Australasian Bus & Coach 441

SEGE SEATS

PRISCILLA BUS

Finding the

STYLERIDE’S QUALITY AND FLEXIBILITY IS COMING TO THE FORE

Flooring focus: Altro Seat safety: SGESCO-MAX Fine fabrics: Camira

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Safety and sustainability

A variety of new safety announcements, trials and technology shows the future won’t just be sustainable, but also focused on mitigating risks

It’s been well documented that the Australasian bus and coach industry has been a pioneer in the local zero-emissions transition. While the larger vehicle sphere is now starting to follow through with a new range of battery electric and hydrogen fuel-cell models, the bus and coach industry has spent the best part of five years working towards a net-zero future.

Situations along the way have meant that this focus has now been coupled with safety to provide a complex path for the future that will eventually require OEMs and suppliers to lower emissions while also solidifying safety. Recent announcements have confirmed this, with the federal government last month unveiling the latest Australian Design Rule (ADR) regulating Acoustic Vehicle Alerting Systems (AVAS). These safety alerts will now have to be fitted on all new zero-emissions vehicles in Australia from November 2025 to ensure that pedestrians surrounding the bus can hear the quieter vehicles.

“AVAS technology is already mandated in the European Union, the United Kingdom, Japan, Korea and the United States,” federal assistant transport minister Carol Brown says. “This is our opportunity to catch up with the developed world.”

With this in mind, companies are responding to this pairing of sustainability and safety in the local industry and producing solutions that combine the two into one solid package. While it’s a niche sector, our spotlight on the seating and flooring market is a prime example. Start with our cover, courtesy of StyleRide. From page 20, the local seating manufacturer has found that a high quality seating model is gaining traction due to its tailorable, comfortable and secure details. We then

go to McConnell on page 29, with the Australasian seating leader taking us through its latest investments in both its people and its machinery while teasing a new range that’s on the way this year.

Sege Seats, as can be seen on page 33, has also solidified itself as a major player in Australia’s bus and coach seating market. With foundation customers continuing to rep the Sege brand, the emerging supplier is quickly looking at ways to expand in the region. ABC then makes a detour to the fabric side, where Camira (page 40) announces its plans to continue building on more than 200 years of history.

You may not think there’s a depth of technology that goes into transport flooring, but Altro, from page 36, is here to prove you wrong with the brand’s deep dive into its intricate manufacturing processes and safety results. Reiterating the safety focus in this sector is SGESCO-MAX, who discusses how recent tragedies in the local industry have highlighted the importance of its premier passenger safety solution on page 38.

Outside of this, ABC is proud to announce a new partnership with the Bus and Coach Association of New Zealand (BCA). We warmly welcome all new readers from across the ditch and look forward to including a Kiwi spin in our future magazines.

To finish off, what is arguably Australia’s most famous bus, Priscilla, was finally discovered a er years of tireless searching following its mysterious disappearance. ABC was lucky enough to chat to all involved in the process to restore the treasured Australian icon back to its former glory. There’s still plenty more to read through in this bumper May edition of ABC – we hope you enjoy the magazine!

Sean Mortell EDITOR, ABC

In the know

6. editorial | safety and sustainability

A variety of new safety announcements means the future will be both sustainable and safe

10. news | all aboard

An overview of the latest Australasian and international bus and coach news that you need to know features

19. column | bic

SAFETY IN NUMBERS: THE PUSH FOR CHANGE

BIC has always been committed to helping create and maintain safe environments on and around buses

20. cover story | styleride THE SOVEREIGN MOVEMENT

While the Sovereign seat may not be StyleRide’s most popular model, it’s quickly finding its niche in Australasia’s luxury tour and charter market

24. feature | priscilla bus FINDING THE QUEEN

The unique story of a bus at the heart of an Australian cult classic film is being uncovered

29. seating feature | mcconnell STRENGTH IN NUMBERS

McConnell’s rich history in the transport seating market is set to deepen with its recent investments

33. seating feature | sege seats FOUNDATION PARTNERS

Over the past 10 years, Gillicks Buslines has become an important customer for Sege Seats while also growing its own operations in regional Victoria

36. flooring feature | altro SAFETY, DURABILITY AND CONFIDENCE

Trusted all over the world, Altro’s overriding mission is to transform the bus passenger environment into a safe, functional and design focused space

38. seating feature | sgesco-max MOTIVATING CHANGE

Two bus and coach tragedies throughout 2023 have led SGESCO-MAX to promote an occupant safety system that is gaining traction with safety conscious fleets

40. seating feature | camira EVERLASTING EXPERIENCE

Since John Holdsworth started his own worsted spinning mill in Halifax, England more than 200 years ago, Camira has constantly been committed to evolving its moquette fabric technology

42. feature | circuitlink SLICING THE AMERICAN PIE

A fortunate Olympics bid has led to the Aussie-owned Circuitlink becoming a major telematics player in the US bus and coach industry

44. feature | yutong ELECTRIC START

Barker College students enjoyed a memorable first day of the 2024 school year when the first Yutong C12E delivered in NSW joined CDC Charter’s school fleet

46. feature | royans coachworks YOUTHFUL FOCUS

Royans recently held a two-day academy for its apprentice workforce, focusing on attracting and retaining more quality young staff

48. recap | qbic conference MEANINGFUL MEETING

The 2024 QBIC annual conference started with a variety of discussions on leading bus sector topics and ended with a wonderful night spent recognising industry leaders

51. competition | best bus BALLARAT BETTY

The winner of May’s ABC Best Bus comes courtesy of a unique Ballarat Coachlines vehicle departments

49. events INDUSTRY EVENTS FOR 2024

Be sure not to miss out on an opportunity for these fantastic in person events

54. factory facts | bus deliveries APRIL DELIVERIES

We have all the latest bus and coach supplier sales data collected and recorded for you review, check out how the market has performed in the past month

58. back seat | news RETURNING HOME

In April, an iconic Pioneer Bus Service vehicle was finally located and brought home to the Brisbane Transport Museum from Deniliquin

EXECUTIVE GROUP

COO: Christine Clancy CEO: John Murphy

Head of Customer Experience: Regina Fellner

Trader Group Sales Director: Brad Buchanan

EDITORIAL & DESIGN

Editor: Sean Mortell

e-mail: Sean.Mortell@primecreative.com.au

Retail Transport Managing

Editor: Geoff Crockett

e-mail: geoff.crockett@primecreative.com.au

Design: Kerry Pert/ Daz Woolley

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VDL and GRW acquire Van Hool following bankruptcy declaration

In major global news, bus giant Van Hool has been declared bankrupt, with two other popular brands coming to the rescue of the manufacturer employees,” curator Jeroen Pinoy says.

International bus and coach manufacturing giant Van Hool is hoping for a “rapid restart” a er reaching a binding offer with other brands to rescue it from bankruptcy.

On April 8, Van Hool was declared bankrupt, with the major global manufacturer facing permanent closure.

Now, a board of four curators, including coach and bus group VDL Groep and GRW, a partner company of trailer brand Schmitz Cargobull, have offered to acquire the brand and restart it.

The curators discussed and accepted a binding offer from the Dutch VDL Groep and South Africa-based GRW to take over the company.

Van Hool representatives say other options were presented to the board of curators but weren’t accepted.

The aim of the board of curators has consistently been to facilitate a swi restart for Van Hool operations to preserve as much employment as possible and limit the damage.

“The interest from the various parties was very genuine and demonstrated a commendable appreciation for the bankrupt company Van Hool and its

“Upon comparing the totality of the various components of the recent bids and expressions of interest, it became evident that they were not significantly superior to the binding offer presented by VDL Groep and GRW.

“There was a risk that, without an immediate restart of the company, the valuable employee pool at Van Hool would be lost. Furthermore, the delivery of ordered vehicles (including coaches, buses and industrial vehicles) would be further delayed, resulting in lost revenues.

“This would effectively dry up both production and distribution channels, causing irreparable damage. In consultation with the relevant stakeholders, we are convinced that the acquisition of the bankrupt Van Hool by VDL Groep and GRW is the best solution for employment and enables a sustainable restart.”

Van Hool says the process was intensive due to the situation of the company and the presence of an unresolved familial inheritance situation.

Despite this deal, Van Hool acknowledges this doesn’t mean that all jobs will be saved under the new binding offer.

THE WOT!?!

‘BUS UBER’

In the UK, National Express West Midlands has announced a new partnership with ride-sharing powerhouse Uber to offer bus tickets directly through the Uber app. The initiative, powered by London company Masabi and its Justride platform, allows passengers to book their bus tickets through the app. Let’s hope they give the drivers five stars!

ASHES TO ASHES

An intriguing discovery has been made onboard a Perth bus, with a small white container of ashes found. The discovery has led to a month-long mystery for Perth police, with posts urging a family member of the deceased, with their dates and nickname scrawled on the top of the container, to come forward and claim the remains.

HOCKEY BUS

In America, ice hockey NHL team the Minnesota Wild hopped onto a special bus for its first day of the season. With paper bag lunches in hand, the professional team waited at the bus stop, driven by goalie Filip Gustavsson. The bus, known as the ‘Gus Bus’, took the team to their destination, all kitted up ready to play.

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Queensland TMR explains bus replacement program rollout

Queensland Transport and Main Roads department has exclusively revealed the system for operating its 200 new diesel rail replacement buses

The Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) has clarified how the 200 rail replacement buses ordered by the government will operate.

In April, the Queensland government announced the first of 200 new diesel replacement buses have rolled off the manufacturing line at bodybuilder Volgren’s Eagle Farm, Brisbane facility.

The $130 million investment will see a new ownership agreement, with the buses handed to the state government and deployed during track works for major rail projects such as the Cross River Rail and the Logan and Gold Coast Faster Rail.

ABC reached out to the TMR department, asking how the new ownership system will look and how the buses will be run by the government and Queensland operators.

“Demand for rail replacement bus services will increase in the years ahead due to the Queensland government’s pipeline of major rail infrastructure projects and multiple train station upgrades, which will require track closures,” a TMR department spokesperson told ABC “The Queensland government’s program to manufacture 200 buses will help ensure the state’s rail replacement fleet has sufficient

CDC unveils Anzac Spirit bus to honour veterans

The two special buses servicing Sydney and NSW provided free travel to veterans and current military personnel on Anzac Day

Australian operator ComfortDelGro Corporation (CDC) NSW unveiled two new special commemorative Anzac Spirit buses that paid tribute to Australian veterans on Anzac Day.

capacity to meet this increased demand and to keep customers moving during the track closures.”

Currently, TMR says it works with its contracted bus operators to source rail replacement buses. While it admits operators do their best to help, TMR says there can be “some logistical challenges” in sourcing a sufficient number of buses to run rail replacement services on top of the operator’s scheduled timetable services.

TMR says the new arrangement will mean it owns the buses and can deploy them through multiple local operators more flexibly across South-East Queensland.

“Operators will continue to employ the drivers and lease agreements for the vehicles will be in place between operators and the government,” the spokesperson says.

The Anzac Spirit buses featured a custom exterior wrap design depicting iconic images and symbols honouring the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (Anzac) who served the countries proudly.

The design included silhouettes of Australian diggers, poppies and an Australian sunrise along with the words ‘Lest We Forget’.

The buses were displayed in Sydney’s Northmead area and the Hunter Valley’s Edgeworth operations.

The commemorative buses started servicing communities on April 1 and provided free transport to veterans, current military personnel in uniform and their families attending Anzac Day memorial events across Sydney on April 25.

“CDC NSW is honoured to commemorate the courage and sacrifice of our Australian veterans and active military members through this special ‘Anzac Spirit’ bus design,” CDC NSW CEO David Mead says.

“CDC NSW employs many veterans across NSW and this was a great way to also recognise those staff and thank them for their service.

“As we observed Anzac Day this year, we wanted to ensure those who

served have access to transportation to pay their respects at memorial events across the communities we serve.”

The Anzac Spirit bus will remain in operation for one month following Anzac Day as a traveling memorial.

“As a veteran, I think this bus is a very humbling message from the company and it pays respect to all serving men and women and veterans for their service,” Northmead bus driver Peter Walsh says.

Hunter Valley’s Rachel Wheatley says: “As an ex-serving member, wife of a current serving member and child of parents who also both served, this makes my heart smile. Thank you so much for honouring our current and ex-service members.”

Foundry Rod mechanic and Australian Defence Force mechanic Satinderpal Singh says: “I feel a deep sense of pride and responsibility to uphold the values and traditions that define our military heritage.

“On Anzac Day, we come together as a nation to honour the memory of those who have fallen, to support our veterans, and to reaffirm our commitment to preserving the freedoms they fought so bravely to defend. Lest we forget.”

Above: Image: Queensland TMR

Above: Image: CDC NSW

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Sydney bus drivers receive staff Opal cards

The driver Opal cards are just the start of sweeping new measures to improve conditions for NSW bus drivers

In a big boost to accessibility, new and current Sydney bus drivers have begun receiving staff Opal cards to use public transport for free.

As part of a major recommendation from NSW’s Bus Industry Taskforce, the staff Opal cards is set to encourage driver retention, helping with the bus driver shortage.

Staff Opal cards are also part of the NSW government’s election commitments to help drivers with cost-of-living pressures while also giving them the respect they deserve.

Transport for NSW (TfNSW) says it has been working with the taskforce, operators and unions on other measures to alleviate the driver shortage and deliver reliability and equity improvements for bus drivers across the state.

“This is about showing appreciation and respect for our bus drivers.

Drivers work long hours in difficult conditions, and they’ve had to deal with the fallout from privatisation,”

NSW transport minister Jo Haylen says.

“We’re keeping our promise to bus drivers and letting them know that we deeply value the work that they do.”

Haylen says the NSW government also continues to make it quicker, easier and cheaper for drivers to get their bus driver authority by waiving the $70 application fee for a further 12 months in a bid to better support the industry and encourage more people

into the driver’s seat.

Transport for NSW is also working to improve the quality of facilities for bus drivers across Greater Sydney.

All 62 layover and interchange locations identified by drivers, unions and operators have been audited, with some quick repairs already underway.

As part of the state’s package to support bus drivers, $3.4 million is being invested into assessing and upgrading vital driver facilities such as meal rooms and bathrooms for drivers.

Bus drivers will also soon have access to new navigation technology, which will further improve service efficiency and make it easier for drivers to learn new routes.

Development for this new tool is currently underway, following recommendations in the first Bus Industry Taskforce report handed down last year.

Contracted bus operators are able to download an application to both iOS and Android tablets which will allow drivers to navigate new or changed routes with visual and voice guided instructions.

This means new drivers will be better supported as they learn their routes, with it also improving the reliability of timetables and ensuring passengers have fewer disruptions to services.

The driver assistance system will

also allow drivers to choose a specific route, select a trip start time, offer visual and voice direction to a bus stop and provide visual and time progress updates as the bus moves through the route.

It’s all part of the NSW government’s promise to deliver better bus services across the state and to ensure that those services meet community expectations.

The Taskforce, established in May 2023 and chaired by John Lee, has focused on key areas in need of improvement, including the quality of bus services in relation to on-time running and reliability, as well as improving driver facilities, driver recruitment and retention.

The Taskforce will provide the NSW government with its final report and recommendations in May.

“When we jump in a car, most of us will put an address into our GPS – it’s second nature. Bus drivers should have the similar technology,” Haylen says.

“Our bus drivers are navigating some of the busiest roads across the country and we want to arm them with any and all technology and knowledge that we can.

“This new tool will help drivers get to know their route or step in and learn a new one easily while also making trips more reliable and efficient for passengers catching buses every day.”

Above: Image: bruce/stock. adobe.com

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NZ Bus and Coach Association joins ABC partner network

From the May magazine, ABC will become a truly Australasian publication as the New Zealand Bus and Coach Association (BCA) becomes an association partner

In exciting news for ABC magazine, the Australasian industry magazine is announcing it is the new official media partner of the New Zealand Bus and Coach Association (BCA).

In a move that ensures ABC remains a truly Australasian bus and coach publication, ABC will work with the BCA to provide subscribers and readers with the latest New Zealand bus and coach news.

The partnership comes as the BCA has announced it will no longer print its Circular magazine. BCA last year reduced the number of issues of the Circular being sent to NZ subscribers.

“While I’m sad that the Circular is no longer going to be printed, I’m excited to be working with the ABC team,” BCA CEO Delaney Myers told ABC

“We see potential for much greater cross-Tasman information sharing and engagement.”

The BCA has thanked its many subscribers, contributors and members for helping with the Circular publication over recent years. Now, the BCA Board will redirect funds being used to

subsidise the Circular to better invest in advocacy work and other services for BCA members.

The BCA is instead providing more opportunities for manufacturers, suppliers and operators to engage with the association through its annual conference and other yearly events in Christchurch and Auckland, with an awards dinner also on the cards for 2025.

The April edition of the Circular will be its last, with the May edition of ABC magazine being the first to feature a dedicated section to BCA updates and the latest news in the New Zealand bus and coach industry.

The opportunity is also open for BCA members and other people in the NZ bus and coach industry to get involved with ABC.

To reach out to ABC about any NZ industry stories, contact editor Sean Mortell at Sean.Mortell@ primecreative.com.au.

For advertising or business development opportunities, contact ABC business development manager Adrian Kos at Adrian.Kos@primecreative.com.au or +61 0413 777 670.

Delaney Myers

Below: BCA is now part of ABC magazine.

Images: BCA NZ

Le : BCA CEO

Electric double-decker buses to run West Auckland WX1 service

The nine-year, $166 million contract will see Tranzit Group run more electric double-decker buses throughout West Auckland

Auckland Transport has announced that its flagship bus service in West Auckland, the WX1, will be run by fully electric double-decker buses from next April.

The announcement is part of a new $166 million contract between Auckland Transport (AT) and bus operator Tranzit Group to accelerate AT’s Mission Electric.

More than 40 new electric buses will hit the streets of Tāmaki Makaurau as part of the nine-year contract, with the buses to run under the Tranzurban Auckland brand on the key WX1, 11T/11W and 120 bus routes.

More than half of these buses will be double-decker models,

with AT director of public transport and active modes

Stacey van der Putten saying the new contract with Tranzit Group marks another step to run frequent, reliable and sustainable bus services for West Auckland communities.

“We’re thrilled to be partnering with Tranzit Group to bring long-term certainty and a modern fleet of fully electric buses to our new West and Northwest Auckland bus routes,” van der Putten says.

“Since we introduced the WX1 Western Express last November, we have seen fantastic growth on this frequent bus route that connects Westgate with the city

centre, carrying more than 275,000 passengers so far.

“In recent months, we’ve also seen more people using buses in all parts of West Auckland than before COVID-19. In the Westgate/Massey area, patronage is about 25 per cent higher and, in Te Atatū, it is about 30 per cent higher.

“With a dedicated fleet of electric double-decker buses running the WX1 from next April, we’re looking forward to bringing improvements in reliability and comfort for our customers. This will deliver a significant boost to the capacity of the service as its popularity continues to grow.”

As part of the deal, Tranzurban Auckland will look to recruit an additional 90 drivers and already has plans for a new bus depot near Westgate that will be equipped with a three megawatt charger for incoming electric buses.

The new depot would become Tranzurban Auckland’s second bus depot, supplementing the current Dairy Flat site.

“It has been great to partner with Auckland Transport in delivering the NX2 services since 2018, so we are now looking forward to expanding our services across the city in our new electric buses that will deliver quiet and smooth services for passengers,” Tranzurban Auckland manager Brent Early says.

To further support better journey times and reliability on West Auckland’s bus network, AT is installing T2 lanes in Te Atatū South that will improve the overall operation and safety of bus services in the area. These went live on May 15, with a bus priority lane also being installed on a section of Triangle Road in Massey.

ACCIDENT REPAIRS

COACHWORKS

Above: Image: Tranzit Group

4 July 2024

9AM to 5PM, AEST

In 2023, the Australian Public Transport Industrial Association set out to improve the image of the bus and coach industry.

We invite you to join us at the official launch by Senator Tony Sheldon, ALP of the BIC/APTIA Recruitment and Retention Policy Manifesto and Workplace Toolkit.

A National IR Seminar will follow, featuring top industry keynotes, plus two panel sessions, Driving Workplace Gender Equality and Riding on the Same Bus: Can a tripartite Approach work? Special guests include APTIA members, transport trade union representatives, along with public operators and regulators.

Delegates may enjoy a networking cocktail function afterwards.

Safety in numbers: The push for change

The Bus Industry Confederation has always been steadfast in its commitment to helping create and maintain safe environments on and around buses for drivers, passengers and the public alike, from establishing best practice to advocating for policy reform

One of the safe bus initiatives we’re involved in is the Bus Safety Forum, last held in August 2023. Chaired by federal assistant transport minister Senator Carol Brown and attended by governmentinvited industry representatives, the forum concluded with a series of key deliverables set to augment public awareness and improve cut-through to government agenda.

An example of these was the recently released, wide-reaching NHVR campaign, “We all need space”, which set out to remind road users of the simple safety tips that serve to keep us safe while out and about on Australian roads, including:

• Never overtaking a turning bus

• Giving way to merging buses

• Reducing speed and paying extra caution when passing a stopped school bus flashing its warning lights, and

• Wearing seat belts when there is provision.

To find out more and check out the latest bus campaign, head to the

NHVR website at: www.nhvr.gov.au/ weallneedspace.

The second action focused on creating the Bus Safety Working Group to improve safety at the regulatory level. Selected by government, the newly established group comprises members from federal, state and territory governments, as well as the Bus Industry Confederation and key industry experts.

The mandate of the Bus Safety Working Group crosses an expansive range of topics that were raised at the August forum, along with the issues raised in the Bus Industry Confederation’s Bus Safety Initiatives Paper and across the industry. These issues included:

• Improving and harmonising seat belt requirements

• Added seat belt signage and usage reminder systems

• Event data recorder requirements practical for buses

• Standardising bus door safety (interlock and pressure sensing systems)

• Updating regulations supporting

Below: The Bus Safety Working Group. Image: BIC

fit out of bus driver safety screens (where installed).

A series of in-person mini workshops covering each of the issues in detail are scheduled to take place from May 2024, beginning with seat belts. While the representatives are largely set by the government, the Bus Industry Confederation highly encourages representative recommendations and any other feedback relating to the above-mentioned issues. Your view is important, so please feel free to reach out to us via technical@ bic.asn.au.

The task of improving bus safety for all is ongoing and we welcome the work being done to roll out improvements across all quarters. Working together, we can ensure that the expected reform outcomes are practical and achievable for all Australians.

The Sovereign movement

While the Sovereign seat may not be StyleRide’s most popular model, it’s quickly finding its niche in Australia’s luxury tour and charter market

As a local Australian business that has been operating since 1996, StyleRide Seating Systems has had nearly three decades to grow its transport seating catalogue. Following its acquisition by international manufacturer Lazzerini in 2019, StyleRide now has 13 different seating products available to the Australasian bus and coach market.

While its Orion, Aquarius and Protean variations have all proven to be popular throughout school and route bus markets, StyleRide is now finding that a high quality coach seat option is finding its niche among certain operators.

“The Sovereign seat model is more of a bespoke type of seat and it’s performing really well,” StyleRide

WORDS SEAN MORTELL IMAGES STYLERIDE

Seating Systems national business development manager Simon Allen told ABC

“There’s a factory standard for the model, but the Sovereign is special because it’s built individually for customers and to their certain requirements.

“Whether it be different needs regarding width, length or armrest styles, the Sovereign seat accommodates this to become a tailored option.”

Since joining StyleRide back in May last year, Allen has helped the local seating manufacturer excel from its new site in Acacia Ridge, Brisbane. Alongside managing director Garrin Angel, Allen has focused on customer engagement, with the Sovereign’s tailorable nature quickly becoming a hit among operators.

Above: StyleRide’s Sovereign seat is becoming a hit in the luxury tour market

With StyleRide now having spinoffs of popular models like the Aquarius and Protean seats, Allen has been allowing StyleRide to create a seat with a point of difference. The process of creating a set of Sovereign seats is inherently unique when compared to StyleRide’s other products – the manufacturer will complete drawings and incorporate customer feedback before making the necessary tweaks to provide a finished product that has been developed in partnership by the two businesses.

That’s not the end of the process, with StyleRide then providing a single seat demo model to the customer free of charge to allow them to see, touch and try the seat in person before finalising the design and order.

“We love the process of providing the test models to customers so that they can stick it in a bus or in a foyer to play with and try before buying,” Allen says.

“We don’t mind going the extra yard to ensure customers are happy with the seat we’re providing, with operators encouraged to take their time in deciding which material they want out of leather, cloth or modern synthetic leather. The latter is becoming very popular, so we prefer to ensure the client is happy with what they’re getting.”

The uptake in the Sovereign’s popularity has coincided with certain operators looking to diversify their fleet to provide the next big thing in coach touring. In Queensland’s Redland Bay, Blue Bus Tours is one of many operators who have turned to high quality vehicles to create a tour option that is a step above the current charter offerings.

“At Blue Bus, we provide school runs, charter day trips and extended tours as part of our mix,” Blue Bus Tours owner Geoff Jacob told ABC “In the past year, we started designing our own top tour coach, with a vision for it to become one of the most luxurious and accessible coaches available in Australia.”

In the early planning stages, Geoff and his small team at Blue Bus turned to StyleRide for the appropriate seating that would match the high quality interior. The inspiration to go with StyleRide came a er Blue Bus bought a second hand coach from Western Australia that featured StyleRide seats.

passengers loved the seating arrangement,” Geoff says.

“These old models are very comfortable recliners with so and supple cloth finishing it off.”

Having started in 2002 when Geoff and wife Sandra bought the school bus run contracts on Brisbane’s Russell Island, Blue Bus Tours has always been deeply associated with high quality services. A er initially running school buses on the island, Blue Bus expanded to the mainland, with the operator’s headquarters now in Redland Bay.

This expansion to mainland Brisbane has allowed Blue Bus to excel as a tour operator. When COVID disrupted the tourism and charter market, Geoff quickly devised a plan to emerge out of the pandemics with an enticing business offering.

Positive passenger feedback quickly confirmed that Geoff and Blue Bus were onto a winner in the seating partner market.

“We had to refurbish that entire coach, but not the seats – the

“In 2019 we bought our first business class coach, with the idea being to begin running smaller tour groups that were more comfortable for passengers,” he says.

“As a small family company with high standards, we’ve run extended tours over the country since day dot, but we wanted to change it up and raise the bar even higher.”

Alongside this increased quality for tour runs was an intent to make charter vehicles more accessible. Due to the company’s personal experience with disabilities, the Jacobs wanted to create a smaller tour service that would treat all passengers with the dignity they deserve.

“We figured we may as well drop numbers and make our passengers comfortable so that they’re respected,” Geoff says.

including walkers and wheelchairs, to fully access the vehicle and tour.”

The configuration of such a coach included the addition of single seats so that solo travellers had more privacy and comfort. This complex arrangement meant Blue Bus Tours needed a seating supplier that would be flexible and open to such changes. The quality of seats that Geoff enjoyed upon buying the second hand WA coach gave him a clear option for a partner.

Geoff went to StyleRide, asking if they could buy a new set of Sovereign seats with updated leather. While StyleRide couldn’t find the plans for the old designs, the team was able to design a new option that fit Geoff’s goals.

“We thought the Sovereign seats looked great – being able to take one home and analyse it was a bonus,” Geoff says.

“We believe in inclusive travel, so the premise of the new coach was to allow people with special needs,

“StyleRide was fantastic throughout the entire process – they did what we asked of them every time, including adding extra padding, so ening the foam and completing little changes to make the best seats that we could’ve asked for.

“In the months since, this luxury coach has completed plenty of tours and there’s been no complaints.”

These business class style Sovereign seats are wider and allow for more legroom, enhancing the comfort for passengers onboard the coach.

“We’ve got other seat brands as part of our fleet of 10 vehicles, but StyleRide’s seats trump the lot,” Geoff says.

“Three of our vehicles feature StyleRide seats and they’re all long distance tour coaches that require the safest and most comfortable models.

“We’re really happy with StyleRide

– if there’s ever been an issue, they’ve been on the phone and fixed it straight away. They’re a pleasure to deal with.”

This glowing endorsement hasn’t been the only one for StyleRide and its Sovereign model. Allen says the majority of customers who buy a set of Sovereign seats o en come back for more.

“In that long distance luxury coach space, as well as the airport transfer market, the Sovereign is a very popular choice as a point of difference for operators who want to have pride in what they present to passengers,” Allen says.

“The Sovereign is a luxury seat – it’s not something put into a school bus or any coach. It’s for the operators. It’ll never be our most popular seat because it’s bespoke, but it’s one that the discerning fleet or bus owner would ask for to complete a high quality vehicle.”

The Sovereign may not be at the forefront of StyleRide’s sales, but Allen says its popularity is growing as more operators follow Blue Bus Tours’ lead in elevating their fleet quality. This has allowed StyleRide to evolve the Sovereign, constantly creating new models that include additions and extra trimmings.

These demands have kept the local seating manufacturer busy. While continuing to grow the business and expand partnerships with existing customers, StyleRide is also preparing a special surprise for this year’s National Bus & Coach Show in Brisbane.

“We’ll be presenting a new product at the show that we think will be an exciting part of our metro bus range,” Allen says.

“It’ll be a new style of seat, and

we’re hoping to be able to show it off in a bus at the event.”

For now, StyleRide isn’t looking at getting too far ahead of itself. As a small to medium local business based in Queensland, Allen wants to continue supporting as many local businesses as possible, including Blue Bus Tours. With the Sovereign becoming a rich source of satisfaction in the bus industry, Allen is hoping StyleRide’s considerate and flexible approach to quality

Above:

A key part of StyleRide’s success is its flexible approach to seating

Below: StyleRide is planning to unveil a new model at this year’s National Bus & Coach Show

seating will continue to please Australian operators.

“Our focus is to continue growing the business by retaining our existing customers through good service and products while also serving the community with our local supply, manufacturing, support, jobs and content,” Allen says.

“We want to use our local support to ensure customers love products like the Sovereign seat and continue growing around Australia.”

Finding the Queen

For 30 years, the bus at the heart of an Australian cult classic film was also the centre of a mystery disappearance. Now, the vehicle’s unique story is being uncovered ahead of a major restoration project

WORDS SEAN MORTELL IMAGES MICHAEL MAHON

When Michael Mahon moved onto a property in the secluded town of Ewingar, New South Wales, in 2016, he had no idea what he was getting himself into. With a population that last sat at 57 people according to the 2021 Census, it took Mahon six months to finish cleaning his property and tending to a smattering of vehicles that came with it, including cars, a van, boat and bus before he

went to the local community hall. When he did, he was in for a right old shock.

“Ewingar is such a small community that the only major building we have is a local community hall – there’s no garage, no post office, nothing else,” Mahon told ABC

“On that first night I went to the hall, everyone asked me what I was going to do with the bus.”

The initial questions took Mahon off guard, enough to spur him to race to

the bar and ask the bartender why he was being quizzed about the ancient bus that lay dormant on his property.

“Because it’s Priscilla,” the bartender replied.

“Strewth, fair dinkum,” Mahon said.

With the purchase of the property, Mahon had unknowingly put himself in the middle of an Australian film and transport mystery. Shortly a er the shooting of cult classic film The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert came to a close in 1993, the 1976 Hino RC320 disappeared. For the next year, the bus was hired out, being used as a tour bus for the likes of the Whitlams. From 1994 onwards, the bus vanished.

More than 30 years later, Mahon discovered Ewingar’s best kept secret – Priscilla, the iconic bus at the centre of the movie, was sitting on his property.

“When I cleaned my sheds, I found paperwork on the bus that included its registration, ownership, title changes and a copy of the movie contract,” he says.

“The bus still had the roof racks in it and the original curtains from the movie, as well as its leopard skin dash and number plates.

“I had no idea what to do with the old girl, so I joined some Facebook bus pages and asked for advice on how to restore Priscilla, because I had her.”

As expected, responders were sceptical that the famous bus had magically re-appeared in a rural NSW town. When Mahon then told a mechanic acquaintance about the bus, he was told bus companies referred to Priscilla’s search as ‘the hunt for red October’, with Priscilla also being known as the Holy Grail due to her importance in Australian history.

While Priscilla continued to sit

mystery of Priscilla has

outside and wear away, Mahon called a variety of Australian museums to ask if they were interested. No one believed him until he decided to call the History Trust of South Australia.

“There was a query put through to the History Trust by Michael saying that he had the bus on his property,” History Trust of South Australia senior curator Tony Kanellos told ABC.

“Everyone was a bit sceptical, as we’d heard of many other people claiming they had the real Priscilla. It had been so long and no one had seen it, while the bus also looked like a piece of junk.”

Despite the History Trust’s cynicism, curators made the journey from Adelaide to Ewingar to inspect the bus. More than 50 buses had been proclaimed as Priscilla in the three decade period of her disappearance. This visit, which was delayed by COVID lockdowns, confirmed they had finally found the real deal.

“We got director Stephan Elliott involved, who verified that the stainless steel bar in the bus was personally installed by him to mount the cameras on for filming,” Mahon says.

“We didn’t even know who owned it because it was abandoned and Michael bought it,” Kanellos says.

“Stephan Elliott said he’d heard it all before, but when he saw the photos of the lavender paint le on the hinges and the number plates, he recognised the bus and was as blown away as us.”

Everyone involved was le excited by the discovery, with plans quickly getting underway to get the bus to Brisbane for a detailed condition report ahead of a restoration tender. It almost all came not to be when bushfires ripped through NSW, desolating Ewingar and surrounding regions in late 2019.

“From September that year we had weeks of bushfires that flared up again in October,” Mahon says.

“One day I walked out my front door and smelled smoke, so I called my neighbour who smelt the same. Next thing we had 15 minutes to salvage treasures and start fighting the fire.”

With no time to escape, Mahon began fighting the roaring bushfire as it descended upon his property. With fireballs pursuing him as he ran around his paddock to his water tank in a last ditch effort to protect his shed, Mahon and Priscilla were both almost lost before a NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) helicopter

released a water bomb on the area. The water bomb meant the van, boat, container and cars that surrounded Priscilla were all engulfed in flames, but Priscilla and Mahon remained untouched.

Mahon was able to escape the flames and his property in the nick of time. When he eventually returned to investigate the damage, he had no clue if Priscilla was still standing.

“I came back to the house still on fire, so I put that out and ran along the side to check if Priscilla was ok,” he says.

“100 per cent of Ewingar was burnt, 45 houses were lost and two people died, but Priscilla survived.”

Despite enduring the bushfires, Priscilla didn’t come out of the ordeal unscathed – temperatures more than 2,000 degrees Celsius and the following rain meant the bus began to rust quickly.

The bus may have looked shabbier than ever, but it didn’t stop Priscilla from putting a smile on the faces of

distressed RFS workers.

“When RFS people came over a er the fire to clean properties, I introduced them to Priscilla,” Mahon says.

“It calmed them down in what was a very traumatic time for us all.”

Having narrowly survived the 2019 bushfires, the History Trust of SA was once again clear to get Priscilla to safety a er Mahon sold the bus to them for $23,000 in 2023. Fellow History Trust curator Matthew Lombard was part of the team that made the trip to Ewingar to first inspect Priscilla before her removal. A er pumping the tyres up and checking the brakes, the team was ready to begin the precarious job.

“With the help of a Brisbane-based recovery company, we winched her down the hill and around the corner,” Lombard told ABC

“The tyres were questionable at that age and, when we got it on the tilt tray, a tyre popped. Thankfully, by then it was easy to move.”

Above: Priscilla was found on Michael Mahon’s property in Ewingar, NSW

While it was a poignant moment to farewell Priscilla from the property that she had sat on for nearly two decades, Mahon knew it was the right move to preserve a special part of Australian history.

“Priscilla is unique and an Australian icon, so I believe the old girl belongs to all Australians,” Mahon says.

“For months a er I would be working on the property and notice she was gone – it’s a big hole she’s le , but the end goal is to save her. Everyone was miffed when it became news that Priscilla was found in Ewingar, as the town knew she hadn’t been lost all along.”

Priscilla is now in Brisbane, where Royans Coachworks is keeping her safe before restoration works begin. The History Trust is looking to raise $2.2 million for a project that includes restoring Priscilla to her former glory and housing her in an exhibit

at the National Motor Museum in Birdwood, South Australia.

The first stage is to begin repairing the bus before the complete restoration project is put out to tender in the industry. The idea is for the bus to be mechanically fixed so it can drive normally, but the façade will be returned to the 20 year old bus that it was during the filming of the movie.

“Restoration is an essential first step, as it’s probably the most famous bus in the world,” History Trust of SA CEO Greg Mackie OAM told ABC

“We then want to create a visitor experience at the museum to depict the important social messages portrayed in the film. It will be a 15 to 18-month journey, but we’re ready to do what it takes.”

The History Trust of SA is now calling for sponsors, donors and project partners to get involved with

restoring Priscilla and creating an immersive exhibition at the National Motor Museum. The History Trust is aware the restoration won’t be easy – riveted construction and a solid steel frame means it requires old school techniques to reinstate it to its film days – but Mackie and his team are confident that the bus will soon be on display.

And, befitting of the movie, Priscilla will be looking as spectacular as ever.

“The exhibition of the bus will be the essence of the movie – it’ll be glamorous and over the top,” Mackie says.

“We’ll also then run an education program in line with the SA Department for Education to highlight the important values and meaning of the film.

“We can’t wait to tell the story of Priscilla with the bus as the centrepiece for years to come.”

Above: Priscilla came so close to being lost to bushfires in 2019

www.camirafabrics.com/transport

But a properly fastened seatbelt will!

SGESCO MAX’s MAX-SAFE Seatbelt Warning System is a significant advancement in passenger and driver safety for the bus industry. The system not only protects individuals but also supports bus operators in maintaining high safety standards and compliance with road safety regulations, creating a more secure travel experience for everyone onboard.

Strength in numbers

McConnell’s rich history in the transport seating market is set to deepen with its recent investments in its people, machinery and upcoming products

IMAGES PRIME CREATIVE MEDIA

Since Jim McConnell first founded McConnell Seats in 1952, the Australian transport business has focused on growing its capabilities. For more than 60 years, the family company became a seating powerhouse for buses and coaches around the country. By the time the second generation, led by Denis McConnell, relinquished ownership to the APM Automotive Group in 2014, McConnell had developed a reputation for durable and safe seats that made it an integral member of the industry.

A decade a er this acquisition, McConnell is only continuing to grow. Currently, the brand’s evolution is occurring in numerous spheres, ranging from staff to machinery, and even to an exciting new model on the horizon.

“McConnell Seats Australia continues to invest in its people, innovation, technology and machinery,”

McConnell general manager James Lowe told ABC

“On the people side, we’ve strengthened our engineering team and have looked at upskilling our current staff to accommodate for our latest innovations.”

When McConnell was acquired 10 years ago, the brand had only the one engineer working across its bus, rail and tram markets. In recent years, McConnell has invested in its engineering team, with six staff now part of the growing Australian team.

The new-look engineering team is led by engineering manager Brent Arnel who is based at McConnell’s new Perth site, directing the crew of seven in total to work in the product development, industrial design and product engineering spheres.

It’s a completely different approach to running workplaces from how McConnell was traditionally ran out of its Melbourne and Sydney site for

the past 70 years, but Lowe says the approach is the new way forward for the seating giant.

“What we’ve learnt through COVID is that workplace flexibility can work – you’ve got to have trust in your people,” he says.

“It allows the whole business to be flexible, with multiple sites improving simultaneously. With three manufacturing sites now established across Australia, we’re employing nearly 100 people around the country.

“We know we aren’t the largest employer in the world, but it’s significant to be supporting nearly 100 families.”

Above: McConnell is investing in its local operations and staff

This personnel expansion means McConnell is now supplying seats for the bus market in Queensland, with Darcy Grant running the sales side of

the business in the state as part of a truly national sales team.

For existing staff, McConnell is also enrolling workers in Certificate IV in competitive systems and practices to continue upskilling their capabilities.

The training, delivered by Leadership Management Australia, is set to prepare McConnell workers for the next wave of seating technology.

This isn’t the only area that McConnell is evolving in – the seating manufacturer is also investing in its technology and machinery to continue staying ahead of the curve.

This includes $1.5 million spent on building new production lines at the brand’s home in Broadmeadows, Victoria, with the polyurethane line now upli ing McConnell’s production capabilities.

A 12-bay carousel is capable of housing 24 moulds, opening the door for higher productivity and increased expertise in the technology.

“We’re fully self-sufficient when it comes to moulding our own foam, giving us continuity of supply and savings when it comes to material costs,” Lowe says.

“When it comes to the logistics side, there’s no double or triple handling of products – we’re in control of the entire process now.”

The updated technology is also aiding in seat development, allowing the McConnell team to closely work with the seat to finetune models and complete comfort testing in-house on new foams.

While the seating manufacturer is still recovering its production line from the COVID pandemic, Lowe is confident these innovations are allowing McConnell to make major strides forward.

“Essentially we’re two years behind

where we should be due to COVID, but the machinery is up and running now and we’re at full tilt,” Lowe says.

“We now should be able to produce more than 400 foam pads per day, which is significant volume for us.”

Usually, the introduction of more advanced and autonomous technology signals a decreasing number of jobs. At McConnell, Lowe has ensured the latest innovations, like the polyurethane line, is actually opening opportunities for more workers to join the company.

“The polyurethane line requires a whole new skillset for us, so we’ve created five full-time equivalent jobs involved with the line,” he says.

“While we continue upskilling our staff to learn to run the machinery, we’re also bringing in another specialist to help with ongoing machine maintenance.

“If Industry 4.0 changes a process, we’re looking to redeploy our experienced employees rather than lose them altogether.”

All of these new positions and machines will be put to the test in the year ahead as McConnell escalates its efforts to produce and release its next generation seat design. Lowe says the project is “progressing really well”, with McConnell planning to unveil the product at this year’s National Bus & Coach Show before beginning to fulfil orders early next year.

“Our current range has been in the market for 20 years, so it’s proven the test of time,” Lowe says.

“It’s still a very solid product, but it does need a faceli and we recognise that, so we’re working hard to introduce the next generation design.”

Working with parent company APM, McConnell is looking to optimise the model and continue saving weight on the seat while remaining compliant with all necessary regulations.

When it’s released, the seat will be ably supported by an extensive Australasian a ersales network that includes sales managers that cover the majority of Australia and a New Zealand presence.

While the new seat model may not be what many in the market have historically expected from McConnell, Lowe is emphatic that more than 70 years of innovation will lead to a complete package that will leave bus and coach operators satisfied.

“It’ll be a very contemporary style of seat and is a significant departure from what we’ve currently got in our product range,” Lowe says.

“It’s currently our main focus and we want to continue meeting industry expectations. Once it’s released, our aim is to have the best support network of any seating supplier in Australia.

“Our customers are everything to us and we’re looking forward to setting ourselves up for an exciting and productive future in the industry.”

Above: New technology is helping take McConnell to the next level

Right: Lowe says updated machinery will only create more jobs at the seating manufacturer

Elegant

•Dashboard Displaying Key Fleet Data

•Comprehensive and Synchronized display of vehicle activity

•Condition based monitoring and reporting Features

•Online Reporting and Analysis tools for incident reconstruction

•Data Storage – Upload Sessions and Download Archives

•Receive Alerts via Web, Email and SMS (Cell T5 Only)

•User de ned Asset Administration and Set-Up

•Device Con guration and Deployment Utility

Foundation partners

Over the past 10 years, Gillicks Buslines has become an important customer for Sege Seats while also growing its own operations in regional Victoria

IMAGES SEGE/GILLICKS BUSLINES

Like many around Australia, buses and coaches have been a constant in Jason Gillick’s life.

Now the owner and operator of East Gippsland company Gillicks Buslines in regional Victoria, Jason was first introduced to the industry when his parents decided to buy a school bus in 1986 and start a business.

“My parents ran that for quite some time until their marriage broke down and my father, Ian, took it upon himself to run the business,” he told ABC

“He gradually got a second school bus and began putting himself on the map on the charter side of operations.”

While Jason grew up alongside Ian running the small family business, his path into the industry didn’t start with Gillicks Buslines. Instead, he worked at major Victorian operator Dyson Group. It took just over 20 years for Ian to build the business to a point where it could accommodate a second full time worker. When it did reach that point, Ian turned to his son.

“My dad progressively picked up a school run in Orbost and built the charter side until it became large enough to bring others on board,” Jason says.

“I was working with Dysons in 2007 when Dad got me to come across and work with the business.”

Jason joined the fold, which now includes Ian and his wife Glenda, as well as office manager Colin. By 2018, the charter side had grown to the point that Gillicks Buslines could buy its very first brand new coach.

It served as Gillicks Buslines’ first contact with an Irizar-bodied coach that featured Sege seats. Little did

Above: Jason Gillick now has nine Irizarbodied coaches featuring Sege seats in his fleet

Below: Flexibility and ongoing comfort have become key pillars of Sege seat models

Jason know that the delivery would start a partnership that would grow the operator to a new level.

“The first brand new coach we bought was off Irizar in 2018 and it featured Sege seats,” Jason says.

“It was not long a er I’d taken over the business from my father. I remember being shown the Sege seats for the first time – my initial impression was that they were very classy seats.

“In the years since, they’ve proven to be great value for money.”

Now six years onwards from the delivery of the 2018 coach and Jason has no complaints about Sege’s seats. He says they’ve “been fantastic” and have suffered no damage despite school students constantly playing with the seats on their daily commutes.

Gillicks Buslines currently has a fleet of 25 buses and coaches, nine of which are Irizar-bodied models featuring Sege seats. The past decade has allowed the country operator to continue expanding its fleet and operations, with Sege’s seats at the centre of it all.

“One thing I say about the Sege seats is when you walk into any bus or coach that features them, each seat looks the same – even the cheaper models look classy,” Jason says.

“It’s got a bit of bling about it and some ‘wow’ factor that captures the attention of passengers when they first step onto the bus. Alongside the modern Irizar body, it’s a great way to entice people onto our services.”

The first coach featuring Sege seats in Gillicks Buslines’ models has now completed more than 400,000 kilometres. When parked next to a new coach, Jason says you can’t see a difference in the seats, such is the quality and durability of Sege’s models.

“These seats have allowed us to build the business and concentrate on purchasing more school buses in the past six years,” Jason says.

“We’ve tried to buy as many school buses as we can while building up our coach side by doing a lot of V/Line replacement, charter and tour work.” Jason is satisfied with the Irizar and Sege seat package that he’s consistently buying, with a key part of the partnership being the a ersales care provided by the Sege team.

“The service they provide us is really good – if there’s ever an issue, they call us straight away or send us a new seat cover to fix it without charging us,”

Jason says.

“We’ve been able to get their help in pulling apart seats and inserting USB sockets into the seats, finding out ways to make the process easy without damaging anything.

“We’ve got a range of different seat models in our vehicles from our simple school bus seats to our sophisticated coach seats that feature recliners and foot rests and the full works.”

Alongside trusted partners like Sege Seats, Jason says his family, including his father Ian and Ian’s wife Glenda, have been fundamental parts of the business’ success. He says their passion, combined with high quality coaches, is helping lead the operator into its next period of growth.

From Sege’s perspective, Asia Pacific

Le : Sege’s existing seats are withstanding the test of time

Below: Taskin has teased new models on the way this year

director Lance Taskin says he’s eternally grateful for the support of Jason, who was one of the first operators to order Sege seats when the brand landed in Australia. While Sege first displayed its models in Australia at the Bus & Coach Expo in 2013, it was key orders in 2018, including from Gillicks Buslines, that allowed the brand to flourish.

“My motto has been not to push people to buy my product – I want it to be the customer’s choice to go with Sege seats,” Taskin told ABC

“I’m happy to say I’ve achieved a model where people come and ask for Sege seats on their new vehicles because we provide more options for them.”

Taskin says he’ll continue to respect the choices of operators and customers, including Jason and his growing family business.

With Sege’s durability becoming a key part of its value offering to the Australian market, Taskin is excited by the various operators coming to him with proof of Sege’s sturdy seats in action. He says a key reason behind Sege’s strong seats is its structure – the design includes moulding the fabric and foam onto the frame without the use of glue.

With Taskin teasing that more Sege models might be on the way to Australia soon, he’s hopeful that the brand’s current crop will continue to stand the test of time and provide high quality seats for growing operators like Gillicks Buslines.

“We are very grateful for the customers we currently do work with, such as Gillicks Buslines, and look forward to expanding these partnerships in the future,” Taskin says.

Safety, durability and confidence

Trusted all over the world, Altro’s overriding mission is to transform the passenger environment into a safe, functional and design-focused space

As one of the world’s leading flooring manufacturers, Altro has a rich history in transport, spanning back decades. Its presence in Australia is so strong that Altro transport Asia Pacific manager Oliver Whyte says it’s “impossible” to determine the number of buses still operating in the region with Altro floors installed.

“It’s in the many thousands,” Whyte told ABC

“Every bus OEM, bodybuilder and just about every operator has used our floors over the past three decades

we’ve been operating in Australia.”

For years, the brand’s strong presence in Australia has meant that hundreds of thousands of passengers walking on Altro floors each day will have no idea of the history beneath their feet.

The third-generation family business was founded in 1919, coinciding with the introduction of the Bauhaus movement in Dessau, Germany – the home of Altro’s second manufacturing plant. The Bauhaus movement, adopted by designers worldwide, teaches that there is no distinction

Right: Altro’s Oliver Whyte Le : Altro’s flooring products are a staple of the Australian bus and coach industry

between ‘form and function’.

“It means we have a responsibility to engineer our products to meet real-world needs and ensure our products meet requirements for style, as well as substance,” Whyte says.

Altro’s history includes many milestones. Altro is recognised as the inventors of safety flooring and expanded into the transport sector 70 years ago.

“Having invented safety flooring, we saw a demand for it in keeping passengers safe on buses and trains,” Whyte says.

What started as a safety tread to prevent people from falling down the rear steps of the original London Route-Master bus quickly became a comprehensive safety flooring solution for transport passengers. Nowadays, Altro is a flooring giant while still maintaining its core family values.

Altro manufactures its products out of sites in the UK and Germany and serves Australia from its base in Dandenong South, Victoria. It has plans to expand its local manufacturing capabilities further this year, assisting OEMs and bodybuilders alike with increasing local content percentages through a suite of Australian-made value-added services such as kit-cutting, reverse welding and laminated inserts.

Operating globally, Altro is a major safety flooring manufacturer in popular transport markets in the US, Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Australia. Outside of the bus and coach sector, Altro’s floors are also seen on rail, marine and other types of speciality vehicles, such as ambulances and motorhomes.

While Altro sells floors and walls for all types of markets from commercial kitchens to schools and healthcare environments, Altro transport floors are specifically engineered for the transport market.

“They are engineered differently to other flooring products that are used in the global construction markets,” Whyte says.

“Buses experience incredible temperature variation, vibrations, torsional forces and a lot more punishment than you would find in a typical building environment. Also, building floors don’t need to be particularly lightweight, whereas transport floors do, and buildings are generally temperature-controlled environments, meaning they don’t typically suffer the same temperature variations as transport floors.

“We have floors installed on buses in the frigid far north of Finland, the tropical humidity of Singapore, the dust of the Aussie outback and in the extreme heat of the Middle East. Whether it be a temperature of -40 degrees Celsius or more than 60 degrees, our floors retain their structural integrity and dimensional stability.”

Altro’s success over more than a century can be attributed to its design innovations throughout the decades. For many passengers and operators, a bus and coach floor may not look like it contains a wealth of technology. However, Altro’s flooring is filled with the latest innovation.

The brand’s success is testament to its constant improvement and development that is specifically aimed at transport applications, including to reduce weight, provide sustainable slip resistance and pass increasingly stringent fire regulations.

The slip resistant compounds within its flooring products are what initially gave the brand its name, with ‘Altro’ being derived from aluminium trioxide – one of the compounds used in creating its unrivalled slip resistance. Within Altro’s floors, aluminium trioxide, silicon carbide and quartz are used throughout the product to create a robust, slip resistant surface that is also incredibly easy to clean.

“Because these compounds are used throughout the floor and not just on the top surface, as they age and wear, they still remain incredibly slip resistant,” Whyte says.

This unique approach to floor manufacturing has allowed Altro to have supreme confidence in its products and become the only flooring company to provide a lifetime warranty for the slip resistance of its products.

Last year, Altro arranged for independent testing on Altro floors onboard Busways vehicles a er working with the operator for decades. Accredited Australian testing company Safe Environments visited the Busways depot in Penrith, NSW to test if the flooring slip resistance on a random older Busways vehicle had waned.

It confirmed that, even a er 16 years of use and 1.1 million kilometres travelled, the slip resistance of the floor was found to still be performing at the highest levels and had not lost any of its ability to keep passengers safe.

This unrivalled safety has seen Altro’s floors become specified for Transport for NSW’s (TfNSW) latest Panel 4 procurement list, with two of the interior colours in ‘Storm’ and ‘Genome’ specified in its popular and durable Meta range – all held in stock in Melbourne.

Another popular range that Altro carries in stock in its Dandenong South warehouse is Altro Chroma EV, which Whyte says is the brand’s most popular range for the bus market. Over the past five years, Altro has reduced this floor’s weight by 20 per cent, allowing operators

Above:

Despite years of use, Altro’s floors maintain an incredibly high level of slip resistance

with electric buses to enjoy these major reductions.

“We’ve reduced the weight without compromising any of its safety or structural attributes” Whyte says.

“This is a direct result of feedback from global OEMs and operators wishing to reduce mass on electric vehicles.”

Last month, Altro also released three brand new ranges called Artis, Metris and Sonis. These design-orientated floors are developed specifically for weight reduction as well as acoustic and thermal insulation, aiding improved passenger experiences onboard and reducing energy consumption through heating and cooling.

“Electric vehicles have different internal sounds and resonances than traditional diesel buses, so we’ve designed a product from the ground up to create a floor that improves the passenger experience onboard,” Whyte says.

He says these floors are planned to be displayed at the National Bus & Coach Show in September, where Altro will once again be exhibiting.

“I really look forward to welcoming both builders and operators to the stand to show them the Altro difference,” Whyte says.

“We can confidently say that our transport floors will remain slip resistant for the life of the bus. Furthermore, no other transport flooring company offers performance warranties for as long as Altro does. Come and experience for yourself the Altro difference.”

Contact Oliver Whyte on +61 (0)477 110889, or email at Oliver@ altro.com.

Motivating change

Two bus and coach tragedies throughout 2023 have led SGESCO-MAX to promote an occupant safety system that is gaining traction with safety conscious fleets

IMAGES SGESCO-MAX

In 2023, two separate bus and coach serious incidents rocked the industry. A month a er a school bus full of kids rolled over a er being struck from behind by a truck in Exford, Victoria, the Hunter Valley bus crash resulted in 10 passengers losing their lives and another 25 being hospitalised. In the wake of the tragedies, the Australian bus and coach industry has spent the past year looking for ways to make vehicles and transport journeys safer.

Heavy vehicle safety specialist SGESCO-MAX, through its MAX-SAFE range of solutions, is hoping that its occupant safety system will provide the key to improving the safety of bus

and coach transport.

“Those two accidents within a short period of time spurred the industry to get serious about solutions that could help bus companies to ensure people are wearing seatbelts,”

SGESCO-MAX managing director

Scott McPherson told ABC

“We’ve witnessed the safety side of the industry evolve rapidly over the past 18 months.”

In the a ermath of the past year,

SGESCO-MAX’s MAX-SAFE occupant safety product range has gained traction as a solution for both bus operators and OEMs to use. The system focuses on monitoring the application of seatbelts and ensuring

Above:

SGESCO-MAX’s system focuses on the correct usage of bus and coach seatbelts

that they’re worn correctly.

There’s also been personal motivation within SGESCO-MAX’s four walls to design and introduce the MAX-SAFE occupant safety system.

SGESCO-MAX director of research and development Marc McPherson, who is also Scott’s brother, has been with the company for 40 years. When a close friend of his had a child injured in a bus accident, Marc began a mission to design a solution that could identify the seatbelt issue and fix it.

“It became a personal issue for us,” Scott says.

“It’s taken plenty of hard yards –Marc got nowhere trying to meet with industry members, but now that other

tragedies have occurred, it’s captured the attention of the market.”

With the MAX-SAFE maximum safety range installed on more than 18,000 vehicles to date and a dealership network that spans most of Australia and New Zealand, SGESCO-MAX has turned its attention to tackling the seatbelt challenge.

The occupant safety solution has enjoyed some success a er being introduced to the market eight years ago with support from Greyhound Resources to promote safer mine transfers for companies like BHP. Whether it be the smaller mini-buses completing work in and around mines or coach transfers used in the resource sector, Scott says that the majority of buses used on those sites have the SGESCO-MAX system installed and operating effectively.

“The solution features four key components, starting with the seat itself,” Scott says.

“The membrane in the seat is designed to understand if someone sits on the seat while the microswitch in the buckle also monitors if the buckle and seatbelt is applied in the correct order.

“The buckles and membranes then connect to a smart module located underneath each row of seats, which in turn is connected to a bigger spine through the bus to the main operator screen.

“Finally, there’s a buzzer under the seat that alerts the passenger if their seatbelt isn’t being worn correctly, as well as an optional light connection, providing both a visual and audio choice.”

Once a part of this system identifies that a passenger is sitting on a seat and not wearing the seatbelt in the correct fashion, the spine, which connects to a control display in the driver’s bay, notifies the driver of which seat features an occupant that isn’t properly wearing the seatbelt. Whether it be via a buzzer or a visual cue, the bus driver can then take action to ensure all people are safely secured in their seats.

The system has recently caught the attention of bodybuilder Irizar, who has begun working with SGESCO-MAX to offer the solution as standard for operators.

“I’d known about SGESCO-MAX and been involved with them previously while Irizar used an alternate supplier for seat sensors on mining and certain application vehicles,” Irizar Asia Pacific managing director Steve Heanes told ABC

“We had an issue with the sensor’s

reliability, so we approached SGESCO-MAX and worked with them on a new system that we could integrate into our product.”

Now, Irizar is already looking at introducing the system into its factory, making it part of the seating harness that’s installed on all new Irizar bus bodies. This would make it easier to install the MAX-SAFE occupant safety system, meaning more new buses in Australia will feature the detailed technology.

“Most seat manufacturers have a sensor on the seat, but it doesn’t tell you what sequence the seatbelt has been put on and if it’s being worn incorrectly,” Heanes says.

“The SGESCO-MAX system has certain programming that recognises when a seat is connected properly, making it a smarter system that is harder to trick.

“The overall goal is for us to produce a safer vehicle and for operators to have safer passengers onboard.”

Heanes and the Irizar team are intent on getting the system installed on as many new vehicles as possible, with the factory roll-out set to make it more affordable too. Much like SGESCO-MAX, Heanes is hoping recent accidents in the past year will motivate more in the industry to include this technology as standard.

“We feel that there’ll continue to be more opportunities to keep promoting safer vehicles that use this system,” Heanes says.

“SGESCO-MAX is a good and flexible Australian company, so we’re keen to help grow its bus and public transport side of the business.”

From SGESCO-MAX’s perspective, the next phase of its evolution on Australian buses will be to fully

Above: Irizar has implemented the SGESCO-MAX occupant safety system on its bus bodies

integrate its occupant safety system onto Irizar’s control system, using the Irizar display instead of its own.

This comes as SGESCO-MAX is also conducting a trial of its MAX-SAFE occupant safety system on a CDC school bus in Ballina, NSW, alongside Transport for NSW (TfNSW).

“We’ve currently got our system in passive mode so that it just monitors seatbelt wearing without alerting so we can see how effective the process is,” Scott says.

“We’ll then turn the system on and see how much more effective the technology is.

“The end goal is to be able to run this remotely as part of our broader fleet management system – we’re thinking ahead.”

With the system being connected to more and more vehicles, SGESCO-MAX will look to produce reports on seatbelt wearing in the future to monitor the long-term usage of the safety technology on buses. Once the occupant safety system is connected to the Irizar harness, SGESCO-MAX is anticipating that the product will become a popular part of its MAX-SAFE catalogue that includes anti-rollaway protection, fleet management devices and blind spot/ passenger monitoring.

While the system may have gained traction following personal and industry-wide tragedies, Scott wants the occupant safety system to be a positive to emerge out of the incidents.

“A lot of forward thinking has gone into the product to introduce it into our entire safety ecosystem,” he says.

“Our core focus is occupant safety because we want to see change in the industry – we hope this product can help motivate the change needed.”

Everlasting experience

Since John Holdsworth started his own worsted spinning mill in Halifax, England more than 200 years ago, Camira has constantly been committed to evolving its moquette fabric technology

IMAGES CAMIRA

In the global transport industry, rich history is part of many major brands. From vehicle OEMs to operating companies, family businesses have incredible stories to tell. None may be more enduring than that of Camira Fabrics.

While a 2006 management buy-out brought the Camira name into being, the transport fabric sector of the company goes all the way back to 1822 in the UK town of Halifax. It was there that John Holdsworth established John Holdsworth & Co and followed in his late father’s footsteps into the wool textile industry.

Upon the death of his father George, Holdsworth founded his own worsted spinning mill at age 25. More than 200 years later, the brand, now evolved into Camira, is synonymous within the global transport market for its high quality fabrics for seats.

“With 200 years of manufacturing history, Camira has a wealth of knowledge and experience in all upholstery and ancillary textiles,” Camira APAC transport business

manager Rodney Peterson told ABC “While Camira’s 200-year anniversary in textile manufacturing was officially celebrated last year, it remains focused on the continual evolution of its products.”

In the decades following Holdsworth’s foundation of the company, his four sons helped develop the local business from a worsted spinning brand to also weaving specialised fabrics for railways and shipping companies around the world. When Holdsworth passed away in 1857, John Holdsworth & Co had more than 2,000 employees and new offices in the UK. The late 1800s saw the company consolidate its position as a transport industry supplier, including for the first locomotives to travel on the London Underground in 1863. It was from this stage in its history that the modern day Camira focus on a certain product came to be. When London’s tube system opened in the early throes of the 20th century, Holdsworth & Co became a key member of the Moquette

Manufacturers’ Association. Now, more than a century later, moquette remains as Camira’s core product for the bus, coach and rail market.

“With its high wool content, moquette has been the trusted seat fabric option in all public transport modes for over 200 years,” Peterson says.

“Moquette, or plush velour, is derived from the French word for carpet and is a woven pile fabric in which cut or un-cut threads form a short dense cut or loop pile.

“Moquette is also available in 100 per cent polyester through our Orient range, which is offered for public transport operations where higher flammability isn’t a requirement or where the price point dictates a cheaper alternative.”

Moquette has become a critical part of Holdsworth & Co, and eventually Camira’s success throughout the past couple of centuries. But what is so good about the material to make it a major hit in the transport sector?

Peterson says moquette’s safety

Above: Camira is bringing 200 years of expertise to its latest bus and coach seat models

and durability factors – the fabric is proven to be incredibly durable and comfortable for everyday public transport use, while the wool is natural, renewable and has low flame, smoke and toxicity properties – make it an enticing choice for many transport companies.

Moquette’s continued increased safety ratings in the flame, smoke and toxicity areas align with the ideal seating fabric in the Australian bus and coach industry, where comfort, safety and durability remain primary focuses for many operators.

Camira’s evolution of moquette was on full display during the brand’s 200-year anniversary when it revitalised its Aura range to now contain 200 patterns in combinations of standardised and colourway designs.

“Outside of the Aura range, the Vigor product has been the go-to wool moquette choice and has also recently been revamped to include more reworked patterns,” Peterson says.

“Being a leading fabric manufacturer, we can manufacture custom made and bespoke fabrics from either artwork and concepts that are supplied or designed in house by our design team.”

The development of worldwide transport fabric may have started with John Holdsworth & Co’s iconic plush wool velour fabrics, but nowadays modern fabrics venture into new spheres of technology. A recent technological breakthrough for moquette can be seen in Camira’s in-house capability to print on moquette through its Camira Print range.

Peterson says the traditional dyed yarn route has limitations on the number of colours and layout of patterns it allows, but Camira Print means that “virtually anything” can be printed on fabric for seats, wall-sides,

ceilings, entries and exits.

“It’s truly up to the imagination to take advantage of this process,” he says.

“In today’s world, our in-house developed treatment options, such as the anti-COVID Staysafe option and the anti-stain, anti-bacteria Defender product, are examples of the important role that we play in the safety, comfort and health of public transport passengers.”

Moquette may be a major driver of Camira’s success over the years, but the company is now much more than the popular fabric. Drawing from Camira’s ranges and capabilities in the contract and commercial sector, a new range of products, such as leather, vinyl and other textiles, are being used for jobs in the bus and coach market.

These materials’ wide range of textures, compositions, weights, colours and designs is helping to modernise fleets in the coach and tourism sectors, with Camira spending the past year developing its product range to preserve the company’s heritage while also aligning with current technology.

Camira has also become a major international brand, with Peterson leading the Melbourne office and warehouse to serve Australasian bus and coach brands. Alongside this, the Australasian Camira team is supplying and servicing fabrics, ensuring ongoing repair and maintenance continues for seat manufacturers, upholsterers and bus and coach owners.

“At any one time, our Australian warehouse’s stocks are around 20,000 metres in well over 100 unique patterns,” Peterson says.

“There’s also quick access to stocks and production from the Camira UK manufacturing site in West Yorkshire. The numbers might seem quite surprising, but this large array of

Above: Moquette is key to Camira’s seating evolution

Below: Camira has innovated with its Camira Print range

patterns and fabrics are needed to be on hand to service and support manufacturers and operators in the Australian transport industry.”

Locally, all Australian bus and coach seat queries are serviced by Peterson and Joe Qi from the Melbourne office and distribution facilities, while New Zealand is represented by an agent in motor body hardware supplier Reid & Twiname.

Throughout the next phase of the company’s evolution, Peterson is intent on ensuring the Camira brand continues to grow with the latest technological developments while also maintaining a strong link to its remarkable history.

“At Camira we pride ourselves on having 200 years of manufacturing history and the strong and long-lasting relationships that we enjoy with Australia’s bus and coach industry,” Peterson says.

“Our Australian office is also responsible for the APAC region, spanning from China, Korea and India to Fiji and all in between.

“Camira is committed to using its more than 200 years of experience to demonstrate professionalism, capability and service to these growth areas.”

Slicing the American pie

A fortunate Olympics bid has led to the Aussie-owned Circuitlink becoming a major telematics player in the US bus and coach industry

IMAGES CIRCUITLINK

It was 25 years ago when Circuitlink was first founded in Australia. The telematics and event recording company may have grown its presence over the past few decades, but as a company, Circuitlink is a widely known name in a variety of transport industry sectors.

In the North American transit bus market, Circuitlink has become a leading supplier of telematics and event data recording solutions for operators, while in the Australian rail industry, its monitoring and level crossing capabilities have seen it grow locally. Despite the brand’s evolution since being founded more than 25 years ago, the Australian-owned and operated company has had only limited impact within the local bus and coach industry.

“Circuitlink’s origins come from producing and supplying brake testing machines for passenger and heavy vehicles,” Circuitlink sales and marketing director Ian Buckley told ABC

“We now specialise in the design, manufacture and sale of not only measure and test, but also diagnostic

and telematics solutions.”

Originally, Circuitlink’s expertise lay in the passenger vehicle sector, where its brake testing machines for vehicle compliance was soon joined by its other key pillar of tachograph vehicle telematics devices. Roughly 15 years ago, the Australian-owned and headquartered business made another foray, this time into the bus and coach sector. Instead of starting with the local industry, Circuitlink was cornered to become a vital part of an American city’s Summer Olympics bid.

“Our Tacholink product really took off around 15 years ago when Chicago launched a bid to host the 2016 Summer Olympics,” Buckley says.

“Part of that bid included having data management technology on all buses used for the Olympics. We were then approached by Chicago to modify our tachograph product for the US market.”

The result of this was the Tacholink – Circuitlink’s adaptation of the tachograph vehicle speed and distance recorder that became its own self-contained event data recorder. Essentially, the system became a ‘black box’ machine for Chicago buses.

While Chicago’s bid for the 2016 Olympics was unsuccessful and usurped by Brazil’s Rio de Janeiro, Circuitlink’s entry to the US market was the opposite. Following the

Above: Circuitlink’s technology monitors vehicle data

Le : The brand’s Tacholink solution first rose to fame during Chicago’s Olympic bid

Chicago bid, Circuitlink’s Tacholink products were adopted by a number of American states. Whether it be smaller transit operators or a large fleet of urban government-regulated vehicles, Circuitlink quickly found itself providing systems for government operators on the other side of the world.

“Since the Chicago bid, Circuitlink has focused its business on the US bus industry, as well as the Australian and UK brake sectors,” Buckley says.

“The tachograph has since evolved into our T5 event data recorder and has been adapted into rail maintenance machinery to perform regulatory monitoring adherence.”

Buckley first joined Circuitlink in the a ermath of Chicago’s Olympics bid to help with the company’s growth and adaptation to export markets.

He says Circuitlink’s US connections first allowed the brand to help elevate the city’s bid by providing innovative telematics technology on its bus fleet. This focus and development means Circuitlink is well and truly past its tachograph technology. Instead, its Tacholink system has quickly drawn interest all around the US.

“We’re now 15 to 20 years past tachograph technology,” Buckley says.

“A er Chicago, we then started presenting the Tacholink product to our US distributor for new bus builds all around the US.”

Many technology providers o en start at the bottom of the public transport chain, picking up contracts with smaller operators and working their way to the top to compete for the business of large-scale bus and coach businesses running hundreds of vehicles.

Circuitlink isn’t like other technology companies. Instead, it secured contracts from some of America’s leading operators and began expanding throughout the country. Starting with Florida’s urban fleet, Circuitlink soon secured deals to provide Tacholink technology to bus operators in Los Angeles, Dallas, Austin, Buffalo and Washington DC, to name a few.

“We’ve managed to sell to some of the biggest players in the US transit bus market, featuring different states and applications,” Buckley says.

“It’s an ongoing process for us as we continue setting up our telematics presence across the country.”

Circuitlink’s expansion in the US has coincided with the wider evolution of telematics technology for buses and coaches. Instead of just providing data for crashes that needed to be physically downloaded off the bus and taken back to a depot for assessment, Circuitlink has grown its capabilities to improve the chain of evidence protocols, with it now offering a fully online presence for data event logging.

Operators with Circuitlink technology onboard their fleet can simply log into a network that contains all asset data. Originally contracted in Chicago for its black box accident investigation capabilities, Circuitlink’s Tacholink systems can now provide vital data for the smallest of complaints received by an operator.

“We can also work in sync with camera data to match with our information, allowing us to offer footage before, during and a er the incident, while we also use rollover detection and warnings in our technology,” Buckley says.

“This growth has seen a snowball effect for us. Now, some of the smaller operators securing tenders using the specifications of larger operators for new vehicles may not even realise it comes with Circuitlink technology, but they come to realise the benefits very quickly.”

To meet this situation, Circuitlink’s technology is agnostic for all major bus manufacturers. With many large US operators having varying brands as part of its fleet, Circuitlink’s technology, like these operators, isn’t tied to a certain OEM.

It’s allowed Circuitlink to quickly become a major supplier in the US’ massive transit bus industry. Over the past 15 years, it’s established arrangements with various distributors and re-sellers. Now, the brand is large enough to secure its own distribution team in the country, while it works with an engineering company to service operators in person if required.

Nowadays, Circuitlink is continuing its US expansion process by being present at major international events. In 2026, Circuitlink will have its Tacholink technology onboard some buses working at the FIFA World Cup to ensure vehicles in the fleet are tracked and monitored carefully. From there, Circuitlink’s idea of growth in the US has no limits.

“We were fortunate that the US came to us and asked for our technology,” Buckley says.

“You will always take the path of least resistance, and we have been able to use this to our advantage.”

Following Circuitlink’s success in the US, it has since focused on local sectors such as Australia’s rail industry. By providing its famous Tacholink and monitoring systems to rail operators, Circuitlink has been able to create a point of difference in its customer base.

One area Circuitlink hasn’t grown into to date is the local bus and coach industry. While some regional operators may remember Circuitlink for providing TicketLink systems for the best part of 20 years, this smattering of private company partnerships has since dissipated as larger specialised ticketing operators have better met the market.

Buckley says this means that many operators in Australia may not fully comprehend what Circuitlink’s systems can achieve.

“The majority of data logging devices only take snapshots every six seconds, while our system mines data down to the millisecond,” he says.

“Most accidents are done and dusted in six seconds, so you could

miss it all. Our system has a point of difference as a bespoke piece of technology that can build reports around vehicle events to the smallest moments of time.”

Moving forward, Circuitlink will keep its connections open in Australia’s bus and coach industry as it still supports systems in operation.

Outside of this, Circuitlink’s brake testing market will also continue to be a focus in the heavy vehicle sector. For the bus and coach industry, whether it be for private companies in Australia or the US’ colossal sector of government operators, Circuitlink will look to continue staying ahead of the curve with its technological capabilities.

“We’re also now looking at electric bus data and how our technology can protect against thermal runaway,” Buckley says.

Above top: Circuitlink’s systems have become a hit in the US

Above below: Vehicle tracking and detailed analysis can provide information on a variety of incidents

“We know from testing and the electric vehicles currently using our technology that our monitoring needs to focus on every single cell in a battery to ensure early detection. We’ll keep growing our product to suit changes in the future – our evolution is key to our success.”

Electric start

Barker College students enjoyed a memorable first day of the 2024 school year when the first Yutong C12E delivered in NSW joined CDC Charter’s school fleet

The first day of a school year is filled with plenty of sounds. Joyous laughter as old friends reconvene a er summer holidays. Sobbing tears and reassuring hugs as young students begin their daunting first day all by themselves.

At Sydney’s Barker College, a new addition to the school’s bus fleet rolled up to the gates without a noise.

Throughout 2023, Barker College, through its operator partner ComfortDelGro Corporation (CDC) Australia, decided to move into the zero-emissions field with its school buses. As part of the Hornsby-based Anglican school’s 2022 Master Plan, a ‘Green Travel Plan’ moved the college to establish an electric school bus trial in August.

“We were approached by Barker College to trial a number of electric school bus options, o en on the

IMAGES VDI AUSTRALIA

Barker College routes, to allow us to gain a real life insight into the vehicle, its range and its performance,” CDC NSW CEO David Mead told ABC

The trial involved a Yutong C12E, provided by local distributor VDI Australia. Mead says both CDC Charter and Barker College were quickly impressed with the vehicle and the way the battery electric bus handled the routes.

“The support we received throughout the trial process also impressed us, as did the training provided to our workshops and drivers,” Mead says.

“The a ermarket focus we were exposed to with Yutong and its ability to meet commitments and promises made the C12E a standout.”

Following the trial, CDC Charter decided to buy its first Yutong C12E in NSW in December last year, with the bus delivered and training completed by January 20 this year. This speedy process meant the shiny new bus provided extra excitement on the

Below: VDI delivered the C12E earlier this year

first day of the school year as CDC Charter joined VDI/Yutong in ushering Barker College into its new era of sustainability.

“In partnering with CDC Charter and Yutong, we know they have the care and safety of our students as their first priority,” Barker College Head Phillip Heath told ABC

Not only was it a milestone day for the college, but the first day of the NSW school year also saw the first Yutong C12E sold and registered in the state hit the road. For CDC Charter, the delivery was its very first battery electric bus that it received.

“The cooperation between our CDC Charter team and Yutong has been outstanding,” Mead says.

“VDI/Yutong has an experienced team with industry professionals who know what good support and back-up looks like, and they’ve certainly delivered.

“Barker College is a very engaged and committed partner, with the focus and drive of the school’s executive allowing the college to open new opportunities in optimising transport.”

While the C12E delivery to Barker College may not be the first time VDI has delivered an electric Yutong bus in Australia, it was still a milestone

moment for its NSW operations. VDI national sales manager Sara Clark says it’s been a privilege to share the journey with both CDC Charter and Barker College.

“Barker College is empowering our future, one ride at a time, and leading the way towards a greener, healthier school environment with its commitment to sustainability, while shaping a brighter future for generations to come,” Clark told ABC “Electric buses produce zero-emissions at the tailpipe. That cleaner air is not only great for the children on board, but also for the neighbourhood and surrounding community.

“Students will no longer be constantly exposed to diesel exhaust fumes and harmful pollution, dramatically reducing the risk for respiratory diseases such as asthma.

“This reduction in environmental pollution, as well as noise pollution, reaps tremendous rewards for children and surrounding communities.”

The Yutong C12E bus is just over 12m in length, providing Yutong’s global YESS safety protection technology.

The safety system comprises five layers of protection for the vehicle, system, battery pack, component and monitoring.

Much like all Yutong buses destined for the Australian market, the C12E delivered to CDC Charter and Barker College comes equipped with CATL lithium iron phosphate batteries. As the world’s largest provider of electric vehicle batteries, CATL’s innovative technologies will help Yutong’s C12E provide performance, safety and efficiency boosts.

“CATL battery technology is widely used by many automakers around the world and we at VDI are proud to offer this solution across the range of battery electric buses,” Clark says.

“CATL’s industry leading Nano-rivet technology offers structural reinforcement and protection at the cell level. It greatly improves energy density and effectively balances high-standard safety and reliability.”

The Yutong C12E delivery is another major step in CDC Charter’s growing partnership with Barker College. For several years, the school and operator have worked together to run

school transport routes for students. The dedicated bus service provides transport for Barker students from as far as Sydney’s Northern Beaches to Arcadia, Dural and the Lower North Shore each morning and a ernoon.

Mead says the buses have been well received by both students and families, allowing CDC Charter to focus on the expansion of its zero-emissions goals.

“This has been a great project that has allowed our organisation to manage the whole process ourselves with the support of VDI and Yutong,” Mead says.

“It’s allowed us to upskill our staff and involve the whole business, meaning we could manage the vehicle trial and selection process with our charter and assets teams.

“We’re very open to working with all of our customers and partners to create sustainable solutions, regardless of the need. This is a great step for us in preparing for the future.

“Having trialled a number of options, we’re comfortable that we chose a vehicle and organisation that provides the solutions we need.”

Youthful focus

Royans recently focused on attracting and retaining quality young staff through a two-day apprentice academy

IMAGES ROYANS COACHWORKS

Throughout all members of the Australasian bus and coach industry, there’s one issue that is on everyone’s lips. From operators and OEMs to suppliers and stakeholders, the entire sector is being affected by the same challenge – the skilled worker shortage.

With the problem still ongoing, heavy vehicle repairer Royans is using its own network to find a solution. While many bus companies are continuing to try recruit more people, Royans recently held a special event to focus on its current crop of apprentices.

“Roughly 12 months ago, the business decided to survey its staff about what they think of the company, with our apprentices submitting some of the weakest responses,” Royans CEO David Church told ABC

“This made us think that we needed to do something different and separate to focus on attracting and retaining apprentices in our business.”

With Royans focusing on how best to curb the impacts of the skilled worker shortage, it made a conscious

decision to focus on investing in the future by attracting apprentices first.

The tangible result of this focus was Royans’ first apprentice academy.

The heavy vehicle repairer convened its entire apprentice workforce in Melbourne, where it then provided a two-day event for apprentices to learn more about the business and future opportunities that lay within the company and the industry.

With the Royans business containing decades of history, Church says the key goal was to ensure apprentices learnt more about the company they were working at, the family values that underpinned operations and the opportunities and pathways that lay ahead of them once they completed their apprenticeship.

“We wanted to let the apprentices know what the business is all about and its 80-year history to date,” Church says.

“There’s a lot of history for apprentices to understand with Royans, so we wanted to educate them and then show them that there’s a career path for them beyond their apprenticeships.

Below:

The event focused on attracting and retaining young apprentices

“We want all Royans apprentices to be certain that we have growth opportunities available for them to rise from an apprentice to a supervisor and then even a branch manager or CEO – all of those opportunities are before them.”

The apprentice focus comes at the right time for Royans, according to Church, as the business’ strong ability to retain staff means plenty of workers are now getting closer to retirement. This next phase means there’ll be a plethora of job opportunities available at Royans for apprentices and trade workers to swi ly move through the ranks. Another key pillar of the apprentice academy, held in March, was to inform apprentices of the opportunities that also lay outside of their particular branch.

While many apprentices may only be thinking about the opportunities available at their branch, Church says company speakers at the conference discussed the other areas of the business, such as in sales, safety and procurement, that they may also want to pursue.

“We then also looked at Royans’ presence in both Australia and New Zealand, showing them the moves they could make if they wanted to continue working for us at one of our 27 other branches,” Church says.

“We’ve seen staff move from Melbourne and Sydney to places like Perth and Townsville, as well as across to New Zealand, while still working for the company.

“We used the conference to let our apprentices know that those relocation opportunities are also available if they wanted to move around and live elsewhere while they’re young.”

While Church didn’t know what to expect of the first apprentice

academy, he says the event consisted of “two really good and productive days”. He says he has plenty of gratitude for the apprentices for how they conducted themselves in travelling to the conference and listening to presentations made.

The first a ernoon then switched from conference presentations to a team building exercise, where apprentices were split into groups and built billycarts for Act for Kids charity before testing them out. Awards were handed out for speed, quality and presentation, allowing apprentices to network with each other throughout the light-hearted activity.

Royans’ apprentice academy also received great industry support, with sponsorships from industry representatives like NTI and PPG allowing Royans to hold a worthwhile event. The company also brought in guest speakers from heavy vehicle brands such as Hino and Kenworth to discuss wider opportunities in the transport industry.

“Out of our 70 apprentices, roughly 60 attended, so it was a wonderful

turnout,” Church says.

“We now want to look at attracting more apprentices – we’re setting up an apprentice program at all of our branches where we can focus on attracting and retaining good young workers local to each branch.”

The Royans leadership team, headlined by Church, isn’t intent on bathing in the a erglow of the successful apprentice academy.

The heavy vehicle repairer has quickly switched to reflecting on and reviewing the event to decide what it will do for its new apprentices next year.

Having received plenty of constructive feedback from their apprentices at the event, the focus at Royans now switches to incorporating this knowledge into its daily operations to ensure more and more young workers continue their journey at the business.

“We’ve seen great staff retention in the business and we think it’s a wonderful place to work at,” Church says.

“There are also amazing

opportunities available at our numerous locations, so we want to bring in more apprentices to motivate our staff and provide opportunities to more workers.

“Our apprentice academy came about due to the immense growth at Royans over a short period of time, so we want to see a continued evolution of our workforce.”

On top of its apprentice focus, Royans is also celebrating the 80-year anniversary of the group this year.

Put all of these pieces of the puzzle together and Royans is hopeful of establishing a healthy and successful future full of emerging skilled talent.

“Everything we’ve done in recent years, from our smallest shops to our largest sites, is helping prepare the future of our workforce,” Church says.

“This focus won’t stop – it’s an ongoing process. There’s still lots of work to be done by our managers to ensure we provide the best opportunity for young workers in this industry.”

If you would like to learn more, head to www.royans.com.au/careers.

Above: Royans hosted its first apprentice academy

Meaningful meeting

The 2024 QBIC annual conference started with a variety of discussions on leading bus sector topics and ended with a wonderful night spent recognising industry leaders

IMAGES QBIC

The 24th iteration of the Queensland Bus Industry Council’s (QBIC) annual conference once again drew the nation’s bus and coach industry to the Sunshine State.

Covening at the RACV Royal Pines Resort on the Gold Coast, a touch of rain couldn’t deter hordes of attendees from attending the conference in early April. The foremost gathering of Queensland’s passenger transport industry drew an impressive turnout for QBIC executive Jason O’Dwyer and his council.

“The event provided an ideal platform for industry stakeholders

to convene, exchange insights, foster collaboration and celebrate achievements,” O’Dwyer told ABC This year’s conference theme was ‘Embracing Transformation: Navigating the Era of Change’, with attendees encouraged to welcome the change currently being seen in the industry. Speakers at the conference called on the sector to be ready to adapt to evolving dynamics. Whether it be the potential shi s in the political landscape around Australia or the upcoming implementation of the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) in Queensland, a range of politicians,

Above: The Bus Stop Sales awards ceremony crowned the state’s leading bus industry performers

Le :

The 2024 QBIC conference covered all the big industry issues

operators, suppliers and stakeholders presented on the need to remain flexible. The conversation then dri ed to the latest technology, including autonomous vehicles and accelerated zero-emissions bus manufacturing and deployment in the state.

With a zero-emissions bus manufacturing plan now on the way, preparing for a sustainable fleet future became a popular topic. Outside of this, contractual renegotiations, evolving asset ownership models, heightened safety obligations and substantial industrial relations reforms also stacked the conference program to allow the industry’s operators and suppliers to prepare for a myriad of challenges and opportunities.

A er a jam-packed day spent discussing this wide range of topics, the conference culminated in the Bus Stop Sales Gala Dinner event and awards ceremony. The tradition honours excellence and innovation within the Queensland bus industry.

“Once again, the awards showcased a diverse range of categories and deserving winners, highlighting the breadth of talent and dedication present in our sector,” O’Dwyer says.

To start the Bus Stop Sales awards ceremony, the QBIC Manmeet Sharma Perpetual Professional

Driver Award went to Transport for Brisbane’s Juliana Campbell.

Industry titan Frank Oliveri won the Outstanding Contribution Award for 2024, with Kangaroo Bus Lines being rewarded with the Outstanding Employer Award.

Bus and coach powerhouse Scania Australia was recognised as the Supplier of the Year, while Tropic Wings Cairns Tours & Charters’ sustainability focus saw it take home the Environmental & Innovation Award.

The poignant Perpetual Apprentice of the Year award, named a er Aaron Pitt and Lleyton Bartlett, was shared between Polleys Coaches’ Max Kelly and Ethan Bran from Emerald Coaches. The final QBIC award as part of the Bus Stop Sales dinner event was the Achiever of the Year award, which went to Kaylee Clark from Clarks Logan City Bus Service.

Translink then presented its three awards as part of its annual Queensland bus driver of the year ceremony.

Following a public vote on three finalists in each of the three categories, more than 13,000 votes determined the winners of each category. Out of more than 1800 nominations, the South-East Queensland bus driver of the year award went to Hornibrook Bus

Lines’ Luluu Berns.

“Winning the award means a great deal to me, it makes me happy. I find being a bus driver so rewarding,” Berns said.

“To all of the bus drivers and everybody out there who voted for me, thank you so much, from the bottom of my heart.”

CDC Queensland’s Mark Nel capped off nearly 50 years as a bus driver with the school bus driver of the year sector.

The final award crowned Queensland’s regional bus driver of the year, with John Christensen from Christensen’s Bus and Coach announced as the winner.

“I feel blown away; the award means so much to me. It makes me feel more appreciated in the community,” Christensen, affectionately known as ‘Christo’, said.

“The award means people will realise that we have great operators and a great service, and we appreciate all their support.”

To cap off the night and the event, QBIC and the wider bus industry recognised operators who have demonstrated commitment and service to the community and sector.

The likes of Transdev Queensland, Crystal Brook Coaches, Wickhams Bus Service and Glenda Eckel

Charleville were presented with awards to celebrate milestones ranging from 20 to 40 years of service.

The crowning moment of the Bus Stop Sales dinner and awards ceremony came when a standing ovation met Del Cole. The founder and current owner of Mt Gravatt Bus Service was specially recognised for 50 years of service.

Barry Bonnicha represented QBIC members to bestow the honour upon Cole, who was applauded by nearly 300 attendees as one of the Queensland passenger transport industry’s pioneers.

“Looking ahead, we anticipate the opportunity to reconvene, collaborate and celebrate once more in Cairns in 2025, as we continue to drive progress and innovation within the industry,” O’Dwyer says.

Bus industry calendar of events 2024

Be sure not to miss out on an opportunity to attend these fantastic in-person events

OCTOBER 29-31

June

JUNE 8

QBIC

REGIONAL MEMBER FORUM GYMPIE

JUNE 20-27

BusNSW

ASSOCIATE MEMBER SEMINARS AND COMMITTEE/ BRANCH MEETINGS

July

JULY 11-12

BusWA

APTIA BREAKFAST, BUS SHOW AND AGM

JULY 20

QBIC

REGIONAL MEMBER FORUM

CHINCHILLA

JULY 27

BusVic

80TH ANNIVERSARY DINNER

SOVEREIGN ROOM, MELBOURNE CONVENTION AND EXHIBITION CENTRE

August

AUGUST 5

BusWA

REGIONAL TRIPS BEGIN

AUGUST 9

QBIC

FUTURE LEADERS LUNCHEON

AUGUST 30

BusNSW

NEXTGEN LEADERS FORUM

September

SEPTEMBER 6

BusWA

REGIONAL TRIPS END

SEPTEMBER 17-18

BIC

NATIONAL BUS AND COACH SHOW

BRISBANE CONVENTION AND EXHIBITION CENTRE

October

OCTOBER 1-3

BCA

NEW ZEALAND CONFERENCE, DUE DROP EVENTS CENTRE, AUCKLAND

OCTOBER 9-10

BusNSW

2024 MEMBER CONFERENCE

OCTOBER 18-19

QBIC

CAIRNS REGIONAL MEMBER FORUM

BusNSW

TECHNICAL COMMITTEE MEETINGS AND AGM

November

NOVEMBER 8

QBIC

REGIONAL MEMBER FORUM

NOVEMBER 14-15

BusNSW

ASSOCIATE MEMBERS SEMINAR AND PARTNER’S LUNCH

NOVEMBER 20-22

BIC

NATIONAL CONFERENCE, HOBART

December

DECEMBER 2

BusNSW

DELEGATES FORUM AND CHRISTMAS FUNCTION

Above: Queensland transport and main roads minister Bart Mellish

WINNER

Ballarat Betty

The May winner of ABC Best Bus comes courtesy of a unique Ballarat Coachlines bus captured out the front of Lake Boga’s silo art in Victoria

Recent winners of ABC ’s Best Bus, sponsored by VDI Australia, have stood out as unique vehicles captured by bus and coach lovers around Australasia.

The May winner of Best Bus comes courtesy of James Woods a er he submitted a stunning photo of a special Ballarat Coachlines coach, nicknamed Betty, at Victoria’s Lake Boga.

In a jam-packed month of entries for Best Bus, there were plenty of finalists that stood out in the crowd. Lindsay from Southern Cross Coaches sent through a wonderful photo of a vehicle artistically shot around landmarks, while Frank Oliveri submitted two great shots of

Southern Cross Transit vehicles.

James Woods had a second eye-catching submission of a Ballarat Coachlines coach out the front of the famous MCG, while drivers from Quince’s Coaches showed us some of their best photos.

But none of these finalists could surpass Woods and his winning photo of Betty at Lake Boga.

Woods says the special photo was taken while Betty was on a recent silo art tour throughout Victoria’s Wimmera region.

“Betty is a 2017 Volvo/Coach Concepts signature series coach with a steerable tag and is a very unique coach that carries 46 passengers while being equipped with a kitchenette, fridge, microwave and

Above:

James Woods’ winning shot of Betty

sunroof,” Woods told ABC

“There’s a toilet equipped too, making it very cool to drive. On this trip, we stayed overnight in Swan Hill before then visiting the magnificent Lake Boga silo art while we were up that way.”

For his win, Woods received a free 12-month subscription to ABC magazine, while the winning photo is live as ABC ’s Facebook page cover photo for all of May.

If you want to be like Woods and have your best photo shown off courtesy of Best Bus, brought to you by VDI Australia, then don’t forget to send through your photos for June and the rest of 2024 via our website or by keeping an eye on our Facebook page for more details.

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Le : A special NZ bus from Grady Connell Right: Kim’s great line-up

Right: Getting artistic with Lindsay from Southern Cross Coaches

Below: Frank Oliveri’s red and white beauty

Consistent brilliance

2024’s Australian bus and coach deliveries continue to maintain a high level with another successful month of orders

This year is seemingly an incredibly successful one for bus and coach companies, as the deliveries continue to fly through at an unprecedented level.

So far this year deliveries have stayed strangely consistent in the 130s, but April’s numbers rose to 144, finishing eight ahead of March with 136 units delivered for the month.

It was a month of crowning glory for Volvo in the chassis market, who took the sector by storm to finish with 54 deliveries for the month. The massive month allowed Volvo to stay well clear of the next best Yutong with 29 deliveries, while Scania rounded out the podium with 19 units. There was a gap following the top three, with I-Bus finishing fourth with nine deliveries and King Long fi h with eight, while Custom Denning and BCI both registered six units delivered. BYD had the four deliveries and Mercedes-Benz the three, with BLK (two) and Challenger (one) wrapping up the final deliveries in the chassis market.

Once again the bodybuilder market was Volgren’s to lose, with the giant delivering 42 units to surpass its March efforts and once again sit atop the sector. It finished well clear of Yutong (29) and Irizar (18), with BCI not far behind with the 10 deliveries.

It was a month of crowning glory for Volvo in the chassis market, who took the sector by storm to finish with 54 deliveries for the month.

Custom Denning and I-Bus couldn’t be split with nine deliveries each, King Long (eight) narrowly trailed, with Global Bus Ventures and Nexport the next best with three units delivered apiece. In an increasingly even spread in the sector, the final 12 deliveries were dispersed across nine brands. Nothing changed in April at the top of the seating market as McConnell was once again the dominant force with 50 deliveries. It nearly doubled Yutong with 29, while Sege continued an upward trend to finish with 27 deliveries for April. StyleRide remained consistent with the 16 units delivered and APM impressed with nine deliveries, with King Long (eight) and Vogel (three) finishing ahead of Marcopolo and Fainsa, who wrapped up the market with a delivery each. It was another month and another top display from Thermo King in the HVAC market, with the air-conditioning giant closing its April deliveries with the 41 units. It did enough to stay well clear of Cling-Yutong with 29,

Above:

Volvo had a remarkable April with 54 deliveries recorded. Image: Volvo Bus Australia

Turn overleaf for comprehensive bus and coach delivery information for April. Please note all data is as supplied from manufacturers, at their discretion.

while Coachair solidified its spot in third with the 24 deliveries. Hispacold (18) and Valeo (11) continued their upward trajectories in April and King Long (eight) and Songz (five) stayed clear of MCC with the three deliveries. To finish the market, Konvekta and Denso both recorded the two deliveries, while Spheros had the one. Victoria once again proved too strong in the state-based deliveries battle, romping home to a convincing win with 43 deliveries in April. Queensland (33) provided good fight, doing enough to easily finish in second ahead of Western Australia (31) and NSW (29). With both Tasmania and the Northern Territory recording no deliveries for April, it was only South Australia (seven) and the ACT (one) that had units delivered in a busy month for the industry. Turn overleaf for comprehensive bus and coach delivery information for April. Please note all data is as supplied from manufacturers, at their discretion.

Seat delivery units

9

3

1

1

Nothing changed in April at the top of the seating market as McConnell was once again the dominant force with 50 deliveries. It nearly doubled Yutong with 29, while Sege continued an upward trend to finish with 27 deliveries for April. StyleRide remained consistent with the 16 units delivered and APM impressed with nine deliveries, with King Long (eight) and Vogel (three) finishing ahead of Marcopolo and Fainsa with one delivery each.

Sales by body

Once again the bodybuilder market was Volgren’s to lose, with the giant delivering 42 units to surpass its March efforts and once again sit atop the sector. It finished well clear of Yutong (29) and Irizar (18), with BCI not far behind with the 10 deliveries. Custom Denning and I-Bus couldn’t be split with nine deliveries each, King Long (eight) narrowly trailed, with Global Bus Ventures and Nexport the next best with three units delivered apiece.

Sales by Air-Conditioner

It was another month and another top display from Thermo King, who closed its April deliveries with the 41 units. It did enough to stay clear of Cling-Yutong with 29, while Coachair solidified its spot in third with 24. Hispacold (18) and Valeo (11) continued their upward trajectories, with King Long (eight) and Songz (five) staying well clear of MCC with the three deliveries.

Sales by chassis

It was a month of crowning glory for Volvo in the chassis market, who took the sector by storm to finish with 54 deliveries for the month. The massive month allowed Volvo to stay well clear of the next best Yutong with 29 deliveries, while Scania rounded out the podium with 19 units. There was a gap following the top three, with I-Bus finishing fourth with nine deliveries and King Long fi h with eight, while Custom Denning and BCI both registered six units delivered. BYD had the four deliveries and Mercedes-Benz the three, with BLK (two) and Challenger (one) wrapping up the final deliveries in the chassis market.

Returning home

In April, an iconic Pioneer Bus Service vehicle was finally located and brought home to the Brisbane Transport Museum from Deniliquin

IMAGES QUEENSLAND OMNIBUS & COACH SOCIETY

When John Haig started as the curator of Deniliquin’s historic vehicle museum The Depot, a certain legendary bus had been part of the collection for a year. Back in 2018, Neville and Debbie Purtill, both Deniliquin legends who have a long history of running Purtill buses in the town, purchased a 1959 SB3 Bedford bus from the former owners of Queensland’s iconic Pioneer Bus Service.

The McDonald family operated the 1959 Watt Bros bodied model for more than 30 years for Pioneer Bus Service in Ipswich, Queensland.

As The Depot opened its doors and introduced local NSW buses, the Pioneer bus quickly became its own unique part of the museum’s collection.

“Neville originally bought the bus because he wanted to save it from being bought and converted into a motorhome or floating into obscurity,” Haig told ABC

“He didn’t want to see it go anywhere else to get repainted or converted, so he acquired it for The Depot.”

For years, the Purtill’s had the special Queensland bus on display down at Deniliquin as part of its growing vehicle collection. This path was destined to change when Queensland Omnibus & Coach

Society (QOCS) president Nick Wilson became aware of the bus’s presence in NSW.

“We didn’t know where the bus had gone – when it popped up, I immediately wanted to get it to our Brisbane Transport Museum,” Wilson told ABC

“It’s a very iconic vehicle that has a lot of significance to Ipswich.”

Going back a couple of decades, the bus belonged to the McDonald family, who were members of QOCS for many years. The vehicle was progressively used for events and stored down near Gold Coast, before a divorce meant the bus was lost due to an auction.

For years, Wilson kept searching for the bus until it popped up at The Depot. However, the Purtills weren’t originally keen to let go of such a beauty.

“There’s a running joke that Neville doesn’t like to sell anything,” Haig says.

“He loves his collections and his history – when he heard QOCS wanted to buy it – he raised an eyebrow at me and didn’t look like he wanted to let it go.”

Fortunately, Purtill’s understanding of history came to the fore, with QOCS and The Depot working on a deal to return the famous Ipswich bus to Brisbane. Wilson originally tried to broker the deal with a bus

Above:

swap, but the two parties then negotiated a fair price to return the vehicle to ‘home’.

From there, the logistics of getting the bus from Deniliquin to Brisbane had to be sorted, with The Depot fortunately completing a trip up to Brisbane at that same time to pick up another vehicle. A few phone calls later and the bus was strapped to the back before being delivered to QOCS in April.

“It still needs some touch-up work due to sitting outside for 15 years, but it’s in exceptionally good condition for its age,” Wilson says.

“It only operated in Ipswich its entire life and had three owners, so it has a rich legacy. I thank everyone who donated money to acquiring the bus – it was a group effort from a number of Queensland bus industry identities.”

While The Depot, including Haig and the Purtills, were sad to see the iconic Pioneer bus leave Deniliquin and the museum, they understood the need to get the vehicle back up to its hometown in Ipswich.

“It’s gone back to where it needs to be,” Haig says.

“QOCS will love it, restore it and look a er it. We’re privileged to be part of the story of the bus and, on behalf of the team, we’re all about preserving heritage and stories, so this just makes sense.”

The famous Pioneer Bus Service vehicle is now back in Queensland