Australasian Bus & Coach 433 September 2023

MODERN ULTRA LOW FLOOR WHEELCHAIR

ACCESSIBLE URBAN TRANSPORTER AVAILABLE IN DIESEL OR BATTERY ELECTRIC

The need for fresh approaches

For decades, the Australian bus and coach industry has been selfsufficient and incredibly well functioning. It hasn’t needed close attention nor any helping hands in its evolution as a leader in many ways when it comes to passenger transport standards.

Yet that doesn’t mean now is the time to turn down any guidance it can get in the face of some stern challenges. There have been many curveballs thrown at the industry in recent years, starting with the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting supply chain impacts that are still causing operators and manufacturers plenty of pain.

Then there’s the skilled worker shortage that has infiltrated plenty of industries and hasn’t spared the rod on bus and coach businesses. Throw in an economic downturn and a massive bout of pressure being squeezed onto companies through

the ongoing zero-emissions vehicle transition and there’s plenty that the industry is grappling with.

It’s what makes some outsider perspectives so vital. I was lucky enough to chat with Dr Juliette Tobias-Webb, an expert in human behaviour and psychology who will present at the upcoming BIC National Conference in Adelaide. Her knowledge and ideas to help tackle the retention and recruiting challenge, as well as other company issues, is set to be an optimistic discussion-starter for those looking for inventive ways to combat the buffet of adversity currently being served up to the industry.

Coupled with my interview with Tobias-Webb on page 42 is the constant glimmers of innovation that companies are showing. None showcase this better than Yutong, who graces our cover for this month. Time has flown since VDI Australia

first brought the D7 to Australia to fill a niche market. Now, it’s introducing an electrified version of the popular model –check out what this means for the industry from page 18.

For months, the ABC team has been seeking to find an appropriate and productive way of approaching harrowing safety incidents that have occurred this year. It took time, but it ended in ABC chatting to John Gaffney, who was impacted directly by the Hunter Valley bus crash and has since stirred movement in politicians to review bus safety laws. The final product from page 22 onwards is a deep dive into the mammoth challenges that lay ahead for policymakers and industry in the near future.

We’re at an important time in the Australian bus industry’s history. Bus Stop Sales’ Pete White knows this and chatted to us on page 26 about what he thinks must be done to make the sector’s future as fruitful as possible.

This includes chatting about electric buses, which Victorian operators have become well aware of.

From page 29, we spoke to some operators who have begun adopting zero-emissions bus technology in Victoria to see what they have learnt to date.

While electric buses are all the rage currently, there are still large strides being taken when it comes to advanced diesel technology. BLK Auto is one brand invested in this. Outside of its zero-emissions advancements, it is also in the midst of constructing a new axle design that takes us back to the glory days of local bus manufacturing – see page 32.

Outside of these stories, StyleRide has found a new niche in the form of refurbishing bus seats for key clients, while Jaltest Diagnostics has become a vital cog in the Multispares machine when it comes to maintaining fleets. All of this and more is included in another bumper edition of ABC. We hope you enjoy this diverse magazine.

Events this year have shown that external perspectives could hold the key to overcoming overarching challenges facing the Australian bus and coach industry

“For months, the ABC team has been seeking to find an appropriate and productive way of approaching harrowing safety incidents that have occurred this year.”

EDITORIAL

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37.

feature | styleride

REFURB FOCUS

In recent years, StyleRide Australia has capitalised on the refurbishing trend in the seating market by updating its processes

40. parts feature | multispares

ONE-TWO PUNCH

Five years ago, spare parts supplier Multispares entered into a distribution agreement with diagnostics brand Jaltest. The pair’s partnership has grown rapidly since as the latest diagnostics technology is helping revolutionise the spare parts game

42. bic | conference preview

SUBTLE CHANGES

At this year’s BIC National Conference, Dr Juliette Tobias-Webb will draw on her unique experience in behavioural science and psychology to find ways to overcome key bus industry challenges

6. editorial | the need for fresh approaches

Events this year have shown that external perspectives could hold the key to overcoming overarching challenges facing the Australian bus and coach industry

10. news | all aboard

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

features

18. cover story | yutong

COMPLETING THE SET

VDI is preparing to welcome the latest electric version of a popular Yutong diesel bus model into Australia in what will be a milestone moment for the distributor this year

22. feature | safety response

RESPONDING WITH REFORM

In the wake of multiple bus and coach crashes this year, groups of victims and experts have formed to push for reform. But what can policy makers and the industry do to make bus and coach travel safer in Australia?

26. feature | bus stop sales

UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE

From his time in the industry at the helm of Bus Stop Sales, director Pete White has plenty of experience evolving as a brand in the local bus and coach industry

29. feature | zero-emissions trial

BEHIND THE PIONEERS

Much like many Australian states and territories, Victoria has taken big strides towards a zero-emissions future in recent years. ABC chats with some of the operators leading the charge when it comes to zero-emissions bus trials in Melbourne and beyond

32. feature | blk auto

DUAL TYRE LAZY RENAISSANCE

In a bid to provide an upgraded coach model that fits operator requirements, BLK Auto is in the midst of designing and creating an updated President 3 model that features popular technology from yesteryear

34. servicing feature | challenger

PARTS PRIORITY

With its unique operator background, Challenger Bus & Coach is using its experience when it comes to its spare parts game

44. column | tasbus

THE PERFECT PARTNERSHIP SECRET

TasBus has formed a strategic partnership with Australian regional fuel supplier Lowes Petroleum to benefit the Tasmanian bus and coach industry

47. competition | best bus BLUE MOUNTAINS BEAUTY

The latest winner of the ABC Best Bus photo competition features a striking red double-decker and the glorious backdrop of a national landmark

departments

50. bus marketplace | classifieds  FOR SALE!

Check out all these great listings from some of the leading bus and coach companies on the planet. Have a look and see what you might find

53. events

INDUSTRY EVENTS FOR 2023

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

54. factory facts | bus deliveries  MONTHLY RESULTS

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

58. back seat | news  FINE DINING

In an Australian-first, seasoned restaurateurs have turned a beautiful school bus into an incredible dining experience that is catching the eye of the bus industry

58

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KINETIC ACQUIRES TWO METROPOLITAN BUS CONTRACT SERVICES FROM MORELANDBUS

Australasian operator Kinetic has announced it is continuing its Melbourne expansion after acquiring new government-contracted bus routes from MorelandBus.

Kinetic has acquired two Metropolitan Bus Contract Services from the Melbourne north family-owned business.

Kinetic, the custodian of the Metropolitan Bus Franchise which operates one third of Melbourne’s bus network, will welcome an additional two government-contracted routes in the city’s northern suburbs, along

with 10 buses as part of the transaction. No depots are included in the sale.

Importantly, Kinetic is excited to offer continued employment to 15 MorelandBus drivers based at its nearby North Fitzroy depot and continue to deliver these services with no disruption to passengers. The North Fitzroy depot underwent a face-lift when Kinetic took on the franchise last year to enhance workplace experiences.

There is no change to the rest of the MorelandBus business, which will continue to provide school and charter bus services

across the city under current ownership.

The transaction will see Kinetic operate the 510 between Essendon Station and Ivanhoe Station via Brunswick and Northcote and Thornbury and 512 between Strathmore and East Coburg via Pascoe Vale South and Coburg West and Coburg, as well as weekend services.

Kinetic is in its second year operating the 9.5-year Melbourne Metropolitan Bus Franchise contract in partnership with the Victorian government, with a team of 1100 bus drivers and 532 buses moving 27 million people annually across 50 routes.

Kinetic has reached the half-way point in its commitment to delivering 36 battery electric buses within the first three years of operation, with depot electrification upgrade works completing at its depots in Sunshine West and Heatherton in December to charge the growing zero emission fleet.

Kinetic has also delivered significant improvements for customers with the introduction of a new state-of-the-art Operations Control Centre (OCC) which provides a comprehensive overview of the network and traffic conditions across the bus network and fourteen dedicated Customer Service Officers to assist passengers.

“We are excited to welcome the MorelandBus drivers to the team and continue to deliver these great services,” Kinetic Regional GM Graham Smith says.

EV COMPANY ACQUIRES NORTH SYDNEY BUS CHARTERS

North Sydney Bus Charters now has new owners after more than 20 years running coaches around the Sydney region.

Following a lengthy sales process, Sydney private coach charter company North Sydney Bus Charters has officially been sold to electric bus company TrueGreen.

The Australian Financial Review confirmed the sale in August, with TrueGreen acquiring the charter company for around $100 million.

TrueGreen owns zero-emissions bus companies such as Foton Mobility, Gemilang Australia,

Nexport and GoZero in Australia and is expecting to make more acquisition this year.

North Sydney Bus Charters was owned by Sydney businessman and former tennis player and coach Scott Riley, with the purchase now signalling the start of the broad electrification of buses in and around Sydney.

The AFR says PKF Corporate ran the sales process, helping present North Sydney Bus Charters and its 225 luxury and standard coaches and minicoaches.

The company was started in

Now,

2002 when Riley decided to use coaches to run school kids to and from tennis centres.

TrueGreen has capitalised on the sale as it considers listing itself on the ASX.

Above: A new company will now run North Sydney Bus Charters

NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND

CHILD CHECK MATE

CHILD PASSENGER SAFETY ALARM SYSTEM

AUSTRALIA’S MOST TRUSTED CHILD CHECK UNIT

The “Child Check-Mate System” is a patented unique alarm system which acts as an electronic reminder to drivers. This reminder helps ensure that all children have safely disembarked the vehicle upon completion of each run.

PRODUCT FEATURES

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• Simple to use, easily understood by drivers

• Child check function (reminds drivers to check for children at the end of each route)

• Secondary alert (horn will sound if child check is incomplete)

• Tone instruction (unique tones that prompt drivers and indicate system status)

EP2plus Theft-Mate System

Ensure that no child is left behind in a school bus again. Get the Child Check Mate for your fleet.

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• Customisable programs (can be programmed to meet various custom requirements and state/territory regulations)

• A simple cost-effective equipment that can save children’s lives

NSW GOVERNMENT RELEASES FIRST BUS INDUSTRY TASKFORCE REPORT

The NSW government has announced it has given in-principle support to seven key recommendations made by the Bus Industry Taskforce with its First Report into the industry released recently.

The Taskforce, chaired by John Lee, was established on May 1 to make recommendations to improve the quality and reliability of services and to ensure that bus networks across NSW meet community expectations.

The First Report reveals service quality in relation to on-time running and reliability has deteriorated, most notably in recently privatised regions where driver shortages

and widespread cancellations are being acutely felt.

The First Report notes driver shortages should have been predicted and better managed and that the lack of basic driver facilities at layover areas is unacceptable.

It also highlights a focus on other transport infrastructure and capital investment has come at the expense of basic bus service requirements, such as digital infrastructure including real-time bus tracking, leading to more than 10 per cent of buses not being visible to passengerswidely known as ‘ghost buses’.

The 76-page reports also notes a focus on

DONRIC GROUP ACQUIRES MELBOURNE ON THE MOVE

Operator company Donric Group has announced it has recently acquired Melbourne on the Move (MOTM) in a bid to increase its passenger transport capabilities.

MOTM completes Melbourne day tours and coach hires for passenger transport in and around Melbourne.

Donric Group, which incorporates Bowen Transit, Trans North Bus & Coach, Organ’s Coaches, Coach Tours of Australia and Sunbury Coaches, announced through the latter’s Facebook page that it had made the acquisition.

MOTM has been successfully

providing large-scale passenger transport services to major events and festivals across Victoria, including Red Hot Summer Tour, A Day on the Green, Spilt Milk, One Electric Day, Pitch Festival, Summer Salt, Groovin’ the Moo and various events at Mt Duneed and Hanging Rock for more than 10 years.

Donric Group has provided many coaches and shuttle buses for MOTM over the past decade, with this acquisition set to strengthen Donric’s capability and capacity in the transport management sector.

Donric says it will also provide

savings during retendering has led to a loss of operators with local knowledge.

“The Taskforce clearly sets out where the problems are with the running of bus services, we have identified why this occurred and laid out our first set of recommendations to fix this mess,” Bus Industry Taskforce Chair John Lee says.

“I was disappointed to learn that only two per cent of the capital budget is allocated to buses when they move over 40 per cent of public transport passengers.”

Lee says the Taskforce discovered that the former state government failed to reinvest the millions of dollars made from privatising Sydney buses back into vital services, especially in underserviced areas.

“There’s an opportunity to deliver some quick wins and turn things around. Basic facilities for drivers have been neglected and just some small improvements will make a big difference for this essential workforce and help attract new drivers into the system,” Lee says.

“People within Transport for NSW understand the challenge but struggle with an organisational structure that makes it hard to know who is accountable for improving services for passengers. They need a bus champion who can take responsibility for getting things back on track.”

The NSW government says work is already well underway to address some of the issues identified.

further opportunities within the Sunbury and Organ’s businesses to supply bus services to the various events managed by MOTM.

“Brandon Powell returns to Donric after a short hiatus to take up the role of senior operations –events and business development,” Donric Group says.

“We wish Snowy and Cas all the very best in their next chapter.”

Above: Donric Group has made a move into the passenger transport game

The NSW government has announced that all bus drivers in the state will be able to travel on public transport for free as part of a major government overhaul to boost the bus driver workforce.

The new announcement for NSW bus drivers has been welcomed by BusNSW.

The move will see workers provided with free Opal cards to support the industry and improve services by incentivising more drivers to get behind the wheel.

This introduction was a key recommendation made in the Bus Industry Taskforce Interim Report that called for action to support driver recruitment and retention.

Transport for NSW (TfNSW) will now consult with operators, employees and unions to roll out the cards so that drivers and other workers can travel for free across Opal-enabled public transport networks and access all staff facilities on the Opal network throughout the shift.

This means bus drivers will have PT travel benefits in line with Sydney Trains and NSW TrainLink employees.

BusNSW executive director Matt Threlkeld says this would benefit members in the state.

“The provision of an Employee Opal card has been part of BusNSW’s Driver Recruitment Action Plan for some time, which was based on advice from members,” Threlkeld says.

“We are hopeful that this employee benefit will assist with the promotion of bus industry career opportunities.”

THE WOT!?!

It may be relevant only because it happened on a bus, but as the soccer season is back in England, it’s time to recap one of the great memories from last season. In June, Manchester City’s celebrations for winning a treble of trophies continued into a fourth day, with star player Jack Grealish posting a photo that has gone crazy online since. The photo shows him topless on top of an open top double-decker bus, with Manchester City fans cheering him through the streets of Manchester.

This move follows the NSW government recently kicking off a new recruitment campaign to fix the shortage.

NSW transport minister Jo Haylen says this shows the government is doing everything it can to attract new bus drivers and to support the current workforce.

“This is a no-brainer. We are taking action to address a key recommendation out of the Bus Industry Taskforce’s interim Report and support our hard-working frontline staff,” Haylen says.

“Drivers and operational staff like our mechanics have told us this is what they want and we’re going to deliver on it.

“Staff will be able to use these cards to travel across the Opal-enabled public transport network, including to and from work, and to access other facilities like train station bathrooms while they’re out on the road.”

Haylen says the government wants drivers to be able to comfortably take breaks between shifts before getting back on the road and fulfilling their vital roles connecting the community.

“The Bus Industry Taskforce will consult with employees, unions and operators over the coming months to help ensure a smooth rollout of the cards,” Haylen says.

“The rollout of these cards will mean every bus and train driver will be able to travel freely on the public transport network they proudly operate every day.”

WEARING MANY HATS

There’s been plenty of discussions on how to make bus driving more fun, but Michael Eastland may have just found the answer. The 65-year-old driver based in Wilton, Connecticut has been wearing many different hats as he takes kids to school each day, including a chicken, lobster and shark hat. Each Friday, the school kids don’t know what they’ll see their driver wearing – it’s even gotten to Eastland adorning a pizza or a mohawk.

ALL ABOARD THE BOOK BUS

In Australia’s Kempsey Shire Council, a new minibus is making a difference for senior citizens. The library minibus recently rolled into town in early August, allowing book lovers to browse and borrow books from the comfort of their door instead of rolling up to the nearest library. The mobile library service is helping make life easier for nearby residents in a new way of using minibuses around town.

KINETIC APPOINTS INDUSTRY VETERAN TO AUSTRALIAN MANAGING DIRECTOR

Australasian bus and coach operator Kinetic has announced the appointment of a well-known industry name to its senior leadership team as the managing director of Australia.

The new appointment comes from the Kelsian Group and will replace outgoing managing director Matt Carney.

Experienced transport executive Greg Balkin joins Kinetic from the Kelsian Group (formerly SeaLink Travel Group), where he served as Chief Operating Officer and oversaw all aspects of Kelsian’s Australian bus operations and Brisbane’s RiverCity Ferries.

Kinetic says Balkin brings with him experience in the passenger transport industry, holding previous senior roles within the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads as well as at Transit Systems and Transdev.

Kinetic co-CEO Michael Sewards says he’s excited to welcome Balkin on board when he officially commences in late September.

“Greg joins us with extensive industry experience and a proven track record of success at a strategic and operational level, making him a perfect fit to lead our operations in Australia,” Sewards says.

“Kinetic has come a long way in the Australian market over the past few years, growing from a single SkyBus operation to become one of the largest and most esteemed mass transit bus platforms in the region.

“We look forward to the fresh perspectives and business acumen that Greg will bring to our organisation as we continue to grow our operations in Australia.”

Balkin’s appointment follows the departure of current Australian managing director Matt Carney, who is now joining Kinetic’s operations in the UK as CEO of bus at Go-Ahead.

In the UK, Kinetic is the majority owner of Go-Ahead, including 6,000 buses, six rail franchises and more than 26,000 employees alongside joint venture partner Globalvia.

Sewards says Carney’s support and guidance have been instrumental in propelling Kinetic’s success in the Australian market and that he will continue to drive operational excellence in the UK.

“Matt has been a pivotal figure for Kinetic in recent years and he will add valuable leadership experience to our team in the UK and help Go-Ahead continue realising its global growth and industry leadership ambitions,” Sewards says.

“We’re excited for Matt to share his knowledge and best practices in operational excellence at Go-Ahead while also championing our core sustainability goals, including the accelerated transition to net zero.

“With the appointment of Greg and Matt to key roles overseeing our operations in Australia and the UK respectively, I’m confident Kinetic has the leadership pillars in place to grow our reputation for excellence and make a positive impact in the transport industry.”

“Kinetic has come a long way in the Australian market over the past few years, growing from a single SkyBus operation to become one of the largest and most esteemed mass transit bus platforms in the region.”

GREYHOUND ADDS FIVE NEW COACHES TO THE PACK

Long-distance coach operator Greyhound has ordered five new coaches in a major boost to an ongoing partnership with key manufacturers.

Australian long-distance coach operator Greyhound has announced that it has added five new coach models to its fleet as it continues to expand.

The order of five new coaches by Greyhound Australia continues its 10year partnership with manufacturers Volvo and Irizar while offering customers the best safety, latest technology and improved comfort.

Passengers travelling on what Greyhound says is Australia’s largest long-distance coach network will soon step foot on the Volvo B13R Euro 6 chassis fitted with an Irizar 3900 13.5m body on top.

The model features steerable tag and driver safety aids and is the only model in Australia meeting European roll-over regulations.

Greyhound Australia CEO Dan Smith says the order of five coaches marks the first step of the company’s larger five-year procurement plan.

“Coming off the back of Covid we can now take the first step in the strategic procurement of new fleet to help with increased passenger load volumes experienced during our previous peak season and are continuing to see even now during the traditionally slower winter months,” Smith says.

“Our current fleet of Greyhounds have proven themselves reliable, however they are nevertheless aging, so we’re aiming to minimise service issues and disruptions to

the network with these newer vehicles.”

The latest order follows the previous 13 Volvo/Irizar Euro 5s purchased for regional Queensland government contracted services early last year, with Greyhound’s customer experience program driving seat upgrades and additional comfort features in the new vehicles.

“Delighting our customers is at the core of everything we do, and these new additions will enable us to continue delivering safe, reliable and comfortable

Smith says as the infrastructure and longevity of electric vehicle batteries doesn’t yet exist for long-distance travel in Australia, the new low emission diesel coaches are the best option available on the market to decrease environmental footprint.

The new vehicles will be delivered to Greyhound Australia from March 2024 and will begin to roll out along the East Coast between Melbourne and Cairns. They will be branded in new livery with

journeys for our passengers to feel the heart of Australia,” Smith says.

Volvo Bus Australia and New Zealand general manager Mitch Peden says the order continues a partnership that’s been going strong since 2013.

“We are thrilled to partner with Greyhound Australia on this fleet expansion, cementing our relationship as long-term business partners,” Peden says.

“Our shared values of quality, safety and sustainability make this partnership a perfect match.”

a brand-new colourful dog design to be unleashed.

Features of the Irizar i6S 3900 body include 50 Sege recliner leather seats with extra padding, USB chargers, map pockets, trays, footrests and arm rests, roof and floor heating, an eight camera CCTV system, a Dhollandia wheelchair lifter and WiFi onboard.

At 3.9m high, 2.5m wide and 13.7m long with a bull bar fitted, the new model is set to transport more passengers around Australia in the coming years.

“Delighting our customers is at the core of everything we do, and these new additions will enable us to continue delivering safe, reliable and comfortable journeys for our passengers to feel the heart of Australia.”

AUCKLAND TRANSPORT ANNOUNCES NZ BUS DRIVER SHORTAGE IS OFFICIALLY OVER

In exciting news for the New Zealand bus industry, operator Auckland Transport has revealed that its ongoing bus driver shortage is now officially over.

At the peak of the shortage just eight months ago, Auckland was short 578 drivers, with the city now having three more bus drivers than the 2,306 required to operate Auckland buses.

Auckland Transport metro optimisation manager Richard Harrison says this means more buses and reliability across the Auckland bus network for passengers.

“We are extremely grateful for the patience of Aucklanders while we have worked hard to get our buses back to where they should be,” Harrison says.

“We’re delighted that the bus driver

shortfall is cleared - we now have more active drivers in the workforce than the full requirement, and there are more in training to build resilience.

“The operators have done an excellent job of attracting and retaining drivers over the past 10 months, and it’s great to see passengers return as services become more dependable.”

Despite the challenges, Harrison says Auckland’s public transport has bounced back strongly since COVID, with patronage at around 83 per cent of 2019 levels.

“Our patronage recovery is on par or ahead of many places (the US is notably lower) and we are still working on ways to make public transport even more

attractive to Aucklanders,” Harrison says. Under the resurgence, cancelled bus trips have remained consistently below three per cent over the past month, while all previously suspended buses were added back to timetables in July.

VOLVO UNVEILS B13R CHASSIS IN SINGAPORE

Volvo Buses has unveiled its latest B13R chassis in Singapore to signal its intentions to elevate coach operations in the Asian country.

Volvo says the new coach chassis sets a new standard of excellence, meeting the evolving needs of operates and ensuring improved performance, reduced operational costs and increased profitability.

Starting with safety, the new Euro 6 chassis includes Volvo Dynamic Steering amid optional safety features such as lane-keeping support and collision warning.

When it comes to environmental sustainability, the new B13R delivers up to nine per cent fuel savings compared to its predecessor.

New features such as the I-Shift transmission and a redesigned digital driver instrument cluster provides for enhanced visibility and control, with up to 500 horsepower and a new suspension system allowing for an improved drive.

On the launch day, customers rode a coach built on the chassis and visited Volvo’s regional distribution centre.

“We are extremely grateful for the trust our customers have shown in the Volvo brand by placing orders even prior to seeing the chassis,” Volvo Buses APAC Central Region director Wilhelmina Marishya, Director of Volvo Buses APAC Central Region says.

Above: The Volvo B13R is continuing to be launched globally

COMPLETING THE SET

VDI is preparing to welcome the latest electric version of a popular Yutong diesel bus model into Australia in what will be a milestone moment for the distributor this year

When VDI, the national distributor for Yutong in Australia, first prepared to introduce Yutong’s D7 model in Australia, it sensed it was onto a winner. In the years since, many Australian operators have enjoyed the benefits that the D7 provides.

“We’ve always had high expectations of the D7 vehicle,” VDI general manager Lou Riccardi told ABC.

“Key attributes of the D7 include functionality, reliability and safety, and the Australian market quickly realised it has these in abundance. When combined with VDI’s plentiful parts supply and national aftersales support, it has become extremely popular throughout the country.”

Yutong first brought its D7 to Australia in 2014 under a different name. Plenty has happened in the bus and coach industry in the nine years since. Emissions standards have changed, as have vehicle design, while improved safety has been seen while companies have come and gone.

Bus models haven’t been immune to this change either. In 2020, Yutong’s small bus was officially introduced into Australia as the D7, around the same time Riccardi commenced with VDI.

The Yutong distributor carefully planned the D7’s launch in Australia, firstly setting out to validate its credibility within the Australian market.

“Our research revealed a niche type option for local bus operators seeking the ideal blend between the minibus’ size and

WORDS SEAN MORTELL IMAGES VDI AUSTRALIA

comforts of an urban bus variant,”

Yutong’s D7 has always had its own niche in the Australian market. Its 27 or 28-seat configuration options make it large enough to avoid being classed as a minibus yet small enough to be a niftier option than a standard low-floor urban bus. In the years since it arrived in Australia, VDI has capitalised on this industry gap, and the model’s popularity has

Apart from VDI’s strong local support, the D7 has remained the subject of constant enhancements. Last year, VDI unveiled a brand-new design released globally in time for the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, where nearly 1,000 D7s transported fans to

The evolution of the D7 has now extended to electrification, with VDI set to introduce e D7E variant into Australia. It mirrors its Euro 6 D7 counterpart in most aspects, except for one fundamental change – it’s yet another Yutong battery electric vehicle available in Australia.

The electrification of the D7 is a milestone moment for both VDI and Yutong. For the first time, VDI’s

available in electric options, with best in class localised support, excellent warranty and parts availability,” he

The D7E is set to join Yutong’s existing E12 and C12E models that have been recently electrified to expand VDI’s suite of vehicles. The delegation of VDI folk and local operators that made the trip to Yutong’s headquarters in Zhengzhou, China, earlier this year saw the first D7E model built for Australian operations in the flesh.

Riccardi says the model is now finalising ADR approvals, with VDI expecting the first two D7Es to be shipped to Australia by early October.

As a global leader for producing zero-emissions buses and coaches, VDI national manager of product, ZEBs and new technologies Luke Edwards says Yutong didn’t face any challenges when electrifying the

of different electric models that Yutong builds, this size vehicle isn’t particularly challenging,” Edwards told ABC.

“We already have a smaller version electrified, with the D7E using parts already proven across Yutong buses and reliably tested throughout the global market.”

Alongside its unique specifications, Edwards says the D7 was a hit in Australia due to its high quality features included as standard.

In the space of just one year, these same traits of the D7 have been copied across to the D7E, in line with what VDI and Yutong customers were seeking. Edwards says the trademark quiet nature of electric vehicles is a prominent feature of the latest Yutong electric bus to hit Australian shores.

“The D7E is dead silent,” Edwards says. “There’s no engine noise, no transmission or gear change sounds.

Above: Inside the freshlooking D7E Right: A driver’s delight at the wheel Opposite, Top: The niche D7 has been joined by an electric partner

Below: The 27 or 28 seat vehicle is another step in VDI Australia’s electrification journey

“Once we all understand the vehicle, we’ll put it into the market for any trials or operator orders.”

With the global experience of Yutong supporting it, VDI Australia knows how to successfully launch an electric bus. Riccardi says the distributor’s plan for releasing the D7E will also include engaging with operators to get their feedback on the model so that further enhancements can be identified.

Like the D7, Riccardi is confident that the D7E will attract plenty of interest from the local market and become another hit model for VDI and Yutong.

“A number of operator’s already familiar with VDI’s commitment to product quality and reliability have submitted preliminary orders for the D7E,” Riccardi says.

Top: The D7E will be the electric variant of the popular D7

Above: Customers who know and love the D7 won’t be disappointed by the interior of the D7E

Right:

Like always, Yutong and VDI are committed to using high quality components

It’s a much quieter vehicle that’s better for drivers, passengers and the environment.”

The model includes standard features in a TS160 Door Safety System, Mobileye advanced driver warning systems, 360-degree driver warning camera systems, AEBS, ASR and ECS, and a two-year/ 500,000km warranty with extended warranty options available.

Introducing the D7E into Australian operations will start as a steady process. Once the first two models are shipped to Australia and given full ADR approval, VDI will focus on setting up trials with interested operators.

The distributor has experience in this – in recent months, it has sent E12 and C12E models to alpine regions to undergo testing, then verify and highlight the quality of

Yutong’s electric variants.

Prior to local trialling, Edwards says the VDI team will firstly put the new model through its paces internally so that VDI’s service, technical and sales teams can all experience the D7E and understand it before release onto public roads.

“We want to make sure we can drive and test it ourselves first so that everyone at VDI can get trained on working and retailing the D7E,” Edwards says.

“VDI is very proud to be amongst the first OEM suppliers to offer zero-emission alternatives across its Australian range, which include diesel variants that also meet the highest emissions standards. It reflects our organisations heritage and our commitment to environmental sustainability.”

For more information on the D7E’s launch, VDI says interested customers can visit www. vdiaustralia.com.au to find out more.

A number of operator’s already familiar with VDI’s commitment to product quality and reliability have submitted preliminary orders for the D7E

BUS WASHES

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RESPONDING WITH REFORM

In the wake of multiple bus and coach crashes this year, groups of victims and experts have formed to push for reform. But what can policy makers and the industry do to make bus and coach travel safer in Australia?

WORDS SEAN MORTELL

June 11 is a day that will stick with road safety expert John Gaffney for the rest of his life. It was the day of his son’s wedding in New South Wales’ Hunter Valley region. It would turn into a horror night as 10 attendees of the wedding would become victims of one of the worst road safety accidents in recent Australian history.

For Gaffney, he remembers noticing that the weather conditions in the Hunter Valley typified the symptoms of a classic night for a crash.

“I’d mentioned it to people at the wedding that everything was conducive for a classic crash night that I have discussed in my published research,” Gaffney told ABC.

“It was a beautiful sunny day, warm for a winter’s day, as a large temperature drop (near zero degrees Celsius) occurring through a lack of cloud cover meant moisture fell to the ground. This, when combined with cold tyres, cold brakes and darkness, catches many drivers out.”

When the tragedy then unfolded in the hours after his son’s wedding, Gaffney’s expertise would be remembered. In the week that unfolded following the crash near Greta, Gaffney put pen to paper and made notes on what the transport industry could do to improve safety.

Gaffney wasn’t the only one to wake up in the aftermath of the crash remembering those words. Alex Tigani survived the crash after being thrown from the bus. He too recalled Gaffney’s words and when he met with Adam Bray, whose son Zach had been sitting next to Tigani that night and lost his life in the crash, they decided to get in contact with Gaffney to see what could be done to stop it from ever happening again.

Together, the three of them have begun calling for change in the bus industry to

ensure there’s not another crash like the one seen in the Hunter Valley in June.

“I started calling for change on my own by sending letters to federal and state ministers,” Gaffney says.

“My son was talking to Adam at one of the funerals and Adam said there needs to be an investigation into the safety side of buses, so my son got Adam in contact with me, with Alex also joining us to point out the current road-blocks preventing safety reform from occurring.”

The group’s first goal in its advocacy was to ensure everyone who boards a bus or coach has access to a seatbelt and is compelled by law to wear them. When Gaffney began reaching out to politicians, federal members told him that the enforcement of wearing seatbelts is on each individual state and territory government.

Yet Gaffney hasn’t taken this as an appropriate answer. During his career as a road safety expert, he learnt of a plethora of safety systems already endorsed in Europe and other global regions that haven’t been

included on Australian buses and coaches.

Instead of harping on the issues of this oversight, the trio have committed to promoting new safety innovations that could improve the safety of Australian buses and coaches.

“What we’re doing is fast tracking and understanding the priority of safety initiatives,” Gaffney says.

“We’re also interested in the speed limit side. In Europe they’ve limited the speed of buses in certain areas, especially if there are standing passengers onboard.”

The group is already starting to gain traction, having presented their plan to the Bus Industry Confederation (BIC). In late August, they also presented the same points to assistant federal transport minister Carol Brown to push politicians to implement changed laws.

Their plan starts with the compulsory wearing of seat belts on all buses and continues by calling for coach and bus operators to provide a fully trained professional ‘safety attendant’ to manage seat belt wearing. Unlike others in the

aftermath of the crash, Gaffney understands this responsibility can’t be left to the driver.

The seven-point plan also includes an intensive education program on seat belt wearing alongside improved selection and training processes for recruiting and retaining bus drivers that includes psychometric testing and compulsory real-time driver monitoring systems.

From his road safety background, Gaffney has also presented the idea of reviewing road design standards and speed limits while also reshaping bus roll-over standards, including bus window, emergency access and egress rules.

“Research suggests many buses crash on curved sections of roads where there’s guard rails everywhere,” Gaffney says.

“Do buses meet design standards for if they fall on the sharp edge of a guard rail, particularly at the speeds

at which buses travel?”

The final point of the plan is to ensure the nation’s bus fleet is equipped with the world’s best onboard and real-time safety equipment, including innovation such as tyre pressure monitoring systems, automatic emergency braking, vehicle rollover warning systems, black box data loggers and intelligent speed assist.

Gaffney says this technology also extends to bus glass glazing. When asking the federal government about these standards, Gaffney says they have already revised the standard on glass recently, but Gaffney wants them to also consider the egress ejected from a bus in the instance of a crash.

Gaffney, alongside Tigani and Bray, have a multitude of reasons to be negative towards policy makers for the tragedy that occurred near Greta in June. However, they are all choosing to be constructive and

Above: Bus speed limits are part of Gaffney’s (above, right) suggestions to improve industry safety

Opposite, Top: Safety is front of mind in the bus sector following recent incidents

forge a path forward that makes buses and coaches a safer form of transport on the road for all passengers and drivers.

Gaffney says the bus and coach industry has a superb safety track record throughout the decades in Australia, but that doesn’t mean more can’t be done to prevent rollover crashes from claiming more lives.

“It requires organisational and structural change to get these amendments made as soon as possible,” he says.

“We need to work out who is responsible for regulating bus safety, as buses carry millions of Australians every day, so the industry deserves its own specialised regulator as a bus is

Research suggests many buses crash on curved sections of roads where there’s guard rails everywhere.

up the morning after the Hunter Valley bus crash with heavy hearts as they heard the news. On the other side of the world, professor emeritus of road safety at the University of NSW and the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine Raphael Grzebieta awoke to find out two things.

One – he had been recognised with a Member of the Order (AM) as part of the King’s Birthday proceedings, and two –that a bus crash in the Hunter Valley had claimed the lives of 10 people.

The first point was quickly forgotten as Grzebieta moved to respond to the frustration and shock he felt at the bus crash.

“It was horrible to hear because the 10 lives that were claimed in the incident didn’t have to be lost as a result of the crash,” Grzebieta told ABC.

“It was very frustrating as for a number of years I’ve been pushing the federal government to adopt safety practices that help prevent these horrible incidents from claiming lives.”

In a similar method yet a completely different environment to Gaffney, Grzebieta spent the days following the crash compiling a list of four key reforms that he thinks the Australian heavy vehicle industry needs to adopt at a quicker rate. Instead of lagging behind European standards, the road safety expert has called on Australian policymakers to consider making seatbelts mandatory on NSW long-haul buses and coaches.

Grzebieta also told the Sunday Morning Herald that alongside this seatbelt move, unnecessary delays in introducing emergency braking and stability control

made available to police to decipher the critical parts of the crash.

Grzebieta says bus and coach rollovers standards, or the lack of them, is a key issue that requires immediate reform in Australia.

“We’ve seen a number of rollovers at round-abouts, particularly with trucks and buses, that turn out particularly bad,” he says.

“I’ve been involved with many projects where we recommended an operator buys heavy vehicles with appropriate electronic stability control (ESC) to control how fast drivers can take a corner, eliminating the majority of rollovers.

“We need to see this technology made mandatory as soon as possible.”

Alongside the need to make seat belt wearing mandatory on all buses, not just coaches, Grzebieta also called

November 1 this year and in all vehicles from November 1 next year. The professor wants to see this brought forward while also looking at rollover crash standards to mirror regulations in both Europe and the US.

Grzebieta says changes can start on the seat belt front by installing technology that alerts drivers if passengers aren’t wearing a seat belt. This could then play into Gaffney’s idea of having attendants onboard or a designated responsible person provided by the hirer if buses are chartered to ensure seat belts are worn before the vehicle moves.

He then wants to see fatigue issues and safety glazing prioritised once this amendment is made.

“I’ve been asking for a couple of decades now for Australia to look at safety glazing standards on vehicles,” he says.

“Bus safety glazing can be used to protect

enough – you also have to have additional safety glazing, and there should be a standard introduced for this technology onboard all Australian buses and coaches.”

Both Gaffney and Grzebieta agree that the next course of action is for policy makers to begin changing rules. ABC reached out to the Victorian Department of Transport and Planning (DOT), who responded saying it’s got safety reform on the agenda, without revealing what it is specifically looking at.

“Buses on our network cover more than 128 million kilometres every year and all drivers have to undergo rigorous assessment and training before they’re allowed to operate a bus carrying passengers,” the DOT told ABC.

“The Victorian government is also

looking into rules around seatbelts on school buses following the Exford bus crash – there will be more to say once that, and any other investigations, have concluded.”

The Victorian DOT says its School Bus Program, since 2013, has ensured all new school buses have been fitted with seat belts, raising seat belt rates from 43 per cent to 90 per cent.

Commercial passenger vehicle safety regulator Safe Transport Victoria is also looking into safety changes. It told ABC that new reforms from March this year require operators to establish, maintain and comply with management systems to safely manage operations, including maintenance and risk management of bus and coach fleets.

In New South Wales, where the Hunter Valley crash occurred, the state government has already began acting, instructing its recently formed Bus Industry Taskforce to investigate safety concerns. The industry is yet to hear the results of these investigations.

Although recent bus crashes this year have caused politicians to begin considering safety changes, Gaffney is intent on hastening these reforms.

With the backing of other road safety experts, Gaffney and his group intend to continue meeting with federal politicians to ensure the Hunter Valley tragedy, alongside other incidents, form the catalyst for change in the bus and coach industry.

“I’d like to see innovative bus reform come out of this tragedy,” Gaffney says.

“I want reform that encompasses the major changes we have put forward and is met with a more responsive approach to prioritise the safety of people.

“In five or 10 years’ time, I want to look back and say how did we allow these standards that are currently in place? It’s time this innovative reform is fast tracked in Australia.”

I’ve been involved with many projects where we recommended an operator buys heavy vehicles with appropriate electronic stability control (ESC) to control how fast drivers can take a corner, eliminating the majority of rollovers.

UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE

Bus Stop Sales is known for sales and after-sales support. It’s a family thing. Through nearly 50 continuous years of support for the bus and coach industry, the White family has plenty of experience in the sector.

Pete White, as the director of Bus Stop Sales, has followed in his father’s footsteps to provide a lifetime of knowledge culminating in the form of Bus Stop Sales. Now, White is using his nous and family history to continue finding ways to make the Australian bus and coach industry better in the long run.

“This deep experience is core to my desire to see Bus Stop Sales continue its success,” White told ABC.

“However, I’m driven to elevate and support our industry through a very different lens, one that challenges traditional OEM thinking and focuses on supplying the best possible bus and coach solutions to all operators, large and small.”

This vision and drive dates back to Bus Stop’s premises in Brisbane. The Brisbane Bus Centre, based in the Brisbane suburb of Rocklea, has been a visionary move from White.

Bus Stop Sales invested heavily in the site, customising the substantial former Penske truck sales and service site to convert it from a truck outlet to a dedicated centralised hub for the bus industry, something White says has never been seen before on this scale and size. This includes huge investment to support ICE products, however it has also been heavily focused on supporting the transition to new energy procurement, with White capitalising on the latter in recent years at Bus Stop.

The success that the King Long zero-emissions product has had so far in Australia through Bus Stop has done enough to convince White of the technology’s benefits. He says that “hybrid just isn’t the solution” regarding the sustainability challenge.

“Electric bus technology has decades of proven experience and the lowest total cost of ownership over the bus life, there is no model where investing in hybrid diesel solutions makes sense in an overwhelming majority of urban operations,” White says.

As White’s strategy has evolved, Bus Stop has extended its site to other manufacturers in the region. When Australian company BusTech Group was looking for a new location to relocate to in Queensland, it looked no further than Rocklea.

From all accounts, BusTech’s move to the Brisbane Bus Centre has been seamless and hugely successful, with BusTech delivering several buses from the site and meeting its goals of rapidly establishing its operations in Rocklea.

White says it has been fantastic to welcome BusTech to Bus Stop’s Rocklea site.

Just because the Brisbane Bus Centre has been a huge success for Bus Stop doesn’t mean that White is stopping now. He is already looking at ways to invigorate the local bus and coach industry through his position in Rocklea.

“Supporting local content is important to us and the way forward for the industry,” White says.

“We’ve established relationships with a local network of manufacturers and after-sales support locations, and we

From his time in the industry at the helm of Bus Stop Sales, director Pete White has plenty of experience evolving brands in the local bus and coach industry.

White says electric buses are the answer for Australia’s zeroemissions future

think this is the best way forward for the industry.”

White’s lens isn’t just limited to what Bus Stop and Australian manufacturers have been able to do within the country’s boundaries. Instead, he has a nuanced perspective on blending local content with imported models to help make the zero-emissions transition easier for the nation’s operators.

As the national distributor of King Long in Australia, this blend includes the Chinese King Long product that has continued to excel down under.

“The imported category offers choice, and we continue to invest time and funds to refine and reposition it towards product excellence,” White says.

“We’re focusing on selecting the best possible components from around the world to create outstanding products assembled by our boutique manufacturer; this is important to emphasise as our products stand alone as the most premium in the imported market.

“While we are compared initially on price, when the product components are

evaluated, the overall value proposition is exceptional.

“Specifically on electric buses, China invested and embraced the technology more than two decades ago (the first King Long hybrid electric bus was built with lead acid batteries in 2001) while European OEMs didn’t. As such, King Long is fortunate to create zero-emissions bus packages based on millions of in-market kilometres.”

Beyond the product, White continues investing in people and systems to enhance Bus Stop’s capabilities in Australia.

The after-sales support side of Bus Stop has recently seen key hires internationally, with David Lowe joining Bus Stop in the multi-faceted position of after-sales manager, zero-emissions bus engineering team and new executive general manager of dealership and operations.

Lowe is an ex-Daimler dealer principal and has previously worked with King Long within international markets, joining general manager of fleets Stephen Long and general manager of southern states Guy Pex at Bus Stop.

“We are building depth and experience into our management team as we have identified continued investment in people, product and the after-sales support structure as critical to long-term success,” White says.

Through all of these changes and learnings throughout White’s time at the helm of Bus Stop, he has a few critical messages for the nation’s bus and coach industry. His most prominent one is directed towards operators wanting to make the transition to zero-emissions shortly.

“My key message is that we are a solutions provider that is partnering with best-in-class and like-minded suppliers to support both small and large fleet operations,” White says.

“Whether it be product customisation, locally built or fully imported options, charging solutions or infrastructure training, we’re curating the best package to support operators’ transitions.

“I’m confident that Bus Stop Sales is continuing to build momentum as it reaches further than it ever has in Australia.”

DISTRIBUTING TO OVER 40+ COUNTIES WORLDWIDE

BEHIND THE PIONEERS

Much like many Australian states and territories, Victoria has taken big strides towards a zeroemissions future in recent years. ABC chats with some of the operators leading the charge when it comes to zero-emissions bus trials in Melbourne and beyond

When zero-emissions bus technology first began to arrive on Australian shores, state and territory governments moved to match it. In recent years, the Victorian government has been one of many to begin implementing network changes to usher in the latest generation of new energy buses and coaches.

In mid-August, the Victorian government launched pre-qualification for some of its metropolitan bus services contracts. These new franchises serve as an important next step under the state’s bus plan as they centre around zero-emissions buses.

It’s taken an evolution in Victoria’s zero-emissions bus technology to get to this stage. Just two years ago, the state government launched a zero-emissions

bus (ZEB) trial project as a way of familiarising operators with the technology before these latest 10-year contracts came into force.

With the Victorian government now mandating that all new public transport buses bought from 2025 onwards be zero-emissions, a select group of operators have positioned themselves ahead of the curve. As of August this year, six Victorian operators are currently in the midst of trialling zero-emissions buses on the state’s roads – Donric Group, ComfortDelGro Corporation Australia (CDC), Latrobe Valley Bus Lines, Seymour Passenger Services, Transit Systems and Ventura, with Kinetic introducing electric buses into its fleet as part of the Melbourne metropolitan bus franchise.

As the pressure begins to slowly be applied to the state’s operators to

successfully implement zero-emissions buses and their associated infrastructure on metropolitan and regional routes, ABC caught up with some of these six operators trialling new energy buses in Victoria to see how their initial electric forays are going.

DABBLINGINELECTRICWITH DONRIC

For Donric Group’s managing director Matt Baird, battery electric buses first came onto his radar way before the Victorian government’s first ZEB trial in 2021.

Baird first remembers travelling to Europe back in 2017 on a study tour with Volvo Bus Australia to see the very first fully electric buses running in Gothenburg, Sweden. His experience inspired him to begin introducing this technology into Victoria when it became available.

“I had a particular interest in the technology from the years prior to the trial being announced in Victoria,” Baird told ABC.

“When it came to procuring electric buses for the trial in 2021, we spoke to several OEMs about their electric bus product.

“At the time of preparing for the tender submission, Custom Denning was the only OEM with a product that we could touch and feel.”

Once Baird and the Donric Group team were able to hop onboard a prototype Element model in 2021, the deal was done. After securing electric buses for the trial, Baird and his team were ready to test the new energy models on Victorian roads. Baird says, much like all new bus deliveries, the battery electric models had a couple of teething issues, but these have since been ironed out and the vehicles have performed well in recent years.

Some Donric Group drivers warmed to the quieter and smoother rides immediately, while others took convincing as the operator engaged in a comprehensive training program to teach staff how to drive electric buses.

“Our biggest challenge has been getting the charging right,” Baird says. “Electric vehicles add a whole new dimension to the scheduling of buses and drivers. Additionally, the different costs of charging suddenly became a factor, so we’ve had some major headaches with setting up our charging infrastructure.”

Donric Group decided, after nine months of persisting with its initial infrastructure, to switch to ABB for charging equipment. This change involved running new cabling, with

been worthwhile as the equipment began functioning well.

“My advice for other operators who are wanting to trial electric buses is to plan five to 10 years ahead,” Baird says.

“Set up for how you think you will look in 10 years rather than focusing on your needs now. The technology is changing so quickly so you need to look ahead.”

CHARGINGFORWARDWITH CDC

As one of the larger operators in Australia, ComfortDelGro Corporation Australia (CDC) was always keen to be at the cutting edge of zero-emissions bus technology. Its Victorian journey started in 2019 with its first hybrid bus. Now, CDC says it has Australia’s largest hybrid fleet with 50 vehicles operating in Victoria.

“Our logical next step was to participate in the zero-emissions bus trial in Melbourne’s south-eastern suburbs,” ComfortDelGro Corporation Australia CEO Nicholas Yap told ABC.

“In just over four years, the CDC Victoria hybrid fleet reduced fuel use by more than 1,273,000 litres and lowered CO2 emissions by 3,428 tonnes, so we were keen to trial electric.”

When it came to ordering the zero-emissions models, CDC looked no further than its existing hybrid bus partnerships with Volvo and

use its BZL battery electric chassis and kept the manufacturing of the trial buses locally in Victoria, with the buses being built and fitted out at Volgren in Dandenong.

Now, the first of eight battery-electric buses is running on the busy route 601 on weekdays and route 630 on weekends, covering Huntingdale Station, Monash University, Gardenvale and Ormond Station in Melbourne’s south-east. Another two BEBs will be operating on Melbourne streets by the end of the year.

“CDC, in conjunction with our project partners ENGIE, Volvo, Volgren, Monash University and TSA Advisory, collaborated closely throughout the entire implementation of the trial,

drivers has been very encouraging and positive.”

CDC says its partnerships helped with many of the challenges involved in such a visionary trial, ranging from the selection of charging equipment to the location of the bus depot. As part of the zero-emissions bus trial, CDC has also installed Australia’s first offsite bus charging station in the state at the Monash University bus interchange while enhancing its infrastructure at its Oakleigh depot.

The operator says collaboration is key to running zero-emissions buses successfully in both Victoria and Australia.

“As with any new technology, the more minds and skillsets working together means the higher the chance of success,” Yap says.

“Given the new technology being deployed, we ensured all areas of bus and depot operations were carefully evaluated, including safety, energy requirements, depot layout, vehicle and charger selection, training and shift scheduling.”

CASHINGINWITHKINETIC

Unlike the other operators, multi-national company Kinetic’s journey was a bit different. Kinetic took until June 2022 to operate electric buses in Victoria. Instead of trialling the new technology before buying, it dove right in and introduced 18 BEBs progressively after it began operating the Melbourne metropolitan bus

Above: Operators say getting the charging infrastructure right is key to running an efficient electric bus network

Above, Right: Transit Systems recently added electric buses to its West Footscray depot Below: Electric buses are continuing to increase in popularity in Victoria

imported BYD chassis alongside a 348kWh battery pack.

Sewards says the buses have performed well since being introduced, with some vehicles exceeding the 300km range per full charge.

“Drivers comment that less vibration and noise from a diesel engine leaves them feeling better at the end of a shift, and naturally many of them prefer using them,” Sewards says.

“They’re also equipped with awesome technology such as cameras replacing external mirrors, while customers say they have a smoother ride and cyclists have been pleased by the lack of exhaust emissions when riding behind an electric bus.”

By the end of 2023, Kinetic will have more than 1000 electric buses operating around the globe, with 300 in Australasia. Kinetic has selected depots to upgrade infrastructure that have sufficient parking and capacity to ensure space isn’t lost in the transition. While doing so, Kinetic has installed bus parking that provides shade for the hotter months, avoiding excessive

TRIEDANDTESTEDBYTRANSIT SYSTEMS

Operating in most Australian states with the nation’s largest green fleet – Australian multi-modal transport operator Transit Systems concludes our overview of the six operators currently running BEBs in Victoria. The expanding operator was the latest to add electric buses to its Victorian network when it launched nine new electric vehicles featuring Volgren bodies and Volvo chassis to its Victorian fleet in May this year as part of the state government’s zero-emissions bus trial.

“We’re operating the nine new buses from Transit Systems’ West Footscray depot and they have been deployed across the north-western suburbs of Melbourne including Footscray, Williamstown, Moonee Ponds and

buses for a more sustainable commute.

Leveraging global partnerships and working locally with government partners, Transit Systems is one of six operators showing that zero-emissions buses are possible in the state’s network. With the Victorian government looking to welcome more BEBs into its networks in the coming years, Transit Systems may not be the last operator to join in on this electric evolution in Victoria.

“We expect to complete more than 670,000 customer journeys on these new electric buses within 12 months, with the feedback so far being all positive,” Storms says.

“We’re excited to welcome more customers onboard this quieter and cleaner public transport journey in Victoria.”

The electrification of bus networks is simple, practical and affordable and results in longlasting meaningful change that will improve the communities in which we live and work.

DUAL TYRE LAZY RENAISSANCE

In a bid to provide an upgraded coach model that fits operator requirements, BLK Auto is in the final stages of designing and creating a new President 3 model that features popular technology from yesteryear

When BLK Auto was looking to introduce a new and updated version of one of its more popular coach models, it turned to trusted operators for feedback.

Harking back to the days of the old Denning dual tyre lazy coaches, the feedback called for the lazy axles to return in the form of an updated BLK Auto President 3 dual tyre lazy coach.

“The idea was bandied around at BLK Auto for many months before it picked up momentum,” BLK Auto executive and national sales & contracts manager David Jiear told ABC.

“When some operators mentioned

looking into a dual tyre lazy option, we started asking them questions about what they were looking for and what they wanted the updated model to achieve. It developed from there with us taking into account their suggestions.”

The idea to supply a dual tyre lazy option was a blast from the past. It used to be a feature of an older Denning range, with certain buses coming with a single tyre lazy axle while others featured the dual tyre version.

Despite its popular following, the model is no longer built and sold in Australia, creating a gap in the market.

Operators then told BLK Auto to consider revamping this classic technology to facilitate the increase of

the mass limits of the updated President 3. When BLK Auto general manager Sean Smith arrived at the company and heard of its intentions with the dual tyre lazy coach, he put his engineering expertise into the project.

“We were adamant that we had to fill this hole in the market,” Smith told ABC.

“We had those discussions inside our four walls and decided to design and build the axle system here in Australia.”

This local flavour soon became a defining moment of the President 3’s redesign. Instead of relying on BLK Auto’s offshore factory to complete the entire design and build of the axle, BLK Auto took matters into its own hands, redesigning the entire system in Australia

IMAGES BLK AUTO

currently ongoing. While the Australian arm of BLK Auto continues to design and build the entire dual tyre lazy axle system, including suspension, axle and other parts, the offshore factory is modifying the President’s chassis. Once BLK Auto completes axle construction in Australia, it will ship its updated technology to the factory to be built into the completed vehicle.

“Our plan is that a finished vehicle will be ready in our offshore factory so that our new axle system can be bolted into it,” Smith says.

“The new axle design will be shipped to the factory and offered under a finished three-axle body and chassis combination.

“This process guarantees our peace of mind as we can run the process ourselves and complete all necessary checks and tests in Australia.”

Once the two projects are combined into one new President 3 14.5m model, it’ll go through the usual standards checks before entering a testing

Above:

The President 3 dual tyre lazy coach is expected to hit Australian shores early next year

Right:

The technology addition will be a welcome upgrade for the BLK President 3 model

phase. Smith expects the long list of tests, including crack tests and fatigue regimes, to confirm that the operators’ suggestion for a dual tyre lazy option will be a welcome addition for the local market.

From Jiear’s standpoint, operators have been vocal to him and BLK Auto for some time about replicating the old Denning technology. He’s confident that the new design will satisfy all key operators looking to pre-order the model.

“We have met with operators and gone over technical drawings with them and have received some very positive feedback,” Jiear says.

“The big theme with the bus industry currently is about putting bums on seats and optimising range and carrying capacity – the dual tyre lazy option ticks all of the boxes.

“We wanted to come up with a BLK Auto version of the old Denning models but include our improvements as standard on this vehicle.”

Once it’s finalised, the dual tyre lazy coach will come in both a single and double-deck option. Standard specifications include a Cummins X12 480hp engine and a capacity to carry up to a 1400L fuel tank that meets the range improvements that BLK was after and some operators were seeking. Seating capacity comes down to configuration but varies between 62 and 71 seats.

Smith says all of these quality components will help ensure the new President 3 model meets operator requirements and makes the project worthwhile.

“Operators asked for a variety of reasonable additions, including increased

for fuel carry,” Smith says.

“We’ll phase in these requests that we think we can handle, including locally sourced airbags and shock absorbers, while we’ll look into using imperial measurements instead of metric for this model.”

The project is already escalating and Smith expects the first versions of the reinvigorated President 3 coach to arrive in Australia in the first quarter of next year. Now that the design of the new axles has been confirmed, the next step is producing design drawings so that the axles can be built.

While it does this, BLK Auto has also streamlined its logo, removing the ‘Zero Emissions is our Mission’ part of the logo to avoid confusing customers. Now, it includes ‘BLK Auto – Bus and Coach Sales’ to show that the brand is still invested in the latest diesel technology while also bringing to market new zero-emissions models.

Much of this movement is precipitated by feedback. Smith says that he wants to hear from more operators about BLK Auto, specifically the new dual tyre lazy coach model in the works.

“It’s important that we get more input from interested parties, so now is the time for them to tell us what they want –I encourage people to reach out,” Smith says.

“We have received good feedback from key operators, but we want to try and target fringe customers who may also need something like this new model.

“We expect that our team will be at the factory testing the vehicle soon before we book space to bring it out, so now is the time for us and the industry to get

PARTS PRIORITY

When Challenger Bus & Coach evolved from a long-time operator based in Far North Queensland to become an Australian bus and coach brand, it had a unique perspective of the industry. Its background running a fleet of school buses and private charter coach tours meant it had insights into what day-to-day operators wanted out of vehicle brands. When Challenger, led by founder Greg Sloan, made the jump to building its own line of buses and coaches, the brand used this experience to consider niche additions that would make life easier for operators.

A key component of this centred around spare parts.

“With Greg at the helm with his lifelong experience in buses, Challenger has been built on the knowledge that parts are always going to be required by operators,” Challenger Victorian sales manager Dan Campbell told ABC.

“It’s one of the key pillars of our brand that we focus on alongside selling our bus and coach models.

“We know there’s nothing worse for operators than having a bus off the road and being unable to get parts. We want to have parts well priced and in stock across Australia, ready for quick distribution when needed.”

This led to Challenger immediately

establishing framework for its parts side of the business. While it started by focusing on spare parts that evolving Challenger vehicles require, it has also resulted in Challenger sourcing and stocking a variety of parts for numerous brands.

“The premise of our parts side of the business is that we keep in stock and supply an array of spare parts that support our own buses as well as a selection of main parts for other buses sold in Australia,” Campbell says.

“Our experience helped us determine that sometimes buses can be kept off-road for months at a time if they require a non-regular spare part from a particular brand.

“There can be many different brands that make up a bus, so we decided to ensure we could sell all types of parts to operators to keep vehicles on the road for longer.”

This is where Sloan’s knowledge and standing in the industry came to the fore. Through his connections, Challenger has been able to establish a network that can source spare parts of many brands quickly and at a good rate. Challenger passes this onto customers, acting as a local connection for operators needing help with spare parts.

Campbell says Challenger customers are finding value in being able to talk to an Australian company to source international bus and coach parts. As inquiries and demand have grown, Challenger has sought to keep all Challenger parts in stock in Australia while also sourcing high volume, popular parts for other brands.

WORDS & IMAGES SEAN MORTELL

With its unique operator background, Challenger Bus & Coach is using its experience when it comes to its spare parts game

at a good price,” Campbell says.

“We also have the ability to source other parts at a good price too, so operators are able to speak to us and then we can help them in trying to find the parts that they need around the world.”

While Challenger did lay the groundwork for a spare parts focus when transitioning from operator to manufacturer, it took until the COVID-19 pandemic for the brand to completely solidify its parts presence.

Just under three years ago, Challenger launched Australasian Bus & Coach Parts, a separate branch of the Challenger brand that encapsulates its parts ethos by focusing on service, breakdown and maintenance parts for all bus brands. Through this, Challenger has been able to facilitate more conversations with operators to learn about their frustrations when it comes to accessing parts.

Through this, Challenger’s ability to source a wide range of parts came, with Campbell saying Australasian Bus & Coach Parts is now building.

“That side of the brand is continuing to slowly develop over the past three years,” Campbell says.

“It’s been a difficult journey with freight and supply chain issues, but we’re now starting to build up our stock levels and we’re not far off being able to present more to

such as filters and belts.”

When the parts side was formally launched, Challenger put Queensland sales manager Mark Collins in charge of looking after it. Since his arrival, Challenger has launched a parts request area on its website to receive inquiries, while Collins has been able to complete plenty of quoting and ordering for parts needs.

“I’m usually the first contact for parts queries and I’ve been able to speak to customers directly to make parts easier and less confusing,” Collins told ABC.

“These queries range from massive orders to some niche smaller requests, from newer models to really old buses.

“We’ve worked really hard on the parts side and we now have lots of parts coming from overseas, including some Cummins gear and a range of running gear.”

Collins says Challenger, alongside Australasian Bus & Coach Parts, has emphasised quality when it comes to ordering parts for Australian customers. This includes using national networks with the likes of Cummins, ZF and Allison when it comes to running gear, while its service item system means filters, belts, wheel bearings and brake linings can all be heavily discounted from retail prices.

Collins says establishing networks with these quality manufacturers means Challenger

can source parts globally that are usually more difficult to reach.

Yet in a local sense, Challenger has incorporated this parts emphasis into its bus delivery process. Whether it be an old bus or a sparkling new Challenger coach, the brand has learnt from its history when it comes to prioritising operators with a buffet of quality spare parts.

“When we deliver buses, we also deliver key parts on consignment to the customer, including a set of windscreens, to ensure there’s no downtime for these new vehicles,” Campbell says.

“We are consistently increasing our stock level of parts throughout our bases in Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth.

“If we can maintain a healthy stock of parts for all buses, then it’ll enable us to get parts to operators when required and treat our customers well.”

Opposite, Top: Challenger is focusing on more than just its complete vehicles when it comes to local deliveries

Top: Driving is made easier for operators with parts delivered on consignment

Above: Whether it be seats or other parts, Challenger is working to source parts

Left: Challenger is looking to source parts for customers such as the Whitmore Group

REFURB FOCUS

There’s nothing like a new seat. The fresh smell. The luxurious comfort. The eye-catching colour as you board a bus.

This is what Australian seating manufacturer StyleRide is trying to replicate as it continues to refurbish and refit a growing number of bus and coach seats.

“Refurbishment has generally been part of StyleRide’s product offering and has ebbed and flowed in volumes throughout the years,” StyleRide Australia general manager Garrin Angel told ABC.

“A large number of fleets are

now coming up to an age where the reinvestment decision must be made and we’re fielding plenty of inquiries about what we can do when it comes to refurbishing and refitting seats.”

This spike in interest has led Angel and the StyleRide team to finetune its broader servicing and refurbishing processes. StyleRide’s capabilities extend well beyond a simple cover replacement of a vehicle’s seats. Instead, StyleRide effectively reinvigorate each seat onboard a bus or coach, returning it back to an almost new state that comes with all of the wonderful features of a fresh set of seats. Although refurbishing

seats can take almost the same amount of time as manufacturing and installing a completely new set, Angel says the simplicity of reinvigorating seats makes it a cheaper option for operators.

“Refurbishing seats is easy to do than replacement and there’s no component cost involved,” Angel says.

“We’ve found that customers also love having the chance to reselect fabrics and remodel their fleets as it brings a very modern look to their vehicles.

“We’ve got one refurbishment currently going through the business on a 15 year old set of seats. By the time we finish

Above: StyleRide is fielding more inquiries about its refurbishing capabilities

IMAGES STYLERIDE AUSTRALIA

In recent years, StyleRide Australia has capitalised on the refurbishing trend in the seating market by updating its processes

with them, they’ll go from a cloth fabric to a synthetic leather and have a whole new bespoke seating pattern that will improve the cleaning ability and reduce the need for maintenance.”

StyleRide’s seat refurbishment and refitting process starts by assessing the set when they come into the seating manufacturer’s new site in Acacia Ridge, Queensland. For most refurbishments, customers bring in the vehicles themselves so StyleRide can inspect it in-person and provide a refined quote for the job.

The team then goes through a detailed process of documenting installation before it begins removing and stripping the seats down. Once the refurbishment is done as required, the seats are re-powder coated and new cushions are put on, providing a more hygienic finish for customers.

“Once we go through this process of refurbishing, it turns to re-installing and

Above: StyleRide has factored in refurbishing seats into its new site

Below: More space allows for

reconfiguring the seats,” Angel says.

“If we find that we can make improvements by changing the installation a little, we also do that and advise customers of the changes we plan to make.

“We won’t structurally change the vehicle layout, but if we can improve the space by changing a wall mount or doing something minor like that then

rather simple process, Angel says it can take anywhere between five days and a week to completely refurbish and reinstall a set of seats on a bus or coach. With inquiries continuing to build on this offering, StyleRide is looking to evolve in this area and make the process more economic and efficient for all involved.

Angel isn’t neglecting any ideas – he’s even considering building an exchange program for old seats and seat parts to build an inventory for refurbishing older models.

“As it’s an increasing part of our customer base and our requirements, there’s a chance we’ll look to have seats prepared to a semi built-up phase in advance in our future to speed up the process of turning over seats and refurbishing them,” Angel says.

“A lot of seats tend to be standard and refurbishing still generally takes a week, so if we can develop an inventory structure then we can look to reduce that timeframe to roughly three days.”

The idea behind these tweaks is to ensure StyleRide is prepared for peak times. In the refurbishing and reinstalling game, this tends to fall around school holidays, where school bus operators use the time off to get their seats refitted.

We’ve put a dedicated line in place where we can stage up to three vehicles inside and work on them either sequentially or simultaneously, depending on the requirement.

expertise and resources around school holiday times, with the staggered school holiday periods of individual states and territories meaning each peak period lasts for roughly four weeks at a time.

If StyleRide can increase efficiency and reduce the process by two days, Angel is hopeful StyleRide can refurbish and refit seats for up to four more vehicles per each school holiday period.

This forward-thinking was at the front of Angel’s mind when he planned StyleRide’s new Acacia Ridge facility. Now, he’s looking at putting to use a dedicated refurbishing section onsite to see these envisaged improvements become reality.

“When I initially did the draft layout for the new site, one benefit of it was having a drive-through complete refurbishing capability,” Angel says.

“We’ve put a dedicated line in place where we can stage up to three vehicles inside and work on them either sequentially or simultaneously, depending on the requirement.

“We can now bring vehicles in

through the front door, do our work on them and then drive it out the back door to return to customers. It allows everything to be undercover and located close to component bays to reduce inefficiencies.”

Despite this focus on StyleRide’s refurbishing and reinstalling capabilities, Angel has other projects on his mind. StyleRide is currently working with one of its key customers, Aus Ships, on refurbishing seats onboard some of its Brisbane CityCat ferry vessels.

At the same time, StyleRide is continuing to retain its skilled staff and focus on training, while Angel has also finalised two internal promotions, gifting him a new production supervisor and a new combined quality and materials manager.

“This internal reorganisation will allow one person to focus on the human capacity side while the other will focus on the components and products,” Angel says.

“The idea is that this will improve the quality of our products and free up my

In May 2022, Bus SA began delivering BusSAFE – an in-school program that teaches rural and regional primary school students how their behaviour impacts their safety in and around buses. Since then, there have been just under 200 sessions delivered or booked at 80+ schools – that’s a total of 7,685 students.

Now Bus SA is very pleased to announce that it has successfully secured funding for BusSAFE under the Heavy Vehicle Safety Initiative.

The funding will help grow BusSAFE into a product that can be offered to students across Australia. It shows government committment to the simple yet vital mission we all share – saving children’s lives.

The project is due to kick-off in late October - early November and will deliver:

• an IT platform enabling national delivery

• two trials of 75 sessions each, in Tasmania and Queensland

• a core resource of program materials for Tas, Qld and national use

• a Strategic Partnership and Support Program to ensure long-term sustainability.

BusSAFE is reinforced by its strong partnerships with bus operators and industry. These partnerships signify a collective commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of our students.

Look out for a feature article in the November issue of this magazine.

time to focus on product development.”

This new product development is already off to a good start, with StyleRide working with one customer currently on introducing a new product from father company Lazzerini in Italy. Angel says this new seating model will be a bespoke configuration that will allow for full ADR compliance, with more to come later in the year.

Whether it be focusing on new models or enhancing its capabilities to refurbish its older set of seats onboard Australian vehicles, the end goal is for StyleRide to provide a high quality product for local buses and coaches.

“This is all about trying to offer the customer a single point of support for seating,” Angel says.

“This includes manufacturing, installing, aftersales supports and spare parts. We’ll focus on updating our processes and moving ahead with the onsite installation of seats – we’ve got the first series of four going through this month and we’re expecting to continue tracking on an upwards trajectory.”

Last free webinar for 2023

26 October @ 1.30-2.30 pm

Communication solutions to protect drivers and other lone or remote workers, with CSE Crosscom

The South Australian Government has recently introduced new laws making industrial manslaughter a criminal offence. Employers now face criminal charges for failing to adequately manage, control or supervise employees. This includes employees who work alone.

Whether on a city route or a school bus run in the country, bus drivers are vulnerable, lone workers. In this webinar, you’ll hear about your new legal obligations as an employer, and how CSE Crosscom is helping businesses around the world protect their lone and remote workers with robust, reliable communications solutions.

more info

register at bussa.asn.au/webinars

ONE-TWO PUNCH

IMAGES MULTISPARES

It’s been 47 years since Multispares first started providing spare parts for heavy vehicles such as trucks and buses. As it nears its half century in Australia, it has sought to expand and improve by venturing into the diagnostics space.

for everything in commercial vehicles, trucks, trailers and buses,” Multispares technology service manager Blair Rundle told ABC.

“It also works on light commercial vehicles, including smaller minibuses and 10-passenger vehicles.”

technology as a bus-only system or as a full commercial offering for numerous types of vehicles,” Rundle says.

“What I like is that they can also choose to make it a system suited to a bus and a light commercial segment, giving customers the chance to tailor the diagnostics tool to their own operations.”

Since Multispares first agreed to distribute Jaltest Diagnostics products, Jaltest has kept its systems updated three times a year. The development of technology in the diagnostics space means Jaltest has also been able to ensure its units work on a Cloud-based portal to help operators store more information.

Rundle says this comes in handy when it comes to keeping important data on electrical and pneumatic diagrams as well as any previous fixes of faults in a certain vehicle.

In essence, diagnostics tools like Jaltest’s are fitted into a fleet network and are able to identify most faults with a vehicle, allowing owners and operators to perform maintenance tasks without keeping the impacted buses or coaches off the road for too long.

Prior to joining Multispares, Rundle’s experience has been with technology supplier WABCO. When comparing the two, Rundle says Jaltest’s latest diagnostics capabilities “take technology to the next level”.

“These Jaltest systems have diagrams and pictures of components it’s connected to,” Rundle says.

Above: Multispares is selling Jaltest Diagnostics technology

Opposite, Top: Multispares technology service manager Blair Rundle is loving Jaltest’s diagnostics capabilities

In February 2017, Multispares first began selling Jaltest Diagnostics units as part of a distribution agreement emanating out of New Zealand. In the six years since, Multispares has revelled in selling the aftermarket multi-diagnostic tool to Australian heavy vehicle operators.

“This tool has been so handy because it can run diagnostics

Jaltest’s diagnostic tool is based around connecting to the majority of vehicles from around the world, including Europe, Asia and the US. Rundle has been working with Jaltest for the past year and says the modular nature of the program makes it ideal for a range of operators to diagnose any issues with their fleet.

“Customers can purchase Jaltest

“Sometimes it can show photos of a faulty component and directs the operator to where the part may be fitted on the vehicle. It takes diagnostics to a whole new level in a very simplistic way for the customer.”

The latest models of Jaltest Diagnostics units are so easy to use that Rundle says anyone who can navigate a laptop can use the system to diagnose most faults on a bus or coach. Since distributing Jaltest technology, Multispares has helped boost both companies in the diagnostic world.

Five years ago, spare parts supplier Multispares entered into a distribution agreement with diagnostics brand Jaltest. The pair’s partnership has grown rapidly since as the latest diagnostics technology is helping revolutionise the spare parts game

The partnership between the two means Jaltest’s system has now been developed to cater for the staff shortage in workshops across various industries. The diagnostics tool can now take over more workload, using improved technology to find more minute faults in vehicles that inexperienced workers may not notice.

“Such is the quality of these diagnostic tools, I’d say that a workshop trying to diagnose without a multi-diagnostic tool is basically wasting its time and money,” Rundle says.

“As an aftermarket distributor of spare parts for buses, trucks and commercial vehicles, we find that diagnostics comes hand-in-hand with what we do, as identifying what’s wrong with a vehicle often precedes supplying the spare part for it.

“Multispares is neither a diagnostics company nor a supplier – we’re a one-stop shop for identifying what’s wrong in vehicles and supplying the part at a competitive price nationally.”

Rundle says some of the more popular functions on the Jaltest

Diagnostics systems include being able to do a DPF burn on vehicles and cleanse them of issues, while programming injector codes have also been well-used.

Maintenance resets is also made easy by the multi-diagnostic tool. Combined with what Rundle describes as “a very good dashboard” that can show live data, the total Jaltest package is clearly an emerging tool for operators to use to monitor vital senses and keep a range of vehicles, including the latest in zero-emissions models, well-maintained and efficient.

“For workshops wanting to make the most out of diagnostics, the partnership between Multispares and Jaltest is second to none when it comes to keeping vehicles on the road,” Rundle says.

“Our relationship is very strong and we work together to grow overall diagnostic capabilities.

“Customers like how easy Jaltest Diagnostics tools are to use and the accuracy of the diagnostic information.”

Quality Parts Managed Service Competitive Prices

As a chief behavioural scientist, senior MBA lecturer, a Superstar of STEM nominee and a homeward bound Antarctica explorer that has a PhD in experimental psychology at Cambridge University, Dr Juliette Tobias-Webb is not your usual bus and coach conference speaker.

Yet at this year’s BIC National Conference at Adelaide in late October and early November, Tobias-Webb will present at the Scania Big Breakfast to the annual collective of bus and coach industry leaders.

“The presentation will explore the magic of human decision-making and behaviour where the audience can learn why people do what they do and how to shift the environment to positively influence people in a way that is impactful and empowering,” Tobias-Webb told ABC.

“Through fun and interactive examples, I plan to show the audience how we are all biased and show examples of how bias is embedded in our everyday thoughts, actions and our society.

“For instance, people will learn how even office air-conditioning can create a lack of inclusion and how behavioural scientists have redesigned roads to encourage safer driving behaviour.”

Tobias-Webb’s background experience that she’ll bring to the BIC Conference is vast. Coming from a diverse family, she has always been passionate about helping people live better lives. This developed into her PhD, where she then went on to be a senior manager in behavioural science at Commonwealth Bank, the behaviour change lead for Ogilvy Australia

SUBTLE CHANGES

At this year’s BIC National Conference,

and a research fellow for the Behavioural Insights Team.

She’s recently become a professor of practice in behavioural science at the Artificial Intelligence & Cyber Futures Institute while continuing to teach. What she brings as a headline speaker at the conference is an outsider’s perspective. In an industry where worker retention and recruiting is so vital, her knowledge of understanding people has never been timelier for the bus and coach sector.

“I offer a fresh perspective by shifting the focus from changing human minds to workplace redesign,” Tobias-Webb says.

“I’ll focus on how small environmental shifts can catalyse choices and behaviour and transform change – closing what we call the intention-action gap.”

A key part of Tobias-Webb’s talk at the Scania Big Breakfast will also be on bias in the workplace. She says that everyone is more like Homer Simpson in our decision-making and behaviour, having ‘doh’ moments without thinking.

“I’ll encourage people to rethink the processes in place and our natural responses,” she says.

“Once we understand how we make decisions and how we look for cues in the environment to determine decisions, we can then understand how we can plan to better recruit, retain and promote individuals at an organisational level.”

Tobias-Webb says there are clear examples of where behaviour science has helped improve attraction and retention outcomes for companies that she’s keen to share with the bus and coach industry.

These include removing gender-based language from job advertisements and blind recruitment-based recruitment

methods that have been proven to attract a broader range of diverse candidates and equal-turn taking methods to help people feel valued in high-performance teams, increasing retention levels.

“These are only a few examples that scratch the surface of what I’ll look to discuss,” Tobias-Webb says.

“There are studies that have also looked at behavioural nudges for safety compliance, which can help retain employees whereby bus driver cabins and the buses themselves can be redesigned to include subtle cues that encourage adherence to safety protocols.”

Tobias-Webb says a main reason behind

Dr Juliette Tobias-Webb will draw on her unique experience in behavioural science and psychology to find ways to overcome key bus industry challenges

these workplace challenges for the bus and coach industry includes a lack of shared experiences due to increased distractions and societal divides. It means that learning to handle difficult and challenging situations has become a more critical skill than ever before.

As a sneak peak of what she’ll look to pass onto attendees, Tobias-Webb says encouraging small shifts in environments will be key to improving connection and transforming behaviour change.

“Shift the focus from changing individuals – it can be difficult to do at scale but it can change the environment and entice people to follow,” she says.

“There’s a psychological concept called social norms. As an individual, we often follow the herd. Signs on public transport saying ‘aggression will not be tolerated’ can be counterproductive because it sets the norm that aggression happens a lot.

“We want to shift the communication to thanking people for their consideration and kindness, changing the social norm to recognise the desired behaviour.”

communication strategies to achieve better outcomes.

Tobias-Webb says this generally starts with considering the other person and their motives.

“When we move into challenging conversations, we often think about ourselves, our motives and our evidence,” she says.

“We forget to stop and think about the other person. Yet, when we do, we can get dramatic changes in outcomes. I’ll show examples of this in the presentation.”

Following her presentation on bias in the workplace and how to counteract it in the Ian McLachlan Room on October 31, Tobias-Webb will also join in on the driver safety and antisocial behaviour session later in the day to discuss how to deal with difficult people in relation to human behavioural change.

Although she has plenty of experience and knowledge to pass

onto the industry, her message for now is simple – everyone is human and more similar than we know, so behavioural change is key to making workplaces safer and more enticing. Her presentation is set to reveal how subtle changes hold the key to reinvigorating bus and coach industry challenges.

“Once we understand what is under the human hood, so to speak, we can dramatically change behaviour in a way that optimises outcomes for everyone,” Tobias-Webb says.

“I encourage everyone to start by being curious about what they could do differently to consider others and what they could shift in their environment to catalyse change when there are recurring people problems.

“I look forward to meeting the bus and coach industry later this year and presenting to them.”

Opposite, Top: Tobias-Webb will present at the Scania Big Breakfast

Above: She has rich experience in human behaviour and psychology

Left: Following her first presentation, TobiasWebb will feature again later on at the BIC National Conference

Signs on public transport saying ‘aggression will not be tolerated’ can be counterproductive because it sets the norm that aggression happens a lot.

The perfect partnership secret

TasBus has formed a strategic partnership with Australian regional fuel supplier Lowes Petroleum to benefit the Tasmanian bus and coach industry

In a move to benefit the Tasmanian sector, TasBus has joined forces with Lowes Petroleum. With more than 20 Lowes Petroleum sites across the state, Tasmania sales manager Adam Slizankiewicz says the alliance between TasBus and Lowes Petroleum is a perfect fit, with TasBus’ commitment to serve the interests of its members, particularly ensuring long term security and safe, reliable and efficient services meeting Lowes’ long history of ensuring reliable fuel and lubricants supply into Tasmania.

“Lowes Petroleum has come a long way since its humble beginnings with one truck and one driver in the small regional town of Boggabilla, NSW in 1977,” Slizankiewicz told ABC.

“Partnering with bp Australia in a long-term joint venture in 2015 means we have guaranteed terminal supply, which is reliably delivered by our expanded fleet and our depot terminal network throughout country Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and most recently into Tasmania in 2021.”

Slizankiewicz says Lowes rolled out its own delivery fleet and reopened depots in Tasmania, enabling the fuel supplier to provide end-to-end supply to its customers. It also took ownership of the transport side of operations from Toll, who previously held the delivery contract for bp, guaranteeing oversight and control of its supply to Lowes service stations and self-serve sites so

that it can ensure its ability to maintain supply for TasBus members.

“It was a natural and planned next strategy, given we are arguably the largest locally-based supply and delivery experts in regional Australia, including Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria,” Slizankiewicz says.

“We keep regional Australia moving. Our move to Tasmania provided much needed commercial support to local businesses as well as contributing to the state’s economy.

“In the fast-paced world of transportation, partnerships that foster efficiency cost savings and innovation are invaluable. We have a broad base of customers ranging from the primary producers to the industrial, mining, transport and retail sectors. Each year, we sell and deliver more than one billion litres of petroleum products to the regional and rural parts of Australia.”

The Tasmanian Bus Association (TasBus) began as the Tasmanian School Bus Association (TSBA) in 1947. Today, it is a trusted association respected locally and nationally through the passenger transport industry.

“Our team met with the TasBus executives to look at ways we could provide services that benefitted their members,” Slizankiewicz says.

“Obviously a big draw card was that we could supply bp fuel, which is always guaranteed quality.

“TasBus is committed to providing its members with discounts, so this strategic partnership has resulted in a competitive card offer available exclusively to the association’s members. This translates to substantial savings for bus operators, easing the financial burden while enabling them to maintain their essential services efficiently beyond the realm of regular retail fuelling.”

refuelling requirements. The pair’s partnership can effectively save both money and time that would otherwise be spent waiting at retail sites.

In addition, the TasBus and Lowes Petroleum expertise in fuel installations to make life easier

optimising their fuel installations, a service that can lead to an enhanced operational efficiency and further cost savings,” Slizankiewicz says.

commitment to identifying and implementing solutions that directly benefits TasBus members.”

“Members can access expert advice on optimising their fuel installations, a service that can lead to an enhanced operational efficiency and further cost savings.”

BLUE MOUNTAINS BEAUTY

The latest winner of the ABC Best Bus photo competition features a striking red double-decker and the glorious backdrop of a national landmark

Akey theme emerging in the evolving ABC Best Bus photo competition seems to be the backgrounds of the wonderful photos that ABC is receiving.

September is no exception as Damien from Fantastic Aussie Tours, which runs the Blue Mountains Explorer Bus, took home the prize with an amazing entry.

In another packed month of photos submitted to ABC, there were plenty of finalists and a couple of honourable mentions.

We loved the photo that Steven Stavridis from StavLink Transport sent through of a fresh looking coach in action, while Richard McDonald’s shot of a Kinetic wrapped Mercedes-Benz Irizar i6 in Perth’s glorious sunshine was also eye-catching.

For more sun-filled photos, Neil Hicks’ submission of a Port Stephens coach on the run impressed, while Basil Hancock’s AAT Kings Uluru shot and Chris Bulzomi’s photo of his coach on a dusty track were both highlights.

An honourable mention goes to Colin Anderson for his picturesque snap of a Tropic Wings vehicle parked

up underneath a rainbow.

Despite this great photo, Damien’s Blue Mountains Explorer shot was a clear winner in an impressive month of photos. The bus in focus is a 2017 BCI Citirider custom built for use on the Blue Mountains Explorer service.

“We were so impressed with this vehicle that we immediately ordered a second,” Damien told ABC.

“They both service the Explorer bus route daily and carry more than 65,000 passengers every year!”

As the winner of the monthly competition, Damien and the Fantastic Aussie Tours team received a free 12-month subscription to ABC magazine, while the winning photo is also being shown off as ABC’s Facebook cover photo for September.

Don’t forget to send through your Best Bus photos for October and the months ahead via email and keep an eye on our Facebook page for more details!

This wonderful shot of the Blue Mountains Explorer Bus took home the prize for September

Top, Left to Right:

Neil Hicks’ Port Stephens delight, Leone Mitchell catching the rainbow and sunlight

Middle row, Left to Right:

Colin Anderson shows off a Tropic Wings with a view, a second superb Blue Mountains shot from Damien & Basil Hancock’s AAT Kings coach at Uluru

Bottom, Left to Right: A striking Kinetic coach from Richard

- Sydney - Melbourne - Perth

This well cared for one owner school bus has a bull bar, school lights, air conditioning, 45 bench seats, hopper windows, CD stereo, tachograph, UHF and has travelled only 218,000km.

This air conditioned QLD school bus has been very well maintained and has only approx. 138,000km!

With 5 rows of Styleride 2/3 seats for 10 extra child capacity when under 12yrs, this is a great vehicle with bull bar and stone guard.

including GST

BUSINDUSTRYCALENDAR OFEVENTSFOR2023

BusNSW delegates will descend on Wollongong in October for the body’s annual conference

BusWorld Europe will be in Brussels in October

August deliveries continue on steady path

Thebusandcoachindustrydeliveriesrefusetoplummetdownunderas vehiclescontinuedtofindtheirhomesatagoodpace

Many may have expected the national bus and coach deliveries numbers to have dropped following the start of the new financial year, but there’s yet to be a drop-off with 102 deliveries recorded in August.

There was just no stopping the chassis market leader in Volvo. The bus and coach giant delivered again with 37 units finding new homes in August, backing up its 40 deliveries recorded in July very nicely. Next we had Yutong who shot into second with 18 units, well ahead of third place that was split between the consistent Scania and the rising BCI, who both had nine deliveries. In a tight race to the bottom few deliveries, Custom Denning (eight) kept ahead of a pack consisting of King Long, MAN and MercedesBenz, with each brand delivering five units apiece.

When it comes to bodybuilders, Volgren was yet again the dominant force despite dropping from 36 deliveries in July to 27 in August. This number was still well clear of Yutong in second place with 18, while Custom Denning (13) improved on its July efforts by third to snatch a podium spot. BCI (nine) remained as consistent as ever, while Irizar (eight) and BLK (seven) kept their noses ahead of King Long with five units delivered. In another close finish, Marcopolo (four) stayed just ahead of BusTech Group and Coach Concepts with three apiece.

In a complete display of dominance, McConnell proved its consistent capabilities in the local seating market. Its incredible 51 July deliveries was backed up by 40 in August, more than double ahead of the next best in Yutong with 18. Sege (17) wasn’t far behind Yutong, but maintained a healthy distance ahead of the fourth placed StyleRide with 13, including a shared delivery with McConnell. From there the numbers dropped off, with Marcopolo (four), Fainsa (three), APM (two) and Precision Bus with one

wrapping up the niche market.

Although it was challenged in July, there was simply no deterring Thermo King when it came to August air-conditioning deliveries. The HVAC giant reigned supreme again with 35 deliveries for August, nearly doubling Yutong (18) in second place. Valeo shot up into third place with a consistent 14 units recorded, while Hispacold (nine) ensured it wasn’t too far off the pace. MCC (seven) continued to impress, with King Long and Denso both registering five deliveries.

Finally we look to the state-based battle, with a new winner surpassing a rampant Victoria in August. Instead of it being an eastern-state battle, WA surprised plenty with 29 deliveries for August to take the cake. Victoria wasn’t too far behind in second with 24 units, maintaining a narrow edge over NSW (21). Queensland dropped off slightly from July with 17 last month, but it was still well ahead of the final two states and territories in South Australia (seven) and the Northern Territory (four) to receive any delivered buses and coaches in August.

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

Finally we look to the statebased battle, with a new winner surpassing a rampant Victoria in August

King Long was one bus and coach supplier to deliver into the Northern Territory in August

Volgren 27

Seat delivery units

SALES BY BODY

Inacompletedisplayofdominance,McConnell proveditsconsistentcapabilitiesinthelocal seatingmarket.Itsincredible51Julydeliveries wasbackedupby40inAugust,morethan doubleaheadofthenextbestinYutongwith 18.Sege(17)wasn’tfarbehindYutong,but maintainedahealthydistanceaheadofthe fourthplacedStyleRidewith13,includinga shareddeliverywithMcConnell.Fromthere thenumbersdroppedoff,withMarcopolo (four),Fainsa(three),APM(two)andPrecision Buswithonewrappingupthenichemarket.

Sales by chassis

When it comes to bodybuilders, the top spot comes as no surprise to those who follow the monthly deliveries. Volgren was yet again the dominant force despite dropping from 36 deliveries in July to 27 in August. This number was still well clear of Yutong in second place with 18, while Custom Denning (13) improved on its July efforts by third to snatch a podium spot. BCI (nine) remained as consistent as ever, while Irizar (eight) and BLK (seven) kept their noses ahead of King Long with five units delivered. In another close finish, Marcopolo (four) stayed just ahead of BusTech Group and Coach Concepts with three apiece, while Challenger and Express Coaches (two each) just slid past Scania Higer with the one delivery.

SALES BY AIR-CONDITIONER

Although it was challenged in July, there was simply no deterring Thermo King when it came to August airconditioning deliveries. The HVAC giant reigned supreme again with 35 deliveries for August, nearly doubling Yutong (18) in second place. Valeo shot up into third place with a consistent 14 units recorded, while Hispacold (nine) ensured it wasn’t too far off the pace. MCC (seven) continued to impress, with King Long and Denso both registering five deliveries. Coachair dropped back down to four deliveries for August after a superb July, with Spheros (four) and Konvekta (one) completing the units for the month.

We start with the chassis sector, there was just no stopping the market leader in Volvo. The bus and coach giant delivered again with 37 units finding new homes in August, backing up its 40 deliveries recorded in July very nicely. Next up we had Yutong who shot into second with 18 units, well ahead of third place that was split between the consistent Scania and the rising BCI, who both had nine deliveries. In a tight race to the bottom few deliveries, Custom Denning (eight) kept ahead of a pack consisting of King Long, MAN and Mercedes-Benz, with each brand delivering five units apiece. To finish, BLK recorded three deliveries while Challenger (two) and BusTech Group (one) wrapped up the final units for the month.

N/AQLD2CustomDenningCustomDenning340REuro5AAllison2

KING LONG N/ANT1KingLongKingLong285REuro5A

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N/ASA1KingLongKingLong285REuro5A

N/ASA2KingLongKingLong285REuro5A

MAN TownandCountryVIC1MANIC.19.320.RR8Irizar320REuro5A

BLKAutoQLD2MANIC.19.320.RR8BLK320REuro5A

N/AWA1MANIC19.320BLK320REuro6A

N/AWA1MANIC19.320BLK320REuro6A

MERCEDES-BENZ

N/ANSW2Mercedes-BenzO500LECustomDenning300REuro6A

N/ANSW3Mercedes-BenzO500LECustomDenning300REuro6AZF

SCANIA AuroraCoachToursNSW1ScaniaK310IB4X2Irizar310REuro5OpticruiseScania2

Dept.ofPublicTransportInfrastructureSA1ScaniaK360UA6X2/2BustechGroup360REuro6A

FireflyCoachesVIC2ScaniaK410CB6x2*4NICoachConcepts410REuro6OpticruiseScania313.5Thermo

IrizarAsiaPacificQLD1ScaniaK360IB4X2Irizar360REuro5OpticruiseScania2

TransportCanberraOperationsNSW1ScaniaK320UB4X2BustechGroup320REuro6A

VenturaBusLinesVIC1ScaniaK360IB4X2ScaniaHiger360REuro6A

WangarattaCoachlinesVIC1ScaniaK360CB4x2NICoachConcepts360REuro6OpticruiseScania2

WideBayTransitQLD1ScaniaK310UB4X2Volgren310REuro5A

VOLVO BuslinesNSW1VolvoB8RLEExpressCoaches320REuro6A

LinqBuslinesNSW1VolvoB8RMarcopolo350REuro6A

TransdevQueenslandQLD5VolvoBZLElectricVolgrenN/ARZero

HunterValleyBusesNSW1VolvoB8RLEVolgren330REuro6A

GoWestToursWA5VolvoB8RIrizar330REuro5A

KangaCoachLinesSA1VolvoB8RMarcopolo330REuro5A

NulineCharterVIC2VolvoB8RMarcopolo330REuro5A

WillungaCharterSA1VolvoB8RLEExpressCoaches320REuro6A

KastoriaBuslinesVIC3VolvoB8RLEVolgren330REuro5A

BroadmeadowsBuslinesVIC2VolvoB8RLEVolgren330REuro5A

KangaCoachLinesVIC1VolvoB8RVolgren330REuro5A

PublicTransportAuthorityWAWA12VolvoB8RLEVolgren320REuro6A

PublicTransportAuthorityWAWA2VolvoB8RLEAVolgren350REuro6A

YUTONG

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N/ANSW1YutongD7Yutong190FEuro6AAllison28Cling-Yutong

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N/AWA1YutongD7Yutong190FEuro6AAllison28Cling-Yutong

N/AQLD1YutongD9Yutong250REuro5AAllison210Cling-Yutong–39––X–––YutongY

N/AVIC1YutongD9Yutong250REuro5AAllison210Cling-Yutong–39––X–––YutongY

N/ANSW1YutongE12Yutong374kwhN/AZero

5AAllison212.3Valeo57–––––X–SegeYN 5AZF210.2KingLongX–––X–––KingLongYN 5AZF212.3KingLongX–––X–––KingLongYN 5AZF210.2KingLongX–––X–––KingLongYN 5AZF210.2KingLongX–––X–––KingLongYN 5AZF212.3Hispacold57–––X–X–McConnellYN 5AZF212.3Valeo–57–XX–––SegeYN 6AZF212.5Valeo57–––X–X–SegeYN/A 6AZF212.5Valeo–36––X–––SegeYN/A 6AZF212.5ThermoKing––40––X––McConnellNY 6AZFEcolife212.5ThermoKing––45––X––McConnellNY 5OpticruiseScania210.8Hispacold–28––––X–McConnellYN 6AZF318Hispacold57––––X––PrecisionBusNN 6OpticruiseScania313.5ThermoKing–48–X––––McConnellYY 5OpticruiseScania212.3Hispacold57–––––X–SegeYN 6AZF212.5ThermoKing––43––X––StyleRideNN 6AZF212.3Konvekta58–––––X–McConnellYY 6OpticruiseScania212.3ThermoKing57––X––––StyleRideYN 5AZF212.3ThermoKing––45––X––McConnellNN 6AZF210-12.9Coachair45––––X––StyleRideYY

6AZF210-12.9Spheros57–––X–––MarcopoloYN ASVolvo210-12.9Denso44––––X––StyleRideNY 6AZF210-12.9Coachair44––––X––McConnellNY

5AZF210-12.9Hispacold–53––X–––SegeYN 5AZF210-12.9Spheros57–––X–––MarcopoloYN 5AZF210-12.9Spheros57–––X–––MarcopoloYN

6AZF210-12.9ThermoKing57–––––X–StyleRideYY

5AZF210-12.9ThermoKing––41––X––McConnellNY

5AZF210-12.9ThermoKing––41––X––McConnellNY

5AZF210-12.9ThermoKing75–––––X–StyleRideYN

6AZF210-12.9ThermoKing––41––X––McConnellNY

6AZF210-12.9ThermoKing––57––X––McConnellNY

5AAllison212.4Cling-Yutong57–––X–––YutongYN

5AAllison212.4Cling-Yutong57–––X–––YutongYN 6AAllison28Cling-Yutong27–––––X–YutongYN

6AAllison28Cling-Yutong27–––––X–YutongYN

6AAllison28Cling-Yutong27–––––X–YutongYN

6AAllison28Cling-Yutong27–––––X–YutongYN

6AAllison28Cling-Yutong27–––––X–YutongYN

6AAllison28Cling-Yutong27–––––X–YutongYN

6AAllison28Cling-Yutong27–––––X–YutongYN

6AAllison28Cling-Yutong27–––––X–YutongYN

6AAllison28Cling-Yutong27–––––X–YutongYN

6AAllison28Cling-Yutong27–––––X–YutongYN

6AAllison28Cling-Yutong27–––––X–YutongYN

6AAllison28Cling-Yutong27–––––X–YutongYN

6AAllison28Cling-Yutong27–––––X–YutongYN

5AAllison210Cling-Yutong–39––X–––YutongYN

5AAllison210Cling-Yutong–39––X–––YutongYN

NANA212.5Cling-Yutong––44––X––StyleRideNY

“One positive out of the delay was we came out knowing we wanted a bathroom onboard, which we fitted in by putting the entrance to it outside.”

The whole interior was then ripped out, the inside roof raised to fit more headroom and the kitchen and equipment was installed. Before they knew it, the Da Biuso restaurant was ready to take diners.

The bus is gorgeous both inside and out, fitted to resemble an old-style train dining car. When it’s not parked up and serving as a restaurant, it’s taken to a warehouse for Sarah and Biagio to maintain and prepare the vehicle for the next day.

FINE DINING

When Sarah Biuso’s husband and business partner

Biagio came to her with a new idea for a restaurant, she had to take a day to mull it over.

The two had owned and run restaurants together for the past 25 years. Biagio wanted to break tradition by dodging COVID lockdowns through his latest creative concept of a high-class restaurant on a bus.

“Initially I thought the idea was a bit crazy,” Sarah told ABC. “But after a day of thinking about it I went back to him and said it may be far-fetched, but we could make it work.”

The couple began by scouring the market for a replica tram, but the size of the vehicle didn’t allow them to install a kitchen and dining area in it. Instead, they moved to a bus, with the couple being told to buy an old wreck before they decided they wanted the vehicle to be as high quality as the food that was to be served inside it.

“We wanted something a bit newer,” Sarah says. “But it was difficult finding something at a reasonable price that was in good condition and an automatic drive,

as Biagio and our son both drive the bus.”

The end result was a 2007 Iveco school bus from a Queensland broker. Despite securing the critical part of the new venture, plenty of challenges still stood in the couple’s way as they looked to take a break from decades of restaurant ownership and instead change to a more mobile service.

“The first challenge came when we were told that the whole fit-out of the bus would take three months, but it took more than 12,” Sarah says.

“We decided to finish our lease on our previous restaurant and take a break from working. It ended up taking most of the 12 months to get all of the details right and source everything we needed for the bus.

Top: The Da Biuso restaurant is flying in Queensland

(Photo – Gracie Yu/ studiobitsy)

Below: The decked out interior of the fine dining bus (Photo – Gracie Yu/ studiobitsy)

Below, right The Biuso team behind the bus restaurant

(Photo – Morgan Roberts Photography)

After first opening to diners in March, Da Biuso has gone to the next level, opening its doors to an increasing number of passengers. The couple began Da Biuso’s journey inside the Eagle Farm racecourse before moving around to Hamilton and near the Gold Coast.

With more locations on the radar for the novel restaurant, Sarah says the pair didn’t realise the impact their new venture would have on the nation’s bus industry.

“To do something like this and be the first in Australia to have a full restaurant inside a bus has been challenging but worthwhile,” she says.

“I wasn’t immediately aware of the impact we’ve had, but we’re happy with what we’ve been able to do and the possibilities are endless for us. Being in a bus makes this venture a

In an Australian-first, seasoned restaurateurs have turned a beautiful school bus into an incredible dining experience that is catching the eye of the bus industry