Tweed Heads and Armidale Zero Emission Buses

dubbed ‘best bus ride ever’

Great Expectations

Title: Great Expectations

Author: Charles Dickens

Price: $16.50

Distributor: Booktopia

By Samantha Elley

Over the next few weeks, I will be doing a review of the classics.

I’ll be taking a journey through those books that we may have read in school, may have seen on the bookshelves or referred to in movies but never read or just had no clue about but they are there to be enjoyed.

Kicking off with Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations this was a classic my fellow English students and I ploughed through for our HSC. It was made enjoyable by our very enthusiastic English teacher, Mrs Milkins, who knew how to deconstruct, highlight and celebrate the nuances and techniques Dickens used to make it a classic story.

Pip is an orphan who has come to live with his older sister, who is quite the nasty piece of work and

IAN ROGERS

Five months into Transport for NSW’s Zero Emissions Bus (ZEB) trials in regional areas, the initiative is being praised as a success. Since the rollout of zero-emission school buses in Armidale and Tweed Heads earlier this year, the trials have shown promising results. One student even described the experience as “the best bus ride ever,” with the ZEBs performing well across various conditions and terrains, earning positive feedback in passenger surveys.

During the second and third school terms, the four buses in Armidale and Tweed Heads have collectively achieved:

• Over 64,000 kilometers travelled

• More than 2,600 hours of charging time

• Over 25,000 passenger journeys performance of these buses and coaches in a variety of environments, terrains, temperatures, and conditions.

This data, combined with feedback from passengers, drivers, and operators, will help Transport for NSW determine the most suitable technology for regional areas as part of the broader goal of achieving zero emissions in the future.

For more information on the zero-emissions bus trial visit the QR code.

Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison said: areas.”

“I welcome the enthusiastic support and positive feedback from the Armidale and Tweed communities regarding our Zero Emission Bus trials.

Edwards Coaches Managing Director Brad Edwards said:

“Feedback from the drivers and passengers has so far been positive. The trial has provided very promising results showing excellent durability and reliability of these vehicles.

“Participating in this trial has already given us a lot of valuable insights into the capabilities of zero emissions technology.”

Martin Hall, Kinetic’s Executive General Manager for South-East Queensland and Tweed said: are happy and the buses are working well.

“Our experience at Kinetic is that wherever ZEBs are introduced the feedback from passengers is overwhelmingly positive.

“Because it’s been a trial, we know it’s the start of more good things to come as we get to our renewable targets.”

Emily Suvaal MLC, Labor spokesperson for Tweed said:

“The NSW Government remains committed to a greener, more sustainable transport system and with promising results so far, I am confdent the next deployment of regional ZEB trials will further highlight their potential wider application.”

Peter Primrose MLC, Labor spokesperson for the Northern Tablelands said: her kindly husband, who helps us understand the meaning of altruism.

Life in 19th century England is all about raising our station in life and when Pip has the opportunity to work for the eccentric but very wealthy Miss Havisham, he feels he is on his way.

Miss Havisham’s beautiful, adopted daughter Estella throws a spanner in the works when Pip falls in love and wants to impress her.

When a mysterious benefactor provides Pip with the means to live a luxury life, the young lad grows accustomed to the pursuit of leisure that comes with money and goes all out to impress Estella.

Will Pip meet with the ‘great expectations’ thrust upon him by his mysterious provider, but more importantly will he get the girl?

Now that Pip is considered a gentleman, the revelation of who has provided him that avenue may be more than he can handle.

You can order your copy of Great Expectations from www.booktopia. com.au

At the BusNSW 2024 Member Conference in Sydney today, Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison announced the second phase of Transport for NSW’s $25 million regional Zero Emission Bus trials.

Starting next week, more buses will be deployed, with three ZEB school buses heading to each of Queanbeyan and Deniliquin, and one to Narrabri, along with an additional bus in Armidale. The trials aim to gather data on the

“The early trial data shows ZEBs are really living up to their name with zero breakdowns and zero charging issues despite operating in challenging conditions.

“From unsealed roads to steep hilly climbs and temperatures hitting below minus-5 around Armidale – these buses are cutting tailpipe emissions and showing ZEBs have the potential to thrive in regional

School children are happy to be enjoying the quiet and smooth ride.

“It has been wonderful to see students learn more about the technology and how sustainable transport will play a such an important role in their futures.”

Member for Lismore Janelle Saffn said:

“We are early and regular uptakers of renewables, so this is a good ft for our region. We can tell that people

“I am thrilled to see the positive outcomes from the Zero Emission Bus trials. The enthusiastic feedback from students and the community highlights the success of this initiative.

“As we work towards transitioning our regional bus feet to zero emissions, these trials are crucial in demonstrating the potential of sustainable transport solutions. I look forward to the next phase of trials and the invaluable insights they will provide as we pave the way for a cleaner future in public transport.”

Final Road Sealing Underway on Federal Drive

IAN ROGERS

The fnal seal, line marking, and removal of stockpiled materials on the recently rebuilt section of Federal Drive is set to begin this week, starting from 9 October. Reopened in July 2024 after suffering extensive damage during the 2022 foods, Federal Drive has undergone months of settling, and contractors are now preparing to apply the fnal seal to complete the reconstruction process.

Phil Warner, Byron Shire Council’s Manager of Infrastructure Recovery, emphasized that this fnal seal is a standard procedure in road rebuilding projects to ensure long-term durability.

“People may wonder why we’re sealing the road again so soon after its reconstruction, but this is actually the fnal step in the process,”

Mr. Warner said. “In major road projects, it’s crucial to apply the fnishing seal to keep the surface smooth and long-lasting.”

In addition to sealing, contractors will also be removing the stockpiled materials left over from the reconstruction efforts. The work is expected to take approximately three weeks, with completion slated for late October or early November. While the road will remain open throughout the project, motorists should anticipate minor delays.

This reconstruction has been funded by the Australian and NSW Governments through the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements in response to the 2022 foods.