Australasian Bus & Coach 413 January 2022 by Prime Group

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AUSTRALASIAN BUS & COACH

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ISSUE 413 January 2022 $5.95 inc GST

PUREE-MOTION

ICONIC KIWI FAMILY OPER ATOR EMBR ACES E-MOBILIT Y BIG TIME

operator: walters, vic driven: denning landseer in focus: nhvr survey

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contents ISSUE 413 JANUARY 2022

08 in the know

6. editorial | ignition Great cricket! Then came the tennis... And the tolls... And the RATs – or lack thereof. Pied piper Cotter speaks. 8. news | the front line We’ve gathered up all the key, hardhitting Australasian and international bus and coach news for you, to keep you in the loop. 22. bic column

ELECTION TIME What industrial relations changes are we likely to canvass in the upcoming federal election?

in focus

heavy transport collision repair has driven the rapid expansion of Royans recently, the company reports. 46. cover story | tranzit nz e-charging

E-MOTIONAL BEHAVIOUR When the expression ‘going all in’

30. In focus | Europe battery charging network

GROUPS UNITE FOR EURO E-COACH CHARGING A triumvirate comprising Daimler Truck, the Traton Group and Volvo Group has now signed a binding agreement to create a joint venture to install and operate a highperformance public charging network for battery-electric, heavyduty long-distance coaches and long-haul trucks across Europe.

24. In focus | NHVR roadworthiness survey

34. feature | royans

Australia’s National Heavy Vehicle

A demand for safety, quality and expediency in terms of bus and truck

BUS SEGMENT LEADS WAY IN ROADWORTHINESS SURVEY

Regulator (NHVR) has congratulated bus and truck owners and operators that have contributed to a significant improvement in the “mechanical health” of Australia’s heavy vehicle fleet, following results of a major survey, recently.

ROYANS TO THE RESCUE

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EDITORIAL Editor: Fabian Cotter ph: 0451 194 600 e-mail: Fabian.Cotter@primecreative.com.au

Technical Writer: Paul Aldridge

Facebook – facebook.com/ABCBusnews YouTube – bit.ly/busandcoachtv Twitter – twitter.com/ABCmag

PRODUCTION Production Co-Ordinator: Cat Fitzpatrick Art Director: Bea Barthelson

PRINTING IVE Print

was coined by some person who probably had absolutely nothing to do with buses, they may as well have been referring to NZ private operator Tranzit. Embracing e-mobility and re-engineering things while always thinking outside the box is all just part of the 98-year-old Tranzit DNA.

ADVERTISING

44. operator | walters passenger service

SUBSCRIPTIONS

Trader Group Sales Manager: James Rock ph: 0419 139 941 e-mail: James.Rock@primecreative.com.au Business Development Manager - Bus: Matt Alexander ph: 0413 599 669 e-mail: Matt.Alexander@primecreative.com.au

www.magshop.com.au

70 YEARS OF SMALL TOWN SPIRIT

The Walters family serviced the north-east Victoria town of Euroa for 65 years before downsizing and moving base an hour north to Kyabram in 2017. Here, we chat with the team about how it all started and how business has been affected by the pandemic over the past few years. 58. drive | denning landseer 1990 double-decker

TOUGH AS NAILS

Despite being over 30-years-old, this Denning double-decker is one of two that are the drawcards of Fantastic Aussie Tour’s fleet. And don’t let age fool you! This bus was built to last.

departments

65. bus marketplace | classifieds

e-mail: magshop@magshop.com.au ph: 1300 461 528 between 8am – 6pm (EST) Mon – Fri mail: Magshop, GPO Box 5252, Sydney, NSW, 2001

Annual subscription rates (12 issues): Australia: $89* NZ: $A100.05 Overseas: $A122.50 (Australian air-mail only) *price includes GST

EXECUTIVE GROUP

FOR SALE! There’s hundreds of great vehicles and services listed here from some of the leading bus and coach companies on the planet. Have a look around and see what you might find in there!

CEO: John Murphy Publisher: Christine Clancy COO: Zelda Tupicoff Operations Manager: Regina Fellner Trader Group Sales Director: Brad Buchanan

70. factory facts | bus deliveries

MONTHLY RESULTS

We know you love them and so we have the latest bus and coach supplier sales data collected and recorded for you to sink your teeth into. To know who is who and who’s done what simply check it out!

ABC is published by Prime Creative Media 11-15 Buckhurst Street, South Melbourne VIC 3205 Telephone: (+61) 03 9690 8766 Website: www.primecreative.com.au

ISSN 1324-8634

DISTRIBUTION

Distribution within Australia and New Zealand and beyond by paid subscription to the owners and managers of: • route buses • government bus operations • school buses • extended and day tour operations • express coaches • country and charter operations • bus and coach manufacturers • equipment suppliers • tourism attractions • railways management. Australasian Bus & Coach (ABC) magazine is owned by Prime Creative Media. All material in ABC is copyright and no part may be reproduced or copied in any form or by any means (graphic, electronic or mechanical including information and retrieval systems) without written permission of the publisher. The Editor welcomes contributions but reserves the right to accept or reject any material. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information Prime Creative Media will not accept responsibility for errors or omissions or for any consequences arising from reliance on information published. Opinions expressed in ABC are not necessarily the opinions of, or endorsed by the publisher unless otherwise stated.

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IGNITION

FABIAN COTTER

Anyone For Tennis? Seriously…

Public transport, health care, our kids’ education, domestic violence – surely those deserve likewise or greater attention than sport.

f only you could get rid of the lines and the net in tennis, or opponents and even the umpire maybe, and just smash the heck out of the balls at, say … tin cans on a wall for target practice. For big money. And shaving cream sponsorship ads and fast cars and superficial flashy things. Then, I think, you might just have something… Of course, I’m speaking entirely from the perspective of someone who was totally bad at tennis, but hitting balls waywardly without a care in the world for getting it ‘into the box of the floor’ was pretty good fun back in those old days. Alas, professional tin can hitting was never meant to be and it was resolved, very early I might add, to leave that sport to those that could actually ‘do’. And in a group of school friends with a mate who I recall was in a tennis training squad trio that included an eventual consecutive US Open winner, I figured only one of us needed to make it big in the sport so we all got free tickets to get into games when we were all old enough. Fast forward to this summer, and deeply embroiled in an epic Ashes Test Cricket series, I wasn’t really paying attention to the tennis but, like many, it was hard to avoid eventually. The problem with coming in late, though, is the quagmire of opinions that crisscrossed into a tightly knit ball like Christmas lights wiring. And I’d only just unravelled three of those the month prior. Focused on Djockovic’s vaccination status and his ability to be allowed to play, underwritten by visa validity issues, it was a daunting prospect to engage in – and quite energy sapping. Who called whom, or didn’t? Who signed what or didn’t? He said, she said, he didn’t do this, they didn’t do that. And it’s still going on now... Add in ‘leaked’ (sure it is ;) ) footage of media types calling him ‘A words’ balanced by other media types highlighting what threat is he when cases ‘are everywhere’ now – I was kind of glad I came in late, left early and turned the cricket back on. Gees, if only we were all so quick to devote such energy and passion to other more pressing social issues that have been

around for much, much longer. Unless fixing those would be boring, I’d imagine.

INTERIOR DESIGN Flicking through the pages of this here Issue 413 of ABC magazine you’ll find not just something for everyone in the bus community, but something for everyone and their cousins, too, probably. Kicking things off on the front cover this month, we pay a virtual visit to leading New Zealand operator Tranzit Group, which has been in operation for a formidable 98 years and over four generations and counting. We said G’day for three reasons, basically. 1. The company is really embracing electro-mobility following its launch of NZ’s first electric double-deckers in 2018. It is currently expanding its charging infrastructure and all sorts of other engineering and way-leading feats, particularly as a private bus operator. 2. Always happy to check out bus happenings across the pond in the Land of The Long White Cloud and... 3. Some things got paused over the break and put me in a bit of a pickle, so catching up with Tranzit’s Katie Farman over the phone in December was brilliant timing, indeed. You can read all about Tranzit Group on pages 36–42. Also we examine the latest NHVR National Roadworthiness Survey of Australia’s heavy vehicle fleet and it was good to see bus and coach leading the way with some of the best numbers in specific categories. “Go bus!” – that’s pages 24–28. In terms of operators we check out Walters Passenger Service, in rural Victoria, which is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year, so we send out a big congratulations on that milestone (pp. 44–49), while for a test drive we get behind the wheel of a mint 1990s Denning Landseer coach, which looks and drives the part so well, even after all these years. That’s on pages 58–64. Interesting news of collaboration between Daimler, Volvo and Traton (Scania, MAN and VW) in Europe and their shared vision to establish long-haul truck and long-distance coach electric charging infrastructure, so perhaps that sets a trend of what those OEMs and others may be doing in other regions as the need arises.

On that note, during the break the issue of NSW toll costs arose to the surface, particularly in terms of latest increases and projected increases – over the next 25 years as discussed – for truck and bus operators. BusNSW had, earlier in 2021, brought up its concerns on this issue as regards the contracted and non-contracted LDTC sectors of the industry, so the point is bigger vehicles were really feeling the pinch – and when would it stop, as the TWU NSW branch pointed out. It did get me thinking about the future in terms of how many commercial vehicles would be moving and how, and for us just how many people that would affect. Then when the latest future-gazing IDTechEx statement came out highlighting the rate of advancing e-tech and innovations like ‘air-taxis’, what exactly those costs will be in future seemed a little more inconclusive to predict … to me, at least. That’s on pages 50–57. And, finally, we had a chat with the solidly expanding heavy vehicle collision repair expert Royans, which now incorporates the well-known bus-fixing enterprise that is Coachworks. Where it came from, where it is now and where it’s going was fascinating stuff and we’ll definitely be keeping a watchful eye on Royans’ big plans coming to fruition in the not too distant future. Oh, I nearly forgot about the December 2021 Australian bus deliveries data. Relatively, it was a blinder at 123 units, which was welcome news and a fitting way to finish off what has been a trying year for many in the bus industry. What will 2022 bring? Honestly, who knows? Probably some more insane sporting controversies or 3D movie-type global weather events that scares the pants off of us, if that is even possible given how jaded everyone seems these days. Sheesh… All I know is, as long as the cricket or footy or championship ping pong is played somewhere on the planet as the cyclones and tsunamis and earthquakes rage on and on, then I’ll be good to go. Popcorn at the ready. What social issues again? Until the next thrilling instalment…

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NEWS

ON-DEMAND SERVICE EXPANDS TO MELTON SOUTH MELTON SOUTH residents in Victoria now have a new way of getting around their locality after bus operator Transit Systems launched its Bridj-powered on-demand Flexiride Melton South app and service there, recently. As part of the launch, Victorian Minister for Public Transport, Minister for Roads and Road Safety, The Hon. Ben Carroll, booked a trip with the Flexiride Melton South app – from Melton Station to Melton Bus Interchange. Bridj-sourced Demand Responsive Transport (DRT) Technology underlies the Flexiride Melton South app, the operator states. Kelsian Group – which owns Transit Systems – CEO Clint Feuerherdt says the technology encourages customers to leave their car at home, providing an integrated and personal service to get to a train station, interchange or other local hub locations. “We are pleased to deliver on-demand services to Melton South customers, who can enjoy the benefits of booking public transport to suit their personal schedule. 8

“We recognise that a barrier to catching public transport is getting from home to the station or interchange. “We are all increasingly accustomed to using services on-demand, with in-home movie streaming and food delivery – so we take that demand-responsive concept and apply it to public transport to complete the journey.”

CONVENIENT BOOKING Transit Systems uses leading technology to provide efficient and reliable services, ensuring that customers can book and travel conveniently, it says. “Through the booking application, the Bridj technology captures customer travel preferences, including where and when they want to travel,” Feuerherdt explained. “Using this knowledge, it matches customers moving in the same direction and adapts the bus routes in real-time. The outcome is more direct and tailored journeys, relative

Above: “Through the booking application, the Bridj technology captures customer travel preferences, including where and when they want to travel,” Kelsian Group – which owns Transit Systems - CEO Clint Feuerherd explained. Below: Below (L-R): Cr Goran Kesic – Mayor; Cr Bob Turner; Minister for Public Transport Ben Carroll; and Steve McGhie MP.

to those that could be delivered using traditional fixed route services, especially over such a large and growing area like Melton South,” he said. The Flexiride Melton South app provides users with real-time information, so customers know exactly when their service is arriving, according to Transit Systems. Flexiride is a cashless service, with customers able to pay using a myki card. Bridj Technology CEO John Langford-Ely says he was proud to be supplying the technology that

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powers the Flexiride Melton South service. “At Bridj, we want to build software that helps take cars off the road. By making bus services more appealing to more people, we envision a more sustainable and decongested future where dynamic shuttle and bus transport is everyone’s first choice,” Langford-Ely said. “Since 2018, we have developed and deployed innovative solutions alongside the Transit Systems team across Australia and Singapore. I am excited to now be supporting their expansion in Melton South, which we believe will provide local residents with an excellent level of service.” Minister Carroll says the new on-demand bus service would connect locals directly to railway stations, local shopping centres and schools. “There are four new buses ready to connect customers to key destination hubs such as Cobblebank Station, Melton Station, Woodgrove Shopping Centre, Melton Bus Interchange and schools in Melton South,” he said. “The app will prioritise connections with trains at both Cobblebank and Melton Stations to ensure customers have smooth, easy access to ongoing public transport options.”

OPTIMISED NETWORK A number of hubs within the education precinct will also mean students can safely travel to their destination and cater their travel to class timetables, Transit Systems confirms. The extension of Flexiride follows trials in Rowville, and through Lilydale, Mooroolbark, and Croydon, it adds. Flexiride is an initiative of the Victorian Bus Plan, improving the State’s bus network to better meet demand, improve accessibility and performance, and deliver value for money, the operator explains. Services will operate from 6.00am to 9:30pm on weekdays, 7.00am to 9:30pm on Saturdays and 8.00am to 9:30pm on Sundays and public holidays, Transit Systems states. Flexiride services do not have a fixed route; customers will be able to book a seat via the Flexiride Melton South app or phone, be directed to their closest bus stop – either a physical or ‘virtual stop’ – and be picked up and transported to dedicated hubs, it explains. Bookings can be made up to seven days in advance and can be cancelled up to five minutes before the scheduled pick-up time, it confirms.

GOLD COAST ON-DEMAND TRIAL KINETIC-OWNED operator Surfside Buslines will start a two-year ondemand Translink bus trial for north Gold Coast in 2022 – using Hino Ponchos –following a Queensland government announcement, recently. The on-demand transport services will be integrated with the Translink network, meaning customers will be able to transfer to buses, trains and trams using their go card, the operator confirms. Poncho bus customers will also be able to book services through a range of options, including the Translink On Demand app, which will allow them to pre-book and manage bookings easily, track where their service is and receive real-time notifications, KineticSurfside explains. Local member for Gold Coast rural residential locality Gaven – also Minister for the Environment and the Great Barrier Reef, and Minister for Science and Youth Affairs – Meaghan Scanlon says Surfside Buslines was successfully contracted to provide locals with convenient, accessible and reliable pre-booked on-demand services. “I committed to delivering more accessible transport options to the northern Gold Coast suburbs, and today we are one step closer to making that a reality,” she said. “Surfside Buslines is a local operator that is known by many and I’m pleased to announce the company has been locked in for the two-year trial period. “The trial will commence [in 2022], and be offered to locals within Nerang [West], Highland Park and the Pacific Pines suburbs to better connect with other public transport options, essential services and shopping precincts.”

Above: Local member for Gold Coast rural residential locality Gaven, Meaghan Scanlon.

“In the Pacific Pines trial area customers will be able to travel to and from Helensvale station, Westfield Helensvale and Pacific Pines Town Centre,” she said. “The Nerang (West)/Highland Park trial area includes Nerang station, Nerang town centre, Nerang Fair, My Centre Nerang and Nerang Mall. “On-demand transport will help to fill the gap between regular bus services and more personalised services, such as those offered by taxis or booked hire services. Kinetic’s general manager Matthew Campbell says Surfside was excited to expand its offering in the region. “The geography of the Gold Coast is diverse and so are the travel needs, and it’s important that through our partnership with Translink we continue to offer public transport options that are responsive to customer feedback and travel behaviours,” Campbell said. “As cities become increasingly intelligent and public transport users seek flexibility, demand-responsive travel has an important role to play in the region’s broader public transport system and this is something we have experienced in other cities where we have operated similar trials.”

ABOUT SURFSIDE TAILORED JOURNEYS Minister Scanlon says on-demand transport aims to bring together small groups of people looking to travel at the same time, picking them up near their homes and taking them to selected locations within the trial areas.

Surfside is the, “…trusted transport partner for Translink and Transport for NSW – contracted to deliver 150 urban, regional and school bus services,” it says. Its 600 drivers and 400 buses move more than 6 million people across the Gold Coast and Tweed Coast every year, it confirms.

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NEWS

UITP AND UITPANZ TO PART WAYS

THE CURRENT ‘collaboration agreement’ between the International Association of Public Transport (UITP) and UITP Australia New Zealand (UITPANZ) is set to end on 30 June, 2022, the organisations have jointly announced. As indicated in a statement released to the media, UITPANZ will transition into a new, standalone association with a new name that will, “...focus on the unique challenges facing the public transport sector in Australia and New Zealand,” it explains. Both associations will continue to work together in, “…advancing public transport and sustainable mobility through joint projects,” they confirm. The new public transport association for Australia and New Zealand will continue to deliver its services including events, networking, policy development and thought leadership in the region, UITPANZ (listed online as a regional office of UITP) explains. This step allows the association to focus solely on understanding and responding to the local needs of its members, it adds. UITP, meanwhile, will continue to bring together all public transport and urban mobility stakeholders from across the globe. Interestingly, this will mean that, as of 1 July, 2022, UITP will continue its work in Australia and New Zealand to promote sustainable transport Top: In February, 2022, more details will be provided on the options available for future membership of both UITP and the new public transport association for Australia and New Zealand, the statement explains. 10

with its membership by: “...releasing publications and statistics, organising events, leading research projects and delivering training programmes.”

MORE TO COME In February, 2022, more details will be provided on the options available for future membership of both UITP and the new public transport association for Australia and New Zealand, the statement explains. “We look forward to continuing our cooperation as we work to achieve our common goal of creating sustainable mobility for all,” it concluded. When ABC magazine sought further clarification as to which party instigated the split and what were the reasons given that drove the decision-making process, an International Association of Public Transport Australia/New Zealand

(UITPANZ) spokesperson replied: “Public transport around the world has dramatically changed over the last 20 years since UITPANZ was formed. The sector in Australia and New Zealand has grown and matured enormously, with the framework for operation and service delivery evolving its own distinct approach. That is why UITP and UITPANZ have determined that the interests of our members in Australia and New Zealand will be best served by a new premier peak body for public transport in Australia and New Zealand that focuses on the unique challenges facing our region. “This is the natural next step for an already successful association and provides the ideal platform to focus solely on understanding and responding to the local needs of its members. “It is an exciting opportunity to

“It is an exciting opportunity to deepen cross-jurisdictional sharing and collaboration.” deepen cross-jurisdictional sharing and collaboration for all public transport sector stakeholders in our region. “The new public transport association for Australia and New Zealand will work with its members and the broader industry to shape the future of public transport in our region and make a real difference to the lives of millions of people,” they stated.

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TECH UNI AWARDS SYDNEY OPERATOR ROUTE SYDNEY BUS operator Kingsford Smith Transport (KST) has been awarded a key “on-demand” shuttle route servicing University of Technology Sydney (UTS) students, staff and industry partners, it’s been announced. A UTS spokesperson confirmed with ABC magazine that KST – an Australian family owned business in operation for more than 50 years – has taken over an existing service, running a scheduled bus service from the UTS city campus to UTS Tech Lab in Botany. “Passenger numbers fluctuate from day to day, week to week,” they confirmed. “The service isn’t ‘bookable’, but travellers can track the location of the bus on its route,” the spokesperson added. KST managing director and CEO George Mavrocordatos of the contract win said: “Congratulations to my team for securing our newly awarded on-demand transport shuttle run contract for Dexus – University Technology Sydney in the eastern suburbs.” “The contract has provided KST

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with stability during this pandemic. The continuous service and daily requirements has provided hope to the team and management moving forward,” he explained. This is not KST’s first on-demand service, it confirms. KST provides this type of service for private schools – primarily in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney – as well as DHL logistics. In terms of the fleet, the buses providing the service are a MAN CB30 and an Iveco Metro, which the company purchased new recently for this route. “Two buses are required for this on-demand fleet,” Mavrocordatos explained. “The approximate passenger numbers are 120–180 per day. It’s primarily students and office workers,” he said. “They don’t book; they just arrive at the bus stop. Pick up is at Botany then to Green square, then to Redfern Train Station and concludes at UTS on Thomas Street, Sydney (Broadway/Central). “The bus has a one-hour turn-around

Above: This Iveco Metro is one of two new buses bought to service the route.

time. The passengers scan a QR code at the bus stop to provide the tracking location of the bus. The app is a KST app,” he stated. The KST shuttle service for UTS started from 1 December and will run for three years with an option to extend. Both buses provide wheelchair access with anchorage points, KST confirms.

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NEWS

ABB WINS SUSTAINABILITY AWARD TRANSITIONING to a low-carbon society via a portfolio spanning multiple industries – and all underwritten by innovative technology – has earned ABB Australia the peak Excellence in Sustainability accolade (belatedly) at the 2020 Swedish Business in Australia Awards, recently. The retrospective winners (due to lockdowns) of the 2020 and current 2021 business awards were announced virtually recently, and will be presented on stage and celebrated at the Swedish Australian Innovation Technology and Design Summit on 16 March, 2022. Four inspirational companies – newcomers as well as established – won the 2020 Awards, showcasing the successful Sweden–Australia business connection, organisers outline. The entries for the 2020 year’s awards, according to the jury panel, were of very high and equal quality, which made the evaluation process very hard, but after careful screening of the different nominations, the result within the four different categories were confirmed. Of ABB Australia’s win, judges commented: “ABB is clearly a global leader in technologies that will make the world more sustainable. It’s so good that their offering of products, technologies, skills and know-how is applied to the Australian market, be it in smarter buildings, energy production or transport.” ABB’s lauded methodology – the way its innovative products and solutions for smart cities, manufacturing and transportation are enabling the transition – highlights the company’s leading role in enabling sustainable outcomes through the smarts of its people and technology, organisers explain. “[ABB is] a true champion in providing products, expertise and services with technologies addressing energy consumption being at the core of fighting global warming.”

ACROSS THE BOARD ABB is supporting sustainable mobility across the entire e-mobility value chain, offering a complete range of solutions for the electrification of 12

buses, commercial vehicles, passenger cars, ships and railways, it explains. The company provides not only electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, but also critical EV charging network components, such as substations, energy storage systems and eco-friendly switchgear, it adds. For industrial, commercial and residential environments, applying ABB’s smart-building technology enhances energy efficiency and reduces electricity consumption in industrial [applications], which when fully implemented can deliver a 30 per cent reduction in energy costs, it says.

Above: “We are very proud to be acknowledged by the Swedish-Australian Chamber of Commerce for our genuine focus on sustainability through the application of our technology and expertise,” said David Sullivan, head of ABB Australia’s electrification business.

greenhouse gas emissions,” said David Sullivan, head of ABB Australia’s electrification business. “ABB is helping more and more customers achieve their sustainability goals and reduce their energy use, particularly in industry, buildings and transport – sectors that together account for nearly three-quarters of global energy consumption.

“[ABB is] a true champion in providing products, expertise and services.” In Australia, ABB has demonstrated a number of ‘firsts’ when it comes to applying its technology to projects leading the way in sustainable design and engineering: South Australia’s first 10-Star rated home; Western Australia’s first electric bus route; and the largest healthcare building automation project in the southern hemisphere with Calvary Adelaide Hospital.

GENUINE FOCUS “It’s clear that the innovative use of technology is key to reducing

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“We are very proud to be acknowledged by the SwedishAustralian Chamber of Commerce for our genuine focus on sustainability through the application of our technology and expertise. “ABB is not only enabling sustainable building and transport projects in Australia. We are also leading the dialogue and encouraging engagement in these sectors in Australia through our involvement in key industry groups. “As technology leaders, we feel we have a responsibility and desire to engage government, industry and the community in broader discussions about smart cities and the built environment, and how together - through policy, investment and technology - we can create sustainable infrastructure that supports long-term sustainable living.”

ABOUT THE AWARDS The Awards provide a great platform for companies to showcase their business within the Swedish-Australian business community, it says. These awards also offer a great opportunity for companies to be recognised at a state and national level for being a business leader in its field, or have specific expertise – and, of course, these awards offer everyone participating invaluable promotional opportunities, it adds. The Swedish Australian Chamber of Commerce was founded in 1911 and run on a non-profit basis and promote Swedish-related business activities in Australia, as well as recognising organisations and individuals that help give Swedish business in Australia a positive profile.

ABOUT ABB ABB is a leading global technology company that energises the transformation of society and industry to achieve a more productive, sustainable future, it states. By connecting software to its electrification, robotics, automation and motion portfolio, ABB pushes the boundaries of technology to drive performance to new levels, it adds. With a history of excellence stretching back more than 130 years, ABB’s success is driven by about 105,000 talented employees in over 100 countries, it confirms.

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NEWS

VOLVO BUS AUSTRALIA APPOINTS NEW BDM

Kate Totman

EFFECTIVE immediately, Volvo Bus Australia’s (VBA) sales and marketing specialist Kate Totman is now its business development manager (BDM), having accepted a new role within the VBA team, the company announced, recently.

In this new role, Totman will work alongside Volvo Bus Australia’s key account managers and product team to evaluate tenders and will provide integral support in coordinating tender preparation, the company explains. Concurrently, Totman will continue to oversee the sales, marketing, events and communications activities within VBA, the company clarifies. “Kate has been a great asset to the team over the years as sales and marketing coordinator and, most recently, in her role as business manager,” said VBA general manager Mitch Peden. “Kate brings to this commercial role a wealth of experience in marketing, sales and event production, having led sales and marketing campaigns for multinational clients in various global markets, including Asia and United Kingdom. “Tenders are a key part of the Volvo

Bus business and, given Kate’s strong people and organisational focus, her support will be integral to our tender processes moving forward,” Peden explained.

ABOUT VOLVO BUS Volvo Buses is one of the world’s leading bus manufacturers, with a strong focus on vehicles and systems for long-term sustainable public transport, it states. The product range includes complete transport solutions, city buses, intercity buses and tourist coaches, as well as services in financing, vehicle servicing, vehicle diagnostics and traffic information, it adds. Volvo Buses is part of Volvo Group, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of trucks, buses and construction machines, as well as drive systems for marine and industrial applications. Volvo Group also provides complete financing solutions, it explains.

DTI GROUP APPOINTS SALES MANAGER PERTH HQ-BASED passenger information specialist and transport industry tech provider DTI Group has appointed Brett Baxendale as its new general manager of sales, the company announced, recently. As a bus-industry specialist and experienced business leader in this key stakeholder role, Baxendale will head up the Australian arm of the company in a newly created position to service the transportation industry, DTI confirms. As a well-known identity in the Australian public transport supplier network – having experience across many disciplines – he has worked in many high-profile client-facing roles that include complete vehicle and safety solutions, DTI explains. “It was immediately clear that Brett was the right fit,” said DTI chief communications officer Matthew Strack. “We’ve been aware of his work in recent times, with delivery of

both complex and regulated products we know he will lead us into a new era,” he added. Baxendale being based on the east coast of Australia and working closely with its local aftersales and operational staff, the expansion of DTI’s business capability is supporting its existing and future business in public transportation as it heads towards connected journeys with passenger information systems and enhanced AI solutions for fleet operators, it says.

Brett Baxendale

ABOUT DTI DTI develops and provides worldleading surveillance, video analytics, and passenger information systems technology and services to the mobile transit industry worldwide, it states. DTI’s customers include transit agencies (DTI supplies and installs its advanced CCTV recording system to Volgren for Western Australia’s Perth PTA buses), vehicle operators, vehicle manufacturers and law enforcement agencies, it explains. Its range of

professional products and services encompass on-board recording equipment, passenger information equipment, fleet management systems, local produced and sourced to ISO 9001 QMS and TS22163:2017 for rail applications, it says. Cloud solutions include back-end mass storage and retrieval facilities and end-to-end managed services, DTI confirms.

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ADL DOUBLE-DECKS HIT SINGAPORE

2014 B11R Volvo. 14.1m, Only 325,000 km with 60 recliners, toilet, fridge & urn. $350,000

door, ADL explains. Fully step-free aisles on both decks ensure passengers can, “…move around the vehicle with ease”. Engine and drivetrain components were relocated to enable this full low-floor design, it confirms. Other improvements include the use of the latest aluminium composite body technology and a host of new safety and energy-saving features, it adds.

PROBLEM SOLVING ADL president and managing director Paul Davies, said: “ADL prides itself in responding to customer requirements without compromise, and the new Enviro500 buses for Singapore’s Land Transport Authority are testament to this spirit of innovation. “Our engineers have delivered a fantastic job rethinking the driveline to enable this new solution, which speeds up journeys and increases passenger safety. “We are delighted with the LTA’s trust in our concept and look forward to supporting the full fleet throughout its service

life in this vibrant, booming world city.”

LOCAL SUPPORT Above: Other improvements on the ADL double-deckers for Singapore’s LTA include the use of the latest aluminium composite body technology and a host of new safety and energysaving features, ADL confirms.

2004 0500RF Mercedes, 12.5m, only 494,000 km with 50 recliners, toilet & urn. $65,000

The LTA’s 50 new Alexander Dennis Enviro500 buses have been allocated to bus operators SBS Transit, SMRT Buses and Tower Transit, ADL confirms. They join 216 earlier Enviro500 buses already in operation in Singapore and all will be supported locally from the manufacturer’s 25,000-square-foot facility, it says.

2019 Yutong D7, only 23,000km with 23 coach seats & leather trim, toilet & uprated to 180hp by Cummins $149,000

ABC-TH-5211899-413

THE FIRST of 50 new Alexander Dennis Enviro500 double-deck buses with optimised ‘passenger throughput’ for the Singaporean Land Transport Authority (LTA) have entered service, ADL confirms. Tailored to the authority’s requirements – resulting in a three-door, two-staircase layout that helps with smoother and quicker boarding and alighting, says ADL – the buses follow the LTA’s awarding of the order in April, 2019. According to the company, a cross-functional team of Alexander Dennis engineers worked with the customer and suppliers to design and build a bus that fully reflects the operational requirements of Singapore’s busy bus services. Alexander Dennis Limited (ADL) is a subsidiary of NFI Group Inc, one of the world’s leading independent global bus manufacturers. The new Enviro500 double-deckers have three passenger doors and two glazed staircases, with the one at the rear of the vehicle leading directly to the exit

All vehicles are in immaculate condition and are garaged overnight. Prices include GST. A considerable amount of sub-contract work may be available with these vehicles to the right operator.

Please call Greg on 0428-715700 for more information.

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NEWS

CDC REGIONAL BUS DIVISION EARNS SAFETY RECOGNITION COMFORTDELGRO Australia’s (CDC) Regional Division has been highly commended at the NSCA Foundation and GIO Workers Compensation’s 28th Annual National Safety Awards – for its outstanding work, health and safety initiatives, it was announced recently. Finalists were formally recognised and winners announced at an NSA gala luncheon – held as part of Australia’s longest running and independent safety awards – on Wednesday, 8 December, in Sydney. This year’s event was hosted by television sports presenter, reporter, and commentator Stephanie Brantz, with the Royal Australian Navy’s first female pilot Natalee Johnston delivering the keynote presentation. NSCA Foundation event manager Richard Cornish says the awards continue to celebrate organisations and people that actively promote workplace health and safety as a cornerstone of elite business performance. “The ‘Best Communication of a Safety Message Award’ category recognises organisations that have effectively and innovatively communicated a WHS/OHS message to their workforce,” Cornish stated. “Finalists must be able to demonstrate that their communication methods have

led to a sustainable improvement in workplace behaviour, performance and all processes,” he added. “Highly Commended Awards are issued at the discretion of the judging panel and we congratulate CDC’s Regional Australia Division on this achievement.”

ELITE PERFORMANCE Of the high commendation, CDC Regional Australia Division CEO Tony Hopkins says the digital transformation undertaken by the public transport operator during the past two years has completely revolutionised the way it communicates safety messages to its workforce, the majority of whom are on the road. “I’m thrilled to see such recognition for

the CDC team, who worked extremely hard to roll out the initiatives across our operations, and our drivers and staff, who use our employee app with enthusiasm – helping us to consistently exceed industry engagement benchmarks,” Hopkins said. “Safety is the number-one priority in our business. As one of the country’s largest bus operators, CDC carries a significant responsibility in the delivery of public, school and charter services, not to mention our duty of care to more than 4,000 employees nationwide. “We’re also honoured to represent the important safety message of the bus industry in a broad field of industries at this year’s awards,” he explained.

CDC’S APP CDC Regional Australia Division’s employee communication platform called The Interchange brings safety messages into the 21st century, creating an instant news and communications channel with an app that allows real-time access to safety or incident updates, breaking news, online training and policies and procedures, it states. The automated dissemination of information across the group has empowered staff to act swiftly and efficiently in their day-to-day roles,

Right: (L-R): Awards sponsor Scott Stevens’ key account manager Ansell presents CDC’s Andrew Fogg, GM operations regional NSW, with the Highly Commended recognition. 16

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saving significant man-hours and minimising wait times or delays, it explains.

THE EVENT Judges shortlisted 34 finalists across eight categories based upon their outstanding demonstration of innovation, commitment to safety as a business priority, proven return on investment and leading work health and safety standards in their industry, organisers explain. The awards are open to all organisations in Australia. Finalists in the Best Communication of a Safety Message category included CBGJ D&C JV’s Brisbane’s Cross River Rail partnership (winner), CDC’s Regional Australia Division (highly commended), City of Greater Geelong (highly commended), Bulla Dairy Foods and Water NSW. View all the winners, high commendations and finalists here.

ABOUT CDC REGIONAL The CDC Regional Australia Division oversees extensive bus businesses throughout the Northern Territory, Queensland, regional NSW, and ACT, it states. This includes Buslink NT (Darwin, Humpty Doo, Jabiru and Alice Springs); Blanch’s Bus Company in northern NSW; Forest Coach Lines North Coast and Woopi Connect in the Coffs Harbour region; Qcity Transit and Transborder Express in the Queanbeyan/ACT region; and CDC Queensland operating CDC Gladstone and CDC Sunshine brands and Young’s Bus Service in Rockhampton and Yeppoon.

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IRIZAR TEAM BOOST AHEAD OF MULTIPLE 2022 initiatives – and with an impending “milestone bus delivery” announcement soon – Irizar Asia Pacific has appointed a new sales manager for its southern and western regions, industry specialist George Stavrinou, the company has announced. As an experienced commercial vehicle executive, Stavrinou assumes the role of sales manager for Irizar in VIC/TAS/SA/ WA, it confirms. Stavrinou joins the Irizar team having previously spent seven years with leading bus and truck manufacturer Iveco and he also has extensive experience in the vehicle instrumentation industry courtesy of a 13-year tenure with VDO Australia. Additionally, Stavrinou holds tertiary qualifications in electronics and marketing – no doubt a boon for Irizar in Australia. Stavrinou says he is excited at the prospect of working for a prominent and well-regarded brand within the bus and coach industry. “I’ve had significant exposure to the sector in my previous roles and believe I have a good understanding of what’s most important to bus and coach clients,” Stavrinou said. “I know that Irizar has an excellent reputation in the industry and, although I’ve only been with the company a short time, I’m already seeing first-hand the brand’s strong customer support ethos and I hope to add to this in my role. “The Australian bus and coach sector is a close-knit family and I’ll be working hard to grow my relationships with clients, giving them a reliable and hard-working

George Stavrinou

touch point that will help them meet their vehicle needs,” he added.

FANTASTIC FIT Commenting on the appointment, Irizar Asia Pacific managing director Steve Heanes says Stavrinou was a great fit for the company. “I’ve been fortunate to work alongside George in a previous role and know that he is a fantastic fit for Irizar,” Heanes explained. “In George we gain a team member with strong experience and one that has already begun developing a great rapport with our customers; I’m confident he’ll perform extremely well in the role and deliver our partners in the southern and western states with a high level of service and attention that will exceed their expectations.” This year promises to be a big year for Irizar with a, “…milestone bus delivery” to occur in the coming weeks, the company confirms – and a number of initiatives to be rolled out as 2022 progresses.

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NEWS

US BUS MAKER PURSUES ‘DRIVERLESS’ PATH WITH PARTNER FOLLOWING delivery of its 100th electric bus in partnership with Cummins, the California-based Gillig LLC has entered into a development agreement with RR.AI – developer of autonomous mobility solutions based in Maryland, USA – for next-gen advanced driver assistance on its buses in North America, it’s been announced. A manufacturer of heavy-duty transit buses, Gillig’s president and CEO Derek Maunus said of the advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and SAE Level 4 autonomous vehicle (AV) technology: “We see this partnership as a great fit for both our companies. “The Gillig team is passionate about delivering transformative products and solutions that make transportation safe [and] efficient, and help eliminate roadway congestion. RR.AI is equally committed to those important goals. “We’re excited to work with such a technology leader to bring advanced vehicle automation technologies to cities across America.” The companies will develop and test safety features such as automatic emergency braking, precision docking and bus yard automation in addition to blind-spot detection and pedestrian avoidance, Gillig explains. The company states that while these are commonly used in passenger vehicles, many of these features have not been widely deployed thus far on heavy-duty commercial vehicles. Additionally, the companies will develop automated driving capabilities, which can be deployed for select in-service 18

operations, or in the transit depot to help manage electric vehicle charging and reduce vehicle damage.

ALL-ROUND SAFETY RR.AI CEO Alberto Lacaze, said: “We believe the partnership with Gillig will improve the safety and well-being of drivers, pedestrians, and roadway users. “This partnership brings together leading innovators in the market today, a best-in-class OEM and best-in-class autonomy technology company.” While Gillig expects to implement AV and ADAS features across its product lines, the company says its zero-emission battery electric bus will be one of the first to benefit from the advanced technology and capability enhancements. Gillig’s electric bus features what it says is industry-leading battery capacity, a Cummins powertrain, telematics and flexible inductive and overhead charging options.

100TH E-BUS MILESTONE The news about the automation partnership comes after Gillig recently celebrated the delivery of its 100th battery-electric bus in October last year, in partnership with Cummins. The vehicle was delivered to Metro Transit in St. Louis, Missouri – bringing the operator’s Gillig electric bus total to 10 units. Both Gillig and Cummins have collaborated since 2019 to bring reliable zero-emissions electric buses to communities across the country, Gillig explains. “We set out to do whatever we could to make sure we had the best electric bus in the industry, and that is what we’ve done,” said Gillig president and CEO Derek Maunus. “I couldn’t be prouder of the amount of hard work and energy that went into this accomplishment. This truly has been the most remarkable team effort.” More than 50 customers across the US are now operating Gillig’s battery-electric bus, or have orders for the vehicles, and there are 27,000 Gillig buses in service in total. Gillig is currently booking new bus orders into 2023, it confirms.

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NEWS

MARTIN HALL JOINS BUS STOP SALES QUEENSLAND-BASED heavy vehicle distributor Bus Stop Sales and Service has appointed local industry stalwart Martin Hall as its new general manager, whose experience bodes well for the company’s forthcoming King Long Zero Emissions Bus (ZEB) roll-out, it’s been announced. In leading the company’s new zero emissions transport division, the appointment is well timed with the experienced Hall joining the company that’s expecting to receive the first fully electric high-floor bus into Australia later this month, it states. A well-known figure in the Australian bus industry, Hall joins the Bus Stop team having spent more than a decade in management roles for major South East Queensland government bus operators Hornibrook Bus Lines, Surfside Bus Lines and Clark’s Logan City Bus Service, it highlights. In particular, Hall brings specialty knowledge of the opportunities and challenges in integrating electric buses into a large diesel-powered fleet, having led the design and implementation of the first major Translink electric bus order in Queensland, Bus Stop Sales confirms. Additionally, Hall is a respected

member of the local business community and is currently president of the Gold Coast Chamber of Commerce and vice-chair of the Gold Coast Community Fund, it adds. “I am thrilled to have recently joined the Bus Stop team to head up our dedicated zero emissions transport division”, Hall said. “I have joined Bus Stop at an exciting time with a number of projects well underway including the introduction of the first full-electric high-floor bus into Australia later this month,” Hall stated. “We are planning a major launch of this vehicle at our Rocklea headquarters in February, so it is definitely a case of watch this space,” Hall added.

LONELY HEARTS

Sometimes you just have to put yourself out there to find your ideal match, and this is precisely what UK bus company Morebus is doing in its search for new bus drivers. With routes including the gorgeous New Forest and Dorset countryside, we’ve seen worse offers.

EXCITING CHAPTER In announcing the appointment, Bus Stop Sales dealer principal Pete White says Hall is a welcomed addition to his family owned business. “The transition to zero-emission buses is an exciting chapter in our industry’s long history and I am delighted to have Martin join Bus Stop’s charge in this space,” White explained. “Martin brings significant expertise to the role having managed some of the largest bus fleets in Australia, and I am confident that this along with his understanding of the transition to zero emissions will be well received by the industry,” White stated. As the company outlines, the journey to zero emissions public transport in Australia is well advanced with state governments recently setting targets for introducing zero emission buses into the fleets of contracted bus operators. The Queensland government has recently announced that every new urban bus in South East Queensland will be a zero emissions vehicle by 2025, while the New South Wales government is aiming to transition its privately contracted fleet of 8,000 buses by 2030. Left: Said Hall (pictured left): “I have joined Bus Stop at an exciting time with a number of projects well underway including the introduction of the first full-electric high-floor bus into Australia later this month.”

THE WOT!?!

DON’T MESS WITH COLIN!

Further north there have been mass taxi demonstrations and upset on social media over plans to introduce a Clean Air Zone (CAZ) in Greater Manchester. However, shepherd Jade Hutchinson decided to take her Derbyshire Gritstone Colin on the 471 Diamond Bus – which travels between Bolton and Bury – in protest against the planned charges for high emission vehicles. Joined on the bus by a Shetland pony called Ernie and its owner, Hutchinson says many livestock owners and farmers will see the cost of caring for their animals dramatically rise because of the CAZ. Colin was unavailable for comment.

LAND OF THE FREE

Heading further north still, there’s better news up in Scotland with the announcement that applications are open for under-22s to get free bus travel. Scheduled to begin on January 31, 2022, the government says the early stages of the scheme will place a particular emphasis on children and young people who need to make essential journeys – as key workers or for education, health or care reasons.

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BIC

Election time

What IR changes are we likely to canvass in the upcoming federal election?

t is still a few months away from the next federal election, but the ALP Opposition is clearly focused on industrial relations policy as a key election issue. The ALP claims that it is on the side of workers and that workers will benefit from more job security, better pay and a fairer industrial relations system under an Albanese government, if elected. The Coalition government is yet to respond to the ALPs announcements or provide any alternatives to the current industrial relations environment, despite the recognition in last years’ Attorney-General’s IR Roundtable discussions that the system needed repair and despite the failed introduction of the Fair Work Amendment (Supporting Australia’s Jobs and Economic Recovery) Act 2021. What are the issues and how might these issues affect doing business in public transport terms?

SAME JOB SAME PAY Anthony Albanese has already flagged his determination to make working conditions a major election battleground by introducing into Parliament a Fair Work Amendment (Same Job, Same Pay) Bill 2021 to ensure that workers, employed through labour hire companies, receive no less than workers employed directly. While the changes will not stop employers using temporary labour hire it would end the business model that provides an economic incentive for companies to undercut the wages of workers in permanent jobs who have been able to improve their position through collective bargaining.

JOB SECURITY An Albanese government, if elected, says that to improve job security it will: • Make job security an object of the Fair Work Act 2009, so that it becomes a core focus for Fair Work Commission (FWC) decisions; • Extend the powers of the FWC to include ‘employeelike’ forms of work, such as those seen in the gig economy, allowing to better protect people, in the new forms of work, from exploitation and dangerous work conditions; • Legislate a fair, objective test to determine when a worker can be classified as a casual, so people have a clearer pathway to permanent work; • Work with state and territory governments, unions, and industry to develop portable entitlement schemes for annual leave, sick leave, and long service leave for Australians in insecure work.

A FAIRER INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS SYSTEM An Albanese government would abolish the Registered Organisations Commission (ROC), presumably returning its powers to the Fair Work Act 2009. It would also 22

abolish the Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC), claiming both bodies have been used as political weapons against the union movement and workers. It is possible that an Albanese government will consider the restoration of the Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal (RSRT), which was disbanded by the Turnbull government in 2016. The RSRT sought to set employment terms and conditions in the road transport industry. Passenger transport was exempt except where passenger transport provided freight transport services. Other issues that are still on the table include: • The current process to determine annual minimum wage increases, which are determined by the FWC, rather than as a determinate of a living wage. The trade union movement has always advocated employers are making substantial profits, whilst employee wage increases are barely meeting the growth in the cost of living; • Paid domestic and family violence leave, for which 10 days’ paid leave is advocated by the trade union movement, is supported by the ALP for all employees, casual, part time and permanent. The Fair Work Commission is also reviewing the current national employment standard provisions, which provides for five days’ unpaid leave; • Portable long service leave has been on the table for some time, as has wage theft, industrial manslaughter, all of which have been partially legislated in many states and territories. • The issues of discrimination are still bubbling over with the Religious Freedom Bill 2021. This Bill makes it unlawful and discriminatory at work to discriminate against another person on the basis of their personal religious beliefs or activity; • The recommendations of the Sex Discrimination Commissioner, Kate Jenkins, were not adopted in their entirety by the most recent legislation, Sexual Discrimination and Fair Work (Respect at Work) Amendment Act 2021. It is conceivable that an Albanese government will seek to amend the Sexual Discrimination Act to firmly place the onus of proof, not upon the complainant, but upon the employer, to prove that the harassment or discrimination did not occur. Whatever the outcome of the next federal election, it is hard to see either the trade union movement or the major employer associations not advocating meaningful change to the current system. The onus upon the passenger transport industry and the Bus Industry Confederation (BIC), through its industrial arm, the Australian Public Transport Industrial Association (APTIA), is to make sure its members interests are fully considered in any change.

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come face to face with BIC national members at the 2022 Bus Industry Summit movingpeople.com.au/summit Accreditation Manager Advantech Australia Airbags Australia ATG Axalta Coating Systems Beneco BFI Fire BLK Auto Bridgestone/Bandag Brisbane City Council Bus & Coach International Bus Finance Australia Bus SA Bus Stop Sales BusInsure Buslines Group BusNSW BusTech Group BusWA Busways Group Camira Group Challenger Bus & Coach Coach Design Coachair Australia Coachworks ComfortDelGro Corporation Australia Connect Source Consat Telematics Consolidated Insurance Agencies Cooltek Asia Pacific Cummins Curratechnic Dal-Trans Denso Automotive Systems Australia Department of Transport Victoria Distinctive Systems (Australia) Downer EDI Engineering Power DTI Group Ebusco

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Electromotiv Express Coach Builders FIP Group FleetSafe/Mobileye Fry’s Spares Future Fleet International GIRO Global Bus Ventures Go Transit Media Group Heritage Finance HESS Hino Bus Australia I-Bus Sales Australia ICS Service Solutions Ideas Enterprise Independent Tyre Monitoring Solution INIT Interline Bus Service Into Training Australia iris Asia-Pacific Irizar Asia Pacific ISRI Seats IVECO Bus JCDecaux Australia & New Zealand Keolis Downer Kevrek (Australia) Kinetic Group KINNECT KlineFire LSM Technologies Luminator Technology Group MAHA Australia McConnell Seats Australia Mercedes-Benz Bus & Coach MKW Insurance Brokers Multispares Murrays Australia Navigate Health Australia netBI

Nexport NOVO Transport Systems Nuline Charter/Bayside Coaches O’Brien Glass Industries Omnibus Optibus Parts Supply Solutions/ Hanover Displays PBA Transit Planning Penske Commercial Vehicles Piper Alderman Pitcher Partners Port Stephens Coaches Precision Cleaning Australia Premier Transport Group PrimeWorks Public Transport Authority of WA Pulitano Group Punchbowl Bus Company Quantum Risk Management Queensland Bus Industry Council Red Bus Services Redcat Wheel Safety Rover Coaches Ryan Tax Services Australia S.M.S Diesel Spares Scania Australia Scriptus Consulting Siemens SMC Corporation (Australia) State Transit Authority of NSW Streamline Co StyleRide Seating Systems SURA Australian Bus and Coach

Tasmanian Bus Association The Orion Network Thermo King Bus Australia Thoreb Australia Tiger Spider Transdev Australasia Transfab Transit Systems Transit Training Solutions TransLink Transport Canberra Transportme Trapeze Group ANZ TWUSUPER UITP (International Association of Public Transport) United Safety & Survivability Corporation Valeo Group Valvoline Australia Ventura Systems Australia Victorian Diesel Services Viva Energy Australia Voith Turbo Volgren Volvo Bus Australia Wales Bus & Body Repairs Webfleet Solutions Wireless Alert Monitoring System Yutong Australia Zafety Lug Lock Australasia ZF Services Australia

National Members of the BIC as at 1 November 2021

17/1/22 3/11/21 11:39 9:06 am 11/11/21 9:25am 7/12/21 3:32 pm

IN FOCUS

NHVR ROADWORTHINESS SURVEY

BUS SEGMENT LEADS WAY IN ROADWORTHINESS SURVEY

Australia’s National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) has congratulated bus and truck owners and operators that have contributed to a significant improvement in the “mechanical health” of Australia’s heavy vehicle fleet, following results of a major survey, recently. WORDS FABIAN COTTER IMAGES COURTESY NHVR 24

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HVR CEO Sal Petroccitto says the results of the National Roadworthiness Survey 2021 (NRS:2021), which inspected 13,325 heavy vehicle units across 8,338 heavy vehicle combinations – including bus and coach – in all Australian states and territories between May and June, 2021, showed significant improvements. Overall there was a 16 per cent decrease in the incidence of ‘non-conformities’ amongst hauling units since 2016. The decrease in incidence of non-conformities was greatest amongst bus/coaches (down 22 per cent) while least amongst rigid trucks (down 15 per cent). The incidence of non-conformity was lower for semi-trailers (31 per cent), B-doubles (25 per cent), roadtrains (25

per cent), bus/coach (8 per cent) and plant vehicles (13 per cent). “In the last five years, we have seen the rate of non-conformities drop from 48 per cent of units inspected to 31 per cent,” Petroccitto said. “Importantly, the most serious cases of major non-conformities and ‘groundings’ has dropped from 12 per cent of inspected vehicles in 2016 to six per cent in 2021. “The continuing maturity of the industry in adopting better safety practices, like whole-of-business safety management systems and daily safety checks, have been a key contributor in driving the downward trend. “While it highlights progress made due to the hard work being undertaken to improve and monitor the Australian heavy vehicle fleet, I’m determined as an industry that we continue to push

on and ensure that Australia has one of the safest heavy vehicle fleets in the world. “In particular, programs that continue to drive down the age of the fleet, such as the NHVR’s Vehicle SETUP plan, will be vital going forward as NRS: 2021 again shows a strong link between vehicle age and mechanical safety.” Although the survey had a heavy truck and freight focus, no fewer than 1,036 vehicles in the bus category participated. Overall, in the NHVR Roadworthiness Survey, 8,338 vehicles and combinations were inspected, containing a total of 13,325 units, NHVR confirms. The majority of vehicles were intercepted in the same jurisdiction to which they were registered. The average age of heavy vehicles busnews.com.au January 2022 ABC

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IN FOCUS

NHVR ROADWORTHINESS SURVEY

on Australian roads is 10.2 years, with a median mileage of almost 300,000km, it explains. Compared to the 2016 findings, metro and regional bus/coaches, metro semi-trailers and regional plant/ SPV units were half as likely to record a non-conformity.

KEY FINDINGS From the NRS:2021 survey the key findings included: 26

• The rate of all non-conformities has dropped from the 48 per cent in 2016 to 31 per cent in 2021; • The rate of major non-conformities and grounding has halved to six per cent of vehicle inspected; • Brakes remained the highest non-conforming components – reducing from 25 per cent in 2016 to 14 per cent in 2021; • Rigid trucks were the highest non-conforming vehicle type at 38

per cent, which has again reduced from 52 per cent in 2016; • T he average age of the inspected fleet was 10.2 years, compared to 9.2 years in 2016. On that particular note, vehicle age had been found in NRBS:2016 to be strongly associated with the incidence of non-conformities. A profile of age of vehicle units was assessed to provide context to the roadworthiness results.

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Programs that continue to drive down the age of the fleet, such as the NHVR’s Vehicle SETUP plan, will be vital going forward. of each of these unit types were 12 years and older.

NON-CONFORMITY DEFINED

The age of each unit was calculated based on the date of manufacture, referenced to the survey year for the unit. Overall 38 per cent of total units were assessed to be 12 years and older, and 50 per cent of total units were assessed to be nine years and older. B-doubles were the newest, with the average age below 5.5 years. Rigid trucks, buses/coaches, plant/SPV and trailers were again the oldest, with an average exceeding nine years. Four in 10

As the NHVR explains in the survey, categories of non-conformity included: brakes, couplings, steering and suspensions, wheels, tyres and hubs, structure and body, seats and seatbelts, lights and reflectors, mirrors, windscreens and windows, engine, driveline and exhaust. Liquid petroleum gas (LPG) and natural gas (NG) vehicles, as well as bus/motorhomes were also included within vehicle systems. Petroccitto says the results would help inform the regulator’s modern approach to regulation that uses intelligence to address the greatest safety risks and keeps compliant operators moving. “I’d also like to thank the NHVR staff and staff from transport agencies across Australia for their assistance in conducting the survey, particularly with constantly changing operating condition due to local Covid restrictions,” he said. “Despite the challenges, officers across all states and territories inspected 17 per cent more heavy vehicles in 2021, and through the use of technology and consistent inspection systems we were able to reduce the busnews.com.au January 2022 ABC

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IN FOCUS

NHVR ROADWORTHINESS SURVEY

Officers across all states and territories inspected 17 per cent more heavy vehicles in 2021.

Pictured tables: “The continuing maturity of the industry in adopting better safety practices, like whole-of-business safety management systems and daily safety checks, have been a key contributor in driving the downward trend,” said NHVR CEO Sal Petroccitto.

average inspection time from the from 45 minutes in 2016 to 31 minutes in 2021.”

ABOUT THE SURVEY The National Roadworthiness Survey was successfully conducted from 5 May to 29 July, 2021, with 8,338 vehicle combinations inspected (7,130 in National Roadworthiness

Baseline Survey 2016 [NRBS]), encompassing a total of 13,325 overall units (hauling and trailers), without incident, the NHVR confirms. The NHVR and jurisdictional partners, in partnership with Kantar, developed improved systems and roadside data-capture applications including the integration of

registration data, co-ordinated inspection methodologies using a Team’s approach. Industry consultation was also undertaken in the planning phases, which aided reduced average inspection times to 31 minutes from 45 minutes (NRBS) equating to 2,000 hours productivity gain, it explains. ‘Conformity’ rates have increased across all vehicle types since NRBS, particularly for buses and coaches with a national average of 69 per cent. States and territories’ conformity percentages vary from 51 per cent (ACT) to 83 per cent (WA), respectively. The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) administers a set of laws for heavy vehicles (over 4.5 tonnes gross vehicle mass) under the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL).

ABOUT NRBS The NRBS is the broadest, most well-resourced and comprehensive assessment of the condition of the Australian heavy vehicle fleet ever undertaken. The NRBS was conducted by heavy vehicle ‘authorised officers’ completing inspections of relevant vehicles around Australia, entering data into tablets using a Computer Assisted Personal Interview (CAPI) program. The results enable NHVR to: identify high-risk vehicle components, vehicle systems, vehicle types, operators and industry sectors; plus develop a framework for selection of vehicles to inspect the right vehicles, for the right reasons. 28

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17/1/22 11:41 am

IN FOCUS

EURO E-CHARGING NETWORK

GROUPS UNITE FOR EURO E-COACH CHARGING WORDS FABIAN COTTER IMAGES COURTESY DAIMLER, VOLVO + TRATON

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A triumvirate comprising Daimler Truck, the Traton Group and Volvo Group has now signed a binding agreement to create a joint venture to install and operate a high-performance public charging network for battery-electric, heavy-duty long-distance coaches and long-haul trucks across Europe.

he collective says it is committed to initiating and accelerating the necessary buildup of charging infrastructure for the increasing number of customers of electric vehicles in Europe and contribute to climate-neutral transportation in Europe by 2050. In November, Daimler announced partnerships with fuel companies BP and Total

to investigate building nearly 200 hydrogen refulling stations across Europe. “[The] signing announcement is great news for the transport industry and society, as it underlines all of the partners’ strong commitment to making CO2-neutral trucks a reality,” said Daimler Truck CEO Martin Daum. “It is remarkable that three fierce competitors in the area of trucks and vehicle technology are

taking action together to start establishing the needed charging infrastructure. “Together with Volvo Group and the Traton Group, we want to send a clear signal to all relevant stakeholders to follow our lead and act now,” Daum stated. The planned JV – to be equally owned by the three parties – is scheduled to start operations in 2022 following completion of all regulatory approval processes.

Below: The three partners – Daimler Truck, Volvo Group and Traton Group (MAN/ Scania/VW) – see this long-haul and longdistance e-charging as a breakthrough for the transport industry.

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IN FOCUS

EURO E-CHARGING NETWORK

BIG INVESTMENT The parties are together committing to invest €500 million (AU$789 million), which is assumed to be by far the largest charging infrastructure investment in the European heavy-duty truck industry to date. The plan is to install and operate at least 1,700 high-performance green energy charging points on – and 32

close to – highways, as well as at logistic and destination points within five years of the establishment of the JV, the group explains. “We are going from words to action, and this planned joint venture with Daimler Truck and the Traton Group is an important step in shaping a world we want to live in,” said Volvo Group president and CEO Martin Lundstedt.

“Innovative partnerships like these will enable the much-needed change that will benefit our customers – and the entire industry. This is both a historical milestone in the transformation towards fossil-free transport and a breakthrough that shows Volvo Group’s commitment to reaching net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040 and a net-zero emissions rolling fleet by 2050 at the latest,” Lundstedt explained. The number of charging points is, with time, intended to be increased significantly by seeking additional partners, as well as public funding, the group outlines. The future JV is planned to operate under its own corporate identity and is to be based in Amsterdam, Netherlands, the trio confirms. The future JV will act as catalyst and enabler for realising the European Union’s Green Deal for carbon-neutral freight transportation by 2050 — both by providing the necessary infrastructure and targeting green

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This joint action addresses the urgent need for a highperformance charging network to support truck operators with their transition to CO2-neutral transport solutions.

energy at the charging points. The companies say this joint action addresses the urgent need for a high-performance charging network to support truck operators with their transition to CO2-neutral transport solutions, especially in heavy-duty long-distance trucking.

COST EFFECTIVE High-performance charging infrastructure enabling long-haul

trucking and long-distance coach travel is a cost-efficient way towards significant, fast-to-realise emission reductions, they explain. This initiative is a significant start and an accelerator to make CO2-neutral heavy trucks and coaches a success, the group adds. “We have the strong opinion that we as the Traton Group – together with our brands Scania and MAN, as well as the

commercial vehicle industry as a whole – will be part of the solution when it comes to a CO2-neutral world,” said Traton Group CEO Christian Levin. “A collaboration with strong competitors like Daimler Truck and Volvo Group might seem unusual. However, the topic is of crucial importance and this unique cooperation will make us faster and more successful in delivering the transformational action needed to tackle climate change. “Our joint venture will be a strong push for the rapid breakthrough of battery-electric trucks and coaches, the most efficient and sustainable transport solutions,” Levin stated.

BIGGER PICTURE The three partners see this as a breakthrough for the transport industry to cut carbon emissions — and for other industries to benefit in several ways. As a clear signal towards all stakeholders, the charging network of the three parties will be open and accessible to all commercial vehicles in Europe, regardless of brand. The creation of the JV is subject to regulatory approvals.

Opposite, Top: (L-R): The three CEOs – Martin Daum, Christian Levin and Martin Lundstedt. Opposite, Below: MAN’s hybrid city bus, Lion’s City (image courtesy MAN Truck & Bus). Above: Scania NXT. Left: Luxury e-coach ranges from the OEMs will need this infrastructure as the new tech rolls out.

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FEATURE

ROYANS

ROYANS TO THE RESCUE A demand for safety, quality and expediency in terms of bus and truck heavy transport collision repair has driven the rapid expansion of Royans recently, the company reports.

OYANS HAS undergone significant expansion despite the effects of the pandemic, and now has a national footprint across both Australia and New Zealand, with a network of 26 branches, it confirms. “The acquisition of Coachworks in the Brisbane suburb of Acacia Ridge is really important for us, as Scott and the team at Coachworks provide us with the experience and expertise we are looking for, to further expand our services to the bus and coach industry,” said Royans Group CEO David Church. “Royans have always had a presence in accident repairs for the bus & coach segment of the transport industry, and we wish to expand our involvement and the specialist industry knowledge Coachworks provide will allow that. That knowledge will filter into our other branches, just as our accident repair knowledge, systems and processes will benefit Coachworks as well,” Church stated. “Good support services are essential and the branch network provided by Royans increase

our customer service offering with everything from major accident repairs through to minor warranty work.”

THE SPLIT Of these 26 Royans outlets or branches now available to the Australian bus and truck community, there are five in New Zealand at the moment, on both Islands, Church confirms. “We have two in Auckland, two in Christchurch and one shop in Palmerston North,” he said. “We now have over 520 staff throughout Australia and New Zealand, with the company’s first branch opening in Sydney in 1944. “Our core business has always been commercial vehicle accident repairs, and the many services that support that, and we have now expanded on those to include sign writing, graphic design, sandblasting and powder coating, and the recent acquisition of Transmech in Adelaide provides us with a car carrying trailer manufacturing and trailer servicing business – so it’s been quite a big year,” Church stated.

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TRYING TIMES Church says the challenges of Covid have been considerable and he is really pleased with the level of expansion achieved and the experience and expertise offered by the businesses and the staff that have joined Royans. “The expanded network and services allow us to increase our customer service offering and offer our customers greater choice in selecting the branch that is best suited for their needs, and that could be based on location, workload or specialist services required,” he said. “The ability to offer customers those choices with such a large network, will help reduce downtime – the cost of which is critical, and being able to offer the same quality and service, along with advice on branch workload, will really help customers in deciding what works best for them. “The ability to be able to move vehicles and move staff can provide the fastest turnaround times in the industry. At the same time, we want to make sure that we put systems and procedures in place to ensure the same quality and safety outcomes. “We use the same paint product throughout our business; we use PPG paint. We get colour consistency right throughout the group, so it doesn’t matter where it gets done, you’ll get the same colour.”

EMBRACING CHANGE “We are in the middle of a rebranding project involving – a new logo, new website, new socials along with new signage and paintwork across the network, and the rebranding across Australia and New Zealand will be exactly the same. We want the name Royans to be synonymous with truck and bus repairs,” Church explained.

GOING FORWARD With so many new staff under the one umbrella title, ABC magazine asked what sort of training and forward planning and progression there is for staff.

“We are in the process of setting up training programs at the moment and investigating options to roll out apprenticeship training schemes throughout the network and we have recently appointed a safety & people manager who will head up the newly formed Safety & Compliance team to support our people leaders in effectively managing safety and HR at Royans. “We are investing in new HR & WH&S systems and have already rolled out new payroll and email systems throughout the group. “We want to be in a position where we can move staff around if they want a sea change or a tree change, and to provide staff with opportunities to develop their experience and career at Royans throughout Australia and New Zealand. “We continue to buy specialist equipment – everything from new spray booths, to chassis repair systems, spot welders and the full range of workshop equipment.”

COMPREHENSIVE Royans prides itself on its breadth of skill and expertise from working on a range of commercial vehicles over the years and at present. As Church explained: “Our core business is transport accident

That’s our focus: to continue to improve and set the benchmark for transport accident repairs. and smash repairs, and that encompasses everything from trucks, trailers, buses – big and small – so pretty much everything transport-related. “We focus our area on transport repairs – that’s our specialty area. It’s about people’s livelihoods, so the need is to provide fast turnaround times, quality repairs, safety, compliance and cost effectiveness. “With Chain of Responsibility, people getting their vehicles

repaired want to know they are dealing with a company that has a reputation of quality work and has all of the equipment, the insurances and expertise in place. “We offer that expertise – with experienced staff and the right equipment we know what to look for and we know what needs to be checked. “That’s our focus: to continue to improve that and set the benchmark for transport accident repairs.”

Opposite: With Coachworks now part of Royans, bus repair expertise will be utilised across the business. Above: Royans’ aim is to get a vehicle repaired and back on the road as quickly as possible.

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COVERSTORY

TRANZIT NZ E-CHARGING

E-MOTIONAL BEHAVIOUR

When the expression ‘going all in’ was coined by some person who probably had absolutely nothing to do with buses, they may as well have been referring to NZ private operator Tranzit Group. Embracing e-mobility and re-engineering things while always thinking outside the box is all just part of the 98-year-old Tranzit DNA. WORDS FABIAN COTTER IMAGES COURTESY TRANZIT GROUP

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t may well be – and one would hope not – ‘bad jazz’ to some New Zealanders these days, but when Dave Dobbyn and his trusty Herbs sang, “Hey, I got a lot of faith in you. I’ll stick with you kid, that’s the bottom line,” they arguably weren’t just talking about personal or pet relationships, but business ones, too. And while that adage goes some way to encapsulating the fundamental core of any solid working relationship or ‘contract’ between customers and a business, suppliers and receivers, buyers and sellers, it holds greater truth when it’s underwritten by the ubiquitous common denominator of … time. Lots of it. Having started in 1924, and delivering quality service, bus operation and technical

innovation to Kiwis now for more than four generations, it would be hard to argue a company such as Tranzit Group doesn’t know what it’s doing nor isn’t doing things right, given the longevity of its success. And, indeed, all that dedication and expertise arguably comes into play even more so as it, like many bus and coach operators throughout Australasia now – particularly private and family owned ones – enters the crossroads of e-mobility transition (a transition either ‘needed’ or ‘forced upon them’, different sides may argue). Electric bus product, various charging infrastructure options and what really ‘works’ for a particular operation, plus the whirlpool of information needed to swim in just to get a true accord of real-life costs

involved, can be pretty daunting to the uninitiated. Add in reskilling of a workforce and new safety and maintenance issues and procedures to address – and at times the whole shebang looks far removed from some illusory ‘slice of heaven’ we once sang about – Footrot dog howling. Yet, it is in this dynamic that the best operators throughout the history of the humble bus, both in this region and further afield globally, have found the foresight, drive, determination and sheer ‘chutzpah’ to just make all the magic happen for customers for many, many years.

PERSERVEERING PIONEERS The New Zealand family bus and transport entity Tranzit Group now has the largest

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COVERSTORY

Opposite, Top: Tranzit has gone from having the first electric bus in New Zealand in 2018 to now having 20 electric buses on the road. Opposite, Middle (LR): Keven Snelgrove, Tranzit Group’s director of transport and operations and Daryn Murphy, Tranzit Group’s national fleet manager, stand on the base of the company’s 1MW substation at its Grenada Depot, which expanded its EV charger infrastructure network across the North Island. In time, Tranzit’s Grenada depot will be able to charge up to 40 electric buses, the company says. 38

TRANZIT NZ E-CHARGING

privately owned electric-bus charger network in NZ – to power its growing fleet of e-buses – the company reports. Having long held a reputation of being Kiwi national bus industry pioneers, Tranzit’s director of operations and transport, Keven Snelgrove, says the recent installation of a 1,080kW new charger at its Grenada Depot, north of Wellington city, brings the company’s total charging network to 2,820kW – enough to power 3,400 homes, or approximately the town of Foxton (population 3,330 as of June, 2021). “Since we began exploring electric bus technology in 2014, and then made a commitment to electrifying public transport – to help New Zealand meet its decarbonisation goals and provide a really smooth and quiet ride for our passengers – we’ve worked hard to ensure we have the necessary infrastructure to charge our growing fleet of electric buses,” said Snelgrove. “From January, 2022, we will have capacity up to 2,820kW, which means we can charge the 20 electric buses we currently have running in Auckland, Palmerston North and Wellington, as well as futureproof our business for the next tranche of double-deck electric buses we are incrementally adding into Wellington, to run as part of the Metlink network.”

BROAD NETWORK SPREAD To enable electrification in Wellington, Tranzit has built a network of chargers around the wider region, it states. This includes the country’s

We’ve worked hard to ensure we have the necessary infrastructure to charge our growing fleet of electric buses. two fastest chargers – a 450kW charger located in Reef Street in Island Bay and the soon-to-be completed 450kW charger at the Wellington Interchange in Thorndon, it confirms. At these locations, Tranzit’s electric double-deck buses can be charged from 20 per cent to fully charged in 12 minutes, it says. In addition, a total of 1,080kW is currently being installed at Tranzit’s Grenada Depot, north of Wellington. Tranzit also has a 1-MegaWatt substation installed at its south-east located Rongotai depot, with a 300kW upgrade planned for early 2022. Also, there is a 120kW charger operational at its Palmerston North depot and a portable 25kW charger at its new Taupo depot, Tranzit states. In Auckland, a unique charging system is used, offering greater

e-bus scope and flexibility. “In Auckland we can charge our single-deck electric bus, which was the first one we introduced into New Zealand thanks to EECA’s Low Emission Vehicles Contestable Fund and our partnership with AUT, on a special charger. This can charge buses with two different plug types removing the need for two chargers as most chargers can only accommodate one plug type,” Snelgrove explained.

CHARGING CHOICE In order for Tranzit to accommodate its growing fleet of electric buses, it has worked closely with regional councils and regional electricity providers to secure power for its charging network. Concurrently, the company has invested in upskilling many of its workshop team, who have gone from working on diesel

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buses to electric buses, Tranzit says. To date, four of Tranzit’s diesel mechanics have completed their MITO New Zealand Certificate in Electric Vehicle Automotive Engineering (Level 5) and there are plans to upskill more of the team in 2022, the company confirms. Tranzit utilises charging infrastructure by Heliox, based in the Netherlands, which offers a slow or fast charger. Slow chargers take between 3–4 hours to charge a double-deck electric bus to capacity. These can be done overnight with the advantage being it uses a cheaper night cost and lower impact to the power network, the company says. Conversely, Tranzit’s fast chargers take between eight- to 12 minutes to charge a double-deck electric bus to capacity. Once charged, Tranzit’s double-deck electric buses can run between 4–6 hours, or clock up to 130km per charge, costing as little as NZD$35 (AU$33) per charge (excluding charger cost), Tranzit claims.

FORWARD THINKING Snelgrove says the family company is proud of its pioneering history and has no intention of stopping. “My brother Paul and I are third generation guardians of our family business and decided that, in order for the fourth and fifth generation to take

the lead, we needed to look at sustainable technology and renewable energy options,” he said. “But looking back, we’ve always been pioneers,” he added. “In 1970, we started to re-power our older flat-V8 petrol fleet with more efficient diesels then, in 1980, Tranzit continued this program using the more modern and fuel-efficient Isuzu 6BD1 diesel engine. “In 1990, we then started to re-power our older pre-Euro standard engines with Euro 3 and 4 engines before placing an order for 20 Euro 4 Touring Coaches in 2010 – the ‘top of the line’ at the time – which were used for Rugby World Cup 2011 and

brought a lot of pride to our company and our team. “After beginning to explore electric-bus technology in 2014, things have continued to ramp up and we’ve gone from introducing the first electric bus into New Zealand in 2015 to, this year, having 20 electric buses on the road. “Also, in a Southern Hemisphere first, we successfully converted a diesel double-deck bus to 100 per cent electric,” he explained.

LOCAL MANUFACTURING Tranzit also sets itself apart, it states, by helping to build New Zealand’s electric bus capability, working with Tauranga’s busnews.com.au January 2022 ABC

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COVERSTORY

TRANZIT NZ E-CHARGING

Kiwi Bus Builders to assemble the buses using NZ-made parts, as well as global parts imported from China and Europe. “The quality of the product is outstanding and we are committed to supporting the upskilling and retention of New Zealand’s manufacturing workforce by using local builders.” Snelgrove confirmed.

In order for the fourth and fifth generation to take the lead, we needed to look at sustainable technology and renewable energy options.

REINVENTING THE WHEEL Being pioneers of this type of e-bus technology in New Zealand has come with major learnings, Tranzit confides. Originally, the pantograph – the apparatus mounted on an e-bus to Above: Tranzit’s Andrew Gray, Gareth Price and Daryn Murphy with the Repower Bus during trials held around Masterton. In a Southern Hemisphere first, the trio successfully converted this urban diesel double-deck bus to 100 per cent electric and it is now transporting passengers in Wellington city. Opposite: Tranzit’s doubledeck electric buses can cover 130km on a single charge. 40

collect power via contact with a charger – was located on the roof of Tranzit’s double-deck e-buses. Tranzit’s team of skilled engineers and mechanics, in consultation with experts in technology, pioneered a change so the e-bus fleet now operates with a rear-mounted pantograph, allowing fast charging at the Reef St terminus while buses are in operation, meaning there is no impact to the schedule, it explains. The change was bought about by Wellington city’s uniquely hilly topography and tight street infrastructure, which often has over-hanging trees and low power lines overhead. Moving the pantograph to the rear meant that Tranzit’s flexibility to operate these high vehicles would not be limited, with the result testimony to Tranzit’s ingenuity and determination to overcome whatever obstacles that come its way, it must be said. As an aside, and to blend into the natural surrounding at Reef St, a special ‘wrap’ featuring native plants and trees was put around

the charging station, making it more visually appealing from the street, the operator explains.

THE REPOWER PROJECT In a Southern Hemisphere first, Tranzit Group’s workshop team of Gareth Price, Daryn Murphy and Andrew Gray successfully converted a diesel double-deck bus to 100 per cent electric, the company states. In true Kiwi style, the trio has been humble about their achievements, but acknowledge the conversion was extremely complex – involving months of planning and overcoming a multitude of electrical challenges. “One of our biggest challenges was battery placement,” reflected Murphy. “After taking out the diesel engine, we had to work out how the batteries were going to fit in and did a lot of work getting their weights and the axle weights right. “On top of that, it was a massive challenge getting the new high-voltage electric driveline to ‘talk’ to the bus body in a way that

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would let the air conditioning, lights and reverse buzzers work and ensure that the functions that previously received information from the diesel engine could continue to work as normal. “It was like trying to have an intelligent conversation between a Spanish, German and French speaker when you don’t understand any of the languages,” he explained. Dubbed internally as the Repower Project, this bus is an extension of Tranzit’s commitment to building a reliable electric bus fleet locally. It also has enormous potential, Tranzit says. “I’m really proud our team had great foresight to come up with this solution to a global issue, which is how can we help New Zealand achieve its goal of reducing carbon emissions while simultaneously removing diesel buses off our roads,” said Murphy. “One night we drew concepts on the back of a napkin, and they’ve come to life … with this bus now transporting passengers in Wellington.”

ENGINEERING RECOGNITION The trio’s achievement saw them named as a finalist in the Wairarapa Business Awards Innovation Category and now, with proof of concept, the team is planning a busnews.com.au January 2022 ABC

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COVERSTORY

Above: One of Tranzit’s double-deck electric buses is charged by the Reef St fast charger. Note: Tranzit’s engineers moved the pantograph to the rear of the bus, after the original design had it on top. Below: Tranzit Coachlines Manawatu electric bus driver Karl Gates with the charger at the company’s Palmerston North depot.

TRANZIT NZ E-CHARGING

second conversion this summer and is talking with regional and central government to gather support for more conversions. “We’re developing this technology and creating a blueprint as we go and it’s really cool,” Murphy explained. “We’re also supporting New Zealand manufacturing with our buses built in Tauranga and some parts sourced locally, as well as from leading global suppliers. “To my knowledge, there is no other company doing this, so to be leading the way and leading from our workshop in Masterton, is something pretty special,” he concluded.

Since we introduced this bus into the network here in February, 2021, I’ve really loved driving it and transporting people around Palmy. This project was made possible thanks to funding by Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority’s Low Emission Vehicles Contestable Fund and to Tranzit itself, it should be noted.

“It’s just so lovely to drive – quiet and smooth – and our passengers often comment to me on how pleasurable it is to ride in. They also like the little extras the bus has such as being able to charge their phones as they travel.”

REGIONAL NZ E-BUS When Tranzit’s Palmerston North electric bus clocked up almost 30,000km at the end of November, 2021 – saving 10,200 litres of diesel and 27.74 tonnes of CO2, Tranzit Group says – no-one was happier than Karl Gates. As one of six dedicated electric bus drivers that deliver services for Horizons Regional Council in Palmerston North, Gates says the EV bus has been a super addition to Palmerston North’s public transport network. “Since we introduced this bus into the network here in February, 2021, I’ve really loved driving it and transporting people around Palmy,” he said.

ABOUT TRANZIT Tranzit Group is an award-winning, family owned transport and tourism company operating throughout Aotearoa, New Zealand. With its head office still in Wairarapa, in the south-east of the North island, Tranzit will celebrate its centenary in 2024. Employing around 2,000 team members and operating 2,000 vehicles nationwide, Tranzit is a significant contributor to the economy, it states. In many parts of New Zealand, Tranzit delivers Ministry of Education school bus contracted services, as well as contracted school runs for individual schools, it confirms.

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OPERATOR

WALTERS PASSENGER SERVICE

70 YEARS OF SMALL TOWN SPIRIT The Walters family serviced the northeast Victoria town of Euroa for 65 years before downsizing and moving their base an hour north to Kyabram in 2017. Here, we chat with the team about how it all started and how business has been these past few years.

WORDS ANJALI BEHL IMAGES KYABRAM FREE PRESS

or charter and tour specialist Walters Passenger Service, business was severely affected in March, 2020, when Covid-19 hit. Almost two years on and it has started to pick up again – but slowly. “It was heartbreaking to see our coaches and selfdrives parked up for months,” said Walters Passenger Service operations manager Carmel Moore. “We are grateful for rail replacement and our school contracts, which gave us the opportunity to keep our staff employed. Covid procedures

and cleaning practices have changed and shaped our business over the past few years. The safety of our staff is the most important thing in this time of uncertainty.” The business currently operates school bus runs around Kyabram and North Central Victoria, as well as interstate tours (when the latter becomes a reality again). It also offers school camps, senior tours and probus club and garden club tours around Victoria and interstate, and does a lot of theatre trips to Melbourne with senior groups. Covering all of these is a team

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OPERATOR

WALTERS PASSENGER SERVICE

SERVICE HISTORY Wayne is the third generation of the Walters family to carry the bus company torch. His granddad, Vic Walters, set up Walters Passenger Service in 1952 after buying three school runs and buses from Gordon Underwood in Euroa. “Vic had a love for vehicles – he got his brother-in-law, who was a body builder in Bendigo, to build him an elite coach in 1954 – fitted with a Cadillac motor,” said Wayne. After Vic retired, his son, Neville, took on the operations full-time. By 1975, he had replaced the old fleet with Bedfords and, in 1986, he purchased his first Austral Coach to begin some charter work. His wife, Lorraine, helped with the charter bookings and

cooking during their trips. Walters Service soon became one of the most well-respected bus and coach business around Euroa. Despite growing up in a bus family, Wayne didn’t think he’d end up there. At 16, he moved to Melbourne to do an apprenticeship as a boilermaker but, seven-and-a-half years later, he met Sue and ended up returning home to Euroa. He started working for his dad and, in 1995, bought two school runs from him, before buying Neville’s last vehicle 18 months later. “My parents used to do a lot of charter work, including senior tours, theatre runs to Melbourne and back, a pokies run on Sundays and school camps during the week.

“Mum helped us out a lot managing the charter side of the business until Sue quit her job to help out in the family business. Mum’s business skills and business brain was really helpful for me and Sue starting out – how to organise charter work and how to treat people, be wonderful, organise charter work and be one step ahead. “We used to have a bus pit and depot at our home and, one day, when John and Val Russell of Violet Town came in for a regular maintenance check, he mentioned that he was hanging up the boots that year. He offered me the opportunity to buy his school runs and we did a handshake deal. That Christmas I bought his school buses in a

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deal that would include his number one driver – his daughter, Julie Keel. In the past 19 years Julie has become a very close friend and colleague of mine. Buying John’s school runs was the beginning of our expansion as a business.” Meanwhile, Neville continued to remain actively involved in the business, filling in on school runs or moving buses between depots. Starting driving buses in 1952, Neville held his bus licence up until the end of 2019. The family believes it could possibly be one of the longest-held bus licences in Victoria. In 2006, Wayne and Sue bought two school runs in Kyabram – starting their association with Kyabram that would eventually become the final leg of their bus and coach business legacy. “Still, it’s a real good bet, the best is yet to come!”

We have very good working relationship with MAN and Coach Design. Their backup is exceptional. They look after us even when the coaches are a few years old. of 25 employees, with the core group being current owners and managers Sue and Wayne Walters, Moore, plus a mechanic and a maintenance person.

THE FLEET As the business expanded and Walters Passenger Service bought other, smaller, companies it inherited a variety of buses and coaches. At one stage it had a mixed bag including Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, Scania and MAN. In 2008, Walters started looking around for a new coach model that could become a standard for the business. Wayne ended up

Top: Walters Passenger Service now does 13 school runs and charter services. Left: The old Bedford bus with Wayne, Neville, Lorraine and Wayne’s sister Kerri-Anne Walters. Opposite, Bottom: Neville Walters (left) and Wayne Walters. The smiles say it all.

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OPERATOR

WALTERS PASSENGER SERVICE

going for a Coach Design body with a MAN chassis. “We were a little worried about going into new technology, but MAN and Coach Design have proved to be a very good combination for us,” said Wayne. “That has become our standard now and we have stuck to that combination for our other coaches. We have very good working relationship with both MAN and Coach Design. Their backup is exceptional. They look after us even when the coaches are a few years old. We have very little problems with our Coach Design-MAN combinations and found them very reliable and good to work with. “Our smaller bus fleet features Mitsubishi Rosas, Toyota Coasters and Toyota HiAces. We’ve not had any problems with these models either and overall we’re very happy with our fleet. Just before leaving Euroa we had around 39 vehicles

We made the move to Kyabram to finally condense ourselves in one position and downsize. in our fleet. After downsizing, we have 13 school runs in Kyabram, four coaches and six smaller vehicles,” he said.

OPERATIONS In 2017, Wayne and Sue made the hard decision to sell the Euroa part of their business after operating as Walters Buses in Euroa for 65 years. “We made the move to Kyabram to finally condense ourselves in one position and downsize,” said Sue. “Saying that, we still have 13 school runs and the charter side of the business.” Wayne added: “As our children 48

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were in university by then and they were probably not going to come into the bus industry, that was another reason we didn’t want to keep punching on in Euroa, and make our life a little easier in the last 10 years. It is still busy here in Kyabram with our school runs, coaches and charter business at present.” Employing the right people to go on charter was a big thing for Wayne. Moore and Wayne were the two top drivers in the business. Moore, who calls herself a ‘jack of all trades’, has been with Walters for 17 years. “Carmel learnt driving from a minibus up to a coach. She has

been great to work with and brought a lot of work home for us,” explained Wayne. Strong relationships with the clients helped them grow. At one point, Walters had a big group for the senior tours and being from a small community meant the group would explore a new place every time – from Fraser Island to the Kimberley, Barossa, Gold Coast and all of South Australia. They nurtured a great relationship with this group and, as Wayne put it: “It was like going away with a big family and fun time for them and us, too.” The team has made trips to

places like Central Australia, Canberra, Tasmania, the Tropical North, the Great Ocean Road, all state capitals and overseas to New Zealand and Norfolk Island. “We’ve done some pretty special jobs over the years that always bring back fond memories,” he added. “In 2000, we took six buses to the Olympic Games. We had a few buses at the Commonwealth Games, where Carmel, Henry and I moved a lot of the athletes out of the village. We’ve been very lucky to get our nose in the door and enjoy different types of jobs. It has been a good journey.”

Above: The gang in full. Opposite, Bottom: (L-R) Les, Carmel, Jotham, Sue, Wayne, and Neville.

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FEATURE

NSW TOLL COSTS

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THE TOLL OF TOLLS WORDS FABIAN COTTER

Projections for increased NSW toll road fees over the next 25 years has put immediate and forecasted bus and truck operator costs in the spotlight, recently – but will future transport tech, like ‘air taxis’, radically alter such transport calculations?

ncreases on no fewer than 10 NSW toll roads brought in the new year and the state branch of the Transport Workers Union (TWU) was quick to call on recently appointed NSW Roads Minister Natalie Ward to address, “…out-of-control toll road costs,” as her, “…first order of business,” recently. It should be noted these ‘cost concerns’ overlap somewhat with those outlined late-2021 from BusNSW, which itself appeared at the public hearing following an earlier submission to the NSW Inquiry into Road Tolling Regimes. Here the state bus association highlighted: that buses and coaches in NSW are subject to the same charges as trucks; the distinction between the contracted and non-contracted long-distance, tourist and charter (LDTC) sectors of the industry; and that while the cost of tolls for metropolitan bus operators was generally factored into contracts and absorbed by the NSW government, long-distance, tourist and charter buses were not protected and passed on the toll fares to their customers. The union call came as TWU projections show that Sydney’s toll roads are set to more than double (and in some cases triple) over the next 25 years. The increases are particularly significant for truck drivers and other heavy vehicles, who pay triple the tolls of other busnews.com.au January 2022 ABC

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FEATURE

NSW TOLL COSTS

drivers on most roads, the union highlights.

CRIPPLING COSTS TWU NSW state secretary Richard Olsen says a new year and a new Roads Minister presents the perfect opportunity to provide meaningful toll relief to owner-drivers and all road users. “Under this government, increases on our toll roads have become just as much a part of Sydney’s New Year’s ritual as the fireworks on the Harbour Bridge,” Olsen said. “There’s nothing more urgent for the new Roads Minister than providing relief to owner-drivers and transport operators who are being crippled by these massive toll road costs. “The numbers don’t lie – if the government doesn’t do something urgently, the cost of using these toll roads will triple within the next 25 years. How are truck drivers and other small businesses using these roads supposed to afford those kinds of increases? “This week, the cost for a truck to use the NorthConnex tunnel has gone up to $25.33, and is on track to be $35 one-way by 2030 and almost $74 one-way in 25 years’ time. That is nothing short of complete madness.” Tolls on the NorthConnex, M2, M4, M5 East, M5 South West, M7, M8, Lane Cove Tunnel, Eastern Distributor and Cross City Tunnel have all increased, recently. Australian-owned Transurban – which the union highlights admitted at a parliamentary inquiry to collecting more than $2 billion in toll revenue from Sydney drivers – partially or entirely owns all of the abovementioned roads.

REBATES AND RELIEF As reported via the news site news.com.au, Minister Ward responded saying the NSW government was committed to financially supporting those drivers who choose to use toll roads more often. “The NSW government is focused on reducing cost of living pressures on NSW households, 52

Increases on our toll roads have become just as much a part of Sydney’s New Year’s ritual as the fireworks on the Harbour Bridge. with more than 70 rebates and savings available, including the Toll Relief program and Small Business Fees and Charges Rebate scheme,” Minister Ward said. “Last financial year, almost $70 million was paid to more than 200,000 eligible drivers under the Toll Relief scheme, which allows regular toll users to claim free rego or half-priced rego. “That’s in addition to other initiatives including the M5

Above: BusNSW explained at a pubic hearing that LDTC buses were not protected against increasingly high tolls.

South-West Cashback scheme and the Small Business Fees and Charges Rebate. This was recently increased from $1,500 to $2,000 to provide even more relief for regular toll users. “There are a range of factors that have not been considered by the TWU in comparing today’s prices to speculation across a 30-year period,” she explained – which might be more accurate than it seems but from multiple differing

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angles. The site further reported that NSW Labor has previously vowed to make toll roads a hot button election issue, with leader Chris Minns this year calling for an end to new tolls on existing roads and deals that would keep toll increases in line with inflation.

BUS SCHISM On 28 September, 2021, BusNSW executive director Matt Threlkeld, BusNSW industry development manager Philip Whipp and BusNSW president John King appeared before the NSW Legislative Council’s Portfolio Committee No. 6 (Transport and Customer Service), which was conducting an inquiry into Road Tolling Regimes in NSW. The BusNSW appearance at the public hearing followed an earlier submission to the Inquiry.

During the presentation, BusNSW explained the distinction between the contracted and non-contracted LDTC sectors of the industry, it confirms. BusNSW highlighted the fact while the cost of tolls for metropolitan bus operators was generally factored into contracts and absorbed by the NSW government, LDTC buses were not protected and passed on the toll fares to their customers, it explains. BusNSW raised concerns with the Toll Relief system in NSW and the fact that bus operators who frequently use tolls don’t have access to free vehicle registration like owners of privately registered vehicles. Buses and coaches in NSW are subject to the same charges as trucks, which is generally three times that of cars. Due to the rising costs of tolls, bus operators were itemising toll fares when providing quotes

to hire a bus or coach to seniors, social and school groups. This cost is a burden for these operators as it affects the customer value proposition, it highlighted. Due to the significant impact of Covid on the LDTC sector, BusNSW had previously made two requests to the NSW government to waive toll costs from NSW toll roads for 12 months for buses and coaches with a ‘CBUS’ (LDTC) registration. In response, BusNSW was advised that the decision to waive or reduce a toll payable for using a toll road is a matter for the NSW toll operators, BusNSW explains. BusNSW considers that it is concerning that the NSW government doesn’t have this lever to pull as an important Covid-recovery support measure for the industry. Overall, the association considers that busnews.com.au January 2022 ABC

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tolling needs to recognise the difference between the task performed by trucks and buses. While buses and coaches are ‘heavy vehicles’ they provide social and environmental benefits that do not apply to freight vehicles, it states. The BusNSW submission to the inquiry concluded that the bus and coach industry has the ability to further increase the social and environmental benefits of public transport and group travel through the restructuring of the NSW tolling regime.

•

SUGGESTED OPTIONS As an outcome to the Inquiry, BusNSW says the industry would support: • T he current Toll Relief Program for privately registered vehicles being 54

•

extended to include buses and coaches that frequently use toll roads for LDTC services. T he consideration of bus interchanges on any future toll roads, including assessment of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) opportunities in travel corridors. New tolled roads or lanes should factor BRT features into the project design. Future toll roads to consider the roads’ interaction with public transport, in particular pedestrian access to and from toll road bus infrastructure. T oll pricing to incentivise a shift to high-capacity public passenger vehicles including the consideration of high occupancy toll lanes to link group transport and toll roads. A portion of toll revenues to be used

to provide financial support for the provision of public transport services on toll roads. • F uture toll roads to consider opportunity charging infrastructure to accommodate on-road charging of Zero Emission Buses (ZEBs) providing regular timetable services on toll roads. • T he appointment of an agency, such as IPART, to provide independent advice on the determination of tolls and their escalation.

CRYSTAL BALLING While projections over an arbitrary 25-year timeframe based on previous and current road usage by different transport means is thought-provokingly worthwhile extrapolation – particularly to contextualise

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The rapid pace of change has been enabled by technological leaps in the underlying componentry and materials. more immediate toll-cost concerns now – said timeframe does broach into emerging and presently available technology that is much closer to modern ‘transport’ use than many might think it is, with implications perhaps not directly affecting freight haulage but commuter movement inevitably, with arguably mass-use potential. Only recently did leading market intelligence provider IDTechEx

provide insights on mobility trends for 20 years. In this time, electric vehicle start-ups have moved from obscurity into some of the world’s most valuable companies; most traditional automakers have committed to an electric future; drivers have been caught sleeping at the wheel of self-driving vehicles; and – most pensively – flying electric taxis have started to leave the

Above: Bus NSW says it would support independent determination of tolls and high occupancy toll lanes.

pages of science fiction, it states. According to the UK-based entity: “The rapid pace of change has been enabled by technological leaps in the underlying componentry and materials, from Li-ion batteries to LiDAR. But there is still a long way to go as the industry strives to close the performance gap with internal combustion engines, increase safety, lower costs, and overcome regulatory barriers.” In IDTechEx principal analyst Luke Gear’s insightful exploration of six key future mobility trends, drawing from IDTechEx Subscri ption research (www.IDTechEx. com/Mobility), it highlights busnews.com.au January 2022 ABC

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aspects currently well known, but underwrites it with forefront encapsulating data that greatly illustrates to the uninitiated just how tangibly close and useful tech advancement in that space is at present.

KEY POINTS

Above: Could air-taxis as a new public transport mode be in use sooner globally than you might think? Many experts seem to agree they will be. 56

With electrification being global and happening in all sectors – and for parity using the forward-thinking timeframe of, say, 25 years – it highlights that, a decade ago, IDTechEx’s 2011 report ‘bullishly’ predicted 1.5 million battery-electric car sales by 2021 – this turned out to be an underestimation by over half, as China, the US and Europe all grew their markets last year. The sheer volumes and successes of electric vehicles in

the automotive market are driving down costs, creating opportunities for many other mobility sectors. And just as electric ferry deliveries have boomed to ~80MWh yearly as battery pack costs fell below $600 per kWh, energy densities improved and thermal management innovations vastly increased safety. Similar drivers are pushing forward investment into electric air-taxis, with American Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, United Airlines, UPS and Avolon, having all placed pre-orders. Electrification is not so much unstoppable as inevitable and will continue to play a dominant role in the decarbonisation of mobility, it states. The lynchpin of success to the

everyday usage of – potentially en masse – air-taxis in future seems to be autonomy evolution and advancement, which for on-road use IDTechEx expects commercial autonomous cars, or robotaxis, to be market-ready and “match or exceed” human safety by as early as 2024. Projecting forward current safety data, the implication is autonomous cars [read: inherently buses and trucks, too – Ed] will be capable of fulfilling the world’s mobility needs without a single collision before 2050, it claims. As a result, autonomy will have a profound impact on the travel habits of consumers: having removed the highest cost of current popular ride-hailing services – the driver – robotaxis will enable affordable mobility services,

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it says. Two important trends in these areas are market convergence on permanent magnet motors and a transition towards wide bandgap semiconductor devices, it says.

PIPE DREAM – OR NOT?

Demand for new cars is expected to fall even as global passenger-miles increase. driving the market to grow rapidly at 30 per cent CAGR, it explains. Private car ownership will become a relic of the past for new generations, it postulates, and since one autonomous car has the capability to serve multiple people a day, fundamental demand for new cars is expected to fall even as global passenger-miles increase, it adds. Additionally, it says lithium-based batteries will continue to be the great enabler for electrification. As battery costs level, the key focus for the industry will be increasing sustainability of raw materials and supply chains whilst ensuring there is still enough supply to

meet the huge demand. Later in the decade, a move beyond Li-ion towards the holy grail of solid-state and lithium-metal batteries is critical for a step-change in safety and performance, and to open the door to new applications such as electric long-haul aircraft. Which brings us to e-motor advancement and how it affects ‘flight’. Advanced motors and power electronics are key to lowering cost and increasing range, it states. Improving the efficiency of power electronics and electric traction motors is key to either increasing range or downsizing batteries (reducing costs),

If everyday air taxi use instead of, or in addition to, getting on a bus or catching a cab all sounds too far off, perhaps factor in that technology improves exponentially and that rate is fastest now when it comes to battery-electric energy maximisation, if the past 10 years alone was anything to judge by. And, in fact, while air taxis prototypes have been around for the past five or so years and with some using regular fuel, battery and delivery-drone advancement puts air-taxis right amongst the mix for how more people may choose to travel in future. Touted flight ranges from 60km to 600km (Sydney to Coffs Harbour, Melbourne to Canberra et al) gives solo and light travellers new city and intercity movement options, as potentially parking lots become the new ‘helipad’ areas of tomorrow. Only late last year did Australian national broadcaster ABC news report a plan for flying electric taxis over Brisbane in time for the 2032 Olympics. In an article titled ‘Flying electric taxis could be operating over Brisbane for the 2032 Olympics, says aviation futurist Skyportz’, it cites the Australian company aiming to build an air-taxi hub near the city in two years. It reports Skyportz chief executive Clem Newton-Brown OAM telling ABC Radio Brisbane his company would be part of the planned Australian Advanced Manufacturing Centre of Excellence, to be constructed in the Moreton Bay council area by 2023. Newtown-Brown says his company wanted to operate electric air taxis in the Brisbane region in time for the Olympics, connecting locations that may not have easy transport links. Crazy? To those ‘just tuning in’ it is a little, yet given as so much has changed so soon in the past two years at least, crazy might just be the only ‘new normal’ that’s even remotely ‘normal’ now. How much transport operators will pay on toll roads in future might be just as fickle and hard to determine either way as to how much we’ll be paying to ‘move people’ 25 years from now in the air. busnews.com.au January 2022 ABC

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TEST DRIVE

DENNING LANDSEER 1990 DOUBLE-DECKER

here’s always an undeniable love of a double-decker; people gravitate to them and, for children, the race to get a seat upstairs means that these buses always are a popular drawcard for passengers. It’s easy to understand why operators love to have these crowd-pleasers in their fleet, as they are popular and versatile, with enduring appeal. Today’s drive is of a 1990 Denning Landseer double-decker – one of two that are part of that Fantastic Aussie Tours fleet in Katoomba in the beautiful NSW Blue Mountains. A popular and, 58

in normal times, very busy tourist destination, the two double-deckers in the Fantastic Aussie Tours livery are instantly recognisable driving along the Great Western Highway. Purchasing a vehicle that many would consider to be at the end of its working life isn’t an issue for Darrell Booth, the operations and fleet manager at Fantastic Aussie Tours. In fact, the very opposite. Booth’s love of the build and strength of this Denning classic is evident in all aspects of what he feels the double-decker brings to the fleet and his confidence in them. “We’ve got two double-deckers, both are around the 30-year-old mark, but they are still used as our frontline vehicles,” explained Booth.

“I have so much confidence in them that, if we got a call to go to Darwin tonight in one of these, they can handle it, no problems. It’s just off you go. “Today’s drive we call Kapunda – all of our coaches have Aboriginal names and Kapunda is named after the town in SA and is the story of Sidney Kidman, the ‘Cattle King’. “Sidney Kidman left home in Kapunda at 13-years old along with his one-eyed horse he called Cyclops to work as a sheep drover. Being a man of vision, he formed a small business with his brother in droving and trading cattle and horses, as well as being invited into part of the growing Cobb & Co coach business. Sir Sidney went on to become the greatest pastoral landholder in modern

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TOUGH AS NAILS Despite being more than 30-years-old, this Denning double-decker is one of two that are the drawcards of Fantastic Aussie Tour’s fleet. And don’t let age fool you! This bus was built to last no matter where it went. WORDS + IMAGES PAUL ALDRIDGE

history, earning the nickname of ‘The Cattle King’. It’s a story many of us can relate to in business. “The other Denning double-decker we’ve got is named Kurrana, which is an Aboriginal word for Thunder. I think that was very appropriately named.” When asked how long Fantastic Aussie Tours had owned the Denning, Booth explained that it was bought a few years ago from Peter Jillet, Premier Motor Services’ operations manager, on the Gold Coast. “He put a lot of love into this bus; this is the third Denning double-decker we’ve had,” said Booth. “The main attraction with them is that

you can [seat] 68 people in ADR [Australian Design Rules] seats in a vehicle that’s only 12.5 metres long and 4.2 metres high. “You can go anywhere with this bus, so we’re not restricted with access to anywhere in the Blue Mountains – anywhere we go in Australia actually – sitting at 100mm below maximum legal height. We can go to Jenolan Caves, where this actually fits through the Grand Arch. So that’s the beauty of this Denning.” Having driven through the Grand Arch many times, we can attest to it being the trickiest entry a driver can navigate in a standard bus, so to be able to get a double-decker through with room to spare is one mean feat!

ALWAYS THE FAVOURITE From a marketing point of view, we asked Booth what the Denning is mostly used for. “So, everything from corporate transfers to school excursions, day trips and school sports,” he said. “Some of the private schools that we carry go long distances for sports to Bathurst, the Central Coast and Southern Highlands, and extended day tours to Canberra. “We’ve also done a lot of distance touring with schools for extended periods, up to a week or two away, with school concert bands and wild ed programs where, towing a trailer, we can carry a full orchestra or a complement of mountain bikes, as well as everyone’s luggage. busnews.com.au January 2022 ABC

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TEST DRIVE

DENNING LANDSEER 1990 DOUBLE-DECKER

but, if you basically kept them maintained as per the book, then you had very little trouble with them. “So, we first looked at one of these when we needed another coach. We’d sold all the Setras and we were looking at another Denning double-decker, again because of seating capacity. We purchased one that had a Series 60 with an Eaton 10-speed in it and that just opened my eyes to how good the Denning product was. “The Setras were nice, European comfortable, and all that sort of stuff but these are Australian made for Australia. You know, compared to the Setras, [the Dennings] were brash, they were noisy, but they were just so solid and 100 per cent predictable on the highway.”

WORKING HISTORY

“Basically, it’s perfect for all groups. Adults love the views and quietness of travel from the top deck, but primarily school kids, both the kids and the teachers, love them. Because, you know, kids are upstairs and, for the teachers, it’s the ‘executive lounge’ downstairs – a ‘would you like another cup of coffee’ kind of trip. So, from their point of view, it’s great. If you are on a job with another vehicle, and it doesn’t matter what it is – you could turn up in a brandspanking-new coach – when I turn up in this I can guarantee you where the line-up will be. “The Dennings are perfect for day tours for bigger groups. We have a great relationship with Indian Pacific [passenger train that operates between Sydney and Perth], where we put two of the Dennings on instead of 3x 48-seaters and the economics makes a lot of sense. We pick the passengers up from Mount Victoria 60

Station on the eastbound Indian, take the passengers on a tour of the Mountains and drop them back to Katoomba for a charter train back to Sydney.”

The Denning started its life with APT, before a move to Firefly, as ‘Born to Express’. It then went to the Northern Territory as a tour coach and was sold through Rodd Hood to Peter Jillet, who had it as part of the Premier Fleet. From there, it was purchased by Fantastic Aussie Tours. With a working history like that, we asked Booth if he knew about the kilometres it had done, as it would have would have seen some kays in its life. “I’m not sure how many kilometres it’s done but, if you think about for Firefly, it was probably doing 300,000km a year,” he estimated. “So, I don’t know how many kilometres are on it, but it’s a lot and it’s certainly a testament to the product. They’re still going strong. The other one we’ve just re-panelled because it had rust coming out in places. When we pulled the panels off, the rust was only from the inside of the panels out and

BRASH, NOISY AND SOLID We always like to know what makes an operator chose the vehicles in their fleet. Sometimes, it is obviously price or often a relationship with builders or an affinity for a make or brand. Booth’s love for double-deckers didn’t start with the Denning, but he was converted after his very first experience with one. “We’ve had a history with double-deckers, both as hop-on hop-off buses, but also with coaches,” he explained. “Over the years, we’ve owned six Setras – [they] were really good. They were refined, quiet, they were smooth and relatively powerful. They had a few little technical things that you needed to keep an eye on

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the frame was still like brand new. “When you look at the frame on these you think ‘wow they are just so well built’. My theory on these things is that you run them for 30 years, rip the panels off and check the frame. Put the panels back on and rebuild the motor, the transmission and the diff, check all the suspension bushes and then send it out for another 30 years.” When Booth says this, we don’t think he’s joking either; he really does believe in the strength of this build. “When they built these, they

Adults love the views and quietness of travel from the top deck, but primarily school kids, both the kids and the teachers, love them. were built to last,” he asserted. “The Denning Landseer would have to be the toughest bus ever built. The second toughest, if not the same, is the Denning Mono – the mid-’80s DenAirs are as tough as nails. The thing about these is that they don’t have a chassis – they’re totally monocoque – and if you look at one of these with the panels off, you’ll think ‘my god, that’s built like a tank’.”

WORTH KEEPING With any vehicle that gets past a certain age it can often be the availability of parts that can cause operators headaches. There are, however, a growing number of bus enthusiasts that are ensuring that steps are taken so that some of the classic buses will endure long past their normal working life so that we have them for future generations to enjoy. For Booth, though, parts don’t seem to be an issue. “Generally speaking, no problems.

We buy all our parts for these through Dave Tanner at Austral Denning parts. There are a number of parts starting to get a little bit harder to get but Dave’s got all the original drawings and specifications and all that sort of stuff so anything we need we could always get a part for,” he explained. “We’ve just replaced some front suspension bushes and they’re now becoming very rare in Australia, but between a few mates we have enough parts at the moment. I’ve already spoken with Dave and we can get those parts remade if needed, albeit you’ve got to order a certain minimum amount and that can become expensive but it’s also very worthwhile keeping these buses on the road.” In having this chat with Booth about the Dennings, it’s clear to see how he feels about the build of the vehicle and how their strength and quality impress him. When asked what he really likes about them, he said: “I love a number of things. I like

Opposite: The bug screen sits on a quickrelease system for easy cleaning of the windscreen. Above: The view from the top deck is the draw card for double decker buses. Left: Armrests are a bonus for long drives and there is good visibility of all controls from the driver’s seat.

busnews.com.au January 2022 ABC

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TEST DRIVE

DENNING LANDSEER 1990 DOUBLE-DECKER

their presence in their stance; they stand tall and proud. “To me, they are a flagship vehicle. It’s like, you think about the A380 or the 747 as being flagships for airlines, the double-deckers or deck and a half’s always look the part. So, from that presence perspective, I really love them. “When we’ve had them in our own colours with signwriting and the swirls, they really stand proud. I like them because they are just so versatile; we can fit 30 people, we can fit 45 people, we can fit 50 people or 60 people – you know what I mean? So, from that point of view, they’re very versatile. “What it really means is that because we’ve had these for a while, and we’ve run them as part of our fleet, even though they’re more expensive to run than some of the others we can still afford to run these as a 48-seater.” Booth makes it clear that these classics are pride of place in the Fantastic Aussie Tours fleet and age certainly isn’t a deterrent here when it comes to lasting quality. “In their time they were truly state of the art,” he said, proudly. “The main difference between these 62

Compared to the Setras, [the Dennings] were brash, they were noisy, but they were just so solid and 100 per cent predictable on the highway. old buses and new ones is the technology with emissions and stuff like that. We’ve got new buses that are two and threeyears-old and, truthfully, they are the ones that I worry about the most with all the added-on electronics, not these 30-year-old Dennings!” It’s now up to the avid owners and operators, like Darrell Booth, that are going to keep our bus history alive.

THE DRIVE The Denning Landseer was built in 1990. Yes, not that long ago, but it’s at the age where most bus and coaches today are automatically retired. It has 68 seats in total, with 14 downstairs, and Booth says that, other than re-upholstering the driver’s seat, internally the coach is pretty much as it came from the previous owners that had done a refurb on it.

In the lower level the quality of the seat upholstery and finish is of a really high standard. There’s a bathroom on this level and there’s a water station, which is perfect for longer trips. Upstairs there are 54 seats, again very well appointed with pockets in the rear of each seat, external armrests, overhead lights, aircon ducts and each and every seat up here has a perfect view. There are two televisions upstairs as well. The only mechanical repairs that have been done since Aussie purchased it are the injectors and it’s had a tune up. It has changed the suspension bushes and also done a kingpin. So, at 31 years of age, it’s certainly holding its own mechanically and Booth says that it drives like new, so we were looking forward to taking it out for a drive. The Landseer has an 8V92TA Detroit

ABC January 2022 busnews.com.au

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with 500 horsepower (373kW). The 92 Series was a popular choice for highway driving vehicles. It’s also got an Allison HT748 automatic transmission with retarder and Kirkstall front end with hydraulics on the front and drums on the back. Taking off from the Aussie Tours depot in Katoomba you immediately can feel that the Allison transmission knows exactly what gear it should be in. Starting out on suburban streets, we can’t wait to get it onto the highway and see how it goes. We did a few tight bends round Cliff Drive just to see how it handles in not-so-easy conditions. The retarder system is engaged via a variable hand control and it cruises through the sharp bends. All that’s needed is a foot rested on the brake and the retarder just does its job. It’s got anti-lock brakes but it’s just the driveability, the predictability and the braking that are very good. Booth says that they do a lot of braking on the back end and it’s got hydraulic

retarders, just the same as any new bus, as well as a Jacobs engine brake. Out on the highways there’s plenty of oomph; the Denning just wants to change through the gears and go. These Dennings came out with around 475hp (354kW), but this one has a bigger turbo and you can feel the 500hp pretty directly with no lag. This Denning loves the highway! Going up an incline, you just kick it down and it goes. Sitting around 70km/h with ease, it wants to go quicker. The driver’s area is really comfortable. There are armrests, which are great for any long haul drives. Controls are all easily accessible and driver friendly. Everything you need is at your fingertips and easy to see through the steering wheel. Driver visibility was really good.

Not perfect, but you do have to remember you have another level on top. The mirrors were certainly adequate and did their job but, in comparison, there was less broadness of vision to some of the modern mirrors. However, this was to be expected with changes to mirror types used during the past 30 years. Reversing was not as visually easy but, for driving, no visibility issues – particularly with the addition of blind spot mirrors. There’s a bug screen for long-drive visibility and the best thing is that Denning has it on a quick-release button, so that cleaning the windscreen isn’t an issue – love this feature. At the front of the bus there is a polished bullbar, probably a standard added extra in the day as Denning made these buses and the extras perfect to suit Australian conditions. The external lights have

Opposite: This Denning Landseer is powered by 8V92TA Detroit producing 500 horsepower (373kW) Above: The 54 upstairs seats are well appointed for longer journeys. Below: Luggage loading is a breeze with ample under-bus storage and a back-door exit for passengers.

busnews.com.au January 2022 ABC

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TEST DRIVE

DENNING LANDSEER 1990 DOUBLE-DECKER

Specs MAKE: 1990 Denning Landseer LENGTH: 12.5m HEIGHT: 4.2m INTERNAL HEIGHT: 1.8m BRAKE: front discs, rear S-Cam ABS GVM: 23,000 tonnes ENGINE: Detroit Diesel 8v92TA TRANSMISSION: Alision HT748 PASSENGER CAPACITY: 68 seats + driver

We can go to Jenolan Caves, where this actually fits through the Grand Arch. Pictured: Serviceability has always been a priority for Denning, with good access for maintenance checks.

been changed to LED for better vision, but within the same position. Probably more than anything this is one area that there have been modern advances that are good for safety on night drives or when the Mountains get misty, and they often do. Under-bus storage and luggage is accessed via a side hatch on both sides. On the passenger entry side there are internal stairs to help with loading and unloading of luggage. The area has ample room but would need it to accommodate the larger number of passengers if required. Upstairs there is generous overhead storage that would accommodate smaller carry-on items. We always love to take a look in the engine compartment and Denning, without fail, makes serviceability a priority. Most

modern buses have good service access, but this is pretty impressive for a bus that’s aged over 30. In this area, Denning was certainly ahead of the game for ease of servicing. All daily checks are easily accessible and the radiator is really large in comparison to some modern-day ones, but it will certainly never overheat. The battery accessibility is perfect, so jump starts would be no problem as the terminals are right at the front of the compartment. It can be surprising, especially when you drive a classic like this Denning, just how good the driving is. The differences you notice and feel are often minimal when comparing older models to modern bus and coaches. Booth mentioned earlier that this era of Dennings are the toughest buses ever built – bulletproof for Australian conditions. When an operator has full confidence to take a bus of this age fully loaded on a trip to the Northern Territory and experience possibly the worst of our country’s climate and condition, you know they are still very special vehicles.

ABC January 2022 busnews.com.au

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DELIVERIES

DECEMBER 2021

2021 finishes with delivery surge

December saw a surge of deliveries to finish off the year, hopefully marking a bounce back for the market.

ecember deliveries figures rounded off the year in style with the total of 123 the highest result recorded since June, 2020, and an extraordinary 47 ahead on November’s result. In the chassis sector, Volvo was nudged from the top spot by Scania, which outstripped the rest of the pack with a commanding total of 48. Volvo followed on 26 deliveries, up five on the previous month, while Mercedes-Benz was up four on 17. Yutong showed its strongest result since last May, with a December total of 11. The remaining 21 deliveries were spread across six other manufacturers. In the body-building sector Volgren retained its position for a fifth month running, bringing its highest result since June with a total of 39. Bustech Group, with 23, and Scania, on 13, also had their highest results for 2021, with Scania recording its largest number of deliveries since February, 2020. Yutong also bounced back to its mid-2021 numbers with a total of 11, while BCI dipped slightly from last month’s 15 to record 8. The remaining 29 deliveries were spread across 11 other bodymakers, including the first appearance of Marcopolo since August, 2021. Unsurprisingly, Thermo King finished the

year in style with a December total of 61 – 20 ahead of November’s total and, once again, the best result seen for this manufacturer since June, 2020. It commandingly outstripped its competitors, with Coachair coming in second place with 16. This was, however, an impressive jump on its November result of three and its highest result for 2021. Konvekta wasn’t far behind on 13 – it’s highest result since February, 2020 – while Cling-Yutong’s 11 was its best since April 2021’s 15. At the state level, Victoria got behind the wheel and took off into the sunset with an astounding 59, leaving New South Wales (20), Queensland (16) and Western Australia (15) still looking for the keys. South Australia was up one on November with a respectable seven, while Tasmania saw its largest number of the year on six. Turn overleaf for comprehensive bus and coach delivery information for December. Please note all data is as supplied from manufacturers, at their discretion.

At the state level, Victoria got behind the wheel and took off into the sunset with an astounding 59.

ABC January 2022 busnews.com.au

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Volgren 39 Bustech 23 Scania 13 Yutong 11 BCI 8 JBus 6 Express Coaches 5 Custom Bus 4 Irizar 3

SALES BY BODY

I-Bus 3

In the body-building sector, Volgren retained its position for a fifth month running, bringing its highest result since June with a total of 39. Bustech Group, with 23, and Scania, on 13, also had their highest results for 2021, with Scania recording its largest number of deliveries since February, 2020. Yutong also bounced back to its mid-2021 numbers with a total of 11, while BCI dipped slightly from last month’s 15 to record 8. The remaining 29 deliveries were spread across 11 other bodymakers, including the first appearance of Marcopolo since August.

Coach Concepts 2 Marcopolo 2 Coach Design 1 BLK 1 P&D Coachworks 1 TOST 1

6% SA

5% TAS

48% VIC

12% WA

Percentage by

REGION 13% QLD

SALES BY AIR-CONDITIONER Unsurprisingly, Thermo King finished the year in style with a December total of 61 – 20 ahead of November’s total and, once again, the best result seen for this manufacturer since June. It commandingly outstripped its competitors, with Coachair coming in second place with 16. This was, however, an impressive jump on its November result of three and its highest result for 2021. Konvekta wasn’t far behind on 13 – it’s highest result since February 2020 – while Cling-Yutong’s 11 was its best since April 2021’s 15.

Thermo King 61 Coachair 16 Konvekta 13 Cling-Yutong 11 Denso 8

16%

Hispacold King Long Spheros MCC

7 3 3 1

SCANIA 48

NSW

VOLVO 26 MERCEDES-BENZ 17 YUTONG 11 HINO 6 BUSTECH 6

Sales by chassis

BCI 4

In the chassis sector, Volvo was nudged from the top spot by Scania, which outstripped the rest of the pack with a commanding total of 48. Volvo followed behind on 26 deliveries, up five on the previous month, while Mercedes-Benz was up four on 17. Yutong showed its strongest result since May with a December total of 11. The remaining 21 deliveries were spread across six other manufacturers.

I-BUS 3 BYD 1 BLK 1

busnews.com.au January 2022 ABC

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DELIVERIES

DECEMBER 2021

BCI

UNITS

MANUFACTURER, OPERATOR & LOCATION Esperance Anglican Community School

CHASSIS (Model)

BODY BUILDER

ENGINES HP*

TRANSMIS

Rear / Front

Emissions standard

A: Autom M: Manu AS: AutoO: Opticr

Cruiser 10

BCI

285

Euro 5

Boyles Bus Service Ingleburn Bus Services

VIC NSW

1 2

Classmaster Citirider E

BCI BCI

320 –

R R

Euro 5 Zero Emissions

A A

BLK BUSTECH GROUP

Stewart & Sons

QLD

President 2

BLK

320

Euro 5

Mackay Transit Kinetic Metro Tasmania

QLD QLD TAS

1 1 6

Scania K270 E95 BYD D9RA Bustech XDI 1.1

Bustech Group Bustech Group Bustech Group

– – –

R R R

6 N/A 6

A A A

HINO I-BUS AUSTRALIA

N/A

VIC

Poncho

JBus

185

Euro 5

Noosa Christian College Tully High School Navigator School

QLD QLD SA

1 1 1

I-Bus I-Bus I-Bus

I-Bus Australia I-Bus Australia I-Bus Australia

190 190 190

F F F

– – –

A A A

N/A N/A

NSW VIC

1 2

O500R OC500RF/3 E6 2543

Express Coaches Coach Concepts

300 422

R R

Euro 5 Euro 6

A A

N/A

VIC

OC500RF E6 1936

BCI

360

Euro 6

N/A

VIC

XBC

BCI

260

Euro 5

N/A

VIC

OC500RF E5 1936

BCI

360

Euro 5

N/A

VIC

OC500RF E5 1936

Coach Design

360

Euro 5

N/A N/A

VIC NSW

1 8

O500RS OC500RF E6 1930

Express Coaches Bustech Group

428 360

R R

Euro 5 Euro 6

A A

B & G Christian Pty Ltd Cavbus Pty Ltd T/As Logan Coaches

VIC QLD

2 1

K 310 UB4X2 K 360 IB4X2

Volgren Scania Higer Touring

310 360

R R

Euro 5 Euro 6

A A

CDC Victoria P/L

VIC

K 320 UB4X2

Volgren

320

Euro 6

CDC Victoria P/L

VIC

K 320 UB4X2

Volgren

320

Euro 6

CDC Victoria P/L

VIC

K 310 IB4X2

Volgren

310

Euro 5

Donric Group

VIC

K 320 UB4X2

Volgren

320

Euro 6

Dept. of Public Transport Infrastructure

K 320C B4x2LB

Bustech Group

320

–

Dept. of Public Transport Infrastructure

K 320 UB4X2

Bustech Group

–

Euro 6

–

MERCEDES-BENZ

SCANIA

VOLVO

Driver Group Australia Pty Ltd

VIC

K 360 IB4X2

Scania Higer Touring

360

Euro 6

Driver Group Australia Pty Ltd

VIC

K 310 IB4X2

Scania Higer A30

310

Euro 5

L C Dyson's Bus Services Pty Ltd

VIC

K 310 IB4X2

Irizar

310

Euro 5

McHarry's Bus Lines

VIC

K 310 UB4X2

Express Coaches

310

Euro 5

Ventura Bus Lines Pty Ltd

VIC

K 320 UB4X2

Volgren

320

Euro 6

Ventura Bus Lines Pty Ltd

VIC

K 320 UB4X2

Volgren

320

Euro 6

Ventura Bus Lines Pty Ltd

VIC

K 320 UB4X2

Volgren

320

Euro 6

WBL Pty Ltd

VIC

K 310 IB4X2

Supportrans / Volgren

–

Euro 5

–

WBL Pty Ltd

VIC

K 360 IB4X2

Scania Higer Touring

360

Euro 6

WBL Pty Ltd WBL Pty Ltd

VIC VIC

4 3

K 360 IB4X2 K 360 IB4X2

Scania Higer Touring Scania Higer Touring

360 360

R R

Euro 6 Euro 6

A A

LinkSA Pty Ltd CDC Victoria Pty Ltd

SA VIC

2 2

Volvo B8R Volvo B8RLE

Marcopolo Volgren

330 330

R R

Euro 5 Euro 5

A A

D Sayers Mechanical

Volvo B8R

TOST

330

Euro 5

Parsons Bus & Coach

NSW

Volvo B11R

P&D Coachworks

430

Euro 6

Busways Pacific

NSW

Volvo B8R

Custom Bus

330

Euro 5

Buslines

NSW

Volvo B8RLE

Bustech Group

320

Euro 6

Reg Osborn

NSW

Volvo B8RLE

Bustech Group

320

Euro 6

Volvo B8RLE

Volgren

320

Euro 6

Perth Transit Authorities

YUTONG

Perth Transit Authorities

Volvo B8RLEA

Volgren

320

Euro 6

King Christian College

QLD

Volvo B8R

Volgren

330

Euro 5

Irizar Asia Pacific Pty Ltd Bus QLD Westside Bus Co

QLD QLD

1 4

Volvo B8R Volvo B8RLE

Irizar Volgren

350 320

R R

Euro 6 Euro 6

AS A

N/A N/A

NSW QLD

1 1

D9 D7

Yutong Yutong

250 160

R F

Euro 5 Euro 5

A A

N/A

QLD

Yutong

250

Euro 5

N/A

QLD

D12

Yutong

360

Euro 5

N/A

Yutong

160

Euro 5

N/A

D12

Yutong

360

Euro 5

ABC January 2022 busnews.com.au

ABC_413_072-73_Bus Deliveries Table FC.indd 72

TOTAL DELIVERIES 123

18/1/22 9:17 am

NUMBER OF SEATS

APPLICATION SEATING

SEAT BELTS

WHEEL CHAIR LIFT ACCESS

AXLES

TRANSMISSION

BODY LENGTH

uro 5

10.6

MCC

–

Sege

uro 5 Emissions

A A

ZF N/A

2 2

12.3 12.5

Thermo King Thermo King

57 –

– –

– 45

– –

– X

X –

Sege McConnell

Y N

N N

uro 5

Allison

12.5

Spheros

–

Sege

–

6 N/A 6

A A A

ZF ZF ZF

2 2 2

10-12.9 10-12.9 10-12.9

Coachair Thermo King Thermo King

46 35 47

– – –

X X X

– – –

McConnell McConnell Bendtech/In-house

N N N

Y N Y

issions andard

A: Automatic M: Manual AS: Auto-Shift O: Opticruise

TRANS MAKE

(metres)

AIR-CON (Brand)

Fixed Coach

Recliners

Metro

Long Distance

Charter

City or Route

School

uro 5

Aisin

Denso

–

Styleride

– – –

A A A

Isuzu Isuzu Isuzu

2 2 2

8 8 8

King Long King Long King Long

32 32 32

– – –

X X X

APM APM APM

Y Y Y

N N N

uro 5 uro 6

A A

ZF Ecolife GO 250-8

2 3

12.5 13.2

Thermo King Coachair

57 50

– –

– X

– –

X –

Styleride McConnell

N N

uro 6

13.2

Denso

–

McConnell

–

uro 5

Allison T280R

12.5

Thermo King

–

McConnell

–

uro 5

ZF Ecolife

12.3

Thermo King

–

Sege

–

uro 5

ZF Ecolife

12.3

Thermo King

–

McConnell

–

uro 5 uro 6

A A

ZF Ecolife ZF

2 2

12.5 12.5

Thermo King Thermo King

57 55

– –

X X

McConnell Styleride

Y Y

– –

uro 5 uro 6

A A

ZF ZF

2 2

12.5 12.3

Thermo King Konvekta

– 57

– –

41 –

– –

X –

– –

McConnell McConnell

– –

uro 6

12.5

Coachair

–

McConnell

–

uro 6

12.5

Thermo King

–

McConnell

–

uro 5

12.5

Coachair

–

McConnell

–

uro 6

12.5

Thermo King

–

McConnell

–

12.5

Hispacold

–

Precision Bus

–

uro 6

–

Without

–

12.5

Hispacold

–

Precision Bus

–

uro 6

12.3

Konvekta

–

Styleride

–

uro 5

12.5

Konvekta

–

Styleride

–

uro 5

–

Hispacold

–

McConnell

–

uro 5

12.5

Coachair

–

McConnell

–

uro 6

12.5

Thermo King

–

McConnell

–

uro 6

12.5

Coachair

–

McConnell

–

uro 6

12.5

Coachair

–

McConnell

–

uro 5

–

12.5

Thermo King

–

Styleride

–

uro 6

12.5

Konvekta

–

Styleride

–

uro 6 uro 6

A A

ZF ZF

2 2

12.5 12.3

Konvekta Konvekta

58 58

– –

Styleride Styleride

– –

uro 5 uro 5

A A

ZF ZF

2 2

10-12.9 10-12.9

Spheros Coachair

57 –

– –

– 40

– –

X –

– X

Marcopolo McConnell

Yes No

No No

uro 5

10-12.9

Thermo King

–

Styleride

Yes

uro 6

Volvo

10-12.9

Thermo King

–

Styleride

Yes

uro 5

10-12.9

Thermo King

–

McConnell

Yes

uro 6

10-12.9

Thermo King

–

Styleride

Yes

uro 6

10-12.9

Coachair

–

Styleride

Yes

uro 6

10-12.9

Thermo King

–

McConnell

uro 6

10-12.9

Thermo King

–

McConnell

uro 5

10-12.9

Thermo King

–

Styleride

Yes

uro 6 uro 6

AS A

Volvo ZF

2 2

10-12.9 10-12.9

Hispacold Thermo King

57 –

– –

– 44

– –

– X

Sege McConnell

Yes No

No Yes

uro 5 uro 5

A A

Allison Allison

2 2

10 8

Cling-Yutong Cling-Yutong

43 28

– –

X X

– –

Styleride Yutong

Y Y

– – –

uro 5

Allison

Cling-Yutong

–

Yutong

uro 5

Allison

12.4

Cling-Yutong

–

Yutong

–

uro 5

Allison

Cling-Yutong

–

Yutong

–

uro 5

Allison

12.4

Cling-Yutong

–

Yutong

–

*Bustech Group comprises Bustech, Elphinstone and Precision Buses. Volgren’s count includes any units from its partnership with Supportrans.

busnews.com.au January 2022 ABC

ABC_413_072-73_Bus Deliveries Table FC.indd 73

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