Bus Preservation After the Merger q Vol XXXXIII, No 7 June, 2020

• Grants, Loans and Programs to Help Transportation Companies Survive COVID 19 Business Disruption

• Time to Think Tours

• Motorcoaches Rolling for Awareness q Vol XXXXIII, No 8 July, 2020

• What the IATR and Transportation Regulators are Doing to Respond to the COVID 19 Pandemic

• A Tribute to Kirwan Elmers and Custom Coach Corporation

• RiverLandings Motorcoach Resort, Where True Lux ury Reaches New Heights

q Vol. XXXXIII, No. 9 August, 2020

• The Evolving MCI Product Line

• The Impact of COVID 19 on the Transportation Ecosystem

• Marijuana and Drivers q Vol XXXXIII, No 10 September, 2020

• New Coach Review

• Seven Simple Steps to Show Your Customers You Are Open for Business

• Can Bus Operators Change to Survive?

q Vol XXXXIII, No 11 October, 2020

• Getting People Back on the Buses

• 10 Easy Ways to Update Your Web Site During COVID 19

• Didn’t See That Coming

• The Eucharistic Congress in Chicago

q Vol XXXXIII, No 12 November, 2020

• How Temsa Developed Their Programmable Electric Bus

• Can Bus Companies Get to and Survive in the “New Normal?”

• Talk’s Cheap Let’s Play

q Vol XXXXIV, No 1 December, 2020

• Keolis Moves People

• Are Mergers the Answer?

• A Lesson from the Sea Time to Choose a Strategy

• Now is Not the Time to Skip on Bus Maintenance

• The Small Business Reorganization Act A New Option in Bankruptcy

Classified ad rate is $30 per issue for

R

25

included in word count The total number of words in a

6 MOTOR HOMES FOR SALE

DUPREE PRODUCTS

can not exceed 70 Rates apply on each ad individually the rate for multiple

tions is the total of each ad

acceptable ONLY when submitted on or with

adver tising rates on request.

1 BUSES WANTED see

motor home interior with side aisle or semi side aisle Please provide details by e mail to safety@busmag com or phone larry at (815) 946

5A – ADULT MINIBUSES FOR SALE shuttle, limo, ada configurations New & pre owned Buy or lease Financing available Contact Coachwest luxury & Professional Motorcars inc at (310) 609 2900 in Ca

6 MOTOR HOMES FOR SALE

1956 Flxible coach old conversion Phone (802) 948 2886 in Vt for details

1991 Hawkins motorcoach 3208t Cat, 35 ft with all awnings alcoa wheels, landing/docking lights, heated

propane generator, exhaust brake always stored indoors asking $15,000 Contact dallas

Mi at (269)

10 PARTS AND EQUIPMENT detroit diesel engines, parts New and used s53, s71, s60, s92 also will rebuild or repair your engine leid diesel service, 2952 W Carson City rd , sheridan Mi 48884 Phone (616) 754 5871

6V 92t detroit diesel engine Fresh overhaul in stor age spent $4,700 Make offer Phone (815) 262 0587

14 NOTICES

Visit our 40+

UNMATCHED EXPERTISE. UNPARALLELED SERVICE.

The world’s most advanced coaches deserve the best in support, and that’s precisely what Prevost provides. No other service network delivers more technical expertise and years of hands-on experience. It’s a commitment we make to your drivers, your passengers, your schedule and your bottom line.

Love the way you roll.

Our J-Series and D-Series coaches combine stunning design and proven reliability with best-in-class service, parts and training. However you roll, MCI is with you all the way.

We build more than coaches. We build trust.