In focus | adelaide hybrid bus

ADELAIDE O-BAHN HYBRID BUS SERVICE STARTS

South Australian bus operator Torrens Transit, which Transit Systems owns, has started to run one of its two new Scania hybrid buses on the Adelaide O-Bahn system.

With Transit Systems also currently having electric bus trials underway in New South Wales, Australia’s largest order of electric buses on track, and a partnership in the world’s first hydrogen bus consortium, the company – celebrating 25 years in business recently – “is driving real change in the way sustainable public transport is delivered”, it states.

On Thursday, January 21, the two new Scania hybrids entered service for the Adelaide Metro, giving bus customers a “greener, cleaner commute”, according to Clint Feuerherdt, CEO of SeaLink Travel Group, which in turn owns Transit Systems.

The buses join Transit Systems’ suite of sustainable vehicles as many governments make the move to more sustainable operations, the company explains.

“We are leading the charge with sustainable transport solutions,

and we’re proud to be the fi rst operator in South Australia to bring these hybrid buses into service for Adelaide Metro, Feureherdt said.

“They proudly join our global fl eet of innovative vehicles, where we have extensive experience and knowledge across electric, hydrogen and now hybrid capabilities,” he added.

SYDNEY ORDER

The announcement comes after Transit Systems confi rmed it had placed Australia’s largest order of electric buses as part of the NSW government’s commitment to transition its diesel bus fl eet to zero-emission technology, with 31 buses set to arrive at their Sydney depots.

That order followed the ongoing and successful electric bus trial with Transport for NSW (TfNSW), which has seen the fl eet of four zero-emission electric buses rack up more than 300,000 kilometres over 18 months, it confi rms.

“We are passionate about researching, developing and delivering more sustainable transport options and we are excited to work with partners who share our vision to create zero emission networks,” Feuerherdt said.

25TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS

Transit Systems also recently celebrated 25 years in business.

As the company explains, it began with a “... leap of faith, was sustained by enthusiastic professionalism and supported by an amazing team, and enters the second 25 years as a great Australian company, still on the threshold of growth.”

On Sunday morning, January 21, 1996, a green and white bus departed from a rented industrial property in Midvale, East of Perth. For the fi rst time since August, 1962, an urban service bus in Perth was operated by a privately owned operator, it explains.

From these humble beginnings, the business grew by winning new contracts in Perth, Adelaide, a marine business in Queensland, London, Sydney, Darwin, Singapore and Melbourne, eventually becoming the largest bus operator in Australia, it states.

In January 2020, the Group trading as Transit Systems and Tower Transit, was acquired by ASX listed SeaLink Travel Group, and together the business became one of Australia’s most experienced and diverse multi-modal transport businesses, boasting performance driven capabilities across ferry, bus and light rail, it says.

We are leading the charge with sustainable transport solutions.

ABOUT SEALINK

SeaLink Travel Group is Australia’s largest integrated land and marine, tourism and public transport service provider with established international operations in London and Singapore, it explains.

It is one of Australia’s most experienced and diverse multi-modal transport businesses, boasting performance-driven capabilities across ferry, bus and light rail, it states.

SeaLink is made up of Australian marine and tourism operations and Transit Systems’ domestic and international public bus and light rail transport operations, it says.

SeaLink moves more than 285 million customers per year, has in excess of 8,840 employees and operates approximately 3,500 buses and 118 ferries, it adds.

Opposite, Above:

The Transit Systems-owned Torrens Transit has started to run one of its two new Scania hybrid buses on the famed O-Bahn, recently.

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Transit Systems is celebrating 25 years in business,