Australasian Bus & Coach 417 May 2022

ABC COMFORT

AUSTRALASIAN BUS & COACH

ELECTRIC TRANSITION CDC ELECTRIC BUSES BIC SUMMIT BUS SAFETY FRAMEWORK

QUIET ACHIEVER CUSTOM DENNING

ISSUE 417 May 2022 $5.95 inc GST

AND CLASS

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elections: pt plans seating: special guide deliveries: slight dip

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contents ISSUE 417 MAY 2022

08 in the know 6. editorial | right here, right now Electrification is actually happening – in policy and in practice – on bus fleets before our very eyes, here in Australia.

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 PASSENGERS? What is putting people off using buses and how can we address this?

features 24. operator | blk double decker

NEXT LEVEL COMFORT AND CLASS

BLK Auto recently delivered a brand new Series 2 President double decker to Port Stephens Coaches.

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28. operator | custom denning

QUIET ACHIEVER HITS SUNBURY

Custom Denning launches its first Victorian electric bus in the west Melbourne suburb of Sunbury.

32. feature | elections

PICK YOUR PT POLICY Major political parties discuss their public transport priorities ahead of the federal election.

seating 42. seating | styleride

STYLERIDE SEATING SYSTEMS ANNOUNCES NEW MANUFACTURING CENTRE

Growth during the past few years means StyleRide needs to expand its Brisbane manufacturing operations and relocate to a larger site.

36. operator | cdc Victoria

MAKING THE ELECTRIC TRANSITION Operators like ComfortDelGro Australia are pivoting depots, including an Oakleigh depot in Victoria, to serve its new electric buses.

40. feature | bic summit

BIC BUCKS THE BULL BIC to discuss bus safety framework at its upcoming summit.

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EDITORIAL Publisher: Christine Clancy ph: (03) 9690 8766 e-mail: Christine.Clancy@primecreative.com.au

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Journalists: Josh Farrell and Sean Mortell

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

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.busnews.com.au/subscribe ph: +61 (0)3 9690 8766 – Mon-Fri 8am-4.30pm (EST) e-mail: subscriptions@primecreative.com.au mail: 11-15 Buckhurst Street, South Melbourne VIC 3205 Australia Annual subscription rates (12 issues): Australia: $99* NZ: $A109 Overseas: $A170 (Australian air-mail only) *price includes GST

EXECUTIVE GROUP CEO: John Murphy

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

44. seating | sege

NEW SEGE LIGHTWEIGHT SEAT PERFECT FOR ELECTRIC BUSES Sege Seats is intent on adapting its products to suit the new wave of electric buses. But to do that, it had to make major component changes to drop the weight of a standard bus seat.

46. seating | camira

MAKING THE MOST OF MOQUETTE Durable, sustainable and adaptable, moquette seating fabric can meet all of an operator’s needs. Camira explains more about this versatile material.

departments

Recognising the inherent benefits of electric technology.

49. bus marketplace | for sale

FOR SALE: TRANSPORT SEATING Following over 50 years of experience in the seating industry, Rod Ferguson is ready to retire and relinquish his company Transport Seating.

ISSN 1324-8634

53. events

INDUSTRY EVENTS FOR 2022 Be sure not to miss out on an opportunity for these fantastic in person events.

54. factory facts | bus deliveries

48. bus marketplace | classifieds

MONTHLY RESULTS

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.

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

FOR SALE!

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

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 May 2022 ABC

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IGNITION

CHRISTINE CLANCY – PUBLISHER

Right here, right now

It’s so exciting to be in an industry where electrification isn’t just some goal set for 2075, or shown on a European prototype.

It’s actually happening – in policy and in practice – on bus fleets before our very eyes, here in Australia.

F

ollowing the successful start to rolling out electric buses in the public service in both Queensland and New South Wales, Victoria is now making its move through Custom Denning and Sunbury Bus and Coach/Donric Group. ABC magazine was excited to be on the ground in early May as the group, along with Siemens, unveiled the first trial electric bus to start running routes in Sunbury and regional Victoria. The move will benefit both Sunbury locals and Australia’s transport network, while also signalling Siemens’ position as a leading electrification partner. Check it out on page 28.

Electric buses continued to grace Victoria as ComfortDelGro unveiled a new Oakleigh depot to serve zero emission models under the state’s latest trial. To say new electric technology is coming faster than ever in the bus and coach industry would indeed be an understatement.

Electrification is also the talk of the town when it comes to industry

meetings. In this edition we speak with Roz Chivers, executive director of BIC, about the transition to zero emission buses. While Chivers notes that it’s a popular topic, it has its roadblocks. From government policies, to a consistent manufacturing future that keeps the industry ticking, our chat with Chivers on page 40 looks at how electrifying the bus industry is an exciting opportunity that needs more government direction and investment.

Wherever we look in Australasia we find more examples of the industry going greener. Our cover story shows that greener can mean doubling seat capacity, but with comfort and class.

BLK Auto recently delivered a 71-seater brand-new double decker coach to Port Stephens Coaches, that will serve

on its tours. This the recentlyreleased Series 2 version of its President double decker coach, and as you can see on the cover, is a real eye stopper. Be sure to check out the full write-up on page 24.

The federal election is around the corner and public transport policy is always a talking point for those in the bus industry. Australia’s main federal political parties tell ABC magazine about their projects and ideas for the future of buses and coaches. Check out the story on page 32 ahead of going into the election booth in May. While bus seating technology might not make political headlines, for those in the industry there are some exciting developments worth looking into. In this edition, three

“Wherever we look in Australasia we find more examples of the industry going greener.” different companies offer a deep dive into the bus seating and seat fabric world. StyleRide’s recent success saw it grow so rapidly that it had to operate out of two different centres in Brisbane’s Acacia Ridge.

Read about its consolidation into one sparkling new manufacturing hub that it announces on page 42. Meanwhile Sege unveils new lightweight seats for electric vehicles that are seven kilograms lighter than previous models. Camira Seating also discusses its unique moquette material and how it is working with the woven pile fabric to fashion new style seats for the latest bus models.

From the groundbreakingly serious to the light-heartedly fun, we found stories for everyone in the bus industry this month. We hope you enjoy this issue.

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Service you can trust Yutong knows the importance of staying on the road, which is why Yutong Care Australia has 30 satellite workshops around Australia to reduce minimum down time. Yutong takes after sales service seriously, employing a number of full time Technical Advisors and Parts Managers to ensure the highest the time.

When you need replacement parts, the clock starts ticking.

Thankfully, to minimise downtime, every Yutong dealer holds a large range of filters, belts, windscreens, side windows and more onsite – with an even larger inventory at our warehouse in Sydney. In fact, Yutong Australia holds $1.2 million of stock on hand across Australia, and can deliver within 24 hours.

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quality experience is maintained for all of it’s customers, all of

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NEWS

The depot will house 14 electric buses.

KINETIC OPENS AUSTRALIA’S FIRST ALL-ELECTRIC DEPOT AUSTRALIA’S FIRST all-electric bus depot has been opened in Currumbin and is powered by 100 per cent renewable energy, including a 56-kilowatt solar panel array.

It is expected the depot will house 14 buses, with some travelling the 777 route from the airport to Coolangatta.

The ‘green depot’ in the coastal suburb of Currumbin is part of Kinetic’s south-east Queensland bus operation Surfside Buslines.

Transport and main roads minister Mark Bailey said it builds on the state government’s recently released Zero Emissions Vehicle strategy.

“We’ve made a commitment that every new bus in southeast Queensland would be zero emission from 2025, so to see it happening now is a fantastic achievement,” Bailey said.

“That commitment expands to our regions between 2025 and 2030.

“Electric buses are better for the environment and mean people will be breathing in fresher, cleaner air when they are walking around.

“We’ve had some electric buses in southeast Queensland since April last year, and now we’ll have an extra 30 hitting the road across Cairns, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and Logan.”

Gold Coast-based environment minister Meaghan Scanlon said she was excited to see her city become home to Australia’s first all-electric bus depot.

“Having an emissions free bus depot here on the Gold Coast is fantastic not only for our local environment, but all of Queensland,” Scanlon said.

“Transport is the second biggest emitter 8

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in Queensland but is rapidly evolving to embrace zero emissions technology.

“This is huge also for our Queensland Climate Action Plan. Our research shows each electric bus could save as much as 1,000 tonnes of greenhouse gases over its lifespan and deliver many community benefits with less noise and harmful air pollution.

“Queensland is seizing the opportunities to act on climate change, create jobs and set Queensland in a nation-leading position for the future.

“I’m sure customers across Queensland will enjoy riding on the new buses knowing that the project is playing an important role in the future of public transport in this state.”

Kinetic-owned Sunbus will introduce five new buses each on the Sunshine Coast and Cairns from early May and June, respectively, while sister company Surfside Buslines will launch 10 new electric

The new buses will be launched in several areas in Queensland.

buses on the Gold Coast from late June.

Gold Coast bus manufacturer Bustech is continuing the build of 10 electric buses for Clarks Logan City, which are due to commence services in Logan in June.

Kinetic Co-CEO Adam Begg said Kinetic was excited to partner with Translink to enhance the public transport experience and make bus travel greener and cleaner.

“This year alone we’ll be introducing 20 zero emission buses to Queensland roads across Cairns, the Sunshine Coast and the Gold Coast,” Begg said.

“We congratulate the Queensland government on its leadership transitioning bus networks to greener, cleaner technologies and we’re proud to bring to the table our experience operating zero emissions buses in other major cities including in Auckland, Christchurch and soon in Melbourne.”

Clarks Logan City director Reg Clark said he was looking forward to adding the electric buses to the business’s fleet.

“We are very excited to see the reaction of the community to not only a zero emission fleet but also to how the fleet will perform,” Clark said.

“The opportunities this project is providing, not just from a new technology perspective but also the new skill sets we will be embracing, is beyond exciting and will further embed Logan as a community of choice.

“With the locally-acquired Tritium charger installation complete and the buses in build down the road at Bustech, this project really ticks all the boxes from a local supply chain perspective.”

Sixteen new Hornibrook Bus Lines electric buses, as well as two bioethanol-fuelled buses bound for a 12-month trial in Mackay, are also scheduled to arrive on the network later this year.

Next stop, the future.

Arriving soon. The new Electric City Bus Chassis.

Scan the QR code to receive the latest news, updates and information.

and Mercedes-Benz are trademarks of Mercedes-Benz Group AG

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NEWS

BRISBANE METRO LIGHTRAM 25 ARRIVES TWO AND A HALF YEARS after the contract was awarded, Brisbane Metro’s much-anticipated vehicle, the lighTram 25, built and designed

by Swiss vehicle manufacturer Hess, has arrived in Brisbane.

The 24.5-metre bi-articulated, battery electric pilot vehicle will go through an extensive testing and acceptance process, including on-road testing on Brisbane’s busways and assessment of flash-charging capabilities.

Alex Naef, CEO of Hess, said the lighTram 25 offers something unique in the Australian transport sector.

“The lighTram 25 is capable of quietly, efficiently and cleanly moving large numbers of people, all while providing a new level of passenger experience,” he said.

“This is a flexible transport system that is not tied to rail infrastructure and that can be easily adapted to different transport routes because of the vehicle’s manoeuvrability.

“Over the full lifetime of the vehicles, the lighTram 25 offers cities one of the most cost-effective solutions for improving public transport and reaching governments’s sustainability goals.”

Peter Dale, country manager for Hess, said the Brisbane Metro pilot vehicle sets new standards for passenger safety, comfort and accessibility.

“Since the contract was awarded, Hess has collaborated closely with 10

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Brisbane City Council across all stages of the design process to make sure that their requirements and wishes aligned with the ultimate vehicle design,” Dale said.

“The vehicle today incorporates solutions to maximise access, comfort and safety. There are three large and easily accessible mobility aid bays, all in one carriage, an electric ramp, hearing loops and the ability to communicate with the driver via microphone and cameras, among other features.”

Naef said that although the lighTram 25 design had been tried and tested on the streets of Nantes, France’s sixth largest city, there were a few significant differences between that model and the one that would operate in Brisbane.

“Intense rainfall and humidity are part of the Brisbane climate, which meant certain design

Above and Below: The lighTram 25 will be tested on Brisbane’s busways.

changes were needed, including new floor materials that resist water ingress and special ducts to channel excess water beyond the vehicle,” Naef said.

“The varying temperatures [compared with France] required a powerful air-conditioning system along with a function known as pre-conditioning. Pre-conditioning automatically prepares the vehicle, raising the internal temperature to a level that is immediately comfortable to the driver and passengers.”

Dale said Hess, which will employ a full-time service engineer in Brisbane to support the pilot vehicle, will partner with local bus manufacturer Volgren.

“Volgren has worked very closely with Hess for more than four decades and has had a long association with the council, as well.

The company is an ideal partner, whose local knowledge will be imperative to the success of the project,” Dale said.

“Their Eagle Farm facility is a major asset as far as testing and acceptance goes, but also for education. We will perform driver training and maintenance training in partnership with Volgren. We also intend to learn, in partnership with Brisbane City Council, how the vehicle operates in Brisbane and review their feedback before deciding on any adjustments for the initial fleet of 59 vehicles.”

Brisbane Metro is a new era of connected transport for Brisbane and the largest all-electric, zero tailpipe-emission public transport project in Australia.

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NEWS

In Sunbury, Donric Group will have the trial’s first three electric buses operating in and around Melbourne’s west.

VICTORIA UNDERTAKES ZERO EMISSIONS BUS TRIALS The Victorian government’s $20 million three-year Zero Emissions Bus Trial will see three trials take place. Seymour will be the first regional town to be fully serviced by electric buses, Traralgon will see Latrobe Valley Bus Lines introduce the first electric bus based in the town and Sunbury will see Donric Group operate three electric buses, operating in and around Melbourne’s west.

Siemens’ Sicharge UC charging centre and dispensers will be used to charge Volvo BZL buses and Custom Denning buses. Siemens DepotFinity charging management software will be used to monitor the real-time status of charging infrastructure, analyse historical charging sessions and adopt smart load management strategies to minimise electricity expenditure. This information will feed into the government’s objectives of assessing how electric buses perform and the energy and charging requirements for different types of routes. Ultimately this will provide a picture of how zero emissions buses can improve financial and environmental sustainability and customer outcomes.

Making the announcement in Seymour, Victoria’s minister for public transport Ben Carroll noted that the trial is a key stepping stone towards 12

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the Victorian government’s target of achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

“Seymour will soon be leading the way with cleaner and more sustainable transport options as part of our Zero Emissions Bus Trial.

“Creating a greener fleet is part of our Bus Plan to develop a more modern and reliable network that will attract more people to the convenience of buses.”

This announcement follows Siemens’ continued growth in the sector that has included recent project wins in Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland and New Zealand.

Speaking on the recent successes, Siemens Australia Pacific chairman and CEO Jeff Connolly noted the importance of the program.

“Electrifying our transport infrastructure, including bus networks, is one of the many important steps on the path to reaching net zero. We commend the Victorian Department of Transport on their commitment to the long-term financial and environmental sustainability of the state through smarter infrastructure and I’m pleased that our e-charging infrastructure solutions are supporting these important ambitions.”

Each bus depot is unique in their requirements and challenges. As such, the charging solutions being installed at the three trial locations are being designed for maximum flexibility and scalability to suit any type and size of bus depot. Each Sicharge UC charging centre can connect to up to five dispensers or five electric buses each.

This enables bus operators to expand their electric bus fleet without grid infrastructure upgrades if bus operation schedules permit. The maximum power output of the Sicharge UC is also configurable, enabling charging infrastructure to be derated to meet the constraints of existing switchboard capacity on site.

The electric buses are expected to be operational by the end of this year.

In addition to charging infrastructure project installations, Siemens technology is also playing a key role in the first electric vehicle research facility of its kind in the southern hemisphere, being established at RMIT University. The ‘living lab’ research facility will feature critical infrastructure like EV charging stations and regenerative grid and battery simulators and will be a space where researchers and industry can collaborate and test concepts in ‘real’ scenarios.

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NEWS

SYDNEY GETS THREE NEW DOUBLE DECKERS THREE NEW double decker buses will roll into service this month in Sydney, with Transport for New South Wales (TfNSW) operator Transit Systems increasing capacity on some of the city’s busiest routes.

Transit Systems NSW managing director Jamie Sinclair said the new Volvo buses would have an immediate and positive impact for passengers, creating around 1,700 extra spaces a day for customers on the T80.

“The new double decker buses simply have more capacity, giving passengers peace of mind that they can travel at peak times, on their preferred route,” he said.

“Our aim is to enhance the customer service for all passengers, from better on-time running, to safe and reliable services, and these buses help us deliver a more comfortable service where and when extra seats are needed the most.”

The buses will service routes across Western Suburbs, operating from the Smithfield depot.

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manager Mitch Peden said the buses were proudly made Australia ‘road ready’ with local partners and are equipped with the latest bus technology and safety features including an electronic stability program, an electronic braking system, anti-slip, an acceleration limiter and hill start aid for driver support in every situation.

“We commend Transit Systems on putting customers first and bringing Volvo’s B8L double deckers into service,” Peden said.

“With capacity to accommodate 85 seated passengers and 21 standing, plus a driver, the Volvo B8LDD utilises common rail technology and electronically powered auxiliaries for noise reduction to ensure a quiet and comfortable ride for all. These new B8LDD units also provide efficiency with the Volvo D8K engine to deliver more power on substantially lower fuel consumption.”

Double decker buses also provide better environmental outcomes, with more capacity

“Our aim is to enhance the customer service for all passengers.”

Above and Below: The new Volvo buses will create around 1,700 extra spaces a day on Sydney’s buses.

using one engine – a change Neil Smith, non-executive director Kelsian Group (which owns Transit Systems) is passionate about, having recently established the Neil Smith Chair of Sustainable Transport in the Institute of Transport and Logistics Studies for 10 years, with the largest ever donation to the University of Sydney Business School.

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NEWS

MERCEDES-BENZ ECITARO PUT TO THE TEST MERCEDES-BENZ continues to rigorously test its eCitaro bus after its recent launch and subsequent use in Italy.

The eCitaro G, which is the articulated version of the eCitaro, has been put through its paces in all conditions serving the Seiser Alm region in Turkey at an altitude of approximately 2,000 metres.

Mercedes-Benz Turkish bus development body director Dr Zeynep Gul Koca spoke about the development of the bus.

“We are responsible for the development of the eCitaro models’ interior equipment, bodywork, exterior coatings, electrical infrastructure, diagnostic systems, road tests and hardware durability tests,” she said.

“The successful performance of the articulated eCitaro G under difficult conditions also increases the motivation of our R&D team, which has done important work in the development of the vehicle.”

Continuing to carry its investments in smart and environmentally friendly transportation solutions to the roads with mass production vehicles, Mercedes-Benz continues its pioneering position in the field of zero-emission travel with its electric city bus eCitaro models.

With a power capacity of 441kWh with solid state batteries, the eCitaro G demonstrated its stability, traction and performance on its routes across the harsh countryside. The eCitaro G continues to serve on the route between the towns of Compatsch and Saltria, located in Seiser Alm, the largest plateau of the Alps.

The eCitaro G, whose bodywork is adapted from diesel vehicles, can be produced with different battery numbers and charging options according to 16

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“A tailor-made, field-tested system solution f rom a single source.” the needs of the customers, thanks to the heavy load rails integrated into the roof.

Depending on customer preference, six batteries can be mounted on the roof of the eCitaro G and one battery on the back of the vehicle.

In addition, depending on preference, a solid state battery or a new generation lithium-ion battery can be used in the vehicle.

The carrier systems created for the assembly of the battery systems to the eCitaro G were optimised with the finite element analysis method to save material and weight.

That’s where Daimler Buses and its strategic partnership with Berlin-based IVU Traffic Technologies AG have been

Above and Below: The eCitaro G can come with differing battery numbers and charging options.

pivotal for the development of the bus.

“With the hardware of the all-electric Mercedes-Benz eCitaro and the software from IVU, Daimler Buses is providing transport operators with a tailor-made, field-tested system solution from a single source,” Mirko Sgodda, head of sales, marketing and services at Daimler Buses, said.

The IVU suite software assigns each bus a defined charging point when it enters the depot.

Smart charging management knows the current state of charge and makes sure that all buses are charged with the required amount of electricity for their next trip, including preconditioning of the battery and passenger compartment.

SYDNEY TO INTEGRATE BUS CHARGING WITH GRID THE ROLL-OUT of zero emission buses across NSW is being supported by a world first, locally developed technology trial in Western Sydney.

The technology, made in partnership with Transport for NSW, bus operator Busways, Australian software and advisory company Evenergi and Western Sydney energy distributor Endeavour Energy, is designed to optimise the charging of electric buses and reduce strain on the power grid.

Endeavour Energy’s chief customer and strategy officer Leanne Pickering said the Busways electric bus depot will have real time visibility of the load on the network so that its new electric buses can be charged outside periods of peak demand.

“This leads to greater utilisation of the electricity network and avoids the need for costly upgrades, keepings downward pressure on the price of electricity for all customers both now and into the future,” said Pickering.

Minister for transport David Elliott said the transition to electric buses is powering jobs in industries across NSW. “These modern electric buses require innovative solutions for managing charging and that is being developed right here in NSW,” Elliott said.

“This smart charging technology will improve the management of our zero emission buses, reduce pressure on the power grid and is a tech solution that could shape up to be an exciting export from NSW to the world.

“The NSW government’s commitment to transition our fleet of over 8,000 buses to

Above: Locally-developed technology will help integrate bus charging into the electricity grid.

zero emission technology is supporting local jobs in tech, manufacturing and construction, as well as delivering buses that are better for the environment, offer a smoother ride and are quieter on our roads.”

The system will future proof the Penrith bus depot to be capable of powering an entirely electric fleet and uses sophisticated software tools and real-time energy monitoring to connect the depot to the wider distribution network, communicating directly with the energy provider’s assets.

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NEWS Kinetic has ordered a total of 36 Volgren electric buses for its Melbourne fleet.

VOLGREN DELIVERS FIRST ELECTRIC BUSES TO KINETIC AUSTRALIA’S LARGEST bus body builder, Volgren, has delivered the first of two battery electric buses (BEBs) to Victoria’s Department of Transport and new Melbourne bus franchise operator, Kinetic.

The BEBs are the first of 36 electric buses that will roll off the production line in Dandenong over the next three years to join Kinetic’s Melbourne fleet, an average of one per month.

Thiago Deiro, CEO of Volgren, said the Department of Transport’s decision to prioritise green transport is already creating new jobs and demonstrates the trust that government has in locally manufactured buses.

“Since the Melbourne bus franchise was announced last year we’ve created 30 new jobs. We hope to employ another 20 staff this year alone as production on BEBs picks up,” Deiro said.

“As has been the case for many years now, the vast majority of content we use for these buses will come from the local supply chain.

“Australian manufacturing now offers the highest quality levels I’ve ever seen during my time in the industry. That comes from Volgren expertise, combined with the exceptional quality of materials and components produced by suppliers throughout Victoria and Australia,” Deiro said.

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Victorian public transport minister Ben Carroll said that achieving zero emissions across the public bus fleet was critical in transitioning to net zero emission transport network.

“We are on track to deliver 78 electric buses to Victoria’s bus network by 2025, with the first two buses rolling off the production line at Volgren and set to hit the roads in the coming weeks,” Carroll said.

“It’s not only good for the environment, it’s good for industry and the local economy, with over 50 new jobs to be created at Volgren in Dandenong.”

Deiro said the state’s transition to electric vehicles under the current Melbourne bus franchise agreement enables Volgren to plan, invest and make sure the vehicles are delivered on time and on budget.

“The certainty we get from this vote of confidence means we can continue to invest in our business and people, which everyone at the company appreciates after the unpredictability of the last two years,” he said.

“Of the 30 new employees, 11 have been enrolled in apprentice programs, including automotive electrical technology, automotive manufacturing technical operations and supply chain. These new jobs and skills are future-proofing our business and delivering huge benefits.”

Yuri Tessari, Volgren’s chief commercial officer, said the two vehicles took around six weeks to complete. He put the “extremely smooth” build process down to detailed preparation and planning, as well as clear direction from Kinetic.

“As we’ve stated before, when project planning is properly done, the outcomes are usually excellent and that’s been the case as we’ve worked with Kinectic,” Tessari said.

“With every BEB built, Volgren has improved its processes and we can comfortably say now that building an electric bus is second nature for our company.

“All three of our factories are fully prepared and are capable of producing electric vehicles with the same speed as we produce buses using other technologies,” he said.

Adam Begg, Kinetic Co-CEO added: “Introducing electric buses is part of our ongoing investment to create a more reliable, safe, clean and green bus network that appeals to more people as their preferred mode of travel.

“These new electric buses are better for the environment, better for our communities and make better financial sense.”

Volgren is on schedule to deliver a further 12 BEBs to Kinetic by the end of this year.

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NEWS

THE WOT!?!

BLAST FROM THE PAST

FREE PT TRIAL BEGINS IN NEW ZEALAND NEW ZEALAND has begun free or discounted fares on public transport at the start of April with the announcement coming from Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern to address the rising cost of living.

The scheme will last for three months, but in the announcement the government flagged more funding for public transport in the Budget.

With just two weeks between the initial announcement and rollout, regional councils rushed to≈organise logistics.

All regional buses, ferries and trains have been included and the discount is largely being added on to pre-existing concessions and fare types.

In Auckland, monthly public transport passes are half price, and in both Auckland and Christchurch daily fare caps have been halved.

In Wellington, people with partly-used 30-day passes will be reimbursed 50 per cent of the fare.

Metlink general manager Scott Gallacher is excited to have the opportunity to make public transport more accessible.

“We’ve been sharing with communities and customers how we’re approaching the half-price fares and we’re very excited, we’re getting great feedback,” he said.

The services have faced challenges with Covid making its way through the community, impacting driver availability.

“We still have a number of our 20

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frontline staff affected by Omicron,” Gallacher said.

“We’re running all our regular timetables but there are some cancellations.”

Free Fares, a campaign by the Aotearoa Collective for Public Transport Equity, spokesperson Ryan Hooper-Smith said he was in support of the decision.

“It’s a clear indication that the government believes public transport can be part of the solution to the increase in the cost of living, and we hope they do more as part of Budget 2022.”

He says it provides “a great opportunity for New Zealand to see what cheaper public transport can do for us all”.

“Living in a time where climate change is a pressing issue, we need to all take the commitment to modal shift and reducing our emissions. If this pushes more Kiwis towards using public transport, then that is a great achievement.

“It also should give us some useful data to see how decreased prices for public transport increases patronage, which should hopefully help the push for free fares.”

The fare reduction period lasts until the end of June. Finance minister Grant Robertson said public transport would be a key feature of this year’s Budget.

Above: In Auckland, monthly public transport passes are half price.

A celebration of Leyland National buses took place in the UK recently, with the recreation of a 50-year old journey to celebrate the buses entering service in March 1972. A collaboration between British Leyland and Cumberland Motor Services, this was the first time car production line techniques were applied to bus building, with 7,700 Leyland Nationals built up until 1985. Along with a museum exhibition, one of the first passengers to travel on the Workington to Whitehaven route was tracked down, June Begg, who had been four at the time. The journey was undertaken once again and she said it brought back “so many memories” and she remembers the bus being “very, very shiny” when it first pulled up years before.

BUS STOPPED

Back here in Australia, somebody’s first journey came to an abrupt end when a trainee driver unfortunately drove into the side of a pub in Sydney. The bus was travelling along Pitt Street in the southern Sydney suburb of Mortdale when a turn went awry and the single decker ended up embedded in the front wall of the Mortdale Hotel. Thankfully nobody was hurt but online commenters had a field day, ranging from “Takes drive thru bottleo to another level” to “Door to door service”.

LOST AND FOUND

What’s the strangest thing you’ve seen at a bus stop? Ever clocked an abandoned organ? This possibly purloined piano was cast adrift at a bus stop in St Helens in the north of England recently and it remains a mystery as to how, or why, it was there. The result of a prog rock-themed night out on the town or merely an egregious example of fly tipping?

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2/5/22 8:19 1:42 am pm 9/5/22

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

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National Members of the BIC as at 2 April 2022

3/11/21 9:06 am 9/5/22 2:59 pm

Where are all the passengers?

What is putting people off using public transport and how can we address this?

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here is no doubt that we are on a downward trend with passengers travelling on public transport. Infrastructure Australia’s 2021 infrastructure report cited passenger numbers in late 2020 were about 60–70 per cent of pre-Covid commuter numbers. The Bureau of Infrastructure Transport and Regional Economics confirms this declining trend, citing that total bus passenger kilometres have dropped 24 per cent each year since 2019.

But the question to ask is – is the patronage downturn all related to lockdown measures and ongoing Covid anxiety? Or – have we simply ‘had enough’ of long commutes and, for the majority, the preference is to work from home (WFH)?

The WFH phenomena, no doubt, is a contributing factor to the decline in current passenger numbers.

It should be noted that WFH is not a ‘new trend’.

An analysis of data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) shows that, in 2015, the number of employed people regularly working from home increased from 20 per cent of the entire labour force to 30 per cent since the year 2000.

In its most recent Characteristics of Employment Survey (December 2021), ABS found that 41 per cent of employed people regularly worked from home, an increase from 32 per cent in August 2019.

Past studies have found that WFH choices were driven by the need to catch up on heavy workloads, avoidance of long commute times and the flexibility to spend more time with family. A report from the Productivity Commission in 2021 found that onethird of working Australians want to work from home three days a week and 20 per cent would like to work from home full time.

The majority of Australia’s office workers had the opportunity to WFH (many for the first time) during lockdown. Evidently, office workers have found they preferred it to going into an office. But what about the rest of Australia that is unable to work from home? The Australians that need and rely on public transport to get to work, school and play. What determines individual transit behaviour and is this any different now compared to pre-Covid?

As it turns out, from a range of local and international surveys on public transport passengers, overcrowding (on buses, at bus stops and transit terminals), clean vehicles, ride comfort, service reliability and frequency are all ‘satisfaction factors’ of people wanting to use public transport. With much of Australia’s bus operations now being privately operated, we are presented with an opportunity to influence many of these ‘satisfaction factors’.

Some states/territories have, in the last few months, offered free or concessional travel periods

on public transport to jump start post-lockdown patronage. These initiatives provide an ideal opportunity to highlight public transport at its best, leveraging the ‘satisfaction factors’ to acquire new regular users.

Unfortunately, the Tasmanian government, after launching its five-week free bus travel to commuters in March, had to cancel 80 of its services due to general driver shortages and not being able to cover driver shortfalls due to Covid in its workforce. In Canberra, reduced Covid-timetabled bus services stay in place despite indications that passenger numbers are rebounding. The ACT government claims driver shortages and a lack of willingness of drivers to volunteer for weekend work as the cause for ongoing reduced timetables. According to the Public Transport Association for Canberra, the week ending March 4, 2022 saw an average of 55,406 weekday boardings, which is getting closer to the August 2021 figures of around 65,000. With the introduction of light rail in Canberra, the ACT government reduced ’satisfaction factors’ when many commuters complained that they could no longer ‘hail a bus’ near their homes or enjoy the continuous journey that a single bus ride could offer from the southern to northern precincts of the city.

In general terms, passenger ‘satisfaction’ continues to rely quite heavily on the car. Private motor vehicle use was the first mode to rebound to pre-Covid levels, with more people driving to work and a substantial number of households buying a second-hand car. Households that bought an additional car or a bike to avoid public transport are more likely to use them once Covid anxiety is nullified.

Maybe, as an industry, we can help influence new transit behaviours and boost our customer numbers by campaigning for a passenger ‘bustitution’ away from cars! Governments started their own bustitution revolution when faced with the problem of the costs to replace fleets of ageing trolley cars (buses were a far cheaper option). For those not familiar with the term, bustitution has been around for a long time and is best known now, in current times, as a bus substitute for rail services. It is hard to envisage another bustitution revolution as was seen in the mid-1900s when buses replaced trolley cars.

Nonetheless, governments will need to take heed of the recommendations coming out of Infrastructure Australia if they want to avoid choking our cities and making all commuters (regardless of mode) miserable. Make public transport affordable.

Make it accessible. Make it flexible with more choice.

Make it frequent and of good quality. There is a lot of work to do if governments (and industry) want to get more ‘bums on seats’. busnews.com.au May 2022 ABC

23

COVERSTORY

BLK DOUBLE DECKER COACH

NEXT LEVEL COMFORT AND CLASS BLK Auto recently delivered a brand new Series 2 double decker from its President range to Port Stephens Coaches, in its livery, ready to hit the road.

WORDS JOSH FARRELL IMAGES BLK AUTO

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he BLK President double decker Series 2 was launched by BLK Auto at the beginning of this year.

The new addition sees BLK Auto’s coach range going from strength to strength.

It was delivered in April to Port Stephens Coaches, a third generation bus and coach business operating services in Port Stephens, Newcastle and Sydney.

The BLK double decker is an important addition to the fleet, being used for school camps, charter work, rail replacement and outback tours.

The 71 leather Sege seat coach was custom built to suit the needs of Port

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Stephens Coaches and BLK Auto sales manager Luke Eldred said he was excited to deliver the double decker to its new home on the NSW coast.

“The feedback from our current double decker owners has allowed us to make improvements that takes the Series 2 to the next level,” Eldred said to ABC magazine.

“It’s all about listening to our customers, to produce a product that exceeds their expectations.”

Right: The driver’s area has more space and comfort.

Opposite bottom: There is seating for 71 across the two levels.

busnews.com.au May 2022 ABC

25

COVERSTORY

BLK DOUBLE DECKER COACH

A versatile coach which Port Stephens can use on all applications.

The Series 2 offers an upgraded easy-on-the-eye full LCD display that enhances the driver experience and ease of operation. It also boasts a leather wrapped steering

Top: The new coach will be used on tours into the outback.

Right: Facilities include a toilet for longer journeys.

Opposite top: A wheelchair ramp has been fitted and there is flat floor entry to the bus.

Opposite middle: A back door provides access if needed.

Opposite below: A Cummins X12 engine provides plenty of power for getting this double decker around, even on unsealed roads.

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ABC May 2022 busnews.com.au

wheel and the larger cabin ensures improved ergonomics for driver comfort and fatigue management.

It runs ZF Independent front suspension, ZF drive and ZF steerable tag axles, making the way the double decker drives very impressive.

The stainless steel frame comes from Stalatube out of Finland, which is used by the majority of European high-end

manufacturers. This is used for both for chassis and the body.

The Series 2 offers a high capacity within the 12.5-metre standard length requirement, ticking all the boxes.

CUSTOM BUILT It has been a challenging period for tour bus operators like Port Stephens Coaches, with Covid shutting down much of the tourism sector.

However, with lockdowns lifted and international borders open once more, people are beginning to travel again and Port Stephens Coaches ordered the double decker to service its return to touring.

The coach meets all of Port Stephens’s needs, making the Series 2 BLK double decker a versatile coach that can be used on all applications.

“Its comes with 14 seats in the lower deck and 57 seats in the upper deck, all with armrests and USB charging ports,” Eldred said.

The coach has a flat floor entry with a ramp on the lower deck for wheelchair accessibility and an impressive seven cubic metre walk-in luggage compartment.

Part of the Series 2’s enhancements was to increase the luggage bin capacity and also to make it easier to access for drivers.

BRINGING THE POWER The BLK President double decker Series 2 features the latest Cummins X12 Euro 5 11.8-litre engine, pumping out 480hp (360kW) combined with the Allison T525R

automatic transmission. The BLK President double decker Series 2 is fitted with Valeo heat/cool air-conditioning, with the driver having the ability to change the temperatures between decks with the touch of a button.

The BLK Auto President double decker Series 2 will now be put through its paces by Port Stephens Coaches as it travels to its tour destinations.

BLK Auto offers extensive range of buses and coaches ranging from 12 seats upwards, powered by diesel, battery electric or hydrogen.

For further information email info@blkauto.com.au. busnews.com.au May 2022 ABC

27

OPERATOR

CUSTOM DENNING

QUIET ACHIEVER HITS SUNBURY Custom Denning launches its first Victorian electric bus WORDS SEAN MORTELL IMAGES SEAN MORTELL AND CUSTOM DENNING

Y

ou may not be able to hear the new Custom Denning electric bus when it pulls up to your stop, but it’s making soundwaves in the state’s public transport industry.

Custom Denning’s new electric bus sneaks through the terminal unnoticed at Donric & Sunbury Bus Service’s facility in Sunbury, west Melbourne.

The freshly manufactured vehicle looms like a hulking giant, but travels as silently as a mouse. It’s so quiet that it requires an MP3 electronic tram bell noise to ring every few seconds when it travels under 30 kilometres an hour. The locals of Sunbury may not be used to trams rattling through their town, but they now get to experience a new slice of public transport technology.

From the start of August, three new electric buses will be rolling out into public service as part of Donric & Sunbury Bus Service’s fleet. A demonstration model is already operating in Sunbury, while the other three will be rolled out as part of a three-year zero emissions bus trial from the Victorian government.

The first bus in Sunbury comes courtesy of Custom Denning, which manufactured the first zero emission bus to be built entirely in Australia. The Element BEV (battery electric vehicle) will be operated by 28

ABC May 2022 busnews.com.au

Donric & Sunbury Bus Service and powered by charging infrastructure partner Siemens.

Custom Denning’s first Australian-made electric bus was launched and inspected on May 2, when politicians and representatives took a ride on the quiet, fume-free vehicle.

“Today is so exciting for us as a business,” Custom Denning managing director Scott Dunn told ABC magazine.

“This is the only electric vehicle that’s fully Australian-made. Everyone else is building vehicles with an imported chassis but we’re

not – this is our chassis and it’s very important to us.”

The Custom Denning bus will be the first of three vehicles to run on seven Sunbury public transport routes, becoming an important part of the suburb’s bus schedule.

With three new Custom Denning Elements expected to land at Donric & Sunbury Bus Service’s depot in July, Sunbury locals will be hearing the tram bell noise more often around town from August.

It’s a historic announcement for Custom Denning, which has partnered with Donric & Sunbury Bus Service to introduce the fresh wave of electric buses to Victoria.

Dunn says the fully fitted zero

emission vehicle is a milestone for his company.

“It’s important to us for two reasons,” Dunn said.

“This is the first electric vehicle we’re putting into operation in Victoria, but it’s also the first vehicle we’ve put into Victoria as a business for more than 12 years.

“We’ve been working in New South Wales and Queensland for a while now, so we are now looking at Victoria because we see potential growth for us here.”

But the electric bus isn’t just a big deal for Custom Denning.

Sunbury locals will now get to play host to one of the zero emission trial buses. The state government says

41 electric buses will be added to the public network, with Sunbury getting the first chance to enjoy the smooth additions.

Victorian transport minister Ben Carroll said the Custom Denning bus is a major step forward in terms of both public transport accessibility and sustainability.

“It’s wonderful to be launching the new bus in Sunbury because tackling transport emissions is really important alongside improving transport accessibility,” he told ABC. “This is an important three-way partnership between Custom Denning, Donric & Sunbury Bus Service and the Victorian government, where we’ll see three

Above: This Custom Denning Element is now servicing customers around Sunbury.

Opposite, Bottom: The bus is so quiet that a tram bell noise has been added to ring every few seconds when the bus is moving below 30km/h.

busnews.com.au May 2022 ABC

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OPERATOR

CUSTOM DENNING

electric buses rolled out across seven Sunbury routes to bring the future of buses to this important growing community.”

The transport minister is adamant this initiative is “only the start” of the state focusing on zero emission public transport vehicles in coming years as it looks to transition its 4,000-strong diesel bus fleet to zero emission buses.

From 2025, every new government purchase of a bus must be a zero emission vehicle. If these buses continue to be like Custom Dennings, Carrol says the roll-out will be a wonderful change.

“What we see here from Custom Denning is a world class product in terms of its capability of battery storage, both in the back and on the roof, as well as low floor accessibility,” he said.

“These will benefit the whole community. They’re a win-win wherever you go.”

Joining the plaudits for Custom Denning is Sunbury local member

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ABC May 2022 busnews.com.au

These will benefit the whole community. They’re a win-win wherever you go.

Above: The new bus was launched at an event in Sunbury on March 2.

Below L-R: Custom Denning managing director Scott Dunn, Victorian transport minister Ben Carroll and Sunbury local member Josh Bull.

Josh Bull, who echoed Carroll’s sentiments about the positive impact these electric buses will have on the community.

Bull said he has discussed the introduction of zero emission vehicles to the state’s public transport fleet for quite some time.

He’s now optimistic this new bus will be the first of many to grace public service.

“This is something the local community has talked about to me for some time and it’s amazing to see this as part of a trial,” Bull told ABC. “It’s just the start. We need to make sure we are investing in jobs in Australia, so to have Custom Denning involved is really important.”

To get this trial off the ground, electric vehicle charging infrastructure needs to be ready.

This is where Siemens comes in.

The technology company joined forces with Custom Denning and Donric Group and began discussing the potential for electric public transport buses in 2020.

Siemens’ business development manager Olivia Laskowski said Siemens will continue supporting Custom Denning to provide a holistic package to bus operators by

pairing charging hardware, software and service with the Element bus.

“This is the inaugural Custom Denning and Siemens project, so it’s exciting to see that come to fruition,” Laskowski told ABC. “We look forward to working with Custom Denning more to help them expand their buses into the emerging electric bus industry.”

Siemens’ charging infrastructure has the ability to connect up to five buses to a single charger.

With electric fleets expanding quickly in the lead-up to 2025, Laskowski said the company can offer a total package of technology infrastructure and service to make the transition as smooth as possible.

“Custom Denning provides the Siemens Sicharge UC 125kW chargers [to the operator],” Laskowski says.

“Bus operators are also offered access to Siemens Depotfinity, the charging management software.

“This provides real time monitoring of the bus, charging progress and load management capability.”

From Siemens’ charging infrastructure to Custom Denning’s Australian-built chassis, the new electric bus in Sunbury is an industry-first in many ways. But, in Scott Dunn’s eyes, it’s only the start of something special for Custom Denning.

Dunn said his business is looking to “take small steps” and build locally. With another 114 buses ordered currently, Custom Denning expects to have around 150 of its electric buses in service within the next 10 months.

But he’s most excited about the current bus, which is now ringing its bell around the Sunbury community and providing a more sustainable and accessible ride for public transport users.

“The bus has been down here for a few weeks, so we’re excited for it to finally start operations,” Dunn said.

“Then, we have the other buses in build for Sunbury coming down in five weeks’ time.

“We’re so excited, it’s great to get out here, to see and hear the bell.

Now we just want to take advantage of the opportunity.”

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siemens.com.au/emobility

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9/5/22 8:19 am

FEATURE

ELECTIONS

PICK YOUR PT POLICY Major political parties discuss their public transport priorities ahead of the federal election.

B

efore the May 21 federal election, ABC magazine spoke with several political parties about their policies for Australia’s public transport future.

Finding a political party’s public transport policies is like spotting a needle in a haystack. But we did the hard work of looking through the smokescreen of election campaigns, speaking with the current federal government, the opposition and the

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ABC May 2022 busnews.com.au

WORDS SEAN MORTELL Australian Greens Party about their plans for public transport.

What we have found is that, from infrastructure funding to emphasising a sustainable future, the different sides of politics vary in their public transport policies ahead of the election.

For the current federal government, comprising the Liberal and National parties, the focus is on upgrading public transport infrastructure across the

country. National party member and current public transport minister Paul Fletcher told ABC magazine he wants to continue boosting infrastructure upgrades on important public transport projects if the coalition is elected in for another term.

“We will continue investments in the Sydney Metro – Western Sydney airport, Perth Metronet and Geelong Fast Rail projects,” Fletcher said.

“The federal government is supporting its state partners with billions of dollars in funding to deliver transformative public transport projects across the country.”

Fletcher says that the Liberal and National coalition is intent on enhancing its rolling infrastructure upgrades to ensure that city and country transport is kept moving.

He said that freak weather events and the spread of Covid-19 impacted many public transport routes over the past few years.

Now, the Coalition wants to pour money into projects that strengthen the nation’s public transport infrastructure so people can return to riding them daily.

“The federal government is investing $120 billion over 10 years from 2022–23 in land transport infrastructure across Australia through its rolling infrastructure pipeline,” Fletcher said.

It might be the opposition, but the Australian Labor Party (ALP) has put forward a similar policy framework, telling ABC magazine that it is also focusing on funding major projects to grow and upgrade

the public transport network across major Australian cities.

Labor public transport shadow minister Catherine King tells ABC she is working with industry members to help nurture the public

transport sector and devise new landmark developments.

“The Labor Party has already made announcements regarding public transport projects in Perth, Brisbane, Hobart and Melbourne,”

Above, Left to Right: Paul Fletcher and Catherine King.

Below: The Coalition is investing in PT.

The federal government is investing $120 billion over 10 years from 2022–23 in land transport infrastructure across Australia.

busnews.com.au May 2022 ABC

33

FEATURE

ELECTIONS

King says. “We have also committed to establishing the High Speed Rail Authority and finally beginning work on this nation-building project, starting with the line from Sydney to Newcastle.”

But unlike the current federal government, the Labor Party says it isn’t just focusing its gaze on the train and tram side of public transport. King acknowledges that “buses and coaches are a central

Above: Sarah HansonYoung.

form of public transport in cities and regions across the country”.

She says she is devising plans to strengthen the bus and coach sector alongside rail.

This includes funding beyond upgrades. If elected, King says the ALP will allocate money to boost the entire bus and coach supply chain.

“Labor is committed to working with the industry to support the growth of the sector and make investments that deliver the greatest benefit to commuters and local communities,” she says.

“This includes supporting Australian manufacturing and working closely with states and territories to help in the construction of projects that make the most difference to Australian communities.”

The ALP says that it’s this willingness to consult with different bodies and businesses that puts its public transport policy ahead of rival parties. Instead of solely funding major projects, King says the ALP is taking a multi-faceted approach to “ensure public transport plays

its role in allowing Australians to easily and affordably access opportunities”.

To see this dream turn into reality, Labor says it will revitalise an important government body.

“To guide our investments, Labor will reform and strengthen Infrastructure Australia,” King says.

“A Labor government would restore Infrastructure Australia to the role that we originally envisaged, which is enabling it to provide trusted expert advice on the most important public transport projects to Australians.”

In different ways, both the Coalition and the ALP are looking at immediate measures to boost the public transport industry. But the Australian Greens Party is taking a different track. Instead of looking at the here and now, it also has an eye on the future.

Senator Sarah Hanson-Young handles the party’s public transport portfolio and tells ABC magazine that the Greens Party wants to “make public transport a cleaner and more accessible option for all

A Labor government would restore Infrastructure Australia to the role that we originally envisaged.

Australians”. To realise this goal, Hanson-Young says her party wants to address issues facing the sector that are greater than just infrastructure upgrades.

“Investment in infrastructure requires thinking long-term about our future,” she said.

“This includes the need to urgently reduce emissions in the face of climate change shaping our public transport policies.”

According to the Greens, it won’t limit its public transport policies to just funding landmark infrastructure upgrades. It says the best course of action is to invest in the electrification of bus and rail networks to reduce the sector’s greenhouse gas emissions.

According to Hanson-Young, up to 80 per cent of the current federal government’s spending is on road

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ABC May 2022 busnews.com.au

upgrades and projects. She says the Greens would add $25 billion in investments over the next 10 years into bus and rail services, but not for the sole purpose of easing congestion. Instead, the Greens’s goal is to upgrade public transport infrastructure to decrease traffic on roads and therefore lower pollution that comes from having so many vehicles on roads.

Regardless of what happens in the election, Hanson-Young says she’ll lead the charge in urging any government to begin investing in the decarbonisation of transport.

“This has been a slow process in Australia due to a lack of investment, infrastructure and legislation, which has left us lagging behind the rest of the world,” she said.

“A transition is inevitable, and it is high time a government stood up and supported the transport industry and its workers through this transition into the future.”

It may not be a public transport policy that’s tailored towards specific major upgrades and projects, but the Greens Party is adamant its plan will be beneficial to the public transport industry.

According to Hanson-Young, the party’s agenda is twofold: expanding public transport to connect all Australians while also decarbonising the sector to help fight against climate change.

If the Greens can influence policy following the election, Hanson-Young says the party will consider a range of issues facing the public transport sector to help future generations.

“Public transport investment should not be reactive but instead consider future scenarios to ensure we are adequately prepared for them,” she explained.

“This means we’ll be helping the sector consider climate change and the need to transition away from a reliance on fossil fuels towards cleaner options before it’s too late.”

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35 busnews.com.au May 2022 4/5/22 ABC 12:14 pm

FEATURE

CDC VICTORIA

MAKING THE ELECTRIC TRANSITION

Operators like ComfortDelGro Australia are pivoting depots, including its Oakleigh depot in Victoria, to serve its new electric buses.

WORDS JOSH FARRELL IMAGES CDC 36

ABC May 2022 busnews.com.au

T

he Victorian government recently announced a trial of 41 electric buses on routes across Victoria in towns including, Melbourne, Seymour and Traralgon.

The announcement created a buzz for operators, who are revolutionising their depots ahead of the arrival of the buses.

ComfortDelGro Corporation Australia (CDC) is one such operator. It is set to install an initial six charging outlets at its Oakleigh depot, which will service the buses scheduled to arrive later in 2022 and into 2023.

To ensure the buses have the range required for journeys, CDC will install two charging stations at the Monash University bus interchange to allow buses to recharge whilst out on routes and

CDC is installing six charging outlets at its Oakleigh depot in Melbourne.

establish the viability of further investment for in-field charging.

Making the switch to electric is about a lot more than just upgrading equipment.

With new equipment comes new skills that are required to maintain the gear. As CDC tells ABC magazine, it is committed to growing its team within. Mechanics at the Oakleigh depot will receive upskilling to ensure they can carry out routine servicing on the new electric buses.

CDC Victoria CEO Jeff Wilson said that the announcement from the state government is important for the team.

“We are grateful to have been working with leaders in their respective fields, boosting local work opportunities while upskilling the staff within our depots to work on the technologies of the future,” Wilson said.

“The drivers and staff at Oakleigh are looking forward to sharing this technology with the local communities.”

CDC notes that it is committed to sourcing its buses locally. It will work with Volgren, which will produce the buses in its Dandenong south facility using Volvo BZL chassis. It will also use Engie charging infrastructure.

“We have worked closely with Engie and Monash University to set up facilities for the buses to be charged during the day at the Monash Clayton campus,” Wilson said.

“This will provide an increased range for the buses and boost network performance.”

The buses themselves are an exciting collaboration between Volgren and Volvo: made in Melbourne, for Melbourne.

Volvo bus general manager Mitch Peden busnews.com.au May 2022 ABC

37

FEATURE

CDC VICTORIA

The new buses are Volvo BZL Electrics.

said he supported the state government’s decision and the push from operators such as CDC to go greener.

“Governments and operators such as CDC across the country are recognising the inherent benefits of adopting electric technology,” said Peden.

“We applaud the Victorian state government and the Department of Transport for making the appropriate decision to roll out the Zero Emissions Bus Trial.

“We are absolutely thrilled that our Volvo BZL Electric will be introduced in the CDC fleet and we thank ComfortDelGro Australia for continuing to put their trust in Volvo as they transition to electric technology,” Peden said.

CDC operates routes across Melbourne’s CBD and eastern suburbs as well as Geelong. It has diversified its bus fleet with the electric buses entering Melbourne.

In Geelong CDC will be bringing hydrogen buses on board in partnership with Viva energy who received funding to build a hydrogen service centre.

38

ABC May 2022 busnews.com.au

The two hydrogen fuel cell buses are expected to be servicing the Geelong region by late 2023.

ComfortDelGro Australia CEO Nicholas Yap said the parent company of CDC, ComfortDelGro, has had considerable experience rolling out hydrogen buses in London.

“We see strong potential for hydrogen and importantly an eco-system of Australian based providers driving collectively toward a cleaner future for Australians,” he said.

“Our rollout of two new hydrogenpowered buses is also great news for our customers in Geelong, who will experience this exciting technology and a smoother ride on their daily commute.”

CDC will be trialling eight electric buses which will operate across Melbourne’s eastern suburbs and into the bustling CBD. The commitment from CDC to be a part of the trial will help the state government reach its target of net zero emissions by 2050.

The trial will begin with one bus in

November 2022 out of the Oakleigh depot, which is expected to provide an impressive ride for commuters.

The first battery-electric bus will be trialled on routes 601 and 630, servicing Huntingdale station, Monash University, Gardenvale station and Ormond station.

The seven remaining buses will then be rolled out over the coming three years servicing varying routes across the CDC network.

CDC is one of the larger bus operators in Australia and has a strong presence in Victoria, serving the West, East and North of Melbourne as well as Ballarat, Geelong, Mildura, and Wentworth.

With over 600 buses across these fleets, it is small steps first into the renewable sector. But, the company has recognised its importance.

“At CDC we have consistently demonstrated our commitment to reducing greenhouse and particulate emissions in public transport with Australia’s first hybrid bus technology offering zone-based zero emissions,” Yap said.

ABC 417.indd 39

9/5/22 8:19 am

FEATURE

BIC SUMMIT

BIC BUCKS THE BULL BIC to discuss bus safety framework at upcoming summit WORDS SEAN MORTELL

S

afety should be the first consideration for the bus industry when it transitions towards zero emission vehicles.

But it’s the biggest obstruction preventing the industry from setting up for an eco-friendly future.

The bus industry is playing catch up.

While more and more zero emission buses are manufactured each day, the industry’s race towards carbon neutral fleets is being challenged by an unlikely source – governments.

Bus manufacturing companies are churning out electric buses and other passenger vehicles that produce lower emissions than fuel-reliant models. But without governments agreeing on any policy or regulatory framework to guide the safe and sustainable transition to a zero emission bus industry, the safe supply and operation of zero-emission technology is compromised.

This is what Australia’s Bus Industry Confederation (BIC) executive director Roz Chivers has observed.

She says the Australian federal government seemed happy to announce the bus industry’s transition towards 40

ABC May 2022 busnews.com.au

zero emissions. However, it failed to instil any design standards or rules to keep workers safe. She argues that while the industry has worked hard to produce electric bus fleets, the government’s lack of regulations around manufacturing remains its biggest challenge.

“At the moment we don’t have standardised training for our mechanics or people who work in the depots,” Chivers told ABC magazine.

“We don’t even have this training available for emergency services, so if there’s an incident then they won’t know what to do or how to identify if it’s a zero emissions bus or not.”

The lack of Australian Design Rules (ADRs) for electric bus manufacturing isn’t the only challenge in the way of the industry’s race to zero emissions, but Chivers argues that it’s currently the biggest one. She says industry bodies like the BIC have been lobbying for either federal or state governments to decide on the necessary ADRs and standards for nearly a year without success.

When brought to the attention of Australia’s state and territory governments, Chivers says politicians were mostly able

to recognise the lack of manufacturing standards as an issue in the industry.

Nevertheless, no government has introduced it to its work program to stop the bus industry’s long wait.

“We as a bus industry are starting to say we can’t wait any longer and we will start to develop industry-led advisories to get the best practice out there,” Chivers said.

“We’ve used this technique before with fire advisories with the state governments.

Advisories such as these are commonly picked up in government contracts where there is no ADR in place.”

Although it’s a measure, it’s not the solution that the bus industry wants to fall back on if pushed by the government’s inaction. Chivers, like many in the sector, wants the federal government to intervene and introduce ADRs and standards for electric and zero emission bus manufacturing. Once these structures are in place, new fleets filled with the latest technology can be made safely in Australia and introduced as public transport vehicles or eco-friendly products for customers.

The bus industry is also reaching past the federal government, having contacted the Australian Labor Party, the Australian

Greens and members of the crossbench to get their thoughts on introducing zero emission bus manufacturing ADRs. According to Chivers, the response from these politicians has been varied, with some recognising it as vitally important.

Others have simply dismissed the matter altogether.

“I think that reflects the nature of the government at the moment,” Chivers said.

“It’s an innovative issue that cuts across so many government departments, so it’s been difficult to get a clear answer.”

It’s a shame for the bus industry, as the vast improvements in zero emission technology haven’t been able to be put on display on the Australian market yet. The country is only weeks away from its first hydrogen fuel cell public transport bus fleet being introduced to the roads. While this happens, more battery electric bus fleets are being announced.

When ADRs and manufacturing standards are finally put into place, Chivers is excited about the technology that’s ready to go.

“There’s a lot of great innovations coming through that we import from overseas or are currently producing here in Australia ourselves,” she said.

The obstruction of no design rules means Australia is also lagging behind European countries and China when it comes to introducing battery electric buses. But there’s a

silver lining. It means Australia can watch these countries and learn the impact rapid manufacturing has on the bus industry.

“We’re aware of how it’s functioning overseas,” Chivers said.

“What we’ve learnt is we don’t want production to slow down once companies finish transitioning to zero emissions by 2030. From a manufacturing perspective we want to flatten the construction bulge that’s happening because everyone is racing to have electric fleets by 2030.”

Despite this increased demand, Chivers says the bus industry is currently coping well. Companies are recruiting more and more staff, despite there being a massive shortage in electric vehicle technicians. Ahead of the 2022 National Bus Industry Summit in June, the confederation has introduced a ‘no bullshit’ approach when managing the industry’s race to zero emission fleets.

“The ‘no bullshit’ approach reflects the fact that while governments are racing around to make announcements about transitioning fleets, we don’t have the appropriate regulatory background nor the ability to upskill workers rapidly,” Chivers said.

“We need state and territory governments to work together rather than just make grand announcements. We need them to support the industry and help deliver these buses safely.”

There isn’t a timeline yet about

The good thing about the summit is that it will bring operators and manufacturers together.

Above: BIC executive director Roz Chivers.

Below: As yet there aren’t any ADRs for electric buses.

when the bus industry must be completely transitioned to zero emission fleets, but the pressure is still on to do it quickly. The 2022 BIC summit comes at the right time in the race. It will allow manufacturers and operators to combine and discuss how companies can safely introduce electric buses to its fleets.

Chivers will speak at the event and is interested to see the impact of mixing industry members together on the race towards zero emission buses.

“The good thing about the summit is that it will bring operators and manufacturers together to talk about their challenges and opportunities,” Chivers said.

“It will do what other events haven’t done by giving the entire industry the chance to look holistically at the challenges and include refueller and recharger infrastructure in the conversation so we can continue making the transition safely.”

To hear Chivers speak about the bus industry’s race to zero emissions at the 2022 National Bus Industry Summit on June 28 and 29, register attendance and book tickets at https://movingpeople.com.au/ summit. busnews.com.au May 2022 ABC

41

FEATURE

STYLERIDE

STYLERIDE SEATING SYSTEMS ANNOUNCES NEW MANUFACTURING CENTRE

StyleRide has expanded its Brisbane manufacturing operations.

42

ABC May 2022 busnews.com.au

Growth during the past few years means StyleRide needs to expand its Brisbane manufacturing operations and relocate to a larger single-site manufacturing centre.

O

ver the years StyleRide has expanded to multiple locations.

The business understands the inherent challenges that occur when coordinating manufacturing and

logistics across different bases.

Based in Brisbane’s Acacia Ridge, StyleRide had to operate two sites to accommodate the growing operations the business required to meet the manufacturing demands of its customers.

“As we’ve been growing consistently over the past few years, we expanded to our second site about a kilometre away from our Success Street head office,” StyleRide general manager of sales Stephen Long told ABC magazine.

“We had vehicles running daily between the sites, resulting in longer lead times for our products and inefficiencies.”

Despite the challenging environment over the past few years caused by Covid-19 and its global impact on manufacturing, StyleRide has continued to grow through innovation and new products. This has helped the group maintain its position as a leading manufacturer of transport seating solutions.

Long says Covid-19 impacted StyleRide’s operations, yet the business was able to respond positively to the challenge.

“It was certainly a challenging time, as most manufacturing businesses would agree, but it was actually a good experience for us as a business,” Long said.

“We actively looked at additional opportunities in new markets, including marine, rail and defence.”

Although it originally started as a bus and coach seat manufacturer, StyleRide’s move to its new facilities comes after an expansion that now sees it supply products ranging from single-seater RV motorhome seats through to the 105-seat Fraser Island barge. When asked about how a bus and coach seating company can easily adapt to more complex requirements, Long said StyleRide’s versatility and unique product offerings are key to its recent growth.

“Our strength is our customisation. As we design and have capability to manufacture anything in house, we work with our customers at the design stage to devise a solution for any transport seating project,” he said.

Moving into a new single manufacturing centre in Brisbane’s Acacia Ridge, the StyleRide team is looking forward to coordinating all activities under one roof.

Long said the business is hopeful it will see greater efficiencies and increased production capabilities in the new centre.

The centre will be on Lysaght Street and will allow StyleRide to implement its 5S manufacturing principles to maximise efficiencies.

By having fabrication, production, warehousing, final assembly and quality control all in one facility, StyleRide will be able to monitor product workflow. It also means the business can continue its focus on customer demand for current and new products while maintaining its high standards for product quality.

In addition to manufacturing, the new centre will also have dedicated vehicle installation areas. Customer demand for installation, fit outs and projects mean StyleRide can manufacture, fit and service all seating requirements in house.

All of this will be celebrated on May 31, when StyleRide will host its grand opening of its new manufacturing centre.

The building is located at 29–41 Lysaght Street, Acacia Ridge, and will showcase the best of what StyleRide has to offer. On the day, guests from the industry, customers and suppliers will be able to visit and tour the new facility.

Long said StyleRide is excited to spread the word and celebrate the business’ next big venture.

“We’ll be sending out invites to our customers and suppliers,” he said, “but, most importantly, we want everyone involved in the business, including friends, family, and even competitors, to come along and share the experience of our new facility.

“We’re so excited to be announcing the grand opening of our new centre because of what it means for the company.

“Hopefully, it can lead to a cost reduction that we would like to pass onto customers to reward them for their loyalty.” busnews.com.au May 2022 ABC

43

FEATURE

SEGE

NEW SEGE LIGHTWEIGHT SEAT PERFECT FOR ELECTRIC BUSES Sege Seats is intent on adapting its products to suit the new wave of electric buses. But to do that, it had to make major component changes to drop the weight of a standard bus seat.

WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES SEVEN KILOGRAMS MAKE? It initially doesn’t sound like much. But when it comes to bus and coach seats, a single seat being seven kilograms lighter can make the entire 50-seat bus roughly 350 kilograms lighter. For modern public transport buses, this weight change

can mean electric buses are able to be phased in as a viable transport option.

Sege knows this and has developed a new lightweight passenger intercity day charter seat that is focused on being as light as possible.

According to Sege, the technology behind the lightweight seat means it Below: Comfort and safety – the Sege Passenger 5050 model design.

44

ABC May 2022 busnews.com.au

reduces a double seat with seatbelts from a standard 27kg to 20kg. When a bus has 50 of these seats on them, it provides a huge decrease in weight, which is important in building low emission buses.

The new seat technology is enough to excite Sege CEO Lance Taskin.

“Our new lightweight passenger intercity day charter seats are perfect for electric buses, which is great for us since we’ve been focusing on going greener as a company,” Taskin said.

“The new lightweight seat has been in production for about a year and a half. We’ve been dropping some of the components on it to drop the weight to a minimum, and we are thrilled that it’s worked.”

The super light new day charter seat isn’t just ergonomically safe. Sege has used stronger materials to reduce the weight in other areas of the seat so that it still meets regulations while suiting electric passenger buses. With Sege’s usual disinfected and bacteria-free material, the finished product is another step forward for the global bus coach seat company.

Sege, which already supplies seats to more than 40 countries globally, introduced the new lightweight seat to the European seat industry three months ago. It saw major suppliers snap the product up. Taskin said he is now fielding orders from Australian markets to furnish a new wave of zero emission buses that are set to hit the market.

As bus fleets move towards electric, lightweight seats are proving attractive to manufacturers.

According to Sege, it usually tests the product to see how it responds in a new market, but Taskin said the company is ready to introduce the lightweight seat to Australia at full scale. Bus and coach manufacturers like Custom Denning are already wanting the lighter seat in their new custom designed electric vehicles.

Taskin said Sege’s new seat is another example of the company producing seats that perfectly suit the flourishing electric bus market – something which it has done since the first electronic buses were introduced in the industry.

“Everyone is going with electric buses nowadays,” he said.

“The first electric bus and coach from King Long has our seats in it, while Irizar Asia Pacific had the thousandth vehicle that has our seats in it.”

Despite the initial interest surrounding the seat, Taskin is quick to state that the sales of the product are “a long-distance thing”. Sege will carry on advertising its older products that are in different seat categories while promoting the new day charter passenger seat that is suited to inter-city buses.

The new lightweight passenger intercity day charter seat is set to further progress Sege’s growth as it records steady manufacturing improvement.

Taskin admitted there’s “so much

happening that it’s easy to forget some of it”, such is the variety of new projects that Sege is taking on. But the new lightweight seat may be the pick of the bunch. Sege is aware of its place in the bus coach seat market and knows why it has found a niche in the industry.

“Even though we’re not the biggest player in the market, for us it’s all about customer choice and what we can offer that’s different,” Taskin said.

“We’re there to give everyone an option to look at other avenues.”

Taskin is confident that the current array of products on offer from Sege is wider than any other competitor in the market. Various products like drink trays, footrests, plastic backing and other seat modifications makes Sege adaptable and gives it a point of difference in the seat industry.

“We can offer a range of things on our seats which other manufacturers don’t,” Taskin said.

Entering the electric vehicle market has historically been important to Sege.

The company is intent on manufacturing plenty of seat variants that can furnish any type of electric bus or coach preparing to hit the industry. While still selling military or normal passenger seats for other vehicle types, Sege is particularly interested in exploring the electric vehicle

Above: Sege Passenger 3075.

industry to tailor a complete package of seats that can satisfy customers with all types of requirements.

But with more than 30 years of experience in the market, Taskin said the company’s approach to selling seats to customers is still the same.

“It’s all about what the customer wants,” he said.

“The atmosphere we have created is that we don’t push people, but instead our products will always speak for itself, and customers can have products tailor-made to suit any requirements.” busnews.com.au May 2022 ABC

45

FEATURE

CAMIRA

MAKING THE MOST OF MOQUETTE Durable, sustainable and adaptable, moquette seating can meet all of an operator’s needs.

Camira explains more about this versatile material.

I

f you’re in the bus and coach industry, then you have probably heard ‘moquette’ for seating mentioned quite regularly. But what actually is moquette?

Moquette, or plush velour, is derived from the French word for carpet. It’s a woven pile fabric in which cut or un-cut threads form a short dense cut or loop pile.

Moquette is Camira’s core international product for the bus a coach market, with the 85/15 per cent wool/nylon composition being the trusted seat fabric option in all public transport modes for 200 years.

The company’s story began in 1822, when a cloth manufacturer named John Holdsworth founded a worsted spinning mill named Holdsworth in Halifax, in the north of England.

Fast forward 200 years, and while the head office and core manufacturing facility remain in Yorkshire – not far from where Holdsworth first began – the company’s reach has continued to be truly global, with warehouse and distribution facilities in the US and Australia, a manufacturing plant in Lithuania and distributors in New Zealand, Middle East, Europe and Asia Pacific.

Locally, all the Australian seat and bus and coach manufacturers are serviced by Rodney Peterson and Joe Qi from the Melbourne office and distribution facilities, with Camira being well represented in New Zealand by the team at Reid & Twiname.

What are the benefits of moquette?

SAFE AND DURABLE • It is durable, comfortable, easy to care 46

ABC May 2022 busnews.com.au

Above: Camira Print technology has been developed, expanding the range of design options.

Right: An ‘Aura’ range pattern shown, which has been selected via the online ‘3D configurator’.

Opposite Top: A typical school/charter fabric selection.

for and comes in boundless designs.

• W ool is natural, durable, renewable and sustainable.

• Wool has low flame, smoke and toxicity properties. In Australia, we are seeing increased safety (flame, smoke and toxicity) ratings in the bus and coach industry, more in alignment with those of the rail sector.

MODERN MOQUETTE To celebrate its 200-year anniversary, Camira recently revitalised the ‘Aura’ range. A wool-rich moquette, this iconic textile blends the rich heritage of transport with the new era of electric buses through its collection of 200 colourways.

Another recent technological

breakthrough for moquette is Camira’s in-house capability to print on moquette.

After years of research and development into creating the optimal print capability, ‘Camira Print’ is here to realise the untapped potential of transport textiles.

Flexible, fast and free from design restrictions of traditional weaving, the benefits are tangible – and the possibilities limitless.

To celebrate its 200-year anniversary, Camira recently revitalised the ‘Aura’ range.

In today’s world, treatment options such as the anti-coronavirus ‘Staysafe’ and the anti-stain, anti-bacteria ‘Defender’ mean Camira can play an important role in safety, comfort and health of public transport passengers.

NOT JUST MOQUETTE Additionally, the company’s range of bus and coach interior fabrics includes flat-wovens, polyester moquette, leathers and vinyls.

These fabrics are suitable for seating, curtains, walls, bulkheads, luggage racks and ancillary trimming. All are stringently tested to meet the latest technical and flammability standards.

As Camira’s Melbourne-based area business manager – APAC (transport), Rodney Peterson, explained: “Camira is proud that the continuous development which defined the Holdsworth name is alive and well in the Camira brand, for many more years to come.”

For more information and inspiration, check out Camira’s newly updated website at www.camirafabrics.com, or email info@camiragroup.com.au

Made for travelling in style.

From design and manufacture, to technical and flammability performance, Camira has it covered.

• Design and durability – with 200 years’ manufacturing expertise, we make fabrics that last • Safety – we meet the highest transport specifications • Anti-stain technology – Defender protection for our wool moquette fabrics • More than seating fabrics – we offer flat-woven, vinyl, leather and coordinating trims.

T 03 9832 0624

E info@camiragroup.com.au

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FOR SALE

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TRANSPORT SEATING

Following over 50 years of experience in the seating industry, Rod Ferguson is ready to retire and relinquish his company Transport Seating.

Ferguson has been running the business since its inception in 1996, when he was fortunate enough to move on from Transit Seating when it was sold and start his own venture.

Now, Transport Seating is heavily involved in the marine seating industry and is perfectly situated on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast to take advantage of expected increases in tourist numbers related to the upcoming 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games.

“With the money the government is spending on the Queensland tourist industry at the moment, it’s the right time to invest in a company, with great industry experience, future potential and positive commercial outcomes,” Ferguson said.

With plenty of knowledge in the seating industry, Ferguson has cultivated a business that provides quality approved seats for buses and marine high-speed ferries.

The company specialises in the design and construction of marine seating.

“Since the lockdowns I’ve had more work than I’ve ever had, particularly with the marine seating for ferries,” Ferguson said.

“Transport Seating has quoted over $1 million worth of work since December and we’re only a small company.”

These contracts will enhance the future potential and profitability of Transport Seating for an existing member of the industry. Ferguson said the business is at the right stage for an experienced and younger business mind to take advantage of the Queensland transport industry’s increasing expansion.

“I can see the transport industry booming in many ways in Queensland, so someone with product and marketing knowledge could lift this business up to another level,” Ferguson said.

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heights in preparation for the celebration of the Olympic Games and the demand it will create for established suppliers.

The owner with more than 50 years success in the Transport Seating industry including: design, prototyping, testing, production, distribution, and maintenance provider.

Owner is planning to retire.

An established customer base providing sustainable revenues based on innovative new designs across multiple markets e.g.

Bus & coach, marine, trains, plus current stock can be yours coupled with vast experience to boost your business to new

This is an exclusive opportunity with a modest investment to cover stock, designs, customers data base, and my dedicated onsite and offsite expertise for up to 12 months to position your business as a leading participant in the transport seating industry.

Call Rod on 0419 705 603 to discuss how your business will benefit from this opportunity.

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49

ABC 417.indd 50 ABC 416.indd 58

9/5/22 2:07 pm 12/4/22 10:27 am

To advertise email matt.alexander@primecreative.com.au – Bookings for next issue close 9 JUNE 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

$100,000 + GST

$30,000 + 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

$75,000 + GST

$45,000 + GST

$70,000 + GST

$230,000 + GST ABC-QH-5171496-TS-417

2 X 2013 MERCEDES BENZ 0500RF

2 X 2014 MERCEDES BENZ 0500RF

2 X 2020 MERCEDES BENZ 0500RF 0500RF

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

Wheelchair lift, 12sp automated manual, Irizar 14.5m “I6” bodies, 58 lap sash seat belted seats, toilet, A/C, plus more, travelled approx.1,6001,740,000klms

Wheelchair lift, 8sp automated manual, 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

$155,000+GST each

$390,000+GST each

$120,000+GST

$65,000+GST each

$125,000+GST

2 X 2017 MERCEDES BENZ 0500RF

3 X 2008 SCANIA K380IB

2013 VOLVO B9 I Shift, 12.5m Irizar I6 body, 40

2014 BLK PRESIDENT 3

2 X 2014 BCI “CRUISER 12”

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.

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,

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

Reduced $170,000+GST

$235,000+GST EACH

$95,000+GST each

$140,000+GST

$145,000+GST

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

ABC-HH2-5129255-TS-416

$135,000+GST each

2015 BLK “PRESIDENT 2” Cummins ISL360, automatic, 57 lap sash seat belted seats, A/C, very large bins, DVD, travelled

2012 SCANIA A30 K280IB, automatic, 53 lap sash seat belted seats, A/C, underfloor bins, bull bar travelled approx. 410,000klms

2 door,rear toilet, underfloor bins, DVD, many extras,

3 X 2008 SCANIA K380IB Wheelchair lift, 8sp manual,Irizar 12.5m “Century” bodies,48 lap sash seat belted seats, USB ports,DVD, tachograph, toilet, A/C,

2014 BLK “SENATOR 9” MIDI COACH Cummins ISB300hp, automatic inc retarder, 32 leather recliners, toilet, DVD, large underfloor bins, Thermo King A/C, travelled approx. 320,000klms

$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

2008 MAN 18-280 automatic,12.5m King Long body, 57 lap sash seat belted seats, DVD, underfloor bins,Coachair A/C, travelled approx. 355,000klms

$110,000+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 37 years experience in the bus and coach industry busnews.com.au MAY 2022 ABC

ABC 417.indd 51

51

9/5/22 2:07 pm

The choice is yours

Available as part of the Volvo School & Charter Bus range Volvo B8R Euro 5 - Marcopolo Audace 1050 School & Charter Bus • • • • •

2022 models available 12.3m model available 57x Seatbelted High Backed Coach Seats Spheros air-conditioning CCTV Cameras

• • • • •

Woodgrain flooring Luggage bins TV/DVD Player Electronic sun blinds Available for immediate delivery

Volvo B8R Euro 5 & 6 - Volgren Endura School & Charter Bus • • • •

2022 models available 12.3m and 12.5m models available Fits up to 61 seats Suitable for TfNSW Panel 3

• • • •

Luggage bins ZF transmission Air-Conditioning – Options available 15 year Warranty on Co-Bolt Aluminium Structure

Volvo B8R Euro 5 & 6 - Irizar i6 3700 School & Charter Bus • • • •

2022 models available 12.3m model available Reverse camera Luggage bins

• • • •

ZF & Volvo I-Shift Transmission options Hispacold air-conditioning LED lighting technology European roll-over rating R66/02

The Volvo B8R chassis is also available in other configurations, fitted with a selection of Volgren, Marcopolo, Irizar, Custom or Coach Concept bodies, which are priced to sell and ready for delivery.

Contact your local Volvo representative for more information: | NSW - Ray Andrich 0418 213 320 & Stuart Woodward 0406 465 301 | QLD & NT - Leonie Conyers 0436 912 354 | VIC, SA & TAS - Anthony Fisicaro 0418 365 356 | WA - Adrian Boevé 0488 902 205 |

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

52

ABC MAY 2022 busnews.com.au

ABC 417.indd 52

9/5/22 2:59 pm

EVENTS

INDUSTRY EVENTS FOR 2022 Be sure not to miss out on an opportunity for these fantastic in-person events.

NATIONAL BUS INDUSTRY SUMMIT 28–29 JUNE 2022 CANBERRA This two-day summit program will cover some of the critical issues currently facing the bus industry, and also what’s on the horizon. The summit will focus on three areas that are of high impact across the entire operational and supply chain of the bus industry. The summit will commence Tuesday 28 June, addressing the areas of accessible transport, heavy vehicle law and zero emission technology and transition. Day 2 of the summit will see dedicated seminars and workshops in the areas of industrial relations for operators and technical issues (current and emerging) for suppliers. The BIC will also host an industry dinner on the night of day one. movingpeople.com.au/summit

BUSVIC MAINTENANCE CONFERENCE & TRADE SHOW 7–8 JULY 2022 The Melbourne Showgrounds will host the 2022 BusVic Maintenance Conference & Trade Show, a leading industry annual conference, trade show and networking event.

This year’s event will include maintenance, technical and management conference sessions and workshops, all delivered throughout the show. Premium keynote speakers and entertainers will form the line-up of the two-day conference program.

The event will include an Industry Gala Dinner on 7 July at the Sovereign Room at the Melbourne Conference Centre. It will close with networking drinks on 8 July at the Showgrounds. www.busvic.asn.au/ 2022conference

AUSTRALASIA BUS & COACH EXPO 2022 5–6 OCTOBER 2022 SYDNEY Australasian Bus & Coach magazine is proud to be the Official Media Partner for the 2022 Australasia Bus & Coach Expo. Taking place at Sydney Olympic Park, the event will be an opportunity to see and evaluate the latest in bus technology – including battery electric and hydrogen fuel cell buses – all in one location.

Organisers expect exhibition spaces to sell out, with strong interest in both exhibiting and attending. The event will include a Volvo Welcome Function on Tuesday 4 October and an Industry Gala Dinner on Wednesday 5 October. www.busandcoachexpo.com.au

2022 BIC NATIONAL CONFERENCE

The conference aims to engage high level discussion on current and emerging issues, trends and challenges for our moving people industry. The program will include presentations from highly regarded policy leaders and policy thinkers to engage delegates on what our future cities and regions look like and future transport needs. Industry is currently experiencing a number of external factors that for many, will mean a new or adapted sustainable business model for the future. The conference will include a blockbuster session on zero emissions and examine business agility and resilience in recovering from environmental and health impacts such as floods and pandemics. https://movingpeople.com.au

Top: The 2022 Australasia Bus & Coach Expo will take place in Sydney in October.

Below: The National Bus Industry Summit will take place in Canberra.

13–16 NOVEMBER 2022 BRISBANE The Bus Industry Confederation will hold its National Conference in Brisbane from 13 to 16 November. The theme for the National Bus Industry Conference is ‘Moving People – Navigating Change’. busnews.com.au May 2022 ABC

53

DELIVERIES

APRIL 2022 Scania led the chassis sector in April with a total of 23 deliveries.

Keeping steady in April

T

Bus deliveries keeping the course as we move into the second quarter here was another small dip in bus deliveries in April, with a total of 79 compared to March’s 82.

In the chassis sector it was Scania’s time to shine with a total of 23, marking an increase of 12 on its March result to reach its highest total this year. BCI came in second place with 15, up eight on its March total, while third place was taken by Volvo on 13.

Mercedes-Benz, in fourth, dipped slightly with seven while Custom Denning and I-Bus both marked five deliveries – an increase of one for both compared to March. The remaining 11 deliveries were delivered by six other original equipment manufacturers.

In the body-building sector, Volgren took the lead in April with an impressive 26, marking both its and the overall highest result of the year so far. BCI bounced back from March’s seven to reach 15 deliveries, pushing Irizar back down into third with 12 – a decrease of five on its March total. Custom Denning and I-Bus again marked five deliveries each and the remaining 16 buses were delivered by nine other body builders.

In the air conditioning sector, after March’s shakeup, it seems things have returned to normal with Thermo King once again far ahead of the pack on 35. Hispacold was knocked back into second on 15 after its brief time in the sun – a decrease of seven on its March total – while MCC

made a fair showing with 13, up from March’s seven. King Long on five and Coachair on four also showed slight increases on March. The remaining seven were supplied by four other manufacturers.

At the state level, Victoria has muscled its way in to be top for the first time this year on 22, with NSW and Western Australia bringing in second place on 19 each – marking a sizable drop for WA from March’s 28 but an increase of 11 for NSW. Queensland cruised in with 13, after strong February and March totals, while South Australia dropped back to four after March’s seven. Tasmania brought one to the table but we also saw one from the ACT, which hasn’t featured in the bus deliveries section since November 2020. Welcome back!

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

In the body-building sector, Volgren took the lead in April with an impressive 26, marking both its and the overall highest result of the year so far.

54

ABC May 2022 busnews.com.au

Volgren 26 BCI 15 Irizar 12 Custom Denning 5 I-Bus 5 Bustech 3 Gemilang 3 Coach Concepts 2

SALES BY BODY

Express Coaches 2

In the body-building sector, Volgren took the lead in April with an impressive 26, marking both its and the overall highest result of the year so far. BCI bounced back from March’s seven to reach 15 deliveries, pushing Irizar back down into third with 12 – a decrease of five on its March total. Custom Denning and I-Bus again marked five deliveries each and the remaining 16 buses were delivered by nine other body builders.

King Long 2 BLK 1 Coach Design 1 Marcopolo 1 Yutong 1

1% 1% 5% ACT TAS SA

17%

28% VIC

QLD

Percentage by

REGION

In the air conditioning sector, after March’s shakeup, it seems things have returned to normal with Thermo King once again far ahead of the pack on 35. Hispacold was knocked back into second on 15 after its brief time in the sun – a decrease of seven on its March total – while MCC made a fair showing with 13, up from March’s seven. King Long on five and Coachair on four also showed slight increases on March. The remaining seven were supplied by four other manufacturers.

Thermo King 35 Hispacold 15 MCC 13 King Long 5 Coachair 4

24% WA

SALES BY AIR-CONDITIONER

Valeo Spheros Cling-Yutong Kingtec

24%

3 2 1 1

SCANIA 23

NSW

BCI 15 VOLVO 13 MERCEDES-BENZ 7 CUSTOM DENNING 5 I-BUS 5 MAN 4

Sales by chassis

BYD 2

In the chassis sector it was Scania’s time to shine with a total of 23, marking an increase of 12 on its March result to reach its highest total this year. BCI came in second place with 15, up eight on its March total, while third place was taken by Volvo on 13. Mercedes-Benz, in fourth, dipped slightly with seven while Custom Denning and I-Bus both marked five deliveries – an increase of one for both compared to March.

The remaining 11 deliveries were delivered by six other original equipment manufacturers.

KING LONG 2 BLK 1 BUSTECH 1 YUTONG 1

busnews.com.au May 2022 ABC

55

DELIVERIES

APRIL 2022

BCI

ENGINES

TRANS­MISS

UNITS

MANUFACTURER, OPERATOR & LOCATION

CHASSIS

Wirlu-Murra Enterprises

WA

1

BCI Fleetmaster

BCI

320

R

Euro 5

A

Northfleet

WA

10

BCI Fleetmaster

BCI

325

R

Euro 5

A

Australian Transit Enterprises

SA

1

BCI Proma

BCI

210

R

Euro 5

A

Gull Services

(Model)

BODY BUILDER

HP*

Rear / Front

Emissions standard

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

VIC

1

BCI Cruiser 10

BCI

285

R

Euro 5

A

Newcombe Coach Lines

NSW

2

BCI Cruiser 12

BCI

400

R

Euro 5

A

BLK

Capital Region Community Services

ACT

1

BLK Citystar Combo

BLK

300

R

–

A

BUSTECH GROUP

Metro Tasmania

TAS

1

Bustech XDi 1.1

Bustech Group

–

R

Euro 6

A

BYD

Kinetic Melbourne

VIC

2

BYD D9RA

Volgren

300kW

R

Zero

A

QLD

1

Custom Denning

Custom Denning

340

R

Euro 5

A

CUSTOM DENNING N/A

I-BUS AUSTRALIA KING LONG MAN

N/A

QLD

1

Custom Denning

Custom Denning

340

R

Euro 5

A

N/A

NSW

2

Custom Denning Element

Custom Denning

340

L:R

Zero

–

N/A

VIC

1

Volvo

Custom Denning

320

R

Euro 6

A

N/A

QLD

3

Isuzu NQR

I-Bus

190

F

–

AMT

N/A

QLD

2

Isuzu NPS

I-Bus

190

F

–

AMT

N/A

QLD

1

King Long

King Long

250

R

Euro 5

A

N/A

SA

1

King Long

King Long

285

R

Euro 5

A

Kinetic/Surfside

NSW

1

MAN IC.19.320.RR8

Volgren

320

R

E5

A

Hurstbridge Bus

VIC

1

MAN IC.19.320.RR8

Volgren

320

R

E5

A

NSW

2

MAN LE.19.320.RC2.E6

Volgren

320

R

E6

A

N/A

VIC

1

MB O500R

Coach Concepts

300

R

Euro 5

A

Premier Motor Services

MERCEDES-BENZ

SCANIA

VOLVO

YUTONG

56

N/A

NSW

1

MB O500RS

Irizar

360

R

Euro 5

A

N/A

QLD

1

MB OC500LE

Volgren

300

R

Euro 6

A

N/A

WA

1

MB O500RS

Irizar

360

R

Euro 5

A

N/A

VIC

1

MB OC500RF/3 E5 2543

Irizar

430

R

Euro 5

A

N/A

VIC

1

MB O500RS

Irizar

430

R

Euro 5

A

N/A

VIC

1

MB O500RS

Irizar

360

R

Euro 5

A

BNA Buses Pty Ltd

NSW

1

Scania K 310 IB4X2

Express Coaches

310

R

Euro 5

A

Comfort Delgro Cabcharge Pty Ltd

NSW

4

Scania K 310 IB4X2

Irizar

310

R

Euro 5

A

DPTI - Dept. of Public Transport Infrastructure

SA

2

Scania K 320 UB4X2

Bustech

320

R

Euro 6

Eggins Holdings Pty Ltd T/A Eggins Comfort Coaches NSW

1

Scania K 320 UB4X2

Express Coaches

320

R

Euro 6

Irizar Asia Pacific Pty Ltd

QLD

2

Scania K 360 IB4X2

Irizar

360

R

Euro 5

L C Dyson's Bus Services Pty Ltd

VIC

7

Scania K 320C B4x2LB

Volgren

320

R

Euro 6

A

L C Dyson's Bus Services Pty Ltd

VIC

1

Scania K 310 IB4X2

Irizar

310

R

Euro 5

A

McHarry's Bus Lines

VIC

1

Scania K 320 IB4X2

Volgren

320

R

Euro 6

A

McHarry's Bus Lines

VIC

1

Scania K 320 IB4X2

Volgren

320

R

Euro 6

A

RK & Leslie & Co

WA

1

Scania K 310 IB4X2

Coach Design

310

R

Euro 5

WBL Pty Ltd

VIC

2

Scania K 310 IB4X2

Supportrans/Volgren

310

R

Euro 5

Opticru A

Opticru

Opticru A

Lonestar Coachlines

QLD

1

Volvo B8R

Volgren

330

R

Euro 5

A

Paterson Coaches

NSW

1

Volvo B8R

Marcopolo

330

R

Euro 5

A

Rumbel Coaches

NSW

1

Volvo B8R

Volgren

330

R

Euro 5

A

Transit Systems

NSW

3

Volvo B8L

Gemilang

350

R

Euro 6

A

Public Transport Authority WA

WA

5

Volvo B8RLE

Volgren

320

R

Euro 5

A

Public Transport Authority WA

WA

1

Volvo B8RLEA

Volgren

320

R

Euro 5

A

Winjeel Holdings Pty Ltd

VIC

1

Volvo B11R

Coach Concepts

460

R

Euro 6

A

N/A

QLD

1

Yutong D7

Yutong

190

F

Euro 6

A

ABC May 2022 busnews.com.au

TOTAL DELIVERIES 79

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

missions andard

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

TRANS MAKE

(metres)

AIR-CON (Brand)

Fixed Coach

Recliners

Metro

Long Distance

Charter

City or Route

School

Euro 5

A

ZF

2

10.6

MCC

–

X

–

–

X

–

–

Sege

Y

N

Euro 5

A

ZF

2

12.3

Thermo King

–

X

–

–

X

–

–

McConnell

Y

Y

–

A

Allison

2

12.5

Spheros

45

–

–

–

X

–

–

Sege

Y

–

Euro 6

A

ZF

2

10-12.9

Thermo King

47

–

–

–

–

X

–

Bendtech/In-house

N

–

Zero

A

BYD

2

12.1

Thermo King

–

–

37

–

–

X

–

McConnell

N

–

Euro 5

A

Allison

2

12.3

Thermo King

57

–

–

–

–

–

X

Styleride

Y

–

Euro 5

A

Allison

2

12.3

Thermo King

53

–

–

–

–

–

X

Styleride

Y

–

Zero

–

N/A

2

12.5

Valeo

–

–

43

–

–

X

–

Custom Denning

N

–

Euro 6

A

ZF

2

12.5

Valeo

–

–

49

–

–

X

–

Custom Denning

N

–

–

AMT

Isuzu

2

8

King Long

32

–

–

–

–

–

–

APM

Y

–

–

AMT

Isuzu

2 – 4x4

7

Kingtec

20

–

–

–

–

–

–

APM

Y

–

Euro 5

A

ZF

2

9.1

King Long

39

–

–

–

–

–

X

GD

Y

–

Euro 5

A

ZF

2

10

King Long

43

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

E5

A

ZF

2

10-12.9

Thermo King

57

–

–

–

–

–

x

Styleride

Y

N

E5

A

ZF

2

10-12.9

Coachair

57

–

–

–

–

–

x

Styleride

Y

N

E6

A

ZF

2

10-12.9

Thermo King

–

–

44

–

–

X

–

McConnell

N

N

Euro 5

A

ZF Ecolife

2

12.5

Thermo King

57

–

–

–

–

–

X

McConnell

Y

N

Euro 5

A

ZF Ecolife

2

12.3

Hispacold

57

–

–

–

–

–

X

Sege

Y

N

Euro 6

A

ZF

2

12.5

Thermo King

43

–

–

–

–

X

–

Styleride

N

N

Euro 5

A

ZF Ecolife

2

12.3

Hispacold

57

–

–

–

–

–

X

Sege

Y

N

Euro 5

A

MB

3

13.5

Hispacold

–

52

–

–

X

–

–

Sege

Y

Y

Euro 5

A

MB

2

12.3

Hispacold

57

–

–

–

X

–

–

Sege

Y

Y

Euro 5

A

ZF Ecolife

2

12.3

Hispacold

–

44

–

–

X

–

–

Sege

Y

Y

Euro 5

A

ZF

2

12.3

Thermo King

57

–

–

–

–

–

X

McConnell

–

–

Euro 5

A

ZF

2

12.5

Hispacold

57

–

–

–

–

–

X

Sege

–

–

Euro 6

Opticruise

Scania

2

12.5

Hispacold

43

–

–

–

X

–

–

Precision Bus

–

–

Euro 6

A

ZF

2

12.5

Thermo King

–

–

48

–

X

–

–

McConnell

–

–

Euro 5

Opticruise

Scania

2

12.3

Hispacold

–

44

–

–

–

–

X

Sege

–

–

Euro 6

A

ZF

2

12.5

Thermo King

–

–

41

–

X

–

–

NB Trimming

–

–

Euro 5

A

ZF

2

12.5

Hispacold

57

–

–

–

–

–

X

McConnell

–

–

Euro 6

A

ZF

2

12.5

Coachair

57

–

–

–

–

–

X

McConnell

–

–

Euro 6

A

ZF

2

12.3

Coachair

57

–

–

–

–

–

X

McConnell

–

–

Euro 5

Opticruise

Scania

2

12.3

Thermo King

43

–

–

–

–

–

X

Styleride

–

–

Euro 5

A

ZF

2

12.5

Thermo King

61

–

–

–

–

–

X

Styleride

–

–

Euro 5

A

ZF

2

12.3

Thermo King

70

–

–

–

–

–

Y

Styleride

Y

–

Euro 5

A

ZF

2

12.3

Spheros

57

–

–

–

X

–

–

Marcopolo

Y

–

Euro 5

A

ZF

2

12.5

Thermo King

57

–

–

–

–

–

X

McConnell

Y

–

Euro 6

A

ZF

3

12.5

Thermo King

–

–

85

–

–

Yes

–

McConnell

N

–

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 6

A

Volvo

3

13-14.9

Coach Air

–

53

–

X

–

–

–

McConnell

Y

–

Euro 6

A

Allison

2

8

Cling Yutong

–

–

–

–

28

–

–

Yutong

Y

N

busnews.com.au May 2022 ABC

57

NEWS

THE BACK SEAT

UK’s first full-sized autonomous buses hit the road

The UK’s first full-sized self-driving buses took to the road at the end of April as part of a government-sponsored autonomous vehicle project.

T

he Project Cavforth pilot, which is funded by the UK government’s Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CCAV), recently saw five single-deck autonomous buses – each manned by a safety driver – operate in and around the Edinburgh region over two weeks.

Bus firm Stagecoach, in partnership with technology company Fusion Processing, bus manufacturer Alexander Dennis and Transport Scotland carried out the initial passenger-less on-road testing in preparation for the launch of a passenger service in the UK’s summer.

Sam Greer, regional director for Stagecoach in Scotland, said that this is an exciting project for Scotland and he is pleased that live testing on roads has begun.

“This is a major step forward in our journey to fully launch the UK’s first full-sized autonomous bus service and will provide easy access to a brand-new bus route in the heart of East Scotland,” Greer said.

ROUTES The buses will travel at speeds of up to 50 miles per hour (80.5km/h) on their 22.5km routes, which will mostly involve motorways.

On part of their motorway journeys, the vehicles will operate in bus lanes on an ‘actively managed hard shoulder’ but will also have to navigate minor roads and a business park site.

Sensors enable the buses to run on pre-selected roads without safety drivers having to intervene or take control, but each will have an experienced driver monitoring the system.

When the passenger service launches later this year, each vehicle 58

ABC May 2022 busnews.com.au

“This is a major step forward in our journey to fully launch the UK’s first full-sized autonomous bus service.” will also have a ‘bus captain’ on board who will talk to customers about the service.

Jim Hutchinson, Fusion Processing CEO, said Cavforth will provide a useful service to local people as well as being a great demonstration of Fusion’s automated vehicle technology.

“On-road testing is an exciting milestone in the development of autonomous commercial vehicles and we look forward to welcoming passengers onboard in a few months’ time,” Hutchinson said.

When fully operational, the buses will provide a service capable of carrying up to 36 people, with a capacity of 10,000 a week.

SAE LEVEL There are currently six levels of driving automation as defined by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) – ranging from zero (fully manual) to five (fully autonomous).

During the initial trial, the vehicles will operate at SAE level four, meaning no driver attention is required for safety but self-driving is only supported in limited areas or circumstances.

Chris Gall, group director at Alexander Dennis, said the testing was a milestone for our autonomous bus project.

“As we move towards passenger services later in the year, the project will be a landmark demonstration of future technologies in transport,” he said.

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SOCIAL

 MAGAZINE

OFFICIAL SHOWGUIDE PUBLISHED BY ABC MAGAZINE

Events are back! Australasian Bus & Coach Magazine is proud to publish the Official 2022 Australasia Bus & Coach Expo Showguide, as a special supplement in the August edition of the magazine.

NOW IS THE TIME TO EXPRESS YOUR INTEREST TO PARTICIPATE IN THE SHOWGUIDE

ENEWS

 Choose your advertisement size  Showguide distributed to ABC’s print and digital subscribers and extra copies distributed at the show. Total reach 10,000+  Appear in the “Must See” section of the Showguide with a preview of your company’s activities at the show, including a pointer to your stand

ABC IS OFFERING A SPECIAL MARKETING PACKAGE OF 3 EDITIONS (PRE, DURING AND POST EVENT), WHICH WILL INCLUDE:  Appearing in the Showguide edition; August  Appearing in the ABC edition taken to the Expo: September  Appearing in the Expo Recap edition: October

BENEFITS OF APPEARING IN ALL 3 EDITIONS:

 3 months of advertising to a niche B2B audience who make large purchasing decisions  Priority ad placement and premium ad positions  Preview of your stand in the Showguide  Feature story on your company in the September edition of ABC to be distributed at the show  Guaranteed coverage of your exhibitor stand by a ABC journalist to be featured in the October edition of the magazine.

WEB

TO SECURE YOUR POSITION Matt Alexander 0413 599 669 Matt.Alexander@primecreative.com.au

ABC 417.indd 59

9/5/22 2:06 pm

NOMINATIONS ARE NOW OPEN

SEPT 2022

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MHD Supply Chain Solutions

ABC 417.indd 60

9/5/22 2:06 pm