AUSTRALIA - The PSV Circle Website

NEW ZEALAND 753-OJ-246 NEW ZEALAND
Opening Fleet at takeover by Stagecoach 9/94
1 FL 4297 Fd R1114 CL01??52870 NZMB DP48F 1976
2 NA 4281 Iu MR1113 2507936 Coachwork International B28F 2/87
3 FL 4281 Fd R192 CL01??71420 NZMB DP48F 1973
4 NA 4279 Iu MR1113 2507778 Coachwork International B28F 1987
5 NA 3943 Iu MR1113 2507913 Coachwork International B28F 1987
6 SK 700 Iu ECR570 2508616 Demac C45F 1986
(ex MQ 9796)
8 NY 58 Iu ECR570 2511256 Coachwork International DP45F 1988
9 MQ 8716 Iu ECR570 2508614 Coachwork International DP49F 4/86
10 JR 48 Fd R1114 CL01??47014 NZMB/Hess DP48F 12/80
11 ON 223 Iu ECR570 2511172 Austral B45F 7/89
12 PT 2685 Hino RG197 40082 Coachwork International B37D 1991
13 JR 47 Fd R1114 CL01VS35951 NZMB/Hess DP48F 4/80
14 IN 2551 Fd R1114 CL01??56691 NZMB DP48F 1977
15 JZ 7041 Fd R1114 CL01??48732 NZMB/Hess DP48F 4/81
16 OB 1552 Iu ECR570 2511294 Coachwork International DP49F 1988
17 JR 2616 MB O303 301102-21-020380 NZMB B41D 1980
18 JW 8024 MB O303 301102-21-021020 NZMB B41D 1980
19 LE 4641 Hino BX341 40324 NZMB DP48F 1983
21 MC 609 Iu ECR570 2507078 NZMB DP49F 5/85
Notes -
2, 4, 5 ex Department of Education c1989.
17, 18 ex Auckland Regional Authority 1077, 1087 1991.
Vehicles out
all vehicles: transferred to Runciman fleet c9/96 (some subsequently transferred on to Cityline Hutt Valley
and Stagecoach Wellington; details to follow).
COACHES
Here we take more interest in New Zealand’s coach population. A number of factors have dictated buying trends
over the past ten years, notably the weak NZ Dollar, the instability of the inbound tourism trade and the country’s
strict weight limits. New Zealand has to support an extensive road network from a limited revenue source, so the
roads are very lightly built. To reduce wear and tear, the axle and overall weight limits are considerably lower than
in Europe - 6 tonnes on single axle, single tyre; 8.2 tonnes on single axle, double tyre, 12 tonnes on tandem axle,
single + double tyre; 14.2 tonnes overall on two axles, 18 tonnes on three. Road tax levels are weight-dependent,
and as operators have to buy ‘kilometers’ rather than have unlimited use over a set period, heavier vehicles incur
higher operating costs. A Five Star-rated 50-seat Volvo B12 tri-axle from the mid 1990’s will have a tare of around
13.5 tonnes, considerably less than an equivalent European vehicle; this is achieved by lightweight bodywork and
the deletion of items such as retarders. The recent deliveries with Australian-built bodywork are heavier than this -
14.4 tonnes in the case of recent Scanias, which pushes them very close to the weight limits. A notable victim of
the regulations is the Volvo B10M Mk III and later versions, which can’t meet the front axle loading limit when
carrying passengers and luggage, and so have seen only a few sales for specialised day tour work. Earlier
versions of the B10M are still common, however. Volvo has been the dominant manufacturer over the past ten
years, with the B12, and while MAN and Mercedes-Benz have faded recently, they have been replaceded by
Scania and Dennis (with surplus Malaysian-built Javelins). Both Freightliner and Spartan have made some
progress, but this is a small market where manufacturers’ annual sales rarely reach double figures. Second-hand
coaches from Australia and Japan are common sights on touring and charter work and we hope to cover these
later, but in this issue we’ll start with Volvo and Scania delivered new since 1990.
Adams, Whangarei
TM 3545 Vo B12 001650 Designline C53F 9/95
WO 4402 Vo B6R 005784 Designline C35F 10/97
Burns {Menzies Coachlines}, Wyndham
16 TR 1659 Vo B12 001651 Designline C49DT 11/95
19 ZO 1884 Sca K124EB6x2 1837533 Designline C49DT 11/00
20 AEZ 524 Sca K124EB6x2 1839624 Designline C49DT 8/01