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In focus | brisbane busways
BRISBANE BUSWAY CELEBRATES 20 YEARS OF OPERATION
There were no elaborate celebrations as Brisbane’s South East Busway marked 20 years of operation by simply ‘getting on with its day-today utilitarian task’ of providing a safe and efficient mass transport corridor, says its operator, Translink.
The opening of the South East Busway in 2000 was the beginning of a busway network that has become an example of best practice for public transport around the world, says head of Translink, Matt Longland.
“During peak periods, the busway can move up to 18,000 customers every hour, compared with up to 1,600 bus passengers an hour in general traffic corridors,” Longland explained.
“That’s one bus every 12 seconds passing the busiest point of the South East Busway inbound of Woolloongabba Station.
“This is one of the reasons Brisbane’s Busway receives so much interest from national and international public transport providers,” he added.
The first section of the South East Busway between Queen Street Bus Station and Woolloongabba opened in September 2000, in time for the Brisbane Olympic Games Football Tournament, as part of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.
The next section to open, in April 2001, was Woolloongabba to Eight Mile Plains.
There are now more than 30km of busway, which includes 27 stations and 20 tunnels. More than 72 million trips are made on its busways each year, it states.
“The busway stations have been developed at key suburban nodes to serve major activity centres. This allows buses to serve low-density communities, collect passengers from local roads and then join the busway for a faster trip into the city,” Longland said.
“The busways feature real-time safety and security incident management, with more than 750 CCTV cameras monitoring the infrastructure, tunnels and assets 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Real-time bus information is displayed at all stations,” he stated.
SUCCESS STORY
Translink staff work alongside Brisbane City Council staff to provide real-time network coordination through the Busway Operations Centre, including close collaboration with the Queensland Police and emergency services to ensure the safety of the busway network, it says.
“Busways continue to be a great success
story for South East Queensland public transport. They separate buses from general traffi c and deliver more reliable and effi cient bus services for customers,” Longland stated.
ABOUT BUSWAYS
As Translink explains, a full bus produces less pollution per person than a full car. In fact, it only takes six passengers to make the bus a cleaner option - and every full bus means 50 fewer cars on the road, it confi rms.
Its rationale is that if the city doesn’t continue to use more public transport, “…Brisbane will be faced with more cars on the road, more congestion, longer trips to work, more noise and poorer air quality.”
In terms of building one, Translink says air quality studies take place before new busways are built to ensure the local air quality – and the health of those near the busway – is protected.
It says it also builds its busway stations to blend in well with
the existing environment. Wherever possible Translink uses environmentally friendly construction products and busway stations have sustainable design features including: • rainwater harvesting for station irrigation, bathroom facilities and cleaning • solar-generated power • natural ventilation and lighting • drought-resistant landscaping.
Above:
The fi rst section of the South East Busway between Queen Street Bus Station and Woolloongabba opened in September, 2000.
Left:
Streetview of Royal Brisbane Women’s Hospital (RBWH) busway station, Bowen Hills Northern Busway.
Opposite, Below:
Bus travelling on the Inner Northern Busway.
AXALTA SOLE COATINGS SUPPLIER TO BUSTECH
Axalta has been announced as the sole paint and coatings supplier to Bustech, Australia’s largest privately owned bus manufacturer.
Axalta – with extensive experience in supplying coatings to the commercial market both globally and within Australia – is well positioned to meet the needs of Bustech, today and into the future. “As the clear market leader in coating supply to the Australian manufactured bus and coach industry, Axalta fi ts well with the requirements of Bustech, to be a partner that is tuned into delivering quality products and solutions to meet customer requirements,” said Steven Brett, managing director, Axalta Australia and New Zealand.
“With more than 150 years of expertise in the paint and coatings industry, we can leverage our global experience to deliver local solutions to the Bustech team and its customers in Australia.”
Michael Busch, Axalta National OEM manager added: “Bustech’s complete commitment to quality and consistency makes the Axalta/Bustech partnership an outstanding corporate fi t.
“Through introducing the next generation of paint and coating technology, providing extensive training to all production personnel, and establishing clear documented painting processes, the signifi cant improvement in output quality was inevitable – but also extremely satisfying. Bustech’s existing and future customers are seeing the end result of Bustech’s commitment to continuous improvement, and this all bodes well for the extensive plans they hold for their future as an Australian manufacturer.”
AUSTRALIAN MADE
Bustech is based in Burleigh Heads on Queensland’s famous Gold Coast and is Australia’s largest privately-owned bus manufacturer. Designing, engineering and manufacturing chassis’ and bodies for mass passenger vehicles, 95 per cent of all parts and components are sourced from local Australian suppliers, delivering unmatched economic development and sustainability for Australia.
Bustech is now owned by the Australian Bus Corporation, which also owns Precision Buses based in Edinburgh Parks, South Australia. Through this partnership, Axalta will also work with Precision Buses in its Adelaide facility replicating the model it has with Bustech.
“Axalta’s experience in the commercial vehicle industry gives us great confi dence that they will be able to provide the necessary products and support as we continue to build on the strong platform we have, positioning ourselves for future product development with our strategic partners,” said Bustech CEO Thinus Steyn.
“We are confi dent this partnership will help us continue to be a leading supplier of government and private sector passenger vehicles in Australia.”
Above: Bustech CEO Thinus Steyn with Axalta Territory Business Manager (QLD) Stephen Morris.
WHAT IS IMRON?
The Imron Fleet Line paint system is designed for commercial vehicles that spend most of their life on the road, in all types of weather. It delivers exceptional weather and corrosion resistance while providing a beautiful finish. It is the product of choice of more than 70 per cent of the Australian Bus and Coach manufacturing industry. Axalta is a global leader in the manufacture of coatings for the heavy-duty truck and bus market.
NETWORK SPREAD
Axalta works with its 25 local distribution partners Australia-wide to offer Bustech and its fl eet customers a flexible and timely logistic solution.
TECHNICAL SUPPORT
With more than 40 support personnel servicing all Australian states and territories - specialising in paint application, process refi nement, colour matching, quality control and business analysis – Axalta is uniquely positioned to support manufacturers ready to embrace their full potential within the painting operation.
