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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
If 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
AUSTRALIAN OWNED, AUSTRALIAN DESIGNED, AUSTRALIAN
CHALLENGER BUS & COACH
in the know
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
Check out the latest news from around Australia and the world features
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
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
26. 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
28. operator showcase | 2025 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
38. feature | blk PEOPLE FIRST BLK Auto’s new national aftersales and technical manager will look to provide unparalleled service to customers
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
42. 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
46. feature | cure cancer GRILLING FOR GOOD
BarbeCURE is encouraging Aussies to flip some snags and raise money for cancer research
49. competition | best bus COASTAL CRUISE
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
Grab your pen and update the diary with the latest industry events
52. factory facts | bus deliveries DECEMBER DELIVERIES
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
56. deliveries | 2025 recap INCREDIBLE YEAR
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
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Image: Challenger
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
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.
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
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
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
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.
“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: Jeroen Weimer has signific ant leadership experience in transport and planning. Image: Jeroen Weimer
Above: Tim Booker is set to serve for a three-year term. Image: Apex Advisory Australia
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
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
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.”
Right: There are five stages to the r Image: Brisbane City Council
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
Security screens in buses fast-tracked in Adelaide Agreement reached in Metro Tasmania driver stand-off
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.
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.
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.
“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.
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.”
MINIBUS CONVERSIONS
Image: Nexport
Safe to go back to school
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
It’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
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.
Above: School bus safety is critical for students. Image: Transport for NSW
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
One 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
WORDS
TIARNA CONDREN IMAGES CHALLENGER
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
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.
Above: The third Challenger will be joining the M aitland Lutheran School early in 2025
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
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.
Below: Bennett says the Challenger V10 is “the perfect school bus”
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
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
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
This 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.”
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
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
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
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
The 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
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 K atoomba 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.”
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
The 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.
Zero-emission scepticism
While the transition to zero-emissions buses and coaches has plagued political discourse and filtered into regulation, this year’s Operator
Above: Australian operators had a lot to say about the current industry. Image: Volvo Bus Australia
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
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.
Costs are still too high
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?
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
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.
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.
Below: Many themes were similar compared to the 2024 Showcase.
Image: Keolis Downer
OPERATOR SHOWCASE 2025
* * * Light, Gawler, Playford, Adelaide Plains, Onkaparinga, Barossa, Adelaide
Melville, Fremantle, Perth, Wangara, Armadale, Lower
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
OPERATOR SHOWCASE 2025
* * * 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
Midwestern
* Geelong, Golden Plains, Otway, Whittlesea, Queenscliff, Surf
* * * Yarra Ranges, Shire of Murrindindi, Maroondah City, City of Melbourne, Nillumbik Shire, Dandenong Ranges Shire
Griffith, Carrathool, Murrumbidgee, Leeton, Narrandera,
* Wagga Wagga Shire, Lockhart Shire, Greater Hume Shire
*
*
*
Knox, Yarra Ranges, Maroondah, Whitehorse, Boorandara, Darebin, Stonnington, Glen Eira, Bayside, Kingston, Dandenong, Casey, Cardinia, Mornington Peninsula, Melbourne, Banyule, Bass Coast, South Gippsland
People first
BLK Auto’s new national aftersales and technical manager will look to provide unparalleled service to customers
IMAGES BLK AUTO
When 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
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.
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.
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
Peters will help keep BLK buses on the road around Australia
Below: BLK’s newest national aftersales and technical manager, Jack Peters
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.”
KFirst choice
After finding success with four previous Scania models, Mullumbimby
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,”
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.”
“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
Above: Hughes purchased his first Scania back in the mid 2000s
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
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.
stemming from the chassis, they assisted in any way they could in
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
Above: Hughes is eagerly awaiting his newest addition, set to arrive this year
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
Throughout 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
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.
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.
“When I was an infant in the late ‘50s I remember my dad and uncles
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
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
Above: Interline Bus Services quickly became a
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
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
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.
Left: The Oliveris had humble beginnings when they first began running buses
Right: Pop and Nonna created a bus industry legacy
“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.”
Grilling for good
BarbeCURE is encouraging Aussies to flip some snags and raise money for cancer research
IMAGES CURE CANCER
BarbeCURE, 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.
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
Above:
potential to create more effective treatments with fewer side effects,”
How to host a BarbeCURE®
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. Celebrate and reflect Share your success with photos and updates. Let your guests know the difference they’ve made by supporting cancer research.
Cure Cancer’s BarbeCURE campaign has raised over $1.5 million so far
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
British Tourism & Travel Show –Birmingham
March 20
BusVic Regional Conference –Bendigo
APRIL
April 10–12
QBIC Annual Conference
April 24
BusVic Regional Conference –Hamilton & Ballarat
BusSA Annual Conference
May 30–31
TasBus Annual Conference
JUNE
June 14
QBIC Regional Forum – Gympie
JULY
June 11
QBIC Future Leaders Luncheon
AUGUST
August 2
QBIC Regional Forum – Chinchilla
October 22
PTAANZ Annual Conference and Gala Dinner – Brisbane
October 29–31
BIC National Conference – Perth
NOVEMBER
November 14–15
QBIC Regional and Partner Forum – Cairns
November 22
QBIC Christmas Function
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
WINNER
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
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.
Above: Jay Miller’s stunning shot of a BCI EV bus
Above:
Chris Nidblock had the perfect timing for this shot
Below: Who said the front was more interesting? Nidblock supplying us with yet another stunning pic
Above: Robert Danci bringing the Christmas spirit to Healesville
Hot finish
An extraordinary year of deliveries has been capped off in December with the industry surging home in the final month of 2024
IMAGES VICTORIAN DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT
The 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)
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
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.
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.
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.
DELIVERIES DECEMBER
Incredible year
The bus and coach deliveries data for Australia is in for 2024, and it far surpasses the efforts of previous years
IMAGES VOLGREN AUSTRALIA
When 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
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)
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
MCCONNELL 770
SEGE 370
YUTONG 301
STYLERIDE 173
APM 92
KING LONG 59
LEADCOM 49
FAINSA 33
MARCOPOLO 30
ISRI 17
BUSTECH 8
VOGEL 3
PRECISION BUS 2
VOLGREN 567
YUTONG 325 BCI 203
IRIZAR 183
CUSTOM DENNING 108
I-BUS 90
KING LONG 84 BLK 72
SCANIA HIGER 47
NEXPORT 37
GLOBAL BUS VENTURES 34
EXPRESS COACHES 33
MARCOPOLO 31
COACH CONCEPTS 21
CHALLENGER
BUSTECH GROUP 17
COACH DESIGN 16
GEMILANG 9
OMNIBUS 6
GUANTONG/GTK 6
SUPPORTRANS 1
Sales by body
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).
Sales by Air-Conditioner
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.
