Australasian Bus & Coach 416 April 2022

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contents ISSUE 416 APRIL 2022

08 in the know

6. editorial | a higher cause The Australasian bus industry shows how it is making Australia a better place just in the course of doing better business 8. news | all aboard An overview of the latest Australasian and international bus and coach news that you need to know 23. bic column

WHERE ARE ALL THE BUSES? BIC asks if public transport is benefitting from post-pandemic growth as it should be

in focus

24. in focus | Siemens

ELECTRIC FEEL

Siemens is breaking new ground on the electrification of buses, helping charging stations reduce costs

4

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28. in focus | free public transport

A FREE RIDE?

Looking at the pros and cons of Tasmania’s free public transport offering 32. operator | yamba to brisbane tours

parts feature

38. parts | parts supply solution

WHY SECURITY CAMERAS ARE AN IMPORTANT ASSET FOR BUSES The humble camera can be a game changer when it comes to improving bus security and road safety

FROM CHALLENGES TO OPPORTUNITIES IN QUEENSLAND

After a successful comeback from the pandemic and flooding, this regional operator is after new owners to take on this successful operation 34. in focus | gig workers

CONVENIENT CASUALS OR CONTRACT CASUALTIES? Contract workers took centre stage at the Australian Public Transport Industrial Association national summit, in the lead up to this year’s election

54

EDITORIAL Publisher: Christine Clancy ph: (03) 9690 8766

FOLLOW US ONLINE AT: Facebook – facebook.com/ABCBusnews YouTube – bit.ly/busandcoachtv Twitter – twitter.com/ABCmag

e-mail: Christine.Clancy@primecreative.com.au Journalists: Josh Farrell and Sean Mortell

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

PRINTING Manark Printing

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

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

32 42. parts | volvo

RELIABILITY AND DURABILITY WITH GENUINE VOLVO PARTS Why those who choose Volvo should carry that same great taste across to only using Genuine Volvo Parts 46. parts | multispares

DEMAND FOR VERSATILE DIAGNOSTIC EQUIPMENT CONTINUES TO GROW As the demand for versatile diagnostic equipment grows, Multispares is there to answer the call.

50. parts | CMV

CMV ON THE RISE A look at CMV’s offering to the market

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

departments

54. events | Australasia bus & coach expo 2022

EVENTS ARE BACK! A preview of the industry’s first large-scale expo in almost three years, as the expo is back, and ABC is a proud Official Media Partner

*price includes GST

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

57. 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 62. factory facts | bus deliveries

MONTHLY RESULTS We have all the latest bus and coach supplier sales data collected and recorded for you to review.

Check out how the market has performed in the past month 66. news | the back seat

SWAN TRANSIT GETS DRESSED UP FOR CHARITY Swan Transit bus drivers broke out the fancy dress recently for the 27th annual Radio Lollipop fundraising event

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

ISSN 1324-8634

DISTRIBUTION

Distribution within Australia and New Zealand and beyond by paid subscription to the owners and managers of: • route buses • government bus operations • school buses • extended and day tour operations • express coaches • country and charter operations • bus and coach manufacturers • equipment suppliers • tourism attractions • railways management.

Australasian Bus & Coach (ABC) magazine is owned by Prime Creative Media. All material in ABC is copyright and no part may be reproduced or copied in any form or by any means (graphic, electronic or mechanical including information and retrieval systems) without written permission of the publisher. The Editor welcomes contributions but reserves the right to accept or reject any material. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information Prime Creative Media will not accept responsibility for errors or omissions or for any consequences arising from reliance on information published. Opinions expressed in ABC are not necessarily the opinions of, or endorsed by the publisher unless otherwise stated.

busnews.com.au April 2022 ABC

5

IGNITION

CHRISTINE CLANCY

Buses save the day

While many industries love to boast about their altruistic purposes, it’s actions that speak louder than words.

I

n this edition of Australasian Bus & Coach, it strikes me as rather remarkable to come across so many fantastic stories of people in the industry that are not trying to sell their higher purpose, but instead truly living it, and letting their actions speak for themselves. A common theme throughout this edition, that came up rather incidentally, is that so many companies, in doing their natural course of business, are also making the world a better place along the way.

These altruistic intentions begin with our coverage of the Tasmanian government’s initiative to offer free bus travel for five weeks starting at the end of March. Its motivations were to give people a break on the back of rising fuel costs. But the campaign might lead to more than just helping save a few dollars, as our story on page 28 discovers how the move might inspire people to take more public transport in general.

This coincidentally fell at the same time that Sydney announced free travel over Easter. While the reasons given were different than Tasmania’s – more of a make good on the public transport shutdown in February – the effects might be the same, in encouraging more people to leave the car at home.

From the medium to the small scale, in this edition we look at the contributions of smaller operators in supporting their communities.

Our coverage of how buses have

6

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contributed after the devastating floods at the start of the year, see page 32, shows how this flexible mode of transport can play its part in rebuilding communities. And in building communities, we look at how the humble operator Brisbane to Yamba Tours has helped create more opportunities in the area, by facilitating the link from the small town to the state’s capital.

At the even smaller scale, our parts feature has managed to dig up some unsung heroes. Check out these great stories about how certain parts are making the workplace a better place for drivers, and improving productivity.

Look closely to hunt down a story of how one noble part helped police solve a crime.

From this small scale let’s jump up to the global, because buses may very well be key to saving the planet. Worldwide, advocates are speaking even louder on the need for independence from fossil fuels.

The latest UN report, and I’m quoting here directly, says it’s “now or never” to dramatically reduce our fossil fuel consumption to be able to keep global

warming to below 1.5 degrees Celsius.

The world’s reluctance to implement sanctions on Russian fuel, despite potential evidence of war crimes in Ukraine, has further put the pressure on governments to move to renewable sources of energy.

Buses today are among the fastest vehicles being electrified in Australia.

While governments may have less control over what cars we buy, or how private commercial transport fleets run their trucks, they can control the purchase of buses and public transport, and we’re seeing some major fleets going electric. Our hero on the cover story today, you’ll notice, is not a bus, but in fact a Siemens SICharge UC charger. The technology behind these chargers, and the accompanying software, is truly remarkable, and we encourage you to read all about it in this edition’s cover story on page 24.

While I’ve been working with our Editorial team over the past 10 months on the publication, it’s been such an honour to dive deep into this edition and get to know the incredible superheroes of this industry. We hope you enjoy this issue.

“Worldwide, advocates are speaking even louder on the need for independence from fossil fuels.”

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NEWS

MAN ANNOUNCES NEW CHASSIS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH MARCOPOLO MAN’s RR8 chassis is now available in Australia with the new Marcopolo Audace 1050 body.

Powered by MAN’s latest generation D15 Euro 6 engine, this new chassis and body combination delivers a high-quality product at a cost-effective price with great versatility, making it ideal for coach, school and intercity applications, it states.

Customers will also benefit from Marcopolo’s ownership of local bodybuilder Volgren and its extensive national support network.

Crinel Geaboc, head of MAN bus and coach at Penske Australia, is excited for the partnership to continue.

“It’s fantastic to extend our existing partnership with Volgren to now include one of the world’s largest bus body 8

ABC April 2022 busnews.com.au

TRI-STATE MOU SIGNED FOR HYDROGEN HIGHWAY

manufacturers – Marcopolo,” Geaboc said.

“MAN’s new 330hp [246kW] nine-litre D15 engine boasts the latest diesel technology and sits between the existing D08 and D20 engines MAN also offers. We also have a high performance 360hp [268kW] variant.

“The vertical engine D15 engine is also lighter, equating to an increase in passenger payload, greater efficiency and performance, and improved service intervals, which all leads to a reduced total cost of ownership.”

Geaboc added that the package will also include a lane guard system, electronic stability program, emergency brake assist and a three-year entire chassis warranty.

“Excitingly, our first order for this new combination was received from Ventura in Melbourne for four units delivered last month,” he said.

Opposite top: MAN’s RR8 chassis will be available in Australia with a Marcopolo body.

Opposite bottom: Benefits for the driver include an electronic stability program.

THE NEW SOUTH WALES, Victoria and Queensland state governments have announced a landmark tri-state collaboration on a renewable hydrogen refuelling network for heavy transport and logistics along Australia’s eastern seaboard.

The refuelling will start with $20 million support from the NSW and Victorian governments to build at least four renewable hydrogen refuelling stations between Sydney and Melbourne.

Australian Hydrogen Council (AHC) CEO Dr Fiona Simon said the announcement was an exciting moment for AHC. “The collaboration between these three states will facilitate the uptake and use of hydrogen as a fuel for heavy transport along the Eastern highways,” she said.

“This delivers the next phase of the three governments’ hydrogen strategies and is a terrific example of the cross-jurisdictional efforts we need to see to grow the industry for Australia.

“It is also consistent with the AHC’s recommendations to governments in its white paper where we asked for refuelling stations on the Hume and government

support to get hydrogen trucks on the road.”

Simon explained that transport operators and vehicle manufacturers see the carbon reduction potential in using hydrogen but a lack of refuelling infrastructure was a barrier to this. The collaboration will therefore help operators transition to lower emissions fleets.

“We know this announcement is the result of months of hard work and coordination, as well as terrific engagement with industry to consider options and map next steps,” Simon said.

“The AHC looks forward to working with the states and the transport industry to see this important initiative take shape.”

The federal government also recently announced $22.8 million in funding, and the Victorian state government $1 million in funding, to develop, build and operate the New Energies Service Station. This is due to be built by Viva Energy Group Limited in Geelong, Victoria and will include a 2MW electrolyser along with hydrogen compression, storage and dispensing infrastructure.

Companies such as Emerald coaches have announced it will convert its entire bus fleet to hydrogen power by the year 2040.

Above: Emerald coaches will be aiming to have a full fleet of hydrogen buses.

Left: The hydrogen fuel stations will be set up along the eastern seaboard of Australia.

busnews.com.au April 2022 ABC

9

NEWS

BUS BREAKDOWN GUIDE TO IMPROVE HEAVY VEHICLE SAFETY A NEW Bus Breakdown Guide and accompanying video will provide valuable safety assistance to bus operators across Australia.

BusNSW executive director Matt Threlkeld said that one of the most common hazards in the bus and coach industry arises from safety risks that result from a roadside bus breakdown.

“While breakdowns can occur in all motor vehicles, the hazards associated with bus breakdowns – where the vehicle is usually carrying public passengers and often schoolchildren – can be significant,” Threlkeld said.

“The aim of the guide is to address these risks by providing practical guidance for all parties involved with bus breakdowns, specifically operators, bus drivers, maintenance staff and emergency assistance providers.”

The BusNSW project to improve road safety was selected as one of 26 projects aimed at saving lives and reducing road trauma under Round 5

safety and getting everyone home safe.”

National Road Safety Week is an annual initiative created by the Safer Australian Roads and Highways Group and is being held May 15–22, 2022 to highlight the impact of road trauma and ways to reduce it.

Executive director of BIC Roz Chivers said the national body was pleased to participate in the development of the guide as it will complement other national operator guides and provide safety benefits for the industry.

“The bus industry is playing its part to reduce road trauma, which is an important objective of the National Road Safety Strategy 2021–30,” Chivers said.

“The guide will be available to all members of the Bus Australia Network,

“The aim of the guide is to address risks by providing practical guidance for all parties.” of the Australian government’s Heavy Vehicle Safety Initiative.

“The funding from the Australian government and coordination by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator provided a great opportunity for the bus and coach industry to promote road safety,” Threlkeld said.

“The guide was developed in close consultation with the Bus Industry Confederation [BIC] and other state bus associations and involved a committee that included operator representatives.

“We were pleased to have Peter Frazer from Safer Australian Roads and Highways [SARAH] Group write the foreword to the guide, which highlights the importance of road 10

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which means it will assist approximately 4,500 bus operators and over 60,000 bus drivers throughout Australia.

“To complement the release of the Bus Breakdown Guide and the training of staff, the industry will use social media channels to raise community awareness of the hazards associated with a bus breakdown on the roadside.”

Bus and coach operators and other industry stakeholders can access an online version of the guide and video via a dedicated page on BIC’s Moving People website at https://movingpeople. com.au/bus-breakdown.

Above: The Bus Breakdown Guide aims to improve the safety of operator staff and emergency services.

Upcoming

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3–4 JUNE

TASBUS CONFERENCE & DINNER – HOBART

16 JUNE

BUSNSW ASSOCIATE MEMBER SEMINAR – NORTH PARRAMATTA

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NATIONAL INDUSTRY SUMMIT – CANBERRA

6 JULY

APTIA INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS BREAKFAST – MELBOURNE

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MAINTENANCE CONFERENCE & TRADE SHOW – MELBOURNE

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NEWS

QUEENSLAND TO ADD DRIVER BARRIERS TO IMPROVE SAFETY THE QUEENSLAND government has announced that all new urban buses will need to be fitted with safety barriers to better protect drivers.

After a recent round table on how to better improve safety for bus drivers from aggressive passengers, barriers will now be installed on new buses in Queensland.

Queensland’s Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said that these barriers will help to protect drivers from impolite behaviour, personal abuse, verbal aggression and physical violence.

“Safety of drivers is paramount, and mandatory driver barriers on new urban buses consolidates a best practice approach and supports improved safety standards across the fleet,” Bailey said.

“It’s important that introducing this mandate still provides individual bus operators with the flexibility to implement a solution that is best suited to their network.”

Bus operators will be required to undertake a comprehensive risk assessment to determine the most appropriate solution, including consulting with their workforce.

TRAINING AND EDUCATION In addition to the installation of 12

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driver barriers, an independent review of bus driver safety recognised that complementary measures, such as de-escalation training and incident reporting, are also important.

Last year, an online training program for Queensland bus drivers was developed and implemented, with the aim of reducing the incidence and intensity of passenger hostility.

“This course provides drivers with ways to help anticipate, handle and cope during and after incidents involving customers,” Bailey said.

The bus driver de-escalation training program was developed

by Griffith University, in collaboration with TransLink and the Queensland bus industry council.

BUS DRIVER SAFETY REVIEW In September 2016, the Queensland government initiated a review into bus driver safety when it saw an increase in violent incidents towards bus drivers, including verbal and physical aggression.

The Queensland bus driver safety review was released in August 2017 and recommended 20 initiatives aimed at improving safety for bus drivers.

The government’s five-point

Top: All new urban buses in Queensland will be fitted with driver barriers.

Above: The initiative will see a slew of changes and training to better protect drivers from abuse.

plan addresses physical safety, including $3.93m for protective barrier installation, best practice, education, highrisk areas and policy.

As part of the five-point safety package, the Queensland bus driver safety scheme made funding available to eligible operators to assist with the installation of driver safety barriers and anti-shatter window film in existing fleet vehicles operating on high-risk routes.

“With much of the Queensland urban fleet now fitted with a partial barrier, the recent review is an important step forward in the continuing efforts to ensure the safety of drivers, passengers and other frontline staff on the public transport network,” Bailey said.

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8/4/22 9:20 am

NEWS

QUEENSLAND SETS ZERO EMISSION BUS TARGET THE QUEENSLAND government released its Queensland’s Zero Emission Vehicle Strategy 2022–2032 and the first Zero Emission Vehicle Action Plan 2022–2024 in March to transition bus fleets in the state to zero emission vehicles (ZEVs).

This strategy is accelerating Queensland toward a cleaner, greener transport future while making sure its energy network can support ZEVs. The state government plans to shift to zero net emissions by 2050.

The Queensland government has announced a range of targets including that every new TransLink-funded bus added to the fleet will be a zero-emission bus from 2025 in south east Queensland and from 2025–2030 across regional Queensland.

The Zero Emission Vehicle Strategy is a whole of Queensland government strategy developed in partnership with the Department of Energy and Public Works.

The strategy aligns with the Queensland Transport Strategy supporting: strategic outcomes for accessible, convenient transport; 14

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efficient reliable and productive transport for people and goods; and sustainable, resilient and liveable communities.

Extensive engagement with community, industry, interest groups and local and state government informed the strategy. This included 4,600 Queenslanders who contributed to the public survey, nearly 200 written submissions and direct engagement with over 100 key stakeholders and experts in targeted workshops.

One of the strategic outcomes from the report is to maximise the capabilities of the transport sector for the movement of goods and people.

The fourth strategic outcome states “an efficient, reliable and productive transport system that aligns network capacity with demand, connects people with jobs and suppliers with markets, and is affordable for people, businesses and government”.

“Transport system efficiency is vitally important to grow Queensland’s economy. 1,013 million tonnes of freight and 200

Picured: Queensland is beginning its shift towards changing its bus fleet to zero-emission vehicles.

million passengers move around Queensland each year relying on Australia’s longest road and rail networks,” it states.

A more efficient and productive transport system will reduce costs for households, businesses and government.

Transport currently accounts for 15 per cent of average household expenditure and a significant share of business and government expenditure.

The development will also see 50 per cent of new passenger vehicle sales be zero emission by 2030, moving to 100 per cent by 2036 and 100 per cent of eligible Queensland government fleet passenger vehicles to be zero emission by 2026.

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NEWS

VOLGREN RECEIVES VICTORIAN GOVERNMENT HYDROGEN GRANT VOLGREN WILL USE a grant from the Victorian state government to develop its first Australian designed and built commercial-grade hydrogen fuel cell electric bus.

The grant is a part of the state government’s Renewable Hydrogen Commercialisation Pathways Fund. The two vehicles will be built locally in Dandenong, providing valuable insights on the performance and commercialisation of hydrogen buses in Victoria.

Volgren expects to finalise a prototype for demonstration and on-road testing by the middle of next year and negotiations to find a suitable chassis original equipment manufacturer are currently underway.

Volgren CEO Thiago Deiro said the project is an exciting opportunity to introduce hydrogen fuel cell electric buses in Victoria and develop local expertise in clean energy utilisation.

“Volgren has always been at the vanguard of adopting new 16

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technologies. We’ve proven that with the development of our battery electric buses and now we have the opportunity to do the same with our first hydrogen prototype.

“This valuable investment from the Victorian government prioritises renewable transport options and supports Victorian jobs. It also contributes to the Victorian government’s clean energy transition and will help support Victoria’s long-term target of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.”

Deiro said the investment would enable Volgren to design a hydrogen bus for local conditions and work towards a continuous production of hydrogen vehicles.

“By creating local manufacturing capabilities, you reduce the dependency of importing full hydrogen buses.

You also develop the local supply chain and the training needed to service and maintain hydrogen technology,” he explained.

“It also means operators and governments can be confident

“Operators can be confident that their vehicle will be on the road for 15 years or more.”

Above: CEO of Volgren Thiago Deiro is excited for the opportunity to manufacture these buses.

that their vehicle will be on the road for 15 years or more.”

He said a key part of the project would be ensuring key safety requirements are met for flammable gases, high voltage systems and battery storage systems.

It is estimated that the Optimus-bodied hydrogen prototype will reduce emissions by around 30 tonnes of CO2 per year compared to a diesel bus.

“Volgren is committed to contributing to reduce carbon dioxide emissions in the transportation system and believe both electric and hydrogen buses have a place in a zero carbon world,” Deiro said.

DAIMLER WELCOMES AEBS SAFETY MANDATE FOR HEAVY VEHICLES The recent announcement from the Australian government that advanced emergency braking systems (AEBS) for 3.5 tonne and up buses will become a standard requirement on heavy vehicles has been welcomed by Daimler Trucks Australia.

Daimler Truck and Bus has been stocking Mercedes, Freightliner and Fuso vehicles since the 1970s and currently stocks Mercedes and Fuso buses in Australia.

AEBS and electronic stability control (ESC) systems must be installed from November 1, 2023 for all new models of heavy vehicles. They must be installed in new buses already in circulation by November 1, 2024, and in new goods vehicles over 3.5 tonnes from February 1, 2025.

“Daimler Truck and bus has long identified the major benefits of active safety features for our customers and the wider community and led the industry with its introduction across all classes with our Mercedes-Benz and Fuso,” said Daimler Truck and Bus Australia Pacific president and CEO, Daniel Whitehead.

“We commend the move to mandate this critical technology, but also would encourage customers not to wait until then and instead demand

AEBS on any truck or bus they buy from now on.”

AEBS helps to avoid or mitigate collisions with other vehicles by using sensors to monitor the road ahead and perform emergency braking in the event the driver does not. Daimler Truck systems can even initiate a warning and brake when it detects moving pedestrians.

The first Daimler product to come with the AEBS system was the Mercedes Actros in 2012 and Fuso became the first manufacturer to feature

AEBS across its light-, mediumand heavy-duty truck classes last year.

“The Fuso Rosa is the only light bus to feature the AEBS and it currently comes as standard on all new Fusos,” Whitehead said.

“It comes with a slew of safety features including pedestrian detection, lane departure warning and an electronic stability program.

“It makes no sense to buy an electric truck with no active safety features when they are available on another model.”

Above: Fuso CEO Daniel Whitehead believes all bus suppliers should provide AEBS on their vehicles.

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17

NEWS

TOOLKIT RELEASED FOR SUPPORTING BUS PRIORITY NEW RESEARCH from the United Kingdom shows that most people support measures that give buses greater priority on roads.

The research shows that three times as many people support bus priority as oppose it.

Of those who expressed an opinion, 79 per cent of the public support the introduction of measures such as bus lanes and bus-only roads, with businesses showing the same level of support.

However, despite high levels of support for bus priority, local authorities can find it challenging to introduce such measures as they can face opposition.

To help councils, UK bus industry membership organisation the Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT) has produced a set of toolkits that include recommendations based on research with both the general public and business owners on how to best communicate the benefits of bus priority.

Key findings include: • Highlight the role bus travel can play in delivering local environmental goals and improving the liveability of an area.

• Put accessibility and improved life chances at the heart of messaging.

• Being transparent about potential 18

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disruption during construction and ensuring early and meaningful local engagement with local communities is vital.

The Committee on Climate Change states that, for the UK to remain on track for its net zero goals, one in 10 car journeys made today need to be made by bus by the end of the decade.

Here in Australia, cars represent close to half of the country’s transport emissions and an international scorecard ranked Australia second

justify giving buses greater priority.

“This research shows that councils can enjoy public and business support when it comes to giving buses priority on our roads, helping them meet their own net zero targets and the UK’s overall climate change goals,” Vidler said.

“Priority for buses means quicker and more reliable journeys and, therefore, more people on buses. This will improve access to jobs and services and drive down carbon emissions.

“79 per cent of the public support the introduction of measures such as bus lanes and bus-only roads.” worst for transport energy efficiency, with only 12 per cent of trips taken on public transport.

The Climate Council said that providing viable alternatives to driving, such as expanding access to reliable, comfortable public transport, is vital for Australia to reduce its overall transport emissions.

Commenting on the findings of the research and toolkit launch, CPT chief executive Graham Vidler said councils can utilise this study to

“Understandably, people can have concerns about schemes where the impact of construction is unclear or the benefits to them and their local community are not clearly set out.

Our toolkit will help local authorities ensure widespread community support for measures they want to introduce,” he said.

Above: To meet carbon goals, more people will need to use public transport rather than cars.

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8/4/22 9:27 am

NEWS

THE WOT!?!

100 buses in Albany will now be tracked in real-time.

REAL-TIME TRACKING INSTALLED ON MORE NSW BUSES THE REAL-TIME tracking of over 200 buses in Albury, Tamworth and Greater Nowra is making bus travel easier for commuters, who can now track their bus’ location live.

Transport for NSW has announced that real-time tracking technology has been installed on 100 buses in Albany, over 75 buses in Tamworth and 70 buses in Greater Nowra.

Using NSW’s Trip Planner or other transport apps, passengers can now access digital timetables as real-time trip information on their phone to track their bus and reduce time spent waiting at bus stops.

This project has been rolled out as part of the NSW government’s

Member for Albury Justin Clancy said.

In Albany, six bus operators – Kanes Buses, Lieschke Bus Lines Pty Ltd, Cann’s Bus Lines, Dyson Buslines, Martin’s Albury and R&S Geddes – have applied the tracking to eight regular routes and 122 school routes throughout Albury.

In Tamworth, five local bus operators – Tamworth Buslines, Hannafords Coaches, Macphersons Tamworth, Mason Buses and BusBiz – have applied the tracking across 10 regular routes and 102 school routes throughout Tamworth as well as four special event routes for the Country Music Festival.

In Greater Nowra, four local bus

“It will change the way customers use buses to travel to key locations in their communities.” initiative to improve regional public transport and tracking is already in place on routes in Armidale, Bathurst, Bega, Coffs Harbour, Dubbo, Forbes/ Parkes, Grafton, Port Macquarie, Queanbeyan, Tweed Heads and Wagga Wagga.

“The Transport Connected Bus Program is helping customers get to and from their destination quicker thanks to real-time information about where their bus is, it’s predicted arrival time and how full it is,” 20

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operators – Kennedy’s Bus and Coach, Nowra Coaches, Shoalbus and Stuarts Coaches – have applied the tracking to 14 regular routes and 63 school routes throughout the area.

“This is a big win for regional communities and it will change the way customers use buses to travel to key locations in their communities including shops, health services and schools,” Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Sam Farraway said.

AMERICA’S BEST STOP

Do you have strong feelings about bus stops? Maybe even a favourite? Over in the US, Streets Blog USA is trying to find America’s Best Bus Stop 2022 and is down to the east coast semi-finals. Boston’s Columbus Avenue Busway seems to be impressing with its bus-only lanes, while the Lewes Transit Center in Delaware is providing a vital public service in an area that suffers from traffic congestion. Interested in seeing who is crowned the winner? Head over to https://usa.streetsblog.org.

PEACE BUS

Over in the UK, this double decker bus is being used across Cornwall to show support for the people of Ukraine and to help raise funds for those affected. The ‘Peace Bus’ is being used on Go Cornwall Bus and Plymouth Citibus routes to help raise awareness of the Disaster Emergency Committee’s humanitarian appeal.

The bus companies are also working with local authorities to provide free bus transport to any Ukrainian refugees arriving in the area. “Many of our team felt that they wanted to do something positive to help, and by doing this we can encourage our colleagues, passengers and all people in our community to contribute,” said Richard Stevens, MD of Go South West – the parent company of Go Cornwall Bus and Plymouth Citibus.

OLD SCHOOL

We’re going all the way back to 1956 to this tourist city bus commissioned by Groupe Cityrama from coachbuilder Currus. Built to take sightseers around Paris, this extraordinary bus was built on a Citroën Type 55 lorry chassis in long-wheelbase form with power from a sixcylinder diesel engine. Carrying 50 passengers, the roof was retractable and luxuries included reclining seats, headphones with commentary and on-board catering. Described as looking like it had been “let loose from the sets of the Flash Gordon”, this must have been quite the site cruising along the Champs-Élysées.

FIVE YEARS MARKED FOR LVBL’S VOLVO HYBRIDS LATROBE VALLEY Bus Lines (LVBL) has been operating eight Volvo B5L S-Charge buses since 2018 across its Victorian operations and, with the buses entering their fifth year of use, LVBL says they have been an asset to the fleet.

LVBL was Volvo Bus Australia’s (VBA) first customer to purchase a hybrid fleet in August 2018 and has since been leading the way with this sustainable technology.

“A focus towards sustainability and reduced emissions has been a priority for LVBL since 2015,” said LVBL general manager Anna Tyben.

“In an Australian first, we were supported by Volvo and the Department of Transport to trial a MYKI-equipped Volvo Hybrid Euro 6 route service bus.

We received positive feedback from our passengers and drivers throughout the trial. Feedback included how quiet and smooth the vehicle was when in operation and the environmental benefits for the community relating to reduced tail pipe emissions and reduced operating noise.”

This feedback is still consistent in 2022, with drivers commenting on the premium ergonomics when operating the Volvo B5L S-Charge product, as well as increased comfort for passengers and less air and noise pollution for residents.

LVBL has also experienced the benefits of telematics and integrated zone management technology.

“Once the trial finished, we introduced eight Volvo Euro 6 Hybrid route service buses across the Latrobe Valley, with our first bus hitting the road in 2018,” explained Tyben.

“We view hybrids as a step towards full e-mobility. We also strongly believe hybrids would be advantageous across regional and rural operations where updating infrastructure to charge and

fuel zero emissions buses will be cost inhibitive.”

Tyben also touched on academic views of Professor Graham Currie from the Public Transport Group at Monash University, who believes that the benefits of hybrid and fully electric vehicles from an environmental and zero emissions perspective – in addition to an enhanced passenger experience – will see a slight increase in ridership.

With these environmental benefits in mind, and the potential to increase ridership across Latrobe Valley, Tyben has confirmed that shifting towards electromobility is the next step for LVBL. “The environmental, technological and cost benefits offered by the B5L S-Charge sees the S-Charge product being the next-best alternative to fully electric buses,” stated VBA general manager Mitch Peden.

“As the electromobility movement continues to gain momentum in Australia, it is becoming more apparent that hybrid

vehicles will play a key role in a holistic and sustainable approach for the transport industry. As beneficial as fully electric vehicles are, we realise that these products may not be suited to every customer due to infrastructure and locational considerations.

“We understand that the large-scale implementation of electric buses will be a progressive journey rather than an overnight transition.

“Volvo’s B5L S-Charge is an immediately available product that requires no existing charging infrastructure and can deliver part-time electric buses without operational constraints, playing an important role in the journey towards electric transport.”

Compared to regular diesel buses, Volvo’s hybrids enable up to a 39 per cent saving on fuel and emit up to 40 per cent less carbon dioxide.

“It’s great to hear that the benefits of this hybrid technology from an environmental, sustainability and passenger perspective, could provide a boost to public bus patronage in Latrobe Valley and wider Victoria,” said Peden.

“It is wonderful that LVBL is paving the way forward with clean technology and it will be interesting to see the levels of ridership looking to the future.”

Above: Latrobe Valley bus lines took delivery of eight buses in 2018.

Left: The low rise floors on the Volvo hybrid buses have been appreciated by customers.

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8/4/22 9:27 am

BIC

Where are all the buses?

Australia’s economy is recovering well after the impacts of the pandemic, but is the public transport industry benefitting from this growth?

A

ustralia’s economic vibrancy is in pretty good shape despite the recent flooding events across Australia and the ongoing warfare abroad. We are, as some say, the envy of the world as we out-perform all other major Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries in our economic recovery post-Covid.

In the lead up to the federal election, there will be a lot of stats and information thrown about by the current government, the opposition, the Greens, fringe parties and independents. The government will try to prove that we are not as bad off as we think we are. The opposition will try to prove how bad things really are. This is the nature of competition when politicians are trying to get our vote.

According to the International Monetary Fund, in 2022, Australia is placed to become the 13th ranked ‘best off’ country in the world. Our gross domestic product (GDP) is expected to grow by 1.6 per cent. To put this into perspective, predictions indicate that US will retain its ranking of number 1 at 24.2 per cent, then China at 18 per cent, then Japan at 5.3 per cent (Russia is 12th at 1.7 per cent).

Even with basic mathematics, given our population size, Australia does very well on the world-scale of economics. Right? Well, GDP only really tells us the value of production, income and expenditure, not who in the population is getting that value. In terms of public transport value, clearly transportation activity registers as one component of GDP, but what this is exactly in our micro-world of buses is very difficult to measure. Regardless, as many readers would know from our Policy Thinkers papers, the BIC report bashes our politicians on a regular basis about the value of buses and coaches to economic productivity (social inclusion, congestion, connectivity… the list goes on).

So – in terms of right now – how can we measure how well we are doing (or not doing)?

To help us answer that question, we collated some data to compare 2019 with 2021. Unfortunately, bus

patronage continues to fall. According to the Bureau of Infrastructure and Transport Research Economics Yearbook (2021), since 2019, total bus passenger kilometres have dropped 24 per cent each year. Data from Tourism Research Australia in December 2021 shows that tourism is eight to 10 per cent down, compared to December 2019.

New bus deliveries reported in this magazine show the number of buses is also down. Coach builders suffered the biggest downturn of 74 per cent since 2019 and, at this stage, are sitting at about one per cent of market share. Route buses are comparatively down by 30 per cent; school and charter have remained ‘relatively’ stable over the past two years. An analysis of the Australian Bureau of Statistics survey on registered vehicles (2021) shows an overall five per cent drop of buses on the road in the last two years. It is reasonable to assume that this would relate to two main factors – businesses downsizing or folding and reduced business confidence to buy new buses.

So – is there any good news? Yes, we think so!

This is what we do know. A few states/territories are coming up to some significant fleet replacement milestones and this should see increased demand for buses for the route and school sectors. The question is how will all this fit with the future procurement of zeroemission buses in this decade and through to 2050?

The bus industry will likely experience market pressures to deliver what governments need right now and what they think they want to achieve their net zero visions.

The BIC has been busy analysing a stack of data to give surety to our members on what those demands are likely to be.

The BIC will be conducting a deep dive into many aspects of our current and future prospects for new bus deliveries at our upcoming Summit, on June 28 and 29 in Canberra. This will include a national analysis of bus types, fleet numbers, age profiles and various future fleet replacement models, based on maximum and average age requirements, and details of historic and future fleet growth options.

At the 2017 National Summit, the BIC presented a prediction on new bus deliveries for the coming five years – 2017 to 2022; the numbers we provided were proven to be very accurate. To find out more about the next five years of Australia’s new fleet requirements, you will need to be there at the summit.

For more details, visit the website: www.movingpeople.com.au/summit.

We anticipate that the week of the summit will coincide with the commencement of the 47th parliament of Australia and its newly elected government. It is important for the bus industry to have the summit in Canberra so industry can engage with ministers and their senior policy-makers. busnews.com.au April 2022 ABC

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COVERSTORY

SIEMENS DEPOTFINITY

CONNECT & CONTROL Siemens tells ABC about how DepotFinity can achieve the lowest electricity bill for an electric bus depot.

WORDS SMARAN SUBBAIAH BG Product manager for eMobility software at Siemens Smart Inf rastructure eMobility

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T

he objective of any bus operator of an electric bus fleet is simple: ensure vehicles are sufficiently charged for their next planned route while minimising the electricity bill.

The objective is simple, but the challenge is not.

As the number of electric buses increases, overnight charging infrastructure for hundreds of vehicles will become a common feature of our cities.

Simply putting charging points in place, however, will not suffice. The

situation is vastly more complex: many vehicles enter and leave a typical bus depot at different times and have varying energy requirements.

In addition, the electricity rates usually change according to the time of day, there might be power constraints due to an insufficient grid connection, and different types of chargers might have to be considered.

To master this level of complexity, depots need to harness the power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT).

SIEMENS DEPOTFINITY CHARGING MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE Siemens is a technology company that has been delivering charging and grid infrastructure hardware and software solutions for electric bus depots for over 10 years.

One of the world’s largest industrial software companies, Siemens has extended its vast experience in developing AI and IoT platforms to the DepotFinity charging management software. DepotFinity provides insight and sophisticated control of charging management hardware, enabling real time monitoring, historical analysis, load management and integration with other IT platforms and energy markets.

CONNECT THE CHARGERS AND APPLY AI The first step is to connect the chargers to the DepotFinity cloud-based IoT system, which collects data – typically more than 20 parameters such as energy used, voltage or temperature – and enables the chargers to be monitored and controlled. Connectivity is ensured through the Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP) – to operate different chargers within the depot if needed.

This first step is the basis for optimising the power and energy usage within the depot. For this purpose, all aspects relevant to efficient charging need to be considered, e.g., vehicle parameters (battery type, maximum charging rate), charging station details (the charger’s maximum power, number of connectors, etc.), the specifics of the electricity bill (demand tariffs,

time-of-use rates) and, lastly, the vehicle schedule (entry and exit times of each vehicle as well as the energy required for the planned route).

Once this information originating from different sources – e.g., the depot management system, the depot’s electricity provider, etc. – has been gathered and prepared, optimisation can begin.

The aim of optimisation is to manage the combined charging schedules for each vehicle in order to deliver the objective – i.e., the lowest possible electricity bill for the depot. With one vehicle this is simple: electricity is typically cheaper at night

This is achieved by reducing the overall energy or power usage in the depot during expensive time periods.

The optimal individual charging schedules for each charging station are then downloaded from DepotFinity using the charging stations’ inbuilt IoT capabilities.

DRAMATICALLY REDUCE OPERATING COSTS FOR A LARGE DEPOT Here’s an example that demonstrates the power of AI and shows how it can help to reduce the operating costs for a large depot of electric vehicles.

DepotFinity provides insight and sophisticated control of charging management hardware. during off-peak hours, so the solution is to charge the vehicle during this time. With five vehicles it may still be possible to find a feasible combination of charging times, but with several hundred vehicles optimisation will quickly spiral out of (manual) control.

And this is where some clever mathematics and computing power come into play. Called AI-driven smart charging, it searches the multitude of possible charging schedules for each charger and vehicle in order to find the solutions that deliver the lowest cost charging schedule while ensuring vehicles are sufficiently charged for their next planned route.

Imagine a depot that hosts 150 buses, each requiring around 160kWh of electricity every day. The depot is modelled with three waves of buses returning to the depot at the end of the day. With uncontrolled charging, each charger starts as soon as it is plugged in and this produces a power profile Below: The SICHARGE UC family: Siemens’ flexible and robust charging solution for e-bus depot charging.

Opposite: Olivia Laskowski, promoter of electric vehicle charging infrastructure at Siemens.

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COVERSTORY

SIEMENS DEPOTFINITY

Figure 1. Exemplary energy cost calculation for a large depot with 150 e-buses with uncontrolled charging, based on commercial and industrial default electricity rate from Origin Energy.1

with two main peaks of 4.6MW and 3.9MW at 9pm and 2am, respectively, and a further smaller peak at around 9am.

To see what this means for the operational costs of the depot, consider that most commercial customers have two charges on their bill: 1. Usage tariffs: This is the energy charge for the electricity used (kWh) multiplied by the electricity price varied during the day ($/kWh).

2. Network charges or demand tariffs: This is the energy charge for the amount of electrical capacity needed.

It’s the maximum amount of power (kW) used during the highest usage 30-minute interval, multiplied by the local retailer’s network charge ($/kW).

Both the usage and the demand tariffs are cheaper at certain times in the day – peak and off-peak. Evidently, in order to reduce operating costs, the depot should use most of the energy when it is cheapest.

Figure 2. Exemplary electricity cost calculation for a large depot with 150 e-buses with controlled charging using Siemens’ DepotFinity digital solution, based on commercial and industrial default electricity rate from Origin Energy.1

Figure 3. Exemplary demand tariffs calculation for a large depot with 150 e-buses with uncontrolled charging, based on EA305 (low voltage) summer peak period demand tariffs of AusGrid.2

Figure 4. Exemplary demand tariffs calculation for a large depot with 150 e-buses with controlled charging through Siemens’ DepotFinity digital solution, based on demand tariff EA305 of AusGrid.2 26

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CASE STUDY 1: REDUCE THE ELECTRICITY COSTS To illustrate this, let’s apply the commercial and industrial default electricity rate from Australian energy provider Origin Energy, which is publicly available (see Figure 1).

In this example, approximately 13,000kWh of electricity are consumed at the peak rate and 12,000kWh at the off-peak rate. The daily electricity costs would be A$4,420. To slash costs, the electricity usage needs to be moved from peak to off-peak times.

To minimise power costs, the overall power level for the depot is also controlled.

The AI algorithms are going to search for an optimum solution that both shifts the energy usage (load shifting) and also reduces the maximum power (load shaving) for the depot – effectively a multi-dimensional problem.

The optimal power profile for the same depot, as determined by the AI algorithms, can be seen in Figure 2. It features 150 individual charging schedules (one for each of the 150 vehicles) which, when combined, shift the energy usage out of the expensive time period while also reducing the overall power level.

The result is a new electricity bill of $3,850 per day. This corresponds to savings of around 13 per cent and is achieved without any operative restrictions – the schedule is maintained, vehicles still enter and leave

the depot at the required times and receive the required energy to fulfil their mission.

CASE STUDY 2: REDUCE DEMAND TARIFFS Demand tariffs are based on the maximum power the customer uses and usually also depend upon the time of day. To reduce these charges there are two levers.

Firstly, power peaks need to be reduced and, secondly, power needs to be shifted away (load shifting) from the primary demand region, or after 8pm in this example using the Ausgrid EA305 (low voltage) summer peak period of 2pm to 8pm.

The peaks produced by uncontrolled charging, shown in Figure 3, have a strong financial impact, with a particularly decisive peak at around 7:30pm to 8pm. It triggers high charges for the peak demand tariff period. The monthly demand tariffs total almost A$49,800.

The AI-optimised power profile for the depot (Figure 4) shows a significant reduction of the overall peaks from 4.6MW to around 2.5MW. Furthermore, the power usage has shifted away from the primary demand tariff region.

Together, these two improvements can reduce the monthly demand tariffs entirely compared to uncontrolled charging processes. As in the first case this can be achieved without impacting the operations – the vehicles are charged and ready to be deployed when needed.

SUMMARY Managing depot charging is key for the economic and efficient operation of an electrified fleet and can significantly boost decarbonised mobility.

With smaller fleets, load management or smart charging is a key tool to lower both capital and operating expenditure. As fleets grow, cutting-edge technologies such as AI need to be leveraged to manage complexity.

It should be noted Origin and other energy retailers may negotiate more attractive rates for large scale energy consumers or fixed term contracts than outlined here. Similarly demand charges could also be reduced by moving a site from a low to high voltage customer.

Although exact figures vary from location to location, retailer and contract structure, charging management software like

The aim of optimisation is to manage the combined charging schedules for each vehicle.

DepotFinity nevertheless is critical for dramatically reducing energy costs of electric bus depot. This scale of savings bolsters the business case and is essential for the long-term success of eMobility.

SOURCES Origin Energy commercial and industrial energy pricing: www.originenergy.com.au/business/ commercial-and-i ndustrial/electricity-gas-plans/ electricity-pricing.

2 Ausgrid Network Price List 2021–22: https://cdn.ausgrid. com.au/-/media/Documents/ Regulation/Pricing/PList/AUSGRIDNETWORK-PRICE-LIST-FY2021-22.

For further information on Siemens DepotFinity – digital solution for EV depots, please see www.siemens.com/DepotFinity.

For further information on Siemens Smart Infrastructure, please see www.siemens.com/ smartinfrastructure.

1

Above: Grant Mascord, national contracts manager at Custom Bus Group, connecting an Element bus to a SICHARGE UC charger.

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IN FOCUS

FREE BUS FARES

FREE BUS FARES – TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE?

The Tasmanian state government recently made bus fares free for a five-week period to ease the cost of transport. But is it as beneficial to Australians as it sounds?

T

WORDS SEAN MORTELL

he recent fuel price increase has lumped on even more misery to the cost of living for Australian citizens.

While recent federal budget announcements have provided some temporary relief, the Tasmanian state government has taken matters into its own hands by announcing earlier this year that it would make bus fares free for five weeks.

But is this move as beneficial as it sounds?

Tasmania’s state government and metro service think so. One week into the initiative, statistics from the office of Tasmanian Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Michael Ferguson suggested that people are taking advantage of the five-week free ride, with a passenger increase of 13 per cent, or 4,300 passengers a day, state-wide.

“It is an early, yet clear, demonstration that our plan for free buses to help ease household budget stresses is working, as people look for a money-saving alternative to driving,” Ferguson said.

The benefits of free fares for Tasmanians are numerous. In 28

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theory, there would be fewer cars on the road each day, easing congestion and reducing carbon emissions. More people will also save money by hopping on the bus daily and catching a free ride to work.

Metro Tasmania says there is a massive upside to making public transport free for a stretch of time.

“It’s a great opportunity to encourage people who don’t regularly use public transport to try it, or for infrequent users to become more regular,” Metro Tasmania CEO Katie Cooper told ABC magazine.

“The bigger benefit with public transport is it provides an easy way to benefit the customer as they don’t have to pay parking fees and they avoid the stress of driving through peak hour. Instead, they can just sit back, relax and enjoy an easy ride home.”

On top of these practical advantages, Cooper believes there’s further physical health benefits to getting out of the car and catching the bus with other people.

“People get an extra 30

minutes’ incidental exercise a day, which is a fantastic health benefit,” Cooper said.

“Couple that with the sustainability factor, as there are fewer cars on the road and therefore fewer emissions, and it’s no surprise how good free public transport can be.”

Cooper said the positivity surrounding public transport since the announcement has been noticeable. Normally a standard part of urban life, Cooper has noticed catching the bus being “talked about as a genuine and real service to help people live their lives”.

She’s hopeful that this five-week stretch could be instrumental in seeing public transport become an even

People get an extra 30 minutes’ incidental exercise a day, which is a fantastic health benefit. more publicly promoted topic for Tasmanian people.

But the Metro Tasmania CEO admitted there are challenges associated with launching the trial initiative in what is still a pandemic, with the impact that Covid-19 can have on consistent daily services still as pertinent as ever.

“One unfortunate aspect of this first week of the initiative is we’ve been impacted with Covid and have had to drop a number of services due to

staff absences,” Cooper said.

“It’s had an impact on the service we’re operating as it’s unfortunate timing. Hopefully it’ll settle down in the coming weeks and we can get back to operating at 100 per cent during the free period.”

THE OTHER SIDE Not everyone, however, is a fan of free public transport.

Professor Jago Dodson is the director of Melbourne’s RMIT Centre for Urban Research

Opposite: Metro Tasmania CEO Katie Cooper.

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IN FOCUS

FREE BUS FARES

and an expert in urban infrastructure. He doesn’t see the immediate bonuses of relieving the cost of living by making bus fares free as a beneficial long-term prospect for Australian states.

“It’s understandable that there are these calls in times of high demands and high transport cost pressures on households,” Dodson told ABC. “From a state government perspective, there aren’t tools available to respond in shortterm ways because they don’t control the fuel excise tax or economic support policies. The question I have is who benefits the most from free public transport?”

Dodson argues that public transport infrastructure is of the highest quality in the inner and middle suburban areas of major Australian cities, while it decreases in quality in fringe suburban regions.

“When looking at the distribution of wealth, those households in the middle to inner suburban areas who have access to the highest quality public transport are the ones receiving the free bus fares when they don’t necessarily need the discount.

“Free public transport disproportionately benefits wealthier households than those on lower incomes,” Dodson said.

“Even if the measure is temporary, it won’t be particularly useful except for very low-income households where dropping the cost of a bus fare is actually going to be of benefit to them, but in general it won’t benefit most households.

“What we need the federal government to assist with is a reduction in the fuel excise, although even that is problematic.

“It’s much better to provide relief on the income side of the equation to cover these rising costs so households can choose if they spend this 30

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extra money on fuel, food, clothes or other expenses.”

Dodson feels for state governments, as he says the current cost of living problem is a “short-term shock” while the planning process for improving public transport so it is equitable for people of all socio-economic backgrounds takes more than a decade.

Although he agrees with Cooper that Australia needs to shift away from fuel vehicles as primary means of transport to more sustainable modes, Dodson has a different solution to free bus fares that makes it fairer for everyone.

“We need to take this as the most recent lesson that if we manage cities where 80 per cent of travel is by automobiles running on insecure fuel supplies, then we set ourselves up for consistent difficulties,” Dodson said.

“This sounds counterintuitive, but a question to ask is whether the fuel tax is too low in Australia, as it allows people to remain car-dependent at a relatively low cost compared to other countries.

“If you have ongoing high fuel taxation, then it sends a price taxation message for people to walk, cycle or catch public transport, meaning we have more money to build bike lanes and improve public transport infrastructure so it’s equitable for all people.

“That also requires income support for less wealthy households so they are not disadvantaged.”

POSITIVE FEEDBACK Although not everyone is a fan of the Tasmanian government’s free bus fare decision, it won’t stop the state from continuing to enjoy the trial period.

“Encouragingly the feedback

being received has been incredibly positive, especially from those trying the bus for the first time, or for the first time in a long time,” Ferguson said.

“With the free public bus services continuing for another four weeks, we encourage anyone that thinks a bus will get them where they need to go and who wants to save money to jump on board – it’s free.”

Above: Professor Jago Dodson, director of Melbourne’s RMIT Centre for Urban Research.

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OPERATOR

BRISBANE TO YAMBA TOURS

FROM CHALLENGES TO OPPORTUNITIES IN REGIONAL W QUEENSLAND Brisbane to Yamba Tours owner Livia Palmieri tells ABC about overcoming recent challenges, as she searches for someone to take over the growing business.

WORDS JOSH FARRELL

hile many industries struggled throughout the pandemic, few had it as tough as the tourism industry.

Especially for a tourism bus operator, they couldn’t just pivot to some other field, and instead they found themselves at the mercy of the latest outbreaks and lockdowns.

Then, in February, just as tourism started to open up again, the flooding that hit Queensland was like being kicked when they were just getting back on their feet.

The flooding affected a large portion of southern Queensland and northern New South Wales including Brisbane, Gympie, Lismore and Ballina.

Livia Palmieri knows this situation all too well. She is the founder of Brisbane to Yamba Tours, a bus touring operation she started in 2016 to serve the Yamba community. She lived through these trying times that she never thought possible.

“The lockdowns in 2021 were challenging of course and then this extra flooding has posed a number of challenges,” Palmieri told ABC magazine.

“Yamba never normally gets flooded, but the towns around normally do. This time, Yamba was flooded, which was very challenging for the town.”

It was a challenge for a company that has come a long way. Since it was started six years ago, today, Brisbane to Yamba bus tours offer a range of options for customers including tours around the Yamba region and airport transfers, playing an important role in the local community.

“I recognised there was a gap in the service between the major airports and Yamba and it was a gap for personalised service,” Palmieri said.

“It was also about serving the local residents who live there and travel a lot.

I have established a good relationship with the local travel agents for outbound travellers and also people who are coming from overseas.”

FUTURE FOCUS Brisbane to Yamba Tours has been operating a 10-seat Toyota Hiace commuter 32

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with servicing completed on site by mechanic David Murtas.

Palmieri has begun looking toward hydrogen and electric buses to futureproof the company.

“Completing our transfers in Brisbane means the infrastructure is there for us to utilise electric or hydrogen buses but it is important for us to weigh up the cost benefit risk before we commit,” she said.

For Palmieri, her work is about servicing the town of Yamba and delivering what locals needed, which has allowed the business to grow and thrive even under challenges.

“I am very passionate about small business, so I worked closely with a lot of businesses within Yamba,” she said.

“We were bringing students to Yamba to teach them about the oysters and also bringing international workers – we have such a diverse range of workers coming to the town it was important to cater to their needs.”

She sees a strong role for local buses in supporting a vibrant community.

“A lot of the city workers who may need to travel once a month or once a fortnight can live in Yamba, so it is a great opportunity for someone to come in and do the airport transfers,” Palmieri said.

“By offering the bus service it gives people the alternative of leaving their car at home where it is safe and having all the hassle taken out of their travel.”

Regions along the northern New South Wales coast continue to grow and an influx of residents has seen cash flow rise, allowing some businesses to upgrade to become high-level establishments.

“Yamba is growing, families that operated small hotels have upgraded to boutique hotels such as Yamba central and it is helping to solidify the town as one of the pre-eminent tourist destinations for that region,” she said.

“They have opened a microbrewery on site and it is the perfect place for us to start our tours then go around Yamba from there.”

While the flooding was a challenge, Palmieri is seeing

BUSES HELP REBUILD REGIONAL COMMUNITIES During the Covid pandemic, Australia saw an exodus of residents from the nation’s capital cities toward regional centres.

In the first quarter of 2021, the capital cities lost 11,800 people to regional towns, which has seen the demand for public transport grow.

And, when the flooding hit Queensland and NSW, buses became a vital cog in the machine of recovery for communities.

Cudgen Headland SLSC donated its bus to the effort in nearby Tumbulgum. Tumbulgum was decimated by the flooding, with the school forced to transfer many of the children to nearby Tweed Heads for school days. Patrol member Mike Kenny volunteered to drive the bus during the time and the club covered all of the costs associated with the use of the bus.

Once the flooding subsided in the regions, the mammoth task of cleaning up the roads

business pick up again.

“I am noticing now that customers are beginning to call me again and they are asking about holidays so it looks like it will begin to pick up,” she said.

“We did have to cancel some bookings, but it is nice to see them picking up again.”

The company has continued to operate tours a few times a week, working closely with local businesses to give the greatest experience for those visiting Yamba.

These tours have seen tourists engage in whale watching and kayaking, capitalising on the natural beauty that surrounds the region.

“We work with companies but we tailor to what a client needs and look to capitalise on Yamba’s exciting outdoor activities,” she said.

“Having lived in Yamba, the community is always looking out for

began. Roads Minister Natalie Ward pledged to work with local governments to fix councilmanaged roads.

“We have an enormous task ahead of us and I make no bones about that,” Ward said. She noted Transport for NSW has been carrying out an audit of state-managed roads, prioritising motorways and areas of ‘critical safety’.

“Those maintenance repair crews are out there doing temporary repairs on those potholes but, of course, you can’t fix them permanently until it’s dry weather,” she said.

Many of the bus companies in these areas replaced the rail services that were cancelled.

Buses replaced trains on the Western, Olympic Park, North Shore, Blue Mountains and Southern Highlands lines to ensure the public transport did not completely shut down.

each other and that is what helps the company thrive.”

While the Brisbane to Yamba Tours company has been a passion for Palmieri, she can see the time is right for someone to come in and continue to grow the business.

“There are a lot of opportunities for someone who wants to come in and take over and if they know how to do it right, they can be very successful,” she said.

“The hard work has been done, the marketing and getting it established in the community. It is about growing now and realising the opportunity.

“It is a challenge operating a small business, obviously – I have to work all day and come home and do paperwork. The company is now in need of someone who has resources to put behind it to grow.”

Opposite: Livia Palmieri set up Brisbane to Yamba Tours in 2016.

Above: With roads opening back up after the floods, and tourism recovering from the pandemic, business is starting to pick up again.

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IN FOCUS

GIG WORKERS

CONVENIENT CASUALS OR CONTRACT CASUALTIES? Gig workers took centre stage at the Australian Public Transport Industrial Association (APTIA) national summit in March.

WORDS JOSH FARRELL

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P

arty lines were drawn at the Australian Public Transport Industrial Association (APTIA) national summit held on Wednesday, March 23, as politicians joined industry experts to debate the future of bus driver employment laws.

The virtual summit was well attended, with speakers looking towards the approaching federal election and the impacts it could have on the industry.

Coming in from the right, Assistant Minister to the Attorney General, Assistant Minister for Industrial Relations and Assistant Minister for Women Senator Amanda Stoker represented the Liberal

National Party, and a stance on the importance of workplace flexibility.

Stoker began by speaking of concerns that workers in the industry had a lack of choice when it comes to casual or contracted work.

“Up until Covid, the proportion of the workforce who had been casual had been the same for around the previous 20 years,” Stoker said.

“In [the public transport] industry, where casual employment is valued, the average age of these drivers is 53. A lot of the drivers need the flexibility of casual work.”

She pressed that she wanted drivers to have better autonomy in choosing their employment status.

“For many workers there is a preference for casual work. They shouldn’t be lost by those in the union movement who have an old school way of viewing employment,” she said.

“Many of the casual drivers preferred the higher level of pay as opposed to higher benefits.”

While some of these issues relating to casual employment have been addressed and passed into law, the Senator referred to others, such as creating flexibility in modern Awards, making approval of Enterprise Agreements more accessible

and extending the time frame for Greenfield Agreements to cover the length of a project.

She also discussed the importance of enforcement and compliance provisions to protect employees against underpayment of wages, which were not yet passed but would be revisited in a new Parliament.

SECURE EMPLOYMENT From the Australian Labor Party’s perspective, secure employment was a priority over protecting the gig economy – a position represented by ex-state and national secretary for the Transport Workers Union and current Senator Tony Sheldon.

“Of course, as drivers retired and left the industry during the Covid pandemic, it has created challenges for operators and workers alike,” he said.

“We found that insecure work comes in many forms. There are many Australians who choose to work part time, as a casual or a contractor. The issue we found was that many of the workers don’t have

a choice and many workers either have to choose between starvation or starvation wages.”

Sheldon, who recently chaired a Senate Select Committee on Job Security, noted that there were much bigger problems than job security. He said his party in government would seek to address the elephant in the room: wage growth, which has not kept up with the cost of living.

INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS Professor Andrew Stewart, the John Bray Professor of Law at Adelaide University, gave his overview of both the major parties’ approach to industrial relations, with a clear preference for the opposition.

Stewart stated that he had not heard a single policy commitment from Senator Stoker and was convinced that the opposition would target security at work and wages growth as the basis of its industrial relations policies.

He also flagged that, during this next term of government, the current president of the Fair Work Commission would retire, and the government of the day would need to appoint a new one.

In 2020, Stewart assessed casual drivers in the bus industry after a key case involving a mining company and a contractor handed down its decision, showing that the issue of casual drivers continues to plague the industry.

Then-executive director of the Bus Industry Confederation Michael

Up until Covid, the proportion of the workforce who had been casual had been the same for around the previous 20 years.

Apps weighed in on the debate, commenting on what recent decisions and policy means for casual drivers.

“The Bus Industry Confederation has advocated to its members a ‘wait and see’ approach to the decision and has sought legal advice on its implications for our employers,” he said.

“It is evident, however, that the implication for our industry from the decision is that employment for casual school bus drivers, who work regularly for 40 weeks a year, will have to be re-assessed by their employers and casual coach and charter drivers also may no longer be able to be employed as casuals.”

An example of this from 2010 showed that under the Passenger Vehicle Transportation Award 2010, drivers were entitled to receive $38.94 per hour on weekends, and $48.68 per hour on public holidays.

Classifying the bus drivers as contractors and paying them a flat rate meant that they missed out on casual loadings, overtime rates, weekend and holiday penalty rates, as well as night and early

Above, Left to Right: Assistant Minister to the Attorney General, Assistant Minister for Industrial Relations and Assistant Minister for Women Senator Amanda Stoker, and Senator Tony Sheldon.

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IN FOCUS

GIG WORKERS

The greatest threat to reputable companies is the gig economy and the way these companies employ staff.

Above: Casual work has raised issues around staff missing out on benefits given to full time employees.

Pictured: Professor Andrew Stewart.

morning work penalty rates. The Federal Circuit Court found that the four drivers were underpaid by $46,012 between 2012 and 2014.

Even though the bus company had since paid the four workers back in full, the judge fined the company $89,250 for ‘deliberately’ wrongly classifying the bus driver employees as independent contractors.

Sheldon weighed in on these decisions. He noted that they show that casual work, compared to contracted work, will continue to be an issue throughout this pre-election and election period and is heightened by the gig economy.

“The greatest threat to reputable companies is the gig economy and the way these companies employ staff,” he said.

INDUSTRY CHALLENGES Politics aside, a range of industry experts gave their views throughout the seminar on challenges facing the public transport industry.

Vice president of the Fair Work Commission Adam Hatcher gave an overview of the workings of 36

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the commission and the rapid transformation of commission practices, especially in relation to the development of recent online hearings. He gave an insight into the continuing challenges in the commission against the public health orders mandating vaccinations. In 2021, a number of states mandated that specific areas of workforces would need to be vaccinated against Covid or they would be unable to remain employed in that industry.

Nikki Britt, a health expert and director of worker compensation insurer Employers Mutual Insurance (EML), spoke about the mental health issues that had arisen as a consequence of the pandemic.

Britt highlighted the challenges that drivers face regardless of political rows, and the responsibility for employers to understand the psychosocial issues that may impact on an employee in the workforce.

“We need to appreciate and understand that the psychological pressure on our staff is going up,” she said.

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FEATURE

PARTS SUPPLY SOLUTIONS

SECURITY CAMERAS AN IMPORTANT ASSET FOR BUSES Parts Supply Solutions directors Grant and Fiona Watson speak with ABC about the role cameras can play in improving both the safety of drivers, and Australian roads as a whole.

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W

orking in the bus industry poses a number of challenges. One of those downfalls – that every operator hates to experience – is abuse and assaults on drivers.

Sadly, most operators will face abuse at some point in their career. A recent survey from the Rail, Tram & Bus Union of 100 metro Tasmania bus drivers found that seven in 10 drivers have been threatened on the job, and an astounding 98 per cent had been verbally abused.

Fortunately, while personal manners

may not be improving, technology is.

While companies can’t plant a manager in every bus to witness abuse, they can turn to companies such as Parts Supply Solutions to install CCTV systems and cameras to better protect drivers.

“It is almost compulsory on most vehicles now,” said Grant Watson, managing director of Parts Supply Solutions.

“Even if it isn’t, most operators want it anyway to protect themselves, their fleet and the drivers.”

Fiona Watson works alongside Grant as a fellow director. She explains how they

are able to work closely with operators, to tailor the business’s offering based on their needs.

“When they call, we ask how many areas of the bus internally and externally they want to see.

Then we decide on how many cameras they require, what type of bus they need it fitted on and then we can explain the installation,” said Fiona.

“On top of that they can have four different options for the ongoing operation of the system.”

At the simplest level, CCTV cameras can be running on the bus to record any behaviour that needs to be referred to later on.

At the next level up, Parts Supply Solutions can set up an officebased CCTV operations system so operators can monitor their buses on their own.

Fleets looking for even more support can work directly with Parts Supply Solutions to support the monitoring of the cameras and offer real time streaming, even to a mobile phone. And, at the very highest level, operators who need maximum support can work directly with Parts Supply Solutions on a fully managed system.

“Parts Supply Solutions can run the whole system so clients do not even have to think about it,” said Fiona.

“We can tell you in real time what is happening on a bus and if something isn’t operating as it should. If a driver is in distress we can have the system go straight to the operations room in real time.”

Hosting on site has become an important asset for clients, with Parts Supply Solutions able to monitor for any potential failures in the systems.

“We can see if a driver has opened their door, we can recognise faults, cameras that have been altered or vandalised

We can tell you in real time what is happening on a bus and if something isn’t operating as it should. sometimes before a driver has even noticed them, and then we can tailor our response to the client,” said Fiona.

“We are often engaged to go out and do a health check on these systems, often they don’t realise that it has been damaged, vandalised or failed.”

Grant noted that the camera system has a number of parameters that operators can check, including alarms that will notify either the CCTV operator, or the bus driver, when the camera is out of action.

“This is important because it has happened before to operators,” said Grant.

“They come to us that they have had an issue arise and the camera had been broken for months without them knowing.”

A major advantage of working with Parts Supply Solutions not only with their CCTV systems but with their spare parts also is that they offer multiple options, and are not just promoting a

Above: Different camera solutions are available to meet the needs of operators.

Left: Grant and Fiona Watson, directors of Parts Supply Solutions.

busnews.com.au April 2022 ABC

39

FEATURE

PARTS SUPPLY SOLUTIONS

Not everyone has a whole fleet of the same bus so we have to be flexible in the way we roll out our camera systems and our spare parts.

Above: The cameras provide extra security for staff and passengers.

Below: Parts Supply Solutions can monitor the camera feeds on behalf of the customer.

40

single brand. This approach has come in especially handy with recent challenges in the supply chain.

“We are a solutions company so we can source parts for our customers quicker,” said Fiona.

The approach also allows it to tailor what it recommends to each client based on their needs, rather than what the

ABC April 2022 busnews.com.au

company is trying to sell.

“We give our customers options,” said Grant.

“It is a client-by-client and a bus-by-bus process. Not everyone has a whole fleet of the same bus so we have to be flexible in the way we roll out our camera systems and our spare parts.”

This approach has helped Parts Supply Solutions not only provide a leading range of safety cameras, but other technology that can support better bus operation.

“We are always looking for new and innovative technology – whether that be mirrorless technology or electric roller blinds – everything to suit a customer’s needs,” said Grant.

“Another interesting system we have installed alongside a lot of these CCTV cameras has been

the driver fatigue system.”

The driver fatigue system, he explained, uses a camera working alongside AI to monitor a number of parameters on the driver. This checks for closing eyes, inattentiveness and any other number of things to alert the driver that they are fatigued.

And so it is that technology is not only making buses safer for drivers, but also roads safer for everyone. One more bonus of this level of technology is that it can even support the safety of the community as a whole.

Fiona and Grant Watson told ABC of an occasion in Melbourne recently where the CCTV cameras on a bus helped the police.

“An individual attacked a woman and jumped on the bus bloodied and the police were quickly notified,” recounted Fiona.

“Within minutes, his image was everywhere and police were able to catch him and apprehend him quickly. All thanks to the CCTV on the bus.”

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8/4/22 9:22 am

FEATURE

GENUINE VOLVO PARTS

RELIABILITY AND DURABILITY WITH GENUINE VOLVO PARTS For the same reasons that customers select Volvo products, you should always choose Volvo Genuine Parts for service and repairs. Genuine Volvo Parts achieve long-term reliability and durability to ensure safety, efficiency and profitability – and Volvo Bus customers agree.

U

sing the same component parts that your Volvo was originally made from, Volvo treats availability, reliability and durability as its most important priorities, to ensure safer, more fuel-efficient and profitable operations for its customers.

Genuine Volvo Parts are engineered specifically for their unique function in the chassis, are certified to the highest standards and extensively tested in operating conditions. Buying genuine parts also means you can be assured you are purchasing the latest options that use the most up-to-date technology.

A Genuine Volvo Part has exactly the same kind of quality as the original part fitted when the bus was built and is specifically developed to deliver long product life with full warranty – minimising trouble and ensuring maximum uptime.

Not to mention, before Genuine Parts make their way to a vehicle, they have undergone designing, monitoring, testing and retesting to the same high standard as Volvo’s chassis, to ensure they maintain low fuel

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ABC April 2022 busnews.com.au

consumption and secure superior environmental performance with a clear business benefit.

Volvo Buses also has an established supply chain for the supply of spare parts, supported

by Volvo’s Regional Distribution Centre at Minto in south-west Sydney. Depending on the order time and current stock levels, Volvo can have parts delivered to almost all areas of Australia within 24 hours, provided they are in stock.

importance to Buslines Group that its vehicles are of the highest quality and provide reliable performance.

“The chassis provided by Volvo are evidently built with the Australian climate in mind,” said Busline Group fleet and maintenance manager Josh Fuller.

“The aftersales team go above and beyond to support our fleet and provide assistance with technical matters, which allows

Above: Volvo I-Shift Below: Volvo hybrid system

From our experience, no supplier has been able to offer the aftersales support that the Volvo Bus team are able to give us.

AFTERSALES SUPPORT Many Volvo Bus customers, including Buslines Group and Port Stephens Coaches, have experienced the genuine Volvo difference with these parts over the years and have seen a range of benefits from a business and operating perspective.

Having in excess of 400 buses across 11 depots that spread throughout NSW, from Ballina to Ulladulla, it is of the upmost

busnews.com.au April 2022 ABC

43

FEATURE

GENUINE VOLVO PARTS

Pictured: Volvo D8K engine

our buses to maintain reliability.

“The team’s mechanical knowledge and knowledge of products means our requirements are understood the first time and appropriate parts are sourced correctly. Buslines’ and Volvo’s relationship is one that has been built upon quality and trust over decades.

We have worked with numerous other suppliers, and Volvo’s aftersales support has been second to none.”

Port Stephens Coaches has had a similar experience with Volvo Buses, having been partners for over 40 years, where the relationship has been built on Volvo’s commitment to product quality and aftersales support.

“Over the years we have had other products in our fleet,” said Port Stephens Coaches managing director Chris Fogg.

“However, from our experience, no supplier has been able to offer the aftersales support that the 44

ABC April 2022 busnews.com.au

From our experience, no supplier has been able to offer the aftersales support that the Volvo Bus team are able to give us.

Volvo Bus team are able to give us.

“With fleet utilisation back to pre-Covid levels it is comforting to know that we have the support of the aftersales team at Volvo Bus to keep our fleets on the road with genuine spare parts and, when needed, workshop labour support to assist our service and repair needs wherever we are in Australia.”

REMAN PARTS Volvo Bus Australia is also proud to offer Reman (remanufactured) parts – a system that takes old parts and makes them as good as new and at a more affordable price point and with reduced environmental impact.

Genuine Volvo Reman Parts are remanufactured to their original

specification, and they are even upgraded to the latest standards. The quality and functional requirements are exactly the same as for new parts, and even carry the same warranty.

Volvo’s extensive parts offering is also accompanied by hands-on aftermarket support, where you can count on a range of products and services designed to maximise uptime, reduce life cycle cost and secure long-term reliability.

Having a large global logistics network ensures Volvo’s swift supply of Genuine Volvo Parts, which in turn ensures that your vehicles can keep running in top condition. And, with the largest dealer network of all bus and coach manufacturers in Australia, help and support is never far away.

Experience the Genuine difference with Genuine Volvo Parts and service

For the same reasons that you choose a Volvo vehicle you should always choose Volvo Genuine Parts for service and repairs. Using the same component parts that your Volvo was originally made from, we treat availability, reliability and durability as our most important priorities, to ensure safer, more fuel-efficient and profitable operations for our customers. With Volvo as your service partner, you’re also guaranteed that your Volvo will remain a Volvo with Genuine Volvo Parts, fitted by experts. Plus, with our suite of Volvo Services and extensive support from Australia’s only dedicated bus team and the largest dealer network in the country, you are guaranteed unparalleled reliability and support across all fleet parts and service options. So, you can trust Volvo and our Genuine Parts to keep your vehicle exactly where it should be – on the road.

ABC 416.indd 45

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8/4/22 10:19 am

FEATURE

MULTISPARES

DEMAND FOR VERSATILE DIAGNOSTIC EQUIPMENT CONTINUES TO GROW In recent years, the demand for supply and support of diagnostic equipment has grown dramatically.

Multispares discusses how it has adapted its offering.

I

n many ways, the role of independent companies in the supply of diagnostic products is now similar to the role they have played with aftermarket parts for decades, for example the parallel distribution to original equipment (OE) channels.

The standardisation of communication protocols, and the rigour of laws in major economies that prevent any restriction on access to vehicle systems, have opened the door for the development of new diagnostic tools that do everything, or almost everything, a vehicle manufacturer’s systems can do.

However, these independent systems also offer the advantage of broader connection capabilities across many vehicles.

Multispares first became involved in diagnostic equipment after identifying the best independent systems weren’t being fully supported in Australia and New Zealand, leaving workshops and fleets with poor alternatives to the OE platforms.

After investigating the market, they commenced what has become an enduring and important partnership with Jaltest.

Jaltest Diagnostics is

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manufactured in Spain, where they have a large engineering team, and they operate ground support from sites across Europe, the United States and Asia.

Multispares has already sold well over 500 Jaltest systems in Australia and New Zealand.

One critical reason for this success is the breadth of systems coverage; what Jaltest calls Multi-Brand, Multi-System diagnostics.

The local market is one of the most diverse in the world, divided between European, Japanese, American and more recently Chinese vehicle systems.

Jaltest will connect to, diagnose and perform normal diagnostic functions on just about every vehicle in service, and its engineers make regular visits to Australia and New Zealand to investigate models that are less common or differently configured in local markets.

Multispares has already sold well over 500 Jaltest systems in Australia and New Zealand.

The next technological step for fleets and independent mechanics is telematic diagnostics, to allow remote vehicle monitoring and early intervention when a failure is imminent and remote resets when diagnosis indicates problems can be addressed after the vehicle returns to base.

While telematics has become common, until now telematic diagnostics have been largely limited to the services provided by vehicle manufacturers.

Following intensive development, Jaltest telematics has been operating in some large European bus fleets for a couple of years, and Multispares has been facilitating tests on a range of local trucks over the past six months. Multispares is

now looking for early adopters and gearing up to offer broader telematic diagnostics support.

One important step has been the decision to establish a Technology Services Team focused on building market penetration of multi-brand diagnostics and developing the market for remote multi-brand diagnostics.

Multispares is a major distributor for many OE products, including electronic products such as electronic braking systems, but sees no conflict in these OE relationships and its support for Multi-Brand Diagnostics. Indeed, it has been keeping its OE supply partners properly informed of its activities.

Wabco is a great example

Opposite: Blair Rundle, pictured working with Multispares.

busnews.com.au April 2022 ABC

47

FEATURE

MULTISPARES

Used by mechanics every day to diagnose and resolve faults on Wabco systems.

of an OE manufacturer with a proprietary diagnostic system, more recently testing its proprietary telematic diagnostics in Australia.

Yet, with the understanding that multi-brand diagnostics will be used by many workshops to connect to their systems, Wabco has also taken

Quality Parts Managed Service Competitive Prices

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ABC April 2022 busnews.com.au

an active interest in Jaltest.

Blair Rundle attended the very first Multispares-Jaltest training session and, more recently, conducted procedural training to allow Jaltest users to correctly exchange Wabco electronic control units.

Managing director Geoff Stewart said Multispares is hoping to speak with more bus companies about their diagnostic and remote diagnostic needs.

For those wishing to learn more about Jaltest, the best way to start is to call a local branch on 13 16 15 and a member of the Jaltest support staff will be in contact.

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8/4/22 9:25 am

FEATURE

CMV TRUCK & BUS

SUPPORT FOR YOUR NEXT STEP

Volvo Bus Australia has officially launched the new Volvo BZL Electric, and the CMV Truck & Bus team have all the information you need about this exciting new model.

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L

ooking to reduce your fuel costs, equip your drivers with the latest technology and safety, and increase the number of passengers you can transport? With the recent launch of the new Volvo BZL Electric in Australia, there’s never been a better time to update your fleet, while knowing that you’ll have the support from Australia’s number one Volvo Bus dealer, CMV Truck & Bus. “For over 50 years Volvo Bus has supplied the Australian bus industry with quality vehicles and the BZL is the next generation of quality from Volvo,” said CMV Truck & Bus Volvo Bus sales manager Anthony Fisicaro.

“Plus, when you buy a BZL, like any Volvo Bus, you don’t just get a bus you also get the full support of the most experienced and dedicated bus aftersales team in Australia, along with the most expansive dealer network in the country.”

With the new Volvo BZL Electric, you get proven e-mobility technology, high passenger capacity and charging solutions to match your operation.

“From an operator perspective, the Volvo BZL Electric offers optimum accessibility and serviceability, ensuring that servicing and repairs can be carried out with ease,” said Volvo Bus Australia general manager Mitch Peden.

“The accessible design of the Volvo BZL Electric offers multiple practical access points across the vehicle to secure

busnews.com.au April 2022 ABC

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FEATURE

CMV TRUCK & BUS

maximum uptime and lower servicing costs,” he explained.

DESIGNED FOR FLEXIBILITY The Volvo BZL Electric bus features a powerful driveline and optimised transmission, delivering impressive torque, power and drivability for safe operation, even in the most demanding conditions.

The driveline can be configured as a single or dual motor unit with a power output of no less than 540hp (403kW), making the Volvo BZL Electric an untiring hill climber with swift and smooth operation, even on the tightest schedules.

The two-stage automated gearbox also increases wheel torque at low speed and evens out current peaks, ensuring an improvement in energy economy of up to 80 per cent when compared to a diesel bus.

A Volvo BZL Electric bus is a silent and comfortable experience, for operators and passengers alike. Your passengers will appreciate the quiet atmosphere, while also offering relief for the driver, helping to reduce stress and stay more focused and alert.

“The Volvo BZL Electric can offer seating capacity from 31–47 and varying lengths from 9.9–12.5m, plus Volvo also offer route analysis to calculate the range the vehicle will achieve between charges,” said Fisicaro.

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ABC April 2022 busnews.com.au

“This analysis takes into account the conditions the vehicle will operate in such as climate, the amount of stops and topography.”

The bus also features a full low-floor layout, providing unrivalled accessibility and comfort to passengers, including an enhanced experience for the elderly and disabled passengers.

“Our mobility team can set up your BZL to automatically regulate speed limits in a geofenced zone and automatically program the vehicle to wake up to operate the heating or cooling so that the internal saloon is at a comfortable ready-to-operate temperature,” said Fisicaro.

Not only will the CMV Truck & Bus team work with you to ensure the Volvo BZL Electric is customised specifically for your business, with a dedicated Volvo Bus Centre located at CMV Truck & Bus Derrimut, the exceptional service doesn’t end after the purchase of your new vehicle.

CMV Truck & Bus Derrimut’s purpose-built facility offers state-of-the-art equipment and

diagnostic tools with nine workshop bays fully equipped to the bus division.

Plus, the CMV Truck & Bus team includes factory-trained bus technicians who specialise in the service of Volvo Buses, including electric and hybrid vehicles.

CMV Truck and Bus customers also have access to a team of expert parts interpreters who can assist with the purchase of bus parts online or over the counter at one of its dealerships. With 24/7 parts availability and field technical support, CMV Truck & Bus truly is your one stop shop for all your bus needs.

With seven locations across Victoria, and sales and service support in South Australia and Tasmania, the CMV Truck & Bus team are here to support you and your business. Contact Anthony Fisicaro and Brad Schulz today to discuss the Volvo BZL Electric and the Volvo Bus range.

To find out more, please contact Anthony Fisicaro, CMV Truck & Bus Volvo Bus Sales manager or Brad Schulz, CMV Truck & Bus Volvo Bus account manager, on (03) 9931 6000.

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With seven branch locations across Victoria, CMV Truck & Bus is your one stop shop for all your truck and bus needs.

Our team of Volvo Bus specialists can assist you with everything from sales, parts and service, including hybrid and electric vehicles, through to complex fit outs, repairs and ongoing customer support.

To learn more, visit cmvtb.com.au Albury / Wodonga • Clayton • Dandenong • Derrimut • Epping • Gippsland • Shepparton

Contact the team at Derrimut for all your Bus Parts Plus needs including: • Decals & Safety Signage • Coach Toilet Parts • Wiper Parts • Safety Hammers • Mirror Parts • School Bus Lighting 1800 288 777

ABC 416.indd 53

buspartsplus@cmv.com.au

392 Boundary Rd, Derrimut VIC

8/4/22 9:22 am

EVENTS

AUSTRALASIA BUS AND COACH EXPO 2022

SIX MONTHS AND COUNTING FOR SYDNEY BUS EXPO

Events are back! Members of the bus industry are excited to get back into major face-to-face events, with the Australasian Bus and Coach Expo coming up October 5–6, 2022

W

ith six months to go until the Australasia Bus and Coach Expo 2022, BusNSW has had strong exhibitor interest and registrations.

The event will be held at Sydney Showground at Sydney Olympic Park on October 5–6, 2022.

BusNSW executive director Matt Threlkeld said there are only a handful of vehicle display stands and a small number of booths still available.

“This will be an event like no other with the move to zero emission vehicles, and key decision makers will have an opportunity to see and

54

ABC April 2022 busnews.com.au

evaluate battery electric and hydrogen fuel cell buses at the one location,” Threlkeld said.

“We are expecting the display areas and booths to be sold out, so we strongly encourage any industry suppliers who are thinking of exhibiting to register very soon.

“The BusNSW board has made a conscious decision to continue with a free entry model for the Sydney Expo, which will focus on a standalone exhibition.

“The Expo will feature over $50m worth of vehicles and equipment, and more than 100 exhibition booths under one roof.”

The event is supported by Transport for NSW, which will be exhibiting at the Expo.

A comprehensive Expo program will be printed in the August edition of the Australasia Bus & Coach (ABC) magazine, so we encourage industry suppliers to register in time for inclusion.

“The event will include the Volvo Welcome Function on Tuesday

2007 DENNING “PHOENIX” Cat C9 335hp, automatic, 53 lap sash seat belted recliners in leather, Thermo King A/C,underfloor bins, travelled approx. 740,000klm, very clean

ABC-HH2-5129255-TS-416

Reduced to $122,500+GST

2015 BCI “CLASSMASTER 45’ Cummins ISB250hp,automatic inc a retarder, 45 lap sash seat belted seats, A/C, school lights, underfloor bins, travelled approx. 225,000klm

October 4 and an Industry Gala Dinner on Wednesday October 5,” Threlkeld said.

“Registration to visit the Expo and to attend the social functions will open via the Expo website soon at www.busandcoachexpo.com.au.”

The Expo is being held in the second week of the NSW school holidays and following the October long weekend, which includes the NRL Grand Final.

“We strongly recommend that visitors and exhibitors book accommodation early given it will be a busy time in the Sydney Olympic Park precinct,” Threlkeld said.

Suppliers interested in exhibiting should contact Melissa Bowden via email at events@busnsw.com.au or phone 02 8839 9500.

Opposite top: With the expo fast approaching vendors are encouraged to sign up now.

Opposite below: The expo will be held at the Sydney showground in October.

2 X 2014 IVECO EURORIDER ZF AsTronic trans,Irizar I6 13.5m body, 52 lap sash seat belted recliners, rear toilet, A/C, underfloor bins, DVD many extras, travelled only 247,00klm

2019 TOYOTA COMMUTER COMMUTE R diesel, automatic,12 passenger lap sash seat belted seats,towbar, travelled approx.

39,000klm as new

BE SEEN AT THE EXPO

Advertise in the Official Australasian Bus and Coach Expo Showguide that will be incorporated into the August edition of Australasian Bus & Coach.

Australasian Bus & Coach is proud to be the Official Media Partner of the Australasian Bus and Coach Expo 2022. In the August edition of the publication, we will be previewing the expo as the Official Showguide will be incorporated into that magazine. In addition to being mailed to every ABC subscriber, thousands of additional copies will be given to visitors to the show.

The publication will include floorplans, programs, a full exhibitor listing and so much more, and is a great opportunity for exhibitors to capture visitor attention before the event even begins.

TO SECURE YOUR PLACE IN THE SHOWGUIDE, CONTACT: Matt Alexander Business Development Manager, ABC 0413 599 699 Matt.Alexander@primecreative.com.au

2013 SCANIA N280 ZF automatic, Volgren ULF 10.5m body, 29 metro seats, A/C, Hanover electronic desto, travelled approx. 540,000klms

body, 57 lap sash seat belted seats, A/C, large underfloor bins, school lights, travelled approx.

285,000klm

$55,000.00+GST

$127,500+GST

$140,000+GST

2013 VOLVO B9

2014 BLK PRESIDENT 3

2 X 2014 BCI “CRUISER 12” Cummins ISL360 automatic, 48 lap asash seat belted recliners, rear toilet, USB ports, DVD, large underfloor bins, USB ports, many extras, travelled approx 765,000klms

$105,000+GST

2015 BLK “PRESIDENT 2”

2 X 2017 MERCEDES BENZ 0500RF

3 X 2008 SCANIA K380IB

Cummins ISL360, automatic, 57

8sp, Irizar 13.5m “Century 3900” body, 57 lap sash seat belted recliners, wheelchair lift, A/C, underfloor bins, DVD, travelled approx. 1.2 mill,

lap sash seat belted seats, A/C,

approx. 250,000klm

ZF automatic, 57 passenger lap sash seat belted, DVD, large underfloor bins, A/C, travelled approx. 110,000klms.

travelled approx. 875,00klm

‘Stargazer glass roof ” Cummins ISM440hp, Automatic, 51 leather recliners, Guide seat, mid toilet, 2 door, A/C,tachograph, travelled approx.250,000klms

$175,000+GST

$235,000+GST EACH

$95,000+GST each

$140,000+GST

$145,000+GST

very large bins, DVD, travelled

18-280 automatic, Custom Coach

Reduced to

Reduced to $185,000+GST EACH

lap sash seat belted seats, A/C,

2010 MAN

I Shift, 12.5m Irizar I6 body, 40 2 door,rear toilet, underfloor bins, DVD, many extras,

$125,000+GST each

2011 BCI “EXPLORER” CUMMINS ISM410HP Allison auto inc retarder, 58 lap sash seat belted leather recliners, rear toilet, Tracs A/C, large underfloor bins, very clean, complete service history

Wheelchair lift equipped $115,000+GST

2013 SCANIA K440EB Opticruise, Coach Concepts 14.5m, Wheelchair aaccessible, 58 passenger, Thermo King A/C, toilet, DVD, complete service history

$170,000+GST

PLUS MANY MORE, CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE AT www.roddhoodsbusandcoachsales.com Mobile: 0417 699 980 - Email: rodd.hood@bigpond.com.au LICENSED MOTOR DEALER 3341258

Over 36 years experience in the bus and coach industry busnews.com.au April 2022 ABC

55

ABC 416.indd 56

8/4/22 9:23 am

AUSTRALIA’S #1 NEW AND USED BUS MARKETPLACE

BUY

More than 320 buses and coaches to choose from

SELL

Maximise your exposure online & in ABC magazine

To list your ad visit www.busnews.com.au/sell

www.busnews.com.au

ABC 416.indd 57

8/4/22 9:23 am

ABC 416.indd 58

12/4/22 10:27 am

To advertise email matt.alexander@primecreative.com.au – Bookings for next issue close 12 MAY 22

CONTACT Phil 03 5623 5377

admin@warragulbuslines.com.au

2013 HIGER

2002 IVECO

Road Boss, Cummins, Automatic, 53 Seatbelts, A/C

Custom body, 61 seats, manual, Thermoking A/C

$105,000 + GST

$35,000 + GST

2005 MERCEDES O500RF

2006 HINO RK260

2004 MERCEDES O500RF

2017 MERCEDES O500RF

50 Recliners, Toilet, A/C, Manual

P&D body, 57 seats, Manual.

360,000 KMS

Autobus body, 57 seatbelts, manual, A/C

BCI body, Auto, A/C, 57 Seatbelts, 110,000km

$83,000 + GST

$48,000 + GST

$75,000 + GST

$235,000 + GST ABC-QH-5171496-TS-416

WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE, RIGHT PRICE, AVAILABLE NOW.

2 X 2013 MERCEDES BENZ 0500RF

2 X 2014 MERCEDES BENZ 0500RF

2 X 2020 MERCEDES BENZ 0500RF

6sp manual, Irizar 14.5m “Century” bodies,58 lap sash seat belted seats, toilet, A/C, plus more, travelled approx.1,530-1,660,000klms.

ZF AsTronic transmission, Irizar 14.5m “I6” bodies, 58 lap sash seat belted seats, toilet, A/C, plus more, travelled approx.1,600-1,740,000klms

$135,000 +GST each

$155,000 +GST each

8sp automated manual transmission, BCI 14.5m bodies, 58 lap sash seat belted seats, toilet, Thermo King A/C, 8 camera surveillance system, plus more, travelled approx.320-360,000klms

$390,000 +GST each

PLUS MANY MORE, CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE AT www.roddhoodsbusandcoachsales.com Mobile: 0417 699 980 - Email: rodd.hood@bigpond.com.au LICENSED MOTOR DEALER 3341258

Over 36 years experience in the bus and coach industry

Like ABC on Facebook for a unique mix of bus news, reviews, events & entertainment visit facebook.com/ABCBusnews

busnews.com.au APRIL 2022 ABC

ABC 416.indd 59

59

8/4/22 9:34 am

DON’T MIS

Get the LAT

EST NEWS

S THE BUS

delivered to

your inbox w e

ekly

Subscribe today to busnews.com.au

ABC 416.indd 61

12/4/22 10:27 am

DELIVERIES

MARCH 2022

Irizar’s 1,000th Australian-delivered unit, an i6s body on a Volvo Volvo B11R chassis, was delivered in March to Kangaroo Bus Lines.

Dip in deliveries for March

D

Bus deliveries declined slightly in March with a total of 82 reported to ABC. eliveries dropped back down to 82 for March after February’s 97, marking its lowest monthly total for 2022, but not far behind March 2021’s total of 87.

In the chassis sector, Volvo and Yutong were joint first with 18 in March. Following behind with 11 was Scania, up one on its February total, with Mercedes-Benz taking third place with nine. BCI dropped from February’s total of 18 to deliver seven in March, while Hino recorded six – its best result since December 2021. The remaining 26 deliveries were supplied by seven other original equipment manufacturers.

In the body-building sector, Yutong was back on top in March with 18. This was one ahead of second place Irizar, with 17, which was its best result since April 2020. Volgren fell to third place with 12, a decrease of 10 from February, while BCI also had a quieter month with seven, compared to the previous month’s 18. Custom Denning’s six, however, is its best result since last August and JBus had its first showing of the year, also on six. The remaining 16 were supplied by seven manufacturers, including the first body recorded for TOST for 2022.

In the air conditioning sector, there’s been a dramatic shift in positions, with Thermo King finally being knocked from the top after years of leading in deliveries. Hispacold was the victor in March with 22, which was also its best result since April 2020’s

24. Cling-Yutong took second place with 17 – down one from February – while Thermo King came in third with 16. MCC dropped back down to match January’s result with seven, while Denso recorded its first result of the year with six. The remaining 14 deliveries reported to ABC were provided by five other manufacturers.

At the state level, Western Australia continues to build its bus fleets with another strong month, topping the chart at 28, while Queensland remained in second place at 27, up six on its February result. Victoria came in third with 10 and NSW in fourth with eight, both down on January and February.

However, South Australia’s numbers were up on February, with a bounce back to seven after the previous month’s one.

Two buses from Tasmania made up the total.

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

In the air conditioning sector, there’s been a dramatic shift in positions, with Thermo King finally being knocked from the top after years of leading in deliveries.

62

ABC April 2022 busnews.com.au

Yutong 18 Irizar 17 Volgren 12 BCI 7 Custom Denning 6 JBus 6

SALES BY BODY

Bustech Group 5

In the body-building sector, Yutong was back on top in March with 18. This is one ahead of second place Irizar, with 17, which is its best result since April 2020. Volgren fell to third place with 12, a decrease of 10 from February, while BCI also had a quieter month with seven, compared to the previous month’s 18. Custom Denning’s six, however, is its best result since last August and JBus had its first showing of the year also on six. The remaining 16 were supplied by seven manufacturers, including the first body recorded for TOST for 2022.

I-Bus 4 Express Coaches 2 King Long 2 BLK 1 Coach Design 1 TOST 1

9%

2% TAS

SA

34% WA

10% NSW

Percentage by

REGION

12% VIC

SALES BY AIR-CONDITIONER In the air conditioning sector, there’s been a dramatic shift in positions, with Thermo King finally being knocked from the top after years of leading in deliveries. Hispacold was the victor in March with 22, which was also its best result since April 2020’s 24. Cling-Yutong took second place with 17 – down one from February – while Thermo King came in third with 16. MCC dropped back down to match January’s result with seven, while Denso recorded its first result of the year with six. The remaining 14 deliveries reported to ABC were provided by five other manufacturers.

Hispacold 22 Cling-Yutong 17 Thermo King 16 MCC 7 Denso 6

King Long Valeo Coachair Kingtec Spheros

4 4 2 2 2

33% QLD

VOLVO 18 YUTONG 18 SCANIA 11 MERCEDES-BENZ 9 BCI 7 HINO 6 CUSTOM DENNING 4

Sales by chassis

I-BUS 4

In the chassis sector, Volvo and Yutong were joint first with 18 in March. Following behind with 11 was Scania, up one on its February total, with Mercedes-Benz taking third place with nine. BCI dropped from February’s total of 18 to deliver seven in March, while Hino recorded six – its best result since December 2021. The remaining 26 deliveries were supplied by seven other original equipment manufacturers.

KING LONG 2 MAN 2 BLK 1

busnews.com.au April 2022 ABC

63

DELIVERIES

MARCH 2022

ENGINES

TRANS­MISS

UNITS

MANUFACTURER, OPERATOR & LOCATION

CHASSIS

Goldrush Tours

WA

3

BCI Fleetmaster

BCI

325

R

Euro 5

A

Northfleet

WA

3

BCI Fleetmaster

BCI

325

R

Euro 5

A

Red Decker

TAS

1

BCI Proma Low Floor

BCI

210

R

Euro 5

A

Port Stephens Coaches

NSW

1

BLK double decker

BLK

480

R

–

A

CUSTOM DENNING N/A

NSW

4

Custom Denning Element

Custom Denning

340

L:R

Zero Emissions

N/A

HINO

N/A

QLD

6

Hino Poncho

Jbus

185

R

Euro 5

A

I-BUS AUSTRALIA

N/A

QLD

2

Isuzu NQR

I-Bus

190

F

–

AMT

N/A

QLD

2

Isuzu NPS

I-Bus

190

F

–

AMT

Kanga Coachlines

SA

1

King Long

King Long

250

R

Euro 5

A

Kanga Coachlines

SA

1

King Long

King Long

285

R

Euro 5

A

Fallons Wangaratta

VIC

1

MAN IC.19.320.RR8

Coach Design

320

R

Euro 5

A

Shoalbus Pty Ltd

NSW

1

MAN IC.19.320.RR8

Custom Denning

320

R

Euro 5

A

N/A

QLD

2

MB O500RS

Irizar

360

R

Euro 5

A

N/A

WA

1

MB O500R

Express Coaches

300

R

Euro 5

A

N/A

VIC

5

MB O500RS

Irizar

360

R

Euro 5

A

N/A

TAS

1

MB OC500LE E6

Express Coaches

300

R

Euro 5

A

Dept. of Public Transport Infrastructure

SA

5

Scania K 320 UB4X2

Bustech SA

320

R

Euro 6

Horsham Bus Lines/Wimmera Roadways

VIC

1

Scania K 310 IB4X2

Irizar

310

R

Euro 5

A

Irizar Asia Pacific Pty Ltd

QLD

1

Scania K 310 IB4X2

Irizar

310

R

Euro 5

A

Irizar Asia Pacific Pty Ltd

VIC

1

Scania K 360 IB4X2

Irizar

360

R

Euro 6

A

Toowoomba Transit Pty Ltd

QLD

2

Scania K 310 IB4X2

Volgren

320

R

Euro 5

A

WBL Pty Ltd

VIC

1

Scania K 310 IB4X2

Supportrans / Volgren

310

R

Euro 5

A

Irizar Asia Pacific Pty Ltd

QLD

1

Volvo B11R

Irizar

450

R

Euro 5

A

Lonestar Coachlines

QLD

1

Volvo B8R

Volgren

330

R

Euro 5

A

Irizar Asia Pacific Pty Ltd

QLD

1

Volvo B11R

Irizar

460

R

Euro 6

A

Irizar Asia Pacific Pty Ltd

QLD

3

Volvo B11R

Irizar

450

R

Euro 5

A

St Patricks College

NSW

1

Volvo B8R

Custom Denning

330

R

Euro 5

A

DR & NK James

WA

1

Volvo B8R

TOST

330

R

Euro 5

A

Public Transport Authority WA

WA

6

Volvo B8RLE

Volgren

320

R

Euro 5

A

Public Transport Authority WA

WA

2

Volvo B8RLEA

Volgren

320

R

Euro 5

A

Public Transport Authority WA (TransWA)

WA

2

Volvo B11R

Irizar

450

R

Euro 5

A

WA Bus Operator

WA

7

Yutong D7

Yutong

188

F

Euro 5

A

WA Bus Operator

WA

1

Yutong T12

Yutong

350

R

Euro 5

A

WA Bus Operator

WA

1

Yutong D7

Yutong

188

F

Euro 5

A

WA Bus Operator

WA

1

Yutong D12

Yutong

360

R

Euro 5

A

Victoria Bus Operator

VIC

1

Yutong D7

Yutong

188

F

Euro 5

A

NSW Bus Operator

NSW

1

Yutong D7

Yutong

188

F

Euro 5

A

QLD Bus Operator

QLD

6

Yutong E12

Yutong

422kWh

R

Zero Emissions

A

BCI

BLK

KING LONG

MAN

MERCEDES-BENZ

SCANIA

VOLVO

YUTONG

TOTAL DELIVERIES 82 64

ABC April 2022 busnews.com.au

(Model)

BODY BUILDER

HP*

Rear / Front

Emissions standard

A: Automa M: Manu AS: Auto-S O: Opticru

Opticru

NUMBER OF SEATS

APPLICATION SEATING

SEAT BELTS

WHEEL CHAIR LIFT ACCESS

AXLES

TRANS­MISSION

BODY LENGTH

Euro 5

A

ZF

2

12.3

MCC

–

X

–

–

X

–

–

Sege

Y

N

Euro 5

A

Allison

2

12.3

MCC

X

–

–

–

X

–

–

Sege

Y

N

Euro 5

A

Allison

2

8.9

MCC

X

–

–

–

X

–

–

Sege

Y

N

–

A

Allison

3

12.5

Spheros

–

71

X

X

–

–

Sege

Y

–

N/A

N/A

2

12.5

Valeo

–

–

42

–

–

X

–

Custom Denning

N

–

Euro 5

A

Aisin

2

8

Denso

18

–

–

–

–

–

–

Styleride

N

Y

–

AMT

Isuzu

2

8

King Long

32

–

–

–

–

–

–

APM

Y

–

–

AMT

Isuzu

2

7

Kingtec

20

–

–

–

–

–

–

APM

Y

–

Euro 5

A

ZF

–

9

King Long

X

–

–

–

X

–

–

GD

Y

–

Euro 5

A

ZF

–

10

King Long

X

–

–

–

X

–

–

GD

Y

–

Euro 5

A

ZF

2

10-12.9

Thermo King

53

–

–

–

–

–

X

Sege

Y

N

Euro 5

A

ZF

2

10-12.9

Thermo King

–

–

56

–

–

–

X

Styleride

N

N

Euro 5

A

ZF Ecolife

2

12.3M

Hispacold

57

–

–

–

–

–

X

Sege

Y

N

Euro 5

A

ZF Ecolife

2

12.5M

Thermo King

57

–

–

–

–

–

X

Styleride

Y

N

Euro 5

A

ZF Ecolife

2

12.3M

Hispacold

57

–

–

–

–

–

X

Sege

Y

N

Euro 5

A

ZF

2

12.5M

Thermo King

48

–

–

–

–

X

X

Styleride

N

N

Euro 6

Opticruise

Scania

2

12.5

Hispacold

43

–

–

–

–

X

–

Precision Bus

–

–

Euro 5

A

ZF

2

12.5

Hispacold

41

–

–

–

–

–

X

Styleride

–

–

Euro 5

A

ZF

2

12.3

Hispacold

57

–

–

–

–

–

X

Sege

–

–

Euro 6

A

ZF

2

12.5

Hispacold

57

–

–

–

–

–

X

Sege

–

–

Euro 5

A

ZF

2

12.3

Coachair

57

–

–

–

–

–

X

Styleride

–

–

Euro 5

A

ZF

2

12.5

Thermo King

61

–

–

–

–

–

X

Styleride

–

–

Euro 5

A

Volvo

3

14.5

Hispacold

–

65

–

–

Y

–

–

Sege

Y

–

Euro 5

A

ZF

2

12.3

Thermo King

57

–

–

–

–

–

Y

Styleride

Y

–

Euro 6

A

Volvo

3

13.5

Hispacold

–

50

–

Y

–

–

–

Sege

Y

–

Euro 5

A

Volvo

3

13.5

Hispacold

–

50

–

Y

–

–

–

Sege

Y

–

Euro 5

A

ZF

2

12.5

Thermo King

57

–

–

–

–

–

X

McConnell

Y

–

Euro 5

A

ZF

2

10-12.9

Thermo King

43

–

–

–

–

–

X

McConnell

Y

–

Euro 5

A

ZF

2

10-12.9

Thermo King

–

–

41

–

–

X

–

McConnell

N

–

Euro 5

A

ZF

3

10-12.9

Thermo King

–

–

–

–

–

X

–

McConnell

N

–

Euro 5

A

Volvo

3

13.5-14.5

Hispacold

–

–

–

–

–

X

–

–

–

–

Euro 5

A

Allison

2

8

Cling-Yutong

–

–

–

–

28

–

–

Yutong

Y

N

Euro 5

A

ZF

2

12.4

Spheros

–

–

–

–

53

–

–

Yutong

Y

N

Euro 5

A

Allison

2

8

Cling-Yutong

–

–

–

–

–

–

28

Yutong

Y

N

Euro 5

A

Allison

2

12.4

Cling-Yutong

–

–

–

–

57

–

–

Yutong

Y

N

Euro 5

A

Allison

2

8

Cling-Yutong

–

–

–

–

28

–

–

Yutong

Y

N

Euro 5

A

Allison

2

8

Cling-Yutong

–

–

–

–

28

–

–

Yutong

Y

N

A

N/A

2

12.5

Cling-Yutong

–

–

44

–

–

X

–

–

N

N

missions andard

Emissions

Emissions

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

TRANS MAKE

(metres)

AIR-CON (Brand)

Fixed Coach

Recliners

Metro

Long Distance

Charter

City or Route

School

busnews.com.au April 2022 ABC

65

NEWS

THE BACK SEAT

Swan Transit gets dressed up for charity Swan Transit bus drivers got creative on their routes around Perth recently for the 27th annual Radio Lollipop fundraising event, where they dressed up to raise funds for children in hospital.

S

wan Transit bus drivers participate in a Radio Lollipop uniform-free event every year, dressing up as superheroes, wizards, flowers, princesses, brides and a wide range of other characters to raise money for the children’s charity.

The aim is to make their passengers smile and raise awareness of Radio Lollipop – a charity set up to support sick children in hospital through care, comfort, play and entertainment. Begun in the UK in 1979, the first international Radio Lollipop station was set up in 1985 in Perth at the Princess Margaret Hospital for Children. It now operates across Australia, New Zealand, the UK, the US and South Africa.

Swan Transit operates buses in Perth, Albany, Bunbury and Busselton in Western Australia and is part of the Transit Systems group of companies.

“It’s thrilling to know we have proudly contributed to the $1.5 million raised for Radio Lollipop since the campaign began in 1995.”

Transit Systems chief operating officer Greg Balkin said the Radio Lollipop dressup day was just one of the ways the local team get involved to support the local community.

“We proudly support the Radio Lollipop Uniform Free day each year – an exciting day on the calendar to ditch the uniform and help raise money from our team, from our customers and, importantly, raise awareness of the important work of Radio Lollipop,” he said.

“We also host a barbeque and it’s thrilling to know we have proudly contributed to the $1.5 million raised for Radio Lollipop since the campaign began in 1995.”

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According to Radio Lollipop, one in every four children will have a stint in hospital before they reach the age of 14 and the program was created to bring a smile to their faces and give young patients a voice and a choice during their stay in hospital.

Radio Lollipop explains that while kids can’t say no to taking their medicine or receiving treatment, through their program, they can request their favourite songs, win prizes and hear their own voices on the radio.

“If our team can help make a difference by being uniform-free for one day each year, we’re definitely on board,” said Balkin.

Top: Some of the drivers went completely into character for their dress up.

Above: The uniform-free day is a fun way for Swan Transport drivers to help the local community.

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