Coach & Bus Edition 17

HIGER DEALERS NSW NSW Bus Sales, Smeaton Grange Newcastle Commercial Vehicles Thomas Bros, Wagga Wagga West Orange Motors, Orange

02 4648 8800 02 4974 7800 02 6926 0100 02 6362 2779

VIC Prestige, Dandenong South Blacklocks, Wodonga

03 9212 5555 02 6057 8777

QLD Zupps, Eagle Farm Zupps, Burleigh Ray Grace, Forest Glen Macquarrie Corp, Garbutt Macquarrie Corp, Portsmith

07 3268 8500 07 5507 6400 07 5452 0700 07 4725 0799 07 4035 3442

WA Higer Bus Centre WA, Welshpool

08 9351 2000

TAS Tas Truck & Bus, Launceston

03 6335 9166

HIGER’S ALL NEW H7170 PLATINUM EDITION

Experience a new class of luxury Higer’s H7170 Platinum Edition sets a new benchmark in luxury travel, with intelligent technology and a level of sophistication never before seen in the small bus market.

FEATURING

19 leather recline seats

Increased storage

24” LCD screen & bar fridge

Carpet throughout

Personal USB outlets

Custom painting

For more information and a free test drive, call your nearest Higer dealer on 1300 850 206 or visit higer.com.au

Issue 017

Contents Regulars

CONTACT DETAILS PO Box 3294 Erina, NSW 2250 www.truckandbus.net.au

04 06 17 60 62 64

Enquiries Tel: 0411 099 091 Follow us on Twitter #truckandbusnews Managing Editor/Editor Fabian Cotter fabian@truckandbus.net.au Art Director Luke Melbourne www.groeningdesigns.com.au Senior Designer Adelle Chang www.groeningdesigns.com.au Advertising Sales E: advertising@truckandbus.net.au T: 0411 099 091 Contributing Writers Chris Smith, David Meredith, Sven-Erik Lindstrand, Allen Matzel

Driver’s Seat

Editor Cotter wraps all the happenings in the industry of late and looks are the intriguing phenomenon of ‘ghosts buses’ roaming our streets. Ooooo spooky...

Up Front

We wrap up the key local and international bus and coach news that affects us as a global industry and where we are heading.

Bigger Picture

BEST PRACTICE: The Mercedes-Benz Citaro has done amazing things in Europe for a while and with moves to bring it here its latest version’s multiple award wins set new standards.

Hot Stuff

If you are past Lego and Meccano then these trick gadgets on the go are hard to resist. You may not need them, but you’ll certainly want them. Or is that vice-versa?

Working Wheels

Fiat’s new Ducato is on the way here and it’s got people overdosing on Tiramisu. Fabian Cotter stops indulging in lasagne and his cappuccino to check it out.

Money

Investing in bricks and mortar has often been the way forward, but knowing for how long to keep a hold of property is the key to long-term success. Financial guru Paul Clitheroe explains.

Interview

Contributing Photographers Mark Bean, Cristian Brunelli, David Meredith, Chris Smith, Paul Jakubicki, Matthew Everingham

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Coach & Bus magazine is produced under license by Grayhaze Pty Ltd. ABN 49 108 979 086 six times a year and is distributed to bus and coach operators, business professionals and the industry throughout Australia.

60 Minutes With...

MAN’s Mark Mello talks to us about all things Euro6 and a raft of other new ideas and views from the big German company. Fabian Cotter has a quick chat with him.

All material contained herein including text, photography, design elements and format are copyright and cannot be reproduced by any means without the written permission of the publisher. Truck Power Media Group is a member of the Copyright Agency Limited (1800 066 844).

Editorial contributions are welcome for consideration. Contact the Editor for guidelines, fees and level of interest.

All unsolicited manuscripts must be accompanied by a stamp, addressed envelope for their return. We will not be held responsible for material supplied electronically.

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TAILOR MADE

CUSTOM’S FIRST ADL ‘AUSS

OPERATOR: ACCESSIBLE TRANSIT SPECIALISTS TECH: UPM BIOVERNO DIESEL CBT14_p000_COV_2.indd

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IE’

EVENT: SCANIA 2014 DRIVER AWARDS EVENT: HIGER VARIETY CHARITY RIDE OVERSEAS: SUNSUNDEGU I SC7, VOLVO B11R 2/05/2014 9:04 am

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coach&bus 17

“...to emerge triumphant in the year’s toughest comparative test for buses.”

Features

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Goldrush!

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V8 Mate

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EVENT: It was the first time a state and national event was held together so big things were expected of the 2014 BIC/ QBIC Australasian Bus & Coach Conference and Expo on the Gold Coast. Fabian Cotter visited.

COVERSTORY: Volvo entered the iconic Aussie V8 Supercars series this year and has gone great thus far in its debut season. Part of the success? A Volvo B9R coach. Fabian Cotter reports.

2014 IAA, Hannover

EVENT: The IAA Commercial Vehicles show, held every second year in Germany, showcases the very latest in bus and truck innovation. Some interesting stuff popped up.

Fabian Cotter checks it out.

40 44 56

Scania Best Bus Driver Awards

EVENT: A bus or coach service is only as good as the people driving them they say, so the Scania Best Bus Driver Awards 2014 was keenly watched for inspiring examples of best practice. Fabian Cotter reports.

HIGER Society

NEW PRODUCT: The competitive midi-bus market just got more interesting with talk of a higher comfort level the key to success. Higer’s H7170 Platinum Edition breaks cover. Fabian Cotter reports.

Top Deck

INTERNATIONAL: Of the 233 world debuts seen at the recent 2014 IAA Commercial Vehicles show in Germany, the Daimler Setra TopClass S 431 DT double-decker got the banter up.

Fabian Cotter has a quick look.

004Driver’s Seat

Fabian Cotter

“Bus drivers … busting their backsides each day transporting thousands, if not millions, or passengers safely across Australasia.”

W

homever came up with the saying ‘A change is as good as a holiday’ totally needs their head read because as there’s been a few changes here at Planet Coach & Bus, somehow in the grand scheme of things it means I’m even further away from anything that vaguely resembles a vacation. In fact, right about now, a weekend away at an Amway conference looks like pretty good value to me – but alas it seems even that will have to wait.

The reason is, it’s been a bumper few months in the bus and coach world and that’s reflected in this issue’s content, which aims to give a snapshot of all the latest product, tech, shows, movers and shakers that is spearheading where the industry as a whole is going.

In October, the BIC and QBIC held the 2014 Australasian Bus and Coach Conference and Exhibition on the Gold Coast, Queensland – the first time a state and national event were held together as it were – and massive anticipation of a great event was justified in the end. A solid manufacturer and exhibitor turnout was much welcomed by delegates, as was the enhanced dinners and night activities, putting the Gold Coast event on par with its traditionally more established Melbourne and Sydney partners. Check out all the action on pages 20-24. Congrats to all involved with organising a good’un.

Speaking of shows, we take a quick look at one of the bigger ones held in Germany every second year: the IAA Commercial Vehicles Show. With the 2014 event on in Hannover last September, a range of the top manufacturers and exhibitors based or focussed on the German commercial vehicles market brought out their latest and greatest, which gives a good insight into what’s probably going to spread around the world soon after. With 322 product debuts, it was definitely the place to be to check out forthcoming potential market trends, in capital equipment and commercial vehicles terms.

This issue’s coverbus – a Volvo B9R chassis under a Coach Concepts body – is almost

004 www.truckandbus.net.au

a feel-good story for industry, in that being part of the support structure for the Volvo V8 Supercars race team it illustrates the importance that, namely, coaches play in the transport and logistical requirements of such commercial arrangements the world over. I mean, think about it. For every motorsport, football, rock band and large-scale what-youmay-call-it out there, there’s usually a pretty swish and comfy modern bus or coach on call for schlepping people left, right and centre when and virtually wherever needed. And these vehicles are often taken for granted by the onlooking masses. One of them breaks down and people sure know about it. But much thanks goes out to the reliability of the modern coach that few fail in keeping such groups and sporting outfits chugging along without a drama along thousands of kilometres of highway each year, country to country.

There’s a whole stack of other cool goodies inside this issue, too. We grab 60 Minutes With… Mark Mello from MAN to find out how the big German company is kicking goals both here and aboard and why; we look at Higer’s high-end and ‘highbrow’ H7170 Platinum Edition midibus that’s just come out; plus check out the new Setra TopClass S 431 DT double-decker causing a stir for the Daimler stable. And on that note, the latest MercedesBenz Citaro low-floor bus has been scooping up an award or two, so we check out what makes it so good – especially if it’s to come to Australia in a bigger way.

Also inside we look at the 2014 Scania Best Bus Drivers awards – an ever-worthwhile event that helps celebrate elite bus driving and, in turn, help attract more bus drivers to our industry.

You remember the bus drivers, right? They are the ones busting their backside each day transporting thousands, if not millions, of passengers safely across Australasia cities and towns each year down seemingly abandoned long and open stretches of highway, usually without receiving the full credit they deserve from the ones using their services. Yet perhaps

that perception will change some day soon.

Oh, and finally, just as little side note; I just wanted to have a go at the media beat-up recently about government bus services on certain routes being a waste of taxpayer dollars because far too few people use them.

I can’t be bothered going into the specifics of it, but the gist is certain services only pick up, like, 30 people per year at great cost servicerunning wise and thus they probably should be cut. Good on ya, that’s great. The fact you highlight other services on the opposing side of the spectrum transporting God-knows how many millions of people each year to and from the airport means it’s all swings and roundabouts and evens itself out - so get over it. Stop trying to make it look like ‘no-one wants to catch a bus’ unless you show footage or images or people packing in buses, too.

Certain citizens in certain areas do need those ‘ghost bus’ services to get about the place, be they in wheelchairs or elderly or just needing to get somewhere in a hurry in an emergency when using a car is out of the question. You can’t just cut services and discriminate against them. So fair play for any government keeping such services running.

That said, stupidly wasting fuel and resources on such lack of passenger demand might be better served by running more efficient, smaller midi buses on the market from a range of manufacturers these days, right? It’s food for thought. Or is that ‘fuel’ for thought? Dunno...

Until the next thrilling instalment…

One Final Note...

Our publisher and editor-in-chief has, after a long and distinguished career in automotive journalism, gone on to what we journos call the ‘dark side’. He has taken a senior role as the public affairs manager for a European truck and bus company. Yes, we’ll miss him, but it’s good to know he is still in the industry. All the best.

UpFront TOP END GETS TOP BUS ORDER follow us online at: www.truckandbus.net.au

IT MIGHT GET a bit warm and humid in Darwin year ‘round, thanks to its wonderful tropical weather and feel, but local commuters look set to endure – not pun intended – bus travel a little better thanks to a new fleet of around 130 Volgren-Mercedes buses for Buslink VIVO, industry sources say.

The Volgren Endura (pun time) school bus/charter/mining-spec aluminium bodies will provide oodles of modern Aussie-designed comfort on reliable and well-performing Mercedes-Benz Euro5 1830 chassis.

Such a fleet continues a long tradition for Buslink VIVO in using such a body-chassis brand combination, which has seemingly proven very successful for the Howard Springs,

About 130 Volgren Endura bodies are getting put onto Mercedes-Benz Euro5 O 500R chassis and heading up north to Buslink VIVO.

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Darwin-based bus company.

Buslink VIVO currently provides employee transport services for the Ichthys Project Onshore LNG facilities in Darwin, Northern Territory. At peak, it’s claimed the company will be safely transporting 4500 staff using its fleet of more than 100 buses.

Buslink VIVO is backed by Transdev, a market leader in the operation of passenger transport and local familyowned business, Buslink. Transdev has significant experience in the resource sector through its VIVO Connect brand in Cavill Ridge and Worsley, the company states.

The Mercedes-Benz O 500R (9BM382177) chassis houses a OM 926LA (Euro5) water-cooled,

six-cylinder, in-line, three-valve, turbocharged and intercooled vertical engine. It incorporates SCR technology with the introduction of ADR 80/03 emission standards. Power is 225kW(306hp)@ 2200rpm, with torque 1170Nm@1300-1600rpm.

Running via a ZF 6HP 594 (ECOMAT IV) six-speed automatic transmission with torque converter, retarder, matched to a ZF-Servocom 8098 steering set-up, the O 500R has a 300-litre fuel tank (20-litre transportation tank) and uses a 35-litre Adblue tank.

Volgren’s 12.3-metre Endura body brings a suitably modern look and comfy underpinnings to the fleet (as featured in Issue 10 of Coach & Bus magazine), whose aluminium and

fibreglass panel construction means no body rustproofing is required.

The windscreens are two-piece curved bonded laminated glass and the side windows are bonded and tinted fixed glass.

And given the Darwin temperatures and usual warm climate, the Cootek air-conditioning blows cool air only – though it can be retrofit for heating, too. Awesome!

Seating is for 53 passengers using McConnell Educator seats trimmed in vinyl, while the driver gets a comfy Isringhausen suspension-base seat trimmed in black cloth material.

Deliveries to the company have already started and it’s expected to continue well into 2015.

MAN and Scania Gearbox Deal FROM 2016 SCANIA’S gearbox hardware will be gradually implemented in TGS and TGX series MAN vehicles. MAN will develop the gearbox software for the optimal gear changing strategy. Testing of the first prototype vehicles has already begun. The aim is also to develop the subsequent generation of the current Scania gearbox portfolio together. The details of the cooperation are currently being drawn up. ZF Friedrichshafen also remains a supplier for MAN’s trucks and buses, it’s stated.

“It means that Scania and MAN will be using a collectively developed, innovative gearbox concept in their vehicles in the future. Our aim with this cooperation is for components which set global benchmarks for commercial vehicle technology to emerge. That’s why we want to cooperate on development projects with Scania in future, too, provided that these do not impact upon their respective brands,” said

Anders Nielsen, CEO MAN Truck & Bus AG. “This is a milestone in our cooperation with MAN,” said Martin Lundstedt, president and CEO of Scania. “By using common components which are not that brand-specific, we will strengthen our offering to customers. At the same time, we will achieve significant synergies in the longer term.”

MAN and Scania will remain separate brands in line with Volkswagen’s multibrand strategy, with sales and service activities also following this principle, it’s stated.

This project is a major step forward in the collaboration by the commercial vehicle alliance which consists of MAN, Scania and Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles. The alliance enables the companies to exchange their knowhow as much as possible and make immediate use of the synergies of the collaboration.

MAN PLANT IN POLAND MAN is concentrating its production of city buses at the plant in Starachowice, Poland. This will require an investment in Poland of around €40 million, which will be used for a new vehicle generation among other things. Final assembly of buses will be transferred from Poznan to Starachowice over the coming years up until the end of 2016, it’s stated.

In future MAN will have its entire city bus production concentrated there and will increase the workforce.

“By concentrating its city bus production in Starachowice, MAN is responding to weak demand and existing overcapacities. All affected employees can transfer to our Starachowice plant. We will support employees who choose to move by providing attractive mobility bonuses because we urgently need their expertise”, said Anders Nielsen, CEO of MAN Truck & Bus AG. MAN Lion’s City buses and bus chassis are produced at MAN’s Poznan site. In future the buses will be produced at MAN’s plant in Starachowice. MAN took over the plant in 1999 and it has been a competence centre for bus manufacture since 2007.

www.truckandbus.net.au 007

UpFront PERTH BUSPORT DESIGN UNVEILED THE FINAL DESIGN for Perth’s new stateof-the-art underground busport has been unveiled online.

Transport Minister Dean Nalder said the $209 million Perth Busport in the CBD would have a strong emphasis on passenger comfort and would operate like an airport passenger lounge.

“It will be among the best in the world when complete in 2016,” Mr Nalder said.

“Passengers will be able to access the busport from three separate entrances at ground level and connect seamlessly to Perth City Link,” he added.

The station is spilt over two levels. Lifts, stairs and escalators will connect passengers from the ground-level entry points to the underground, 16-stand, fully air-conditioned lounge level, which will have about 160 seats. Large screens

will provide passengers with up-to-date service information, including stand locations and departure times.

“Perth Busport will accommodate 50 per cent more bus movements than its predecessor because of the airport-style Dynamic-Stand-Management System,” the Minister said.

“The system allocates each bus to a stand between two to five minutes before departing the busport. Screens at each entrance and throughout the facility will notify passengers where their service will leave from.”

The lounge area is divided into four sections, each with four stands. Bus services to specific areas (north, east, south, west) will generally operate from the same section. Therefore passengers will generally wait in the section their

service typically leaves from, and only have to walk to one of four gates located closely together.

Minister Nalder said plans for a second bus entrance to the Perth Busport from Wellington Street were still being assessed by the Metropolitan Redevelopment Authority.

“The Wellington Street entrance is a congestion-busting device that will become an important part of keeping traffic and people moving through the city,” he said.

In addition to regular consultation with local government and approving authorities, a Perth Busport Accessibility and Inclusion Reference Group has been created to discuss the project and offer advice on how to best cater for passengers with different needs.

REAL-TIME TRACKING Leading ticketing technologies company Parkeon is playing a key role in a multimillion dollar public transport project in Perth that will provide real-time journey tracking for passengers along with Australia’s first underground dynamic bus stand allocation system.

The Real Time Tracking System (RTTS) is being delivered by Parkeon as part of its latest ticketing platform and will enable commuters to access bus journey information in real-time, via smartphone, tablet or PC. The contract will see Parkeon’s latest generation driver console, and

associated technologies, introduced across the Transperth fleet of 1482 buses in readiness for the opening of the Wellington Street Underground Bus Station by early 2016.

The RTTS system, developed by Parkeon at its facility in the UK, forms a significant part of the contract awarded by the Western Australia Public Transport Authority to Downer EDI Engineering Power. Parkeon and Downer are long-term partners in Australia.

“This project continues the successful relationship that we have developed over many years with the

WORD AROUND THE CAMPFIRE IS...

Skybus Gets New Owners A PRIVATE EQUITY-backed consortium agreed to acquire Australian transportation group SkyBus. The company, which operates the bus service between the Melbourne airport and the CBD, was valued at between A$50m ($46.8m) and A$100m ($93.6m), according to industry estimates.

The consortium includes Canadian pension system OPTrust Private Markets and private equity firm Catalyst Direct Capital Management.

010 Group www.truckandbus.net.au

Public Transport Authority of Western Australia,” said Owen Griffith, managing director of Parkeon Transit.

“This project will deliver significant benefits to a public transport network that is at the heart of major urban regeneration investment in Perth.”

The project will include a groundbreaking innovation for Australia, with live data feeding a dynamic management system that will automatically allocate bus stands to ensure the most efficient operation of the new underground Perth busport.

The tracking system will also deliver

airport-style departure gate information to passengers via electronic screens in the central waiting area.

The fully-integrated real-time technology will also enable Transperth to improve day-to-day on-time schedule performance with the introduction of traffic signal priority for buses running behind schedule.

The project award augments Parkeon’s position as the leading provider of mass transit ticketing systems in Australia, with schemes also currently running in Canberra, Sydney and Melbourne.

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Mercedes-Benz Tweaks At 2014 IAA AT THE RECENT 2014 IAA Commcercial Vehicles show in Hannover, Germany, recently, the big German manufacturer unveiled a raft of new models respresenting its established product lines, but it also garnered attention for improved technologies which are making thier ways into various vehicle ranges.

On the latest Mercedes-Benz Travego, there’s the new Active Brake Assist 3.

The Travego premium high-decker from

Mercedes-Benz is an innovation-driver, especially when it comes to drive technology, environmental compatibility, safety and ease of operation, says the company.

With the new Active Brake Assist 3 (ABA 3), the Travego touring coach is able to initiate automatic emergency braking when stationary obstacles are encountered. The Travego with ABA 3 thus not only mitigates the

consequences of a serious accident, but is also capable of independently preventing accidents. Active Brake Assist 3 will be available from Mercedes-Benz from mid-2015.

Also, a new option for the Travego is Predictive Powertrain Control, which can further reduce the already low fuel consumption.

As for the Mercedes-Benz ‘Sprinter’derived minibuses, the Euro6

emissions standard means even more fuel-efficient engines and additional assistance systems have made their way into the range of minibuses – the largest range in the competitive line-up.

There are also new practical details, such as all models with independent bodies now also available with the Parktronic reversing and parking aid. All Sprinter City models can now be fitted with a swivelling driver’s seat.

D

Seasons Greetings bcibus.com.au

www.truckandbus.net.au 051

UpFront

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Higer Transports Miss World Australia CONTESTANTS OF THE 2014 Miss World Australia pageant were taken to the crowning gala event in a brand new Higer bus, last September.

The young women made the 300km return trip from Sydney Airport to the Hunter Valley in a prestigious Higer H8200 Ryder, which is equipped with top-of-the-line air-conditioning, prestige seats and airbag suspension for the most comfortable ride.

Keeping the contestants safe was the highest priority, according to Higer. With Wabco ABS front and rear disc brakes, traction control and seatbelts for all

passengers, the contestants were in the safest of hands ahead of their big day.

“The bus was so comfortable! It was a long drive from Sydney to the Hunter Valley and we were expected to look our best and be ready for competition when we arrived. It was great to be able to do what we needed to on the way. Some of the girls rested all the way up there and some prepared for their presentations,” Miss World Australia winner, Courtney Thorpe said.

Miss World Australia is the country’s leading pageant showcasing young women who exemplify beauty, talent,

intelligence and compassion. But it’s more than just a beauty pageant; entrants are put through rigorous fitness tests, they must present a talent and perform well in an on-camera interview - during which their world views and philanthropic side are on display.

When Higer’s CEO, Neil Bamford was approached by the pageant organisers to support it he was keen to contribute to an event that has raised more than $300,000 for a number of children’s and regional indigenous charities since 2011.

“I am proud to put Higer’s support

behind Miss World Australia. The programme showcases each contestant’s unique character. By placing an emphasis on strength and empowerment, the programme encourages women to embrace their unique talents and develop their selfconfidence,” Bamford said.

Higer has a long history of supporting charity events that help deliver tangible benefits back to the community. The most recent was in February 2014 when Higer provided one of their Higer H7170 Munros as a support vehicle for The Variety Cycle.

The Miss World Australia contestants loved the comfort and elegance the Higer Ryder H8200 provided for them.

Special Christmas Coach Deal Seasons Greetings New Management Picks: 3 Axle Coach 14.5m &13.7m available for delivery in December

012 www.truckandbus.net.au

Call your local dealer for find out more about this Special Christmas Deal. Offer applies to Australia only. Offer ends 31st December 2014. bcibus.com.au

bcibus.com.au

HIGER’S ALL NEW H9250 41 SEAT MIDIBOSS

As seen At the 2014 AustrAlAsiA Bus & CoACh shoW

The next generation has arrived FEATURING HIGER DEALERS NSW NSW Bus Sales, Smeaton Grange Newcastle Commercial Vehicles Thomas Bros, Wagga Wagga West Orange Motors, Orange

02 4648 8800 02 4974 7800 02 6926 0100 02 6362 2779

VIC Prestige, Dandenong South Blacklocks, Wodonga

03 9212 5555 02 6057 8777

QLD Zupps, Eagle Farm Zupps, Burleigh Ray Grace, Forest Glen Macquarrie Corp, Garbutt Macquarrie Corp, Portsmith

07 3268 8500 07 5507 6400 07 5452 0700 07 4725 0799 07 4035 3442

WA Higer Bus Centre WA, Welshpool 08 9351 2000 TAS Tas Truck & Bus, Launceston

03 6335 9166

• Independent front

suspension

• Increased luggage

capacity

• Increased fuel capacity

• WABCO EBS/ESC • Advanced anti-corrosion

technology

• Forward collision

warning system

For more information and a free test drive, call your nearest Higer dealer on 1300 850 206 or visit higer.com.au

UpFront TRANSDEV QLD WINS NATIONAL SAFETY AWARD BRISBANE-BASED BUS company Transdev Queensland (TDQ) has won the National Safety Council of Australia’s National Award for Best Workplace Health and Safety Training Program, recently.

The Capalaba-based bus company, which prides itself on safely transporting more than 3 million people every year in Brisbane and the Redlands, including 91 TransLink services, took out the award from more than 150 nominations from around Australia.

TDQ managing director Colin Jennings explained: “We are thrilled to be acknowledged nationally for our investment in quality safety training for our staff. It acknowledges Transdev’s outstanding safety record. In fact, we have seen measurable drops in safety related incidents, staff absenteeism and accidents since investing in an integrated programme of intensive driver safety training.”

TDQ’s manager People and Culture Maxine Hurst agreed: “Our expanded 17-day training programme for new bus drivers is integral to our success and is unprecedented in the industry. We have people telling us that they apply for jobs with us because they’ve heard about how Transev invests in staff training and has a strong culture of safety.”

TDQ’s parent company, Transdev Australasia, was Highly Commended for Best Communication of a Safety Message at the NSCA Awards and also won the overall award for excellence in WHS, the Pinnacle Award (for safety communications).

“This award reflects on the quality of all our staff and their commitment to safety, which we live and breathe at Transdev on a daily basis. I would like to thank all our people for continuing to put safety and the care of our customers at the heart of all they do,” Jennings said.

VOLVO PERSONNEL CHANGES VOLVO BUS AUSTRALIA announced the addition of a Competency Manager to its team in the way of industry and technical expert David Woodward, who has been appointed to the role from 20 October.

Based in Sydney, Woodward will be responsible for developing the skillsets of Volvo Bus key technicians across the Volvo dealer network, as well as operators’ technicians and drivers, it’s stated.

From his previous role as Volvo Bus Regional Service manager and over 35 years of bus-industry experience, Woodward has a wealth of knowledge, experience and dedication which will help him with his new appointment.

“I am thrilled about my new role as now I get to share my experiences with customers and dealers so that

they can get the best results out of their Volvos. I hope that sharing my knowledge will increase the competencies of Volvo employees, as well as customers,” said Woodward.

Woodward will also be supported by the Volvo Competence Development Team in Sweden.

Woodward is a qualified mechanic and highly experienced in presenting and training. He also has gained a Certificate IV in Workplace Training and Assessment. Woodward was put to the test earlier this year when travelling the country for the Volvo Euro6 Customer Forums.

“Feedback was positive as Woodward has impeccable communication skills and expertise. I am confident that he will excel in his new role,” said Volvo Bus Australia general manager Sean Copeland.

,

Antra Saldums, Commercial Aftersales Volvo Bus Australia

WORD AROUND THE CAMPFIRE IS...

Facts and Figures 012 www.truckandbus.net.au

Volvo Europe has issued a correction to the height and width measurements of its latest Electric Hybrid bus, shown recently.

The correct figures are: Height: 3280 mm Width: 2550 mm All apologies given for the errors.

Also accepting a new role in Volvo Bus Australia is Antra Saldums, who will now replace Kajsa Friberg as Commercial Aftersales manager.

Saldums has been at Volvo Bus for more than five years and within the group for 15. In this role, Saldums is responsible for the management of commercial aftersales activities including Genuine Volvo Parts sales and promotions, parts and service agreements, web-based customer tools and telematics products.

Saldums is highly experienced in aftersales and is bound to make a great impression in her new role.

Kajsa Friberg heads back home to Sweden after spending 3.5 years in the Australian Market.

She will now lead the Nordic aftersales team back at Volvo Bus headquarters, Sweden.

David Woodward, Na tional Competency manager, Volvo Bu s Australia.

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NZ Buses With Beds!

YEP, YOU READ that right and great stuff, we say. You’ll recall last issue we reported on SuitJet, a company in Melbourne that laucnhed a range of ‘business buses’ to transport workers to and from their employment premises in upmarket comfort - as opposed to normal public transport.

In keeping with this theme of making bus and coach trips more an experience than a journey and prioritising comfort for passengers where hours in the day are maximised and not ‘lost’, Naked Bus in New Zealand has transformed some of its long-distance coach journeys into ‘sleeper buses’, so people can grab a decent kip on onernight sojourns - or so the theory goes.

According to the company, travellers can now “snuggle down in new ‘lie-flat’ Sleeper buses this summer as, in a first

for New Zealand.” Naked Bus aims to transform overnight bus journeys.

Passengers from Auckland, Hamilton, Palmerston North and Wellington will be able to “hop on to the Sleeper, hop in to bed and dream their way from city to city”. It is unconfirmed at this point if the reality is as romantic as that, but anyone who has taken a long overnight coach ride before and longed for a proper lie-down will be keen to see how this all evolves - particulary for the Australasian market.

Bookings on the new Sleeper Bus website opened recently and, from December, 2014, customers can snooze from centre-to-centre for $50 or less it’s claimed.

“The Sleeper is a first for New Zealand and it will transform the way people move between the main centres,” said

Naked Bus CEO Hamish Nuttall.

“We’ve been working tirelessly with regulators, suppliers, design teams and our own in-house expertise to deliver this service – the passion and focus has been amazing. The buses are being fitted out in Christchurch ready for their first public trip on 18 December – so our Christmas customers can relax, lie down, sleep and arrive refreshed and ready to go.

“The smart interior design provides a level of comfort similar to a business class flight, but at a fraction of the cost.

Beds come with sheets and pillows – and for a limited time a free ‘onesie’.

There’s Wi-Fi, food and drink and we believe the experience will change the way people view travelling by bus.”

The Sleeper will run as a trial service initially and customer feedback will play a critical role in the next stage of

development.

“We believe in launching early and getting real customer feedback.

Depending on customer views, we will add new routes and services and it is highly likely the offering will look substantially different in six months’ time.

“We take our customer relationships very seriously and always take on board their ‘on board’ view, adapting and improving to meet their needs.”

Sleeper Bus routes are available elsewhere in the world, but the Naked Bus Sleeper will be the first of its kind in New Zealand, the company states.

Naked Bus is a New Zealand owned and operated company providing affordable travel options for customers throughout the country, it’s claimed. Bookings on the Sleeper Bus were available to be made from late October 2014.

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SERVICE YOU CAN COUNT ON Asia Motors knows buses like no other. This means we know which parts to keep in stock and how to get them to you fast. With 24/7 parts and technical support from factory-qualified technicians only a phone call away you know you have support when you need it.

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UpFront South Oz Gets Double-decks Again ADELAIDE AGAIN HAS a double-decker service thanks to the South Australian State Government running a service between the airport and the city, as of November 2014.

The Bustech-made vehicles are being leased for six months as part of a trail, focussing on commuter needs of international and interstate visitors.

The State Government is leasing the buses on a six-month basis, mainly to cater for overseas and interstate visitors.

The move marks the first time double-

deck buses have been run in the city since 1958, when the last of the doubledeck trolley buses were in service.

The new double-decks are being operated by local outfit JetBus and will be known as the JetExpress service, linking Adelaide Airport to the CBD, West Beach and Glenelg.

According to Transport Minister Stephen Mullighan, tickets will costs the same as a normal fare and the vehicles seat 92 passengers.

“We want to make sure we can improve

our capacity across the network,” Minister Mullighan said.

“Double decker buses hold a lot more people than our regular buses or even the long articulated buses.

“We also think it’s an attractive novelty factor to jump on public transport and give it a go.”

It’s reported that the JetExpress service will travel to and from the airport between 5:00am and 10:00am, and 4:00pm and 9:00pm on weekdays. It will pick up and drop off passengers on Grote Street

adjacent to the Central Market and Victoria Square, and proceed via Pulteney Street and North Terrace - catering to the major hotels within the CBD. “We’re Australia’s fastest growing capital city airport for international services, so there is certainly increased demand for an innovative, reliable public transport service between the airport and the city,” said Adelaide Airport managing director Mark Young, who expects the new double decker service would be popular with interstate and overseas visitors.

BUSWA GETS NEW CHAIRMAN AT THE RECENT BusWA 2014 AGM, it was announced that outgoing chairman Ray Gunnaway is to be replaced by Adams Coachlines managing director, Adam Barnard. The newly appointed vicechairman is Joe Giuppa.

Barnard plans to raise further awareness of BusWA’s goals and objectives on both a state and national level, it’s claimed.

ADAMS Coachlines is a leading Perth bus and coach service provider based in Malaga, Western Australia.

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follow us online at: www.truckandbus.net.au

NHVR GETS INDEPENDENT FATIGUE PANEL THE NATIONAL HEAVY Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) announced the appointment of an independent panel to advise the NHVR on decisions it takes in relation to Advanced Fatigue Management (AFM).

Chief executive Sal Petroccitto said establishment of the NHVR Fatigue Expert Reference Group (FERG) is a major milestone in the 20-year journey to support the growth of a professional fatigue management culture in the Australian road transport industry.

“Under one Regulator and one rule book, Australia’s transport ministers have entrusted the NHVR to run a single AFM scheme for the country,” said Petroccitto.

“Now that the national law has commenced, the NHVR is the sole government agency approving AFM accreditation and we take that responsibility seriously.

“When we accredit an operator under

AFM we are delivering the highest possible level of recognition for fatigue management practice the NHVR can give.

“To support us in taking those decisions we have assembled, through the FERG, the highest possible level of fatigue management expertise and experience,” said Petroccitto, adding AFM is about doing safety differently.

“Operators accredited under the AFM scheme have NHVR approval to move beyond simply counting hours in a driver’s diary to running their entire business with a direct focus on managing fatigue.”

“They are accountable for making sure their drivers are truly fit for duty and have good fatigue management in place - not only during each journey, but every day of the week that could impact on that journey. Operators report that, under AFM, they have more flexibility to schedule rosters that suit the business,

more satisfied drivers who are in control of their work and rest hours, greater staff retention and better safety outcomes for the business overall,” Petroccitto said.

Under the AFM business rules, the NHVR must refer certain AFM applications to the FERG for advice. This will include many current AFM-accredited operators who were approved by former statebased regulators.

For more information, visit www.nhvr. gov.au/ferg

NHVR chief executive Sal Petroccitto

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Best Practice

(L-R) Hartmut Schick, head of Daimler Buses; Wolfgang Tschakert, organiser IBC-test; Lutz Gerritzen, editor-in-chief Bus-Fahrt; Jörg Montag, publishing manager Stünings Verlag

CITARO CLEAN SWEEP! At the recent IAA Commercial Vehicles show in Germany, the Mercedes-Benz Citaro scooped not just one but two major industry awards. With moves to bring such a vehicle here en mass, are low-floor bus quality standards set to sky rocket? Fabian Cotter reports.

U

sually when a it’s a case of a ‘big fish in a small pond’ the implication is that said fish would slink into obscurity a little if introduced or put back into deeper waters, but the reality is if Mercedes-Benz Asia-Pacific starts importing the European-honed Citaro low-floor bus here in a big way there just may well be a lot of water and fish scales splashed about in our market. Why so?

Multiple landmark award wins and a revered high profile from a global perspective – built on stylish design, usability, fuel consumption savings and packed with leading-edge safety features – means it’s the kind of big fish that arguably dominates both the big ponds and

little ones like ours, too.

At the IAA 2014, the ‘world’s most successful urban bus’ and Daimler’s top seller scored 85 per cent of total points in the IBC international comparative test to win the coveted IBC trophy outright.

“Whoever comes out on top in this test certainly deserves the coveted International Bus & Coach Competition (IBC) trophy”, explained Lutz Gerritzen, editor-in-chief of trade journal Busfahrt at the 2014 International Motor Show (IAA) Commercial Vehicles. The Mercedes-Benz Citaro, which beat no fewer than four competitors to emerge triumphant in the year’s toughest comparative test for buses, featured a newly developed design and

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DOWN UNDER? So when does the Citaro get here? Technically, the wider width 2.55m low-floor is here already. One landed last November for display and local approval via the Performance Based Standards (PBS) Scheme.

This process takes up to a year and Mercedes-Benz is the only manufacturer to have sought such approval thus far. It is up to each individual manufacturer to apply to the Federal authorities to have a particular product approved on a product-by-product basis.

By that rationale, Mercedes-

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Benz is at least 12 months ahead of the game because no other manufacturer has applied for an increase (that we know of) and it takes at least that long by the time you build a bus to Australian specification, ship it here, have it inspected, examined and turned inside out and then send the bus back before approval is granted. This, as one would imagine, is a tedious nightmare.

Rumours are the Citaro is due for a domestic launch in the first quarter of 2015 and as a ‘Tier 2’ product it should be priced below AUD$390K.

(L-R) Sascha Böhnke, Omnibusrevue; Hartmut Schick, head of Daimler Buses; Till Oberwörder; head of Marketing, Sales and Aftersales Daimler Buses

IBC, 2014 – TEST CANDIDATES: MAN Lion’s City Mercedes-Benz Citaro Scania Citywide Solaris Urbino 12 VDL Citea SLF 120

met the high expectations of industry insiders, according to Mercedes-Benz in Europe.

It recorded the lowest fuel consumption levels of all, as well as raising the bar in its segment with “exemplary active and passive safety features”. From what we could see, passengers enjoy high ride comfort in an attractive environment, while drivers will love the ideal ergonomic conditions. And if the Citaro needs to visit the workshop, MercedesBenz boasts of “outstanding all-round service” for it.

“We are proud to receive this prestigious award – particularly given that the test was carried out under real-life conditions, taking into account the economic situation currently faced by transport services”, explained Hartmut Schick, head of Daimler Buses, in reference to the IBC Award, 2014.

“The successful figures for our Citaro speak for themselves. No other manufacturer has ever sold more than 40,000 regular-service buses from an urban bus family and the success story is still going strong,” he added.

The annual IBC test marathon, which is organised by trade journal BusFahrt and its

media partners, is held in high esteem in the bus sector. The test crew, which consists of journalists and fleet operators, focuses on regular-service buses and coaches in alternate years. This year, five of the very latest urban buses with Euro6 engines – together accounting for over 75 per cent of the European urban bus market – were put through their paces at test partner MVG’s.

To ensure maximum comparability, the IBC organisers had specified low-floor buses in the standard 12-metre format with plus/minus 300hp of engine power. All test candidates carried 4500kg in ballast and used the same tyres and lubricants. The aim was to gauge, under real-life test conditions, the level of comfort and safety provided for passengers and driving personnel.

There was a particular focus on costeffectiveness and on the level of efficiency that can be expected by bus service operators. After 3500 test kilometres and numerous individual inspections, the Mercedes-Benz Citaro was singled out by the panel of judges as the best urban bus on the market at present.

“...singled out by the panel of judges as the best urban bus on the market.”

GREEN DAY Gee, when it rains it pours they say and with the Citaro also scooping up the Green Bus Award 2014 it may as well have done something like 16 icebucket challenges.

The prize has been awarded annually since 2011 to a touring coach and an urban bus in alternation by the specialist publications Omnibusrevue and Busfahrer. This year the trophy was awarded for the third time in four years to a vehicle from Stuttgartbased Daimler AG. The award goes to the

The IBC Award, 2014

urban bus displaying the lowest fuel consumption on the demanding Omnibusrevue test route in Berlin. The vehicles are tested on a slightly modified variant of urban bus line 200, which entails a highly demanding route limited exclusively to innercity roads. A continuous succession of bus stops and traffic lights impose the highest demands on the driver and the deployed technology.

With 40,000 units produced to date, the Citaro is the Mercedes-

Benz bus with the highest production output of all time. It has now even overtaken the previous No.1 bus bearing the threepointed star: at the end of its career, the legendary Mercedes-Benz O 303, in production from 1974 to 1992, was the bus with the highest production output worldwide, at more than 38,000 units.

With a total of 3027 units last year, the Citaro achieved a market share of 37 per cent in Germany and 16.4 per cent in Europe.

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Show Time

Photography: Fabian Cotter

GOLDRUSH! The 2014 Australasia Bus and Coach Conference and Expo at Broadbeach, Queensland, was a much anticipated first joint national and state BIC event and, in terms of quality bus product, information and entertainment, it didn’t disappoint. Fabian Cotter reports.

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The Bustech doubledecker is an imposing sight and still cuts the hot relish.

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1 The bus fraternity is a generous mob and has helped many

charities like this over the years.

2 Smiles aplenty at the gala dinners.

3 Irizar i6 body on MAN chassis was a sweet package to mark

its 125-year history.

4 Half a bus? Full fare?

5 Hino was ready for the show action.

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o be ‘careful what you wish for’ has that annoyingly ominous undercurrent to it that mars many events and occurrences with an air of negative expectation for the recipient usually, but for many of those in the local bus fraternity who had complained of ‘too many shows’ and ‘curse the general expense of it all’ the joint 2014 QBIC-BIC Bus and Coach Conference and Expo was quite simply ‘all good’. Or such was the feeling and vibe from many of the punters I chin-wagged with during the event, held 28 September to 1 October, 2014, at Broadbeach on the Gold Coast, Queensland, which followed the theme “Moving People Driving Excellence”.

The beautiful Gold Coast Convention Centre was a fitting host to what marked the first time a state and national BIC event would be held together, a response no doubt to patrons’ feedback about too many shows per year – and the financial and physical drain associated with such travel and display set-up costs presumably.

And given the pressure to match Melbourne events of the past and the benchmark-setting Sydney show last year, it needed to be good.

And by all accounts, it was.

An array of great displays from all sorts of leading exhibitors and bus manufacturers formed the main physical structure of it all, while in-depth plenary discussions covering a range of industry topics, such as: a code of conduct for school students travelling on buses; exploring the vital links between the tourism sector, public transport and coach tourism; or how healthy employees are three times more effective than when they are unhealthy - provided delegates with good material for banter as they walked around the

1 conference centre during the breaks between their sessions.

Organising officials state the event attracted more than 1000 visitors and the sector breakdown was 638 bus and coach operator representatives (including government/ bureaucrats) and 483 manufacturer and supplier representatives.

With the Expo, the BIC ran a nationalbased Conference programme for three days and QBIC ran a State-based Conference programme for a day.

Manufacturers like MAN, Scania, Volvo and Daimler were all out in force with their Euro6 chassis on display, while others like Ireland’s EVM Mercedes-Benz Sprinter based vehicles and Higer’s Platinum Series H7170 bus were some new and slightly leftof-field luxo-spec products aimed at tapping into a perceived high-end emerging market here in Australia.

Highlights of some of the manufacturer displays included: a Volvo V8 ‘Supercar’ making an appearance; Scania’s hot pink air-cooled VW Beetle decked out in charitysponsored regalia; Irizar’s monster-sized ‘every man-cave should have one’ TV screen to accompany its 125-year celebratory coach riding on an MAN chassis; and MercedesBenz had a cool little walk-over bridge to give you a bird’s eye view of its chassis intricacies – or you could just go for a short bungee jump off it if you and OH&S thought it was a good idea.

The Volvo-sponsored cocktail drinks on the Sunday, the Mercedes-Benz-sponsored Gala Dinner on the Monday and the Scaniasponsored Hawaiian-themed dinner on the Tuesday were thoroughly entertaining gigs – the latter an opportune time to congratulate the winners of the 2014 Scania Bus Driver

6

7

6 General manager Mercedes

Benz Truck & Bus, Justin Whitford, addressing the sponsored gala dinner.

7 The Volvo team was in fine form and had a blast from all accounts we hear.

8 Penske marketing GM, Chris Gillespie, was all smiles talking up the new MAN Euro6 line.

“An array of great displays from all sorts of leading exhibitors and bus manufacturers.�

8

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1 Volvo’s been running national forums about its new Euro6

chassis. And here it is.

2 It’s been a crazy few months for Custom, but the company

in its latest guise was well represented.

3 Happy, chirpy people everywhere. A sign of a good show.

4 The night-time events are a great networking opportunity

- and time for a boogie.

1 3

5 Fastest bus ever? It’s all good.

6 Delegates had a good look around between plenary

2

session breaks.

7 Scania’s charity Bug - pretty in pink.

of the Year awards with their trophies, prizes and dues. That, incidentally, was won by Jola Ramsey, who drives for Sid Fogg’s in NSW, collecting a cool $10-grand for his efforts.

Bus Industry Confederation executive director Michael Apps described it as: “A successful event with over 1000 delegates attending over the three days of the event.

Feedback has been positive about the model we have adopted. It is clear that there is only room for a single bus expo each year for an industry that has experienced and will continue to experience rapid change over the coming years.”

Overall, it was an event that was befitting of the calibre and quality that many in the bus

fraternity have become accustomed to, so hats of to the BIC and QBIC for putting on good old knees-up. As one punter told me off the record, “finally, the Gold Coast one will be worth coming to,” so I guess that’s mission accomplished.

So what’s next? Glad you asked!

Bus Association Victoria will be hosting the next Australasia Expo at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre (Jeff’s Shed) July 8-9, 2015, with full details available online.

The BIC itself, however, will take its National Annual Conference offshore to Singapore November 8-11, 2015.

Enjoy the piccies...

“An opportune time to congratulate the winners of the 2014 Scania Bus Driver of the Year awards.”

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Coverstory

Photography: Cristian Brunelli

V8 MATE

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Any successful motorsport team needs an equally successfully support crew to help them get the job done. With Volvo entering Australia’s iconic V8 Supercar series this year for the first time, a B9R coach got put on duty to help out. Fabian Cotter reports.

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1 You can’t miss this bad

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boy out on the road. It’s a stunner!

2 B9R chassis is Euro5 and does the trick.

3 Comfy and safe. Nice one. Looks great, too.

V

olvo jokes? “I guess they are gone now,” said an elated Scott McLaughlin, who drove a V8 Volvo S60 to second place on debut in a thrilling Clipsal 500 race in Adelaide earlier in 2014. And he was more than justified in making that statement given the overwhelming success the Gary Rogers Motorsport team running the S60 had that weekend – a portent for a hugely competitive race season to come.

That achievement has seemingly changed the hearts and minds of thousands of not just Australian motorsport fans, but perhaps the greater car-buying public to boot. And that ‘branding exercise’ has been ably complemented by a stylish Coach Concepts-

bodied Volvo B9R that’s part of about 70 buses and coaches comprising Victoria’s Bayside Coaches fleet.

In fact, the vehicle pictured here represents the 50th new Volvo bus delivered to the company (there’s been three more since), which has been a long-standing buyer of quality Volvo gear over the past 17 odd years.

Nuline Charter is part of Bayside and Nuline Charter is the school bus fleet that runs Volvo B7Rs on all its school bus work – predominately with Volgren bodies. The singleaxle coach fleet is mostly Volvo B9R with Coach Concepts bodies and then its three-axle fleet is Volvo B13 based – 460hp, threeaxle with Coach Concepts bodies. Coach

Concepts, out of Queensland, is its preferred coach supplier. For school bus bodies it uses Volgren.

So how did it all get started and what was the reasoning behind a V8 Supercars-themed coach? Volvo Bus and Coach branch manager John Louder, at CMV Truck and Bus Pty Ltd explained: “When Volvo decided to be involved with the V8 Supercars it received a lot of hype through the dealer network, and so as a Volvo group all the dealers got together and have sponsored the car; the Volvo Car Group, Financial Services and Volvo Truck and Bus have all got behind the Volvo V8 team, which has been going really well and being very competitive.”

“...ably complemented by a stylish Coach Concepts-bodied Volvo B9R.”

www.truckandbus.net.au 029

“We wanted to take customers along to the races; for example, when the Grand Prix is in town, or at Phillip Island we are doing a function, [one] at Sandown... And so to commemorate Volvo’s involvement in the V8 Supercar series we approached Bayside Coaches as a group to see if they were interested in letting us decal up the coach.”

“Bayside has been a loyal Volvo customer.

About 97 per cent of its fleet is Volvo.

Bayside is one of the premium charter coach operators in Australia. It runs the AAT Kings day tours from Melbourne around the State, they run interstate tours to Darwin, Perth and go Australia wide, running safari tours and accommodated tours and have a really flash Volvo premium coach fleet – which are mainly Coach Concepts bodied. Top of the line vehicles,” he added.

“When they got the coach, Bayside decided to paint it out of its colour scheme in silver, and then Volvo and CMV here in Melbourne put some decals on it just to highlight the fact of ‘Congratulations on your 50th Volvo coach delivery”. “[The V8 wrap] we did at our cost - it’s actually a $17,000 cost to decal the vehicle up and it’s dedicated to the Volvo V8 Supercar team,” Louder said.

030 www.truckandbus.net.au

“It’ s been fantastic branding for us as the vehicle travels around. We get a lot of good comments, the owners get a lot of good comments – and obviously when it pulls into a little town it’s quite a sight to see. And people often walk up and it creates conversation and talk around the vehicle.”

“It also went to Bathurst and it took the whole Gary Rogers Motorsport V8 racecar team up, and Channel 7 even did a little TV special on it. They followed the whole team - so the two big Volvo B-doubles (the 700hp trucks that transport the cars) travelled up the Hume Highway with a few brand-new cars from Volvo plus the coach. It stopped in Albury for a function in the Paddlestreamer Park and then went on to Bathurst that night.

And the V8 team absolutely loved the coach.”

When not on Volvo duty, the coach can then go back into the Bayside fleet for general duties. It can be seen travelling up to Yarrawonga and Albury on charter, it can go to Canberra, it can go to Adelaide and it can do just general charter duties as a normal vehicle in the fleet. But when the Volvo Group wants to do something corporate, it is hired out at a reduced charter rate and then that gets used for all the Volvo corporate movements.

The coach itself is based on a Volvo B9R

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VOLVO MAN? V8 Supercars racing is pretty intense stuff, so just as well the Gary Rogers Motorsport/Volvo team knew how to have a good time, as evidenced by their trip to Bathurst in the B9R bus.

It looks like they travelled in comfort and style and that helped prepared them for the hectic racing and stress of the hallowed Australian motorsport event that is the Mt Panorama legend.

Check out all they got up to and see the Volvo bus in action on the Gary Rogers Motorsport website at: http://www. grmotorsport.com.au/grm-Bathurst_ Road_Trip.php

1 At the command centre. Good driving

position and everything easily to hand.

2 Volvo i-Shift said to give wondrous

fuel economy.

3 German-made Isringhausen leather seats treat passengers to some style.

4 When not on Volvo duty it’s back travelling around as part of the normal Bayside fleet.

chassis, a product that has proven very successful according to Volvo. It currently retails for around $190K. “The B9R has been a fantastic chassis for us and Bayside probably runs the most B9Rs in Australia. It’s a 380-horsepower chassis with our i-Shift transmission and the torque of the motor matched to the i-Shift just gives superb road handling for the drivers. So the B9 is their preference for day tours and charter in single axle. The B9 will go out and do the Great Ocean Road every day of the year; it will do Canberra, Sydney – it does all their longdistance charter in single axle.”

“What’s interesting, Fabian, is that before the B9R was released the boys built the same vehicle on our B7R product [chassis]. And the Great Ocean Road is an interesting run for the vehicles because they do it through AAT

Kings and it’s about and 800km day there and back. And when we delivered the B9R into the fleet it dropped 30 litres of fuel a day against the B7. The B7, at 290hp, would fill up at the bowser on the night of the same run 30 litres less. Now, the B9 is due to run out next year; the model will finish. So the boys at Bayside have just purchased, or they’ve had running now for 6 months, two B11Rs, which is a 410hp model. It is predominantly a three-axle model, but we brought them in just as twoaxle to see how they’d perform as an option for Bayside when the 9-litre model is not available. The 11-litre on that same run has dropped a further 20 litres,” Louder explained.

“Often for AAT Kings work when, say, there’s a conference down in Melbourne they’ll [Bayside] will run two to three vehicles on the same tour, so when they get back at the night

“...it was an amazing race and everyone in that stadium was clapping and chanting ‘Volvo’”

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it’s pretty easy for them to compare fuelling [use] against the vehicles. So I suppose it’s interesting because the B7R product through to the new B11R, the fuel saving is approximately 50 litres per day. And that’s all straight money in the bank. If they did that every day of the year it runs... If you grab a calculator and punch in some figures that’s a big saving on fuel for you, probably about 11 or 12 thousand a year.”

So what’s the plan for the ‘V8 Coach’ given the success of the race series thus far?

Louder says the vehicle will remain in V8 livery until the other side of the Melbourne Grand Prix next year, so Volvo will use the bus all the way to the other side of the event. And at that point the wrap will come off and the bus will be painted up in the original Bayside colours and livery.

“Phillip Island is coming up soon and we’ll take down 10 bus customers on the Sunday and there’ll be a mix of car customers, construction equipment customers and a few truck customers,” Louder said.

“This is the first time we’ve done a warp to a customer’s vehicle. In the past we’ve run a couple of demonstration vehicles with some kind of signage, but it’s the first time

we’ve done a complete wrap like with with a customer. And as stated, the relationship with this customer is very strong; they bought their first brand new bus from myself around 17 years ago and they have become a loyal customer since then. It’s a good, strong, healthy relationship an we’d like a few more like this.”

And what about Volvo staying in the V8s as a whole? Has a time-frame been mentioned or being worked to?

“Volvo’s involvement in V8 Supercars has been very strong this year and next year it will continue. Obviously down the track nothing’s forever and things can change, but at this stage everyone involved is very happy with what’s going on and the branding.”

“You know, ever since the first Clipsal 500 race in Adelaide when Scott [McLaughlin] came second - and if you’ve not seen it you can see the Jamie Whinncup finish in Adelaide on YouTube – it was an amazing race and everyone in that stadium was clapping and chanting ‘Volvo’. It was really good for the brand overall.”

“The experience has been great for us. Volvo are very proud to work with Geoff and Andrew from Bayside Coaches.”

BUS SPECS MODEL: VOLVO B9R BODY: Coach Concepts ENGINE: Six-cylinder, four-stroke turbocharged intercooled diesel with overhead valves and electronically controlled direct injection; four valves per cylinder; on-board diagnostic, Volvo EMS2 engine control system; exhaust pressure governor; water-cooled turbocharger; stainless steel exhaust system with SCR catalytic converter; AdBlue pump and 40L urea tank. POWER – 286kW@1900rpm, Torque - 1740Nm@1200rpm TRANSMISSION: Volvo AT2412C I-Shift SUSPENSION: Electronically controlled suspension, rigid front axle; stabiliser front and rear; anti roll bar at rear axle; double-acting, hydraulic telescopic shock absorbers, two front, four rear.

BRAKES: Disc brakes combined with electronic braking system EBS5; traction control.

WHEELS: Ten-stud 25x22.5-inch steel disc wheels, aluminium as an option; Tyres 295/80R INTERIOR: Volvo dashboard fully compatible with BEA2. Two satellites: on the right and the left side; adjustable steering wheel, both height and tilt; self-cancelling turn indicators.

Outdoor/indoor temperature meter; fuel economy meter.

“...when it pulls into a little town it’s quite a sight to see.”

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Volvo Bus Australia

NSW, QLD & NT: Tony Lowrey 0413 049 153 Ray Andrich 0418 213 320 VIC, SA & TAS: John Louder 0418 365 356 Darren Cottle 0419 500 324 WA: Mark Port 0418 824 004

Show Time

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2014 IAA HANNOVER

The big players bring out their big guns at the IAA Commercial Vehicles Show every two years, in Germany, and the 2014 show in September saw some landmark innovations that are about to change the world for both buses and trucks. Fabian Cotter reports.

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“No fewer than 322 world premieres made the event what it is.”

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1 Daimler’s new Setra TopClass

double-deck got people talking.

2 With Oktoberfest on, the dinner function

was always going to huge. Prost!

3 Examining the latest Euro6 developments.

4 Intense action at the Space Invaders section.

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riverless vehicles were always coming, yet perhaps not as fast as the masses had predicted.

That is, even at the forefront of reporting about such innovation it’s often hard to believe things are going to be that advanced or work that effectively until you actually see it in the flesh and think, “Oh my gawd, yep they’ve gone and done it!”

At this stage in the evolution of buses and trucks and a range of other commercial vehicles, arguably never has there been such a push for high-tech safety and fuelsaving measures that have implications and applications not just for one type of vehicle. When it comes to moving big rigs and commuter buses around by themselves, everything has to work perfectly and enmesh itself seamlessly into a future technologydependant transport sector. The beauty of the 2014 IAA Commercial Vehicles Show, held from 23 September, was that it had all sorts of crazy-cool stuff in this regard on offer. Big time.

“One very major focus of this IAA is connectivity. The commercial vehicles of the future will always be ‘online’, communicating with other vehicles, with the transport company and of course with the customer,” Matthias Wissmann, president of the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA) explained. He added that such connectivity also offered huge opportunities in logistics.

The existing driver assistance systems would be consistently developed. In the next decade, he continued, in all probability highly automated commercial vehicles would be able to drive on clearly defined routes such as certain motorway sections. “That will relieve the stress on the driver resulting from tiring routine tasks, and thus increase road safety,” Wissmann said.

The VDA stages the ‘Internationale Automobil-Ausstellung (IAA)’, or International Motor Show – but it’s for passenger cars during odd-numbered years and evennumbered years it is for commercial vehicles.

Roughly 600 member companies with a total workforce of more than 765,000 make up the VDA and its membership bases comprises industrial manufacturers of vehicles and their engines, trailers, vehicle bodies and buses, vehicle components and accessories from within Germany. But with that being almost the unofficial HQ for the world as regards all things automotive (a big call I know, but I’m prepared to put it out there), the global trickle-down effect into product lines of vehicles worldwide is a gimme.

No fewer than 322 world premieres made the event what it is. And overall there was a nine per cent rise from the 2066 exhibitors from 45 countries at what’s touted as “the world’s leading trade fair for mobility.”

“With the concentrated drive for innovation,

4 the huge number of exhibitors and the ever more international nature of the show, everything is in place for enhancing the IAA’s standing as the largest and the world’s most important trade fair for mobility surrounding commercial vehicles,” Wissmann.

With this trade fair concentrating on efficiency, connectivity and flexibility, it was noted that, compared with the previous Euro5 standard, nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions from the new Euro6 vehicles have reduced by a massive 80 per cent and their particulate emissions are down by around two thirds.

Wissmann said: “The Euro6 … have therefore really become ‘clean machines’.”

Also, other aspects crucial for reducing CO2 levels were aerodynamics, lightweight construction and driver training, which were hot topics at the show, according to the VDA. Some of the innovation debuted at the show was simply awesome. Daimler had the self-driving Future Truck 2025 there, which gives a big insight into what’s coming the commercial vehicles’ world’s way. It drives itself successfully up to speeds of 80km/h, and its radar and camera sensors mean that a central control, a network, or other reference vehicles aren’t actually needed – perhaps indicating that systems currently being considered worldwide may be outdated already.

Even the design is trippy. The LEDs ‘shine’

BEHIND THE SHOW

The VDA, with its head office in Berlin, promotes the interests of the entire German automobile industry in all aspects relating to motor traffic, such as industrial, transport and environmental policy, logistics, technical legislation, standardisation and quality assurance, both nationally and internationally. It works actively to ensure that individual mobility remains affordable to everyone. The VDA is now 113 years old.

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through the paint (yep, you read that right) and the headlights and the radiator grille light up. For safety, a Blind Spot Assistant could prove invaluable in saving lives, detecting pedestrians and cyclists in spots close and usually not visible to the driver when turning.

All these applications should make their way into the bus and coach lines in future, we predict.

Opel and Volkswagen introduced the latest they had in the van and light commercial ranges, with the nine-seat Opel Vivaro Combi getting its world premiere (some set-ups have a trap-door section under the front passenger seat to stow extra long pipes and wood from the cargo area – pretty clever) and

1 MAN was the transport of choice for a local

Bundesliga (football league) team.

2 Volvo stumped up for a big show this year, too.

3 “There’s a bear in there, and a chair as well...”

4 The Daimler stand was massive. And then some.

GLOBAL FOCUS

Matthias Wissmann, president of the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA) pointed out that the 1216 international exhibitors make up 59 per cent of the total: “This is a new record.” Two years ago the proportion was 55 per cent. The foreign exhibitors come from 44 countries and together they occupy 38 per cent of the total area of almost 265,000 square metres – which has also increased.

The top 10 foreign countries most strongly represented here are again headed by China. The number of Chinese exhibitors has risen by around one third, to 200. Italy follows in second place with 137 exhibitors and Turkey is in third place with 113, followed by the Netherlands, France, Sweden, Poland, the United Kingdom, the USA and Belgium. Argentina, Estonia, Malaysia and Tunisia are also represented.

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2

the VW Tristar, which the company states is as multifunctional “as a Swiss Army Knife”.

And with the ingenuous stowage sections and bits that slide out and open up it appears to be the case.

In terms of bus stuff, CNG looks like getting a huge push in Germany with the European Union providing project support for this market. An interesting development.

Robert Staimer from Ergas Mobile says buses using CNG are just as reliable and meet the same standards as diesels, adding that that’s not true of alternative drive methods like electric vehicles. Hmmm...

The 2016 event should have even better stuff. We can’t wait.

4

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Industry Excellence

2014 Scania Driver Competition For this year’s Scania Best Bus driver winner it was a case of ‘third time’s a charm’, proving once again that persistence and a can-do attitude is key to more than just an award – it’s the key to a positive life. Fabian Cotter reports.

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hen Jola Ramsay spoke at a Scania-sponsored gala dinner during the 2014 Australasia Bus & Coach Conference & Expo, held at the Gold Coast Convention Centre recently, his words about pride in the bus industry and passion for the machines resonated deeply with the audience judging by their emphatic response, as he accepted his Best Bus Driver award.

The 28-year-old former Air Force vehicle driver from Newcastle, NSW, who drives for Sid Fogg’s buses now, didn’t just say things that just warmed the hearts and minds of those older bus patrons at the show – almost confirming for them that they do, indeed, belong to a great, worthwhile and noble industry – it did more to excite future generations of potential bus drivers and bus folk who might otherwise ignore our industry

for so many others.

“This win is amazing; it’s hard to describe in words,” said an elated and humbled Ramsay.

“For me, I want to use this [win] as an ambassador role to help road safety. There’s a programme I’ve designed called Take A Seat to get teenagers into the driver’s seats of buses and trucks. It’s in proposal mode, but it’s something I want to take to schools to teach them about road safety. Get them to jump on a truck or a bus and say ‘check it out!’, see what it’s like for us,” he explained.

“It’s a real hands-on experience and I think it’s also a really good way to help us in the industry, ‘cause I know we are getting a shortage of drivers. It’s just to create that fire and get them going,” he added.

This was the third time Ramsay had entered the competition in an attempt to win the overall prize, so it’s arguably a lesson in persistence

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and dogged determination for us all.

Ramsay said: “I was lucky enough to be selected in 2010 for Young Australian Truck Driver of the Year, and then in 2012 for Bus Driver and again this year for Bus Driver. I’m also the only one in Scania’s history to be selected for both categories, which I’m very, very proud of.”

With the event held at the Gold Coast Turf Club, Queensland, Ramsay “displayed very high levels of professionalism, skill and passion” for his job and was awarded prizes worth $10,000.

The Scania Driver Competition is held in more than 40 countries around the world and, in 2014, attracted more than 80,000 entrants.

In Australia entries were received from all states and territories.

Entrants took an on-line test of road laws and driving regulations before the best 70 faced a phone-based qualifying round. The top 12 in each category then met on the Gold

Coast to battle it out behind the wheel.

The final showdowns required drivers to successfully navigate a series of manoeuvring tasks that displayed their ability to place their vehicle with precision.

For the bus competitors, Scania-Higer A30 school/charter buses were provided for the driving tasks, monitored by the Scania Driver Development Team.

In the classroom, independent chief judges from the bus industry adjudicated a written road regulations test. To cap off the testing, finalists underwent a filmed media interview.

“This year we have seen a very high level of finalists contest the last round of our competitions,” said Ron Szulc, Brand and Communications manager for Scania Australia.

“The events have been very successful in showcasing the skills and talents of some very fine young drivers, who take great pride in their work and can be considered experts in their fields. They were able to answer

Judges checked things to the nth degree.

(L-R) Former entrant Alana Mountfield, Nigel Chater, Jola Ramsay, Carl Searle and Scania CEO Roger Mccarthy.

3 Class of 2014 gets a briefing on what the test entails.

4 2014 Best Bus Driver winner Jola Ramsay of Sid Fogg’s, NSW. 5 Even buses like to tackle the internet craze called ‘planking’. Maybe...

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MENTAL TOUGHNESS A driving competition is no doubt a hands-on, practical affair mostly – but the written element to the Scania event was quite comprehensive, as well.

Contestants had 30 minutes to complete 30 multiple choice questions in the theory questionnaire, which covered the following themes: Driving safely and efficiently; Rational driving (Knowing the vehicle’s driveline and using it in the best and most efficient way); Rules and legislation; Application of regulation (Rules governing road transport, predeparture checks, due regard

some very detailed questions regarding transport and road rules, and were also able to present themselves well on camera and talk confidently about their industry.

“One of the most notable aspects of all our finalists was their passion for their jobs and careers. The 22 male and two female finalists were all focused on safe, and efficient driving, and are excellent role models for the next generation of drivers.

“The fact that both the 2014 bus and truck competition winners have returned to the Scania Driver competition after reaching the finals on a previous occasion, underlines their commitment and perseverance. They are proof that to be successful takes hard work and resolve,” Szulc said.

“I am very happy to have won at the third attempt,” said Ramsay. “I was determined to give the competition another go, and it feels really good to have succeeded this time,” he emphatically said.

for safety rules and proper vehicle use); The driver and the bus industry; Driver health; Road and environmental safety (The importance of physical and mental ability; minimising physical risk, risk awareness and road safety, enhancing the image of your company/ business, awareness of operating costs).

The theory part was complemented by a one-onone mock media interview, covering topics such as choice of career, driving experiences and knowledge of key transport issues.

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WELL PREPARED

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Jola Ramsay started his transport career in the Royal Australian Air Force as an aircraft refueller before moving to driving coaches for the RAAF and then later in civilian life with Sid Fogg’s. In the RAAF he also spent time driving B-double fuel tankers and explosives trucks, later on trying his hand at side-tippers on a coal mine, all of which has given him a vast experience of working with a range of vehicles in his short

driving career.

“As a coach driver it is very important to be a people person and to be friendly and welcoming, as well as being able to drive smoothly,” he said.

“I was lucky in the early days to have a lot of very experienced drivers to help me. They were always willing to show me how to do new things, and they provided invaluable experience.

You can always learn from your peers,” he said.

The Government of Queensland, the Commercial Vehicle Industry Association of Queensland, (CVIAQ), Shell, Waeco (Dometic Group), Freighter Trailers (truck) and the Bus Industry Confederation (bus) supported the 2014 Scania Driver Competitions.

Brett Wright, CEO of the CVIAQ and Don Lergesner formerly of the QBIC executive, acted as chief judges for the Truck and Bus Competitions respectively.

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“The top 12 in each category met on the Gold Coast to battle it out behind the wheel.”

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First Look

Higer Society Everyone loves a few creature comforts in their lives, but to get them on a bus makes journeys all the more pleasurable. Higer’s Platinum Edition H7170 aims to give a smidgen more style to make trips worth your while. Fabian Cotter has a quick look.

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BUS SPECS 1

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ucked away in a quiet-ish section of the 2014 QBIC Australasian Bus and Coach Conference and Exhibition on Queensland’s Gold Coast recently was a stylishly cheeky little number on the Higer stand.

Daubed in austere yet gorgeous metallic Anthracite paint, this was no ordinary ‘Munro’ H7170 midi bus on display, but rather something all the more up-spec and highbrow from a first casual outwards glance. And so if impressing onlookers was part of the brief then it seems at least that part can be ticked off the ‘To Do’ checklist.

Further investigation revealed a luxuriously appointed interior that was still practical and comfortable without being garish and detrimentally ornate, so it was a welcoming place to be, for sure.

Was it overkill for a ‘midi bus’ though?

Apparently not from the general banter from a few manufacturers speaking off the record, with many eyeing a predicted market for high-end mid-range trips and shuttle services – think well-healed travellers or discerning business ilk wanting to get from A to B, like from a hotel to airport or conference venue - with a sense of pampering rather than just convenience.

Neil Bamford, CEO of the WMC Group – Australian importers of Higer – said: “Higer is no stranger to leading the market. The Higer H7170 Platinum Edition truly is a unique vehicle. From the expansive leather seats through to the built-in bar fridge, entertainment system and USB ports in every seat, we’ve taken everything we know about the small coach market and enhanced it to make the Higer H7170 Platinum Edition the absolute essence of luxury, comfort and convenience.”

As the show went on it caused quite a stir from what we could tell, with the Higer M7170 Munro Platinum Edition touted as Higer’s ‘epitome of luxury’ for its intended market. This vehicle transports 19 people in the seatbelted “sheer comfort reclining leather captain’s chairs” and boasts increased storage, carpet throughout the cabin and – perhaps most importantly these days -

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personal USB outlets for every seat.

I’ve lost track of the times I’ve been away on business travel and just hanging to get to the hotel to re-charge my phone to check emails, or confidentially make longish calls on a mobile without having to apologise quickly mid-conversation that the dreaded battery beeps that can be heard mean whatever the punchline to the gag is they’re telling, they better tell me it quick smart. Or vice-versa.

The seats felt comfy and either coincidentally or intended otherwise were suitably colour-coordinated to the bus-exterior colouring, so a nice win there. Everything else felt well put together and the addition of a mini bar fridge (hardened travellers will be waiting for the model with the mini bar ‘and’ a fridge perhaps – to keep the thirsty palates wet, no doubt) was simply genius for a bus of this capacity and purpose.

It’s all based on the standard Higer Munro H7170, which sits in a tough market of 7-metre buses. This one is 7.6m in length, it has more seats (27+1+1) than the competition and has excellent aisle width, according to Higer.

The 3.8-litre Cummins ISF turbo and intercooled engine is mated to an Allison automatic transmission to provide full Euro5 emission compliance, fuel efficient performance and low noise, according to the company.

The latest Munro differs from previous models in many ways – more that 200 changes were made – but highlights include: new building processes to improve the appearance of the vehicle to a higher-lifting rear luggage door for better access and easier loading. There’s a wider opening driver’s door and a redesigned engine bay with fewer pipes and hoses in the way, plus there’s softer suspension springs and a pocket for the driver to store documentation. Add in LED strip lighting on entry steps and relocating the transmission cooler for reduced vibration transfer and the latest Munro is well placed to tackle its intended market well. It seems something like the Platinum Edition is bang on target to woo those eyeing the emerging high-end market.

MODEL: Higer H7170 ‘Platinum Edition’, 7.6m ENGINE: Cummins ISF 3.8-litre; Power – 168hp, Torque - 600Nm TRANSMISSION: Allison six-speed automatic SUSPENSION: ZF Steering BRAKES: Wabco ABS BODY: Silver/Grey ‘Platinum Edition’ colour treatment INTERIOR: 19x ADR68 seats with three-point seatbelts; CD / Radio stereo system; PA system; curtains; plug door MISC.: Air conditioning, automatic fold-out step, bar fridge

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It pays to advertise.

Access looks clear and functional.

It looks and feels a little bit special inside.

Good lighting for night-time trips.

Essential these days, USB outlets for every seat.

For those long hot summer’s days, a bar fridge is ideal to keep drinks nice and chilled.

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“....perhaps most importantly these days personal USB outlets for every seat.�

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Already in operation throughout Australia, the Scania-Higer A30 sets new standards for operating economy, driveability, handling and reliability.

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Interview

60mins with...

Mark Mello General manager - MAN Truck & Bus Australia

MAN is one of the biggest commercial vehicle manufacturers in the world and its bus and coach chassis are high on the priority list of a range of bus builders and customers. So how is the big German doing here and what’s in store for us?

Fabian Cotter has a chat with MAN general manager Mark Mello. www.truckandbus.net.au 049

Q

G’day Mark, thanks for joining us. Mark, firstly could you tell us a little bit about yourself and how you ended up at MAN? MM: “Growing up, the family business was earthmoving equipment and, of course, we had trucks as well, so I guess it was inevitable I would get involved in either or both of these areas. I did my apprenticeship as a heavy commercial vehicle mechanic with International and I have spent the last thirty-odd years working with trucks, buses or earthmoving equipment. Prior to joining the MAN brand, I did a 10-year stint with Volvo; they had a good management training programme and during this time I transitioned from the workshop into management roles. When TPI took over the distribution for the MAN brand in Australia and New Zealand back in 2000, I was headhunted to join the MAN team as the National Service Manager.

Over the last 14 years I have held various roles within the group, the last four years being focused on our military business and, of course, buses.”

Q. What are your thoughts on alternativefuelled buses? Which one stands out to you as the way forward, or which ones have the greatest potential to offer operators tangible savings in the short term of, say, the next 5-10 years?

MM: “MAN has a mature hybrid offering and has had quite some success in Europe with these units. This year MAN won a major tender in Sweden with a combination of hybrid and CNG and MAN is currently the market leader there in Bus. Recently, at the IAA, the MAN Lion’s City GL CNG was announced as the ‘Bus of the Year 2015’. In the UK, MAN has had some success with BioGas, where the gas is syphoned off landfills and then compressed to run buses to provide a basically ‘carbon neutral’ solution. So MAN has quite some experience with alternate-fuelled buses.

With this experience it is interesting that MAN still believes the most cost-effective and mature technology available to the widest range of operators is CNG. Until such time as either the government provides an incentive, or the storage technology advances in respect of hybrids, hybrids only provide a viable alternative under a strict set of criteria and, therefore, a limited range of applications.”

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“...hybrids only provide a viable alternative under a strict set of criteria.”

Q. It was interesting to note that at the recent 2014 IAA Commercial Vehicles show held in Hannover, Germany, in September recently that it was widely acknowledged that the European Union has openly offered support and endorsement for CNG-using buses.

What is your opinion on such technology and is MAN best prepped to compete in such a realm?

MM: “MAN has been a leader in the field of CNG for many years and the current models, which are Euro6 equivalent, provide a simple and cost-effective alternate. As the CNG technology has advanced, most of the additional maintenance burden seen in earlier variants has been overcome and the maintenance regimen on a new CNG unit is far less complicated than in days gone past.

This means even operators who have not had CNG previously can take advantage of this option without needing major upgrades to tooling and or additional specialist training for staff. Some ‘up-skilling’ is required, but nowhere near what was previously needed.

Taking this into consideration, I feel MAN is well placed to assist anyone wishing to take advantage of the benefits CNG can provide.

On the local front it is also interesting that a number of energy suppliers have shown considerable interest in the possibility of offering CNG. To this end, MAN here in Australia has entered into some joint projects with local suppliers and can provide a whole package to operators, including the filling stations needed to operate a CNG fleet.”

that, for MAN to achieve Euro6, we do so by adding a small percentage of AdBlue.

The rest of the package has been stable for many years and therefore presents virtually zero risk for an operator wishing to make the move to Euro6. With the introduction of Euro6 MAN has also moved to our new chassis platform, which is designated as a Lion’s Chassis. This move has seen MAN adopt a more modular approach and, in respect to things like the drivers area, the flexibility of this module makes life for the body builder far simpler than with earlier models. MAN is continuing on with the use of its D20 engine platform with both Euro5 and Euro6 for the city bus market. This 10-litre engine has proven to be fuel efficient in various types of applications and given it is rated up to 440hp in truck applications, when run in a bus at 320hp it is ‘under-stressed’ and provides a long service life. We have found the combination of high torque output with relatively low horsepower requirement provides excellent fuel consumption. MAN has a 7-litre D08 variant available for city bus applications, but we have always felt the smaller engine - whilst initially cheaper - provides a false economy in the overall ‘whole of life’ cost equation. Therefore we have not brought this variant in for Euro4 and 5 variants and will not do so for Euro6. We continue to utilise the 7-litre in both Euro5 and Euro6 in certain school bus applications, where it is most suited and provides a lowcost alternative.”

Q. At the recent BIC/QBIC Australasian Bus and Coach Conference and Exhibition, a range of manufacturers had their latest Euro6 chassis on display. The MAN gear looked pretty interesting. Could tell us about some of its features and how it will best serve the Australian bus market?

MM: “Generally speaking the bus industry has been an early adopter when it comes to new emission levels. When you consider some operators may have a unit for 10, 15 or even 20 years, it makes sense to maximise the benefits of the latest technology. In the case of the new Euro6 MAN units, they provide additional fuel savings when compared to the existing Euro5 units. This certainly helps to offset any additional cost associated with the next levels of technology.

MAN has utilised EGR as the platform for our emissions changes since 2003 and having an engineered solution until now has meant

Q. We recently had a look at a 4x4 MAN truck chassis which formed the basis of a bus pod cab chassis vehicle used in tough, rugged conditions by Frazer Island Tours. How big a market is ‘extreme outback tourism’ for manufacturers such as MAN and how often are such vehicles sought by potential operators? Is it a growing market, or one that is too sporadic to be truly viable, in terms of sales?

MM: “MAN has had a long history with these types of units and especially with Fraser Island. This is a niche application and we utilise a truck chassis with a passenger pod fitted to the back. Given the airbag suspension we offer, this still makes for a pleasant ride for the passengers. It is an interesting application and one that the MAN 4x4 trucks are well suited to, but this remains a niche market. MAN previously sold a reasonable quantity of these units into

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mine sites in WA, but given the downturn in mining-related infrastructure projects, these volumes will be somewhat subdued for the near future.”

Q. How important is the Australasian bus market to MAN HQ in Germany? How much feedback and fine-tuning about product gets filtered back to MAN’s head office if at all, or is the product that comes straight from Germany simply as has been decided from there for global use?

MM: “Australia has a unique relationship with the MAN factory in Germany and we probably get more ‘airplay’ than the size of our market should really command.

Therefore, we are heavily involved in what is happening with new product well in advance of implementation in Europe. I recently attended a meeting in Munich where product development for the next 20 years was being discussed and the input from the Australian market is considered just as seriously as from anywhere else in the world. In 2012 we hosted a number of Australian bus operators in Munich for the MAN ‘Bus Days’ and these guys got to see firsthand how the factory relationship is with the locals down here in Australia. I am sure many current MAN operators can attest to the support Munich provides for us and our customers when needed.”

Q. We’ve seen MAN invest a lot of time and money into increasing driver aids and training to prevent pedestrian accidents and bus crashes. Are Australian MAN-vehicle drivers encouraged to visit Germany to ‘up-skill’ on the latest systems there, or is there anything locally they can do to better their driving prowess? How is this being facilitated by MAN locally if at all?

MM: “As I alluded to previously, every two years MAN host the ‘Bus Days’ in Munich and at this event all operators have the chance to see the latest in MAN technology and get to feel it first hand on the test track. As you have indicated, in the last couple of years there have been further advancements in safety systems such as ESP, lane guard, adaptive cruise control etc., all designed to reduce accidents. These options are available in all MAN complete buses and are selectively available in some Lion’s Chassis. With the current introduction phase of the Lion’s Chassis, MAN locally is working with body builders to assist with the integration of these

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systems into their body architecture. MAN locally has a dedicated technical resource to assist the body builders with integration of their body and the MAN chassis and all its systems. Our local resource and the body builders have further support available out of the MAN Asia Pacific Regional Office in the form of a specialist Body Integration engineer, as well as bus-specific Sales engineers, so we are well equipped to support the local market as necessary. MAN locally also has a Product Trainer, whose function is to provide advanced driver training techniques to the individual operator’s driver trainers, so they can in turn impart these to the drivers at large in the fleet. MAN provides a full ‘train the trainer’ package to these driver trainers and they can then utilise this data and the technics learned to improve the overall effectiveness and efficiency of the drivers.

This concept is called ProfiDrive by MAN.” Q. How would regulations allowing widerwidth 2550mm buses and coaches impact MAN’s chassis sales in Australia if they were embraced on a bigger, more official scale?

What does it mean to MAN? MM: “From an MAN chassis point of view this will have no impact; all our current range of Euro5 chassis and the new Euro6 chassis all meet the current 2500mm requirement.

A relaxing of this requirement does not advantage MAN in regards to chassis supply of the range of chassis currently being imported. MAN is also about to introduce our A95 Double Deck-compatible chassis range to Australia and it also meets the 2500mm requirements. So if the operators wish to have a range of chassis compatible with local bodies, MAN will continue to have a range of options available for them to choose from.”

Q. If so, does that mean European-built MAN product will be seen here? If so, when? And made where? (MAN has a number of plants around the world).

MM: “Yes you are correct, MAN has a wide range of complete buses available and some of these may be suitable for the Australian market if 2550mm width was adopted. MAN produces city buses and school and charter buses - and NeoPlan produces an extensive range of two- and three-axle coaches. If the rules are relaxed and if there is interest from local operators MAN would investigate the options available. Regardless, MAN currently has a wide range of products available in

“I think 2015 may be the first time we see some of these players leave the market.”

conjunction with local body builders; these units make up the majority of our annual sales and I don’t see this changing in the short term.”

Q. What has been the result of introducing the C-130 low floor MAN bus here in Australia? Has the uptake and orders been as expected? What improvements, if any, have been relayed by operators to MAN about their use and expectations of that bus in particular?

MM: “The concept of the C-130 and the S-120 was for MAN to provide an alternative to the operators who have applications which are price sensitive and they don’t necessarily wish to buy a low-cost Asian product. These MAN products have a price point between a standard European chassis and local body and that of a fully imported Asian product.

We order these units in batches of 12 and in the last few weeks we received our 5th batch of units. To date we have been happy with the success we have had with them and the customer feedback has been positive. As for taking on board local operator feedback, the C-130 has been modified in relation to the rear step area as a result of market feedback and the S-120 has had a change in relation to the available luggage space. The S-120 was designed as a purpose-built school bus, so minimal height (weight saving and therefore fuel saving) and it has minimal luggage space, enough for school applications. Some operators have expressed a desire to have additional luggage space so they can utilise the unit as a charter bus and therefore MAN is introducing the S-130, which will fill this need. So the feedback we have received from the market has been valuable and these suggestions have been incorporated into improved specifications.”

Q. I heard MAN is doing some collaborative work with Scania as regards its gearboxes?

Can you tell us a little bit more about it? Is this a sign of further cooperation with the company, or others, or just a one-off?

MM: “MAN and Scania are owned by Volkswagen and there is clearly a strong desire by them to emulate the existing successful business model utilised in the passenger car industry. This is simply a matter of finding and exploiting synergies in R&D and purchasing where practical. The cooperation in regards to transmissions is one such area. Traditionally, MAN has always had two

transmission suppliers to provide options to the end user. Going forward, it would seem the Scania transmission may be an option for MAN. How this will ultimately work is yet to be seen, but where there are opportunities to work collaboratively in certain areas, it is clearly Volkswagen’s intention to do so.”

Q. What are you views on Chinese or Asian buses and coaches? Good, bad or indifferent?

MM: “I have a fairly basic philosophy on this and that is that somewhere in the grand scheme of things you have to ‘pay the piper’.

If, as an operator, you have a business model that is price sensitive - let’s say a shortterm contract - and you need to purchase a product simply on capital cost then the cheaper option will be the logical choice.

Somewhere down the track if you want to dispose of this unit, the residual value will be commensurate to the purchase price.

If, conversely, as an operator you have a longer-term contract and you need to provide certain performance guarantees you may want to look at the ‘whole of life’ equation – ie.,purchase price combined with ongoing operating costs, reliability, uptime, fuel consumption. In this instance I’m sure you would come to a different conclusion. I’m not saying there is anything wrong with Chinese or Asian buses, you just need to access the business model you are contemplating and then make the right business choice for you as an operator.”

Q. How has the market been so far this year overall and for MAN in both Oz and NZ? Do you predict the market will change much or stay as is for a while?

MM: “The market in Australia has been flat for the last couple of years and there are no signs of a major change to this in 2015. I don’t see any State or Territory Government making substantial investment in bus infrastructure at the moment; in fact, in some states the opposite is the fact. At every bus show I have attended over the last couple of years I have seen additional players entering the market, but I think 2015 may be the first time we see some of these players leave the market. New Zealand, on the other hand, has recently announced it is finally going to proceed with the review of government-let operator runs in Auckland and Wellington and, depending on which operators are successful, this could translate into some additional sales.”

www.truckandbus.net.au 053

Q. Government approach to bus fleets varies from state to state? Which state is on the pace and understands the industry and the demands placed on it?

MM: “Hmmm... Each State or Territory thinks they have a good handle on things and I’m guessing if they didn’t there would be wholesale changes happening. As to which approach is better, now that is a difficult question. If I answer strictly as an OEM, it is whichever approach see’s new product on the streets, but as a tax payer I think you need to be mindful of sweating the assets and getting the best return possible for the capital outlay. I don’t think there is a ‘one size fits all’ answer here, but I do think we will see an increase in the privatisation of fleets and,

in turn, an acceleration of the consolidation of operators we have seen in the past 10 years or so. If the size of the opportunity presented makes sense, I think we may also see one or two big overseas players set up shop here in Australia. The good operators already here in Australia will continue to grow and I think it is in the State and Territories’ interests - and that of the tax-paying public - to ensure that whoever wins business does so on the basis of cost balanced with excellence in service.

Cheaper is not always better. The future sales opportunities I see as an OEM are based on assisting bus operators to provide excellent, reliable and efficient services and that, in turn, will assist to increase patronage - and by default drive additional demand.”

“...an increase in the privatisation of fleets; acceleration of the consolidation of operators.”

054 www.truckandbus.net.au

MAN204 C&B

The future will be rolling on Lion’s Chassis.

Lion’s Chassis form the ideal basis for coaches, city buses and school buses, combining premium quality with innovative engineering.

EBS electronic brake systems and body friendly electronic structures are standard features of all Lion’s Chassis whilst an electronic stability program (ESP) is a series feature of the coach and school bus versions.

The modular two-and three-axle chassis give body manufacturers great freedom and flexibility in designing individual solutions with five module groups available:

is standard. A stabiliser is fitted for increased stability and optimum safety, especially for high bodies. An actively steered trailing axle is available for three-axle coach Chassis.

Driver’s work-place module: The ergonomically designed driver’s workplace offers body manufacturers flexible integration options.

Driveline module: The driveline can be perfectly configured with efficient common-rail engines for low-entry, school bus or coach chassis. The engines meet exhaust emission standards Euro 5 and EEV. Available gearboxes include manual, automated manual (MAN TipMatic®) and automatic.

Front axle module: Highly convenient independent wheel suspension is now standard for coach and school bus. An optional rigid axle is also available for two-axle coach and school bus chassis. The Low Entry chassis is fitted as standard with the proven rigid axle.

Wheelbase module: A short transfer wheelbase lowers transport costs and the final wheelbase can be individually specified by the body manufacturer.

Rear axle module: A low-noise hypoid drive axle with low weight, high load capacity and long oil-change intervals

Evolve to MAN

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VIC, SA & TAS: John Dernaj M: 0419 329 636 QLD, NT & WA: Russell Bayfield M: 0421 613 143 NSW: Les Atkins M: 0418 293 077 www.man.com.au

We Want

TOP DECK At the 2014 IAA Commercial Vehicles show held in Hannover, Germany, hometown hero Daimler had a range of show-stoppers on display – and the latest Setra TopClass got more than a passing glance. Fabian Cotter reports.

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www.truckandbus.net.au 057

I

t is perhaps fortuitous that unlike the car industry, where new models are expected and often demanded yearly, the commercial vehicle sector usually sees manufacturers turn out a new ‘you beaut’ interpretation of the breed every few years or so. And so it should be.

No rocket science as to why; such expensive capital equipment representing X amount of R&D dollars behind a world of advanced safety, fuel-saving consumption, quality, longevity and occupant comfort means there’s really no point in re-inventing the wheel so often. But when you do, do it well and stick to it for a few years at least. It’s probably the only real way to ensure such investment money isn’t wasted, thereby ensuring years of service and parts back-up don’t become cost prohibitive by being changed all too often.

Many manufacturers – and certainly for buses and coaches – have been riding a winning formula for certain models for years on end, with generational changes every so often

058 www.truckandbus.net.au

to update a vehicle so it’s competitive with contemporary market rivals in the minimum – ideally pushing technological and innovative design boundaries in future in the maximum.

The Setra TopClass range of vehicles from Daimler over the years has done great things for the brand in terms of performance and sales, so it was with great interest punters checked out the latest double-deck version to debut at the 2014 IAA Commercial Vehicles show, recently.

Why so? Perhaps it’s because the types of vehicle design at such events doesn’t just tickle the fancy of onlookers merely because it is the greatest version of itself with the latest bells and whistles, but more the fact it indicates to the discerning buyers what engineering trends vehicle manufacturing is embracing and where it’s heading, which in turn tells people volumes about the predicted commuter habits and spending patterns – crucial data to predicting just how a company’s fleet needs to and should evolve, be it the number of vehicles or

overall types.

Long-distance coach travel still has its work cut out for it in the modern age many will argue, given the propensity for travellers to opt for plane or rail options first, yet tapping into that mindset might just be the thing coach builders are aiming for given the luxurious and ‘comfy lounge-room’ feel of the interiors being coupled to modern Euro6 chassis in an attempt to woo customers away from traditional longdistance transport means.

Consider the new TopClass S 431 DT, for example. Touted as “modern and mature than ever” and offering “ maximum seat capacity and maximum versatility”, the Euro6 version is claimed to offer more than just a trip, it offers “a truly fascinating travelling experience”.

Marketing bumpf aside – and it’s not bad bumpf, for what it’s worth - this mature, fourmetre high flagship touring coach has been in continuous production since 2003 and is claimed to be the undisputed number one in its segment in Europe.

“...reinforced front section meets the requirements of the pendulum impact test according to ECE-R 29.”

1

2

1 Simple and stylish

masking a raft of nextgen technology.

2 What a stunning interior!

Aside from being ideal to hold the quirkiest discos inside, for regular coach use it’s aesthetically pleasing and looks comfy as.

With a standard configuration of 83 passenger seats and a length of 13.89m, the Setra TopClass S 431 DT has a lot of space on offer and, even as the tallest Setra, is said to be flexible as a classic long-distance tourer, a long-distance service bus and also as “a comfortable bistro bus with a lounge on the lower deck and highly individual appointments.”

For motive power, the latest Euro6 version means it runs uber clean and has good power to move such a large bus in hurry if needs be.

The Setra double-decker runs a six-cylinder in-line Mercedes-Benz OM 471 engine making 375kW (510hp) and a very impressive torque figure of 2500Nm. As standard, power is transferred to the low-friction RO 440 drive axle by the fully automated GO 250-8 PowerShift manual transmission.

With the cruise control system Predictive Powertrain Control (PPC, special equipment), a water-type secondary retarder, demandcontrolled ancillary units and onboard power

network management with an intelligent battery sensor, the double-decker sets standards with the very latest fuel-saving technology, according to Daimler.

Safety technology? You got it. The S 431 has an actively steered trailing axle with independent suspension. As standard it is equipped with the electronic stability program ESP, including numerous sub-functions. It is available with Lane Assistant and adaptive cruise control including Active Brake Assist.

Plus there’s the Tyre Pressure Monitoring System and Attention Assist. The doubledecker will likewise receive ABA 3 from mid2015, according to the company.

And it sounds a tough bugger, too. The reinforced front section meets the requirements of the pendulum impact test according to ECE-R 29, while the bonded windscreen improves the aerodynamics and reduces wind noise. The cockpit has adopted the displays, colour display and operating structure, the electronic ignition key, the leather-covered

multifunction steering wheel and transmission operation by steering column stalk from the TopClass 500.

Further enhanced design means you get a whole lot more space to play with, which came from having to fit the new Euro6 lump at the back. The Setra’s driver benefits from “a considerably wider luggage compartment door.

The compartment for suitcases and bags now also has a level floor for easier loading”, states Daimler.

And to further ensure greater ease of transporting those passengers with mobility restrictions, the S 431 is available in the optional width of 1150mm rather than the standard 900mm and, together with an optional folding ramp, allows wheelchair users convenient access to the lower deck. In this case a wheelchair space with airline securing rails is provided on the right-hand side.

All of this to entice even more people in future to choose coach travel for long distances. And as far as we are concerned that’s no bad thing.

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Hot Stuff

By Fabian Cotter

Gadgets on the go

We’ve scoured the globe for all the latest gadgets and gizmos for when you are on the go.

Apple Watch While the new Apple iPhone 6 might be copping a lot of flak because the materials used to make it mean it can bend in your pocket, thankfully a watch on your wrist means there’s no real chance for such flex to happen.

And that means a much relived Apple Inc. The Apple Watch has been a long time coming, particularly WHAT? WHO? HOW MUCH? CONTACT?

after Samsung’s Galaxy Gear had a crack at the market. The Apple interpretation comes in two sizes and is aimed at being a communications and fitness device – but what looks like aimed at right-handers mostly.

The ‘digital crown’ is the control input and the watch can be used for calls, zooming in on images, messages and emails –

Apple Watch Apple TBC www.apple.com

but you’ll need the iPhone to use it. The current one, we assume.

Cool functions include being able to verbally dictate a message, and the ability to transfer call to a car’s speakerphone, an iPhone of Bluetooth headset.

Fashonistas will love that it comes in three styles: standard, sport and 18K gold. Six different watch straps and styles in various colours will be available.

Sensors turn on the display once you raise your wrist and can also detect your heart rate, to keep the fitness buffs happy.

Polestar Dual USB charger These days we live much of our business lives in our cars often enough so the humble traditional cigarette lighter socket is far removed from just being used to heat up and light your Durrie. Now it’s a power outlet for your phone and portable audio players, so to only have one socket means we needed to multiply those outlets to satisfy our needs.

For only $5, you can’t go wrong with the Polestar Dual

USB car charger, which easily turns your car cigarette lighter into two parallel lighter sockets. With its universal compatibility, it comes with two USB port for charging mobile products such as mobile phone, MP3, PMP, and WHAT? WHO? HOW MUCH? CONTACT?

games in your car. It’s output is: DC 5V 0.5A Output 2: DC 5V 0.5A It takes up little space in your glovebox and is the type of thing many of us will find essential while doing business on the go.

Two-way Cigarette Adapter Polestar Auto Accessories Approx. $5 www.pole-autoaccess.com

Tom-Tom GPS Watch Look, there’s no avoiding it, watches that offer a technological slant are all the rage now and with Samsung and Apple bringing out their big guns, a raft of other companies are up for the challenge and GPS giants TomTom is definitely one of them.

If you want to see your running, cycling and swimming stats at a glance and on a high-resolution WHAT? WHO? HOW MUCH? CONTACT?

GPS Fitness Watch Tom-Tom Approx. AUD$199 www.tomtom.com

screen with high-contrast display, the Tom-Tom is the go.

Easy one-button controls means fitness buffs can easily navigate the menus, and analyse information gleaned from three graphical training modes.

Featuring ultra-slim design and light weight, it’s ideal for multi-sport athletes on the go, and has a super tough and scratch-resistant screen to boot.

Plus bike buff gets extra special attention; they can use the specially designed bike mount to attach it to your ride. Brilliant.

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Working Wheels

Puttin’ Your Dukes Up Everyone needs a bit of ‘Mambo Italiano’ in their lives, or so Fiat says of its new Ducato. Fabian Cotter reports.

T

he latest evolution of the Fiat Ducato has arrived in Australia. The new generation of this hugely successful LCV (Light Commercial Vehicle), which has notched up 2.6 million global sales since it was launched in 1981, will set a new segment benchmark in Australia, says Fiat.

The new exterior style brings a sophisticated ‘car design’ to the light commercial vehicle segment while the all-new front end features new daytime running lights with optional LEDs and a bold new grille design, as well as a new three-part front bumper, which helps to reduce repair costs.

Inside, the new Fiat Ducato offers a comfortable, attractive and functional cabin environment. New seats offer car-like comfort levels across the range while technology upgrades, like the new 5-inch colour touchscreen info-tainment unit, offer new levels of useability.

With the new Ducato, Fiat Professional has worked to reduce emissions and improve economy. The heavy-duty, 3.0 MultiJet diesel generates 130kW@3500rpm and 400Nm@1400rpm, has CO2 emissions of

Italian flair inside and out? Not a bad thing it seems.

062 www.truckandbus.net.au

203g/km and sips as low as 7.2 litres per hundred kilometres.

Further cost-saves are offered with the Ducato’s impressive 48,000km service intervals.

The new Ducato is available with gross vehicle weight configurations of between 3510kg and 4005kg and is available with three different wheelbases, four different lengths, two heights and maximum payloads that range from 1560kg to 2110kg - ensuring there’s a new Ducato to fulfill every need.

The new Ducato is available with a six-speed manual transmission or six-speed ComfortMatic transmission (standard on ‘Long’ and ‘Extra Long’ wheelbase versions). Further improvements to efficiency and running costs have been gained by working on kerb weight reduction and increased payload through, for example, the use of composite materials in the rear suspension.

An extensive pre-launch programme for the new Ducato saw it tested throughout the world. This resulted in body and chassis reinforcements, improved braking and performance, and enhancements to the

lifespan of the suspension and clutch.

The new Fiat Ducato is packed with hightech content, such as state-of-the-art safety and driving assistance devices. All versions continue to offer an Electronic Stability Control (ESC) system as standard, but it now integrates a Rollover Mitigation System to increase comfort and protect the load from unexpected motion, in conjunction with Load and Centre of Gravity Detection (LAC), Hill Holder, Anti-Slip (ASR) and Electronic Braking Assistance (EBA) systems.

Additionally, to ensure greater manoeuvrability and enhanced driving comfort, dual-mode Servotronic power steering continues to be offered as standard while further driving assistance systems are available on request, such as Traction+ (complete with Hill Descent Control) and a Lane Departure Warning system with high-beam recognition. The new Ducato also offers Bluetooth and MP3 playback and a 5-inch colour touchscreen with optional reversing camera.

If this is your thing then it can be ordered through Fiat Professional dealerships now.

Prices start at $38,000.

hino.com.au

45 years on, still legendary Our legendary buses and coaches are custom made to your specifications and wear the HINO badge, so you know you’re getting quality engineering.

So trust a brand with its roots in home soil, 45 years on and HINO is still producing legendary transport solutions.

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064Money Matters

Paul Clitheroe LONG TERM REWARDS PROPERTY INVESTORS

R

esidential property has been the darling of investors over recent

years. However, a new study by research group RP Data highlights the need for investors to adopt a long-term focus rather than rushing in to buy the first rental property they can afford.

On the face of it, residential property is a very straightforward investment and choosing a property to rent out and, hopefully, sell at a profit one day is an easy concept to grasp.

The catch is that no investment is ever a sure thing and no matter how robust the market may be there is no guarantee of making a quick buck on bricks and mortar.

these properties was $63,097. Ouch!

On the plus side, 91 per cent of all property re-sales during the April-June quarter recorded a profit. This begs the question: what did the owners of these properties do

that the loss-makers didn’t? In many cases the answer quite simply is that they took a long-term approach.

Buying property in an area that is

experiencing population growth, that offers plenty of local amenities and has good transport links, will underpin the potential for future capital gains. Nonetheless one of RP Data’s key findings is that the length of time a property is held for is directly related to the

term outlook is the sheer scale of upfront purchase costs. Taken together, expenses

like stamp duty, legal fees and pre-purchase inspections can add up to tens of thousands of dollars. It often takes time for a property’s

value to rise to a point where these costs are not only recouped but a profit is made on the actual sale.

Committing to an investment property for

“What did the owners of these properties do that the loss-makers didn’t?”

RP Data’s latest ‘Pain and Gain’ report is testimony to this. It looks at the profits – and losses - made on residential properties resold between April and June this year. It may surprise some investors to learn that almost one in 10 (9.0 per cent) homes resold during the quarter dished up a loss on their original purchase price. In fact, the average loss on

likelihood of making a profit on sale.

Tellingly, among those properties sold for a loss, the average holding period was just 5.6 years. Properties that recorded a profit on sale were held, on average, for 9.8 years. Homes that doubled in value were held for an average of 16.5 years.

One of the reasons it pays to take a long-

the long term – at least 10 years - may sound perfectly achievable in today’s environment of very low interest rates. The thing is, there is no telling where rates will be five or even 10 years from now – though my guess is they’ll be higher, they can’t stay at these record low levels forever. This makes it essential to be sure you can afford to hold onto the

property even if (and when) rates rise at some point in the future or if the place experiences extended vacancy periods.

It’s worth thinking too about your personal

plans for the future. You don’t want to find yourself in a position where you are forced

to sell the property in a flat or falling market

because it no longer suits your goals, budget or lifestyle.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m a great supporter of

sensible, long-term property investment; it can really pay off and build your wealth. Just make sure you do your homework before buying, choose a popular location with genuine growth potential, pay a well-researched realistic price and be able to afford extra

repayments in the event of interest rate rises.

Paul Clitheroe is a founding director of financial planning firm ipac, chairman of the Australian Government Financial Literacy Board and chief commentator for Money magazine. Visit www.paulsmoney.com.au for more information.

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even more reasons to choose fuso A familiar sight in many fleets, Rosa has been the best selling bus in its class for ten years running*. Now, with our School bus offering up to 50 seats including the driver, as well as our City Bus with an ultra low floor, there’s more choice than ever before.

Fuso has been producing both large and small buses in Japan for over 50 years, and our experience shows. That’s why all of our buses offer a level of quality and reliability that’s second to none. So if you’re looking for a bus you can trust, talk to your Fuso dealer today.

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Call 1300 429 134 or visit fuso.com.au to find out more. *Rosa is Australia’s top-selling bus in its class for the last ten years based on Vfacts sales volumes 2004-2013. Fuso is distributed by Mercedes-Benz Australia/Pacific Pty Ltd ACN 004 411 410. Fuso Financial is a registered business name of Mercedes-Benz Financial Services Australia Pty Ltd ABN 73 074 134 517 AFSL 247271.