Australasian Bus & Coach Issue 449 (Jan 2025)

AUSTRALASIAN BUS & COACH

Yutong

Celebrating milestones

BLK

Quality service

SCANIA

Proven to excel ISSUE 449 January 2025 $5.95 inc GST

SCHOOL SPECIAL CHALLENGER IS SHOWING OFF THE VERSATILITY OF SOME OF ITS MOST POPULAR MODELS

Leading systems: Oliveri family Inspiring the young: Russ the Story Bus Overcoming obstacles: FAT

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IGNITION

EDITOR’S NOTE

Prioritising the engine room With the bus and coach industry continuing to grow and adapt to change, Australia’s operators have become the beating heart of a resilient sector

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f the Australasian bus and coach industry can be likened to the human body, the legion of operators working around the area form its heart. From the outback tours that traverse Australia’s arid heat to the inner city bus services that handle immense traffic and carry hordes of passengers safely each day, operators continue to help push the industry to the next level.

Many challenges persistently confront operators. Rising costs. Safety debates. The ability to source and retain quality drivers.

While juggling these issues, operators around Australasia continue to serve passengers with a smile and the utmost professionalism. It’s this dedication and on-the-ground perspective that makes their insights so vital to the future of the industry.

It’s this reasoning that underlines the importance of ABC’s annual Operator Showcase table and survey. This January edition of ABC marks the third year of the Showcase, with operators invited throughout 2024 to list the latest information on their company while also sharing their thoughts on the state of the sector. This 2025 edition has seen a remarkable increase in participation, with 97 operators having their say in the third running of the Operator Showcase.

Their input is telling. While zero-emissions buses have become the dominant topic of the industry in the past 18 months, the Operator Showcase survey shows that the hype is yet to break through to the operators. A variety of factors are at play with this, including a lack of government policy, rising prices and range anxiety. These factors continue to prevent many operators from making the switch to the sustainable technology.

On top of this, the survey highlights an increasing concern in hiring and retaining skilled bus drivers who can provide high quality trips each and every day to the communities they serve.

It’s this feedback that makes the 2025 Operator Showcase the most critical one yet, as it comes at a volatile time for operators wanting to have their voices heard. The Showcase not only shares operator views, but

also a handy table that shines a deserved spotlight on the many great and diverse companies running bus and coach services in Australia. We thank each and every participant for their involvement and for the wonderful work they do in serving their communities.

This January edition of ABC is all about the operators, with our stories being crafted towards highlighting some of the companies driving Australasia’s bus industry forward. In this space it was a pleasure being able to chat to bus industry legend Frank Oliveri about his family’s incredible story. From Italian migrants to Australian bus powerhouses, the Oliveri story, from page 42, has reached its apex as they celebrate 70 years of transporting people.

Another great celebration was had

by Fantastic Aussie Tours in NSW’s Blue Mountains, with our very own assistant editor Tiarna Condren providing an excellent recap on the half-century milestone reached by the vibrant bus and coach operator on page 26.

On the manufacturer side, Challenger is quickly rising from its operator background to become a personal and trusted supplier of a range of bus and coach options, including the school bus market (page 20).

Outside of these operator tales, the theme of ‘Back to School’ is allowing many OEMs to get off to a hot start in 2025. Following a record year of deliveries, which can be seen in detail from page 56, the likes of VDI/Yutong, Scania and BLK all have some exciting stories to share. We hope you have a happy new year and enjoy this first edition of ABC for 2025.

Sean Mortell EDITOR, ABC

ABC • busnews.com.au

Challeng

AUSTRALIAN OWNED, AUSTRALIAN DESIGNED, AUSTRALIAN SUPPORTED

CHALLENGER BUS & COACH

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CONTENTS

ISSUE 449 JANUARY 2025

EXECUTIVE GROUP COO: Christine Clancy CEO: John Murphy Head of Customer Experience: Regina Fellner

EDITORIAL & DESIGN

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Image: Challenger

Managing Editor: Geoff Crockett e-mail: geoff.crockett@primecreative.com.au Editor: Sean Mortell e-mail: sean.mortell@primecreative.com.au Assistant Editor: Tiarna Condren e-mail: tiarna.condren@primecreative.com.au Design: Caterina Zappia

PRINTING Brougham Press

in the know

42. feature | oliveri family LASTING LEGACY

4. editorial | prioritising the engine room With the bus and coach industry continuing to grow and adapt to change, Australia’s operators have become the beating heart of a resilient sector

08. news | all aboard

46. feature | cure cancer GRILLING FOR GOOD

Check out the latest news from around Australia and the world

BarbeCURE is encouraging Aussies to flip some snags and raise money for cancer research

features

49. competition | best bus COASTAL CRUISE

20. cover story | challenger ONLY THE BEST Reliability and safety are among the top priorities when choosing a school bus, with Challenger now being a top choice for operators across the country

24. feature | vdi/yutong SCALING UP

The January winner of ABC’s Best Bus comes courtesy of Jay Miller and his cruisy shot of a Ventura bus

departments 47. events INDUSTRY EVENTS FOR 2025

Marking its 300th Yutong delivery in Australia for 2024, VDI celebrates a milestone that highlights its dedication to customer service and its growing impact on sustainable transport solutions in the Australian bus industry

Grab your pen and update the diary with the latest industry events

The 2025 ABC Operator Showcase survey features 97 operators from around the country who provided their insights into the current Australian bus and coach industry

www.busnews.com.au/subscribe ph: +61 (0)3 9690 8766 Mon-Fri 8am-4.30pm (EST) e-mail: subscriptions@primecreative.com.au mail: 379 Docklands Drive, Docklands VIC 3008 Australia Annual subscription rates (12 issues): Australia: $99* Overseas: $A170 (Australian air-mail only) *price includes GST

The bus and coach deliveries data for Australia is in for 2024, and it far surpasses the efforts of previous years

58. back seat | news RUSS THE STORY BUS The Russ the Story Bus program aims to inspire an early love of reading that lasts a lifetime

BLK Auto’s new national aftersales and technical manager will look to provide unparalleled service to customers

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.

40. feature | scania FIRST CHOICE After finding success with four previous Scania models, Mullumbimby Bus Services are keen to put its fifth addition on the road

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SUBSCRIPTIONS

56. deliveries | 2025 recap INCREDIBLE YEAR

28. operator showcase | 2025 FACING CHALLENGES

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

Check out the latest bus and coach supplier sales data collected and recorded for you to review and see how the market fared in December

Operating in the Blue Mountains for 50 years, Fantastic Aussie Tours has overcome many challenges to get to where it is

Facebook facebook.com/ABCBusnews

Sales Manager – South: Courtney Walker ph: 0481 736 890 e-mail: Courtney.Walker@primecreative.com.au

52. factory facts | bus deliveries DECEMBER DELIVERIES

26. feature | fantastic aussie tours OVERCOMING THE ODDS

38. feature | blk PEOPLE FIRST

In November 2024, the Oliveri family celebrated 70 years of transporting people in Australia. Through trials and tribulations, the family is now looking to build on its rich history of running bus services

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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

NSW releases orders for 319 new electric buses The NSW government has revealed who it has ordered more than 300 zero-emissions buses from to bolster its fleet The New South Wales government has announced a massive investment in sustainable transport with an order for 319 battery electric buses.

As part of Transport for NSW’s (TfNSW) zero-emissions bus program, the buses will be supplied by four manufacturers in VDI-Yutong, Volvo, Foton Mobility Distribution and Custom Denning.

Manufacturers will supply a mix of vehicles consisting of either buses built in Australia, or where key bus components are imported and the bus is fitted out locally. This means that all buses will have some local equipment fit out as a minimum for the ZEB program’s first bus order.

“The first zero emission bus orders for the program mark an important milestone in what is an undeniably ambitious plan to transition all public transport diesel and gas buses to zero emission buses in Greater Sydney by 2035, in Outer Metropolitan regions by 2040, and in Regional NSW by 2047,” TfNSW coordinator-general Howard Collins says.

“NSW is leading the way with the largest ZEB fleet in Australia, while also supporting the government’s aim of progressively increasing local goods, services and workforce in bus manufacturing to 50 per cent for future bus orders by 2027.

“That’s why we are delivering the program in stages in close consultation with industry, to give local industry, including manufacturers, the opportunity to increase capability and capacity with the knowledge that there is a sustained pipeline of bus orders.

“We want to encourage investment in the future of local manufacturing and support the growth of the industry in NSW and Australia wide in new technology and the jobs skills that will be created.”

Marking a significant step forward in the multi-billion-dollar program to transition NSW’s 8,000-plus diesel 8

Above: A further order for more than 150 battery electric buses is expected to be placed early next year. Image: Transport for NSW

and gas public transport bus fleet to zero emissions technology, 276 of the new buses will be operational on the Northern Beaches and North Shore by 2028.

The remaining 43 battery electric buses will service the new Western Sydney International Airport.

A further order for more than 150 battery electric buses is expected to be placed early next year with around 1000 more buses to be ordered by 2027.

“Ultimately it’s the community that will benefit from this investment as the majority of Transport’s carbon emissions currently come from our diesel and gas buses – instead we will have a cleaner, quieter fleet across NSW,” Collins says.

Stage 1 of the ZEB Program, covering Greater Sydney, will see almost $3 billion invested to convert and build depots across the region, purchase around 1,500 new electric buses and invest $25 million for regional trials in

new and emerging technologies.

The ZEB Program is well underway with Brookvale Bus Depot currently being converted to be the first pantograph (overhead) charging depot in Australia. Work is expected to be complete in mid-2025.

Under the first stage of the ZEB Program, Transport will build a new electric bus depot at Macquarie Park and convert 11 existing bus depots to 100 per cent battery electric bus operations at Brookvale, Kingsgrove, Leichhardt, Tempe, North Sydney, Willoughby, Penrith, Smeaton Grange, South Granville, Taren Point and Menai. A further four bus depots in Mona Vale, Waverley, Port Botany and Randwick will be partially converted.

TfNSW says there are 180 battery electric buses already in operation in Greater Sydney, including three in Newcastle, with around 1,700 battery electric buses anticipated to be in service on Sydney roads by 2028.

ABC • busnews.com.au

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NEWS

Transport for NSW responds to B-Line fleet concerns Transport for NSW has responded to calls from an independent MP and Keolis Downer to address B-Line fleet issues Transport for NSW (TfNSW) has told ABC it has changed the schedule of the state’s popular B-Line bus services and added additional buses to address fleet wear and tear concerns.

In October last year, independent member for Wakehurst Michael Regan sent a letter to NSW transport minister Jo Haylen outlining his worries about the service reliability of the B-Line bus fleet due to ongoing wear and tear.

Run by Keolis Downer as the only form of public transport on the Northern Beaches, Regan says he often hears issues about the service’s reliability.

“I have a positive working relationship with Keolis Downer, the private operator for Region 8 and communicate with them regularly.

They have raised serious concerns with me about the longevity of the B-Line fleet given the very high mileage per annum,” Regan says.

“They anticipate the reliability of the service will become increasingly problematic as the fleet ages.

“I am informed by Keolis Downer that they are starting to see engine issues already, due to the very high usage of the buses.”

In response, ABC reached out to TfNSW, who says they have regularly added more services to the B-Line schedule and introduced four additional buses to the fleet.

“The most recent additional bus started operating B-Line services in October 2024, providing 30 extra trips per week,” a TfNSW spokesperson told ABC. “On January 19, 2025, the B-Line timetable has again been improved, with 82 additional trips each week increasing frequency and capacity.”

TfNSW says it acknowledges the high utilisation of the B-Line fleet servicing the northern part of Sydney, introducing the extra four 10

ABC • busnews.com.au

Below: Wakehurst representative Michael Regan is calling for the NSW government to invest in new Euro 6 emissions standard diesel double deckers. Image: Bruce/stock.adobe. com

buses to the original fleet.

“Regular inspections and preventative maintenance are conducted to identify and address potential issues before they arise,” the spokesperson says.

“A comprehensive fleet replacement plan is in place to ensure the ongoing reliability and efficiency of the bus network. This plan takes into account factors such as vehicle lifecycle, technological advancements and changing passenger demands.”

Regan says Keolis Downer has reported that the majority of the buses have clocked in excess of 650,000km, operating on average 100,000km per annum, when they were only designed to operate 60,000 to 80,000km per annum.

Engine issues due to high kilometres relate to fuel injector systems and turbo units, with Keolis Downer already having to do these types of engine repairs.

“They are of the view these buses will not reach their 25 year planned life span and instead think their asset life is closer to 12-14 years,” Regan says.

“The B-Line fleet was procured in 2017, so this takes us to around 2030.

“Although it’s feasible to potentially replace all these vehicles at the same time in the future, the issue is, as they age,

they will start exhibiting age related reliability, all at the same time, likely leading to chronic reliability issues.

“Unlike other routes, there is no alternative double decker B-Line to substitute with. Replacing buses in a staggered approach will avoid this risk.”

Regan says Keolis Downer’s concerns are consistent with findings from the NSW Bus Industry Taskforce’s second report that highlighted the systemic inadequacy of forward planning and forecasting in relation to bus fleet asset management.

“As far as I am aware, there is not any current options for an electric double decker bus to purchase to start replacing the B-Line fleet,” he says.

“I am a champion of electric buses and very much support the NSW government’s ambitious policy to roll out electric buses at scale. However, I am concerned if restrictive policy settings may have unintended consequences of hindering the ability to meet operational needs, deteriorating reliability, therefore pushing commuters off public transport and back into private vehicles – an outcome nobody wants.

“The policy should preference electric, wherever possible, but not prohibit purchase of non-electric buses.”

NEWS

Pandemic response leader appointed Transport and Planning secretary Former Victorian Commonwealth Games and COVID-19 response leader Jeroen Weimar will replace the outgoing Tim Younis in the role The Victorian government has appointed Jeroen Weimar as the secretary of the Department of Transport and Planning (DTP), commencing from January 27, 2025.

During the pandemic, Weimer led Victoria’s operational response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including testing and vaccination.

Following this, he was appointed as the Commonwealth Games chief, shortly after Victoria won the bid. However, the Games were subsequently cancelled in July 2023 by the state government.

Most recently, as deputy secretary of Housing Statement Implementation at the Department of Premier and Cabinet, Weimer worked on and supported ministers in delivering

Above: Jeroen Weimer has significant leadership experience in transport and planning. Image: Jeroen Weimer

a series of major new reforms to Victoria’s planning system to build more homes, which were announced in October 2024.

Weimer has significant logistical and leadership experience in transport and planning, boasting over 10 years working in the industry.

He has held roles as head of

transport services at the Department of Transport, CEO of VicRoads and CEO of Public Transport Victoria, where he worked to deliver a more reliable and accessible network for Victorians. He was also previously COO of Transport for London.

“I look forward to the energy and enthusiasm he will bring to the task of leading teams that will deliver the ongoing transformation of the transport network and the government’s agenda to build more homes,” premier Jacinta Allan says.

“His extensive experience in logistics, public transport operations, service delivery and organisational reform has established him as an innovative leader.”

New Metro Tasmania director appointed Transport minister Eric Abetz says the ‘the future for Metro is bright’, with the new appointment bringing years of experience to the role Metro Tasmania has announced the appointment of Tim Booker as a non-executive director, set to serve for a three-year term.

Booker is the managing director of Apex Advisory, a corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions and restructuring business based in Tasmania.

He was previously a director at Deloitte Australia in the Turnaround and Restructuring team and is currently Chair of The District Nurses, as well as High Risk Work Solutions, a training provider owned by Master Builders Tasmania.

“I want to extend my congratulations to Tim Booker on his appointment as a non-executive director of Metro Tasmania for the next three years,” Tasmanian transport minister Eric Abetz says.

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ABC • busnews.com.au

“Booker replaces Yvonne Rundle on the Board, who has served as a non-executive director of Metro for six years as Deputy Chair and Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee.

“I sincerely thank Rundle for her careful diligence of overseeing Metro’s financial management practices and risk management program, as well as her broader contribution and leadership.

“The future for Metro is bright, as Tasmanians continue to benefit from half-price public transport and real-time bus tracking right around the corner.

“Metro is a key component to the success of our 2030 Strong Plan for Tasmania’s Future and I look forward to continuing our good work in partnership with Booker.”

Jane Sargison was appointed for a further three-year term after

completing her first one-year term and Tony Braxton-Smith was re-appointed as Chair for a further 12-month term.

Above: Tim Booker is set to serve for a three-year term. Image: Apex Advisory Australia

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NEWS

How will the Brisbane Metro roll out?

The Brisbane Metro is set to begin permanent operations in January, but what will this look like for passengers?

The long-awaited Brisbane Metro bus rapid transit services are set to begin permanent operations on January 28, commencing with services between the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital and The University of Queensland.

The Metro will be rolled out in stages, part of a landmark agreement between the council and the new Crisafulli government.

This agreement follows a highly successful four-week preview of the Brisbane Metro bus rapid transit services on the 169 route, which saw 94 per cent on-time running and a 4.3 out of 5 customer satisfaction rating.

The new vehicles have a passenger capacity of 150 (with the potential to increase to 170 in event mode), with the 24.4m long and 2.6m wide HESS vehicles being double the length of a standard city route bus.

With three passenger compartments and a separate driver cabin, accessibility is key, with real-time travel information screen being combined with onboard WiFi and USB charging points.

Stage one: Underway Starting at the end of October last year, the Brisbane City Council launched metros on Route 169 for a four week preview.

Brisbane residents and visitors received an opportunity to experience metros early and provide on-board feedback. The council also launched a revised bus network that you can explore through a comprehensive guide and interactive tool.

Upgrades were made to platforms 1 and 2 at Cultural Centre station for easier boarding while UQ Lakes station was revitalised, installing end-of-trip chargers.

King George Square station was also upgraded with new screen doors to enable all-door boarding.

Stage two: January 2025 Starting on January 28, 2025, the council will be launching metros on the M2 route (Route 66) alongside the early 14

ABC • busnews.com.au

Right: There are five stages to the roll-out.

Image: Brisbane City Council

implementation of nine Brisbane New Bus Network routes.

It will also be implementing new and updated school services, and getting operationally ready with scheduling and timetabling, and M1 trial operations.

Brisbane residents and visitors will get high-frequency, high-capacity services to universities and key city locations on the M2 route, improved school access with district services in time for the school year and more seats on Route 66.

Stage three: April-June 2025 Commencing in the second quarter of 2025 (April-June), the council will be launching its biggest bus network change in a decade.

Brisbane Metro services will replace route 111 and 160 bus services, becoming the permanent ‘M1’ Brisbane Metro service, running at five-minute frequencies between Eight Mile Plains and Roma Street.

The second stage of Brisbane’s new bus network will commence, including five new bus routes, four new all-day services, 12 combined bus routes for improved efficiency, three divided routes for better reliability and capacity for an extra 55,000 students to UQ, QUT and Griffith universities.

Stage four: July-September 2025 In the third quarter in 2025 (JulySeptember), the council will be completing construction of the Adelaide Street bus tunnel. The construction project has logged more than 350,000 hours of work since

September 2021.

Brisbane residents and visitors will get a dedicated connection between the Inner North and South East busways for metros and buses, to alleviate bottlenecks in the CBD and free up the network.

Stage five: Late 2025 and beyond Rapid business cases are set to commence on the expansion of Brisbane Metro services to Carseldine, Springwood, Capalaba and the airport.

There will also be detailed planning to commence on the northern metro depot.

Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner says the fully electric Brisbane Metro is the most advanced electric bus in the world with the best accessibility and sustainability features, with the council to collect feedback from customers.

“Brisbane Metro is the step-change our growing city needs to get more people on public transport, which will ease congestion on our roads and help keep Brisbane moving,” Schrinner says.

“More trips are taken to UQ than any other location outside the CBD and Brisbane Metro will make it easier for people to get to this destination sooner and safer.

“Eight Mile Plains to UQ is one of our city’s busiest bus journeys and our state-of-the-art Brisbane Metro vehicles will give passengers a preview of the future of public transport.

“Brisbane Metro will deliver the biggest improvement to accessible mass transit in Queensland for decades and we’re excited to welcome passengers onboard.”

Security screens in buses fast-tracked in Adelaide With concerns of bus driver safety on the rise, the SA government has fast-tracked the rollout of innovative security screens The installation of security screens in South Australian buses has become a growing topic over the past 12 months as an increase of violent and anti-social passenger behaviour has swept the state.

While the screens were anticipated to installed in all Adelaide Metro buses over the next four years, the SA government has announced the initiative has been fast-tracked, with network-wide installation now set for completion before the end of 2026.

The security screen consists of stainless-steel black metal frames, with three polycarbonate screens of up to 9.5mm thickness. The screen is designed so as not to become detached if yanked or wrenched and will ensure drivers are shielded

Right: The screens will be fitted around two years ahead of schedule. Image: Department for Infrastructure and Transport South Australia

from violent and unruly passengers while also ensuring adequate vison to mirrors, doors and windscreen.

Currently, all government-owned buses are equipped with a three-quarter length driver screen, which provides partial protection.

However, the new full-length screens will offer a higher level of security, aiming to extensively shield drivers from potential harm.

The state government also

announced it will be enhancing the security presence across Adelaide Metro bus services, to provide additional peace of mind to patrons.

Afternoon security patrols across Adelaide’s south, outer north and outer north east have been extended, and are now running from 3pm until 1am, seven days a week, on all routes.

This marks a significant increase in the existing security presence, which previously ran from 5pm to midnight from Monday to Friday on the southern service, and from 6pm on the outer north. The outer north eastern O-Bahn services previously ran from 3pm till 11pm Sunday to Thursday and from 6pm to 1am Friday and Saturday.

The increase represents an additional 63 patrol hours each week.

Agreement reached in Metro Tasmania driver stand-off A new enterprise agreement is awaiting approval, with the RTBU suggesting Metro Tasmania is being “left to wither” to justify privatisation The Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU) has announced that it has reached an in-principle agreement with Metro Tasmania to end the ongoing stand-off with drivers.

The deal for a new enterprise agreement for Metro Tasmania bus drivers means all protected industrial action has now been withdrawn, including all existing work bans and planned work stoppages.

RTBU Tasmania secretary Byron Cubit says bus drivers will now vote on whether they accept the proposed enterprise agreement.

“It’s been a long and difficult negotiation, but we now believe we have reached proposed enterprise agreement that is worthy of being put to bus drivers for their consideration,” Cubit says.

“We set out to achieve three things with these negotiations: lock-in the 10 per cent temporary pay rise provided in 2023, build on that with incremental pay rises over the next three years and improve working conditions.

“The proposed enterprise agreement delivers on all three of those objectives.”

Cubit says bus drivers would receive a 3.5 per cent pay rise per year for the next three years, on top of the 10 per cent ‘temporary’ pay rise from 2023.

Bus drivers would also have access to critical incident leave – a first for the Australian bus industry.

Other highlights of the proposed three-year enterprise agreement include a revised classification structure and backpay to July 1, 2024.

“We believe improved work

conditions will help Metro Tasmania to recruit and retain staff. Ultimately, the RTBU wants Metro Tasmania to succeed, and to get back into a position where it can deliver more frequent and reliable services to the community,” Cubit says.

He says Metro Tasmania remained chronically under-funded by the state government and more government support was needed to make Metro Tasmania financially sustainable.

Above: All protected industrial action has now been withdrawn, including all existing work bans and planned work stoppages. Image: Metro Tasmania

busnews.com.au • ABC

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NEWS

Busways to deliver new critical service in Western Sydney Busways will operate 18 new zero-emissions buses for the service, included as part of the first stage of the ZEB Program for Greater Sydney

Australian-owned bus operator Busways has been chosen to deliver a critical new bus service linking key Western Sydney hubs, including Penrith and Mount Druitt, to the Bradfield City Centre and the new Western Sydney International Airport.

Under an extension to Greater Sydney Bus Contract 1 (GSBC1), Busways will operate 18 additional zero emission buses (ZEBs) on new weekly services from Busways Penrith Depot, doubling the size of the depot’s ZEB fleet.

The new buses were included in Transport for NSW’s (TfNSW) recent ZEB purchasing announcement, as part of the first stage of orders.

“These new Penrith ZEBs are another significant milestone as Busways works with Transport for NSW to plan for the full electrification of Busways’ Penrith Depot and prepares to operate Transport for NSW purpose-built all electric bus depot in Macquarie Park,” Busways head of assets and safety Chris Wolf says.

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ABC • busnews.com.au

“We’re working very closely across the board with Transport for NSW to help achieve the NSW government’s zero emissions goals and we look forward to playing a vital role in supporting Western Sydney’s transport needs and contributing to the success of the transformative Western Sydney Airport project.

“We’ve already ordered a new 1.5MVA transformer to increase power capacity at Penrith Depot, as well as extra electric chargers, and advancing plans for depot expansion to accommodate the growing ZEB fleet.

“We’re on track to complete these depot upgrades next year, well in time to get these services underway once the bus order arrives.”

Stage 1 of the ZEB Program will see TfNSW invest almost $3 billion to convert and build depots across the region, purchase around 1,500 new electric buses and invest $25

million for regional trials in new and emerging technologies.

Under the first stage of the ZEB Program, TfNSW will build a new electric bus depot at Macquarie Park and convert 11 existing bus depots to fully battery electric bus operations, including Busways’ Penrith depot. A further four bus depots will be partially converted.

“NSW is leading the way with the largest ZEB fleet in Australia, while also supporting the government’s aim of progressively increasing local goods, services and workforce in bus manufacturing to 50 per cent for future bus orders by 2027,” TfNSW coordinator-general Howard Collins says.

“That’s why we are delivering the program in stages in close consultation with industry, to give local industry, including manufacturers, the opportunity to increase capability and capacity with the knowledge that there is a sustained pipeline of bus orders.”

Above: The new buses were included in Transport for NSW’s recent ZEB purchasing announcement.

Image: Busways

Nexport CEO moves over to Ebusco Ebusco has announced some drastic structural changes to the company, including appointing a new COO and dissolving the executive committee Bus manufacturer Ebusco has announced it is restructuring its organisation to optimise its transition to an Original Equipment Designer (OED) model and streamline operations.

As part of this plan, the company will be dissolving its executive committee, shifting responsibilities to the management board.

The company and Roald Dogge, current Ebusco COO, mutually agreed that the COO role under the new OED structure requires different competencies.

Roald Dogge retired from the company at the end of last year, with Michel van Maanen jumping onboard as COO. Most recently, van Maanen served as CEO of Australian transport company Nexport, where he successfully managed a contract manufacturing model that is similar to the model that Ebusco is implementing.

In the new setup, the COO is fully responsible for the core process of the organisation from bus sale, engineering and production to after sales, remaining heavily involved in the implementation of Ebusco’s turnaround plan.

“This will lead to clearer, more reliable processes and responsibilities and, ultimately, a stronger cooperation

with all partners throughout the entire value chain,” an Ebusco statement reads.

Positions such as Chief Technology Officer, Chief HR Officer and Chief Commercial Officer will be eliminated as part of the restructuring, with their responsibilities redistributed.

The changes will be finalised after shareholder approval at an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM).

“Ebusco appreciates the strong commitment of the departing Executive Committee members,

Above: With Ebusco’s new structure, Michel van Maanen is fully responsible for the core process of the organisation. Image: Nexport

during their time at the company and wants to thank them for their contributions,” the statement reads.

The manufacturer also announced it has come to agreements with various customers on the cancellation of 95 buses.

“These orders include buses not yet in production and complex configurations that are not part of the company’s current portfolio.

“The discontinuation of these orders will contribute to a more realistic production plan.”

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The jewel in the

Join the conversation in Perth this October The Bus Industry Confederation’s National Conference (BNC25) is heading out west in 2025 and you’re invited.

Featuring thought-provoking content via technical and industry experts, the event comes with a full complement of networking and social activities, plus the annual industry awards.

Carefully constructed, the program broadly covers reform, safety, ZEBs and infrastructure, IR, workforce, finance, plus other emergent trends and issues. Presentation EOIs will open shortly.

Front and centre: BNC25 offers the opportunity for grandstanding exposure of your brand before top bus and coach executives, government and influential industry stakeholders.

Get in touch with our team to discuss how you can partner with us today:

events@bic.asn.au >>

moving people

BIC

Safe to go back to school

I

The BIC has turned its safety focus towards school buses as students all around the country prepare to hop back onto buses for term one

t’s that time of the year again when parents and guardians can sigh in relief after a long six weeks of allover-the-place-ness! But, before we can fully return to our pre-school holidays routines, there’s lots of prep to be done to get students ready for their new year at school and that includes reminders about bus safety.

Still considered one of the safest ways to go, bus travel is not without incident, which is why education at an early age is a good idea.

The Bus Industry Confederation, government, the NHVR and other industry bodies implement various initiatives to inform improvements to bus travel safety on the part of vehicles, drivers, road rules, infrastructure and passengers.

Road Safety Week prompts what to do and what not to do around buses, while New South Wales’ ‘Be Bus Aware’ initiative last year prompted us to give buses plenty of space and to exercise caution around blind spots.

The NHVR’s ‘We All Need Space’ campaign also served to remind road users how to share roads safely with buses.

Last year, the DITRDCA set up a Bus Safety Working Group to regulate safety. The Group’s mandate includes standardising bus doors, updating bus driver safety screens and improving seatbelts, signage and usage reminders. The Rural and Regional Bus Seat Belt Program ensures buses travelling on high crash-risk outer metro roads are fitted with seatbelts.

In 2024, 82 dedicated school buses in NSW’s Hunter region had seatbelts installed.

The BIC similarly provides support through the development of operator guidelines and advisories on fire safety and passenger door safety, among

others, as well as numerous papers to government and reviews. Its 2023 Safety Initiatives Paper details eight bus safety enhancements and recommendations that cover three general themes, updates to new technologies, community education via national campaigns, and improvements to driver background checks. Read the paper via bic.asn. au/publications.

School bus passenger safety has always been a top priority, however external measures aren’t always enough to avoid incidents, with a total of 90 fatalities involving buses carrying school-aged children occurring between 1989 and 2020 (half due to pedestrians and cyclists).

The BusSAFE initiative works to prevent these unfortunate occurrences through bus safety education sessions across Australian primary schools, teaching children how behaviour can directly affect safety in and around buses. Key messages include safe, respectful bus stop and onboard behaviour, safe

Above: School bus safety is critical for students.

Image: Transport for NSW

seatbelt, headphone and phone use, and what to do in an emergency.

The program was officially launched last year in September during the National Bus and Coach Show in Brisbane.

“Ensuring safety is a key part of our shared mission in the bus industry,” BusSA executive director Craig Spurr says.

“Empowering students with knowledge and skills to help keep themselves and others safe is an investment in the future.

“Promoting a life-long safety mindset will also contribute to the ongoing safety of our drivers.”

On the back of a successful three-year pilot in South Australia – with over 5,000 students attending sessions – the trial was extended to Queensland and Tasmania from term four 2024 throughout 2025. Sessions are free for rural/regional public schools during the trial, and also for private schools.

For more information, please visit bussafe.com.au. busnews.com.au • ABC

19

CHALLENGER

COVER

Only the best

Reliability and safety are among the top priorities when choosing a school bus, with Challenger now being a top choice for operators across the country WORDS TIARNA CONDREN IMAGES CHALLENGER

O

ne of the hardest days for a parent is sending their child off to school for the first time.

New backpacks stuffed with stationery and homemade snacks, the parent handing over responsibility after years of care.

While the experience can be filled with emotion and dread, knowing a child is getting there safely can ease

20

ABC • busnews.com.au

some of the worry.

Over 20 per cent of school kids in Australia catch some form of public transport to school, with a large majority being buses.

Schools and operators have recognised the need for safe and reliable vehicles, often turning their focus to manufacturers like Challenger for vehicle purchases.

“We have been steadily supplying

Above: The third Challenger will be joining the Maitland Lutheran School early in 2025

buses for school services for a while now,” Challenger Victorian sales manager Dan Campbell told ABC. “It’s been amazing building relationships with schools across the country and providing them with high quality buses that will suit their needs.”

One of these budding relationships is with Maitland Lutheran School in South Australia.

With its third Challenger bus expected to hit the road in term one, the school has had an exceptional experience with the manufacturer so far.

“When we decided that we needed to uniform our fleet and prioritise keeping maintenance costs low, Challenger was one of the first places we looked at,” Maitland Lutheran School head mechanic Xavier Reynolds-verco told ABC. “We had heard that Challenger builds buses that are easy to maintain and come with great aftersales care, and we were almost sold immediately.”

The thing that tipped the school over the line was the Challenger team’s eagerness to get them in front of one of the buses.

Driving a V12 interstate to the school, Reynolds-verco says he was blown away by their care and service.

“They hadn’t even closed a sale or anything at the point, but they were willing to drive all that way just so we would be confident in our decision,” he says.

“We are a country school, and they didn’t have to go to all that effort for us. But by doing that, it showed to us that we would be well looked after.”

When delivering its first V12 around 12 months ago, Challenger CEO Greg Sloan came by for the occasion, taking the time to sit with Reynolds-verco and explain anything he may need to know.

“He pulled me aside for 40 minutes and just went over everything – things that I might need to know and how to care for the bus,” he says.

“He was incredibly transparent, and you can tell he believes very strongly in the product they sell.”

Since then, Maitland Lutheran School now has two Challenger V12s in its fleet, with the third set to be delivered very soon.

Testing the buses on one of its more common runs from Maitland in South Australia to Point Turton, the school is now confident it can send the buses on some of the more rural paths.

“So far, the buses have been excellent. They run incredibly smoothly and are reliable, even in

some of the more rural parts.

“We can trust that they will never let us down.”

One of the highlights of the buses, Reynolds-verco says, is how easy it is to install school lights.

“I’ve installed school lights to other buses, and running the cables to the rear is a real pain when everything

Below: Bennett says the Challenger V10 is “the perfect school bus”

like the trim is installed,” he says.

“But the Challenger buses come with all of that school bus wiring pre-installed in case it becomes a school bus.

“You just pull off rear covers and front covers, and there’s the wiring hanging there. It’s already got the module in it.

busnews.com.au • ABC

21

COVER

CHALLENGER

“Everything they have done for us has been gold.”

Maitland Lutheran School isn’t Challenger’s only happy customer, with Greg Bennett from Bennett Bus Service equally as thrilled with his purchases.

Running a school bus service for Tooleybuc Central School in New South Wales, he says his V10 was just what he was after.

“When I first enquired about possibly purchasing a bus, Dan Campbell put me in touch with companies that have already got them,” Bennett told ABC. “I ended up getting a meeting with the people at Castlemaine Bus Lines and they couldn’t speak highly enough about Challenger.

“Every time I spoke to somebody about him, I was getting more and more sold on mine.”

Owning the bus now for around 12 22

ABC • busnews.com.au

months, the V10 has been fitted with 45 seats and is “the perfect school bus” according to Bennett.

A standout for the operator was the aftersales care he received after a small mishap with the headlight.

“Right before the quarterly inspection, I noticed the headlights wouldn’t work,” he says.

“I took it in and rang Dan up, who said they had never had that happen before.

“In no time, it was all fixed and I haven’t had any other dramas with it.”

Bennett says his experience with the team and the bus has sold him on Challenger, with future purchases a definite.

“I’ll tell anybody who wants to buy one too that they should come and have a look and have a chat to me,” he says.

“I am happy as buggery with it.”

Above: Maitland Lutheran School has a third V12 on the way Right: The Challenger product is standing up to regional school run tests

FEATURE

YUTONG

Scaling up

Marking its 300th Yutong delivery in Australia for 2024, VDI celebrated a milestone that highlights its dedication to customer service and its growing impact on sustainable transport solutions in the Australian bus industry

T

his achievement by Vehicle Dealers International (VDI) underscores the company’s ability to meet diverse customer needs. Comfortable seats, fuel efficiency, driver comfort – the customer can piece together what they deem to be the perfect bus.

For Macarthur Anglican School in New South Wales, the Yutong C12 ticked all the boxes. Working with Yutong and its Australian distributor VDI for over a decade, the team at Macarthur have shown a strong preference for its products.

“Since we bought our first Yutong, we have had nothing but quality and reliability with the vehicles,” Macarthur Anglican School transport manager Matt Kelly told ABC. “We’ve had great experiences and built lasting relationships with the sales team at VDI, who have helped us choose the right bus each time. That’s why we keep buying them.”

24

ABC • busnews.com.au

IMAGES PAUL ALDRIDGE Purchasing its first Yutong back in 2014, the Macarthur fleet has now grown to include nine Yutong buses, with its latest arrival carrying significant importance.

“This delivery marks our 300th Yutong bus sold in Australia,” VDI national sales manager Sara Clark told ABC. “It’s an outstanding milestone for VDI and our partnership with Yutong in Australia, because it really shows the testament of the dedication, commitment and passion of the entire team.

“It’s not just about the number. It’s about our ability to connect with our customers, understand their needs and deliver fit for purpose products in Australia.”

The new C12 was the perfect solution for Macarthur, configured as a 57-seat school bus that prioritises passenger and driver comfort, as well as safety.

Above: The growing Yutong fleet at Macarthur Anglican School welcomed the brand’s 300th delivery in Australia

The new C12 offers advanced intelligent technology and integrated design. Convenient control configurations ensure a smooth driving experience.

The students are also well cared for, with the model sporting comfortable seating, individualised personal air-conditioning, USB ports and luggage room.

“This new model features some of our newer technology, from Advanced Emergency Braking System (AEBS) and 360 degree cameras to mobile eye and the Advanced Driver Assistance System,” VDI account manager Karl Rogan told ABC. “By combining all of these features into the one model, we are ensuring that the students are travelling in a safe environment.”

Having a driving background himself, Kelly took a C12 demo model out on the road for a whole week before committing to the purchase.

“I wanted to make sure it would be suitable for the type of runs we do,” Kelly says.

“Yutong had made improvements to virtually every area compared to its older models, so it was a great bus to drive.”

The buses in the Macarthur fleet are often subject to longer runs, the longest being between Sandy Hook and Cobbitty in NSW. Due to the range needed, the C12 diesel model proved to be the most efficient for what was needed.

The C12 is powered by a Cummins six cylinder, turbocharged and charge air cooled engine, running 340hp with 1600 Nm torque, delivering reliable performance for long-distance travel.

All Yutong diesel buses are Euro 6 compliant, meeting the highest standards for emissions control. The company’s commitment ensures that customers benefit from the latest in clean technology, contributing to a healthier environment and more sustainable public transport solutions.

A highlight of the purchasing process for Kelly has been VDI’s ability to quickly deliver quotes and buses when required, with the VDI team pulling together quotations that ensure all of Kelly’s needs are met.

“They will sit down with me and

work out exactly what I’m after, offering me advice and making sure the price is suitable,” he says.

“We wanted CCTV footage within the bus this time, and we thought we should get two quotes and see.

“They said it was much more productive if we had the one quote, and it worked out to be the best solution for everyone.”

While the VDI team is hands-on during the purchasing process, its aftersales support and parts division is the standout feature of what it offers local customers.

Above: The newest addition, a C12 Below: The VDI team celebrated a milestone in late 2024

With more than 800 students needing to be shuttled from place to place, it’s imperative that the fleet is always in tip-top shape.

“They’ve got a great parts division over at VDI, so if I need parts, they’re always readily available in the shop,” Kelly says.

“We have no issues with parts.

When we get our vehicles repaired, VDI has the parts that we need, and there’s not much of a delay, or no delay at all.

“We are able to get back up and running in no time.”

VDI prides itself on its customer service, securing long-lasting relationships that go beyond a typical sale.

“We have a strategic process where we approach and deal with customers after the sale,” VDI customer service co-ordinator Mark Tierney told ABC. “That includes engaging with the customer, making sure that the bus is running, handling their issues and making sure we follow through on them.

“Communication is vital when it comes to maintaining these relationships, and our relationship with Macarthur proves that we are doing it right. This commitment to communication has been key to achieving the 300th delivery milestone.”

busnews.com.au • ABC

25

FEATURE

FANTASTIC AUSSIE TOURS

Overcoming the odds Operating in the Blue Mountains for 50 years, Fantastic Aussie Tours has overcome many challenges to get to where it is IMAGES FANTASTIC AUSSIE TOURS

T

he end of 2024 saw plenty of manufacturers, operators and companies celebrate milestones.

From delivery records, to profit margins, it seems parties were being held nationwide in recognition of amazing achievements.

One such cause for celebration was the 50th anniversary of Blue Mountains based transport company Fantastic Aussie Tours (FAT).

“50 years is a big achievement and it’s very exciting to be there,” managing director Jason Cronshaw told ABC. “It’s been a long time in the making, and we have definitely had our ups and downs, but that’s what makes this achievement even more thrilling.”

Born off the back of founder John Cronshaw’s love for organisation and planning, the company started back in 1968 after the Oberon high school teacher put his hand up to organise a Year 12 study trip – the first NSW public school overnight school excursion.

Enjoying the process, it wasn’t long before he was arranging excursions for other schools.

In November 1974, he and then wife Lorraine moved to Katoomba and decided they wanted to switch up their lives.

“My mum and dad, they started the business together,” Cronshaw says.

“They turned what was then their side hustle into a full-time business. It only grew from there.”

Above: The couple rebranded Katoomba Scenic Tours to Golden West Tours in 1976 Below: The Explorer Bus fleet is back on the road 365 days a year 26

ABC • busnews.com.au

They took over Katoomba Scenic Tours with Graham Barker in 1976 and re-branded the company Golden West Tours with business partner Claude Bowden and director Malcolm Inglis.

In 1984, John met Darrell Booth at Jenolan Caves driving for another bus company, encouraging he and wife Sue-Ellen to jump onboard. They have been integral to the business since.

Two years later, the first Blue Mountains Explorer Bus pulled out of Katoomba station with two passengers who hopped on and off the double decker bus around Katoomba and Leura at will.

The service operated on weekends and public holidays but really ratcheted up a gear when the bus was painted red. At its peak, the service operated 365 days a year and carried 65,000 passengers.

“We expanded into Sydney for a while with Great Sights South Pacific Sydney Day Tour company, later sold to Gray Line,” Cronshaw says.

Golden West Tours eventually became Fantastic Aussie Tours and Blue Mountains Sightseeing.

“That was a tough market to be in with a larger range of competitors in the big world,” Cronshaw says.

“We decided to pull back from Sydney and come back to where our roots were. That meant that when we came back to the Blue Mountains, we started to really flourish.”

Jason Cronshaw took over as general manager in 2006 (now managing director) and his wife Monique worked the booking office.

“I used to work in the business around school times when I was younger,” he says.

“I had that passion for it straight away, so when the time came for me to join, I was over the moon.”

Sue-Ellen Booth still works in the office, while Darrell Booth manages fleet management and John Cronshaw continues to have input into the business from his home near Port Macquarie.

Christian Fellowship Tours (CFT), which operates guided holidays around Australia and the world to every continent, even Antarctica, was added to the company in 2009.

In 2017, FAT became the first certified 100 per cent carbon neutral bus charter transport service in Australia under the federal government’s Carbon Neutral Program.

The Explorer Bus was the first

tourism operator/transport service in the country to be certified, and FAT and Explorer Bus were the first to operate a certified carbon neutral bus and coach fleet.

In late 2019 to early 2020, as every arm of the company was doing well, bushfires ravaged the Blue Mountains.

The Explorer Bus sat idle for months, while charter jobs were cancelled and the company rapidly lost money.

Finally, just as rain extinguished the fires, floods and landslides started ravaging the area.

Just as things were getting back on track, the pandemic took hold. With

Above: One of the Katoomba Scenic Tours buses Below: Managing director Jason Cronshaw

all aspects of the company closed for business, no international tourists and little government support, FAT sold half its bus fleet to survive.

“The worst thing during this time was thinking, well, how long is this going to go on for?” Cronshaw says.

“It was the uncertainty that really got to us.

“But obviously, we picked ourselves back up and have been looking forward ever since.”

The Explorer Bus fleet is back on the road 365 days a year, and the retro Ansett Clipper bus sold during the pandemic is back in the FAT fold.

Cronshaw says he couldn’t be happier with how the business has overcome all challenges and looks forward to another 50 years.

“Fantastic Aussie Tours has been part of my whole life, and what a blessed ride it has been,” he says.

“Sure, we have had challenges and obstacles, but we have worked through them together as a business and as a family.

“We have built on what my parents started and look forward to whatever the future holds for the next 50 years when the third generation has the opportunity to have a go.

“Sherille Booth and Elliot Buchanan are keen, and my kids Emmagen, Cooper and Mackenzie are too young yet, but we’ll see what happens.”

busnews.com.au • ABC

27

28

ABC • busnews.com.au

2025

OPERATOR SHOWCASE

Facing challenges

The 2025 ABC Operator Showcase survey features 97 operators from around the country who provided their insights into the current Australian bus and coach industry

T

he past 12 months in the Australian bus and coach industry have been nothing short of eventful. Both bad news and welcome changes have graced the space, yet one thing remains the same.

Operators remain one of, if not the most, critical part of the industry, ensuring the day-to-day operations of buses within the country remains running smoothly.

With this, they serve as an insight into what is playing out successfully, and what will need amending, with their first-hand experience proving invaluable.

The ABC Operator Showcase for 2025 surveyed 97 operators around

Australia, ranging from inner-city and metro companies to country and regional businesses that shared 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 2025 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.

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

Above: Australian operators had a lot to say about the current industry.

Image: Volvo Bus Australia

Zero-emission scepticism While the transition to zero-emissions buses and coaches has plagued political discourse and filtered into regulation, this year’s Operator busnews.com.au • ABC

29

OPERATOR SHOWCASE

Showcase results show that operators are remaining on the fence with the massive change.

Over the past three years, the Operator Showcase survey has found an increase in respondents with no zero-emissions vehicles in their bus and coach fleets. From 83 per cent in 2022 to 89 per cent in 2023, this year shows that 92 per cent of the 97 participants have no zero-emission buses in their fleets.

Outside of the 92 per cent with no zero-emissions models, six per cent report having between one and 10 per cent of their fleet filled with electric or hydrogen fuel cell buses, while one per cent say zero-emissions vehicles constitute between 41 and 50 per cent of their fleet. The final one per cent say 91 to 100 per cent of their vehicles fall within the zero-emissions category.

A drop in numbers is also consistent when looking at those operators with future intentions to transition to zero-emission fleets. The survey saw 20 per cent of respondents say

2025

Costs are still too high

yes, a drop in three per cent from last year and an overall 12 per cent drop since 2022.

However, respondents indicating they don’t intend to transition dropped from 28 per cent last year to 22 per cent this year, with operators perhaps changing their stance on the move.

Remaining consistent with the past editions of the survey, the majority of respondents remain unsure of their intentions, with 58 per cent undecided on what the future of their fleets look like.

Diesel still reigns supreme this year as the preferred fuel source, increasing two per cent from last year to sit at 70 per cent of respondents. In line with last year, seven per cent of the operators in the Showcase prefer electric buses while five per cent choose hydrogen fuel-cell as their fuel of choice.

Alternative biofuel has two per cent of the respondents’ support and the remaining 16 per cent have no preference.

With a cost-of-living crisis raging across the country and the effect being felt in every industry, it’s no surprise that the biggest problem operators see with the zero-emissions transition is the cost.

Of the 97 operators in this year’s Showcase, 36 per cent, up two per cent from last year, say the price of transitioning was the biggest issue facing this change.

Other operators find that range anxiety is the biggest problem, with 23 per cent highlighting this as a concern, while 14 per cent say space for charging infrastructure is a critical issue. The remaining 27 per cent list a range of other issues spanning from electricity supply and grid upgrades to local supply, policy framework gaps and infrastructure funding.

Other respondents say transitioning government contracts to a specific technology is currently unclear, with the diversity of operations possibly requiring numerous fuel sources to be considered.

What is the biggest problem that operators see with the transition to zero-emission buses?

Percentage of respondents 40

30

20

10

30

ABC • busnews.com.au

r he Ot

ng S In pac fa e st fo ru r C ct h ur ar e gi

Ra

ng

e

An

xie ty

Pr ice

0

Of the 97 participants, around eight per cent say they have constructed transition or training plans to accommodate for the zero-emissions transition. The remaining 92 per cent either have no plans in place and don’t intend to formulate any or are waiting until they purchase their first zero-emission vehicles. A number of participants say they are waiting for more information and guidance from governments, while others are waiting for local TAFE and other educational institutions to devise them.

Inside the big issues As is well known in the industry, driver shortages have become a pressing issue, with the recruitment and retainment of accredited drivers an overarching theme in the Showcase survey.

When asked if they are struggling to retain workers for the business, 28 per cent of respondents say yes, while only 16 per cent find no issue with retaining and recruiting staff. The remaining 55 per cent of operators involved in the survey have chosen not to comment.

Many operators feel they are struggling to recruit the ‘next generation of staff’ and that the current age profile of drivers could be an issue in the future.

Operators in the Showcase survey report that poor road conditions across the country is also an ongoing issue; while running costs of

Preferred power source

None 16

Alternative biofuel 2

Hydrogen fuel-cell 5 Electric 7 Diesel 70

operations and increasing fuel prices have been a pain point over the past few years.

Support from the government and legislation has been heavily mentioned as a required solution among the 97 respondents to make the push for zero-emissions vehicles more feasible for their businesses.

Below: Many themes were similar compared to the 2024 Showcase.

Image: Keolis Downer

All of this summarises the key issues that 97 Australian bus and coach operators want to see tackled and potentially resolved in 2025 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 2026 Operator Showcase survey later this year.

busnews.com.au • ABC

31

OPERATOR SHOWCASE

2025 LOCATION

COMPANY NAME

YEAR FOUNDED

ACT

NSW

NT

VIC

QLD

OP SA

TAS

WA

METRO

A1 Tour & Charter

1978

AAT Kings Coach Company

1928

Adelaide Bus & Coach SA

2009

Alice Silver Passenger Services

2020

Allstarr Coaches

2008

Bentleigh Coaches

2007

AusCoach

2024

Aust-wide Tours

1997

Australia Wide Coaches

1992

*

*

Australian Prestige Coaches

1991

*

*

Australian Transit Group

2004

Baldwins Buses

2002

Brisbane Mini Bus Charter

2000

Bus Operator

1956

Bus Tour Rhymes Limo Bus

2012

*

Busfleet Australia

2013

*

Busways

1942

*

Buswest

2004

Cairns Region Minibus Group Transfers

2018

City Tour Coaches

2019

*

Clarke Coaches

1992

*

Cole's Coaches

1972

Connect Coaches

2016

Cooee Tours

1996

*

*

Cross Country Tours

1981

*

*

D R & K L Brown

1998

Deanes Coaches Group

2016

Dion's Bus Service

1923

32

ABC • busnews.com.au

* *

*

*

*

* *

*

*

* *

* *

*

*

* *

*

*

*

*

* *

*

*

* *

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

* *

*

* *

* *

*

OPERATING AREA(S) WA

METRO

REGIONAL

OUTER METRO

*

*

*

* * *

NUMBER OF DRIVERS

NUMBER OF OPERATIONAL AND OTHER STAFF

NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES

NUMBER OF BUSES IN FLEET

NUMBER OF COACHES IN FLEET

Light, Gawler, Playford, Adelaide Plains, Onkaparinga, Barossa, Adelaide

1

16

4

21

17

8

All over Australia

9

60

30

100

1

42

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

1

15

3

20

20

4

Alice Springs, Uluru, Central Australia

1

11

3

15

9

2

*

*

N/A

1

12

3

15

0

5

*

*

*

Glen Eira

1

1

1

1

1

1

*

*

*

City of Sydney Council

1

7

2

9

0

3

*

*

*

N/A

0

3

2

5

0

3

*

*

*

City of Sydney, Orange

2

30

5

35

0

15

Lane Cove

0

3

1

4

0

4

Cockburn, Melville, Fremantle, Perth, Wangara, Armadale, Lower Swan, Midland, Mandurah, Rockingham, Bunbury, Busselton

46

850

100

1050

100

550

Berrigan Shire, Moira Shire

2

20

3

24

18

0

Brisbane, Moreton, Ipswich, Redlands, Logan

0

15

2

6

14

2

Boroondara

50

400

50

500

326

4

Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast

1

6

8

2

5

1

*

Byron, Sydney, Mansfield, Cairns

6

70

16

92

75

30

*

*

*

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

185

2000

165

2800

1350

3

*

*

*

Australia-wide

40

800

60

900

110

750

N/A

0

1

1

1

3

0

*

Wollongong, Shellharbour, Sutherland, Macarthur

3

29

3

35

4

19

*

Hornsby Shire

1

7

1

9

0

4

*

Geelong City, Surf Coast, Otway, Moyne, Warrnambool City

4

56

10

70

50

4

*

Central Coast

0

4

2

6

4

2

*

*

*

* *

*

*

* * *

*

NUMBER OF WORKSHOP STAFF

*

* *

COUNCILS SERVED

*

*

*

*

*

*

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

4

12

2

18

22

10

*

*

*

Australia-wide

0

8

12

25

0

8

*

Launceston

1

3

1

2

3

0

*

ACT, Snowy Monaro

2

23

9

34

6

17

Wollongong

1

33

6

40

21

0

*

*

busnews.com.au • ABC

33

OPERATOR SHOWCASE

2025 LOCATION

COMPANY NAME

YEAR FOUNDED

ACT

NSW

NT

VIC

QLD

Dyson Group

1952

*

Eastend Bus Service

2008

*

Edwards Coaches

1959

*

Emerson Bus Company

1978

*

Enterprise Coaches Australia

2021

*

Fantastic Aussie Tours

1974

Fassifern Coaches

1952

Go West Tours

2000

Good Az Gold Tours & Transfers

2002

Graham Foreman Bus Service

1997

OP SA

TAS

WA

*

METRO

*

*

* * *

*

*

* *

Grant's Coachlines

1996

Gull Services

1980

haidleys panoramic coaches

1966

*

Helensvale Coaches

2012

*

*

*

*

*

*

HR AM Roos

1961

Hubbards Coaches

1997

*

Kangaroo Bus Lines

1978

*

Keendew/Crisps

1990

*

Wells Waggons

1964

Kings Christian Education

1980

*

Koala Koaches

1963

*

Langley's Coaches

1983

Le Charabanc Private Charters

2020

Lesmurdie Bus Service

2005

Marulan Truck and Bus

2005

*

Matnik Investments

2015

*

McHarrys Buslines

1924

*

McKenzie's Tourist Services

1927

*

*

Melmax Bus Group

1992

*

*

MIA Coaches

1983

*

Millers Buses

2014

*

Montrose Bus & Coach

2021

*

*

Mount Evelyn Christian School

1973

*

*

34

ABC • busnews.com.au

*

* * *

* * *

*

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

Melbourne, Darebin, Yarra, Nillumbik, Banyule, Moonee Ponds, Hume, Whittlesea, Edward River, Hay, Adelaide City Council, Alpine Shire, ACT, Bass Coast, Bathurst, Baw Baw, Benalla, Berrigan, Campaspe, Cardinia, Casey, Central Goldfields, Conargo, Cootamundra Gundagai, Dubbo, East Gippsland, Edward River, Eurobodalla, Greater Bendigo, Greater Shepparton, Griffith, Indigo, Lachlan, Latrobe, Macedon Ranges, Merribek, Mitchell, Moira, Moonee Valley, Mount Alexander, Parkes, Snowy Valleys, South Gippsland, Strathbogie, Towong, Wagga Wagga, Wangaratta, Wellington, Wodonga, Yarra, Yarriambiack, Albury, Murray River

50

1150

150

1350

475

225

*

Midwestern Regional

1

8

2

10

7

2

*

Armidale, Uralla

4

45

5

55

28

7

*

Tablelands Regional Council, Mareeba Shire Council

2

15

5

18

13

2

*

City of Moreton Bay

0

2

0

2

0

2

*

Blue Mountains City Council

2

30

5

40

4

11

*

Scenic Rim, Ipswich

3

53

3

59

47

0

*

Perth, Bunbury, Newman, Karratha, Darwin, Tom Price, Busselton

40

550

60

650

100

550

Hawkesbury, Hills, Blacktown, Penrith

2

16

3

19

9

8

Kinston South-East District Council

1

4

4

4

3

4

Adelaide Metro

REGIONAL

*

*

*

*

OUTER METRO

*

* * *

*

5

30

5

40

20

10

*

*

*

Geelong, Tullamarine

4

36

2

55

23

16

*

Warwick

3

7

2

10

8

2

Gold Coast

1

5

1

8

5

3

*

*

*

Tenterfield

1

4

0

4

2

1

*

Toowoomba

2

15

9

30

15

0

*

Moreton Bay City Council, Brisbane City Council, Sunshine Coast Regional Council

19

163

10

250

160

52

*

Southern Downs, Ipswich, Brisbane, Goondiwindi, Moree

2

14

4

20

20

12

Circular Head, Waratah Wynyard

2

25

2

28

27

1

Gold Coast City Council, Logan Council, Brisbane South

2

35

4

1050

28

17

*

Gold Coast City Council

3

36

4

43

2

32

*

Orana and Far West

4

45

6

60

30

50

*

Bunbury

1

2

2

2

1

1

* *

*

* *

*

*

* * * *

*

*

*

*

*

*

1

4

1

5

5

0

Goulburn

3

3

1

7

0

3

Mid Coast

2

20

2

25

18

4

40

350

30

370

256

15

6

55

4

65

58

3

Geelong, Golden Plains, Otway, Whittlesea, Queenscliff, Surf Coast Yarra Ranges, Shire of Murrindindi, Maroondah City, City of Melbourne, Nillumbik Shire, Dandenong Ranges Shire

Hume City

5

25

3

5

24

14

*

Griffith, Carrathool, Murrumbidgee, Leeton, Narrandera,

5

40

5

50

60

10

*

Wagga Wagga Shire, Lockhart Shire, Greater Hume Shire

2

15

3

20

13

0

Melbourne

1

7

2

10

3

2

Yarra Ranges, Maroondah, Knox, Whitehorse

1

16

2

180

4

4

* *

Kalamunda, Swan, Belmont

*

*

busnews.com.au • ABC

35

OPERATOR SHOWCASE

2025 LOCATION

COMPANY NAME

YEAR FOUNDED

ACT

NSW

NT

VIC

QLD

OP SA

TAS

WA

METRO

Mt Gravatt Coach & Travel

1974

*

Nambour Christian College

1980

*

Near or Far Bus and Coach

2017

*

Nelson Coachlines New Zealand

2023

*

North Coast Charters

2022

*

Outback Aussie Tours

1988

*

Palmers Tours

2023

*

Popes Timboon

1930

Port Bus Charters, Tours & Rentals

2017

*

Port Stephens Coaches

1957

*

*

Punchbowl Bus

1947

*

*

R & N Bilsborough

1967

*

Red Bus Services

1940

*

RiverCity Bus Service

2015

Road world

2000

Rockleigh Tours

1950

S.O Nadebaum & D.V Lehmann

2003

Sale Bus Lines

2014

*

Sanderson Bus Lines

2022

*

Sapphire Coast Buslines

2001

Simcocks' Bus Services/Metro Melbourne Coaches

1946

*

*

Skylight Buslines

2002

*

*

Snowliner Coaches

1964

Southern Cross Transit

1988

Southside Bus & Coach

2014

*

Spindlebox Buses

2018

*

StavLink Transit

1987

Sydney Coaches

2011

The Geelong College

1861

Transit Scenic Tours

1931

Tropic Wings Cairns Tours & Charters

1983

Ventura Bus

1924

Vics Maxi Transport

2001

Warre Coach and Charter

2022

Go Ona Bus

2010

Whitsunday Transit

1997

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ABC • busnews.com.au

*

*

*

* *

*

*

*

*

*

*

* * *

*

* *

* *

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

* *

*

*

*

* * * *

*

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

Brisbane, Logan

5

80

12

97

82

39

Sunshine Coast Council

2

21

2

25

18

10

Blue Mountains, Penrith, Lithgow, Bathurst

0

5

2

8

2

4

Nelson

100

120

30

200

500

400

*

Port Macquarie Hastings Council

1

1

1

1

1

0

*

South West, Western Queensland, the Gulf, the Cape, Cairns

1

10

33

44

8

2

Central Coast, Newcastle, Maitland

1

5

4

12

0

4

*

Corangamite, Moyne, Colac Otway

4

30

4

40

28

3

*

Port Macquarie Hastings Council

2

23

5

30

19

7

Port Stephens, Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Great Lakes

10

100

5

115

40

40

REGIONAL

OUTER METRO

* * *

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

Georges River, Bankstown Canterbury, Goulburn

8

50

8

70

55

0

*

Gwydir Shire, Moree Plains, Tamworth Regional Inverell Shire

2

8

3

10

7

1

*

Central Coast Council

17

144

15

176

106

10

*

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

*

*

*

*

*

Parafield Gardens, Devoran Park

0

10

2

10

15

1

*

*

*

Hume, Melbourne, Werribee, Brimbank

3

18

3

24

6

14

*

Yorke Peninsula

1

5

1

5

2

2

*

*

Wellington Shire, Latrobe Shire

3

4

1

2

6

2

*

Glenelg, Moyne, Southern Grampians

1

4

1

1

2

2

Bega Valley Shire Council

8

51

13

72

52

2

Cardinia, Baw Baw Shire

3

35

5

38

38

12

* *

*

*

*

Hume City Council, Greater Shepparton

5

40

30

80

12

15

*

Snowy Monaro Regional

1

12

1

13

15

4

*

*

*

* * *

*

*

*

*

* *

*

*

*

*

*

Brisbane, Ipswich

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

3

33

4

40

22

8

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

1

10

2

2

0

8

City of Greater Geelong, Surfcoast Shire, Colac Otway Shire, Port Philip, Colac Otway Shire

0

8

10

10

8

1

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, Boorandara, Darebin, Stonnington, Glen Eira, Bayside, Kingston, Dandenong, Casey, Cardinia, Mornington Peninsula, Melbourne, Banyule, Bass Coast, South Gippsland

109

1407

186

1702

900

200

Penrith

2

16

1

19

5

0

*

Yorke Peninsula

1

2

1

4

2

2

*

Perth, Regional, North West

1

2

1

2

0

4

*

Whitsunday Shire Council

8

56

10

64

44

4

busnews.com.au • ABC

37

FEATURE

BLK

People first

BLK Auto’s new national aftersales and technical manager will look to provide unparalleled service to customers IMAGES BLK AUTO

W

hen speaking with operators on the hunt for a new bus, it’s not always the product that is the determining factor in a sale.

While craftsmanship and efficiency rank highly on the list, it’s often the team behind a manufacturer that tip them over the line.

BLK Auto has been providing high-quality buses for almost 20 years and, within this time, it too has recognised the importance of a solid team.

From engineers to receptionists and salespeople, each employee has been skilfully picked to represent the powerhouse company and provide

38

ABC • busnews.com.au

incredible service.

BLK’s newest national aftersales and technical manager Jack Peters is no exception.

“2024 has been a remarkable year for BLK, marked by significant growth in our parts department,” BLK sales and special projects manager David Jiear told ABC. “This success can be attributed to our extensive parts inventory and the expertise of our experienced staff.

“With robust sales of new vehicles in 2024 and a rapidly filling order book for 2025, the importance of aftersales support cannot be overstated.

“Jack’s leadership in this area will be instrumental in maintaining our high standards and ensuring that

Below: Peters’ (right) experience is set to enhance the team’s capabilties

our customers remain happy and satisfied.”

With a distinguished career in the bus and heavy vehicle industry, Peters brings a wealth of experience and a fresh perspective that is set to enhance the team’s capabilities.

Starting off his foray into the industry as a diesel technician back in 2013, Peters showed that perseverance was key, steadily climbing his way up the ladder.

“Most recently, I was a field service and workshop technician at KOR Equipment Solutions for two years,” Peters told ABC. “Working with hydro excavation trucks and road sweepers mainly, I kicked off their Queensland workshop and got them off the ground and running.

“Now, I’m incredibly excited to be joining the BLK team and lending a hand wherever I can.”

Peters’ primary focus will be on delivering exceptionally high levels of customer support to new and existing customers, driving home BLK’s vision of delivering service that is “second to none”.

Peters’ first few months at the company have seen him jump in head-first, starting with picking up the phone and introducing himself to customers.

“There is nothing more important than ensuring that the customers are aware of and can build relationships with the people at a company,” Peters says.

“I want them to know I am available at any given time to them, and that they can come to us with any issue or query they might have.”

Boasting a 24/7 support line that customers can call, Peters will also be responsible for ensuring all requests are managed in a timely and efficient way.

Whether this be assisting with breakdowns, finding external workers in other states to complete jobs or simple workshop questions, he says he will be there for the customer.

“I’m here to ensure that the buses can be fixed quickly, effectively and are back on the road in no time,” he says.

“I will be the first point of call, making sure customers know if we’re falling behind or we’ve found extra issues, and keep them up to date.

“I’m backed by quite a good and knowledgeable workshop downstairs, so if it’s over the top of my head, I’ve got a great workshop manager and the boys on the floor can also help out.”

As the new year kicks off, Peters will also begin getting involved in vehicle handovers, meaning he’ll be able to meet BLK customers once the sale process has concluded.

Offering driver training, particularly to the school sector, Peters will ensure drivers are familiar with how to operate the vehicles and can feel confident in their abilities.

“Face-to-face interactions is something I am incredibly passionate about,” he says.

“It creates a whole new different level of rapport and support for the customers. They can feel that the support is there and see it tangibly.

“Talking to or sitting down in front of them, you can gauge a whole different set of body language and attitudes to how the situation is getting approached and handled and going about it.

“It fosters comfortability with them, and you can be sure that they are happy.”

The current team at BLK are more than thrilled with his arrival, remaining confident in his ability to drive the company forward.

“His commitment to excellence positions him as a valuable asset to BLK, ensuring that our clients receive the best service possible,” Jiear says.

“Filling this critical role allows BLK to provide a comprehensive turnkey solution, further solidifying our dedication to customer satisfaction.

“As we move forward, we are

Above: Peters will help keep BLK buses on the road around Australia Below: BLK’s newest national aftersales and technical manager, Jack Peters

confident that Jack Peters will play a pivotal role in driving our aftersales service to new heights, reinforcing BLK’s reputation as a leader in the bus and coach industry.

“We look forward to the positive impact he will bring to our team and, most importantly, to our valued customers.”

busnews.com.au • ABC

39

FEATURE

SCANIA

First choice

After finding success with four previous Scania models, Mullumbimby Bus Services are keen to put its fifth addition on the road IMAGES GARY HUGHES

K

nown for its often-rough terrain and unforgiving roads, Australia has built a reputation as being particularly challenging for bus manufacturers.

The diverse geography across the country, from mountainous regions to remote rural areas, requires buses to be highly capable and durable.

Factors like steep inclines, tight turns and poorly maintained surfaces put immense stress on the vehicles, testing their power, handling and suspension.

Gary Hughes from Mullumbimby Bus Service has long struggled to find a bus that could meet his unique requirements, needing to find buses to survive the arduous terrain of the North Coast in New South Wales.

“Drivers in this area are making runs where the routes feature mountainous, narrow and often poorly maintained roads that would be considered third world in nature,”

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ABC • busnews.com.au

Hughes told ABC. “This rugged landscape puts significant demands on the buses, requiring them to handle steep inclines, tight turns and uneven surfaces.

“We had tested a few bus models over the years, but none of them compared to the Scania buses.”

Over 95 per cent of the Mullumbimby Bus Service’s work consists of school runs, taking children up and down the coast at least five days a week.

Purchasing its first Scania back in the mid 2000s in a Scania K270IB, Hughes says he was immediately impressed with how well the model handled the run.

“As with most trials, I was initially sceptical of how it would perform,” Hughes says. “But as soon as it hit the roads, I was blown away.

“We still have our 2008 model, and it has become the backbone of Mullumbimby Bus Services.”

Above: Hughes purchased his first Scania back in the mid 2000s

After the first run, a major highlight for Hughes was the fuel efficiency of the Scania model, managing to burn less fuel despite the landscape.

“All of the Scania models excel in fuel efficiency, it was one of the first things we noticed when we purchased our first one,” he says.

Scania engines are known for their low-rev philosophy, which means they produce maximum torque at a lower engine RPM to improve fuel efficiency.

The low-revving engines allow them to operate more efficiently, especially when navigating the local area.

“Operators know the importance of keeping costs to a minimum, and fuel consumption is one of the main contributors to cost, with our energy efficient powertrain offering significant savings in fuel,” Scania Australia national sales and contracts manager Ian Clarke told ABC. “Our buses are built on proven technology and components, resulting in chassis and powertrains

that are energy efficient, dependable and durable.

“That reliability is the key to minimising time in the workshop and maximising utilisation of the vehicle.”

Finding success with his first Scania, it didn’t take long before Hughes bit the bullet and bought another one.

And another, and then another.

With two K 270 IB models and a couple of the K 310 IBs under his belt, he is eagerly awaiting his newest addition, set to arrive in 2025.

“After working with the Scania team for almost two decades, I’m always confident with the product I’m purchasing,” Hughes says.

“That’s why I now have another one on the way, equipped with the latest Euro 6 compliant engine.”

The new bus will have a Volgren body fitted to a Scania chassis powered by a 320hp engine. The new generation chassis comes with a full range of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, designed to provide warnings of imminent collisions, lane departure or interaction with vulnerable road users or pedestrians who may wander into the bus’s path.

“The new generation driver safety support systems give the driver plenty of warning so that accidents can be avoided. This obviously increases safety for the driver in his or her workplace as well as for passengers, in this case school kids, as well as other road users outside the vehicle,” Clarke says.

“We see these safety features as vital and we are urging our customers and bus procurement people to not

only ensure they are fitted, but also to ensure they are used in service.”

Like any good business, Scania also prioritises the aftercare of its vehicles, offering repair and maintenance contracts with each purchase.

As well as all planned maintenance, Scania contracts include all repairs of wear and tear parts so that there won’t be any unexpected costs and operators can manage their cashflow with confidence.

“The people you deal with at Scania are incredible. There’s a real Scania family,” Hughes says.

“We once had an issue, a few years after we put the bus in service, and Scania actually listened.

“Despite the problem not even stemming from the chassis, they assisted in any way they could in

Above: Hughes is eagerly awaiting his newest addition, set to arrive this year Below: Scania’s customer service was a big selling point

rectifying the issue.

“And that’s why for us, Scania is always our first choice.”

Clarke says that Scania’s unique company-owned workshops allied with many independently owned authorised service and parts dealers provide a critical service to customers.

“As you can see with Gary Hughes, our private bus operators hold on to our products for a very long working life, and that is because we back our products, provide excellent parts service and work hard within the aftersales sphere to ensure that downtime is minimised,” he says.

“We know that buses or coaches off the road cost operators money and that’s why we’re constantly striving to raise our service levels even higher.”

busnews.com.au • ABC

41

FEATURE

OLIVERI FAMILY

Lasting legacy

In November 2024, the Oliveri family celebrated 70 years of transporting people in Australia. Through trials and tribulations, the family is now looking to build on its rich history of running bus services WORDS SEAN MORTELL IMAGES OLIVERI FAMILY

T

hroughout the past century, there have been some wonderful families that have dominated Australian bus and coach history. In south-western Sydney, four of these famous families all emerged simultaneously as powerful operators down the road from each other. Nowadays, their names are synonymous in the local transport sector.

Rowe. Calabro. Bosnjak. Oliveri.

The latter of Sydney’s Mt Rushmore of great bus operators reached a special milestone in late 2024 when it celebrated 70 years of transporting people in Australia.

“I find it very interesting that four families all ran some of New South Wales’ most successful bus businesses within 20 kilometres of each other in Sydney’s south west,” Frank Oliveri told ABC.

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ABC • busnews.com.au

As a third generation member of the Oliveri family in Australia, Frank has become a figurehead in the bus and coach industry. Through his involvement with Interline Bus Services and now Southern Cross Transit, Frank has been there through thick and thin. Now stalwarts of Australia’s bus and coach sector, the Oliveri family originates from the small, impoverished village of Melicucca on Italy’s southern peninsula.

During the Great Depression, Giuseppe Oliveri worked in North Africa as a labourer in a desperate bid to support his young family.

After years of sending his meagre earnings back home to his wife, the Second World War began and Giuseppe was conscripted into the Italian armed forces in Northern Africa. When he and his fellow

Above: The Oliveri family legacy has spanned generations of bus technology

servicemen surrendered to the British and Australian forces in 1941 at the Battle of Amba Alagi in Ethiopia’s Tigray region, he was transferred as a prisoner of war to Australia.

Upon the war’s ending, Giuseppe was offered a chance to stay in Australia and bring his family over.

His wife and three of his four children arrived in Sydney in 1949, with his oldest son Giovanni, or John, being reunited with his family in 1951 following his compulsory military service in Italy.

Starting by buying a market garden in Edensor Park, New South Wales, the family was boosted by John’s wedding to neighbour Caterina Cali in 1955. They were never satisfied to settle with the market garden – when the local Calabro family wanted to rid themselves of the unprofitable route 41 bus service, the Oliveris

took their chance to step into the transport sector and make a name for themselves.

The family’s matriarch, Carmela, or ‘Nonna Mela’, led the purchase of the service in November 1954 that included one bus and the route 41 licence for 5,000 pounds. The start of 70 years of ongoing service began with Giuseppe and Carmela’s son Frank hopping behind the wheel of the bus that went to and from Green Valley and Liverpool Station while John and Roy helped behind the scenes. Around them, Nonna, Pop and daughter Domenica continued working the small market garden.

The goodwill of the brothers satisfied many in the area, with the family buying their second bus just a year later. In 1958, the family bought land at Green Valley and the business of Oliveri Transport Services was born. As the son of John Oliveri, Frank remembers growing up at the family house and depot on the corner of Green Valley and Cowpasture Roads.

“When I was an infant in the late ‘50s I remember my dad and uncles working the buses,” he says.

“Everything revolved around the depot – we had four families living there and working the buses.”

Frank remembers the family

dynamic changing when the Oliveris bought route 102 from Macquarie Fields to Campbelltown. Domenica and her husband Charlie Occhiuto quickly relocated to Glenfield near Ingleburn where the depot housing the three buses was located and Ingleburn Bus Services was born.

The Oliveris were one to continue growing at a rapid rate. In 1965, the family acquired its first touring coach and decided they had to launch a new venture. One night, sitting around John and his wife Caterina’s dinner table, they named the business Relaxaway Tours & Travel. It was one of many strong memories that still burn bright for Frank to this day.

Above: Interline Bus Services quickly became a major part of NSW’s transport network Below: The current Oliveri clan celebrated the 70th anniversary late last year

“Another standout moment from my childhood was being at the depot and being part of the frequent service to and from Liverpool,” he says.

“There were weekly tickets sold and we’d give 10-trip perforated tickets to customers. My grandfather used to help out, but he couldn’t speak English too well and had a short temper, so at the age of 11 I would get up early and head out with dad and my brother Joe. “While onboard, we’d sit in the front of the Bedford next to the driver and sell these tickets – it wasn’t something other 11 year olds were doing at the time.”

Through the ‘70s and ‘80s, both

busnews.com.au • ABC

43

FEATURE

OLIVERI FAMILY

businesses became some of the largest bus ventures in Australia.

However, Frank wasn’t yet part of it.

Despite being raised around buses, it wasn’t until the tragic passing of his father that he got involved in the family business.

“When dad passed in 1978 after a very long illness, I was studying civil engineering at university,” Frank says.

“I dropped out of that and got involved in the bus operations, starting as a driver at the age of 21.

Previously I had only helped clean buses and help with small things around the depot.

“I worked with the manager at the time before becoming general manager of the bus business, while my brother Joe joined as fleet and facilities manager, my sister Carmel oversaw the administrative, tour and travel arms and Frances went to the Ingleburn operation straight out of high school.”

While John’s passing may have stalled the family business’ pace of growth, the restructuring with John’s kids getting involved meant there were quickly signs of recovery in the coming years. Then, just five years 44

ABC • busnews.com.au

after the loss of John, the Oliveris were mourning Giuseppe ‘Pop’ Oliveri.

The resulting changes saw Frank and Roy’ children, Guiseppe and Joseph, join the team and the Oliveri’s Metrolink Buslines come about. The family group was again restructured in 1992 which resulted in Roy and Frank – John’s brothers and Pop’s other sons – retaining the Metrolink side, while Caterina and her children took over

Above: Interline Bus Services and its drivers quickly evolved with the latest technology Below: The Oliveris had some cool buses back in the day

the Ingleburn Bus Services business.

The latter was soon rebranded as Interline Bus Services and began running NSW government contracted services.

“This allowed us to replace our fleet and improve the quality of buses that we used,” Frank says.

“We had a brand-new livery with blue and grey being used, so it was a period of change.”

The five siblings continued to grow Interline, allowing Frank’s presence in the local bus industry to also rise.

When the Sydney Olympic Games rolled around in 2000, Frank’s experience with the successive family operations allowed him to become one of the senior operations managers for the Bus2000 media bus depot at Regents Park. Although he spent many long nights completing the stressful transport task that was the Olympic Games, Frank’s experience paid off in an unexpected way.

“Working at the Regents Park depot for many months was very challenging, as the preparation was limited and we had plenty of hinderances,” he says.

“But during this time, I met Wally Horwood, who owned a growing school and charter bus company in Ipswich, Queensland. I found out while working at Regents Park that he was looking to sell the business.”

Over the next two years, Frank consistently hopped in his car and headed to and from Queensland to evaluate the business. In 2002, Frank had seen enough and bought the 53-fleet operation, meaning his family, including wife Carmel, or Mel, and kids John and Christopher made the move north to manage Southern Cross Transit.

While he may have had initial challenges replacing a bus fleet that had an average age of 21 years old, Southern Cross Transit

soon flourished. In contrasting circumstances, fresh challenges arose for the Oliveri clan back in NSW. In 2004, the Unsworth Review of Bus Services was conducted and recommended that the number of Sydney contract areas be reduced from 87 to 15. While Caterina Oliveri’s Interline Bus Services got to work with the Calabro family as Busabout for the region two contract, the competitive tender process threatened the livelihood of many family operators.

It didn’t initially hit the Oliveris – in 2014, Interline took over all services in region two, allowing the family’s fourth generation to work in both NSW and Queensland across two operations. However, it proved too good to last. In 2023, Interline lost the contract to Transit Systems, meaning it completed its last day of operations on October 8 that year before hanging up the keys in NSW. “It was very disappointing how it all ended for the family in NSW,” Frank says.

“We also didn’t start a charter business in NSW when we should’ve, so we stopped operating any buses in the state and missed out on a great opportunity.”

Thankfully, the Oliveri family’s history of running buses didn’t stop in 2023. Through Southern Cross Transit, Frank and his team run contracted school services for both the state government and private schools in the greater Brisbane region. Add in some chartered bus

Left: The Oliveris had humble beginnings when they first began running buses Right: Pop and Nonna created a bus industry legacy

services and the operator’s mixed fleet is looking to continue expanding the Oliveri family name well beyond 70 years.

Despite all of the challenges faced, Frank is proud of what his family has been able to do in Australia. He knows there’s plenty more to be written about the Oliveri’s transport history.

“SCT is a very stable business, and I’m still actively involved – everyone is doing a wonderful job,” he says.

“We’re so lucky to have had some great friends over the years, including the Calabro family, who are an amazing family. We want to thank everyone involved in the Oliveri journey over the past seven decades and look forward to what’s to come.”

busnews.com.au • ABC

45

FEATURE

Grilling for good

BarbeCURE is encouraging Aussies to flip some snags and raise money for cancer research IMAGES CURE CANCER

B

arbeCURE, Cure Cancer’s national fundraising campaign, is inviting you to turn your next BBQ into something truly impactful. By hosting a BarbeCURE, you can enjoy good food, great company, and help raise funds for life-saving cancer research.

It’s simple: gather your family, friends and community, fire up the grill, and ask your guests to donate.

Whether it’s in your back yard, at the beach, or a local park, your BarbeCURE can be anything you want it to be.

Cancer continues to take a devastating toll, claiming nearly 10 million lives every year and affecting millions more.

The funds raised will support brilliant scientists working across all cancer types, funding cutting-edge research that improves treatments and outcomes for patients.

Since its inception, Cure Cancer’s BarbeCURE campaign has raised over $1.5 million, directly supporting emerging cancer researchers who are improving cancer care.

46

ABC • busnews.com.au

This year, the campaign is aiming to raise $200,000 to fund two years of groundbreaking cancer research.

Dr Ben Wylie is one such scientist that is supported by the campaign, whose groundbreaking work focuses on childhood sarcoma.

Based at The Kids Research Institute Australia in Perth, Dr Wylie and his team have developed an innovative immunotherapy gel that is crafted from natural materials found in the body, targets surgical areas to activate the patient’s immune system, helping to eliminate any remaining cancer cells.

“Most new cancer treatments are developed for adults and then adapted for childhood cancers, but children are not little adults,” Dr Wylie says.

“Support for childhood cancer research is vital to develop better treatments for cancers like sarcoma and improve outcomes for children and their families.

“This project funded by Cure Cancer will enable me to conduct cutting-edge research with the

potential to create more effective treatments with fewer side effects,”

How to host a BarbeCURE®

Above: Cure Cancer’s BarbeCURE campaign has raised over $1.5 million so far

1. Plan your event Decide on a date, location, and guest list. Whether it’s a casual weekend BBQ, a Christmas celebration, or a New Year’s gathering, any event can become a BarbeCURE. 2. Register and share Register your event at barbecure. com.au and invite your guests to join in. Use your social media to spread the word, tagging @ curecancerau and using the hashtag #barbecure.

3. Grill and fundraise Fire up the grill, enjoy delicious food, and encourage your guests to make a donation. Every contribution, big or small, helps fund life-saving cancer research.

4. C elebrate and reflect Share your success with photos and updates. Let your guests know the difference they’ve made by supporting cancer research.

EVENTS

BUS INDUSTRY CALENDAR OF EVENTS FOR 2025 Be sure not to miss out on an opportunity to attend these fantastic in-person events

JANUARY January 31

March 12

BIC Technical Meeting – Virtual

BusVic Regional Conference – Ouyen & Swan Hill

FEBRUARY

March 13

February 21

QBIC Regional Forum – Toowoomba

MARCH March 4

BusVic Regional Conference – Bairnsdale

March 5

BusVic Regional Conference – Leongatha

March 7

BusVic Partners and Suppliers Forum

BusVic Regional Conference – Wodonga & Shepparton

March 19–20

April 30–May 1

PTAANZ Melbourne Symposium

MAY

OCTOBER

May 30–31

PTAANZ Annual Conference and Gala Dinner – Brisbane

BusSA Annual Conference TasBus Annual Conference

JUNE

March 20

QBIC Regional Forum – Gympie

June 14

BusVic Regional Conference – Bendigo

JULY

APRIL

QBIC Future Leaders Luncheon

June 11

QBIC Annual Conference

AUGUST

April 24

QBIC Regional Forum – Chinchilla

BusVic Regional Conference – Hamilton & Ballarat

QBIC Regional Forum – Gold Coast

May 16–17

British Tourism & Travel Show – Birmingham

April 10–12

SEPTEMBER

September 11

August 2

October 22

October 29–31

BIC National Conference – Perth

NOVEMBER

November 14–15

QBIC Regional and Partner Forum – Cairns

November 22

QBIC Christmas Function

busnews.com.au • ABC

47

BEST BUS COMPETITION

FEATURE

WINNER

Coastal cruise

The January winner of ABC’s Best Bus comes courtesy of Jay Miller and his cruisy shot of a Ventura bus

A

s the summer sun continues to beat down on us from all angles, what better way to celebrate than by cruising down the coast?

This was exactly Jay Miller’s thought, and the idea that has ultimately won him ABC’s Best Bus January!

While the scenic image of the Ventura bus came out on top, that’s not to say it didn’t face some tough competition.

Robert Danci’s Mitsubishi Rosa was in the running, the festive Rudolph nose bringing some extra spirit to a winery tour in Healsville.

Chris Niblock also pulled out all the

stops this month, submitting three incredible shots that had us jealous.

One our favourites was a sunset shot of a brand new TransNorth Volvo B8R, taken in mango country in Bowen, Queensland.

Keeping in theme with the sun, his sunrise snap of a Volvo B11R just north of Albury en route to Kangaroo Bus Lines in sunny Queensland was also stunning, finishing us up with a picture of another Volvo B8R, standing in front of the famed Mirrool Silo, home of the annual Silo Kick in Mirrool, NSW. While we had our eyes on a couple of entries, it was ultimately Jay Miller who won in the end.

“I took this picture while testing the

Above: Jay Miller’s stunning shot of a BCI EV bus

new BCI EV bus for Ventura,” Miller told ABC. “It was taken down at Point Nepean National Park while we were seeing if it’s up to the job to replace the current bus.”

For his win, Miller received a free 12-month subscription to ABC Magazine, while the winning photo is live as ABC’s Facebook page cover photo for all of January.

If you want to be like Miller and have your best photo shown off courtesy of Best Bus, then don’t forget to send through your photos for February and the rest of 2025 via our website or by keeping an eye on our Facebook page for more details. busnews.com.au • ABC

49

FEATURE

BEST BUS COMPETITION

Below: Steve Smith sent through a flurry of snaps of his new Yutong C12 for Dragon Tours and Limousines that he is very chuffed with

Below: Who said the front was more interesting? Nidblock supplying us with yet another stunning pic

Above: Chris Nidblock had the perfect timing for this shot

50

ABC • busnews.com.au

Above and Righ t: Darryl Kirkwood sent through a bunch of stunning suns et shots of his Crow n coach.

Left: Nothing goes together better than buses and silos

Above: Robert Danci bringing the Christmas spirit to Healesville

busnews.com.au • ABC

51

DECEMBER

DELIVERIES

Hot finish

An extraordinary year of deliveries has been capped off in December with the industry surging home in the final month of 2024

T

he Australian bus and coach industry’s momentum has continued in December 2024, with the latest deliveries numbers showing a sector that worked right up until the bell last year. Following 183 deliveries in November and 157 in October, December’s 151 deliveries complete an amazing year and particularly a productive final quarter of 2024.

A new leader was crowned in the final month of 2024, with Scania coming home with a wet sail to record 52 units delivered in December. The perennial leaders in Volvo weren’t far off taking home another month with 49 deliveries, with the European pair comfortably ahead of the third placed Yutong (19). King Long’s consistent year ended with 11 December deliveries, with BLK the next best with six. From there, I-Bus had the four deliveries, staying ahead of a final pack of six companies that shared the final 10 units.

There were no shocks in store for the bodybuilder segment, with Volgren storming home with 54 deliveries to complete a remarkable year at the top of the market.

Scania Higer surged into second with 21 deliveries, with Yutong (19)

52

ABC • busnews.com.au

IMAGES VICTORIAN DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT completing the podium. Irizar (13) and King Long (11) both recorded strong double-digit deliveries in December, while BCI (10) also finished strong.

Express Coaches and BLK couldn’t be split on six deliveries apiece, while I-Bus (four) and Custom Denning (three) remained consistent. To finish the sector for December, Challenger, Coach Concepts, Coach Design and BusTech Group all had the solitary unit recorded.

McConnell’s seating dominance was celebrated in December, with the giant delivering 70 units worth of seats in the final month of 2024. It finished more than double ahead of the second placed Sege, who capped off a strong year with the 21 deliveries.

Yutong and StyleRide shared third place with 16 units each, while BusTech, Fainsa and King Long all shared the spoils with seven deliveries apiece. APM had the four deliveries recorded, while Marcopolo had the three.

All throughout 2024, the air-conditioning market has been the tightest battle in the bus and coach game. It didn’t disappoint in December, as Thermo King (28) prevailed over close competitors Hispacold (25) and Coachair (24).

Above: It was all about Victoria in the final month of 2024, with the state recording a mega 61 deliveries

Konvekta’s remarkable December of 21 deliveries meant it wasn’t far behind, while Cling-Yutong’s 19 deliveries saw it round out the top five. King Long (11) and Spheros (10) both reached double figures in their December deliveries, while MCC (nine) and Songz (four) wrapped up an enthralling battle in the air-conditioning sector.

Queensland’s remarkable state-based dominance came crashing down in December, with the state falling from its lofty perch in the final month to record the 38 deliveries. This was enough for it to secure second place, but a mighty effort from Victoria with 61 deliveries allowed it to snatch the crown in the final month of 2024. New South Wales remained as steady as ever with the 26 units, while South Australia finished the year hot with 13 to surpass Western Australia’s 11 deliveries. With the Northern Territory and Tasmania both not registering a delivery in December, it was only the ACT (two) that also got involved.

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

Seat delivery units

VOLGREN 54 SCANIA HIGER 21

MCCONNELL 70

YUTONG 19

SEGE 21

IRIZAR 13

YUTONG 16

KING LONG 11

STYLERIDE 16

BCI 10

KING LONG 7

EXPRESS COACHES 6

FAINSA 7

BLK 6

BUSTECH 7

I-BUS 4

APM 4

CUSTOM DENNING 3

MARCOPOLO 3

COACH DESIGN 1

McConnell’s seating dominance was celebrated in December, with the giant delivering 70 units worth of seats in the final month of 2024. It finished more than double ahead of the second placed Sege, who capped off a strong year with the 21 deliveries. Yutong and StyleRide shared third place with 16 units each, while BusTech, Fainsa and King Long all shared the spoils with seven deliveries apiece. APM had the four deliveries recorded, while Marcopolo had the three.

9% 1% NT ACT

7%

40%

SA

17% QLD

VIC

Sales by region 25%

CHALLENGER 1 BUSTECH GROUP 1 COACH CONCEPTS 1

Sales by body There were no shocks in store for the bodybuilder segment, with Volgren storming home with 54 deliveries to complete a remarkable year at the top of the market. Scania Higer surged into second with 21 deliveries, with Yutong (19) completing the podium. Irizar (13) and King Long (11) both recorded strong double-digit deliveries in December, while BCI (10) also finished strong. Express Coaches and BLK couldn’t be split on six deliveries apiece, while I-Bus (four) and Custom Denning (three) remained consistent.

Sales by Air-Conditioner All throughout 2024, the air-conditioning market has been the tightest battle in the bus and coach game. It didn’t disappoint in December, as Thermo King (28) prevailed over close competitors Hispacold (25) and Coachair (24). Konvekta’s remarkable December of 21 deliveries meant it wasn’t far behind, while Cling-Yutong’s 19 deliveries saw it round out the top five. King Long (11) and Spheros (10) both reached double figures in their December deliveries, while MCC (nine) and Songz (four) wrapped up an enthralling battle in the air-conditioning sector.

Cling-Yutong Thermo King Coachair Hispacold Spheros

19 28 24 25 10

Songz MCC Konvekta King long

4 9 21 11

NSW

Sales by chassis A new leader was crowned in the final month of 2024, with Scania coming home with a wet sail to record 52 units delivered in December. The perennial leaders in Volvo weren’t far off taking home another month with 49 deliveries, with the European pair comfortably ahead of the third placed Yutong (19). King Long’s consistent year ended with 11 December deliveries, with BLK the next best with six. From there, I-Bus had the four deliveries, staying ahead of a final pack of six companies that shared the final 10 units.

SCANIA 52 VOLVO 49 YUTONG 19 KING LONG 11 BLK 6 I-BUS 4 MERCEDES-BENZ 3 MAN 3 BCI 1 CUSTOM DENNING 1 BYD 1 CHALLENGER 1

busnews.com.au • ABC

53

UNITS

DECEMBER

DELIVERIES

MANUFACTURER, OPERATOR & LOCATION

CHASSIS (Model)

ENGINES HP*

Rear / Front

TRANS­MISSIO

Emissions standard

A: Automati M: Manual AS: Auto-Shi O: Opticruis

BCI

Austwide Tours

SA

1

BCI Explorer

BCI

470

R

Euro 6

A

BLK

N/A

NSW

1

BLK President 2

BLK

360

R

Euro 5

A

BLK

N/A

NSW

1

BLK President 10

BLK

300

R

Euro 5

A

BLK

N/A

NSW

2

BLK President 10

BLK

300

R

Euro 5

A

BLK

N/A

NSW

1

BLK Double Decker

BLK

480

R

Euro 5

A

BLK

N/A

NSW

1

BLK President 3

BLK

480

R

Euro 5

A

BYD

Kinetic Melbourne

VIC

1

BYD D9RA

Volgren

348 kW

R

Zero

A

Challenger

Nuline Charter

VIC

1

Challenger V12

Challenger

N/A

N/A

Euro 6

A

Custom Denning

N/A

NSW

1

Custom Denning Element 2 EV

Custom Denning

400

L:R

Zero

N/A

I-Bus

N/A

QLD

1

Isuzu

I-Bus Australasia

190

F

Euro 5

AS

I-Bus

N/A

QLD

1

Isuzu

I-Bus Australasia

190

F

Euro 5

AS

I-Bus

N/A

QLD

1

Isuzu

I-Bus Australasia

190

F

Euro 5

AS

I-Bus

N/A

QLD

1

Isuzu

I-Bus Australasia

190

F

Euro 5

AS

King Long

N/A

VIC

1

King Long

King Long

250

R

Euro 5

A

King Long

N/A

NSW

1

King Long

King Long

250

R

Euro 5

A

King Long

N/A

QLD

1

King Long

King Long

285

R

Euro 5

A

King Long

N/A

QLD

1

King Long

King Long

250

R

Euro 5

A

King Long

N/A

SA

1

King Long

King Long

285

R

Euro 5

A

King Long

N/A

VIC

1

King Long

King Long

250

R

Euro 5

A

King Long

N/A

QLD

1

King Long

King Long

320

R

Euro 6

A

King Long

N/A

QLD

1

King Long

King Long

400

R

Euro 6

A

King Long

N/A

NSW

1

King Long

King Long

400

R

Euro 6

A

King Long

N/A

NSW

1

King Long

King Long

400

R

Euro 6

A

King Long

N/A

QLD

1

King Long

King Long

N/A

N/A

Electric

A

MAN

Sid Foggs Australia

NSW

1

MAN IC.19.360.RR8

Volgren/Marcopolo

360

R

Euro 6

A

MAN

Sid Foggs Australia

NSW

2

MAN IC.19.330.RR8

Volgren/Marcopolo

330

R

Euro 6

A

Mercedes-Benz

Bestco Australia

VIC

1

Mercedes-Benz O500RS

Irizar

360

R

Euro 5

A

Mercedes-Benz

Dineen Group

VIC

1

Mercedes-Benz O500R

Irizar

300

R

Euro 5

A

Mercedes-Benz

Express Coachlines

QLD

1

Mercedes-Benz O500RF

Irizar

421

R

Euro 5

A

Scania

AAT Kings Coach Company

VIC

1

Scania K 410C B6x2*4NI

Coach Design

410

R

Euro 6

Opticruis

Scania

B & G Christian

VIC

1

Scania K 370C B4x2NB

Scania Higer

370

R

Euro 6

A

Scania

B & G Christian

VIC

1

Scania K 370C B4x2NB

Scania Higer

370

R

Euro 6

A

Scania

Bus QLD

QLD

3

Scania K 320C B4x2LB

Volgren

320

R

Euro 6

A

Scania

Coal River Coaches

VIC

1

Scania K 370C B4x2NB

Scania Higer

370

R

Euro 6

A

Scania

Coal River Coaches

VIC

1

Scania K 370C B4x2NB

Scania Higer

370

R

Euro 6

A

Scania

Department for Infrastructure and Transport

SA

5

Scania K 320H B4x2LB

Volgren

320

R

Euro 6

Opticruis

Scania

Dyson Group

VIC

1

Scania K 320C B4x2NB

Express Coaches

320

R

Euro 6

A

Scania

Edwards Coaches

NSW

1

Scania K 360C B4x2NI

BCI

360

R

Euro 6

Opticruis

Scania

Kinetic Melbourne

VIC

1

Scania K 320H B4x2LB

Volgren

320

R

Euro 6

Opticruis

Scania

Kinetic Melbourne

VIC

7

Scania K 320H B4x2LB

Volgren

320

R

Euro 6

Opticruis

Scania

McHarrys Bus Lines

VIC

1

Scania K 370C B4x2NB

Scania Higer

370

R

Euro 6

A

Scania

Shire Bus Service

NSW

1

Scania K 370C B4x2NB

Scania Higer

370

R

Euro 6

A

Scania

Ventura Bus Lines

VIC

2

Scania K 320C B4x2LB

Custom Denning

320

R

Euro 6

A

Scania

Warragul Bus Lines

VIC

8

Scania K 320C B4x2NB

Volgren

320

R

Euro 6

A

Scania

Warragul Bus Lines

VIC

1

Scania K 320C B4x2NB

Volgren

320

R

Euro 6

A

Scania

Warren Bus Service

VIC

1

Scania K 320C B4x2NB

Express Coaches

320

R

Euro 6

Opticruis

Scania

WBL

VIC

15

Scania K 360C B4x2NB

Scania Higer

360

R

Euro 6

A

Volvo

Murrays Coaches

NSW

5

Volvo B13R

BCI

500

R

Euro 6

AS

Volvo

Murrays Coaches

QLD

3

Volvo B8R

BCI

350

R

Euro 6

AS

Volvo

REO Investments

NSW

1

Volvo B8R

Volgren

320

R

Euro 6

A

Volvo

Keolis Downer

NSW

4

Volvo B8RLE

Express Coaches

320

R

Euro 6

A

Volvo

CDC QLD

QLD

9

Volvo B8RLE

Volgren

320

R

Euro 6

A

Volvo

McMicking

VIC

1

Volvo B8R

Irizar

330

R

Euro 5

A

Volvo

Flagstaff

SA

1

Volvo B8R

Irizar

330

R

Euro 5

A

Volvo

Simcocks

VIC

2

Volvo B8R

Irizar

330

R

Euro 5

A

Volvo

Swanhaven

WA

1

Volvo B8R

Irizar

330

R

Euro 5

A

Volvo

Flagstaff

SA

1

Volvo B8R

Volgren

330

R

Euro 5

A

Volvo

Winjeel Holdings

VIC

1

Volvo B13R

Coach Concepts

500

R

Euro 5

AS

Volvo

Clarks Logan City Bus Service

QLD

1

Volvo B8RLE

BusTech Group

320

R

Euro 6

A

Volvo

Caboolture Bus Lines

QLD

3

Volvo B8RLE

Volgren

320

R

Euro 6

A

Volvo

Wide Bay Transit

QLD

3

Volvo B8R

Irizar

350

R

Euro 6

A

Volvo

Suncoast Christian College

QLD

1

Volvo B8R

Irizar

330

R

Euro 5

A

Volvo

Belbaker Bus Charter

QLD

1

Volvo B13R

Irizar

500

R

Euro 6

AS

Volvo

Cavbus - Logan Coaches

QLD

2

Volvo B8RLE

Volgren

320

R

Euro 6

A

Volvo

Public Transport Authority WA

WA

9

Volvo B8RLE

Volgren

320

R

Euro 6

A

Yutong

Yutong Bus Centre Brisbane

QLD

2

Yutong D7

Yutong

190

F

Euro 6

A

Yutong

Yutong Bus Centre Melbourne

VIC

7

Yutong C12

Yutong

340

R

Euro 6

A

Yutong

Yutong Bus Centre Melbourne

VIC

1

Yutong D7

Yutong

190

F

Euro 6

A

Yutong

Yutong Bus Centre WA

SA

2

Yutong D7

Yutong

190

F

Euro 6

A

Yutong

Willunga Charter

SA

2

Yutong D7

Yutong

190

F

Euro 6

A

Yutong

Yutong Bus Centre WA

WA

1

Yutong D7

Yutong

190

F

Euro 6

A

Yutong

Yutong Bus Centre Sydney

NSW

1

Yutong D7

Yutong

190

F

Euro 6

A

Yutong

Yutong Bus Centre Sydney

ACT

2

Yutong E12

Yutong

350

N/A

N/A

N/A

Yutong

Yutong Bus Centre Melbourne

VIC

1

Yutong D7E

Yutong

190

N/A

N/A

N/A

TOTAL DELIVERIES 151

54

BODY BUILDER

ABC • busnews.com.au

missions tandard

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

TRANS MAKE

AXLES

TRANS­MISSION

BODY LENGTH (metres)

AIR-CON (Brand)

NUMBER OF SEATS Fixed Coach

Recliners

Metro

APPLICATION Long Distance

Charter

City or Route

School

On Demand

SEATING

DOOR MFR/ SUPPLIER

SEAT BELTS

WHEEL CHAIR LIFT ACCESS

Euro 6

A

ZF

2

13.5

MCC

49

X

McConnell

BCI

Y

N

Euro 5

A

ZF

2

12.5

Spheros

53

X

Sege

BLK

Y

N/A

Euro 5

A

ZF

2

10

Spheros

41

X

Sege

BLK

Y

N/A

Euro 5

A

ZF

2

10

Spheros

41

X

Fainsa

BLK

Y

N/A

Euro 5

A

ZF

3

12.5

Spheros

StyleRide

BLK

Y

N/A

Euro 5

A

ZF

3

14.5

Spheros

Sege

BLK

Y

Y

Zero

A

ZF

2

12.1

Thermo King

McConnell

SMC

N

Y

71

X 61

X

X

37

Euro 6

A

Allison

2

12.5

Thermo King

Zero

N/A

Allison

2

12

Spheros

Euro 5

AS

BYD

2

8.3

Songz

32

Euro 5

AS

Allison

2

8.3

Songz

Euro 5

AS

Isuzu

2

8.3

Euro 5

AS

Isuzu

2

Euro 5

A

Isuzu

2

Euro 5

A

Isuzu

Euro 5

A

Isuzu

Euro 5

A

Euro 5

X X

58

X

Fainsa

N/A

Y

N/A

McConnell

Ventura

N

N

X

APM

SAS Doors

Y

N

32

X

APM

SAS Doors

Y

N

Songz

32

X

APM

SAS Doors

Y

N

8.3

Songz

32

X

APM

SAS Doors

Y

N

9.1

King Long

Fainsa

King Long

Y

N

2

9.1

King Long

X

X

King Long

King Long

Y

N

2

10.2

King Long

X

X

King Long

King Long

Y

N

Isuzu

2

9.1

King Long

X

X

King Long

King Long

Y

N

A

ZF

2

10.2

King Long

X

X

King Long

King Long

Y

N

Euro 5

A

ZF

2

9.1

King Long

X

X

King Long

King Long

Y

N

Euro 6

A

ZF

2

9.1

King Long

X

X

King Long

King Long

Y

N

Euro 6

A

ZF

2

12.4

King Long

X

X

King Long

King Long

Y

N

Euro 6

A

ZF

2

12.4

King Long

X

X

Fainsa

King Long

Y

N

Euro 6

A

ZF

2

12.4

King Long

X

X

Fainsa

King Long

Y

N

Electric

A

ZF

2

12.4

King Long

X

X

Fainsa

King Long

Y

Y

Euro 6

A

ZF

2

12.3

Spheros

57

X

Marcopolo

Marcopolo

Y

N

57

X

Marcopolo

Marcopolo

Y

N

X

Sege

Irizar

Y

N N

41

X

X X

X

Euro 6

A

ZF

2

12.3

Spheros

Euro 5

A

N/A

2

12.3

Hispacold

Euro 5

A

N/A

2

12.3

Hispacold

57

X

X

Sege

Irizar

Y

Euro 5

A

N/A

3

14.3

Hispacold

71

X

X

Sege

Irizar

Y

N

Euro 6

Opticruise

ZF

3

13.5

Thermo King

Sege

N/A

Y

N

Euro 6

A

ZF

2

12.5

Konvekta

X

McConnell

N/A

Y

N

Euro 6

A

Scania

2

12.5

Konvekta

X

McConnell

N/A

Y

N

Euro 6

A

ZF

2

12.5

Thermo King

McConnell

N/A

N

N

Euro 6

A

ZF

2

12.5

Konvekta

54

X

McConnell

N/A

Y

N

Euro 6

A

ZF

2

12.5

Konvekta

58

X

McConnell

N/A

Y

N

Euro 6

Opticruise

Scania

2

12.5

Hispacold

45

McConnell

N/A

N

N

Euro 6

A

ZF

2

12.5

Coachair

57

McConnell

N/A

Y

N

Euro 6

Opticruise

Scania

2

12.3

Thermo King

Euro 6

Opticruise

ZF

2

12.5

Thermo King

Euro 6

Opticruise

ZF

2

12.5

Hispacold

45

Euro 6

A

ZF

2

12.3

Konvekta

57

X

Euro 6

A

Volvo

2

12.3

Konvekta

57

X

Euro 6

A

ZF

2

12.5

Coachair

Euro 6

A

ZF

2

12.5

Coachair

57

Euro 6

A

ZF

2

12.5

Coachair

62

Euro 6

Opticruise

ZF

2

11

Thermo King

Euro 6

A

ZF

2

12.3

Konvekta

Euro 6

AS

Volvo

3

14.5

MCC

58

X

Euro 6

AS

ZF

2

12.5

MCC

48

X

Euro 6

A

Volvo

2

12.5

Coachair

StyleRide

Euro 6

A

ZF

2

10 - 12.9

Thermo King

45

X

StyleRide

Euro 6

A

ZF

2

10 - 12.9

Coachair

43

X

McConnell

Ventura

N

Y

Euro 5

A

ZF

2

10 - 12.9

Hispacold

57

X

Sege

Irizar

Y

N

Euro 5

A

ZF

2

10 - 12.9

Hispacold

57

X

McConnell

Irizar

Y

N

Euro 5

A

ZF

2

10 - 12.9

Hispacold

57

X

StyleRide

Irizar

Y

N

Euro 5

A

Volvo

2

10 - 12.9

Hispacold

57

X

McConnell

Irizar

Y

N

Euro 5

A

ZF

2

10 - 12.9

Thermo King

61

X

McConnell

SMC

Y

N

Euro 5

AS

ZF

3

13 - 14.9

Thermo King

Euro 6

A

ZF

2

10 - 12.9

Thermo King

Euro 6

A

ZF

2

10 - 12.9

Thermo King

Euro 6

A

ZF

2

10 - 12.9

Hispacold

57 68

53

80

X

58 58 43

X

X X 48

X

Sege

N/A

Y

N

McConnell

N/A

N

N

Bustech

N/A

N

N

McConnell

N/A

Y

N

McConnell

N/A

Y

N

McConnell

N/A

N

N

X

McConnell

N/A

Y

N

X

McConnell

N/A

Y

N

41

X

Styleride

N/A

Y

Y

58

X

McConnell

N/A

Y

N

Sege

BCI

Y

Y

Sege

BCI

Y

Y

SMC

Y

N

SMC

N

Y

44

X X

44

X

57

X

52

X 46

X

43

X

McConnell

SMC

Y

Y

StyleRide

SMC

N

Y

StyleRide

Ventura

N

Y

X

Sege

Irizar

Y

N

X

McConnell

Irizar

Y

N

Sege

Irizar

Y

Y

X

McConnell

Ventura

N

Y

X

Euro 5

A

Volvo

2

10 - 12.9

Hispacold

Euro 6

AS

Allison

3

13 - 14.9

Hispacold

Euro 6

A

Auto

2

10 - 12.9

Coachair

Euro 6

A

Allison

2

10 - 12.9

Thermo King

McConnell

SMC

Y

N

Euro 6

A

Auto

2

7.7

Cling-Yutong

27

X

Yutong

Yutong

Y

N

Euro 6

A

Allison

2

12.3

Cling-Yutong

57

X

Yutong

Yutong

Y

N

Euro 6

A

Auto

2

7.7

Cling-Yutong

27

X

Yutong

Yutong

Y

N

Euro 6

A

Allison

2

7.7

Cling-Yutong

28

X

Yutong

Yutong

Y

N

Euro 6

A

Auto

2

7.7

Cling-Yutong

28

X

Yutong

Yutong

Y

N

Euro 6

A

Allison

2

7.7

Cling-Yutong

28

X

Yutong

Yutong

Y

N

Euro 6

A

Allison

2

7.7

Cling-Yutong

27

StyleRide

Yutong

Y

N

N/A

N/A

Auto

2

12.4

Cling-Yutong

StyleRide

Yutong

N/A

Y

N/A

N/A

Allison

2

7.7

Cling-Yutong

Yutong

Yutong

Y

N

53

X 43 41

X 44

28

X X

busnews.com.au • ABC

55

2024 DELIVERIES

ANNUAL WRAP

Incredible year

The bus and coach deliveries data for Australia is in for 2024, and it far surpasses the efforts of previous years

W

hen it comes to issues plaguing the bus and coach industry, safety has been the main topic filtering into conversation.

This time last year, when ABC revealed the national bus and coach industry had delivered 1387 vehicles for 2023, it was cause for celebration.

The number highlighted the sector’s remarkable ability to increase its delivery numbers and capabilities despite a variety of challenges.

The deliveries for 2024 blow this out of the water, with an astonishing 1907 deliveries recorded for the entire year of 2024 at an average of more than 150 per month.

For another year, the chassis sector belonged to Volvo. After dominating the chassis market as market leader in 2023 with 418 deliveries made, the European giant took its operations to the next level in 2024 with 639 deliveries recorded. Maintaining second spot for a second consecutive year was Yutong, who consolidated its spot in the market with 326 deliveries. Scania continued to deliver strongly in third with 295 units recorded, an increase of 88 from last year, while BCI’s 142 deliveries for the year saw it become the fourth OEM to 56

ABC • busnews.com.au

IMAGES VOLGREN AUSTRALIA reach triple figures for the year. With the top four staying the same from 2023, the chasers jostled for position, with I-Bus rounding out the top five with 90 deliveries.

This time last year, Volgren was the definitive bodybuilder master with 375 deliveries for 2023. This year, it solidified its crown with 567 deliveries for 2024. It nearly doubled its closest competitor in Yutong (325), with BCI rising to third position after finishing with 203 units delivered.

Irizar backed up a mighty 2023 with another 183 deliveries in 2024, with Custom Denning (108) finishing fifth. I-Bus was the next best with 90 deliveries, while King Long remained consistent with 84. BLK (72) and Scania Higer (47) did enough to fight off new challengers such as Nexport (37) and Global Bus Ventures (34) and Express Coaches (33) fought off persistent challenges to finish ahead of Marcopolo (31).

It was the case of another year and another period of dominance for McConnell in the seating game, with the giant eclipsing its 2023 tally of 538 to bring home 770 deliveries in 2024. Sege secured its spot in second for another year with 370 deliveries, finishing ahead of the third placed Yutong (301). StyleRide (173)

Above: Volgren took its deliveries to the next level in the bodybuilders market

maintained the momentum, with APM storming into fifth with 92 deliveries.

From there, King Long (59) came sixth, with Leadcom rising with 49 deliveries ahead of Fainsa (33) and Marcopolo (30).

Thermo King was once the king of the air-conditioning game with 476 deliveries for 2024, but it faced sterner challenges. Coachair rose to second place with 387 deliveries in a tight market, with Cling-Yutong not far behind on 325. A gap opened up, with Hispacold (198) the next best, with Spheros (102) joining them with triple figures for the year. Valeo (86), King Long (84) and Songz (80) were all incredibly close, with MCC (77) also competitive, while Konvekta (47) and Denso (26) also maintained the rage in 2024.

Victoria took the crown yet again in the state-based battle with 547 deliveries, but faced fierce competition from Queensland (503). New South Wales (417) sat comfortably in third ahead of Western Australia’s 327 deliveries, with South Australia trailing on 68. The ACT had a strong year with 29 deliveries recorded, with the Northern Territory (nine) and Tasmania (seven) rounding out the numbers for a major year of bus deliveries.

Seat delivery units

VOLGREN 567 YUTONG 325 BCI 203

MCCONNELL 770

IRIZAR 183

SEGE 370

CUSTOM DENNING 108 I-BUS 90

YUTONG 301

KING LONG 84

STYLERIDE 173

Sales by body

BLK 72

APM 92

SCANIA HIGER 47 NEXPORT 37

KING LONG 59

GLOBAL BUS VENTURES 34

LEADCOM 49

EXPRESS COACHES 33 MARCOPOLO 31

FAINSA 33

COACH CONCEPTS 21

MARCOPOLO 30

CHALLENGER BUSTECH GROUP 17

ISRI 17

COACH DESIGN 16

BUSTECH 8

GEMILANG 9

VOGEL 3

OMNIBUS 6 GUANTONG/GTK 6

PRECISION BUS 2

SUPPORTRANS 1

2% 0% 4% ACT NT

This time last year, Volgren was the definitive bodybuilder master with 375 deliveries for 2023. This year, it solidified its crown with 567 deliveries for 2024. It nearly doubled its closest competitor in Yutong (325), with BCI rising to third position after finishing with 203 units delivered. Irizar backed up a mighty 2023 with another 183 deliveries in 2024, with Custom Denning (108) finishing fifth.

I-Bus was the next best with 90 deliveries, while King Long remained consistent with 84.

BLK (72) and Scania Higer (47) did enough to fight off new challengers such as Nexport (37) and Global Bus Ventures (34) and Express Coaches (33) fought off persistent challenges to finish ahead of Marcopolo (31).

SA

17%

29%

QLD

VIC

Sales by region

Thermo King Coachair Cling-Yutong Hispacold Spheros Valeo

22% NSW

Sales by Air-Conditioner 476 387 325 198 102 86

King Long Songz MCC Konvekta Denso StyleRide

84 80 77 47 26 1

26% QLD

Sales by chassis For another year, the chassis sector belonged to Volvo. After dominating the chassis market as market leader in 2023 with 418 deliveries made, the European giant took its operations to the next level in 2024 with 639 deliveries recorded. Maintaining second spot for a second consecutive year was Yutong, who consolidated its spot in the market with 326 deliveries. Scania continued to deliver strongly in third with 295 units recorded, an increase of 88 from last year, while BCI’s 142 deliveries for the year saw it become the fourth OEM to reach triple figures for the year. With the top four staying the same from 2023, the chasers jostled for position, with I-Bus rounding out the top five with 90 deliveries.

VOLVO 639 YUTONG 326 SCANIA 295 BCI 142 I-BUS 90 KING LONG 84 MERCEDES-BENZ 78 MAN 68 CUSTOM DENNING 59 BYD 55 BLK 46 CHALLENGER 17 GUANTONG/GTK 6 NEXPORT 2

busnews.com.au • ABC

57

BACK SEAT

Russ the Story Bus

The Russ the Story Bus program aims to inspire an early love of reading that lasts a lifetime IMAGES SYDNEY WRITERS’ FESTIVAL

T

here are only a handful of primary school memories that seem to stand the test of time. A playground kiss, a first broken bone, only a few manage to leave a lasting impression.

Russ the Story Bus is one of these memories.

An initiative ran by the Sydney Writers’ Festival, Russ the Story Bus is an interactive, travelling experience that inspires children to think creatively about reading, writing and storytelling.

Visiting disadvantaged primary schools around Western Sydney and regional NSW, students enjoy taking part in an interactive talk presented by a children’s book author or illustrator, as well as the opportunity for children to pick their own book to take home.

“It started out as a project to simply deliver author talks and books to areas where children weren’t getting any access to them,” Sydney Writers’ Festival children program head Nathan Luff told ABC. “We knew that there was so much expense involved in excursions, so we knew that we were going to have to make our experience portable.

“So how do you do that? How do you cart books and things like that around? So of course, a bus makes sense.”

Originally a retired school bus, Russ underwent a massive face-lift back in 2014 when it was fitted out to become a portable library.

“When you get on that bus, of course, there are shelves everywhere, there are books everywhere. For a child, they think it’s a magical library,” Luff says.

Since its inception, over 10,000 students from 57 schools have received an inspiring author talk and had their choice of book to take home.

Around 90 per cent of these schools visited had an index of

58

ABC • busnews.com.au

socio-economic advantage (ICSEA) score of less than 1000.

“For many of these students, this will be the first book that they own,” Luff says.

“Our program aims to inspire an early love of reading and connects their literacy learning at school with the home environment.”

Feedback from teachers and parents has been encouraging, with many delighted at how excited the children had left the program.

“Our students loved their visit from Russ the Bus. They were amazed with all the books and were in shock when they were told they got to take home a book for ‘free’,” a Castlereagh Public representative told ABC. “For the days and weeks after, I often found kids still carrying their books around and reading them. Russ the Bus definitely left a buzz about books at Castlereagh!”

While the program has continued to grow with every year, the kilometres clocked on the dash means Russ is soon due for an upgrade.

“Our current bus is 35 years old and,

Above: Over 10,000 students from 57 schools have received a visit from Russ

following a difficult tour through the flood affected Northern Rivers region in 2023, significant mechanical repairs have been required,” Sydney Writers’ Festival head of development Lauren Dixon told ABC. “While we have been assured the current bus will be up to the task for our 2024 and 2025 tours, by 2026 we will need a replacement.”

The new bus will need to be fitted out and redesigned to continue the magical legacy of Russ, and ensure the bus is accessible for children in wheelchairs (which it currently isn’t) and meets other accessibility criteria.

“The current demand for Russ means we are only able to visit 40 per cent of the schools who submit an EOI each year,” Dixon says.

“We’re also currently unable to revisit schools who have previously had a visit. A new bus will enable us to travel further distances and expand the tour through larger areas of regional NSW and down the South Coast.”

If anyone would like to support the program, they can contact Lauren Dixon at lauren.dixon@swf.org.au.

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