Australasian Bus & Coach Issue 437 Jan 2024

ABC

AUSTRALASIAN BUS & COACH

OPERATOR SHOWCASE Industry trends BUS FINANCE AUSTRALIA ZEB funds BUS STOP Restocking parts ISSUE 437 January 2024 $5.95 inc GST

GROWING FORCE CHALLENGER IS SET FOR A DEFINING YEAR IN 2024

Operator: Dion’s century Deliveries: 2023 wrap Operator: Dysons farewell

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IGNITION

SEAN MORTELL – EDITOR

Plenty on the agenda Such a hectic 2023 has given way to 2024, where a range of events and challenges look set to keep the growing bus and coach industry occupied

I

t only takes a few weeks of immersing one’s self in the local industry to realise that buses and coaches are a constant around Australia. In suburban and inner-city locations, the continual churning of route buses can easily fade into the vibrant background if you aren’t looking out for them. When driving on the country’s great expanses of highways and country roads, a charter coach is never far away, even on the most desolate of freeways.

The hidden hero of the perpetual presence of buses and coaches around Australia is the operator.

Whether it be the close-knit family business running a handful of mini-buses or the international companies at the helm of thousands of buses around the Australasian region, operators are the lifeblood of the sector.

The January edition of ABC pays tribute to them through our annual Operator Showcase, which has resonated with more operators than its inaugural edition in 2023. The second instalment of the Showcase and its industry trends analysis derived from the survey highlights the range of issues that continue to mount on operators big and small around Australia.

While another productive year has passed, the zero-emissions transition is clearly still a major pressure point for bus and coach businesses, while rising costs and skilled worker shortages is creating a squeeze for many. We hope this Showcase, starting on page 28, has given 60 Australian operators the outlet they deserve to voice their thoughts on the state of the industry while also giving their own operations recognition in the Showcase table.

It makes sense that our cover is courtesy of a bus and coach 4

ABC January 2024 busnews.com.au

OPERATOR SHOWCASE

2024

A YEAR OF CHALLENGES

WHAT PREFERENCE OF FUEL SOURCE DO YOU HAVE FOR YOUR BUS FLEET?

No Preference Other

T

gain their thoughts on current issues affecting the bus and coach industry,

towards a different, more sustainable future. While manufacturers and suppliers are remaining nimble to adapt

with many operators responding in great detail.

The 2024 Operator Showcase involves 60 bus and coach operators, allowing

to this change, operators are still critical to this shift in approach when it comes to running buses and coaches daily.

The ABC Operator Showcase for 2024

ABC Magazine to provide insight into what this cross-section of the industry thinks about the most pressing issues.

While the survey results represent a

surveyed 60 operators around Australia, ranging from inner-city and metro companies to country and regional businesses that shared their thoughts

snapshot of these participants’ views and don’t represent any attempt to speak to a general Australian industry view in any way, they provide an update from the

on the key issues impacting the wider industry.

The Operator Showcase was first launched via a survey, with operators

lifeblood of the Australian bus and coach industry – the operators.

choosing to participate in the annual feature through ABC Magazine and busnews.com.au.

Further advertising, emails and phone calls allowed more operators to be involved in the 2024 Operator Showcase than ever before, with participants completing a survey filled with questions about their business and its history to feature in the Operator Showcase tables.

Following this, they were also then presented with extra questions to

ZERO-EMISSIONS STILL A SLOW BURN This year’s Operator Showcase results hint that the operators involved in the survey are no clearer on what the future power source of their fleets will be.

Last year, the Operator Showcase survey found 83 per cent of respondents had no zero-emissions vehicles in their bus or coach fleets. A year later, this trend has gone the other way, with 53 of the 60 participants, or 89 per cent, saying they have no zero-emissions

WHAT PERCENTAGE OF YOUR BUS FLEET IS ZERO-EMISSIONS? 55 50 45

DO YOU INTEND TO TRANSITION TO ZERO-EMISSION BUSES?

Yes

No

Unsure

Yes

No

models in their fleet.

Out of the 60 members of this year’s Showcase, 42 of them run regional operations. Out of this 42, 36 of them, or 86 per cent, had no zero-emissions buses or coaches in their business. Of the 29 respondents who said their business, or part of it, runs metro services, 25 of them had no zero-emissions vehicles, highlighting the widespread trend of a slow zero-emissions uptake around the country.

Outside of the 89 per cent with no zero-emissions models, eight per cent reported having between one and 10 per cent of their fleet filled with electric or hydrogen buses, while the final three per cent said zero-emissions vehicles constituted between 41 and 50 per cent of their fleet.

FUEL SOURCE PREFERENCE

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When it came to future intentions to transition to zero-emissions fleets, 23 per cent of respondents say yes, a drop in nine per cent from last year, while 28 per cent say they don’t intend to transition.

The majority of participants, at 49 per cent, remained unsure, as operators continue to not decide what the future of their fleets will look like.

When it came to preferred fuel sources,

25 20 15 10 5 0

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0%

1 - 10%

11 - 20%

21 - 30%

31 - 40%

41 - 50%

Hydrogen fuel-cell

0

5

10

15

20

diesel was still the popular choice, as 68 per cent of the operators in the Showcase say they prefer diesel. In a drop of 15 per cent from last year, seven per cent of

PRICE STILL THE PROBLEM

40

30

Space for Charging

participants say they prefer electric, while seven per cent prefer hydrogen fuel-cell power and the remaining 18 per cent had no preference.

Unsure

ABC January 2024 busnews.com.au

brand that is well versed in the art of operating vehicles. Since heading into the bus and coach distribution game, Challenger Bus & Coach has made a reputation for its quality vehicles. From page 20, the brand is now gearing up for a milestone year in 2024 that includes a foray into electric technology and another exciting model.

When it comes to the nation’s operators, we’ve also handpicked some of their stories that deserve to be featured in our ABC Operator Showcase edition. Our first feature, starting from page 24, takes us to Wollongong, where Dion’s Bus Service has an incredible story of a migrant family becoming a treasured part of the local Illawarra region over its 100-year history. While the Australian bus and coach landscape is always changing, stories like this remind us what the industry has historically stood for as a caring and compassionate part of many local townships.

Price

Electric

The 2024 ABC Operator Showcase survey features 60 operators from around the country who provided their insights into the current Australian bus and coach industry he Australian bus and coach industry is moving quickly

WHAT IS THE BIGGEST PROBLEM YOU SEE WITH THE TRANSITION TO ZERO-EMISSIONS BUSES?

Diesel

Of the 60 operators in this year’s Showcase, there’s still one main sticking point behind transition to zero-emissions or other green sources of power.

While 24 per cent of respondents last year said the price of transitioning was the biggest issue, this rose to 34 per cent of operators in the Showcase this year.

Range anxiety remains the primary problem for 25 per cent of respondents, while 11 per cent say space for charging infrastructure is a critical issue. The remaining 30 per cent listed a range of other issues spanning from the lack of infrastructure available to charging times, electric grid capacity and local supply challenges.

Other participating operators say the lack of government funding is a sticking point, with government uncertainty mentioned by numerous respondents. Of the 60 participants, around 10 per cent say they have constructed transition or training plans to accommodate for the zero-emissions transition.

25

30

35

40

45

Price

Range Anxiety

Range Anxiety

Space for Charging

Other

TAFE institutions to devise plans.

their costs will stay the same over the two years and a further five per cent

INSIDE THE BIG ISSUES Much like last year, challenges still continue to impact Australian

saying their costs will decrease.

When it comes to the biggest issue facing operators in the industry for 2024

operators’ abilities to run efficient and expanded bus and coach companies.

Last year’s Showcase found that nearly all participating operators experienced

and beyond, the majority of participants say driver shortages and costs are far and away the most pressing.

Operators in the Showcase survey

a rise in fuel costs over the 2021-2022 period due to fuel shortages globally.

In 2022-23, the market stabilised, yet this year’s Showcase highlights that

report that fatigue for current staff is also an ongoing issue, while the supply of and access to vehicles and parts has become a point of frustration. The inflated costs

many operators continue to feel the sting of rising fuel costs. Last year, 56 per cent of responding operators said they anticipated their fuel costs to

of fuel and other operational necessities is also mentioned heavily among the 61 respondents, as well as the lack of technological evolution being seen in the

increase by 25 per cent, while this year 62 per cent of respondents say their fuel costs are expected to rise by around 25 per cent.

zero-emissions transition.

All of this summarises the key issues that 60 Australian bus and coach operators want to see tackled and

A further eight per cent say their fuel costs will increase by more than 40 per cent in an indication that fuel prices are still not settled. Some operators are finding relief, with 25 per cent of operators part of the Showcase saying

potentially resolved in 2024 and beyond.

Any operators looking to get involved in the next edition of the ABC Operator Showcase should keep an eye out for more details on the 2025 Operator Showcase survey later this year.

HOW DO YOU EXPECT YOUR FUEL PRICES TO CHANGE FROM 2022 TO THE END OF 2023?

40 35 30 25

% OF ZERO-EMISSIONS IN FLEET The remaining 90 per cent either have no plans in place and don’t intend to formulate any, or are only just beginning to devise training timeframes for this gradual change. Numerous participants say they’re waiting to watch the technology evolve before doing so, while others are starting to reach out to local

20 15 10 5 0

Decrease

Stay the same

Increase by 25%

Increase by more than 40%

Increase by 50%

busnews.com.au January 2024 ABC

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From Wollongong we veered to Victoria, where, on page 42, the Dyson Group held a deserved farewell celebration for its three joint managing directors late last year. The decades of admirable leadership at the family business highlights the power of the family operator over time in Australia’s bus industry.

Following this operator focus, Bus Finance Australia is expanding its offerings for bus businesses around the nation through new infrastructure funds from page 38, while Bus Stop Sales has used recent weather event hardships as fuel for its 2024 forays on page 40.

In the back half of the magazine, we crown our final Best Bus winner for 2023 and provide an honour roll from its first year, courtesy of VDI Australia, while the comprehensive deliveries wrap from December and all of 2023 paints an impressive picture of the bus and coach industry’s recent success.

We wish all of you a happy New Year and a wonderful 2024!

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contents ISSUE 437 JANUARY 2024

EDITORIAL COO: Christine Clancy ph: (03) 9690 8766 e-mail: Christine.Clancy@primecreative.com.au Editor: Sean Mortell e-mail: Sean.Mortell@primecreative.com.au Journalist: Joshua Ward e-mail: Joshua.Ward@primecreative.com.au

FOLLOW US ONLINE AT:

Commercial Transport Managing Editor: Luke Applebee e-mail: luke.applebee@primecreative.com.au

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

38

PRODUCTION

Art Director: Bea Barthelson

40. feature | bus stop TURNING CHALLENGES INTO OPPORTUNITIES

From floods to shipping delays, Bus Stop Sales has had a raft of bumps along its recent journey. Instead of wallowing in the struggles, the distributor has used it to continue delivering excellence

42. operator feature | dysons retirement END OF AN ERA

Dyson Group and its leaders have enjoyed plenty of good times in its 71-year history. Now, both Dysons and its trio of former managing directors will have to adjust to life without one another as a new era begins for the Victorian operator

44. competition | best bus ACROSS THE DITCH

The first Best Bus winner for 2024 takes us to picturesque New Zealand in Best Bus’ first international winning photo

In the know

4. editorial | plenty on the agenda

Such a hectic 2023 has given way to 2024, where a range of events and challenges look set to keep the growing bus and coach industry occupied

8. news | all aboard

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

features

19. column | bic GATHERING STEAM

BIC National IR Manager Ian MacDonald shares with the bus and coach industry an update on how the recruitment and retention project is travelling

20. cover story | challenger DEFINING YEAR

A whirlwind 2023 has established Challenger’s name in the local bus industry. Now, two new models and an injection of experience is set to push the brand to new heights

24. feature | dion’s 100 years NO ONE LEFT BEHIND

In late 2023, Dion’s Bus Service raised the bat for 100 years operating buses in the Wollongong region. Its story starts with a unique family business that survived hardships to become a beloved community name

48. competition | best bus HONOUR ROLL

Check out all of the winners of Best Bus so far throughout 2023 and into 2024

departments

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

Business Development Manager – Bus: Adrian Kos ph: 0413 777 670 e-mail: Adrian.Kos@primecreative.com.au

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CEO: John Murphy Head of Customer Experience: Regina Fellner Trader Group Sales Director: Brad Buchanan

56. bus deliveries | annual wrap REMARKABLE RISE

With 2023 now closed, the annual delivery statistics show that the year was a special one in terms of buses and coaches delivered

58. back seat | news TAKING THE LEAP

As a bus nut, Michael Presta always wanted to run his own bus company. During COVID lockdowns, he decided to make his dream come true and start a growing Melbourne business

379 Docklands Drive, Docklands VIC 3008 T: 03 9690 8766 www.primecreativemedia.com.au

ISSN 1324-8634

DISTRIBUTION

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

The 2024 ABC Operator Showcase survey features 60 operators from around the country who provide their insights into the current Australian bus and coach industry

ABC January 2024 busnews.com.au

Trader Group Sales Manager: Asanka Gurusinha ph: 0423 312 298 e-mail: Asanka.Gurusinha@primecreative.com.au

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

36. operator showcase | industry trends A YEAR OF CHALLENGES

6

ADVERTISING

52. factory facts | bus deliveries DECEMBER RESULTS

The second instalment of the Operator Showcase sees 60 of Australia’s bus and coach operators feature in grand style

Funding infrastructure and assets for the zero-emissions future is clearly a challenge for local operators. Bus Finance Australia is developing its capabilities to help push the industry into a new era

Brougham Press

EXECUTIVE GROUP

51. events INDUSTRY EVENTS FOR 2024

28. feature | operator showcase WELCOME TO THE 2024 OPERATOR SHOWCASE

38. feature | bus finance australia FINANCING THE FUTURE

PRINTING

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Australasian Bus & Coach (ABC) magazine is owned by Prime Creative Media. All material in ABC is copyright and no part may be reproduced or copied in any form or by any means (graphic, electronic or mechanical including information and retrieval systems) without written permission of the publisher.

The Editor welcomes contributions but reserves the right to accept or reject any material. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information Prime Creative Media will not accept responsibility for errors or omissions or for any consequences arising from reliance on information published. Opinions expressed in ABC are not necessarily the opinions of, or endorsed by the publisher unless otherwise stated.

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NEWS

ENTRADA TRAVEL GROUP ANNOUNCES GREYHOUND AUSTRALIA ACQUISITION Australasian integrated tourism and transport company Entrada Travel Group has announced the acquisition of coach company Greyhound Australia.

The family-owned Entrada Travel Group will take over Greyhound Australia and bring with it more than 30 years of rich experience in the coach transport industry.

Entrada Travel Group operates a diverse range of transport and tourism brands including New Zealand land-based passenger transport operator InterCity.

Entrada Travel Group CEO John Thorburn says Greyhound Australia is a natural addition to its growing transport network portfolio.

“Entrada is excited by the opportunity to bring the iconic and well-respected Greyhound brand into the family. Entrada’s skills and experience are highly complementary to Greyhound and we see opportunities to further invest in and enhance the business while respecting the rich history of the brand,” Thorburn says.

“We aim to build on Greyhound 8

Australia’s reputation as one of the oldest and most famous coach and freight transport network providers in the world and take the business to new heights.”

Greyhound Australia recently announced a $3 million investment to build five new coaches, the first of which will be rolled out in March.

“As part of our business strategy, we plan to complement this investment with a significant expansion of the fleet replacement program over the next five years,” Thorburn says.

“Building on the momentum the team has established coming out of the pandemic, we’re going to be firmly focused on enhancing customer comfort and lowering emissions with modern and efficient vehicles.”

Greyhound Australia CEO Dan Smith says the Australian long distance coach network would benefit from Entrada Travel Group’s experience and breadth in consistently delivering top quality, seamless passenger transport.

“The new ownership comes at

ABC January 2024 busnews.com.au

Above: Greyhound Australia has been acquired.

Image: ChameleonsEye/ Shutterstock

an exciting period of growth for Greyhound Australia, the country’s only national coach operator, after we successfully rebuilt the business following the pandemic,” Smith says.

Both Entrada Travel Group and Greyhound Australia have a strong regional focus and connect to the heart of the country, serving as crucial links for towns, cities and communities. Jumping on a Greyhound is the preferred choice for hundreds of thousands of Australians who value the combination of value for money, comfort and breathtaking landscapes on their journeys.

Across the combined transport and tourism activities, Entrada will now carry more than 3.5 million passengers annually, including domestic and international passengers.

All staff will be retained, and the Greyhound Australia name and existing services will remain the same.

Entrada has existing successful operations in Australia including Tusa Reef Tours, Divers Den and Frankland Islands. It also operates the Daintree River Vehicle ferry and recently won a competitive tender to build and operate two large new vehicle ferries in Noosa.

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NEWS

CDC ANNOUNCES ACQUISITION OF AUSTRALIAN TRANSPORT PROVIDER Operator ComfortDelGro Corporation Australia (CDC) has announced it’s entered into a binding agreement to acquire all shares of A2B Australia Limited.

CDC will buy all shares it doesn’t already own for a cash offer price of $1.45 per share, valuing A2B’s equity value at $182 million.

CDC will official acquire the Australian personal transport provider that has more than 8,000 vehicles in its national network.

Listed on the Australian Securities Exchange, A2B is a local taxi network and major technology and payment

solutions provider for the personal transport industry.

Its offerings include taxi services brands 13cabs and Silver Service, as well as leading taxi and booking dispatch platform MTI and the Cabcharge payment solution.

“This acquisition is in line with ComfortDelGro’s strategy to scale our point-to-point mobility business in Australia,” CDC chairman Russell Balding says.

“As a leading taxi network, A2B is highly complementary to our business. Its fundamentals are attractive, with a proven track record

Above: CDC is continuing to expand in Australia. Image: CDC Australia

of expansion driven by underlying growth in customer demand and driver supply.

“It will also allow for diversification of our offerings in Australia, while at the same time, the proposal will deliver value to the shareholders of both companies.”

The acquisition is in line with CDC’s strategy to scale its growing point-to-point mobility business and transform CDC into a multi-modal mobility player.

CDC managing director and CEO Nicholas Yap says the operator and A2B have already forged a strong relationship over many years.

“The complementary nature of the businesses will allow us to create a stronger company that will provide Australian customers with access to new transport innovations, technology and efficiencies from ComfortDelGro’s global network,” Yap says.

A2B executive chairman Mark Bayliss says the transaction will further strengthen A2B’s business as it’s “a great match for two remarkable companies offering complementary services and markets”.

“We look forward to playing an integral role in Australia in the ComfortDelGro Group,” Bayliss says.

TRANSPORT FOR NSW SELECTS CHRISTMAS BUS DECORATION WINNER Transport for NSW, through a special guest judge, has selected the Christmas bus of the year for 2023.

The winner of the best decorated Christmas bus in Sydney was chosen by Santa’s Little Helper – a lucky eight-yearold boy – at the annual Transport for NSW Christmas bus decoration competition.

In partnership with the Sydney Children’s Hospital, Transport for NSW invited each Greater Sydney bus operator to bring a festively decorated bus to Brookvale depot for the competition this morning.

John, eight-year-old chief judge, with Parliamentary Secretary for Transport Marjorie O’Neill, chose the bus from CDC Hills Bus as the winner of the 2023 competition.

10

ABC January 2024 busnews.com.au

“I really liked the double decker bus because I had never been on one before.

They had lots of decorations like tinsel and stickers,” John says.

“It was really fun to pick the winner and I hope people feel happy like at Christmas time when they go on one of the buses.

“Thank you to everybody for making their buses look dressed up and Merry Christmas.”

Transport parliamentary secretary Marjorie O’Neill says she appreciates bus drivers and depot team members at this time of year.

“The wonderfully creative decorations were of such a high standard that John had a tough time deciding the winner but, in the end, it was the decked out double decker which won John over, so thanks John,” O’Neill says.

Above: The winning Christmas bus chosen in NSW. Image: CDC NSW

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NEWS

VDI ANNOUNCES MILESTONE 200TH YUTONG DELIVERY FOR 2023 VDI Australia, along with Yutong, has reached an impressive milestone for the first time in its Australian history.

In major news for VDI Australia, the Australian distributor of Yutong buses and coaches, it has celebrated its first 200th milestone delivery in a calendar year.

This means VDI reached an all-time sales record in Australia, with the milestone delivery coming courtesy of a Yutong D12 bus to Australian Christian College at Singleton, New South Wales.

“The D12 is a proven Yutong product with school operators, which is comfortable and quiet to drive – the Allison 6 speed automatic transmission combines with the 6-cylinder engine for smooth acceleration, excellent fuel economy and safety features,” VDI Australia national sales and marketing manager Sara Clark told ABC. “For Yutong bus customers, it is our ability to supply new buses with quick turnaround times from the point of order to delivery that has made this milestone possible.

“The partnership between VDI and Yutong saw several new models introduced to market during 2023.

Regular Ro-Ro shipping services into Australian ports and consistent vehicle supply from Yutong’s Industrial Park manufacturing plant in Zhengzhou, China has solidified the strength of the supply chain 12

that has been developed with VDI’s supply partners.”

Christian Education Ministries national business improvement officer Elizabeth Hutton says it has proudly partnered with Yutong buses, through VDI Australia, to ensure safe and reliable transport for students.

“As part of the Australian Christian College community, we extend our congratulations to VDI and Yutong on the remarkable milestone of delivering the 200th bus to ACC Singleton,” Hutton says.

service provided by VDI Australia,” Carrington says.

“The drivers and students find them a comfortable bus. We have tried a few buses throughout the years and Yutong has been the most reliable for the size needed and the comfort they provide our commuters.

“With ACC schools having their own bus fleet, it makes us independent in organising our school excursions and sporting events, without relying on the availability of charter buses. There is no greater satisfaction a bus coordinator can receive than seeing all the buses arrive safely at school in a timely and safe manner.”

Clark says the service and aftersales support that customers receive once the vehicles leave the dealership is equally as important as the sales experience, with VDI working hard to provide ongoing support.

A comprehensive range of Yutong genuine parts are readily available from VDI’s parts distribution network, with support available from the Parts Distribution Centres and its branches in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia.

Partnered with local supply partners such as Cummins, ZF

“Yutong buses tick all the boxes for our requirements with their reliability, safety and backup service provided by VDI Australia.”

“Collectively we are committed to providing transport of students to our excellent schools where the students are well-known, well-loved and well taught.”

Stephen Carrington has been the bus coordinator at Moreton ACC since 2020. He says the safe and reliable school bus service has thrived through Yutong’s fleet.

“Yutong buses tick all the boxes for our requirements with their reliability, safety and backup

ABC January 2024 busnews.com.au

Above: VDI Australia and Yutong reached a special milestone in 2023. Image: VDI Australia

and Allison, same day delivery is possible to any Australian capital city.

VDI celebrated this milestone achievement after a year of expansion with new facilities opened in New South Wales, Western Australia and Queensland, coupled with the company’s vehicle manufacturing and assembly operations, facilitating increased capacity for new vehicle pre-deliveries throughout 2023.

NEWS

THE WOT!?!

Scania has launched its first fully electric bus in South Australia. Image: Scania Australia

SCANIA DELIVERS FIRST 100 PER CENT BATTERY ELECTRIC ROUTE BUS IN AUSTRALIA Scania recently celebrated a “momentous day” in Australia as it makes its moves in the battery electric bus market.

In a major milestone for global heavy vehicle brand Scania, it has delivered its first 100 per cent battery electric bus in Australia.

The bus was delivered to South Australia’s Department for Infrastructure and Transport and will soon be put into service in Adelaide.

“We are delighted to place this bus into the hands of our DIT operator partners,” Scania Australia managing director Manfred Streit says.

“This delivery marks a key milestone for Scania buses and coaches in Australia.

It is a tangible first step on the road to a transformational public transport future, and one that Scania is very much pushing for wider adoption.

“Globally Scania has been working on transitioning to a zero tailpipe bus solution for many years and we have several cities in Europe already well advanced in their integration of Scania’s 100 per cent battery power buses into their fleets.”

Streit says there’s no reason why route bus operators in Australia can’t follow suit.

“The Scania BEV solution has proven to be a significant step forward in terms of performance as seen in pre-delivery testing in real world conditions,” Scania Australia bus and power solutions director of sales Julian Gurney says.

“The testing was undertaken on routes around Adelaide and the BEV bus, loaded with several tonnes of ballast to simulate passengers, coped admirably with the terrain, the congestion and the distances required for a full day’s work.

“As a result we feel very confident that 14

ABC January 2024 busnews.com.au

this offering to the market will prove to be a very readily accepted solution, and one that can play a major role driving down urban exhaust and noise pollution.”

The first Scania BEV bus was imported from Scania in Sweden in component form and assembled by the BusTech Group in Adelaide, with BusTech then building a version of its existing VST body, modified for electric propulsion, dubbed VST-E onto the chassis.

The 12.5 m body seats 41 plus driver with room for nine standees. There are also two wheelchair positions within the saloon.

The Scania New Bus Generation included on this model introduces a completely new and simple-to-use electro-pneumatic park brake, with multiple built-in safety features that include removing the possibility of bus roll-away.

A new instrument cluster is sited within the new lower and even more ergonomic dashboard, complete with ventilation outlets to ensure drivers are able to tune the temperature of their workstation to their personal taste.

At the rear of the vehicle, under the hatch, in place of the traditional internal combustion engine are four battery stacks, while a further six are mounted on the roof. They allow the Scania BEV bus to have a working range of around 280 km on a single charge and have a working life of up to 10 years, depending on driving conditions and operating environment.

At the rear, the electric machine and gearbox are installed on the curb side.

Being compact in dimensions, the motor/ gearbox cluster allows for plenty of battery placement at the rear over the axle, allowing a good counterweight to the passengers inside.

Image: Дмитрий Баронин/AdobeStock

FUNNY BUS OPENS ACCESS

It should be no surprise that there’s a Funny Bus in Charlotte, America. Comedian and tour guide Thomas Heynen takes control of the ride and quickly has plenty of punchlines to keep the passengers enthralled. However, he has opened the experience up to more people after spending the past seven years teaching a free sign language class in Charlotte.

The Wine ‘n’ Sign class is now allowing more people to hop onboard and enjoy his R-rated humour.

Image: Polack/AdobeStock

GARY FROM GLASGLOW SHINES

Switching over to Glasgow, Scotland, where a comedian isn’t needed onboard to spread some humour. Instead, bus driver Gary is being hailed by Glasgow passengers as the best bus driver for creating his own laughs.

A recent TikTok video shows the legendary driver on First Glasgow’s number 34 service, cracking jokes, singing for children onboard and providing plenty of entertainment.

Image: Dmytro/AdobeStock

BUSES GET INTO CHRISTMAS SPIRIT We return home for our final find, with a lucky passenger in Sydney recently finding out that NSW buses love to spread the Christmas cheer. Chelsea was lucky enough to board one of Transport for NSW’s Christmas buses, which come with plenty of silver buses, a tree, stars and other baubles and decorations. The best part of this festive bus? The bus driver dressed up as Santa himself.

QUEENSLAND GOVERNMENT TO DELIVER BUS DRIVER WAGE INCREASE The Queensland state government has announced that its latest funding package will boost the wages of bus drivers across the state in a bid to ease cost-of-living pressures on drivers and attract new workers.

While Translink isn’t the direct employer of bus drivers, the government funding package will help delivery partners to improve the conditions for drivers.

The package will lift bus driver wages to a parity of $35 per hour over the coming years, focusing on the amount drivers are paid by realigning wage rates across Translink-contracted delivery partners.

The funding is eligible for drivers in South-East Queensland and regional urban regions who work for Translink-contracted operators.

“Higher bus driver wages can help attract skilled professionals to the industry and retain the excellent drivers we already have, resulting in improved service quality, ultimately benefiting residents and businesses,” Queensland transport and main roads minister Bart Mellish says.

“Bus drivers are essential frontline workers who provide crucial public transport services and they helped keep public transport running through the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“By improving their wages, the

Image: arliftatoz2205/AdobeStock

government is acknowledging the importance of bus drivers and shows a commitment to supporting the role these services play in connecting communities.

“The Queensland government knows the impacts cost of living pressures are having throughout the state and if there is an opportunity for us to help ease those pressures for bus drivers, then we will take that opportunity.”

This funding follows the government’s move to improve driver conditions by installing safety barriers and introducing more network officers across the state.

“Kinetic welcomes this funding towards better wages for bus drivers and will move to pass on increases as quickly as possible,” Kinetic executive general manager of South-East Queensland and north Queensland Martin Hall says.

“It is recognition of the important work bus drivers do every day and will support

both recruitment and retention of highly skilled drivers in the industry. This is particularly important as we continue to diversify our workforce and grow the number of women in the industry.

“It is also an important investment in public transport by the Queensland government as we move towards the 2032 Olympic Games.

“As our cities grow and become more densely populated, we need to continue to encourage people to use public transport and this is a direct investment in a more sustainable future.”

Funding will be released on the condition that operators uphold the highest workplace health and safety standards, a commitment to genuine consultation on workplace matters, committing to holding tri-partite forums to engage the workforce and a commitment to workers accessing representation.

SAPPHIRE COAST BUSLINES ANNOUNCES NEW GENERAL MANAGER Australian operator Sapphire Coast Buslines has announced the appointment of its new general manager.

Paul Pincini will take the helm of the operator, bringing his experience in strategic leadership and innovation to steer Sapphire Coast Buslines towards new horizons.

Pincini joins Sapphire Coast Buslines with a proven track record in the transportation industry, having held key leadership roles in renowned organisations.

Sapphire Coast Buslines says his extensive expertise in operational management, strategic planning

and customer-centric approaches positions him as an ideal fit to lead the business into its next chapter of growth and success.

“Paul Pincini’s appointment as general manager signifies an exciting new era for Sapphire Coast Buslines,” Sapphire Coast Buslines managing director Jamie Klemm says.

“We are confident that his strategic vision and leadership will contribute significantly to the continued success and expansion of our services.”

As general manager, Pincini will play a pivotal role in enhancing the overall efficiency, quality and

customer satisfaction of Sapphire Coast Buslines. He says he is committed to fostering a culture of excellence, innovation and employee engagement within the organisation.

Above: Paul Pincini (middle) is at the helm.

Image: Sapphire Coast Buslines

busnews.com.au January 2024 ABC

15

NEWS

Image: Translink

QUEENSLAND ANNOUNCES PREFERRED BUILDERS OF 200 NEW REPLACEMENT BUSES The Queensland government has announced the preferred builders for Queensland’s 200 new rail replacement buses.

The government’s commitment to build 200 rail replacement buses locally has reached another milestone, with Scania and Volvo appointed as the preferred manufacturers.

Following a rigorous independent procurement process, the Queensland government will invest an initial $133.8 million to build these buses locally through the two major manufacturers while also funding local manufacturing jobs, skills and training.

The 165 Volvo Euro 6 chassis will include a Volgren body, while the 35 Scania Euro 6 diesel chassis will feature BusTech Group bodies.

The first bus is expected to be delivered in March, with the full delivery of the 200 buses to occur by the end of the year.

Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says the 200 new buses will ensure South-East Queensland’s public transport network can continue during track closures on the rail network.

“We are a government that backs Queensland manufacturers and today’s announcement is more evidence of that,” she says.

“This is an investment in Queenslanders and the future of our skilled manufacturing sector.

“We know that when we build here 16

ABC January 2024 busnews.com.au

in Queensland, we are supporting local workers, local suppliers and the next generation of skilled bus builders.

“Whether it’s trains, or buses, Queensland is the place to build and invest. I look forward to seeing these new vehicles out on the road.”

Currently, the Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) works with contracted bus operators to source rail replacement buses during track closures.

Now, this new arrangement will mean

one thing – a better connected and mobile population.

“These buses will play an important role in keeping South East Queenslanders moving during the next few years while major projects such as Cross River Rail and Logan and Gold Coast Faster Rail are integrated into the existing train network.

“Forward planning and anticipating the needs of our travelling public with minimal disruption is at the heart of this huge and significant undertaking by the Queensland government.

“With the procurement process over, it is now time to get on with the job and deliver for Queensland.”

TMR is currently the prioritising of the delivery of infrastructure to support charging capabilities for zero-emissions buses across SEQ depots, remaining committed to all new Translink-contracted buses being a zero-emissions vehicle from 2025.

Once the supporting infrastructure is done at depots, the contract allows for flexibility to turn to procuring electric buses under the contract.

“From trains to buses, the AMWU has campaigned for many years to not only bring manufacturing back home but to also secure a pipeline of work, ensuring good, local jobs for many years to come,” Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union (AMWU) Queensland and Northern Territory branch secretary Rohan Webb says.

“Australian manufacturing workers

“We know that when we build here in Queensland, we are supporting local workers, local suppliers and the next generation of skilled bus builders.”

TMR owns the buses and can deploy them more flexibly across SEQ during track closures.

“The big winners here are our local manufacturers and local workers who will build buses in Queensland, for Queenslanders, which will ultimately benefit our public transport users,” Queensland TMR minister Mark Bailey says.

“Queensland’s diverse economy is something we are proud of and investments like this into local jobs and transport infrastructure can only mean

are some of the best in the world.

This announcement is a huge vote of confidence in our local vehicle manufacturing sector and a testament to the Queensland government’s dedication to harnessing the expertise of Australian manufacturing workers.

“This step will not only support approximately 1000 jobs across the vehicle build and the supply chain, but will also enhance our sovereign capability, ensuring that Queenslanders have access to topquality buses build in Queensland by Queenslanders for Queenslanders.”

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

TRANZIT COACHLINES UNVEILS WAIKATO’S FIRST ELECTRIC BUS Tranzit Coachlines has released the first electric bus for the Taupō Connector service thanks to a partnership with the Waikato regional and Taupō district councils.

Tranzit says the new electric bus will be cleaner, quieter and emissions free and features a distinctive blue livery that can carry up to 56 passengers.

The new bus will be operated by and charged at Tranzit’s Taupō depot. Other features include a 281 kWh battery that gives it a range of approximately 300km and USB chargers throughout.

The bus was formally blessed

by Reverend Pace Mitchell at a special launch held at the Taupō Visitor Information Centre last month.

Taupō mayor David Trewavas, along with Tranzit Group managing director Paul Snelgrove, officially cut the ribbon before the bus took invited guests on a short trip around the lakeside town.

Trewavas says the new bus will be a fantastic addition to the district’s public transport network.

“The 33 Connector service is a great way to get around and with the new electric bus it just got even better,” Trewavas says.

“This is a great initiative by the Taupō District Council in partnership with the Waikato Regional Council and, because the

COACHWORKS

new bus can also carry bicycles, it works really well with our fantastic shared pathway and cycling network.”

Tranzit Coachlines central manager Connor Mear says his team is proud to be introducing Taupō’s first electric bus and continuing Tranzit’s journey of decarbonising public transport beyond New Zealand’s major centres.

“Based on our experiences of introducing electric buses into Wellington, Auckland and Palmerston North, we are confident passengers in Taupō will enjoy a smoother, quieter journey and feel good about catching the bus,” Mear says.

“It’s also great to partner with the councils who are taking steps towards transitioning to a sustainable bus fleet in this beautiful part of the central North Island.”

Snelgrove says that even though the family-owned NZ company’s history goes back almost 100 years, its foray into electric buses began in 2014 when it started researching the best way to transition its fleet of diesel buses to zero-emissions.

Since introducing the first electric bus into New Zealand in 2018, Snelgrove says that Tranzit operates 46 electric buses in the North Island today and has significantly invested in charging infrastructure.

Above: The electric bus has been launched in Taupō. Image: Tranzit Coachlines

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busnews.com.au January 2024 ABC

17

NATIONAL

BUS & COACH SHOW 2024 17–18 September 2024

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Secure your exhibition space now

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E: events@bic.asn.au P: 02 6247 5990 Level 2, 14–16 Brisbane Avenue Bartion ACT 2600

BIC

Gathering steam BIC National IR Manager Ian MacDonald shares with the bus and coach industry an update on how the recruitment and retention project is travelling

T

he Australian Public Transport Industrial Association (APTIA), the industrial arm of the Bus Industry Confederation (BIC), has embarked upon a significant project. Funded by its members and BIC, APTIA is looking to improve the image of public transport as an essential service so that a career in public transport becomes a more palatable option for people seeking employment.

The project will provide a toolkit for bus operator members outlining best practice for recruiting and retaining staff. It will also underpin industry advocacy to governments aimed at influencing policies to improve public transport’s image.

The project will also encourage education programs for recruiting and retaining staff, leaving a legacy for the industry to best promote public transport as an essential service for years to come.

To achieve these aims, APTIA has formed a Project Working Group consisting of

“Some of the issues raised include why recruitment and retention is currently failing and the restrictions on this process in the bus industry, as well as the intricacies of contract types and how this impacts an operator’s ability to recruit and retain staff. ” members, while BIC has engaged industry consultants Navigate Work to develop the toolkit and help draft the advocacy position.

BIC has also engaged with independent marketing agency the Hero Co to develop a clear brand positioning for the bus industry.

Over the past two months, the project team of Nikki Britt and James Mitchell from Navigate Work, Dominic Walsh and Bob Price from the Hero Co and Ian MacDonald have conducted meetings with stakeholders,

travelling onsite to depots to meet with management, drivers and workshop employees across a variety of states.

These visits have included Translink in Queensland and Transport for NSW’s marketing team, while the project team has also chatted to the NSW Bus Industry Taskforce lead John Lee. The team then met with Transport for Brisbane and Metro Tasmania, before seeing private operators across several states including Busways and Transit Systems. Professor David Hensher and Professor John Nelson from the Institute of Transport and Logistics Studies at Sydney University have also been involved.

Outside of these visits, the team also consulted American Public Transport Association (APTA) vice president Petra Mollet and Bus and Coach Association New Zealand (BCANZ) executive director Delaney Myers alongside a smattering of NZ bus operators and the Singaporebased operator ComfortDelGro. The end goal is to create a tripartite transport solution, with the project team also meeting with trade union officials from the Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) and the Transport Workers’ Union (TWU) to fulfil this intention.

Some of the issues raised include why recruitment and retention is currently failing and the restrictions on this process in the bus industry, as well as the intricacies of contract types and how this impacts an operator’s ability to recruit and retain staff. Working conditions have also come into focus, while the culture and accessibility behind companies is also a critical talking point.

Lastly, safety has also been continually reviewed to help make passenger transport an essential service in Australia.

Meetings are now being held with the Project Working group to finalise the documents. There’ll be a significant industry launch of the toolkit and advocacy position manifesto. Following this, we’ll advocate the recommendations and educate the industry to support the implementation of the recommendations.

We hope to share more with you on this ongoing project soon. busnews.com.au January 2024 ABC

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COVERSTORY

CHALLENGER

DEFINING YEAR

A whirlwind 2023 has established Challenger’s name in the local bus industry. Now, two new models and an injection of experience is set to push the brand to new heights WORDS SEAN MORTELL IMAGES CHALLENGER

J

ust a few years ago, the name Challenger Bus & Coach wouldn’t have rung too many bells in the national bus and coach industry. Since 2017, when founder Greg Sloan turned from operating buses to building them, Challenger has quickly made a name for itself in the Australian market as a trusted brand.

Challenger’s growth took an upwards spike in 2023 as the business solidified its position in the market through its frontline buses.

“Last year was a big growth year for Challenger, led by our V10 and V12 models,” Challenger Victorian sales manager Dan Campbell told ABC. “We’ve seen repeat orders from loyal customers and we’ve entered new markets by supplying V/Line and private school vehicles.”

Whether it be toilet-equipped coaches or models with wheelchair lifts, Challenger expanded its range and capabilities in 2023, adding more and more options to the V10 and V12 models as the year went on. This reflects the brand’s focus on flexibility, which has allowed Challenger to increase its sales and brand reputation among Australian operators.

The Challenger philosophy of building a bus the way a bus should be includes a focus on Australian designs, forging a reputation for building purpose-built vehicles for the local market.

This local concentration gave Challenger a number of highlights in 20

2023, including supplying two new V/Line coaches to the Whitmore Group in Castlemaine and fulfilling repeat orders for Pinnacle Tours in Western Australia.

“Our message really seems to be registering with the operators,” Campbell says.

“We had a wonderful year of business, with the team also being able to travel to the factory to do strategic planning and improvements on our vehicle range.”

Despite a busy 2023, Challenger isn’t resting on its laurels. Instead, 2024 promises to be the growing brand’s best year yet as it’s set to unveil two new models to add to its stable of V10 and V12s.

The first of these two releases will be the Challenger Callibar, which is set to arrive in Australia for delivery early this year. The Callibar is a standard 28-passenger, 29-seat smaller model that can also be configured to seat 19 to provide luggage capacity. With prototypes underway, Campbell says to expect to see the innovative Challenger release in mid-February.

“This model will be incredibly exciting and one that we think will be a market leader,” he says.

“We’ve had a lot of interest for it and we can’t wait to hit the road with these vehicles and show them off to local operators.”

Challenger’s confidence isn’t unfounded – there’s a subtle reason why the brand has high hopes for the new Callibar. Unlike other vehicles of its size, the Callibar has

ABC January 2024 busnews.com.au

an independent front suspension, providing a smoother ride for driver and passengers.

Backed up with Challenger’s typical quality features that has become standard in the market and Campbell believes Challenger is onto a winner with its impending latest addition.

“The independent front suspension is a main point of difference of vehicles of this size in the local sector,” he says.

“With our flexibility and personal aftersales support also in full swing, we expect this design to be a popular one.”

While working to introduce this prototype to the Australian scene, Challenger will also continue building several of its existing V10 and V12 models for confirmed orders early this year.

Although both models have fast

Above: Barry Henderson has also joined the emerging brand

The first of these two releases will be the Challenger Callibar, which is set to arrive in Australia for delivery early this year. The Callibar is a standard 28-passenger, 29-seat smaller model that can also be configured to seat 19 to provide luggage capacity. With prototypes underway, Campbell says to expect to see the innovative Challenger release in mid-February. become stalwarts of the Challenger stable, Challenger is continually working with customers to remain flexible with the design, making improvements where possible.

As these two models perpetually gain interest in Australia, Campbell is excited about what the Callibar can add to the mix for the growing brand.

“It’s always been an objective of Greg (Sloan) and of Challenger’s to introduce a vehicle like the Callibar to the market,” Campbell says.

“We feel like there’s a huge space in the market for this size model and we wanted to bring something that’s of a totally different quality and comfort to the market when compared to other vehicles of its class.”

The Callibar won’t be the only vehicle yearning for the Challenger team’s interest in 2024. Although it isn’t scheduled to arrive until later in the year, Campbell is keeping one eye on the brand’s first foray into zero-emissions vehicles.

Slated to be released at the Bus Industry

Confederation’s (BIC) National Bus & Coach Show in Brisbane this September, the Challenger electric low-floor model will be a historic moment in the business’ history.

“The electric low-floor model will feature all of the typical Challenger quality and flexibility aspects that people have become used to with us, but with an exciting sustainable twist,” Campbell says.

“We can see this new electric model becoming a leader of its own market for a whole new range of reasons. It’s in the development stage now, so stay tuned busnews.com.au January 2024 ABC

21

COVERSTORY

CHALLENGER

We can see this new electric model becoming a leader of its own market for a whole new range of reasons. It’s in the development stage now, so stay tuned for more information this year. It will have some wow-factor with significant Australian componentry.

Above: Dan Campbell has high hopes for Challenger’s 2024 22

for more information this year.

It will have some wow-factor with significant Australian componentry.”

The electric low-floor model will be a major step in Challenger’s zero-emissions journey, which already began when it transitioned its V10 and V12 buses to Euro 6 engines for this year and beyond.

The electric product will then allow Challenger to be as clean as possible, providing a variety of options for operators to go to when they need new vehicles.

These two new vehicles, once on the market, will be sold by a Challenger team that continues to expand. In Western Australia, Challenger has added a new office and depot in Malaga, with new appointment Simon Hendricks joining the bus industry to run Challenger’s WA arm.

Nationally, Challenger also recently secured a coup when it announced that Barry Henderson would be joining the team as a senior sales manager.

“Barry brings a wealth of experience to Challenger – his

ABC January 2024 busnews.com.au

main objective is to help us work with operators, develop our models and improve our market offering,” Campbell says.

“He loves the purpose-built, Australian owned and designed nature of Challenger, so his experience and quality relationships in the industry should help us deliver more vehicles this year.”

Henderson has been in the bus and coach industry for 45 years and is no stranger to Sloan.

Starting as a young driver back in 1978 in Far North Queensland, he quickly evolved to working with VDI Australia, the local distributor of Yutong, gaining experience in management and sales.

“The reason why I came to Challenger is to go back to the basics of quality Australian design,” Henderson told ABC. “I love where Challenger is heading at the moment – it’s the right direction to give Australian operators what they want and to return to the grassroots of the industry.”

Henderson has already hit the ground running at Challenger,

visiting its factory to understand the quality of its vehicles. He’s particularly looking forward to the flexibility that Challenger provides operators, with this approach being ideal for the two new vehicles on the way this year.

“I want to use my experience to provide more products that suit Australian operators’ needs,” he says.

“I can’t wait to see new people come into the industry and learn about the quality of Challenger as an Australian owned and designed vehicle company.”

Campbell, much like the wider Challenger team, is excited about what Henderson and the two new models can bring for the brand this year. Challenger’s goals this year are to continue improving its presence in the market while maintaining and developing operator partnerships.

“Our aftersales network will help us with this, as it’s proven to be one of our biggest strengths as a business,” Campbell says.

On the parts side of the company, Challenger will also continue expanding its offerings through Australasian Bus & Coach Parts.

In 2023, this sector grew its stock holdings, with it now prepared to hit the market with specials for popular parts this year.

“We have the best quality and prices available for these popular parts that suit a wide range of models,” Campbell says.

All of this culminates in a storm of hope for Challenger as it begins a defining year in its journey. Having planned and thought about what 2024 may hold for the brand for a long time, Campbell is simply keen to get back to work with the Challenger team.

“The V10 and V12 side will hopefully continue growing, and with the Callibar and electric model on the way, we feel like we can have an exponential growth year in 2024,” Campbell says.

“Any operators or customers should continue to visit our website at www.challengerbusandcoach. com.au to see more video and content on there, as well as for parts enquiries.”

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FEATURE

DION BUS SERVICE

NO ONE LEFT BEHIND

In late 2023, Dion’s Bus Service raised the bat for 100 years operating buses in the Wollongong region. Its story starts with a unique family business that survived hardships to become a beloved community name

W

WORDS SEAN MORTELL IMAGES DION’S BUS SERVICE

hen the Great Depression wreaked havoc on Australians in the late 1920s, there weren’t many places to turn. Many lost their jobs and were forced to eat ‘cocky’s joy’ – a mixture of bread and golden syrup.

Businesses quickly closed their doors and loyal workers lost their jobs. Farmers and families struggled alike. In the midst of one of the nation’s most tumultuous times, a Wollongong-based family bus company was known for its motto in some trying circumstances.

‘No one left behind’.

The phrase became synonymous with Dion’s Bus Service generosity. In a period where many people in New South Wales’ Illawarra region couldn’t afford to pay for bus fares, Dion’s was known for letting people hop onboard and not be left to walk to their destination if they couldn’t afford the fare.

“The business has always looked after the community around it,” Dion’s Bus Service 24

ABC January 2024 busnews.com.au

managing director Les Dion Jnr told ABC. “I don’t think you’ll see that spirit anywhere else again – they would always give people a ride where they couldn’t afford to pay.”

Throughout this period of free rides and customer care, Dion’s Bus Service was no shining beacon of wealth itself. In the early ‘30s, the operator and its buses had to be bailed out in a miracle repossession deal.

Now, a century after Les Jnr’s grandfather Thomas Dion responded to the loss of his father Thomas Snr by starting a bus company alongside his 12 siblings, the Wollongong institution has reached a special milestone.

The history of 100 years of Dion’s dedication to the Illawarra began 40 years before the operator’s foundations in 1923 when Thomas Dion Snr decided to emigrate from South China to Australia for a shot at the Gold Rush.

He arrived in Adelaide, where he could avoid paying the ‘10 pound tax’ that was imposed under the Victorian Act of 1855.

Under the Act, every Chinese person who

arrived on Australian shores had to pay 10 pounds, with only one person for every 10 tonnes of goods allowed on each vessel.

By landing in Adelaide, he could avoid the tax. It came at a cost – Thomas Dion Snr, known as Thomas Chong at that stage, had to walk from Adelaide to Bendigo in the hopes of finding a goldfield to work at.

From Bendigo, Thomas moved to Nerrigundah, NSW (just outside of Moruya) and in 1884 opened a general store retailing groceries, drapery, ironmongery, boots, shoes, tinware, confectionery and furniture.

For more than two decades, Thomas and his wife Annie ran the store. Despite quickly becoming part of Nerrigundah’s future, the family was destined to settle elsewhere.

In 1907, Thomas, Annie and their five children moved to Wollongong, buying a market garden in Fairy Meadow where they began growing and selling vegetables to the local community.

Despite settling in Fairy Meadow with their market garden, the Dion’s were soon disrupted when Thomas Snr passed in

1923. As a means to provide for the family, Thomas Jnr, one of the 13 Dion children, applied to the North Illawarra Council to start a Wollongong to Balgownie bus service. When it was approved and first began in December that year, the legend of Dion’s Bus Service began.

“When you look back to the initial days of the business and my family history, it shows that they did all of the heavy lifting,” Les Jnr says.

“They survived World Wars and Depressions among other challenges, so I take my hat off to them. My elders worked as a community in their own family unit.”

The initial Balgownie and Bellambi bus services from Dion’s were run by a T-model Ford with a body built of wood, no windows

and canvas blinds. Within a few years, the Dion siblings became more enterprising, starting a novel service linking Port Kembla and Wollongong to Sydney via a luxury parlour coach.

The service became a hit around town, allowing local citizens to head up and back to Sydney in a day with more regularity and reliability than the train network. Yet as the Great Depression set in and the ‘30s arrived, the cancellation of the Sydney service started a dark period for Dion’s.

Despite Thomas Jnr’s siblings beginning to join the fold, with the brothers graduating to drivers and workshop employees while the sisters worked in the new mixed business where they would retail produce from their market garden as well as in administration for the bus operator, Thomas Jnr was struggling to meet the lease terms on two new buses he had recently bought. With the main means of

Opposite, Top: The Dion family have become beloved by the Wollongong region Top, L to R: Dion’s buses look a bit different today; the old Bellambi bus Above, L to R: The start of Dion’s in Wollongong; Passengers travel in style on one of the initial runs

income during the Depression coming from hotly contested theatre runs in Wollongong, Dion’s was fading fast with its new vehicles set for repossession.

Coupled with its habit of helping those in the local community who were in need and foregoing payment, Dion’s was set to follow many other businesses in that time in shutting doors. It took a magical intervention to keep the family bus operator in service.

The 11th hour saviour came courtesy of local man Albert ‘Brooky’ Ball. The Dion family had never heard of him when he offered to buy the two vehicles and rent them back to Thomas Jnr. His offer to keep Dion’s Bus Services afloat boiled down to his adoration of the operator – he didn’t think it was right for the business to go under.

This would prove to be a turning point for Dion’s, as it allowed the operator to survive the Great Depression and then flourish.

By WWII, the operator was well

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25

FEATURE

Above, L to R: A Dion’s bus well off course; Les Dion Snr on his final day of work Below: An old Dion’s doubledecker Opposite, Top: DIon’s updated its fleet in the early 2000s

26

DION BUS SERVICE

prepared, dabbling in alternative fuels such as charcoal gas to overcome shortages. Les can’t help but be proud of the family’s “mindboggling” charitable nature in such trying times.

“You normally don’t get a second chance in business, but they did and they made good of it,” Les Jnr says.

“I love how they embraced the community – it became such a large part of their business because they looked after people so much.”

In 1945, the Dion Bros Bus Partnership, including Tom Jnr and his siblings Rose, Ted, Barney, Ernie and Les Snr, were at the helm of the operation as it ran routes to and from Austinmer and Kiama.

With a fleet comprising new and second-hand Leyland and Bedford models, Dion’s became a notorious operator for driving slowly and running late.

Known as ‘the slow boat to China’, the Dion brothers made a habit of being careful on

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underdeveloped roads, dropping off patrons where they wanted away from stops and continuing to help any passengers in need.

Despite this reputation in the local area, Dion’s was able to settle into a healthy rhythm in the back end of the 20th century. By the time the ‘80s came around, Dion’s had 13 vehicles of mixed heritage operating seven days a week, with the first generation continuing to run the business.

It all changed in 1988.

Following a testimonial dinner for the family recognising 65 years since the first Dion’s run, the second generation of Dion family members formed a new company to run the business. The older model buses were also retired, with the first new buses in 40 years being delivered the year after in the form of two 55-seat Hinos featuring air-conditioning and a new-look livery.

This change wasn’t out of the blue – throughout the ‘60s and ‘70s, Dion’s faced increasing competition from newly formed operators for key runs in the Illawarra region, including the Wollongong to Kiama route. A decline in bus transport patronage meant reinvigoration was needed.

These new Hinos, alongside Leyland Leopard buses, formed the first step in the journey to shaking older ways of running bus services. This allowed the business to develop into the 2000s, where Dion’s Bus Service was at the forefront of innovation yet again when it acquired new Volvo models in 2003 that featured Wollongong’s

first wheelchair accessible low-floor route buses.

A year later, the family business was officially purchased by Les Jnr, heralding a new era.

“I started with the business more than 40 years ago in the office and then began driving the old blue buses some 36 years ago,” he says.

“When I look at the company now and compare it to its history, they’re two totally different operations.

“Our buses now have modern technology with two-way communications and CCTV, Opal ticketing through the Public Transport Information and Priority System (PTIPS) and telematics, giving us fleet tracking and driver management capabilities. Back in the day, my uncle Tom would simply look out the window to assess patronage onboard a service.”

Les Jnr’s purchase of the business signalled a major moment in its history. On August 20, 2005, Les Dion Snr retired at the age of 85. He was the last of the first generation to retire, following his brothers Tom, Ted and Barney in hanging up the keys after years of loyal service.

Having spent 68 years driving buses since first helping the family business at the age of 17, Les Dion Snr’s key memory of the operator was its famous generosity in its formative years.

“Nobody ever walked – if they had no money, they still got a ride,” he said.

Fast forward to 2015 and the landscape looks different for Dion’s.

No longer is it fiercely competing with local operators for prized runs. Back in the mid-1900s, Dion’s drivers would try to arrive minutes earlier than other bus runs to snag more passengers and reap the rewards.

Now, Les Jnr’s focus has been on operating the bus service under an Outer Metro Contract regime.

Les Jnr’s team now includes 40 drivers, mechanics and administration staff, all of whom are outside of the Dion family.

The Illawarra operator runs the Outer Sydney Metropolitan Bus Service Region 12 contract, with four routes in Wollongong.

He says this formalised landscape means he can’t replicate his elders in veering off course or handing out free rides to those in need.

“There are so many rules we need to abide by now, so within these rules we still try to look after customers as best as we can,” he says.

“Our drivers, much like in the past, have a good and close connection with passengers – we may not have the freedom that my family did back in the day, but we do impress upon our drivers to look after the customers first and foremost.”

Les Jnr is no stranger to celebrating his family business. For Dion’s 80th anniversary, the business held a community sausage sizzle, while its 90th year was celebrated with a day of free rides for passengers along the network. For the century, celebrations stepped up, with many questions about the family business remaining unanswered.

With a documentary and a book now having been made about the family business, Les Jnr is excited to share and learn more about the intriguing tale of Dion’s Bus Service, from its humble

beginnings to its current evolution as a beloved Wollongong business.

“Telling our story on our 100th anniversary has given many people, including myself, depth and understanding on what the first generation of Dion’s did for the local community,” he says.

“It’s been a little slow sinking in that we have reached 100 years, and I’ve learnt more about my family this year than in my 57 years on the planet, but we love celebrating what my family has done.

We’re all so proud of them and where we are now.”

DISTRIBUTING TO OVER 40+ COUNTIES WORLDWIDE

YOU HAVE SEEN THE REST, NOW MEET THE BEST

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Lance Taskin

CEO of Sege Seats Asia Pacific

+61 2 9727 0440

busnews.com.au January 2024 ABC

27

ABC

AUSTRALASIAN BUS & COACH

Image: 1000 Words/Shutterstock

2024 OPERATOR

SHOWCASE

28

ABC January 2024 busnews.com.au

Image: Benjamin Crone/Shutterstock

WELCOME TO THE 2024 ABC OPERATOR SHOWCASE Following such a milestone year in the Australasian bus and coach industry, 2024 has plenty on the horizon. Whether it be expos, conferences, new releases or crucial technological updates, there’s plenty for operators to keep abreast of. The nation’s bus and coach operators continue to face plenty of challenges such as driver shortages, the zero-emissions transition and increased costs. Despite all of this, operators continue to remain strong and emerge in 2024 with plenty of potential to grow.

L

ast year’s Operator Showcase was a historic moment in the history of ABC Magazine which travels back more than 35 years ago. For the first time, the publication had a direct guide to the country’s leading bus and coach operators, with more than 40 businesses getting involved by filling out the survey and having their companies put on display for 2023.

The survey also gave the industry a snapshot of these operators’ illustrious histories as well as providing a forum for hard-working operators to weigh in on the most pressing of issues in the sector.

Now, in 2024, for the second edition of the Operator Showcase, 60 companies got involved to display an even broader range of operators and industry opinions.

The ABC Operator Showcase is a

valuable tool for all in the industry, as well as an interesting bookmark in Australian bus and coach industry.

There are hundreds, if not thousands, of operators working in conditions that vary remarkably. These operators who are part of the Operator Showcase show the difference in background, expertise and perspective that makes the Australian industry as resilient and productive as it is today.

Starting with the Showcase table, readers will get to see a wide range of Australian operators, their history, where they service and just how large they are heading into 2024. The Operator Showcase then looks into industry trends, using detailed answers from operators all around the nation to investigate what operators think

Image: Benjamin Crone/Shutterstock

of the current state of play in the bus and coach game. We hope you enjoy this deep dive into Australian bus and coach history that features the foundation of the industry – the operators. For those wanting to feature in the third edition of the Operator Showcase in 2025, keep an eye out for more details on the upcoming survey throughout the year. busnews.com.au January 2024 ABC

29

OPERATOR SHOWCASE

2024

OPE

LOCATION

YEAR FOUNDED

ACT

NSW

NT

VIC

QLD

SA

TAS

WA

AAT KINGS COACH COMPANY

1920

ACT

NSW

NT

VIC

QLD

SA

TAS

WA

ADELAIDE BUS & COACH SA

2009

ALICE SILVER PASSENGER SERVICES

2020

ALLSTARR COACHES

2008

AUST-WIDE TOURS

1997

AUSTRALIA WIDE COACHES

1992

NSW

Metro

AUSTRALIAN PRESTIGE COACHES

1992

NSW

Metro

BUSWAYS

1942

NSW

CITY TOUR COACHES

2019

NSW

CLARKE COACHES

1992

NSW

COOEE TOURS

1996

QLD

Metro

CROSS COUNTRY TOURS

1981

QLD

Metro

DEANES COACHES GROUP

2016

DION'S BUS SERVICE

1923

NSW

DYSON GROUP

1952

NSW

EASTEND BUS SERVICE

2008

NSW

EDWARDS COACHES

1959

NSW

EMERSON BUS COMPANY

1978

QLD

ENTERPRISE COACHES AUSTRALIA

2021

QLD

COMPANY NAME

30

ABC January 2024 busnews.com.au

SA

METRO

Metro

NT

NSW

Metro

SA

ACT

SA

Metro

Metro

Metro

NSW

VIC

Metro

Metro

OPERATING AREA(S) WA

METRO

REGIONAL

OUTER METRO

Outer metro

WA

Metro

Regional

COUNCILS SERVED

NUMBER OF WORKSHOP STAFF

NUMBER OF DRIVERS

NUMBER OF OPERATIONAL AND OTHER STAFF

NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES

NUMBER OF BUSES IN FLEET

NUMBER OF COACHES IN FLEET

N/A

8

65

20

93

1

49

Onkaparinga, Playford, Port Adelaide Enfield, Adelaide, Thebarton, Gawler

1

15

3

20

20

4

Alice Springs, Ayers Rock, NT

1

11

3

15

9

2

Metro

Regional

Outer metro

N/A

1

12

3

15

0

5

Metro

Regional

Outer metro

N/A

0

3

2

5

0

3

Metro

Regional

Outer metro

City of Sydney, Orange

2

30

5

35

0

15

Metro

Regional

N/A

1

5

3

9

1

4

Regional

Outer metro

City of Canada Bay, Parramatta, Ryde, Sydney, Hunters Hill, Lane Cove, North Sydney, Willoughby, Inner West, Cumberland, Blacktown, Penrith, Hawkesbury, Wollondilly, Central Coast, Clarence Valley, Port Stephens, Kempsey, Nambucca, Port Macquarie-Hastings, Coffs Harbour, Lake Macquarie, Mid Coast, Bellingen, Onkaparinga, Marion

–

–

–

2800

1350

3

Outer metro

Wollongong, Shellharbour, Sutherland, Campbelltown City Council

3

29

3

35

4

19

Metro

Metro

Regional

Outer metro

Hornsby Shire

1

7

1

9

0

4

Metro

Regional

Outer metro

Brisbane, Gold Coast, Northen NSW, Sunshine Coast, Carins, Maryborough

4

12

2

18

22

10

Metro

Regional

Outer metro

N/A

0

8

12

25

0

8

Snowy Monaro, Australian Capital Territory

2

21

8

29

4

16

Outer metro

Wollongong City Council

1

33

6

40

21

0

Outer metro

East Gippsland, Wellington, Albury, Wangaratta, Greater Shepparton, Banyule, Darebin, Whittlesea, Murray River, Macedon Ranges

50

1150

150

1350

475

225

Regional

Mid-Western Regional Council

0

8

8

8

9

2

Regional

Armidale Regional Council, Uralla Shire Council

4

45

5

55

28

7

Regional

Tablelands Regional Council, Mareeba Shire Council

2

15

5

18

13

2

City of Moreton Bay, Brisbane City Council, Sunshine Coast, City of Gold Coast

0

2

0

2

0

2

Regional

Metro

Metro

Regional

Regional

Outer metro

busnews.com.au January 2024 ABC

31

OPERATOR SHOWCASE

2024

COMPANY NAME FASSIFERN COACHES

YEAR FOUNDED

OPE

LOCATION ACT

NSW

NT

VIC

1966

QLD

SA

TAS

WA

METRO

WA

Metro

QLD

GO WEST TOURS

NT

GRAHAM FOREMAN BUS SERVICE

1997

SA

GRANT'S COACHLINES

1996

SA

HR & AM ROOS/ TENTERFIELD COACHES

1961

KANGAROO BUS LINES

1978

QLD

KEENDEW/CRISP'S COACHES

1990

QLD

KOALA KOACHES

1963

QLD

LE CHARABANC PRIVATE CHARTERS

2020

WA

LESMURDIE BUS SERVICE

2005

WA

MATNIK INVESTMENTS/ TINONEE BUS COMPANY

2015

MCKENZIE'S TOURIST SERVICES

1927

MILLERS BUSES

2014

MONTROSE BUS & COACH

2021

MT GRAVATT BUS SERVICE

1985

QLD

NAMBOUR CHRISTIAN COLLEGE

1980

QLD

NEAR OR FAR BUS AND COACH

2017

NSW

NORTH COAST CHARTERS

2022

NSW

OUTBACK AUSSIE TOURS

1988

NSW

PORT BUS CHARTERS, TOURS & RENTALS

2018

NSW

PUNCHBOWL BUS

1947

NSW

32

ABC January 2024 busnews.com.au

Metro

NSW

Metro

NSW

VIC

Metro

VIC

Metro

NSW

QLD

Metro

SA

Metro

OPERATING AREA(S) WA

WA

COUNCILS SERVED

NUMBER OF WORKSHOP STAFF

NUMBER OF DRIVERS

NUMBER OF OPERATIONAL AND OTHER STAFF

NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES

NUMBER OF BUSES IN FLEET

NUMBER OF COACHES IN FLEET

Scenic Rim Regional Council

6

54

3

63

50

0

Regional

Perth, Bunbury, Newman, Karratha, Darwin, Ashburton, Busselton

40

550

60

650

100

550

Regional

Kingston District Council

1

4

4

4

3

4

All Adelaide metro council areas

3

30

5

40

20

10

Tenterfield Shire Council

1

4

0

4

2

1

Outer metro

Moreton Bay, Brisbane City Council, Sunshine Coast

17

181

40

238

100

42

Outer metro

Southern Downs Regional Council, Ipswich City Council, Brisbane City Council, Goondiwindi Shire Council, Moree Plains Shire Council

2

14

4

20

20

12

Regional

City of Gold Coast

3

36

4

43

2

32

Regional

City of Bunbury

1

2

2

2

1

1

Bassendean Town Council, City of Bayswater, City of Belmont, City of Kalamunda, City of Swan

1

6

1

8

6

0

MidCoast Council

2

18

3

20

18

3

Yarra Ranges, Shire of Murrindindi, Maroondah City, City of Melbourne, Nillumbik Shire, Dandenong Ranges Shire

6

55

4

65

58

3

Wagga Wagga Shire Council, Lockhart Shire Council, Greater Hume Shire Council

2

15

3

20

13

0

Metro

All of Melbourne

1

7

2

10

3

2

Metro

Logan City Council, Brisbane City Council

4

60

4

80

58

33

Sunshine Coast Council

2

21

2

25

18

10

Blue Mountains, Penrith, Lithgow, Bathurst

0

5

2

8

2

4

Regional

Port Macquarie-Hastings Council

1

1

1

1

1

0

Regional

Longreach Regional Council, Winton Regional Council, Murweh Shire Council, Quilpie Shire Council, Diamantina Shire Council, Carpentaria Shire Council, Cook Shire Council, Mareeba Shire Council, Boulia Shire Council

1

10

33

44

8

2

Regional

All of NSW and beyond

1

18

4

23

24

10

Regional

Georges River, Bankstown, Canterbury, Goulburn

8

50

8

70

55

0

METRO

Metro

Metro

REGIONAL

OUTER METRO

Regional

Outer metro

Regional

Outer metro

Regional

Metro

WA

Regional

Outer metro

WA

Regional

Metro

Regional

Outer metro

Regional

Regional

Regional

Metro

Outer metro

busnews.com.au January 2024 ABC

33

OPERATOR SHOWCASE

2024

COMPANY NAME

YEAR FOUNDED

OPE

LOCATION ACT

NSW

NT

VIC

QLD

SA

TAS

WA

METRO

R & N BILSBOROUGH BUS SERVICES

1967

NSW

RED BUS SERVICES

1940

NSW

RIVERCITY BUS SERVICE

2015

ROAD WORLD

2000

ROCKLEIGH TOURS

1987

S.O NADEBAUM & D.V LEHMANN

2004

SALE BUS LINES

2014

SAPPHIRE COAST BUSLINES

2001

SKYLIGHT BUSLINES

2002

SNOWLINER COACHES

1964

SOUTHERN CROSS TRANSIT

1988

SOUTHSIDE BUS & COACH

2014

NSW

SPINDLEBOX BUSES

2018

NSW

STAVLINK TRANSIT

1987

SYDNEY COACHES

2011

NSW

Metro

TRANSIT SCENIC TOURS

1931

NSW

Metro

TROPIC WINGS CAIRNS TOURS & CHARTERS

1983

VENTURA BUS

1924

WARRE COACH AND CHARTER

2022

WHITSUNDAY TRANSIT

1997

34

ABC January 2024 busnews.com.au

QLD

Metro

SA

Metro

VIC

SA

VIC

Metro

VIC

Metro

NSW

NSW

QLD

Metro

Metro

VIC

Metro

QLD

VIC

Metro

SA

QLD

OPERATING AREA(S) WA

METRO

COUNCILS SERVED

NUMBER OF WORKSHOP STAFF

NUMBER OF DRIVERS

NUMBER OF OPERATIONAL AND OTHER STAFF

NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES

NUMBER OF BUSES IN FLEET

NUMBER OF COACHES IN FLEET

Gwydir Shire Council, Moree Plains Shire Council, Inverell Shire Council,Tamworth Regional Council

13

10

3

26

7

1

Outer metro

Central Coast Council

17

144

15

176

106

10

Outer metro

Brisbane City Council, Ipswich City Council, Logan City Council, Gold Coast City Council, Scenic Rim Regional Council, Lockyer Valley Regional Council

1

5

2

8

10

5

Outer metro

Parafield Gardens, Davoren Park

0

10

2

10

15

1

Outer metro

Melbourne, Hume, Melton, Werribee, Hobsons Bay

3

22

2

27

19

19

Regional

District Council of Yorke Peninsula

1

3

1

3

3

3

Regional

Wellington Shire, Latrobe Shire

3

4

1

8

6

2

Regional

Bega Valley Shire Council

8

51

13

72

52

2

Regional

Hume City Council, Greater Shepparton

5

40

30

80

12

15

Regional

Snowy Monaro Regional Council

1

12

1

13

15

4

Brisbane City Council, Ipswich City Council

10

50

8

68

46

44

Sutherland Shire, Eastern Suburbs

1

8

2

10

3

5

Moree Plains Shire Council

0

4

0

5

6

0

Melbourne, Geelong, Ballarat

3

25

3

31

15

5

Burwood, Canterbury-Bankstown, Inner west, North Sydney, Parramatta, Mosman, Liverpool, Lane Cove, Fairfield, Canada Bay, Hunters Hill

1

10

2

13

0

8

Georges River, Sydney, Sutherland, Liverpool

1

8

3

12

10

8

Cairns Regional Council

5

40

8

60

0

40

Monash, Knox, Yarra Ranges, Maroondah, Whitehorse, Boroondara, Darebin, Stonnington, Glen Eira, Bayside, Kingston, Dandenong, Casey, Cardinia, Mornington Peninsula, Melbourne, Banyule, Bass Coast, South Gippsland

109

1407

186

1702

900

200

Yorke Peninsula Council

1

2

1

4

2

2

Whitsunday Shire Council

8

56

10

64

44

4

REGIONAL

OUTER METRO

Regional

Metro

Metro

Metro

Metro

Metro

Regional

Outer metro

Metro

Metro

Metro

Outer metro

Metro

Metro

Outer metro

busnews.com.au January 2024 ABC

35

OPERATOR SHOWCASE

2024

A YEAR OF CHALLENGES

The 2024 ABC Operator Showcase survey features 60 operators from around the country who provide their insights into the current Australian bus and coach industry

T

he Australian bus and coach industry is moving quickly towards a different, more sustainable future. While manufacturers and suppliers are remaining nimble to adapt to this change, operators are still critical of this shift in approach when it comes to running buses and coaches daily.

The ABC Operator Showcase for 2024 surveys 60 operators around Australia, ranging from inner-city and metro companies to country and regional businesses that share their thoughts on the key issues impacting the wider industry.

The Operator Showcase was first launched via a survey, with operators choosing to participate in the annual feature through ABC Magazine and busnews.com.au.

Further advertising, emails and phone calls allowed more operators to be involved in the 2024 Operator Showcase than ever before, with participants completing a survey filled with questions about their business and its history to feature in the Operator Showcase tables.

Following this, they were also then presented with extra questions to

gain their thoughts on current issues affecting the bus and coach industry, with many operators responding in great detail.

The 2024 Operator Showcase involves 60 bus and coach operators, allowing ABC Magazine to provide insight into what this cross-section of the industry thinks about the most pressing issues.

While the survey results represent a snapshot of these participants’ views and don’t represent any attempt to speak to a general Australian industry view in any way, they provide an update from the lifeblood of the Australian bus and coach industry – the operators.

ZERO-EMISSIONS STILL A SLOW BURN This year’s Operator Showcase results hint that the operators involved in the survey are no clearer on what the future power source of their fleets will be.

Last year, the Operator Showcase survey found 83 per cent of respondents had no zero-emissions vehicles in their bus or coach fleets. A year later, this trend has gone the other way, with 53 of the 60 participants, or 89 per cent, saying they have no zero-emissions

WHAT PERCENTAGE OF YOUR BUS FLEET IS ZERO-EMISSIONS? 55 50 45

DO YOU INTEND TO TRANSITION TO ZERO-EMISSION BUSES?

Yes

Unsure

No

Unsure

Yes

No

models in their fleet.

Out of the 60 members of this year’s Showcase, 42 of them run regional operations. Out of this 42, 36 of them, or 86 per cent, had no zero-emissions buses or coaches in their business. Of the 29 respondents who said their business, or part of it, runs metro services, 25 of them had no zero-emissions vehicles, highlighting the widespread trend of a slow zero-emissions uptake around the country.

Outside of the 89 per cent with no zero-emissions models, eight per cent reported having between one and 10 per cent of their fleet filled with electric or hydrogen buses, while the final three per cent said zero-emissions vehicles constituted between 41 and 50 per cent of their fleet.

40

FUEL SOURCE PREFERENCE

35

When it came to having future intentions to transition to zero-emissions fleets, 23 per cent of respondents say yes, a drop in nine per cent from last year, while 28 per cent say no.

The majority of participants, at 49 per cent, remained unsure, as operators continue to not decide what the future of their fleets will look like.

When it came to preferred fuel sources,

30 25 20 15 10 5 0

36

0%

1 - 10%

11 - 20%

ABC January 2024 busnews.com.au

21 - 30%

31 - 40%

41 - 50%

WHAT PREFERENCE OF FUEL SOURCE DO YOU HAVE FOR YOUR BUS FLEET?

WHAT IS THE BIGGEST PROBLEM YOU SEE WITH THE TRANSITION TO ZERO-EMISSIONS BUSES?

Diesel

No Preference Other

Price

Electric

Space for Charging

Hydrogen fuel-cell

0

5

10

15

20

diesel was still the popular choice, as 68 per cent of the operators in the Showcase say they prefer diesel. In a drop of 15 per cent from last year, seven per cent of participants say they prefer electric, while seven per cent prefer hydrogen fuel-cell power and the remaining 18 per cent have no preference.

PRICE STILL THE PROBLEM Of the 60 operators in this year’s Showcase, there’s still one main sticking point behind transition to zero-emissions or other green sources of power.

While 24 per cent of respondents last year said the price of transitioning was the biggest issue, this rose to 34 per cent of operators in the Showcase this year.

Range anxiety remains the primary problem for 25 per cent of respondents, while 11 per cent say space for charging infrastructure is a critical issue. The remaining 30 per cent list a range of other issues spanning from the lack of infrastructure available to charging times, electric grid capacity and local supply challenges.

Other participating operators say the lack of government funding is a sticking point, with government uncertainty mentioned by numerous respondents. Of the 60 participants, around 10 per cent say they have constructed transition or training plans to accommodate for the zero-emissions transition.

25

30

35

40

45

TAFE institutions to devise plans.

INSIDE THE BIG ISSUES Much like last year, challenges still continue to impact Australian operators’ abilities to run efficient and expanded bus and coach companies.

Last year’s Showcase found that nearly all participating operators experienced a rise in fuel costs over the 2021-2022 period due to fuel shortages globally.

In 2022-23, the market stabilised, yet this year’s Showcase highlights that many operators continue to feel the sting of rising fuel costs. Last year, 56 per cent of responding operators said they anticipated their fuel costs to increase by 25 per cent, while this year 62 per cent of respondents say their fuel costs are expected to rise by around 25 per cent.

A further eight per cent say their fuel costs will increase by more than 40 per cent in an indication that fuel prices are still not settled. Some operators are finding relief, with 25 per cent of operators part of the Showcase saying

Price

Range Anxiety

Range Anxiety

Space for Charging

Other

their costs will stay the same over the two years and a further five per cent saying their costs will decrease.

When it comes to the biggest issue facing operators in the industry for 2024 and beyond, the majority of participants say driver shortages and costs are clearly the most pressing.

Operators in the Showcase survey report that fatigue for current staff is also an ongoing issue, while the supply of and access to vehicles and parts has become a point of frustration. The inflated costs of fuel and other operational necessities is also mentioned heavily among the 61 respondents, as well as the lack of technological evolution being seen in the zero-emissions transition.

All of this summarises the key issues that 60 Australian bus and coach operators want to see tackled and potentially resolved in 2024 and beyond.

Any operators looking to get involved in the next edition of the ABC Operator Showcase should keep an eye out for more details on the 2025 Operator Showcase survey later this year.

HOW DO YOU EXPECT YOUR FUEL PRICES TO CHANGE FROM 2022 TO THE END OF 2023?

40 35 30 25

% OF ZERO-EMISSIONS IN FLEET The remaining 90 per cent either have no plans in place and don’t intend to formulate any, or are only just beginning to devise training timeframes for this gradual change. Numerous participants say they’re waiting to watch the technology evolve before doing so, while others are starting to reach out to local

20 15 10 5 0

Decrease

Stay the same

Increase by 25%

Increase by more than 40%

Increase by 50%

busnews.com.au January 2024 ABC

37

FEATURE

BUS FINANCE AUSTRALIA

FINANCING THE FUTURE

Funding infrastructure and assets for the zero-emissions future is clearly a challenge for local operators. Bus Finance Australia is developing its capabilities to help push the industry into a new era

W

hen Bus Finance Australia was first founded 20 years ago, its mission was to support smaller Victorian bus operators with finance packages. In its two decades as a business, it has fast become a national support base for a variety of bus and coach companies.

When established as part of the Bus Association of Victoria (BusVic) suite of businesses, finance director Brett Collins remembers first walking into Bus Finance Australia’s empty office in early 2004.

“We started from scratch, creating our own finance arrangements, databases and formulas,” Collins told ABC. 38

ABC January 2024 busnews.com.au

IMAGES BUS FINANCE AUSTRALIA “Then we went out and assisted the BusVic membership database, slowly expanding to support interstate operators too.”

Now, Bus Finance Australia, formerly known as BAV Finance, has established more than $850 million in finance transactions to support the bus industry.

Its continual aim is to become the leading financier for Australian bus operators, acting as an industry specialist for businesses in need, from the single bus operator through to the large corporates.

After kicking off this dream by supporting Victorian operators, Bus Finance Australia soon became national, helping complete bus transactions through its various commercial funding

arrangements. This soon evolved into helping broker and negotiate the selling and buying of bus businesses for operators looking to expand and acquire competitors.

The finance business is now embracing the next stage of its evolution, as it takes its national customer base and seeks to become an industry specialist when it comes to zero-emissions bus operations via its new brand EV Infrastructure Funds.

“Zero-emissions buses has been a recent transformation for us as we begin funding the electric and wider zero-emissions side of the bus industry’s natural progression,” Collins says.

“We’ve seen where Australian governments want operators to go to

regarding the transition and we’re helping support them on their journey.”

When mandates began to be announced around the transition of the nation’s bus and coach fleet to zero-emissions models, Bus Finance Australia saw an opportunity to become a trusted part of the process. Collins says there are “tremendous gaps” in financing the zero-emissions bus infrastructure required for the nation’s operators.

With its new additional brand EV Infrastructure Funds, Bus Finance Australia has put in effort to develop competitive funding alternatives to arrangements offered by zero-emissions infrastructure vendors. By adding these alternatives into complete financial packages to support operators, Collins is confident that Bus Finance Australia is capable of finding the right electric vehicle and infrastructure funding models to support bus operators’ cash flow.

“Our sample size for this area of funding models is small but currently growing quickly,” he says.

“We have enquiries increasing regularly. We can help with sourcing the correct electric vehicle infrastructure, knowing who to talk to and identifying alternative suppliers and manufacturers for operators.”

Bus Finance Australia now has its own list of recommended businesses that it uses to point operators in the right direction.

These choices have become part of its overall funding packages to facilitate zero-emissions bus purchases and the supporting infrastructure required.

Collins says this way of funding zero-emissions operations is different from mainstream financiers, who primarily have restricted terms and a limit on the percentage it will fund for businesses.

“We can offer more attractive finance terms and can fund up to 100 per cent of the fit-out costs for zero-emissions bus infrastructure and the supporting equipment,”

Collins says.

The end goal is for Bus Finance Australia to be the trusted all-in-one funder to support any bus operator in Australia on the journey to a zero-emissions transition. Whether it be commercial depots, business expansion plans or upgrading fleets, Collins is confident that the financier will become an expert on financing electric vehicle infrastructure.

It’ll do so with its own network full of zero-emissions infrastructure companies and providers, allowing operators to pick and choose certain brands and offerings for zero-emissions vehicles.

“We won’t be promoting one brand or company over another,” Collins says.

“We’ll instead have a list of recommended suppliers for zero-emissions infrastructure requirements, but customers aren’t restricted to choosing from these companies.”

Around this zero-emissions focus, Bus Finance Australia will continue to be a leading financier for buses in Australia.

Although it may be modernising its capabilities, the financier will still finance all vehicle types for operators to help their cash flow.

There’ll just be another fund as part of the Bus Finance Australia system, with the Zero-Emissions Bus Infrastructure Fund to allow operators to access financiers who know the industry well through two decades of experience.

It’s this personal touch that Collins is certain will help the financier he helped build 20 years ago to flourish in the zero-emissions age.

“We’re a professional financier and operators can come to us and know they’ll be looked after,” he says.

“I have great people supporting me. Stephen Guille has been with us for the past 15 years and is well known in the industry, and we are supported by our assistant Parisse Kaklikos.

“We are fortunate to have great knowledge of two industries (bus

We can offer more attractive finance terms and can fund up to 100 per cent of the fitout costs for zero-emissions bus infrastructure and the supporting equipment. and finance) that will allow us to deliver the appropriate solutions and packages for Australia’s bus operators.

“Feel free to give us a call to get a quote on what certain requirements may cost – we can also recommend people to speak to certain suppliers, operators or state associations to have some comfort about what they are planning on doing in the near future.”

Above: Brett Collins is continuing to lead Bus Finance Australia’s national expansion Opposite, Top: Bus Finance Australia is now introducing new EV Infrastructure Funds

busnews.com.au January 2024 ABC

39

FEATURE

BUS STOP SALES

TURNING CHALLENGES INTO OPPORTUNITIES From floods to shipping delays, Bus Stop Sales has had a raft of bumps along its recent journey.

Instead of wallowing in the struggles, the distributor has used it to continue delivering excellence

N

IMAGES BUS STOP SALES

early two years ago, many businesses along Australia’s eastern coast were emerging from COVID lockdowns and looking to build after a desolate few years. As one of many bus and coach brands in the region, Bus Stop Sales was no different.

Just when Bus Stop Sales dealer principal Pete White was preparing for a year full of rebounding in the local market, another challenge descended upon Bus Stop’s headquarters in Rocklea, Brisbane.

“Bus Stop Sales’ journey was unfortunately adversely impacted during the floods in early 2022,” White told ABC. “The floods inundated our bus parts inventory, resulting in nearly one million dollars’ worth of losses. The flooded parts had to be written off and we had to move on quickly.”

Instead of letting another setback trouble Bus Stop Sales’ goal of supplying an innovative range of bus and coach models to the Australian market, White used the adversity as an opportunity. With Bus Stop’s evolving parts sector being wiped out, the brand set upon rebuilding its holdings and making the firm bigger and better than before.

40

ABC January 2024 busnews.com.au

“Bus Stop Sales reinvested in a huge array of parts that continue to arrive at our Rocklea Parts Distribution Centre following the floods,” White says.

“The parts arrive most weeks, reinforcing our dedication to our valued customers.”

White and the Bus Stop team could’ve been forgiven for momentarily straying from their focus on Bus Stop’s Australian customer base.

Yet in the ever-evolving landscape of the Australian bus and coach industry, White emphasised the importance of ongoing customer support beyond initial sales. This led Bus Stop to push through the challenge of the floods at Rocklea, sharpening its concentration on enhancing long-term partnerships.

The local distributor didn’t waste time,

working quickly in 2022 to reinvest in its infrastructure to return Bus Stop’s Rocklea Bus Centre to its former glory. By focusing on funding its parts and service support sectors, Bus Stop ended up going a step further, improving its capabilities beyond its pre-flood levels.

In a strategic move, Bus Stop Sales invested in expanding both its inventory of bus parts and its parts team. The idea wasn’t to simply replace what had been lost – White and his team wanted to establish a new robust group with the required support system ready to meet the needs of the entire bus and coach industry in Australia.

“I’m passionate about our Bus Stop customer base across the King Long, I-Bus, locally produced Coach Concepts

Marathon and Joylong mini-bus ranges,” White says.

“We’re guiding our group to focus on continually improving our offer to the market, particularly with unparalleled aftersales and access to our parts inventory.”

The investment in Bus Stop’s own processes following the destructive south-east Queensland floods in 2022 extends beyond its parts inventory and stock holdings. Heading into 2024, Bus Stop has made recent appointments to its team to provide the best quality service for its wide range of local customers.

Bus Stop recently welcomed Israel ‘Izzy’ Hira as its new national bus parts manager, while David Lowe has also joined the team as executive general manager. The

We’re assuring the market that Bus Stop Sales will continue to evolve, adapt and stand firmly behind every King Long bus on the road. pair’s arrival at Bus Stop Sales is proof that the brand is continuing its commitment to customers by investing to ensure they’re supported in 2024 and beyond.

“Our group recently took over from an existing distributor, with there being a number of challenges surfacing across older models and accessing the aged parts stock,” White says.

“However, both the manufacturer in King Long and our group have been working tirelessly to review and reset, ensuring all customers feel supported and

Above: Stock shortages continue to present challenges to distributors around Australia Left: The Bus Stop EVolution is proof of the brand’s commitment to its customers Opposite, Top: Bus Stop had to rebuild its sales, service and parts sector following floods in 2022

continue to love the brand.”

Following the 2022 floods, accessing stock and spare parts became even more difficult with the ongoing challenge of shipping delays and inflation. White acknowledges the array of trials Bus Stop has had to contend with in recent years and admits that stock shortages continue to be a point of concern.

Much like his approach to the 2022 floods, White isn’t shying away from the challenge, instead choosing to use the stock shortages as an opportunity to innovate, improve and bounce back better than ever.

“Our commitment to offering leading parts and aftersales support isn’t just a corporate strategy – it’s a promise to the industry,” White says.

“We’re assuring the market that Bus Stop Sales will continue to evolve, adapt and stand firmly behind every King Long bus on the road.

“In the face of challenges, Bus Stop Sales isn’t just a provider of buses, it’s a partner committed to the success and longevity of its customers in the Australian bus and coach industry.”

busnews.com.au January 2024 ABC

41

FEATURE

DYSON GROUP

END OF AN ERA

Dyson Group and its leaders have enjoyed plenty of good times in its 71-year history. Now, both Dysons and its trio of former managing directors will have to adjust to life without one another as a new era begins for the Victorian operator

I

WORDS JOSHUA WARD IMAGES DYSON GROUP

n the walls of the Dyson Group’s head office in Bundoora, 40 minutes north of Melbourne as the crow flies, the operator holds many of its leaders throughout its 71-year history in high regard. In recent decades, ‘high regard’ has become synonymous with Dyson Group’s three former managing directors.

For nearly 40 years, cousins Lance Deacon, Neil and Shane Dyson expanded the Victorian bus operator into what it is today as one of only a few family bus businesses still thriving around Australia.

Their impact has been felt from Kyneton to Reservoir, from Bell Street to Wangaratta, and even as far north as Deniliquin. As a new era commences, their influence will now shift to the boardroom.

Late last year, a plan five years in the making came to its conclusion. Following a collective 143 years of service at the family-owned Victorian operator, the three managing directors hung up their 42

ABC January 2024 busnews.com.au

respective keys from both the company and the bus industry.

“There is no denying the significant contribution Lance, Neil and Shane have had at Dysons and in the bus industry in general,” Dysons told ABC. Out of those 143 years of collective service, 100 of them came from Shane and Neil. Even before they began officially working at the company, the Dyson boys were still helping out. Originally, both started at the company’s Reservoir depot after school at age 12, cleaning and fuelling buses with many of their cousins.

In these early days, Shane became well known to Dysons’ drivers by riding buses back and forth each day after school. When his time at the company started, it didn’t quite go to plan.

Wanting to begin as an apprentice, Dysons’ directors were looking for someone to take over as its operations manager in due time. When asked to fulfill this role,

Shane accepted. In 1982, he then took over the role he was destined to fill.

At 15 years old, Neil followed in his dad Col Dyson’s footsteps and became an apprentice mechanic. As he gained more experience with the company, he became more interested in the buying and selling of fleets and the management requirements of maintaining fleets of buses.

For Lance, his work life began outside of Dysons as a tax accountant. Back then, he worked with a member of the Dyson board in Terry Henderson. After Henderson opened Henderson Transport Consultancy, Lance began working with Dysons at arm’s length.

Eventually he joined Dysons in 1987, putting his tax accountant skills to work as the administration manager. Seven years passed, during which time his father, Bill, sadly passed away and Lance became general manager.

The year 1994 was a special one for Dysons and particularly for the trio as they took over the business as managing directors from Col and Bill Dyson. Neil took over the company’s fleet services and Shane the service delivery, while Lance became Dysons’ corporate services manager.

At that time, the only acquisition Dysons had made was of Reid’s Metropolitan Services. That all changed when the three cousins came to power.

Nine years after taking over the business, their first acquisition as a leadership trio came in the purchase of the Bell Street Bus Company and the ageing Cobb & Co. This was then supplemented by the acquisitions of Kyneton Bus Lines in 2006 and the Wodonga-based Mylon Motorways and Northern Bus Lines in 2008.

A fruitful decade in the 2010s saw Dysons expand its presence further.

It first acquired Melbourne-based operators Reservoir Bus Company and Midland Tours in 2012, before expanding further north with the purchases of Wangaratta Coach Lines and Shepparton Transit in the following five years.

The golden touch of the three cousins was then able to reach New South Wales with the acquisition of popular Deniliquin-based operator Purtill’s Bus and Coach in 2019.

After COVID hit in 2020, the

focus then turned to Victoria’s south-east for the set of managing directors. With that focus came the acquisition of two more companies, one based in Maffra and the other in Sale. With these purchases, the trio grew the company from less than 100 vehicles to more than 700 buses and from three depots to 12.

Eventually came time for the three to begin the search for a new leader to guide Dysons into the future. Following a year of searching, the managing directors found their successor. Breaking tradition and stepping outside of the Dyson family, they turned to a man with military and corporate logistics experience in Andrew Jakab. When first announced, Shane said that out of all the candidates the three looked at, he shined the brightest.

While their lengthy stint may have ended, they’ll still be able to drive off into the sunset knowing that they’ve left their mark on the bus industry through an emerging force in the Victorian and Australian bus sector.

Jakab’s commencement at Dysons in mid-2022 then saw the beginning of a smooth transition for him into the role of managing director and CEO. By 2023, the transition was complete, and so too was Dysons’ most successful era.

To honour their legacy, the company held a farewell party at its Bundoora headquarters on December 8. More than 150 guests attended the event, including Victorian climate action minister and member for Mill Park Lily D’Ambrosio.

While they may no longer sit on top, the trio will still play a role in Dysons’ new era as board members.

Their lengthy stint may have ended, but they’ll still be able to drive off into the sunset knowing that they’ve left their mark on the bus industry through an emerging force in the Victorian and Australian bus sector.

“From everyone at Dysons, we thank them all for their incredible achievement and lasting memories,” Dysons says.

“We hope they enjoy their retirement years and reflect on their incredible work with pride and gratitude.”

Above: The Dyson Group convened to farewell its three managing directors Left: Shane (left), Lance (middle) and Neil (right) on their final day Opposite, Top: From L to R: Andrew Jakab, Lance Deacon, Neil Dyson, Lily D’Ambrosio and Shane Dyson

busnews.com.au January 2024 ABC

43

S U B T BES N O I T I T E P M CO !

D E V L O V N I T GE

E T A P I C I T R A P O T E D O C SCAN QR Send in your best bus or coach photos to feature in next month’s magazine.

Sponsored by

BEST BUS COMPETITION

FEATURE

WINNER

ACROSS THE DITCH

I

The first Best Bus winner of 2024 takes us to picturesque New Zealand in Best Bus’ first international winning photo

n its history, Best Bus has showcased iconic photos of buses and coaches around Australia, stopping by landmarks and catching the perfect conditions.

The first Best Bus winner for 2024 breaks new ground, with the winning photo, courtesy of Paul Williams, showcasing a beautiful bus in a scenic New Zealand location.

Williams’ winning shot was picked out of a field full of many great photos, including Brett Hewitt’s eye-catching photo of a Firefly coach next to a locomotive.

Katie Habgood from Sid Fogg’s Coaches in NSW also provided a variety of wonderful photos that were honourable mentions, including shots of the operator’s new Volvo/Irizar fleet stopping off at Coober Pedy, Uluru and Mt Connor.

Yet none of these strong entries surpassed Williams’ iconic capture of a Pacific Tourways Ultimate coach with Aoraki Mt Cook in the background.

The photo, taken at Glentanner Park,

“All body work is by local body builder Kiwi Bus Builders from Tauranga.”

For the win, Williams and the Pacific Tourways team receives a free 12-month subscription to ABC Magazine for 2024,

The photo, taken at Glentanner Park, showcases the mountain in its full glory behind the coach. showcases the mountain in its full glory behind the coach.

Williams says Pacific Tourways operates six of these luxury 20-seater 13.5m coaches for Melbourne’s Grand Pacific Tours on tours throughout New Zealand.

“Five coaches are based on Scania K400/ K410 chassis and one coach is on a Volvo B11R chassis,” Williams told ABC.

while the winning photo is also ABC’s Facebook page cover photo for the rest of January.

With Williams breaking new ground in Best Bus, don’t forget to send through your Best Bus photos for February and throughout 2024 via email or by keeping an eye on our Facebook page for more details. busnews.com.au January 2024 ABC

45

FEATURE

BEST BUS COMPETITION

Top, Left to Right: John Louder submits from the outback, Neil Hicks from Lake Macquarie and Brett Hewitt’s Firefly with a friend Above, Left to Right: Maree Marshall captures a Sunbury coach, a sunny shot from Jack Deane, Scott Barnes’ Greyhound on the run and a Sid Fogg’s coach in Kakadu

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ABC January 2024 busnews.com.au

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47

FEATURE

48

BEST BUS 2023 HONOUR ROLL

ABC January 2024 busnews.com.au

Top, Left to Right: Ray Meli’s October winner from Canberra, May went to Marcus Oaten, Sam McKee’s sunflower shot from April Middle, Left to Right: A Brad Woodford beauty from November, Daniel Clarke won in June, Nathum Munroe’s ice cold July photo Bottom, Left to Right: Damian Shiambi’s December winner, Damien’s double decker delight in September, Matthew O’Reilly’s Big Bus from August

busnews.com.au January 2024 ABC

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EVENTS

BUS INDUSTRY CALENDAR OF EVENTS FOR 2024

Be sure not to miss out on an opportunity to attend these fantastic in-person events Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre Image: Daniel Gangur/Shutterstock

The next QBIC Annual Conference and Gala Dinner is in April. Image: QBIC

FEBRUARY

JULY

OCTOBER

Committee and Branch Meetings

APTIA Breakfast, Bus Show and AGM

New Zealand Conference, Due Drop Events Centre, Auckland

BusNSW February 13-22 QBIC February 16

BusWA July 11-12 QBIC July 20

Regional Member Forum Toowoomba

Regional Member Forum Chinchilla

BusVic February 27-29

BusVic July 27

Regional Conferences

MARCH

BusNSW March 4-8

Northern NSW Regional Seminars

BusVic March 13-14

Regional Conferences

BusNSW March 18-21

80th anniversary dinner – Sovereign Room, Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre

AUGUST BusWA August 5

Regional Trips begin

QBIC August 9

Future Leaders Luncheon

Southern NSW Regional Seminars

BusNSW August 30

BusVic March 25-27

SEPTEMBER

APRIL

Regional Conferences

QBIC April 5-6

Annual Conference and Gala Dinner

MAY

BusNSW May 13

Delegates Forum

Busworld May 15-17

NextGen Leaders Forum

BCA October 1-3

BusNSW October 9-10

2024 Member Conference

QBIC October 18-19

Cairns Regional Member Forum

BusNSW October 29-31

Technical Committee Meetings and AGM

NOVEMBER QBIC November 8

Regional Member Forum

BusNSW November 14-15

Associate Members Seminar and Partner’s Lunch

BusWA September 6

BIC November 20-22

Regional Trips end

National Conference, Hobart

BIC September 17-18

DECEMBER

National Bus and Coach Show – Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre

BusNSW December 2

Delegates Forum and Christmas Function BusWorld South East Asia Jakarta, coming in May. Image: Amru Fernandes/ Shutterstock

BusWorld South East Asia –Jakarta

JUNE QBIC June 8

Regional Member Forum Gympie

BusNSW June 20-27

Associate Member Seminars and Committee/ Branch Meetings

busnews.com.au January 2024 ABC

51

DELIVERIES

DECEMBER

Victoria recorded nearly half of December’s bus and coach deliveries in a busy month.

Image: Transit Systems

Deliveries finish on remarkable note

If recent deliveries at the back-end of the year weren’t impressive enough, the industry closed 2023 on a high note

W

ith the holiday period approaching, the Australian bus and coach industry would’ve been forgiven for slowing its delivery rate in the last month of 2023.

Instead, it stayed as impressively consistent as ever, recording 126 deliveries for the month to back up November’s 131 units.

In the chassis sector, a new leader reigned supreme in December to finish off the year with a high, as Scania snatched the market lead with 33 deliveries. It edged out the usual dominant force in Volvo (32) by a single delivery, with Yutong capping off a remarkable 2023 with another 24 deliveries to firmly cement itself in the top three.

There was daylight after that, with Custom Denning the next best with eight deliveries, just one ahead of King Long and BCI with seven apiece. Mercedes-Benz and MAN (five each) continued to remain consistent, while I-Bus (three) and Challenger with two units finished the year in style.

While there were surprises in the chassis market, no one could be shocked by who took out top spot in the body builder sector. It was much closer in December, but Volgren still won out with 28 deliveries for the month, staying ahead of the fast-approaching Yutong with 24. Scania Higer rounded out the top three with 20 units, keeping ahead of the persistent Irizar (16). Custom Denning (11) had a strong month, while both King Long and BCI (seven apiece) continued delivering. Express Coaches had a strong December with four deliveries, jumping ahead of five brands that shared the final nine deliveries between them.

It may not have pushed the half-century mark, but McConnell was still as imperious as ever in December with 38 deliveries in the seating market. It did have to continue to battle Sege, who once again impressed with 28 deliveries, while Yutong’s strong December

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ABC January 2024 busnews.com.au

reaped 24 units. StyleRide rose to 23 deliveries to finish the year well, while ISRI entered the market for the first time in 2023 with seven deliveries. APM recorded the three units, while Fainsa (two) and Marcopolo (one) got on the board in the last month of 2023.

The race also tightened in the air-conditioning game, as Thermo King had to fight to stay on top of the market with 26 deliveries.

Cling-Yutong snatched second with 24 units, while Konvekta rose rapidly to 20 deliveries in December. Both Hispacold (16) and Coachair (15) finished strongly, while Valeo (eight) and King Long, with seven deliveries, remained consistent. MCC (four), Spheros (three) and Songz (three) all wrapped up a productive year in the seating market.

Christmas presents were delivered in abundance in Victoria, with December being a busy one for the southern state. It recorded 52 deliveries, or 41 per cent of the market, for the final month of 2023, staying well ahead of the next best NSW with 30 deliveries.

Queensland came in third with 24 units, while Western Australia dropped back down from its October heights with 14 deliveries.

Tasmania were next with three units, while the Northern Territory (two) and South Australia (one) made sure they kept on the board to finish the year.

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

Christmas presents were delivered in abundance in Victoria, with December being a busy one for the southern state.

Volgren 28

Seat delivery units MCCONNELL 38 SEGE 28

Yutong 24 Scania Higer 20 Irizar 16

YUTONG 24 STYLERIDE 23

Custom Denning 11

ISRI 7

King Long 7

APM 3 FAINSA 2 MARCOPOLO 1

BCI 7 Express Coaches 4 I-Bus 3

It may not have pushed the half-century mark, but McConnell was still as imperious as ever in December with 38 deliveries in the seating market. It did have to continue to battle Sege, who once again impressed with 28 deliveries, while Yutong’s strong December reaped 24 units. StyleRide rose to 23 deliveries to finish the year well, while ISRI entered the market for the first time in 2023 with seven deliveries.

APM recorded the three units, while Fainsa (two) and Marcopolo (one) got on the board in the last month of 2023.

11%

1% 2% 2% NT SA TAS

Challenger 2 Coach Design 2 BusTech Group 1 Coach Concepts 1

41% VIC

WA

Percentage by

REGION 19% QLD

SALES BY BODY

While there were surprises in the chassis market, no one could be shocked by who took out top spot in the body builder sector. It was much closer in December, but Volgren still won out with 28 deliveries for the month, staying ahead of the fast-approaching Yutong with 24. Scania Higer rounded out the top three with 20 units, keeping ahead of the persistent Irizar (16). Custom Denning (11) had a strong month, while both King Long and BCI (seven apiece) continued delivering.

Express Coaches had a strong December with four deliveries, jumping ahead of five brands that shared the final nine deliveries between them.

SALES BY AIR-CONDITIONER The race also tightened in the air-conditioning game, as Thermo King had to fight to stay on top of the market with 26 deliveries. Cling-Yutong snatched second with 24 units, while Konvekta rose rapidly to 20 deliveries in December. Both Hispacold (16) and Coachair (15) finished strongly, while Valeo (eight) and King Long with seven deliveries remained consistent. MCC (four), Spheros (three) and Songz (three) all wrapped up a productive year in the seating market.

Thermo King 26 Cling-Yutong 24 Konvekta 20 Hispacold 16 Coachair 15

Valeo King Long MCC Spheros Songz

8 7 4 3 3

24% NSW

SCANIA 33 VOLVO 32 YUTONG 24 CUSTOM DENNING 8 KING LONG 7

Sales by chassis

BCI 7 MERCEDES-BENZ 5

In the chassis sector, a new leader reigned supreme in December to finish off the year with a high, as Scania snatched the market lead with 33 deliveries. It edged out the usual dominant force in Volvo (32) by a single delivery, with Yutong capping off a remarkable 2023 with another 24 deliveries to firmly cement itself in the top three. There was daylight after that, with Custom Denning the next best with eight deliveries, just one ahead of King Long and BCI with seven apiece. Mercedes-Benz and MAN (five each) continued to remain consistent, while I-Bus (three) and Challenger with two units finished the year in style.

MAN 5 I-BUS 3 CHALLENGER 2

busnews.com.au January 2024 ABC

53

DELIVERIES

DECEMBER

BCI

Challenger Custom Denning

I-BUS King Long

MAN

Mercedes-Benz Scania

Volvo

Yutong

54

Mee's Bus Lines Christian's Bus Company Go West Tours Thredbo Resort Lorken Transit Pinnacle Tours FNQ Bus Lines N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Surfside Buslines Kinetic Specialised Resources Marrickville Bus Lines Zig Zag Tours N/A AAT Kings Coach Company B & G Christian Cranbourne Transit Dyson Group Dyson Group Ventura Bus Lines Wangaratta Coachlines Warragul Bus Lines Warragul Bus Lines Warragul Bus Lines Wilson Coaches Wise's Bus Service Nuline Charter Tinonee Bus Company South Bundy Buses NT Bus & Coachlines CDC South East QLD Irizar Asia Pacific CDC Hunter Valley Buses Keolis Downer Hunter Transdev Queensland Public Transport Authority WA Public Transport Authority WA N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

ABC January 2024 busnews.com.au

UNITS

MANUFACTURER, OPERATOR & LOCATION VIC VIC WA NSW QLD WA QLD NSW TAS NSW NSW QLD QLD VIC QLD VIC VIC QLD QLD QLD VIC QLD QLD QLD NSW VIC VIC VIC VIC VIC VIC VIC VIC VIC VIC VIC VIC VIC VIC NSW QLD NT QLD QLD NSW NSW QLD WA WA QLD QLD QLD VIC VIC VIC VIC SA WA WA NSW NSW NSW NSW NSW NSW NSW NSW NSW

CHASSIS (Model)

BODY BUILDER

2 BCI Proma BCI 1 BCI Citirider 10 BCI 2 BCI Fleetmaster BCI 1 BCI Citirider 12 BCI 1 BCI Classmaster 57 BCI 1 Challenger V12 Challenger Bus & Coach 1 Challenger V12 Challenger Bus & Coach 3 Custom Denning Element 2 EV Custom Denning 3 Custom Denning Element 2 EV Custom Denning 1 Custom Denning Phoenix Custom Denning 1 Custom Denning Adventurer Custom Denning 1 Isuzu NPS 75-155 I-Bus Australasia 1 Isuzu NQR 87-190 I-Bus Australasia 1 Isuzu NPS 75-155 I-Bus Australasia 1 King Long King Long 1 King Long King Long 1 King Long King Long 1 King Long King Long 1 King Long King Long 1 King Long King Long 1 King Long King Long 1 MAN LE.19.330.RC2 BusTech Group 1 MAN IC.19.320.RR8 Irizar 2 MAN IC.19.320.RR8 Irizar 1 MAN IC.19.320.RR8 Volgren 5 Mercedes-Benz O500RS Irizar 2 Scania K 320C B4x2NB Coach Design 4 Scania K 310 IB4X2 Scania Higer 5 Scania K 320C B4x2LB Volgren 1 Scania K 320C B4x2NB Irizar 2 Scania K 320C B4x2NB Irizar 3 Scania K 320C B4x2LB Custom Denning 2 Scania K 360C B4x2NB Scania Higer 1 Scania K 360C B4x2NB Scania Higer 3 Scania K 360C B4x2NB Scania Higer 10 Scania K 310 IB4X2 Scania Higer 1 Volvo B8R Irizar 1 Volvo B8R Express Coaches 1 Volvo B11R Coach Concepts 1 Volvo B11R Irizar 1 Volvo B8R Volgren 2 Volvo B8R Irizar 3 Volvo B8RLE Volgren 1 Volvo B8R Irizar 6 Volvo B8RLE Volgren 3 Volvo B8RLE Express Coaches 4 Volvo B8R Volgren 7 Volvo B8RLE Volgren 1 Volvo B8RLEA Volgren 1 Yutong D7 Yutong 1 Yutong D7 Yutong 1 Yutong D9 Yutong 1 Yutong D7 Yutong 1 Yutong D7 Yutong 1 Yutong D9 Yutong 1 Yutong D12 Yutong 1 Yutong D7 Yutong 2 Yutong D7 Yutong 1 Yutong D9 Yutong 3 Yutong C12 Yutong 1 Yutong C12 Yutong 1 Yutong D12 Yutong 2 Yutong D12 Yutong 1 Yutong D12 Yutong 1 Yutong D12 Yutong 1 Yutong D12 Yutong 1 Yutong D7 Yutong 2 Yutong D7 Yutong

TOTAL DELIVERIES 126

ENGINES

TRANS­MISS

HP*

Rear / Front

Emissions standard

210 285 340 285 320 360 360 400 400 450 300 155 190 155 214 265 265 265 265 184 214 330 320 320 330 360 320 310 320 320 320 320 360 360 360 310 330 330 410 450 330 350 320 320 320 320 330 320 350 190 190 250 190 190 250 360 190 190 250 340 340 360 360 360 360 360 190 190

R R R R R R R L:R L:R R R F F F R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R R F F R F F R R F F R R R R R R R R F F

Euro 6 Euro 5 Euro 6 Euro 5 Euro 5 Euro 6 Euro 6 Zero Zero Euro 5 Euro 5 Euro 5 Euro 5 Euro 5 Euro 5 Euro 5 Euro 5 Euro 5 Euro 5 Euro 5 Euro 5 Euro 6 Euro 5 Euro 5 Euro 6 Euro 5 Euro 6 Euro 5 Euro 6 Euro 6 Euro 6 Euro 6 Euro 6 Euro 6 Euro 6 Euro 5 Euro 6 Euro 6 Euro 6 Euro 6 Euro 5 Euro 6 Euro 6 Euro 5 Euro 6 Euro 6 Euro 5 Euro 6 Euro 6 Euro 6 Euro 6 Euro 5 Euro 6 Euro 6 Euro 5 Euro 5 Euro 6 Euro 6 Euro 5 Euro 6 Euro 6 Euro 5 Euro 5 Euro 5 Euro 5 Euro 5 Euro 6 Euro 6

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

A A A A A A A N/A N/A A A AS AS AS A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A AS A AS AS A AS A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A

missions andard

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

Euro 6 Euro 5 Euro 6 Euro 5 Euro 5 Euro 6 Euro 6 Zero Zero Euro 5 Euro 5 Euro 5 Euro 5 Euro 5 Euro 5 Euro 5 Euro 5 Euro 5 Euro 5 Euro 5 Euro 5 Euro 6 Euro 5 Euro 5 Euro 6 Euro 5 Euro 6 Euro 5 Euro 6 Euro 6 Euro 6 Euro 6 Euro 6 Euro 6 Euro 6 Euro 5 Euro 6 Euro 6 Euro 6 Euro 6 Euro 5 Euro 6 Euro 6 Euro 5 Euro 6 Euro 6 Euro 5 Euro 6 Euro 6 Euro 6 Euro 6 Euro 5 Euro 6 Euro 6 Euro 5 Euro 5 Euro 6 Euro 6 Euro 5 Euro 6 Euro 6 Euro 5 Euro 5 Euro 5 Euro 5 Euro 5 Euro 6 Euro 6

A A A A A A A N/A N/A A A AS AS AS A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A AS A AS AS A AS A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A

TRANS MAKE ZF ZF ZF Allison ZF Allison Allison N/A N/A Alison Alison Isuzu Isuzu Isuzu ZF ZF ZF ZF ZF ZF ZF ZF ZF ZF ZF ZF Ecolife ZF ZF ZF ZF ZF ZF Scania ZF ZF ZF Volvo ZF Volvo Volvo ZF Volvo ZF ZF ZF ZF ZF ZF ZF Allison Allison Allison Allison Allison Allison Allison Allison Allison Allison Auto Auto Allison Allison Allison Allison Allison Allison Allison

AXLES

TRANS­MISSION

BODY LENGTH

AIR-CON

2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2

8.8 10.1 12.3 12.5 12.3 12.36 12.36 12 12 12.3 12.3 7.5 8.3 7.5 10 12 12 12 12 9 12 12.5 12.3 12.3 12.3 12.5 12.3 12.3 12.5 12.5 12.5 12.5 12.3 12.5 12.5 12.3 10 - 12.9 10 - 12.9 10 - 12.9 13 - 14.9 10 - 12.9 10 - 12.9 10 - 12.9 10 - 12.9 10 - 12.9 10 - 12.9 10 - 12.9 10 - 12.9 10 - 12.9 8 8 10 8 8 10 12.4 8 8 10 12.4 12.4 12.4 12.4 12.4 12.4 12.4 8 8

(metres)

NUMBER OF SEATS

(Brand)

Fixed Coach

Recliners

Valeo/Spheros Thermo King MCC MCC MCC Thermo King Thermo King Valeo Valeo Thermo King Valeo Songz Songz Songz King Long King Long King Long King Long King Long King Long King Long Thermo King Hispacold Hispacold Spheros Hispacold Coachair Konvekta Thermo King Hispacold Hispacold Coachair Konvekta Konvekta Konvekta Konvekta Hispacold Coachair Spheros Hispacold Thermo King Hispacold Coachair Hispacold Coachair Thermo King Thermo King Thermo King Thermo King Cling-Yutong Cling-Yutong Cling-Yutong Cling-Yutong Cling-Yutong Cling-Yutong Cling-Yutong Cling-Yutong Cling-Yutong Cling-Yutong Cling-Yutong Cling-Yutong Cling-Yutong Cling-Yutong Cling-Yutong Cling-Yutong Cling-Yutong Cling-Yutong Cling-Yutong

– 33 – – 57 – – – – – 57 20 32 20 – – – – – 40 42 – – 57 57 57 – 58 – 57 57 – 58 58 57 57 – 57 – – 61 – – 57 – – 65 – – 27 27 – 27 27 – 53 27 27 – 57 57 53 53 53 57 57 27 27

35 – 55 – – 57 57 – – 32 – – – – 42 – – – – – – – 57 – – – 50 – – – – – – – – – 53 – 57 56 – 48 – – – – – – – – – 39 – – 39 – – – 39 – – – – – – – – –

APPLICATION

Metro

Long Distance

Charter

City or Route

School

On Demand

– – – 45 – – – 41 41 – – – – – – 58 58 58 58 – – 47 – – – – – – 44 – – 44 – – – – – – – – – – 44 – 44 45 – 41 57 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

– – – – – – – – – X – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – X – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

– – X X – X – – – – X X – X X X – – – X – – X X X X – – – – – – – – – – X – X – – X – X – – X – – X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X – X X

– – – – – – – X X – – – – – – – – – – – – X – – – – – – X – – X – – – – – – – – – – X – X X – X X – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

X X – – X – X – – – – – X – – – X X X – X – – – – X X X – X X – X X X X – X – – X – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – X – –

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

SEATING StyleRide Sege Sege Sege Sege Fainsa Fainsa McConnell McConnell StyleRide Sege APM APM APM ISRI ISRI ISRI ISRI ISRI ISRI ISRI StyleRide Sege Sege Marcopolo Sege Sege McConnell McConnell Sege Sege McConnell StyleRide Sege Sege StyleRide Sege McConnell McConnell Sege McConnell Sege McConnell Sege McConnell StyleRide StyleRide McConnell McConnell Yutong Yutong Yutong Yutong Yutong Yutong Yutong Yutong Yutong Yutong Yutong Yutong Yutong Yutong Yutong Yutong Yutong Yutong Yutong

WHEEL SEAT CHAIR LIFT BELTS ACCESS

Y Y Y Y Y Y Y N N Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y N Y Y Y Y Y Y N Y Y N Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y N Y N N Y N N Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y

N Y N Y N N/A N/A Y Y N N N N N N N N N N N N N Y Y N N Y N N Y N N N N N N N N N N N N Y N Y Y N Y Y N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N N Y N

busnews.com.au January 2024 ABC

55

2023 DELIVERIES

WRAP-UP

Yutong’s 2023 included finishing secondt in the chassis and body builder markets while also delivering its 200th vehicle in a calendar year for the first time. Image: Yutong/VDI Australia

Remarkable rise

With 2023 now closed, the annual delivery statistics show that the year was a special one in terms of buses and coaches delivered

1

387. That’s the number of buses and coaches delivered to operators around Australia in 2023. It’s a number that highlights a remarkable effort from the entire industry over the past 12 months, surpassing 2022’s annual deliveries number of 1132 easily.

With an average of just under 116 deliveries per month, the bar was certainly raised by suppliers and manufacturers in 2023.

In the chassis sector, Volvo was once again far and away the market leader for 2023, recording an outstanding 418 deliveries for the year and peaking with 67 units delivered in March. The dramatic rise of Yutong was on full display last year, with the emerging brand finishing second with 220 chassis delivered, just ahead of third placed Scania with 207. The top three was easily clear of BCI in fourth with 108 units, while MercedesBenz rounded out the top five with 101 deliveries. King Long (83) and Custom Denning (72) both recorded strongly in 2023, staying ahead of MAN (50) and BYD (45) to finish the top 10 for 2023, with BLK (30) sitting just outside.

There were no surprises behind the top end of the body builder market for 2023, with Volgren reigning supreme with 375 deliveries for the year. Yutong came in second with 220, while Irizar (171) stayed ahead of BCI (135) and Custom Denning with 120. Outside of these leaders, King Long recorded 83 units for the year and kept ahead of Scania Higer (46), BusTech Group (40), BLK (36) and I-Bus (27). Marcopolo finished with 26 deliveries, while Express Coaches (25), Coach Design (22) and Coach Concepts with 20 were the only other brands to finish with double digit deliveries for the year.

The seating game was expectedly dominated by McConnell, who landed a whopping 538 deliveries in 2023. It was nearly double ahead of the second placed Sege, who had a strong

56

ABC January 2024 busnews.com.au

year with 301 deliveries, while Yutong rounded out the podium with 208 units. StyleRide grew stronger as the year went on to finish with 176 deliveries, 100 more than the next best King Long. APM recorded 29 units for the year, Marcopolo registered 24 and Fainsa passed double digits with 11 deliveries.

Another year and another period of market dominance for Thermo King in the air-conditioning game as it stormed to 389 deliveries for 2023. Its highlight was 58 deliveries in March, which kept it clear of the second-placed Cling-Yutong with 220 deliveries. Hispacold had a very consistent year to record 181

Another year and another period of market dominance for Thermo King in the airconditioning game as it stormed to 389 deliveries for 2023. deliveries, while Coachair (150) and Valeo (116) both passed the century mark. MCC and King Long were close the whole way with 87 and 83 deliveries respectively, while Denso landed 52 deliveries, Konvekta the 43, Spheros had 39 and Songz closed out the market in 2023 with 27 deliveries.

There was a clear winner in the state-based competition, as Victoria’s strong finish saw it snag top spot with 376 deliveries in 2023. Its rival NSW finished second with 327, staying clear of Queensland (281) and Western Australia (270). South Australia had a resurgent 2023 and landed 70 deliveries, while Tasmania (29), the ACT (20) and the Northern Territory (14) all remained consistent in a productive 2023.

Volgren 375 Yutong 220

Seat delivery units

Irizar 171 BCI 135

MCCONNELL 538 SEGE 301

Custom Denning 120

YUTONG 208 STYLERIDE 176 KING LONG 76

King Long 83 Scania Higer 46 BusTech Group 40

APM 29

BLK 36

MARCOPOLO 24

I-Bus 27

FAINSA 11 ISRI 7

Marcopolo 26

TST 6

Express Coaches 25

BUSTECH 3

Coach Design 22

PRECISION BUS 3 STER 2 CUSTOM METRO 2 VOGEL 1

Challenger 9 Supportrans 9 Gemilang 8

The seating game was expectedly dominated by McConnell, who landed a whopping 538 deliveries in 2023. It was nearly double ahead of the second placed Sege, who had a strong year with 301 deliveries, while Yutong rounded out the podium with 208 units.

StyleRide grew stronger as the year went on to finish with 176 deliveries, 100 more than the next best King Long.

APM recorded 29 units for the year, Marcopolo registered 24 and Fainsa passed double digits with 11 deliveries.

70

Coach Concepts 20

20 14 29 ACT NT

TAS

SA

Omnibus 7 ARCC 2 Global Bus Ventures 2 Foton 2 Bonluck 2

376 VIC

WA

Units by

REGION

QLD

SALES BY AIR-CONDITIONER

Another year and another period of market dominance for Thermo King in the air-conditioning game as it stormed to 389 deliveries for 2023. Its highlight was 58 deliveries in March, which kept it clear of the second-placed Cling-Yutong with 220 deliveries. Hispacold had a very consistent year to record 181 deliveries, while Coachair (150) and Valeo (116) both passed the century mark. MCC and King Long were close the whole way with 87 and 83 deliveries respectively, while Denso landed 52 deliveries, Konvekta the 43, Spheros had 39 and Songz closed out the market in 2023 with 27 deliveries.

270

281

SALES BY BODY

There were no surprises behind the top end of the body builder market for 2023, with Volgren reigning supreme with 375 deliveries for the year. Yutong came in second with 220, while Irizar (171) stayed ahead of BCI (135) and Custom Denning with 120.

Outside of these leaders, King Long recorded 83 units for the year and kept ahead of Scania Higer (46), BusTech Group (40), BLK (36) and I-Bus (27).

Marcopolo finished with 26 deliveries, while Express Coaches (25) and Coach Design with 22 passed double digits for the year.

327

Thermo King 389 Cling-Yutong 220 Hispacold 181 Coachair 150 Valeo 116 MCC 87

King Long Denso Konvekta Spheros Songz

83 52 43 39 27

NSW VOLVO 418 YUTONG 220 SCANIA 207 BCI 108 MERCEDES-BENZ 101 KING LONG 83 CUSTOM DENNING 72 MAN 50

Sales by chassis

BYD 45 BLK 30

In the chassis sector, Volvo was once again far and away the market leader for 2023, recording an outstanding 418 deliveries for the year and peaking with 67 units delivered in March. The dramatic rise of Yutong was on full display last year, with the emerging brand finishing second with 220 chassis delivered, just ahead of third placed Scania with 207. The top three was easily clear of BCI in fourth with 108 units, while Mercedes-Benz rounded out the top five with 101 deliveries. King Long (83) and Custom Denning (72) both recorded strongly in 2023, staying ahead of MAN (50) and BYD (45) to finish the top 10 for 2023, with BLK (30) sitting just outside.

I-BUS 27 BUSTECH GROUP 13 CHALLENGER 9 ARCC 2 FOTON 2

busnews.com.au January 2024 ABC

57

NEWS

THE BACK SEAT

TAKING THE LEAP As a bus nut, Michael Presta always wanted to run his own bus company. During COVID lockdowns, he decided to make his dream come true and start a growing Melbourne business

F

or bus enthusiast Michael Presta, the dream of running his own bus company was a lifelong ambition. In the midst of COVID lockdowns, he seized the opportunity to turn his aspirations into reality, marking the inception of Montrose Bus & Coach in Melbourne.

The desire to establish a bus company resonates with bus enthusiasts globally – a dream of overseeing the daily operations of rail buses and charter coaches, witnessing their departures at dawn and welcoming their return as the sun sets, sometimes later.

Michael Presta refused to let this vision remain a fleeting fantasy.

Instead, he transformed it into a tangible achievement.

Although the idea of starting his own bus company had lingered throughout his life, it took the encouragement of Presta’s wife-to-be Krissy to propel him into action.

“While I always harboured the desire to run my own company, my experiences made me reassess whether I truly wanted to pursue it,” Presta told ABC. “I struggled to take the leap before I met Krissy. She became 66

the catalyst for me to realise my dream.”

With a background in buses and coaches dating back to his apprenticeship at Melbourne’s Grenda’s Bus Services, and subsequent roles as a driver and in spare parts at Ventura, Presta’s journey towards becoming his own boss was a gradual process.

Amid COVID lockdowns in late 2020, Krissy’s encouragement led Presta to purchase his first bus—a 57-seat Mercedes-Benz coach that remains in service today. Departing from his position at Ventura, he took on a full-time job outside the industry while diligently laying the groundwork for his own company.

In early 2021, the newly established Montrose Bus & Coach secured its inaugural job, providing Presta with a solid foundation for

ABC January 2024 busnews.com.au

Top: Michael Presta has realised his dream of becoming a bus operator (Image Supplied: Michael Presta) Below: Montrose Bus & Coach continues to evolve its fleet (Image Supplied: Michael Presta)

expansion. From acquiring a lowfloor bus to adding a third vehicle to the fleet, Presta’s perseverance and speculative decisions fuelled the company’s growth.

Reflecting on the challenges of starting his own bus company, Presta acknowledged the setbacks, including an accident that rendered Montrose’s first low-floor bus unusable. Despite the hurdles, he remained committed to steering the small business forward, maintaining a diverse range of services.

Today, Montrose Bus & Coach boasts five buses and approximately eight staff under its banner. Presta’s vision, backed by the unwavering support of Krissy, is to evolve his passion project into a prominent bus and coach company.

Expressing deep gratitude to his exceptional team, Presta says his staff have made invaluable contributions to make the journey possible.

“I am humbled by the incredible team that surrounds me,” he says.

“I now have aspirations to expand the charter side of the business moving forward.”

Acknowledging the risks taken in late 2020, Presta finds himself at the helm of the flourishing Montrose Bus & Coach. Looking back, he expresses appreciation for his family and friends’ support, emphasising the indispensable role played by Krissy in their shared journey. While challenges persist, Presta is content, having transformed the childhood dream of a bus enthusiast into a tangible reality—one that he wouldn’t trade for anything else.

“To quote Walt Disney, all our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them,” he says.

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