ABC #395

AUSTRALASIAN BUS & COACH 

ABC 

ISSUE 395 July 2020 $5.95 inc GST 

BUS RESCUE 

AUSSIE COACH 

INDUSTRY HELP 

SOUGHT 

NZ GO BUS 

ELECTRIC LEASING 

DEAL INKED 

UNSW 

EBUSCO UNI MOU 

SIGNED 

HELLO KITTY 

Volvo’s first Aussie e-bus to hit Perth’s CAT route 

operator: mt gravatt, qld driven: MAN RR8 deliveries: tax year surge

Efficient e Bus 

fleet planning 

Lower cost power 

connections 

More asset 

uptime 

Techno-economic 

modelling 

Toshiba... improving transport electrification since 1875

We do the important things 

passengers never notice 

Toshiba International Corporation Pty Ltd 

www.tic.toshiba.com.au/e-mobility 

Email: emobility-info@tic.toshiba.com.au 

11A Gibbon Road Winston Hills NSW 2153 Australia 

Telephone: +612 8867 6200

contents 

ISSUE 395 JULY 2020 

08 

in the know 

6. editorial | ignition 

Editor Cotter talks e-buses, coaches, asteroids, 

viruses and hamburgers. Yep, what a month! 

8. news | the front line 

We’ve gathered up all the key, hardhitting 

Australasian and international bus and coach 

news for you, to keep you in the loop. 

24 

22. column | BIC 

How do we encourage people to travel 

across Australia by coach rather than ‘fly 

over it’, asks Michael Apps. 

In focus 

24. In focus | articulated ecitaro 

ARTICULATED ELECTRIC CITARO 

LAUNCHED 

A fully electric articulated version of the 

Mercedes-Benz eCitaro city bus – known 

as the eCitaro G – has already received 

more than 60 ‘definite orders’, the 

company has announced. 

26. In focus | marshall’s moruya 

LAST ‘CUSTOM SB50’ BUS BODY 

DELIVERED 

NSW south coast bus operator Marshall’s 

Moruya has received the very last ‘Custom 

designed and made’ SB50 bus body, 

ending an 11-year production run with an 

estimated minimum 135 units delivered 

across Australia. 

28. In focus | ventura scania 

SLIDE-OUT WHEELCHAIR LIFT KEY 

Ventura has added eight new Scania 

Touring school and charter coaches to its 

fleet, with a luggage-space-saving slideout 

wheelchair lift a highlight. 

32. coverstory | volvo-volgren e-bus 

TOP CAT 

Volvo is entering the Australian electric 

bus market via its massive agreement 

4 

ABC July 2020 busnews.com.au

FOLLOW US ONLINE AT: 

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EDITORIAL 

Managing Editor: Fabian Cotter 

ph: 0451 194 600 

e-mail: fcotter@bauer-media.com.au 

Technical Writer: Paul Aldridge 

Contributors: Michael Apps, Anjali Behl 

PRODUCTION 

Senior Designer: Bea Barthelson 

Sub-Editor: Cat Fitzpatrick 

PRINTING 

Spot Productions 

with Transperth and its CAT bus 

system. Fabian Cotter spoke 

exclusively with Volvo Bus 

Australia’s David Mead about 

all things electric bus. 

40. operator | mt gravatt 

bus service 

STRENGTH OF A WOMAN 

Women in business often 

still do it tough these days as 

they endeavour to smash that 

seemingly ubiquitous ‘glass 

ceiling’. Rewind more than 45 

years ago, that ceiling might as 

well have been made of concrete. 

Queensland’s Mt Gravatt Coach 

and Travel is proof Del Cole took 

her jackhammer to it. Fabian 

Cotter reports. 

58. driven | man rr8 ic 19.290 e5 

TOO COOL FOR SCHOOL 

The new MAN RR8 IC 19.290 E5 

has been designed for the school 

run, but has been built with a 

luxury coach feel. It more than 

proved its mettle in wet and 

wintery conditions on a recent test 

drive out of the Penske home base 

in Wacol, writes Paul Aldridge. 

We will be showing 

our electric offering 

in a commercial 

operation from 

day one! 

Departments 

49. bus marketplace | classifieds 

FOR SALE! 

There’s hundreds of great vehicles 

and services listed here from some 

of the leading bus and coach 

companies on the planet. Have 

a look around and see what you 

might find in there! 

54. factory facts | bus deliveries 

MONTHLY RESULTS 

We know you love them and so 

we have the latest bus and coach 

supplier sales data collected and 

recorded for you to sink your teeth 

into. To know who is who and who’s 

done what simply check it out! 

40 

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busnews.com.au July 2020 ABC 

5

IGNITION 

FABIAN COTTER 

Save Our Souls 

The coach side of the Aussie bus industry is in dire need of 

government help. And there’s no better time to put out an S.O.S. 

Briefly block out the funky 

Reggae-ish ‘ohhhhh’ inflection 

parts of Sting’s vocals in the 1979 

hit song Message In A Bottle and 

you might better appreciate The Police 

were just singing about some castaway’s 

yearning to be saved from a loneliness-induced 

state of despair. Not from being in it, 

but before going into it – and similarly the 

Australian coach industry is seeking federal 

government help now before things get 

even worse. 

The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic 

and the fluctuating fortunes of different 

levels of restrictions in different states at 

different times [facepalm] – underwritten 

by the bewildering ‘the mask wearing we 

said was actually bad before is now back to 

being good again’ [another facepalm] – is 

doing the head in of many a coach operator 

nationwide trying to stay in business. 

Borders opened, now they’re closed. 

Passenger numbers up, now they have to 

be controlled. Like many in business, 2020 

has thrown them a massive curve ball. With 

the tourism side of things not looking like it 

will be picking up soon, many are flagging 

that they might not be able to hold the fort 

for much longer if things persist like this. 

And who can blame them? 

Until the most recent ‘second-wave’ 

virus outbreaks, things were looking up 

from a relatively ‘back to business’ point 

of view. And so with yet another month of 

rapid changes to the outlook and financial 

predictions, the call for more help has been 

made – before it’s too late for many. 

Thankfully, the Bus Industry 

Confederation (BIC) is putting its members’ 

concerns front and centre and made great 

strides to draw more focus to the industry’s 

plight. 

THE LONG HAUL 

With expert opinion it will take another 

12 to 18 months before the Australian 

bus industry is able to “transition out 

of this crisis”, the federal government is 

being asked to ‘step up and do more’ to 

‘protect our industry and the people we 

support’, it says. 

Australia’s peak bus body – representing 

an industry responsible for transporting 

alone more than 500,000 coach passengers 

every day – is actively seeking a national 

rescue package for the sector in its advisory 

role to the Tourism Restart Taskforce, which 

was established by the Australian Chamber 

of Commerce and Industry in April, 2020. 

Speaking on behalf of the BIC following 

the recent release of the Tourism Restart 

Taskforce’s plan to rebuild Australia’s 

tourism sector, executive director Michael 

Apps said: “We fully endorse the recommendations 

by the Tourism Restart 

Taskforce to bring tourism back to life 

through targeted policy reforms and 

greater investments in infrastructure 

and training.” 

However, he also pointed out: 

“We need government to step up and 

do more to protect our industry and the 

people we support. 

“We require a national rescue package to 

support us though the downturn and on 

the road out,” he added. 

As Apps explained, a rescue package has 

been developed that includes: immediate 

financial assistance to provide a full diesel 

rebate, like the mining sector receives; the 

extension of JobKeeper for our industry 

beyond September; and consideration of 

a travel rebate of fares to encourage the 

Australian public to travel across the nation 

– not over it! 

This is a great initiative and we can all 

only hope it doesn’t fall by the wayside 

amongst all the other cries for help from 

sundry industries and organisations doing it 

tough these days, too. 

Buses and coaches play an integral 

part of the Australian and New Zealand 

transport and tourism industries – and 

the thousands of jobs and livelihoods 

associated with them – so both national 

governments should be lobbied for help. 

Bus and coach has been a good 

corporate citizen overall in terms of 

contributions to the tax coffers over many 

years, so a JobKeeper extension and those 

other useful measures would really help. 

Besides … ‘you don’t ask, you don’t get’, so 

fingers and toes crossed for all involved and 

we wish them good luck. 

INSIDE THIS ISSUE... 

The big news of the month comes with 

Volvo’s announcement it is bringing an 

electric bus to Australia for the first time, 

with Volgren once again doing bodywork. 

As part of the huge 900-plus bus supply 

deal announced last year for the Perth PTA, 

the new tech to this market is sure to get a 

lot of attention and so it – well, at least an 

‘artist’s impression’ of it – graces our cover 

this issue. 

Speaking of artist’s impressions, a 

massive thanks to our [I would say Bauer 

and I should say Bauer, but with new 

owners I’m just going with ‘our’] internal 

photoshop guru Paul Breen, who was kind 

enough to whip up our own e-bus rear 

shot for me. Again, it’s the beauty of an 

interpretation to just get the mind thinking, 

so I wouldn’t ‘put any sheepstations on it’ 

just yet. Heck, if it ends up with a couple of 

oversized ‘Fast and The Furious’ rear wings 

on the back, or some deep recess for a 

massive toaster or something, just take this 

pic with a grain of proverbial salt, please! 

And yes, I did just use the term 

‘sheepstations’ to freak out our international 

readers. You’re welcome. ;) 

Further inside on page 40 we visit Mt 

Gravatt Bus Service in Queensland as our 

operator story this month – and what a 

story it is. Del Cole has done amazing things 

there, so hats off to her. And also inside on 

page 58 we take an MAN RR8 IC 19.290 E5 

with Coach Design ‘school bus’ body out 

for a test drive in the wet and came away 

mightily impressed. 

Other stories of note include our In 

Focus pieces on Custom’s last SB50 

bus body being delivered to Marshall’s 

Moruya in NSW; Victoria’s Ventura picking 

up a few new Scania Touring coaches 

recently; and way over in Europe [‘way’ – 

because everything all just seems sooooo 

much farther away to me nowadays] 

Mercedes-Benz has launched an 

articulated version of its award-winning 

eCitaro electric bus. 

That’s about it from me this month, folks. 

Failing us getting hit by a ‘global killer’ 

asteroid in the next 30 days, I’ll see ya’ll 

back here then. 

Until the next thrilling instalment... 

P.S. Googled and just found this: NASA 

Detects Killer Asteroid That Could Wipe 

Out Life On Earth By 2027. Really? Come on 

now, guys! Enough is enough. Gees... 

6 


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NEWS 

SYDNEY ‘REGION 8’ BUS 

TENDER OPEN 

THE TENDER for Sydney’s 

Northern Beaches and the Lower 

North Shore bus contract – 

Region 8 – is now officially open, 

Transport for NSW (TfNSW) has 

announced. 

The “competitive tender 

process” for operating Region 8 

bus services is an opportunity 

for leading transport operators 

from both Australia and overseas 

to demonstrate how they will 

deliver improved services to 

customers on behalf of the NSW 

government, TfNSW explains. 

“We’re looking for an operator 

to deliver new and innovative 

services for our customers on 

the North Shore and Northern 

Beaches. This will mean more 

frequent and convenient services 

throughout the day, including 

turn-up-and-go and on-demand 

routes,” said Elizabeth Mildwater, 

deputy secretary – Greater Sydney, 

at TfNSW. 

“We’re also looking for operators 

to show us how they can help 

the government transition to 

zero-emission buses, and improve 

real-time information that will 

help customers to better plan 

their journeys and connect 

with other transport modes,” 

Mildwater added. 

The start of the competitive 

tender process in Region 8 

follows several months of market 

sounding late 2019 and earlier this 

year. It will close on September 

30, 2020, with the transition to 

the new operator expected 

during the final quarter of 2021, 

TfNSW explains. 

ASSETS KEPT 

As part of the franchising process, 

the NSW government will 

maintain control of routes, fares, 

assets such as buses and the 

existing depots at North Sydney, 

Brookvale and Mona Vale, it says. 

“All operational staff, including 

bus drivers and maintenance 

staff, will have the opportunity 

to transfer to the new operator 

with a two-year job guarantee 

on the same award terms and 

conditions,” said Mildwater. 

“Every effort will be made to 

“All operational staff, 

including bus drivers 

and maintenance 

staff, will have the 

opportunity to transfer 

to the new operator.” 

Above: 

As part of the 

franchising 

process, the NSW 

government will 

maintain control 

of routes, fares, 

assets such as 

buses and the 

existing depots 

at North Sydney, 

Brookvale and 

Mona Vale, it says. 

find roles for non-operational 

award employees before services 

change hands to the new 

operator, either with the new 

operator or within the public 

sector,” she added. 

Prospective tenderers can 

register to participate by 

visiting the NSW government’s 

eTenders website. 

The competitive tender process 

for the two other regions currently 

operated by State Transit – Region 

7 in Sydney’s north and Region 

9 in Sydney’s east – are currently 

planned to open in August and 

November 2020, respectively. 

8 


AUSSIE UNI SIGNS MOU TO ADVANCE 

ZERO-EMISSIONS BUS TECH 

THE UNIVERSITY of New South 

opportunity to work with Ebusco 

A NATURAL FIT 

Wales – one of Australia’s 

engineers on diverse subject areas, 

Director of Ebusco’s Australian 

leading research and teaching 

such as transport planning, energy 

business Simon Pearce believes 

universities – has signed a 

storage and advanced and precision 

the relationship with UNSW is a 

Memorandum of Understanding 

manufacturing, it’s reported. 

natural fit. 

(MoU) with Dutch e-bus 

Students will have access to 

“We were blown away by the 

manufacturer Ebusco, to 

scholarship programmes, industry 

breadth and depth of knowledge 

“accelerate development of zero 

placements and internships 

at UNSW. I have no doubt this 

emissions transport”, the entities 

at Ebusco’s operations in the 

partnership will help Ebusco 

have announced. 

Netherlands, China and Australia, 

continue to pioneer world-leading 

The Sydney-based UNSW’s 

agreement with the Dutch 

electric bus manufacturer 

will bolster research and 

development of electric vehicles 

and sustainable transport in 

Australia, they state. 

UNSW President and Vice- 

Chancellor, Professor Ian Jacobs, 

says the partnership reflects 

UNSW’s commitment to a more 

sustainable future. 

“This new collaboration 

says Ebusco. Students and staff 

will also have opportunities to 

work directly with the company’s 

engineers on the next generation of 

Ebusco’s electric bus fleets. 

The MoU further strengthens 

Ebusco’s commitment to Australian 

bus manufacturing, with the 

company only recently announcing 

its alliance with Australian Bus Corp 

– aka Bustech, Precision Buses and 

Elphinstone – earlier this month. 

Professor Ian Gibson, Associate 

technology and sustainable 

transport solutions.” 

UNSW and Ebusco say they 

hope to work with Transport for 

NSW to improve health and the 

environment in our cities. 

The NSW government announced 

late last year that it would replace 

Sydney’s ageing diesel bus fleet 

with electric vehicles. It is currently 

calling for expressions of interest for 

running trials of environmentally 

friendly zero emission buses. 

Below: 

Under the 

terms of the 

agreement, 

UNSW 

students 

and research 

experts will 

have the 

opportunity 

to work 

with Ebusco 

engineers 

on diverse 

subject areas, 

the company 

confirms. 

with Ebusco will help make 

Dean (Industry and Innovation) 

significant advances in areas 

at UNSW Engineering, says the 

such as renewable energy and 

MoU presents an unsurpassed 

manufacturing – both areas of 

opportunity to advance UNSW 

research strength at UNSW,” 

research across multiple 

Professor Jacobs said. 

engineering disciplines. 

“We are committed to taking 

“This partnership draws on 

action on climate change and 

complementary expertise and we 

to working with industry as 

hope it will lead to new and more 

such partnerships are key 

efficient ways of manufacturing 

to making a positive global 

electric vehicles in Australia. I am 

impact,” he explained. 

looking forward to seeing the 

Under the terms of the 

translation of UNSW’s research 

agreement, UNSW students and 

into commercial outcomes,” 

research experts will have the 

Prof. Gibson said. 


9

NEWS 

RMS BUS FINES 

REMINDER ACCOMPANIES 

NORTHCONNEX LAUNCH 

PENALTIES will apply to some bus 

and truck operators for avoiding 

Sydney’s new NorthConnex toll road, 

with gantry-camera vehicle-size 

monitoring in use, warns NSW 

Roads and Maritime Services (RMS). 

As first reported in ABC 

magazine’s sister title ATN, amidst 

the pomp and ceremony of 

NorthConnex’s first end-to-end 

drivethrough lurks a Roads and 

Maritime Services (RMS) memo to 

commercial vehicle operators in 

May 2020, on the consequences of 

avoiding the new toll road. 

The launch of the $3 billion 

state-federal initiative saw a photo 

opportunity for Prime Minister Scott 

Morrison, Federal Infrastructure 

Minister Michael McCormack, 

New South Wales Premier Gladys 

Berejiklian and NSW Transport and 

Roads Minister Andrew Constance at 

the 9km twin tunnels, which travel 

between the M1 Pacific Motorway 

at Wahroonga and the M2 Hills 

Above: 

The ministerial 

(L-R: McCormack, 

Morrison, 

Berejiklian, 

Constance) 

march through 

the new tunnel. 

Motorway at West Pennant Hills. 

The tunnel is said to be open to 

the public “within two months”. 

In a statement, all ministers 

praised the flagship project, with 

Berejiklian noting once complete 

NorthConnex would save up to 

15 minutes’ travel time and allow 

drivers to avoid 21 sets of traffic 

lights along Pennant Hills Road. 

“Today’s drive-through is another 

indication of how close we are 

getting to opening this key piece 

of infrastructure and helping 

to alleviate the traffic problems 

Pennant Hills Road has been 

experiencing for decades,” she said. 

“NorthConnex will return local 

streets to local communities by 

taking up to 5,000 trucks per day 

off Pennant Hills Road, easing 

congestion, improving safety 

and local air quality, and reducing 

traffic noise.” 

McCormack adds: “This project 

is one of many which is moving 

people safely and more efficiently 

across Sydney, while creating job 

opportunities for local workers.” 

Given the project is being 

delivered in partnership with toll 

road operator Transurban, tolls will 

apply, with April 2020 pricing set at 

NATIONAL BUS RESCUE PACKAGE SOUGHT 

TO SAVE COACH TOURISM 

A LOOMING ELECTION at the 

time with expert opinion it will 

take another 12 to 18 months 

before the Australian bus 

industry is able to “transition 

out of this crisis”, the federal 

government is being asked to 

“step up and do more” to “protect 

our industry and the people we 

support”, says the Bus Industry 

Confederation (BIC). 

Australia’s peak bus body 

– representing an industry 

responsible for transporting 

alone more than 500,000 coach 

passengers every day – made the 

call for a national rescue package 

in its advisory role to the Tourism 

Restart Taskforce, which was 

established by the Australian 

Chamber of Commerce and 

Industry in April 2020. 

Speaking on behalf of the BIC 

following the recent release of 

the Tourism Restart Taskforce’s 

plan to rebuild Australia’s tourism 

sector, executive director Michael 

Apps said: “We fully endorse the 

recommendations by the Tourism 

Restart Taskforce to bring tourism 

back to life through targeted policy 

reforms and greater investments in 

infrastructure and training.” 

However, he also pointed out: “We 

need government to step up and do 

more to protect our industry and the 

people we support. 

“We require a national rescue 

package to support us though the 

downturn and on the road out,” he 

added. 

In fact, however, such a package 

has already been proffered for 

government consideration. 

As Apps explained: “…we have 

developed a rescue package that 

includes immediate financial 

assistance to provide a full diesel 

rebate, like the mining sector 

receives; the extension of JobKeeper 

for our industry beyond September; 

and consideration of a travel rebate 

of fares to encourage the Australian 

public to travel across the nation – 

not over it. 

Below: 

“We need 

Government to 

step up and do 

more to protect 

our industry and 

the people we 

support,” says BIC 

executive director 

Michael Apps. 

10 


$7.83 for cars and $23.50 for heavy vehicles. 

More pertinent to industry, however, is RMS’ 

recently released guide to using NorthConnex 

for trucks and buses, reminding operators that: 

“...we will only be able to deliver the benefits of 

NorthConnex by removing some of the truck 

and bus traffic from Pennant Hills Road”. 

It says operators will need to know their 

vehicle dimensions and plan trips accordingly. 

“Trucks and buses (over 12.5 metres long or 

over 2.8 metres clearance height) travelling 

between the M1 and M2 must use the tunnels 

unless they have a genuine delivery or pick up 

destination only accessible via Pennant Hills 

Road,” the document states. 

“Two gantries will monitor trucks and 

buses on Pennant Hills Road – in the north at 

Normanhurst and in the south at Beecroft/ 

West Pennant Hills. 

“Cameras in the gantries will record the 

height and length of trucks and buses. 

“Trucks and buses (over 12.5 metres long or 

over 2.8 metres clearance height) which pass 

both gantries with the flow of traffic will receive 

a fine of $191 with no loss of demerit points.” 

Exceptions apply to vehicles transporting 

dangerous goods with a dangerous goods 

placard or sign, and oversize vehicles operating 

under a Class 1 permit or notice approved to 

use Pennant Hills Road. 

RMS pledges to share further information on 

NorthConnex to ensure industry can plan for 

the new regulation. 

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“This will support our local tourism 

industry and, in particular, local regional 

tourism.” 

LONG ROAD AHEAD 

With Australian tourism at a standstill, 

tens of thousands of jobs in the bus and 

coach sector are at severe risk 

with operators being forced to park a 

national tour and charter fleet of more 

than 8,000 large coaches and thousands 

of mini buses, covering non-public 

transport services for more than 500,000 

coach tour passengers every day, according 

to the BIC. 

“The reality is that no passengers 

mean no tours, no charters and no travel,” 

said Apps. 

“Since Covid-19 started and travel 

restrictions and border closures were 

announced, we’ve seen most coach 

operators have no choice but to be 

either deregister[ed], or permanently 

parked and most staff laid off, or on 

JobKeeper.” 

AUS ABC Transport Ad 120x276mm-V2.indd 1 27/02/2017 12:15 

busnews.com.au July 2020 ABC 11

NEWS 

BUS INDUSTRY ASSESSES ‘CASUAL 

DRIVERS’ AFTER KEY IR CASE 

A LONG-AWAITED decision on an 

industrial relations-shaping ‘work 

status’ case has cast casual drivers 

into the Australian bus industry’s 

spotlight during an expert-led 

round-table discussion, recently. 

If the decision stands, operators 

will be required to make dramatic 

changes to their work forces and 

perhaps further changes made 

to the Awards and Enterprise 

Agreements. 

The conjecture comes following a 

Bus Industry Confederation (BIC)-led 

Industrial Working Group’s online 

seminar held on June 12, 2020, 

where Professor Andrew Stewart – 

Professor at Law, Adelaide University 

– gave his views on what the 

decision means for the bus industry. 

THE CASE 

On Wednesday, May 20, 2020, the 

eagerly anticipated decision in the 

Workpac Pty Ltd v. Rossato was 

handed down. The case related 

to Mr Rossato, a casual worker 

employed by labour-hire company 

WorkPac as a drive-in/drive-out 

production employee engaged 

to work on various mines within 

the Glencore Group. Some of the 

employment contracts required 

Rossato to work in accordance 

with a roster, which allocated 

shifts up to seven months in 

advance. 

Most of Rossato’s contracts 

contemplated the payment of a 

casual loading without specifically 

referring to the casual loading, 

and Rossato was paid at a higher 

rate than those stipulated in the 

Enterprise Agreement. 

Rossato’s case has upheld the 

previous decision in the Workpac 

Pty Ltd v. Skene case, in which an 

employee with a ‘firm advance 

commitment’ of employment 

was deemed not to be a casual 

employee, but a ‘permanent 

part-time employee’ with all the 

entitlements provided under the 

National Employment Standards, 

such as annual and sick leave, BIC 

explains. 

THE DISCUSSION 

More than 50 BIC and Australian 

Public Transport Industrial 

Association (APTIA) members heard 

from Professor Stewart, who advised 

that they should try to persuade 

long-term casuals to convert to 

permanent employment, or at least 

consider amending employment 

contracts to clearly stipulate casual 

loadings and their purpose, and 

to allow for set off or restitution if 

deemed otherwise. 

LEGAL ADVICE 

Executive director of the BIC 

Michael Apps, said: “The Bus Industry 

Confederation has advocated to its 

members a ‘wait and see’ approach 

to the decision and has sought legal 

advice on its implications for our 

employers.” 

“It is evident, however, that the 

implication for our industry from 

the decision is that employment 

for casual school bus drivers, who 

work regularly for 40 weeks a year, 

will have to be re-assessed by their 

employers and casual coach and 

charter drivers also may no longer 

be able to be employed as casuals,” 

he added. 

The BIC believes that it is probably 

safe to assume that if an employee 

has a ‘firm advance commitment’ 

of work, within the meaning 

of Skene and Rossato, then 

these employees are not casual 

employees. 

National IR manager of the 

BIC, Ian MacDonald, said: “It is 

likely, however, that there will be 

relief by way of set off, as it is clear 

that the decision creates inequities… 

(such as) a casual school bus driver, 

working regularly for 20 hours a 

week, 40 weeks a year and no 

longer deemed a casual employee 

(under the principles set out in 

Rossato’s case) could be paid 25 

per cent more for working 20 hours 

a week than a part-time employee 

who is not entitled to a loading but 

working the same 20 hours. Each 

driver would be then entitled to 

pro-rata leave entitlements.” 

“Casual coach and 

charter drivers may 

no longer be able to be 

employed as casuals.” 

Above: 

Professor 

Stewart 

advises bus 

operators 

should try 

to persuade 

long-term 

casual 

employees 

(drivers) to 

convert to 

permanent 

employment, 

or at least 

consider 

amending 

employment 

contracts 

to clearly 

stipulate 

casual 

loadings and 

their purpose. 

THINGS TO CONSIDER NOW 

In the meantime, MacDonald 

suggests that employers consider 

the following actions: 

1. Is it possible to convert casual 

employees to part-time or full-time 

employment (noting a school bus 

driver working 20 hours a week, 40 

weeks of the year, may not fit into 

this category)? 

2. Write to each casual employee and 

advise them that they are employed 

as casual employees and that they 

receive an additional hourly payment 

that covers them for the paid leave 

entitlements, which part-time or 

permanent employees receive and 

that the additional payment is set off 

against any paid NES entitlement. 

3. Where possible, pay slips should 

record the additional payment 

along with the base rate of pay, so 

the additional payment (loading) is 

clearly designated. 

4. Seek to add to Enterprise Agreement 

negotiations a clause that aims to 

protect an employer from ‘double 

dipping’ by an employee deemed 

not to be a casual whilst they are 

receiving the casual loading. 

12 


BUS INDUSTRY SEEKS GOVT JOBKEEPER EXTENSION 

AN EXTENSION of “at least 

six months” to the Federal 

Government’s JobKeeper scheme 

is being sought for the Long 

Distance, Tourist and Charter (LDTC) 

sector by the Bus Australia Network 

(BAN) – a collective industry entity – 

it’s been revealed. 

In correspondence dated June 

30, 2020, and issued to the Hon. 

Michael McCormack MP, Deputy 

Prime Minister and Minister for 

Infrastructure, Transport and 

Regional Development, the network 

is seeking for JobKeeper to be 

extended, “…for at least six months 

beyond September 27, 2020 in 

order to get through the December 

2020 – February 2021 school holiday 

period, where there are minimal 

school extracurricular activities to 

generate business for this sector of 

the industry. 

“An extension of JobKeeper will 

enable these operators, who are 

mainly small and medium-sized 

businesses, to endure the 

Covid-19 crisis longer and have 

an opportunity to recommence 

commercial operations during the 

second quarter of 2021.” 

BAN is an umbrella title for the 

following bus organisations: the 

Bus Industry Confederation (BIC), 

BusNSW, BusSA, BusVic, QBIC, 

TasBus and BusWA. 

ECONOMIC IMPACT 

As the document highlights, 

coronavirus has caused a massive 

disruption to this “non-contracted” 

sector of the industry, with state 

government restrictions on 

movement and gatherings, and 

border closures, contributing to a 

substantial downturn. 

“These operators are not 

protected by funding linked to state 

government contracts and generally 

have a substantial investment in 

assets including buses and depots,” 

it states. 

Above: 

Additionally, 

BAN asks that 

any federal 

government 

stimulus for 

the tourism 

industry include 

direct financial 

assistance to 

bus and coach 

operators, who 

are dependent on 

international and 

domestic tourists. 

“The cancellation of airline 

services, cruise ships, major events 

and transport for school, pensioner 

and social groups has left these 

operators and their employees in a 

precarious situation. 

“As a result, most operators 

have put their businesses into 

hibernation and are acutely 

concerned about their ability to 

recommence operations and remain 

viable – thousands of drivers have 

been stood down and hundreds 

of vehicles have been deregistered,” 

it adds. 

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13

NEWS 

Aside from the expected screens 

and passenger dividers (in principle 

similar to what many consumers 

in Australia and New Zealand have 

seen used in supermarkets and 

sundry stores), these include: a smart 

camera for access control; automatic 

vehicle disinfection without 

passengers on board; and Eco3 

air purification. 

VIRUS SPIKE PUTS 

BUS ANTI-COVID 

MEASURES IN FOCUS 

RECENT CORONAVIRUS case 

number increases in Victoria has 

put new emphasis on hygiene 

protection strategies on buses 

and coaches becoming standard 

– not just optional – sooner rather 

than later, according to a leading 

European bus-body manufacturer 

spokesperson. 

“We are seeing certain 

anti-coronavirus measures being ISO 

certified in Europe due to demand, 

where the impact of the disease has 

reportedly been much greater than 

here in Australia, in terms of cases 

and deaths,” said Daniel Castro, 

director at Irizar Asia Pacific Pty Ltd 

based in Melbourne. 

“Unfortunately, what we are 

seeing here in certain parts of 

Melbourne, Victoria, right now could 

be an indication that such a virus 

or maybe even future viruses could 

repeat and would need to be best 

managed and mitigated quickly, 

so maybe anti-viral strategies and 

improved hygiene and non-contact 

screening measures on buses 

should be made mandatory, so we 

are being proactive and prepared 

instead of being ‘reactive’ and 

caught off guard,” he explained. 

“In this way people can travel 

more at ease on buses and it might 

even help improve (or lessen) 

social distancing, so as to increase 

passenger capacity safely on buses,” 

Castro added. 

While such sentiments come 

at a time Irizar is trialling its new 

European-sourced suite of anti-virus 

bus-travel solutions, it is quick 

to point out the issue is greater 

than one brand and that other 

bus marques also have emerging 

technologies and strategies to help 

combat the spread of the disease. 

“It might be a case where 

government contracts for bus 

services are only awarded in future 

when the buses being used have 

a checklist of anti-Covid measures 

fitted from the factory, or need 

them retrofitted by the aftermarket, 

if and when such things exist,” 

he suggested. 

PT REACTIVATION 

In a move to further promote 

safe and sustainable collective 

mobility, the Irizar Group in Europe 

highlighted a range of hygiene 

solutions recently, which Castro 

has brought to the Asia-Pacific 

market for extended trials and 

further demonstration. 

To combat the virus on public 

transport, the company also 

displayed its range of strategies to 

help tackle the Covid-19 problem 

on buses and coaches with a video 

showcasing them in action. 

Pictured: 

In this way people 

can travel more 

at ease on buses 

and it might even 

help improve 

(or lessen) social 

distancing, so 

as to increase 

passenger 

capacity safely 

on buses,” Castro 

added. 

SMART CAMERAS 

The access control camera is 

a smart system located at the 

vehicle’s entrance. Its goal is to keep 

passengers who show symptoms, 

or who do not follow the Covid-19 

protocols, from boarding the vehicle, 

Irizar explains. 

It is equipped with a body 

temperature sensor that measures 

the temperature of the passengers 

and signals when it is above 37˚C. 

It also has artificial vision cameras 

that can be used to detect whether 

passengers are wearing masks 

and the complete process is done 

automatically and in real time, 

it adds. 

“When a passenger has a fever or 

is not wearing a mask the system 

will make a signal alerting them 

that they may not board the vehicle 

and the driver can act proactively 

without needing supervision to 

follow the established health 

protocol,” Castro outlined. 

“These cameras do not record 

the personal data of passengers 

in order to comply with privacy 

requirements,” he is quick to explain. 

The device provides the possibility 

of being integrated with the fleet 

manager product provided by 

Irizar, for the purpose of monitoring 

and managing the recorded 

Covid-19 incidents quickly and 

easily, Castro states. 

14 


FAMILY BUS OPERATOR CHANGES LOGO TO 

HONOUR ESSENTIAL WORKERS 

IN THANKING all those who “…keep 

According to the company, this 

our country moving forward safely,” a 

was its way of thanking all essential 

family-run Queensland bus operator 

workers for their efforts during 

has updated its corporate branding 

Covid-19, including “all bus drivers” 

to honour all essential workers – 

and those that work in the transport 

“including all bus drivers”, Koala 

industry, who “keep our country 

Koaches has announced. 

moving forward safely.” 

The company has recently 

updated its livery by re-introducing a 

UNPRECEDENTED TIMES 

graphic of a koala, and a gum leaf, to 

Like many long-standing family 

its signage – even more so emotively 

owned bus and coach operators and 

poignant and respectful given the 

businesses across Australasia, the 

destructive bushfires across Australia 

earlier this year – and changed to 

using teal and charcoal colours. 

Yet perhaps most impressively, 

the company has honoured its 

namesake iconic animal and those 

at the forefront of the current 

Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic 

situation by including stickers of 

58-year-old Koala Koaches says it’s 

never seen anything like Covid-19 

and will do its bit to, “…continue to 

work through these difficult times 

together, to slowly get all businesses 

back to normality.” 

ABOUT KOALA KOACHES 

Koala Koaches specialises 

It operates a fleet of various sized 

buses and coaches, with seating 

for seven to 67 passengers. 

Koala Koaches commuters, 

minis and midis are also available 

for self-drive hire, to people over 

25 years of age and holding the 

appropriate driver’s License, it states. 

Since 1963, Koala Koaches has 

Above: 

According to 

The Gold Coast’s 

Koala Koaches, 

this was its way 

of thanking all 

essential workers 

for their efforts 

during Covid-19, 

including “all bus 

drivers”. 

a large koala head wearing a face 

in coach, bus and minibus hire 

been a local, family owned and 

mask, underwritten by the words: 

in and around the Gold Coast, 

operated bus and coach company, 

“THANK YOU all Essential Workers!” 

Queensland. 

based in Burleigh Heads. 

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15

NEWS 

VOLGREN ANTI-VIRUS 

‘FOG’ TECH TO IMPROVE 

BUS BIOSAFETY 

WITH FAR WIDER applications 

than just buses, Volgren is to bring 

a suite of anti-virus solutions for 

Covid-19 into Australia to improve 

biosafety for passengers, the 

company has announced. 

Volgren’s parent company, 

Marcopolo, has recently launched a 

range of global biosafety measures 

designed to limit the spread of 

Covid-19 coronavirus and improve 

the safety of bus passengers, drivers 

and the general public, it states. 

Known as ‘Marcopolo BioSafe’, 

the suite of products includes: 

Fog In Place (FIP) OnBoard – a dry 

fog that disinfects the inside of 

buses, trains or trams without 

using chemicals that are toxic to 

humans; protection kits for drivers; 

and UVC light technology to 

disinfect restrooms. 

Australian bus body 

manufacturer Volgren is 

investigating how the products 

could be used in an Australian 

context. 

CEO of Marcopolo James Bellini 

says the new concept promotes 

passenger biosafety while 

respecting the guidelines of health 

and government agencies. 

“We live in a unique time where 

innovation and technology are 

coupled to safely resume mobility. 

With Marcopolo BioSafe, our 

objective is to put ourselves as 

partners of our customers both 

in Brazil and abroad, giving 

them the conditions to continue 

operating and regain their 

confidence in using public 

transportation,” he explained. 

Bellini says he’s eager to show 

the technology in action to as 

many operators as possible, as 

quickly as possible. 

“We need to act with urgency 

and proactivity to spread and 

foster the application of these 

important solutions. 

“Public transportation is 

fundamental to ensure people’s 

mobility and cannot be seen as 

a bottleneck or a limitation.” 

NOT JUST BUSES! 

Volgren CEO Thiago Deiro says 

that embedding biosafety 

measures into public transport is 

an important step towards 

restoring passenger confidence 

and will preserve the safety of 

the travelling public. 

“Covid-19 has created challenges 

for many sectors. Public transport 

and student transport have been 

especially impacted,” he said. 

“We believe that the measures 

developed under Marcopolo 

BioSafe could play an important 

role in helping Australia’s bus 

Below: 

Australian 

bus body 

manufacturer 

Volgren is 

investigating how 

parent company 

Marcopolo’s 

BioSafe products 

could be used 

in an Australian 

context, it says. 

industry recover economically by 

making commuters and school 

children comfortable returning to 

bus travel.” 

Deiro says the FIP OnBoard dry 

fog is a fast and reliable system that 

sanitises through nanoparticles, 

creating a ‘nanofilm’ on 100 per 

cent of surfaces. It only takes 15 

minutes on average to cover and 

sanitise an entire passenger area 

for up to 72 hours. The application 

doesn’t wet or dampen seats, or 

harm the buses electrical systems, 

he adds. 

“Marcopolo’s ‘fog in place’ system 

is also fascinating because it can 

be used not only in buses, but in 

many broad applications ranging 

from school classrooms, cafes and 

restaurants to public libraries,” 

Deiro explained. 

“Being a father of two, I’d pretty 

much like to see school buses and 

even classrooms disinfected on a 

routine basis.” 

“It’s a credit to Marcopolo that 

they’ve come up with such an 

innovative solution in such a 

relatively short period of time,” 

he added. 

Deiro says Volgren has been 

working with Marcopolo to roll 

out the BioSafe measures in its 

coach and route vehicles and is 

in discussions with customers 

and government operators to 

gauge interest. 

“Public transportation 

is fundamental to 

ensure people’s 

mobility.” 

16 


NATIONAL EXPRESS STARTS 

ZERO-EMISSIONS BUS FULFILMENT 

UK BUS AND COACH operator National 

Express has started to fulfil its pledge 

to no longer buy diesel buses, with the 

first of 29 ADL-BYD Enviro400EV electric 

double-deckers starting service recently, 

the company has announced. 

Following an official late February 

statement outlining “…its vision to become 

the UK’s most sustainable bus and coach 

company,” the National Express Group 

stated it will: “…not buy another diesel 

bus for our UK operations”; “Will lead the 

transition to zero emission coaches, with 

a target for the first electric coaches to be 

in service next year”; that its ambition was 

“…our UK bus and UK coach fleets will be 

fully zero emission from 2030 and 2035, 

respectively”; and that “…environmental 

targets will make up 25 per cent of senior 

executive long-term incentive plans.” 

On July 5 the National Express West 

Midlands’ first fully electric ADL-BYD 

double-decker left its Yardley Wood garage. 

As National Express explains, bus drivers 

have to be specially trained to drive electric 

buses. The vehicles behave completely 

differently to combustion engine-driven 

buses, and drivers have to drive to preserve 

the charge for as long as possible and 

extend the range, it says. Engineers too 

have been trained in a whole new kind of 

maintenance, it adds. 

Additionally, the National Express says its 

80-year-old Yardley Wood garage was also 

retrofitted with: a stationary “shed-sized 

battery” ( provided by Zenobe Energy, 

which balances the load on the grid, 

ADL says); a charging station [plug in] for 

each bus; and a system so engineers can 

monitor the buses’ performance from 

screens in the depot or their laptops. 

The buses charge up in four hours and 

can run for 190 kilometres before needing 

another charge, National Express states. 



17

NEWS 

THE WOT!?! 

RESTORED BRISBANE HERITAGE 

BUS MAKES PUBLIC DEBUT 

ONE OF BRISBANE City Council’s first 

purpose-built buses – a 72-year-old 

diesel-powered British AEC Regal III – 

made a sentimental spin around the 

city on July 10, after a “breathtaking 

restoration”, organisers announced. 

The restoration was funded by a 

$19,000 Queensland Government 

Gambling Community Benefit Fund 

grant. 

Bus 80 – a British AEC Regal III chassis 

with a Commonwealth Engineering 

body built in Sydney – was one of 12 

diesel-powered buses brought into 

service in 1948, QOCS explains. 

“Between October 1947 and April 

1948, the Brisbane City Council began 

consolidating the bus system in 

Brisbane by compulsorily acquiring 20 

private operators,” QOCS president Nick 

Wilson said. 

The gleaming silver Bus 80 cost 

£5,110, the equivalent to approximately 

$319,800 in today’s money, it states. 

The bus began operating from the 

BCC’s Light Street depot in Fortitude 

Valley in June 1948, and remained in 

service until September 1971. 

Queensland State Minister for 

Transport and Main Roads Mark Bailey 

MP unveiled the restoration alongside 

BCC Chair of the Public and Active 

Transport Committee Cr Murphy. 

Wilson says QOCS was grateful 

the Queensland Government 

funding allowed Bus 80 to have 

another lease of life. 

“There would be many who still 

remember Bus 80 and others like it 

servicing suburbs such as Doomben, 

Indooroopilly, Moorooka, Norman 

Park, Tarragindi and Yeerongpilly,” 

Wilson said. 

“It’s an important part of Brisbane’s 

transport history – and while the city 

looks very different, it will be great to 

give Bus 80 a run on some of the streets 

it would have traversed day after day for 

more than 20 years.” 

Acacia Ridge-based firm Coachworks 

conducted the restoration, which began 

in May. Coachworks general manager 

Scott Isaacs says it was an enjoyable 

project to work on as the coronavirus 

lockdown created uncertainty in the 

transport industry. 

“The Covid-19 slowdown has meant 

that the timing of these projects is 

mutually beneficial,” he said. 

“Our team always enjoy working on 

club buses and it’s a great talking point 

for our customers and suppliers when 

they visit our workshop.” 

A not-for-profit organisation 

dedicated to preserving Brisbane’s bus 

history, QOCS hopes to one day feature 

Bus 80 and its fleet of 16 other vintage 

buses at a proposed Brisbane Transport 

Museum at Council’s Hangar 7 facility at 

Eagle Farm, it explains. 

However, until this time, Bus 80 

will instead be displayed at the 

Queensland Transport Museum in 

Gatton, it confirms. 

“It’s the first time a QOCS bus will be 

able to be seen by the general public all 

year round,” Wilson said. 

Below: The bus began operating from the 

BCC’s Light Street depot in Fortitude Valley 

in June 1948, and remained in service until 

September 1971, QOCS states. 

STOP STOPPING 

A parking ticket was slapped on a bus parked 

for a layover in a bus stop in the UK recently, 

while the driver nipped down the road for a 

drink and a sandwich. Described by the bus 

company as “a slap in the face” for drivers who 

continued to work throughout lockdown, 

Leicestershire County Council said the notice 

“was issued as the bus appeared to be parked 

up and unattended”. Apparently the appeal 

against the £70 ($126) fine will be “carefully 

considered”. 

GOOSE WHISPERER 

A Coast Mountain Bus Company driver is being 

commended for escorting a gaggle of geese 

across a busy Vancouver intersection recently. 

Kelly Podlubny was recorded chivvying the 

geese to safety after he noticed that traffic 

had stopped. “I knew it was dangerous for the 

geese,” he said, “so I took it upon myself to go 

outside and try and wrangle them across the 

street. They’re calling me the ‘Goose Whisperer’ 

on Facebook, which makes me smile. Hope it 

makes others smile, too.” 

MANY MASKS 

Stuff the Bus Foundation, a charity in southern 

Kentucky that donates school supplies, 

has announced that its partner, Wendy’s of 

Bowling Green, is supplying 15,000 surgical 

face masks for schools in the state, which 

will be disseminated through the foundation. 

“I really think this might be the most timely 

donation we’ve ever had,” said Tony Rose, the 

radio host who started Stuff the Bus 15 years 

ago as a promotional stunt. 

18 


The combination of 

Design and Technology 

Stephen Long 

Sales at Rural & Regional NSW - QLD 

0499 884 240 

stephen@irizar.com.au 

Bradley Schulz 

Sales at VIC, TAS, SA and WA 

0457 006 344 

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Sales at Sydney Metro, QLD and NT 

0437 079 531 

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irizar.com.au

NEWS 

with electric and hydrogen vehicles 

that were more than simply “price 

competitive”. 

“We’ve worked very hard to create 

rates that work out cheaper than 

the diesel alternative. Only by doing 

that can we enable projects like this 

to go ahead,” Roxburgh explained. 

“What this deal with Go 

Bus and JW Group shows is 

that transitioning to ‘ZEBs’ 

(zero-emission buses) is now 

entirely doable. You no longer need 

to wait to make the transition.” 

NEW ZEALAND E-BUS 

DEAL PUTS ‘LEASING’ 

IN THE SPOTLIGHT 

AUSTRALIAN electric bus charging 

specialist Electromotiv has secured 

its largest e-bus leasing deal to 

date, following Kiwi operator Go 

Bus signing on for nine Yutong 

E12 buses, the companies 

announced recently. 

The agreement between 

zero-emission charging and 

refuelling provider Electromotiv 

and Go Bus is a multi-million dollar 

contract, and includes Yutong 

E12s serviced and maintained by 

Electromotiv partner, JW Group. 

Managing director and 

co-founder of Electromotiv Toby 

Roxburgh says the three-way 

partnership demonstrated that, 

as operators look at ways of 

transitioning to zero-emission 

fleets, leasing was becoming a 

convincing commercial option. 

“The big advantages of leasing 

are that it removes upfront costs, 

reduces risk and enables operators 

to pick and choose the best 

technology,” Roxburgh said. 

“Governments and operators 

are reviewing their procurement 

solutions as they transition to 

zero-emission buses, and those 

advantages are becoming clear 

and compelling. 

“Until now, operators have been 

struggling to procure high-quality 

zero-emission vehicles. In part that’s 

because banks have been reluctant 

to lend for under seven-year terms. 

“One reason we started our 

vehicle support division was to 

remove this lending barrier,” he 

explained. 

ENTIRELY DOABLE 

Roxburgh says his team 

had dedicated significant time 

and resources on the economics 

of vehicle leasing. The aim has 

always been to provide operators 

Below: 

Managing director 

and co-founder of 

Electromotiv Toby 

Roxburgh. 

“New Zealand is 

leading the way on 

zero-emission buses.” 

EXCITING TIMES 

Go Bus CEO Calum Haslop says 

he was excited to be leading 

Auckland’s move into zero-emission 

buses. 

“Having trialled two full battery 

electric buses over a 12-month 

period and completed thorough 

due diligence on a number 

of electric and hydrogen bus 

deployments worldwide, we 

are now ready to move to a 

zero-emission future,” Haslop said. 

“We are also rolling out electric 

buses in other cities in New Zealand 

and continue to work on hydrogen 

solutions as a complementary 

zero-emission option.” 

Roxburgh says New Zealand is 

well ahead of many much larger 

countries, including Australia, when 

it comes to zero-emission buses. 

“New Zealand is leading the way 

on ZEBs. We’ve been discussing 

more New Zealand initiatives and 

talking to government and other 

providers, and will be announcing 

new projects very soon,” he stated. 

“The leasing side of our business 

is growing quickly. We’ve shown 

leasing works overseas and in 

Australia, whether you’re looking for 

one bus, nine buses or 100 buses. 

We provide the same methodology, 

partnering experience and delivery 

for operators no matter the 

company or its requirements.” 

AIRPORT LINK 

The nine buses for the new Airport 

Link will be used to improve 

transport connections and reliability 

between Manukau, Puhinui and 

Auckland Airport, including for 

workers accessing its employment 

precinct as well as the airport itself. 

20 


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52 Belted leather 

recliners, Toilet 

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1 x 2013 

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Luxury fit out with 

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seats, curtains, 

DVD, Bull bar and 

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2 x 2013 Dreamland 

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BIC 

MICHAEL APPS 

Time to save our sector 

We need to encourage people to travel across Australia, not over it! 

Michael Apps 

BIC executive 

director 

PO Box 6171, 

Kingston ACT 2604 

p: 02 6247 5990 

f: 02 6273 1035 

e: admin@bic.asn.au 

Below: 

One thought is 

a travel rebate 

for fares to 

encourage 

Australians 

to travel by 

coach across 

the nation, 

not over it. 

It’s no newsflash to any of us that the long distance, 

tour, charter and express sector has been significantly 

impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. The tourism 

sector is flatlining in the wake of national and 

international travel bans, isolation, physical distancing 

measures and border shut-down. 

The coach sector has gone from carrying more than 

500,000 passengers every day to being at a virtual 

standstill. The sector has no clear path to recovery with 

many operators forced to park up coaches, thousands 

of mini-bus services and 70 per cent of mum and dad 

operators may have to shut up shop. 

Despite the current environment, many with whom I 

have spoken remain positive, even in the direct line of fire. 

An impressive and commendable outlook, particularly 

when it is difficult to envisage a positive turnaround for 

at least 12 to 18 months. So much of our coach sector 

provides a domestic tourist and community services 

(charter) to everyday Australians. It is important to 

acknowledge the vital contribution of the coach sector 

to the local economies across cities, towns and regional 

centres across Australia, and the important role it can play 

in the recuperation of the economy. 

It is important to note that a large percentage of 

the coach travel economy is generated from domestic 

tourists and local charter (e.g., sports, local groups and 

educational). The National Visitor Survey (NVS) year 

ended March 2018, clearly reflects this with 3,161,000 

domestic trips that were taken by coach compared with 

292,000 international visitors; 34 per cent of the total 

international visitors also chose to travel across Australia, 

to see regional Australia. 

The BIC has been very busy over the past few months 

“Despite the current 

environment, many with whom 

I have spoken remain positive, 

even in the direct line of fire.” 

working with the Federal Department of Infrastructure, 

Transport, Regional Development and Communications, 

the National Covid-19 Coordination Commission (NCCC) 

and consulting to the Australian Chamber of Commerce 

and Industry. A significant part of our Covid-19 work 

programme is providing impact reports and key 

recommendations. 

The BIC has a number of key initiatives for the coach 

sector and we have written formally to the Prime Minister 

and Deputy Prime Minister, all Premiers, Treasurers, 

Transport and Tourism Ministers on a number of 

occasions. This was recently ramped up with a national 

media campaign with a call to action from governments 

on a rescue package for our sector. 

Our top three rescue proposals are: 

1. Immediate financial assistance to provide a full diesel 

rebate (as happens in the mining sector) 

2. The extension of JobKeeper for our industry beyond 

September. For the purposes of eligibility for government 

support and initiatives, the services undertaken in the 

regulated (government contracts) and deregulated 

(coach tours and charter) environments need to be 

considered as separate “business units” or entities 

3. Consideration of a travel rebate for fares to encourage 

Australians to travel by coach across the nation, not over it. 

This potentially will also provide a significant injection into 

the local economy of regional towns across Australia 

We have also called for cooperation and support from 

the National Cabinet and Departments of Education to 

provision a return to school tourism/excursions as part of 

the normal curriculum. 

The BIC has also been working closely with the national 

Tourism Restart Taskforce (TRT) and the Tourism Chamber 

(ACCI) of which BIC is a member. The TRT is a committee 

of tourism and hospitality organisations headed up 

by ACCI, Austrade, Federal Treasury and the National 

Covid-19 Coordination Commission. The aim of TRT 

is to provide advice to the Australian government. On 

July 4, the Taskforce reported back to the Australian 

government on how best to restart tourism and related 

operations in Australia. The report did not hold back 

on its review of the $125 billion tourism dollars at stake 

and provided a concise look at the issues across all 

sectors (including our coach sector) and indicated to 

government that “coach tourism has been decimated 

by the Covid-19 pandemic”. 

The tourism restart plan can be downloaded from 

the Industry Hub (www.ozebus.com.au/covid) and is 

well worth your time to read. The Hub is essentially a 

resource centre for Industry in these times of Covid-19, 

but importantly contains a number of campaigns, reports 

and various activities that the BIC has undertaken to help 

Industry through this difficult period. I encourage you to 

share the link to the Hub (www.ozebus.com.au/covid) 

with your peers and associates. 

22 


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To find out more about Shell Rimula and other 

quality lubricants call our technical team on 

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IN FOCUS 

ARTICULATED ECITARO 

ARTICULATED ELECTRIC 

CITARO LAUNCHED 

A fully electric articulated version of the Mercedes-Benz eCitaro 

city bus – known as the eCitaro G – has already received more than 

60 ‘definite orders’, the company has announced. 

THE NEW eCitaro G 

complements the electric 

range from Daimler Buses, 

marking the “next milestone 

on the way to locally 

emission-free local public transport”, 

it states. 

With the new fully electric articulated 

bus, Mercedes-Benz is further expanding 

its role as a technological pioneer, it 

says; shortly after the eCitaro G’s market 

launch, it was confirmed it would be 

available with new battery technologies, 

such as being the first bus in its category 

to be equipped with innovative solid-state 

batteries, the company states. 

The first deliveries to several European 

transport operators are planned for 

this year, according to Daimler. 

The ‘artic’ version comes two years 

after Daimler Buses presented the 

regular fully electric ‘solo’ eCitaro city 

bus, which is now a series production 

vehicle manufactured at the Mannheim, 

Germany, plant. To date, hundreds of 

eCitaros are now in regular operation 

in many European towns and cities, 

Daimler says. 

Depending on which version is ordered, 

the eCitaro G can transport up to 146 

passengers, the company adds. 

“I am really very pleased that our 

Mercedes-Benz eCitaro has established 

itself very well since its market launch. 

This shows that we are on the right track, 

offering products that our society wants 

and that our customers can work 

with,” said Till Oberwörder, head of 

Daimler Buses. 

“With the eCitaro as an articulated bus 

variant, we are consistently continuing the 

electrification of city buses: the eCitaro 

G will be equipped with innovative solid 

state batteries on request. 

“In doing so, we are setting the course 

for sustainable and efficient passenger 

transport in urban centres,” Oberwörder 

explained. 

HIGH CAPACITY 

The eCitaro G is being launched with the 

NMC variant of lithium-ion batteries that 

have proven their worth many times in 

the regular-length eCitaro version, the 

24 


company says. Yet it is expected 

that Mercedes-Benz will increase 

the performance of the eCitaro 

G this year by switching to a new 

generation of NMC batteries. This 

will increase capacity considerably 

from 292kWh to up to 396kWh; 

the range of the articulated bus 

will be increased accordingly, 

says Daimler. 

Alternatively, the eCitaro G 

can also be fitted with innovative 

solid-state batteries to store 

energy. They will be optionally 

available as a “second possible 

technology” says Daimler. 

Solid-state batteries are 

characterised by high energy 

density and a particularly 

long service life, the company 

explains. Chemically, these are 

lithium-polymer batteries and 

are known as solid-state batteries 

because the usually liquid 

electrolyte is in solid form. Also, 

raw materials such as cobalt, nickel 

and manganese are not used for 

this type of battery, the company 

adds. Equipped with seven battery 

packs, the eCitaro G achieves a 

total capacity of 441kWh and thus 

guarantees ranges typical of city 

bus operations, says Daimler. 

According to the company, as 

the use of solid-state batteries is 

typically restricted for fast and thus 

intermediate charging, the battery 

technology covers other usage 

profiles than lithium-ion batteries 

(NMC). They, conversely, are ideal 

for fast charging whether during 

breaks between journeys at the 

depot or along the route. 

That is why Mercedes-Benz is 

pursuing a two-fold strategy and 

is offering the eCitaro G with both 

battery technologies as an option, 

it says. Thus, the new eCitaro G is 

“a custom-made articulated bus, 

which flexibly adapts itself to the 

various operational strategies of 

transport companies”. 

We are setting the 

course for sustainable 

and efficient passenger 

transport in urban 

centres. 

INCREASING RANGE 

From 2022 the range of the 

eCitaro and eCitaro G will be 

increased yet again with a fuel 

cell as a range extender. This 

technology eliminates the 

need for intermediate charging 

and the complex infrastructure 

required for it in almost all cases, 

confirms Daimler. 

Above: 

Depending on 

which version 

is ordered, the 

eCitaro G can 

transport up to 

146 passengers. 

Left: 

Equipped 

with seven 

battery packs, 

the eCitaro G 

achieves a total 

capacity of 

441kWh. 

Opposite, Above: 

The first eCitaro 

G deliveries to 

several European 

transport 

operators are 

planned for this 

year, according 

to Daimler. 


25

IN FOCUS 

CUSTOM SB50 

LAST ‘CUSTOM SB50’ 

BUS BODY DELIVERED 

NSW south coast bus operator 

Marshall’s Moruya has received 

the very last ‘Custom designed 

and made’ SB50 bus body, 

ending an 11-year production 

run with an estimated 

minimum 135 units delivered 

across Australia. 

GRACING a range of 

chassis brands and 

models since the first 

two examples (stock 

units for Mercedes- 

Benz and Hino) debuted at the 

2009 Australian Bus and Coach 

Show that September, the school/ 

charter bus SB50 – along with its 

popular CB80 “New Generation” 

city bus stablemate – incorporated 

hundreds of high-quality new 

internal and external parts designed 

and manufactured using the 

latest 3D computer-aided design 

techniques, including 3D computer 

surface modelling and automated 

manufacturing techniques. 

Such production requirements 

arguably led to Custom needing 

to streamline and expand its 

operations, necessitating its move 

from Smithfield, NSW, to a new 

plant in Villawood in 2010. Once 

there (and eventually under ADL 

ownership), ‘Custom Coaches’ would 

be able to commence using its new 

five-axis laser tube cutter – the ‘most 

26 


sophisticated version in Australia’ – 

and a central part of production for 

the new models, it was reported at 

the time. 

THE LAST ONE 

Specifically in 2020, Marshall’s 

Bus & Coach has now technically 

purchased the first and last 

Custom SB50 school bus bodies in 

combination with Mercedes-Benz 

XBC1626 chassis. And the latter 

is overall the last SB50 ever to be 

built by the now Scott Dunn-owned 

Custom Bus Group. 

Four years ago in 2016, Marshall’s 

was notified of a pending 

NSW government Category 3 

replacement and undertook 

discussions with Mercedes-Benz 

in regards to which options 

might be available to fulfil this 

requirement, it explains. 

At the time, Mercedes-Benz 

was preparing to add its new 

XBC1626 to its ‘portal’ offerings as 

a Category 3 option, with Marshall’s 

Bus and Coach becoming the 

first bus operator to purchase an 

XBC1626 – and the first to order 

one with a Custom SB50 body, 

Custom confirms. 

Since then, Marshall’s Bus and 

Coach has purchased a further 10 

Mercedes-Benz O500RFs with SB50 

bodies, plus two more XBC1626 

chassis also with SB50 bodies. 

END OF AN ERA 

Speaking about the delivery of 

the very last Custom SB50, 

Marshall’s Bus & Coach Company 

Pty Ltd director Peter Marshall 

said: “Marshall’s was very excited 

to receive the first SB50 on a 

Mercedes XBC chassis in 2016 and 

four years on we remain excited to 

have the last. 

“We continue to receive positive 

feedback on the striking nature of 

the SB50s in our fleet. 

“Whilst we eagerly await a 

closer look at the design of the 

new Custom-Denning body, we 

are sad to see the SB50 go. 

“Over the years Marshall’s Bus 

& Coach has developed a 

reputation for being one of the 

most professionally operated 

bus businesses in the country,” 

he stated. 

“The styling and build quality 

offered by Custom continues 

to be of the highest standard 

available. The fact that the product 

is Australian made and the 

company has a good knowledge 

of what local operators need has 

always been appreciated,” 

he explained. 

ABOUT MARSHALL’S 

Marshall’s Bus & Coach Pty Ltd 

is a family owned and operated 

business, which has been serving the 

Moruya, NSW, area for the past 20 

years, it states. 

It offers 22 school services daily, 

servicing the area from Bodalla and 

Moruya, including Tuross Head and 

South Head Moruya for pick-up 

and delivery to schools in Bodalla, 

Moruya and Broulee, it explains. 

Marshall’s operates modern 

seat-belted coaches to any 

destination, it says. 

We continue to receive positive 

feedback on the striking nature of 

the SB50s in our fleet. 

The company specialises in school 

charter work from the South Coast 

to Canberra and Sydney. It is also 

available for excursions in Canberra, 

picking up from Canberra Airport as 

it is ACT Accredited, it confirms. 

Marshall’s also specialises in travel 

to shows in Sydney and Canberra for 

group or individual bookings, it adds. 

NB: Custom SB30 and SB400 

bodies were also still available in 

2009. 

Above: 

Marshall’s Bus & 

Coach Company 

Pty Ltd director 

Peter Marshall 

(L) receives the 

last SB50-bodied 

bus from Mick 

Neskes, national 

sales manager, 

Custom Bus 

Group. 

Right: 

“The styling 

and build 

quality offered 

by Custom 

continues to be 

of the highest 

standard 

available,” said 

Peter Marshall. 


27

IN FOCUS 

VENTURA SCANIA 

SLIDE-OUT 

WHEELCHAIR LIFT KEY 

Leading Victorian bus operator Ventura has added eight new Scania 

Touring school and charter coaches to its fleet, with a luggage-spacesaving 

slide-out wheelchair lift a highlight, the company has announced. 

Above: 

Four of the vehicles 

will be based at 

Monbulk, near 

Melbourne’s 

Dandenong Ranges. 

Below: 

Long-serving driver 

Roy Beattie says the 

new Touring was very 

smooth to drive and 

the ZF automatic 

transmission 

provided a refined 

travelling experience. 

Opposite, Below: 

A benefit of the slideout 

wheelchair lift is 

not eat into luggage 

space. 

PURCHASED for use 

from Ventura’s outerurban 

depots, four of 

the vehicles will be 

based at the hilly and 

picturesque village of Monbulk 

on the edge of Melbourne’s 

Dandenong Ranges, Scania 

confirms. 

The 57-seaters all feature 

powered wheelchair lifts above 

the rear wheels on the kerb-side, 

and a capacity for carrying two 

wheelchairs internally with the 

loss of four rows of seats on the 

left aisle, it explains. 

The seats, though, have been 

designed to be easily removed 

and stored at the depot while 

a bespoke wheelchair-lashing 

system has been designed and 

the chairs’ occupants are secured 

with three-point seat belts for 

additional safety, Scania explains. 

Although freshly commissioned, 

the Touring coaches have been 

welcomed quickly into Ventura’s 

Monbulk fleet, it adds. 

LUGGAGE CAPACITY 

Long-serving driver Roy Beattie 

says the new Touring was very 

smooth to drive and the ZF 

automatic transmission provided 

a refined travelling experience for 

the passengers. 

“It is more comfortable for 

drivers and passengers, and 

the braking system is very well 

calibrated, too. I recently did a 

school camp run and the luggage 

all fitted – and we had a lot of it,” 

he said of the Scania Touring’s 9 

cubic metre luggage capacity. 

“The school kids were really 

happy to be driven around in a 

new bus and one that’s smart and 

quiet,” he said. 

A benefit of the slide-out 

wheelchair lift design is that 

is does not eat into precious 

luggage space as previous 

lift mechanisms have, Scania 

explains. 

LATEST TECH 

Further driver assistance 

technologies have also made a 

positive impression on Beattie, he 

says. 

“I was previously driving a 

2000-model manual transmission 

Scania bus and the difference is 

significant. There’s so much more 

technology on these new vehicles, 

such as Lane Departure Warning 

and Adaptive Cruise Control, 

but also nice features such as a 

heated driver’s seat, which gets 

hot very quickly and no doubt will 

be very popular in the winter. 

“We also have a dual-radio 

system so we can have the 

passengers and driver listening to 

different stations, although I have 

made a playlist for my school run 

and play that through the system,” 

Beattie explained. 

“The new buses have plenty 

of power and, even when fully 

loaded, they are getting up the 

steep hills around here very easily. 

The bus also cruises at high speed 

very nicely. I took a charter to 

Philip Island recently and the bus 

sits very securely at 85–90km/h. 

“It’s a dream to drive. It’s like the 

bus becomes an extension of you; 

it’s very predictable,” Beattie said. 

DRIVER COMFORT 

Shaun Staggard has been driving 

for Ventura for nine years and says 

28 


the new bus has been well received by 

school kids on his runs. 

“They’re impressed with it and happy 

to be on an upgraded bus – and for 

a driver over six-foot-tall like me, the 

driver area is very accommodating,” 

Staggard said. 

“The switches are all in the right place, 

there’s plenty of space and the mirrors 

are good, so it’s easy to drive.” 

NATURAL FIT 

Speaking exclusively to ABC magazine 

(www.busnews.com.au), Julian Gurney, 

director of sales for Scania Buses and 

Engines, said: “The Scania Touring has 

been quickly accepted into the school 

and charter bus market in Australia. 

“We have gone to great lengths to 

specify the Touring with the highest 

output in terms of power and torque 

that the ZF six-speed auto could handle. 

For our 9.0-litre five-cylinder engine that 

is 360hp [268kW] and 1,700Nm. 

“We’re also offering our 13.0-litre 

six-cylinder engine at 360hp, but with 

additional torque, peaking at 1,850Nm, 

making these two combinations 

the clear winner when it comes to 

driveability, reduced fuel consumption 

and total cost of ownership (TCO),” 

Gurney explained. 

“Scania has engineered the Touring 

to be reliable in service, extremely 

For a driver over six-foot-tall like me, the 

driver area is very accommodating. 

durable especially in arduous driving 

environments, and with the benefit of 

mass production, consistent quality 

of manufacture leads to greater 

in-service uptime, which is crucial to our 

customers. 

“With a pipeline of product on stream 

from the factory, we’re able to offer 

reduced delivery times. We also offer the 

additional advantage of fitting locally 

sourced seating to operator preference, 

bringing the best of both worlds.” 

TAILORED DELIVERY 

Gurney adds that the Scania ‘from 

bumper-to-bumper’ concept, plus its 

nationwide network company-owned 

branches and authorised dealers, 

delivers a single point of contact for 

operators throughout the extensive 

working life of these vehicles. 

“Scania Touring has been a success in 

Australia from day one, and its inclusion 

as part of the Ventura fleet for school 

and charter work is a perfect example of 

how Scania tailors its products to meet 

its customers’ needs,” he stated. 

ABOUT VENTURA 

Ventura Bus Lines is the largest provider 

of public bus transport services in 

Melbourne, it states. 

Its fleet of 883 buses operates across 

141 routes out of 12 depots and move, 

on average, 36 million people each year, 

it explains. 


29

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COVERSTORY 

VOLVO-VOLGREN E-BUS 

32 


TOP CAT 

Brand fans have long awaited news of when leading European 

e-bus tech might start to seep into Australasian market waters. 

Volvo’s massive Transperth supply order and CAT bus system is 

where this Swede will pounce first. We speak exclusively with Volvo 

Bus Australia’s David Mead about all things electric bus. 

WORDS FABIAN COTTER IMAGES VOLVO, VOLGREN + ABC MAGAZINE 


33

COVERSTORY 


e-buses with 2.5m-wide locally 

made Volgren bodies – as part 

of its existing 900-bus supply 

agreement signed in March 

2019, with Western Australia 

Public Transport Authority 

(PTA) operator Transperth, was 

pretty huge. And given it didn’t 

bang on about that damned 

coronavirus was probably an 

added bonus, too! Good news 

for once, it seemed. 

The first of these Perth-bound 

buses is planned to make 

its debut to an international 

audience at the 2021 UITP 

Global Public Transport Summit, 

Volvo explained. 

Following this event, at some 

stage this first Volvo-Volgren 

e-bus and three others like it 

will make their way to Western 

The 4x2 Volvo electric chassis allows for 

vehicles to be built with a full low floor. This 

allows for greater accessibility to passengers 

to provide a true city bus experience. 

It will take a bit of time, but 

they will get here. Volvo’s 

bringing in some Australiafriendly 

electric bus tech 

matched to a suitable 

Volgren body and it will 

eventually be used on a Perth 

CAT bus route by early 2022. 

That’s the short of it. 

The long of it? We’ll get to 

see one of four of these e-buses 

much sooner – relatively – at 

the 2021 UITP Global Public 

Transport Summit in Melbourne, 

scheduled to be held in the 

middle to very late of next year. 

When ABC magazine 

published online a 10.00am 

embargoed announcement 

about the Volvo electric buses 

on Thursday, July 2 earlier this 

month (might have been 9.59am 

and 46 seconds … but hey, who’s 

counting, right?) stating these 

Volvos were coming next year, 

the reader response was pretty 

intense, it must be stated. 

Top: 

Staff will be 

trained on using 

the new electric 

buses. 

Above: 

Why the delay? 

“When we bring 

a product to 

market we know 

it must be able 

to work for 25 

years in Australian 

conditions,” said 

David Mead. 

Right: 

At this stage, the 

bus is to first be 

shown at the 

2021 UITP Global 

Public Transport 

Summit in 

Melbourne some 

time next year, 

Opposite: 

David Mead – 

vice president 

Volvo Buses Asia 

Pacific and acting 

general manager 

for Volvo Buses 

Australia. 

Not like ‘tattoo a Volvo 

badge on the forehead and 

ride an oversized wooden Dala 

horse in the middle of an Ikea 

store singing ABBA’s 1970s hit 

Mamma Mia’ or anything – but 

pretty close nonetheless. 

The breaking news that Volvo 

will deliver its first ever electric 

buses into Australia – four 

Australia to begin necessary 

integration efforts prior to 

commencing operation in early 

2022 – as expected by both Volvo 

and the PTA, they confirmed. 

How this all came about 

was because the March 2019 

Volvo-PTA agreement includes 

provisions for the introduction 

of alternative-powered vehicles 

34 


NITTY-GRITTY 

ABC magazine contacted Volvo Bus Australia’s Mead for 

more in-depth info about the new e-buses and what it would 

and could mean in writing further e-bus business in the 

Australasian market. 

We know Volvo has electric buses operating elsewhere in the 

world, so will the Aussie version be a new layout and design or 

based on pre-existing tech? 

“The Volvo electric chassis is based on established Volvo 

technology already implemented in Europe. Volvo Buses 

have long been recognised as a leader in electro-mobility and 

sustainable public transport. The Volvo electric driveline has 

been well proven as the backbone for Volvo’s complete electric 

buses in Europe, where they have been in operation since 

2015,” Mead confirmed. 

In terms of dimensions, what length can the Volvo electric 

chassis be built to? 

“The Volvo electric chassis can be built from 10.8 to 

12.5 metres in Australia and can be fitted with a locally 

manufactured fully ADR-compliant 2.5m-wide body – 

optimised for Australian conditions.” 

How many electric motors does it have? 

“The Volvo electric chassis can be customised to have one or 

two electric motors connected to a two-speed transmission. 

The choice is based on the type of operation the bus will 

be in. Maximum power output is 1x or 2x 200kW [motors] 

and maximum torque is 1,900Nm at the driven axle. This 

is optimised to ensure a good driving performance of the 

vehicle,” Mead said. 

Crucially, which type of batteries does the Volvo electric 

chassis use? 

“The Volvo electric chassis comes with Lithium-ion 

batteries, with a maximum of five batteries providing up 

to 470kWh storage capacity. The bus driveline runs on a 

traction voltage system with a nominal voltage of 600V 

DC. The traction voltage system is also used to power 

various auxiliary loads, such as the air compressor and 

the air conditioning compressor. The energy for the 

traction voltage system is stored in the lithium-ion 

batteries located on the roof of the bus. The battery can 

be charged externally and on-board by regenerating 

energy released during braking,” he explained. 

So what about the floor layout, we asked… 

“The 4x2 Volvo electric chassis allows for vehicles 

to be built with a full low floor. This allows for greater 

accessibility to passengers to provide a true city bus 

experience.” 

What charging system can you have on the Volvo 

electric? 

“Each bus can operate either using the fast-charge 

system with Combined Charging System (CCS) for 

in-depot charging and/or pantographs (Opportunity 

Charging) either on-route or at the end stations,” he said. 

With the PTA deal and the now late-2021 we hear UITP 

event essentially a showcase for Volvo’s localised e-bus 

tech, when will the Volvo electric chassis be available to 

purchase in Australia by other operators? 

“The chassis will be commercially available at the end of 

2022. Volvo is happy to begin discussions with customers at 

any time. The team at Volvo Buses Australia would welcome 

the opportunity to discuss future electric bus projects,” he said. 

Arguably, there will be many Volvo fans asking why such a 

delay in bringing its e-bus technology here to the Australian 

market. Was it for good reason or no reason? 

“Volvo Bus has been in the Australian market for almost 

50 years. When we bring a product to market we know it 

must be able to work for 25 years in Australian conditions; 

we want to ensure we are ready to work with local body 

builders who know the market, we know it must stand up to 

the hot Australian summers and we know operators expect 

any Volvo product to deliver industry-leading uptime,” Mead 

stated, adamantly. 

“We know that this means we have a little bit more work to 

do. But when we hit the roads of Perth we won’t be trialling 

the technology – we will be showing our electric offering in a 

commercial operation from day one!” 


35

COVERSTORY 


TRIALING NEW TECHNOLOGY 

The buses will be operated for the PTA by Swan Transit in Joondalup, Perth’s primary urban centre in the northern suburbs. They will 

join the existing Central Area Transit System (CAT) in Joondalup, which are zero-fare routes, Volvo explains. 

Introducing alternate technologies is nothing new for PTA and Volvo; when Volvo came to market with its hybrid buses in 2013, the 

two parties conducted a successful trial of the bus in Perth – which not only allowed Volvo to prove the concept, but grow hybrid bus 

sales across Australia, it said. 

“Trialling new, green technology is a great use of our public transport network, already one of the most environmentally friendly ways 

to get around Perth,” said Western Australian Transport Minister Rita Saffioti. 

“This is the first time we have trialled electric buses on a CAT route and I’m excited to see what commuters think about this new 

technology,” she said. 

into the Perth public transport bus network 

available to them and match the 

Above: 

The first Volvo- 

Volgren electric 

buses will be 

running CAT 

routes in Perth, 

early 2022. 

Opposite, 

Above + Below: 

Volgren CEO 

Thiago Deiro 

says Volgren 

was immensely 

proud the first 

zero-emission 

bus to hit the 

streets of Perth 

would carry a 

Volgren body; 

(ABC ‘Artist’s 

impression’ 

rear). 

when the technology became available 

in Volvo’s Australian bus product line, 

explained Volvo. 

“We are excited to be partnering with 

PTA in Perth for our first electric buses in 

Australia,” said David Mead, vice president 

Volvo Buses Asia Pacific and acting general 

manager for Volvo Buses Australia. 

“Our relationship with the PTA now spans 

over a decade and in years to come the city 

of Perth will indeed be a Volvo city with 100 

per cent of the bus fleet being Volvo. 

“Volvo’s contract with PTA included a 

technology roadmap that allowed PTA to 

access diesel, self-charging electric and 

battery-electric vehicles over time. 

“PTA can access the variety of tools 

technology to the route and need,” 

Mead explained. 

BUS MAKE-UP 

As Volvo explains, the units will be 

all-electric 11.7-metre long, 2.5-metre-wide 

vehicles with local Australian bodies 

designed and built by Volgren Australia. 

Whilst these units will be the first of their 

kind for Volvo in the Asia-Pacific region, 

the chassis are based on established 

Volvo technology already implemented in 

Europe, it states. 

“Volvo Buses have long been recognised 

as a leader in electro-mobility and 

sustainable public transport,” Mead said. 

“The Volvo electric driveline has been 


36 


We’ll do our best to surpass 

the high-quality standards 

requested by PTA. 

BODY ROCK 

Chief executive officer of Volgren, Thiago Deiro, says the Volvo- 

Volgren e-bus was a major new milestone in a partnership 

spanning four decades. 

“We’re thrilled to be partnering with Volvo on their first 

electric bus for Australia. Both engineering and design teams 

have been working together on this project to deliver the very 

best solution to the Public Transport Authority of Western 

Australia (PTA). 

“This is one of the important builds in this company’s long 

history because we’re working with technology that will be 

used for many decades to come.” 

Deiro says Volgren has partnered with the PTA since 1999 

and was immensely proud that the first zero-emission bus to 

hit the streets of Perth would carry a Volgren body. 

“Our connection to the PTA – and to Western Australian 

public transport – is one of the longest and most successful in 

the history of the Australian bus industry, and it’s a partnership 

that we’ve never taken for granted. 

“We’ll do our best to surpass the high-quality standards 

requested by PTA.” 

The first four units will be built in Dandenong; however, Deiro 

envisions a time when Volgren’s Perth facility will be making 

zero-emission buses for use on Western Australian roads. 

“I’m confident that PTA will be delighted with the Volgren- 

Volvo product. I hope I’m not being presumptuous when I say 

it’s just a matter of time before we see new orders flowing 

from Perth. 

“If and when those orders come, the Malaga site is ready to 

add volume and build electrics. We’ve got skilled people there 

and the physical capacity; there’s no need of any big change 

in the layout, so it’s just a matter of providing new tooling and 

training for our personnel.” 

The Malaga manufacturing facility is quickly becoming an 

economic hub, connected to more than 140 businesses, many 

of them small West Australian-run ventures. 

Volgren estimates there are approximately 150 West 

Australians employed outside the company in the local supply 

chain as a direct result of the work Volgren creates. 


37

COVERSTORY 


The Volvo 

electric chassis 

is based on 

established 

Volvo 

technology 

already 

implemented 

in Europe. 

Above: 

“Volvo Buses 

have long been 

recognised as a 

leader in electromobility 

and 

sustainable public 

transport,” said 

David Mead. 

Below: 

The lithium-ion 

batteries are 

located on the 

roof of the bus. 

Specs 

MAKE: Volvo 

MODEL: Electric Chassis Concept 

LENGTH: 11m - 12.5m 

DRIVELINE: One or two electric 

motors, two-speed transmission; 

Power (max.) – 1x or 2x 200kW, 

Torque (max.) – 1,900Nm at the 

driven axle 

BATTERIES: Lithium-ion, up to 

470kWh capacity 

CHASSIS: Full low-floor 

CHARGING: CCS system 

well proven as the backbone for 

our complete electric buses in 

Europe, where they have been in 

operation since 2015. 

“ delivering the product in 

chassis form, we can work 

with long-term partners such 

as Volgren to assemble the bus 

here in Australia. 

“It also has allowed us to 

create new climate options 

for the vehicle, more suited to 

Australian conditions” he added. 

LONG-TERM PLANNING 

While handover of the first 

electric buses to the PTA is not 

scheduled until late next year, 

the planning is well underway, 

Volvo confirms. Implementing 

electric vehicles involves many 

more stakeholders than a 

traditional bus sale – with Volvo 

saying the planning for this 

project started last year. 

“This project is about much 

more than the buses. We 

have worked with the PTA on 

a number of areas including 

simulating the routes to 

create our charging strategy, 

charging infrastructure, 

understanding capital works 

needs in the depot, training 

of staff, safety elements, 

certification and standards 

compliance. That means we are 

creating a scalable, end-to-end 

implementation plan that can 

be replicated in the future,” 

explained Mead. 

The company points out 

that whilst Volvo has extensive 

experience in electric buses, 

full commercialisation of 

the localised electric bus 

solution for Australia will 

not be until 2022. 

AND NOW THE WAIT… 

So these are the timeframes 

we are looking at and the 

machinations that need to 

happen before we get to see 

the Volvo-Volgren e-buses in 

the flesh on home soil and then 

in eventual service in Perth, WA, 

by early 2022. 

Like any good cat on the 

hunt, it’s taken its time, slowly 

and silently and patiently 

slinking up and assessing 

and testing and checking the 

Australasian market, waiting for 

the right time to pounce. 

There’ll be more than a few 

operators eagerly watching to 

see how this PTA delivery pans 

out – and so too other European 

electric bus manufacturers, 

as well. And let’s not forget 

the Australian e-bus making 

entities and current Asian 

manufacturers that are here 

now or have emerged. 

Yup, interesting electric-bus 

times ahead… Stay tuned. 

38 


ABC-FP-5209627-CS-395

OPERATOR 

MT GRAVATT BUS SERVICE 

“The hard task was firstly to acquire the funds to purchase 

the bus... And, secondly, to be accepted as a woman 

working in a totally male industry,” explained MTG GM Rob 

Brooker about the bus company’s female founder, Del 

Cole, and the start of her success. 

40 


STRENGTH OF 

A WOMAN 

Women in business often 

still do it tough these 

days as they endeavour 

to smash that seemingly 

ubiquitous ‘glass ceiling’. 

Rewind more than 45 

years ago, that ceiling 

might as well have 

been made of concrete. 

Queensland’s Mt Gravatt 

Coach and Travel is 

proof Del Cole took her 

jackhammer to it. 

WORDS FABIAN COTTER 

IMAGES NATHAN DUFF 

Nineteen seventy four was a very 

different business world to 

what it is today – and given 

2020’s largely unexpected turn 

of events (though conspiracy 

theorists will say contrived) there’s much 

about those old times that many will be 

longing for. Yet, for many women then, the 

path to commercial success for themselves 

was far from easy. 

Behind many successful businesses of 

today – if you dig a little deeper into them 

– will be the stories of tough, determined, 

intelligent and passionate women who 

basically couldn’t and didn’t take no for 

an answer when it came to pursuing their 

business dreams and ideas – often brought 

about through a need to fulfil them. 

‘Necessity being the mother of invention’ 

a suitably gender-specific metaphoric pun 

to explain it all here, perhaps? 

In the Australasian bus community, 

standouts like Del Cole, who started Mt 

Gravatt Coach and Travel in 1974, probably 

only now are having their achievements 

fully appreciated, given it takes time for 

retrospective reflection to truly highlight 

and celebrate them. 


41

OPERATOR 


So how did it start and what was the 

inspiration for it all? ABC magazine 

spoke with MTG general manager 

Rob Brooker, who explained: “It wasn’t 

easy in 1974 to find some way to 

supplement the family income when 

you have three small children and a 

newborn baby. So, thinking outside 

the square, Del Cole bought the local 

school bus; she reasoned that her 

three children would be dropped at 

their primary school and the baby 

would travel in a bassinette under 

the driver’s seat. 

“The easy task was driving a 

crash-box Austin. The hard task 

was firstly to acquire the funds to 

purchase the bus as it was against 

Commonwealth Bank policy to lend 

money to a woman in business – ‘Too 

risky!’ they said. And, secondly, to be 

accepted as a woman working in a 

totally male industry. 

“With perseverance, Del became the 

first woman in Australia to become an 

accredited bus operator,” he said. 

FLEET AND STAFF 

In terms of bus product, Brooker 

says over a period of many years 

MTG has tried and tested numerous 

brands and the current fleet consists of 

Volvo, MAN and Scania. 

“Throughout the past eight years we 

have received good service and very 

reliable, economical and reasonably 

priced options from Scania resulting 

in the majority of purchases since 

2012 being a variety of body makes 

and designs on Scania engine/chassis 

combinations,” he said. 

As for the staff, he says being a 

family business since 1974, to this day, 

“Del still considers all employees part 

of the Mt Gravatt family”. 

“When recruiting, we look for people 

who care, have great customer service 

skills and who like to be a part of a 

team environment. 

“Management works hard to ensure 

all employees enjoy coming to work 

and being part of a team that achieves 

great things every day,” he added. 

CORONAVIRUS STRATEGY 

With the Covid-19 coronavirus 

pandemic having caused much 

havoc for many in the Australasian 

bus community, if not the industry 

as a whole around the word, just 

how has Mt Gravatt handled it? 

“A large portion of our business 

operates school charters and seniors’ 

charters, so when Queensland schools 

closed and virtually all destinations 

frequented by our seniors’ groups 

closed, that portion of our business 

stopped overnight,” Brooker said. 

“Mt Gravatt implemented numerous 

and significant cost-cutting measures 

in a strategy to accommodate no-one 

losing their job, which has been 

successful to date. 

“We’ve just started to receive new 

bookings for school charters and we 

hope to be able to have our seniors’ 

groups out on their adventures again 

before the end of the year.” 

In March 2020, MTG contacted 

numerous suppliers to request a 

‘stand down’ of on-going supply for 

the fleet, which were not going to be 

used for the foreseeable future. This 

included bus finance, bus insurance, 

bus digital two-way radio service 

and bus telematics services, which 

effectively reduced the on-going 

cost of the affected fleet significantly, 

Brooker explained. 

“By mid-May, when Queensland 

42 


The easy task was driving a crash-box Austin. The hard task was 

firstly to acquire the funds to purchase the bus. 

Above: 

The company’s 

most recent bus 

purchases have 

been a 13.2m 

Scania/i6 Irizar 

and a couple 

of Scania A30 

Higers, with the 

majority of the 

fleet in recent 

years hailing 

from Scania. 

Right: 

Part of the drivers’ 

duties is to keep 

the fleet in tip 

top condition, 

with additional 

hygiene measures 

brought in to 

combat virus 

spread. 


43

OPERATOR 


positions when Covid-19 hit, 

so we immediately ceased the 

recruitment process. Assuming 

we don’t have any setbacks 

with the virus and restrictions 

continue to be lifted, we hope 

to restart our recruitment for 

these positions in the near 

future,” he said. 

With perseverance, Del 

became the first woman 

in Australia to become an 

accredited bus operator. 

Above: 

MTG began in 

1974 by Del Cole. 

Below: 

The Scania Touring 

coach stood out 

with its large 

luggage bins, 

good towing 

capacity and a 

flexible seating 

arrangement. 

Opposite: 

A variety of 

measures were 

implemented 

to cut costs as 

the impact of 

the pandemic 

hit, allowing 

MTG to continue 

employing all of 

its staff. 

schools were back to full 

attendance, we had re-instated 

almost half of our stood-down 

fleet and we are optimistic 

that the remaining charter 

fleet will be back into service in 

mid-July to coincide with the 

commencement of the third 

school term,” he adds. 

EMPLOYMENT IMPACT 

With many companies needing 

to let staff go or stagger working 

hours, did MTG do the same or 

what roles changed? 

“Our staff numbers have 

dropped off slightly as we 

were recruiting for a couple of 

BUS CLEANING 

Mt Gravatt says it has always 

prided itself in the cleanliness 

and presentation of its fleet and 

its clientele expects nothing less. 

Brooker explained: “We don’t 

employ cleaners; instead our 

drivers are required to keep the 

fleet presented to the highest 

of standards, so when Covid-19 

demanded we have additional 

hygiene requirements it was a 

fairly smooth process to provide 

equipment to our drivers. This 

came with the instructions 

to sanitise all grab rails, hard 

surfaces, etc. each time the bus 

emptied of customers. 

“Having a second depot 

available to us, we were able to 

separate almost 50 per cent of 

the driving staff, so that if there 

were an infection we wouldn’t 

have to isolate the entire 

business and could meet our 

contractual obligations. 

“Of course, we were able 

to have high-risk employees, 

including our managing director, 

work from home – and everyone 

else has been required to 

practice social distancing, good 

hygiene and common sense 

throughout this difficult time,” 

he said. 

According to Brooker, when 

management approached the 

staff with a plan for no-one to 

lose their job, it meant everyone 

would have to make some form 

of sacrifice for their colleagues. 

“Every single person within the 

business was prepared to make 

those sacrifices and it is a credit 

44 


to our wonderful drivers and staff 

that they displayed such selflessness 

and team spirit toward one another 

during such an unpredictable period,” 

he said proudly. 

SCANIA TOURING 

Recently, the company picked 

up a new Scania Touring coach to 

add to its comprehensive fleet. So 

what was it that attracted Mt Gravatt 

to purchasing such a vehicle for 

the services? 

“We have been steadily growing 

our charter business for a few 

years and we’ve identified that an 

economic coach with large luggage 

bins, good towing capacity and a 

flexible seating arrangement would 

work for almost all of our client’s 

requirements,” he said. 

“We had already picked up a 13.2m 

Scania/i6 Irizar and a couple of Scania 

A30 Higers, so when you’re happy with 

the engine/chassis component and 

that brand offers a body that is fully 

supported it became a no-brainer 

once we were able to agree the 

right price.” 

GOVERNMENT HELP 

Certain operators and sections of the 

bus community have been reaching 

out for government help at all levels 

during this horrible ‘new normal’. Has 

any help been enough? 

“As a business, both the 

[Queensland] state and federal 

governments have provided some 


45

OPERATOR 


It is a credit to our wonderful drivers and staff 

that they displayed such selflessness and team 

spirit toward one another during such 

an unpredictable period. 

really good support that MTG 

has taken advantage of to 

help keep the team together 

and gainfully employed, but 

personally I am very concerned 

that the on-going restrictions 

may over compensate the 

health risks at the cost of so 

many jobs and businesses,” 

Brooker stated. 

“I really feel for those 

operators more focused in the 

tourism sector, as with both state 

and national borders closed it’s 

hard to imagine what the future 

would look like for them.” 

ABOUT MTG 

The managing director of 

Mt Gravatt Coach and Travel, 

Del Cole, says the company’s 

philosophy of dependability, 

Above: 

New bookings for 

school charters 

have started to 

come back in, 

and the company 

hopes to restart 

its seniors’ tours 

later in the year. 

Left: 

Started as a family 

business, MTG 

continues to focus 

on employee 

wellbeing and 

strong teamwork. 

reliability and providing a service 

that the employees can be proud 

of is at the heart of her bus 

company’s success. 

The business commenced 

in 1974 with one bus and one 

school run. From those humble 

beginnings, Mt Gravatt Coach 

and Travel now has a fleet of 40 

vehicles ranging from 13 seats to 

83-seat capacity and employs a 

staff of 60 people, it states. 

In December 2012, the 

company relocated to a 

purpose-built, state-of-theart 

bus and coach depot at 

Underwood, Queensland, it 

explains. This new depot had 

been a project that Cole and her 

team worked tirelessly on since 

2010 and they are justifiably 

proud of this milestone in the 

growth of the business, the 

company says. 

The business holds a Translink 

contract and provides the 

Queensland state government 

with Translink services for the 

local area right through to the 

Brisbane CBD, it confirms. MTG 

also carries in excess 2000 

students to and from school 

daily, as well as providing 

local and interstate charter 

services for schools, seniors, 

events and local community 

groups, it says. 

46 


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speed manual transmission, A/C, T/V. 

Choice of 2 

$178,000 plus GST 

2010 Higer V Series 40 seater 

Cummins UK ISF turbo diesel engine, 

Allison automatic transmission, 39 

fixed McConnell seats with seatbelts 

including 6 seats of 2/3 seating 

Ready to go 

$65,000 plus GST 

Yutong Luxury Touring 

Midi Coach 

New 2020 Models arrived 35-39 

Leather reclining seats, 250HP 

Cummins 6cyl diesel, Allison Auto, TV, 

Bins – Best Selling Corporate Coach 

Ready to go – Call Now! 

BUS STOP QLD/NT/WA PETE WHITE 0410 644 828 

JON BARR 0409 069 772 

BUS STOP NSW DICK WHITE 0419 271 444 

BUS STOP VIC/SA/TAS GUY PEX 0498 028 245 

PETER SIMPSON 0488 644 111 

BUS STOP TAS MARTIN EAST 0491 279 651 

2020 Yutong 27 seater midibus 

Cummins UK ISB 160HP turbocharged 

engine, Allison automatic, 27 fixed 

cloth seats with seatbelts, A/C, 

Reverse camera. 

Just arrived 

$POA 

2012 Mitsubishi Rosa 

25 seater Auto 

4.9 litre turbo diesel engine, automatic, 24 

fixed low back vinyl seats with seatbelts, 

A/C, P/S, very clean and tidy buses. 

Choice of 2 

From $50,000 plus GST 

busstopsales.com.au 

AUSTRALIA WIDE 

Head office 07 3277 2115 

ABC-FP-5204582-TS-395

Yutong Bus Centre Brisbane 

LIMITED 

STOCK 

NEW NEW USED 

IN STOCK 

$295,990 + GST & ORC 57x Seater School Bus 

T12 series – A new level of comfort and freedom 

A premium vehicle that looks as good on the outside as it does in. Here, 

passengers receive more spacious luggage compartments, reduced noise 

ride comfort and high-end audio/visuals, while the driver enjoys greater 

manoeuvrability and performance. The T12 also features customisable seating 

options to suit your needs. 

Mercedes Benz engine with 

11.97L displacement and up to 

1850N/m torque 

Optimised ZF automatic 

transmission and rear axle ratio 

11m 3 capacity luggage 

compartments 

Exceptional ride comfort with 

reduced noise 

Bosch A/V system with DVD/CD 

Seats 53 Coach 

Seats 57 School Bous 

Seats 53 With Wheelchair Lift 

D7 

27 Seats, Cummins ISBe5 160hp, 

DVD/TV, Curtains, Alloy, Tow Bar 

optional, Great little mini-bus. 

GREAT VALUE. CALL NOW 

IN STOCK 

NEW 

2016 YUTONG Goanna 

80,00kms CUMMINS ISB4 4.5L, 

EURO5 103KW ALLISON 21006SP 

AUTO A/C. 


IN STOCK 

NEW 

D12 

D9 

57 Seats, Cummins ISB8.9E, 360hp, 39 Seats, Cummins ISB6, 250hp, School 

School Bus with through bins, ABS, ASR, Bus with through bins, ABS, ASR, EBS, 

EBS, ECAS and many more features. ECAS and many more features. 



yutong.com.au 

Yutong Bus Centre Brisbane 

Yutong Bus Centre Cairns 

Barry Henderson | 0427 750 885 | qldsales@yutong.com.au 

David Green | 0418 253 422 | david@abccoachsales.com.au 

2006 MERCEDES 

BENZ 0500 

6sp manual, 12.5m Coach 

Design body, 48 lap sash 

seat belted recliners, 2 door, 

rear toilet, 5 x LCD monitors, 

tachograph, many extras, 

one owner, travelled approx. 

960,000klm 

$85,000+GST 

2015 IVECO 

EURORIDER 

Cursor 330hp, ZF automatic inc 

retarder, Irizar 13.2m body, 52 

recliners in leather, toilet, A/C, 

underfloor bins, travelled only 

102,000klm 

Reduced to 

$215,000+GST 

2011 SCANIA K440EB 

Opticruise inc retarder, Coach 

Concepts 13.5m body,50 lap 

sash seat belted seats in leather, 

2 door, mid toilet, Thermo King 

A/C, full service history, travelled 

approx. 750,000klm 

$215,000+GST 

2015 BONLUCK 

“PRESIDENT 2” 

10.8m, Cummins ISL320, Allison 

automatic inc retarder, 36 

leather reclining seats, Guide 

seat, toilet, underfloor bins, 

A/C, USB ports, many extras, 

travelled approx. 334,000klm 

$165,000+GST 

2016 BCI 

CLASSMASTER 

Cummins ISB300hp, Allison 

automatic inc retarder, 57 lap 

sash seat belted seats, A/C, 

underfloor bins, DVD, just 

repainted all over white, travelled 

approx. 302,0000klm very clean 

$150,000+GST 

2014 BONLUCK 

“PRESIDENT 2” 

automatic, 12.3m, 53 lap sash 

seat belted recliners in leather, 

A/C, large underfloor bins, DVD, 

travelled 320,000klm. 

Reduced to 

$140,000+GST 

2013 QUALITY 

BUS & COACH 

Cummins ISL320, ZF automatic 

transmission inc retarder, 53 lap 

sash seat belted seats in leather, 

underfloor bins, Coachair A/C, 


$75,000+GST 

ABC-HH2-5129255-TS-395 

2 X 2015 IVECO 

EURORIDER 

Cursor 330hp,ZF automatic 

inc retarder, Marcopolo 

12.5m body,57 lap sash seat 

belted seats,A/C,underfloor 

bins,travelled 245,000klm 

Reduced to 

$175,000+GST each 

2018 VOLVO B8 

ZF automatic inc retarder, 

Marcopolo body, 57 lap sash 

seat belted seats, Spheros A/C, 

underfloor bins, DVD, very clean, 


$260,000+GST 

2010 BCI PROMA 

DELUXE 

Cummins isb185hp, Allison 

automatic inc retarder, 33 lap 

sash seat belted recliners, 

heat cool A/C, underfloor bins, 

school lights, travelled approx. 

272,000klm 

$65,000+GST 

2 X 2013 SCANIA 

K440 

Opticruise inc retarder, Coach 

Concepts 14.5m body, 58 lap sash 

seat belted seats in leather, guide 

seat, Thermo King A/C, 2 door, mid 

toilet, Hanover sign,tachograph,full 

service history, travelled approx. 

780,000klm 

Reduced to 

$220,000+GST each 

2006 DENNING 

PHOENIX 4X2 

Cat C7 300hp, Allison auto inc 

retarder, 53 lap sash seat belted 

recliners, DVD, underfloor bins, 

Thermo King A/C, travelled 

approx. 720,000klm, full service 

history. 

Reduced to 

$110,000+GST 

2010 VOLVO B9R 

ZF automatic inc retarder,Coach 

Design 12.5m body,53 lap sash 

seat belted recliners in cloth, 

DVD, tachograph, underfloor 

bins, Thermo King A/C,travelled 


Reduced to 

$110,000+GST 

2 X 2010 HINO RB8 

6sp manual, Chiron body, 

34 lap sash seat belted 

seats, A/C,wheel chair lift 

equipped,towbar, travelled 


$38,000+GST each 

PLUS MANY MORE, CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE AT 

www.roddhoodsbusandcoachsales.com 

Mobile: 0417 699 980 - Email: rodd.hood@bigpond.com.au 

Over 34 years experience in the bus and coach industry 

LICENSED MOTOR DEALER 3341258 

50 ABC JULY 2020 busnews.com.au

WANT TO ADVERTISE? CALL 03 9567 4154 Bookings for next issue close on August 13th 2020 

CONTACT Phil 03 5623 5377 

admin@warragulbuslines.com.au 

2000 VOLVO B7 

P&D Body, 57 Seatbelts, Automatic 

2000 MERCEDES 0405 

Volgren body, Lowfloor, 2-door, AC 

1999 VOLVO B7 

Auto Bus Body, Auto, 

53 Seatbelt seats, 

Air Conditioned. 

2015 IVECO MARCO POLO 

57 Seatbelts, Automatic, Air 

Conditioned. 

$43,000 + GST 

$32,000 + GST 

$68,000 + GST 

$175,000 + GST 

2013 HIGER 

T-Series, 12m, A/C, 

57 Seatbelts 

$98,000 + GST 

2002 IVECO 

Custom CB50 body, 61 seats, Manual, 

Thermoking. 480,000km 

$55,000 + GST 

2006 HINO RK260 

P&D body, 57 seats, Manual. 

295,000 KMS 

$58,000 + GST 

2010 MITSUBISHI 

ROSA DELUXE 

Manual, 390,000km 

$28,000 + GST 

ABC-HH-5171496-TS-395 

WHEN YOU’RE READY TO HIT THE GROUND RUNNING, 

WE’VE GOT YOU COVERED. 

The Volvo B8R and Volvo B11R chassis, fitted with a selection of Volgren, Marco Polo, 

Irizar, Custom or Coach Concept bodies, are ready for delivery. 

Volvo B8R Euro 5 Volgren Endura Available Now 

Volvo B8R Euro 5* Volgren Endura Available November 

Volvo B8R Euro 5 Marco Polo Available Now 

Volvo B8R Euro 5 Irizar Available Now 

Volvo B8R Euro 5* Irizar Available September 

Volvo B8R Euro 5* Custom Available August 

Volvo B8R Euro 5 Coach Concepts Available Now 

Volvo B11R Euro 5 Irizar Available Now 



*Suitable for TfNSW Panel 3 

Contact your local Volvo representative for more information: 

NSW Ray Andrich 0418 213 320 

Stuart Woodward 0406 465 301 

QLD, NT Anthony Browne 0418 215 743 

VIC, SA, TAS Darren Cottle 0419 500 324 

Anthony Fisicaro 0418 365 356 

WA Adrian Boevé 0488 902 205 

busnews.com.au JULY 2020 ABC 51

BUSINESS 

OPPORTUNITY / 

RESIDENCE 

For sale, one gov school contracted 

run including 06 Mitsubishi Rosa 

Delux auto. Fraser Coast Region Qld. 

Residence 2 bedroom house, 10.6h 

block fully fence with perm water. 

To sell as package or split. 

MORE INFO 

0447 396 133 

ROSA BUS 

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION 

4 SPEED & 6 SPEED 

REBUILT & DYNO TESTED 

Replacement transmissions 

available or your own unit repaired. 

All Exchange units come with a 

Rebuilt Torque Converter 

COMMERCIAL AUTOMATICS 

20 Ovata Drive, Tullamarine VIC 

Ph: 03 9338 0120 

ABC-12-5164865-TS-368 

buses 

large & small 

$$$ 

bounty paid 

on 

collection 

(03) 9782 3207 

PROFESSIONAL REFINISHING 

We can transform your fleet with our fully equipped facilities, extensive 

product knowledge and evolving techniques to deliver: 

Express Panel & Paint: Repairs minimising down time. 

Quality Refinishing: Of O.E.M and major fleet vehicles to 

customer specifications. 

Body Works: Dent and corrosion repairs. 

Complete Resprays: To existing fleet vehicles. 

Authorised: PPG Fleet pool member. 

P: (07) 3344 4544 

E: info@coachworks.com.au 

W: www.coachworks.com.au 

ABC-QH-5164872-CS-385 

Bus & Truck Rentals 

We Dry hire 

12-57 seat 

Coaches 

Like ABC on Facebook for a unique mix of bus 

news, reviews, events & entertainment 

visit facebook.com/ABCBusnews 

In keeping with our commitment to supply the industry with the highest standard of bus and coach 

rental fleet we offer the following Quality Units for sale from our Fleet Upgrade Program. 

2016 HINO 616 300 SERIES 

3 Ton 20m3 Pantech truck, auto, travelled 

125,000kms 

$32,000+ GST 

2018 42 SEAT KING LONG 6960 

ZF Auto, Leather recliners, 6cyl turbo, 

travelled 68,000kms. 

$140,000+ GST 

2018 MITSUBISHI ROSA DELUXE 

Auto travelled 65000kms, balance of warranty 

5 years 200,000kms 

$99,000+ GST 

PLEASE CALL 1300 134 227 

www.ltdrentals.com or email: ltd@qldnet.com.au 

For vehicle sales please call Glenn 0403 747 999 

52 ABC JULY 2020 busnews.com.au

WANT TO ADVERTISE? CALL 03 9567 4154 Bookings for next issue close on August 13th 2020 

Yutong Bus Centre Melbourne 

LIMITED 

STOCK 

NEW NEW USED 

IN STOCK 

$315,990 + GST & ORC Including Wheelchair Lift 

T12 series – A new level of comfort and freedom 

A premium vehicle that looks as good on the outside as it does in. Here, 

passengers receive more spacious luggage compartments, reduced noise 

ride comfort and high-end audio/visuals, while the driver enjoys greater 

manoeuvrability and performance. The T12 also features customisable seating 

options to suit your needs. 

Mercedes Benz engine with 

11.97L displacement and up to 

1850N/m torque 

Optimised ZF automatic 

transmission and rear axle ratio 

11m 3 capacity luggage 

compartments 

Exceptional ride comfort with 

reduced noise 

Bosch A/V system with DVD/CD 

Seats 53 Coach 

Seats 57 School Bous 

Seats 53 With Wheelchair Lift 

Yutong Bus Centre Melbourne - PH (03) 8376 7121 

24 Grasslands Avenue, Craigieburn VIC 3064 

D7 

27 Seats, Cummins ISBe5 160hp, 

DVD/TV, Curtains, Alloy, Tow Bar 

optional, Great little mini-bus. 


IN STOCK 

NEW 

2016 YUTONG Goanna 

80,00kms CUMMINS ISB4 4.5L, 

EURO5 103KW ALLISON 21006SP 

AUTO A/C. 


IN STOCK 

Lou Riccardi | 0411426 148 | vicsales@yutong.com.au 

NEW 

D12 

D9 

57 Seats, Cummins ISB8.9E, 360hp, 39 Seats, Cummins ISB6, 250hp, School 

School Bus with through bins, ABS, ASR, Bus with through bins, ABS, ASR, EBS, 

EBS, ECAS and many more features. ECAS and many more features. 



yutong.com.au 

FOR SALE – PENDING NEW VEHICLE DELIVERIES 

WHEELCHAIR 

EQUIPPED 


Coach Design – Alpine High Deck, Diesel – Euro 4, 12 spd Opti-Cruise, 

Currently 787,000kms, 50 McConnell Cloth Recliners, LCD Monitor, 

DVD player, Reversing Camera, Electronic Destination, Centre Door with 

Downstairs Toilet, Parcel Racks, Full Carpet Floor & Fridge. 

Delivered in all white. 

$200,000 +GST 


Irizar i6 3900, Diesel – Euro 5, 12spd Opti-Cruise, Currently 475,000kms, 

50 McConnell full-leather Recliners, 2 x LCD Monitors, Reversing Camera, 

Electronic Destination, CCTV Cameras, Wheel-Chair Lift, Centre Door with 

Downstairs Toilet, Parcel Racks with Airline Lockers, Faux Timber Floor & 

Fridge. Delivered in existing AWC painted fleet colours. 

$320,000 +GST 

ABC-HH-5210495-TS-365 

Australia Wide Coaches 

Richard Dawes: 0412 034 337 

Stefan Robinson: 0416 646 006 

busnews.com.au JULY 2020 ABC 

53

DELIVERIES JUNE 2020 

Solid bus and coach 

deliveries spike in June 

The Australian bus market’s rollercoaster ride in 2020 continues, 

exclusive ABC data reveals. 

The usual end-of-financial year rush has seen 

Australian bus and coach deliveries jump a 

remarkable 83 per cent month-on-month to finish 

on 146 for June. 

It’s the fifth consecutive month where deliveries 

have fluctuated between double and triple figures in a Covidimpacted 

2020, marking the second-highest figure for the year 

– behind January’s 172 – though June traditionally represents a 

bump in the market. 

In the chassis sector it was Scania reigning with 46 deliveries, 

the Swede’s yearly best, driven in particular by a significant 

Transdev order. Interestingly, regular market leader Volvo’s 28 

matched last month as its equal lowest for the year. Better news 

for Mercedes-Benz breaking the 20-delivery barrier and 

setting a yearly high of 22. Australian Bus Corporation’s 

(ABC’s) Bustech brand also broke new ground in 2020 

with 15 deliveries. BCI returned to double figures 

for the first time since February, and Hino’s seven 

deliveries also made June its busiest month of the year. 

A few yearly highs also followed for the bodies 

sector, including Volgren’s 48, incorporating two from subsidiary 

Supportrans. ABC’s figure of 34 included peaks of 20 from 

Bustech and 11 from Precision Buses. 

Thermo King is used to being the market leader for airconditioner 

deliveries, but its 88 represented more than a 

doubling on last month’s tally, and 21 more than its previous 

best for the year. In fact, it occupied more than 60 per cent of 

the sector, with MCC the next best and the only other brand to 

exceed double figures. 

A surprise in the state chart as one of the main players, New 

South Wales, only occupied 10 per cent of the market, well 

behind Victoria (33 per cent), Western Australia (24 per cent) and 

Queensland (19 per cent). 

Please note all data is as supplied from manufacturers, with 

their involvement at their discretion. 

It’s the fifth consecutive month where 

deliveries have fluctuated between double 

and triple figures in a Covid-impacted 2020. 

54 


VOLREN 46 

ABC* 34 

BCI 23 

EXPRESS COACHES 7 

IRIZAR 6 

COACH DESIGN 5 

BONLUCK 4 

JBUS 4 

YUTONG 4 

P&D COACHWORKS 3 

End of financial year 

is a usually busy time 

in the market and this 

seems reflected in the 

June, 2020, result. 

7% 

ACT 

10% 

19% 

QLD 

3% 1% 

3% SA NT 

TAS 

SCANIA HIGER 3 

VOLGREN/SUPPORTRANS 2 

CHALLENGER 1 

CUSTOM BUS 1 

GEMILANG 1 

OMNIBUS 1 

TOST 1 

33% 

VIC 

NSW 

Percentage by 

REGION 

24% 

WA 

SALES BY BODY 

A few yearly highs also followed for the bodies 

sector, including Volgren’s 48, incorporating two 

from subsidiary Supportrans. ABC’s figure of 34 

included peaks of 20 from Bustech and 11 from 

Precision Buses. 

% 

SALES BY 

AIR-CONDITIONER 

Thermo King is used to being the market leader for airconditioner 

deliveries, but its 88 represented more than 

a doubling on last month’s tally, and 21 more than its 

previous best for the year. In fact, it occupied more than 

60 per cent of the sector, with MCC the next best and the 

only other brand to exceed double figures. 

Thermo King 88 

MCC 12 

Coachair 9 

Hispacold 9 

Spheros 8 

Denso 7 

Valeo 5 

Cling-Yutong 4 

Konvekta 3 

Lou Air 1 

SCANIA 46 

VOLVO 28 

MERC-BENZ 22 

ABC (BUSTECH) 15 

BCI 13 

HINO 7 

Sales by chassis 

In the chassis sector it was Scania reigning with 46 deliveries, the Swede’s yearly best, driven in particular 

by a significant Transdev order. Interestingly, regular market leader Volvo’s 28 matched last month as its 

equal lowest for the year. Better news for Mercedes-Benz breaking the 20-delivery barrier and setting a 

yearly high of 22. Australian Bus Corporation’s (ABC’s) Bustech brand also broke new ground in 2020 with 

15 deliveries. BCI returned to double figures for the first time since February, and Hino’s seven deliveries 

also made June its busiest month of the year. 

BONLUCK 4 

MAN 4 

YUTONG 4 

IVECO 2 

CHALLENGER 1 


55

DELIVERIES JUNE 2020 

MANUFACTURER, 

OPERATOR & LOCATION 

UNITS 

CHASSIS 

(Model) 

BODY 

BUILDER 

HP* 

ENGINES 

Rear / Front 

Emissions 

standard 

AUST BUS CORP* Kinetic (Sunbus) QLD 4 Bustech MDI Bustech 340 R Euro 5 

(*Bustech/Precision/Elphinstone) Transit Systems NSW 2 Bustech CDI Bustech 340 R Euro 5 

Kinetic (Surfside Buslines) QLD 6 Bustech XDI Bustech 340 R Euro 5 

Metrotas TAS 3 Bustech XDI Elphinstone 300 R Euro 6 

BCI Go West WA 2 Fleetmaster BCI 320 R Euro 5 

Newmont Mining WA 2 Fleetmaster BCI 320 R Euro 5 

Wirlu-Murra WA 5 Fleetmaster BCI 320 R Euro 5 

Sainty’s North East Bus Service TAS 1 Classmaster BCI 320 R Euro 5 

Goldrush Tours WA 3 Fleetmaster BCI 320 R Euro 5 

BONLUCK Lee's Coaches TAS 1 Citystar Bonluck 320 R Euro 5 

Fallon's Bus Service VIC 1 President 10 Bonluck 300 R Euro 5 

Young's Bus Service QLD 1 Senator 12 Bonluck 320 R Euro 5 

Polleys Coaches QLD 1 President 2 Bonluck 320 R Euro 5 

CHALLENGER N/A VIC 1 V10 GT Challenger 300 R N/A 

HINO N/A SA 1 Poncho JBUS 185 R Euro 5 

N/A ACT 2 Poncho JBUS 185 R Euro 5 

N/A NSW 1 Poncho JBUS 185 R Euro 5 

N/A QLD 1 RN8J P&D Coachworks 285 R Euro 5 

N/A QLD 1 RN8J P&D Coachworks 286 R Euro 5 

N/A NSW 1 921 P&D Coachworks 205 F Euro 5 

IVECO Redbus Services NSW 2 Metro LE Bustech N/A R Euro 5 

MAN Buslink Darwin NT 2 A66 14.250 HOCL Volgren 250 R Euro 5 

Fallons VIC 1 RR8 19.320 IC Coach Design 320 R Euro 5 

Cooma Coaches NSW 1 RC2 19.320 LE E5 Volgren 320 R Euro 5 

MERCEDES-BENZ N/A WA 1 OC500RF E5 1936 Omnibus 360 R Euro 5 

N/A QLD 1 OC500RF E5 1936 Gemilang 360 R Euro 5 

N/A VIC 3 OC500LE E6 Volgren 300 R Euro 6 

N/A VIC 1 OC500RF E5 1936 Express Coaches 360 R Euro 5 

N/A VIC 1 OC500LE E6 Express Coaches 360 R Euro 5 

N/A VIC 1 OC500LE Volgren 299 R Euro 5 

N/A WA 4 OC500RF E5 1936 BCI 360 R Euro 5 

N/A VIC 1 OC500RF E5 1936 Express Coaches 360 R Euro 5 

N/A WA 6 OC500RF E5 1936 BCI 360 R Euro 5 

N/A NSW 1 XBC Custom Bus 260 R Euro 5 

N/A QLD 1 OC500RF E5 1936 Irizar 360 R Euro 5 

N/A VIC 1 OC500RF E5 1936 Coach Design 360 R Euro 5 

SCANIA AAT Kings Coach Company VIC 1 K 440 EB6X2*4 Coach Design 440 R Euro 5 

Ballarat Coachlines VIC 1 K 400 IB4X2 Coach Design 400 R Euro 5 

CDC Sunshine VIC 5 K 310 UB4X2 Volgren 310 R Euro 5 

Dept. Of Public Transport Infrastructure SA 3 K 320 UB4X2 Precision Buses 320 R Euro 6 

Gosel Bus Company QLD 1 K 310 IB4X2 Irizar 310 R Euro 5 

Hornibrook Bus Lines QLD 1 K 320 UB4X2 Volgren 320 R Euro 6 

Hornibrook Bus Lines QLD 1 K 320 UB4X2 Volgren 320 R Euro 6 

Irizar Asia Pacific VIC 1 K 310 IB4X2 Irizar 310 R Euro 5 

McCoskers Bus Service NSW 1 K 310 IB4X2 Scania Higer A30 310 R Euro 5 

McHarry's Bus Lines VIC 1 K 310 UB4X2 Express Coaches 310 R Euro 5 

McPhee's Fuel & Buslines VIC 1 K 310 IB4X2 Scania Higer A30 310 R Euro 5 

Mooroopna Passenger Service VIC 1 K 360 IB4X2 Scania Higer Touring 360 R Euro 5 

Transdev Melbourne VIC 14 K 320 UB4X2 Volgren 320 R Euro 6 

Transport Canberra Operations ACT 8 K 320 UB4X2 Precision Buses 320 R Euro 6 

WBL VIC 2 K 310 UB4X2 Express Coaches 310 R Euro 5 

WBL VIC 2 K 310 IB4X2 Volgren/Supportrans 310 R Euro 5 

West Warwick Coaches QLD 1 K 310 IB4X2 Express Coaches 310 R Euro 5 

Wimmera Roadways VIC 1 K 310 IB4X2 Coach Design 310 R Euro 5 

VOLVO Irizar Asia Pacific VIC 2 B8R Irizar 330 R Euro 5 

Perth Transport Authorities WA 9 B8RLE Volgren 320 R Euro 6 

Brisbane City Council QLD 3 B8RLE Art Volgren 320 R Euro 6 

CDC Victoria VIC 5 B5LH Volgren 240 R Euro 6 

Irizar Asia Pacific QLD 1 B11R Irizar 450 R Euro 5 

Buslines Group NSW 2 B8R Bustech 330 R Euro 5 

Buslines Group NSW 1 B8RLE Bustech 330 R Euro 5 

Clarks Logan City QLD 3 B8RLE Bustech 320 R Euro 6 

Dions (Seapost) NSW 1 B8RLE Volgren 320 R Euro 6 

N/A WA 1 B8R TOST 330 R Euro 5 

YUTONG N/A WA 1 D12 Yutong 360 R Euro 5 

N/A WA 1 D12 Yutong 360 R Euro 5 

N/A NSW 1 D12 Yutong 360 R Euro 5 

N/A NSW 1 T12 Yutong 350 R Euro 5 

56 

ABC July 2020 busnews.com.au 

TOTAL DELIVERIES 146

TRANS MISSION 

A: Automatic 

M: Manual 

AS: Auto-Shift 

O: Opticruise 

TRANS 

MAKE 

AXLES 

BODY 

LENGTH 

(metres) 

AIR-CON 

(Brand) 

NUMBER OF SEATS 

Fixed 

Coach 

Recliners 

Metro 

Long 

Distance 

APPLICATION 

SEATING 

A ZF 2 10-12.9 Thermo King 43 – – – – X – Styleride N 




A ZF 2 12.3 MCC – 55 – – X – – Sege Y 

A ZF 2 12.3 MCC – 55 – – X – – Sege Y 

A ZF 2 12.3 MCC – 55 – – X – – Sege Y 

A Allison 2 12.3 Thermo King 57 – – – – X – Sege Y 

A ZF 2 12.3 MCC – 55 – – X – – Sege Y 

A Allison 2 12.5 Spheros – – 48 – – X X Fainsa N 

A Allison 2 10.06 Spheros – 41 – – X – X Fainsa Y 

A Allison 2 12.5 Themo King – – 59 – – – X APM N 

A Allison 2 12.5 Spheros 57 – – – – – X Sege Y 

AS Cummins 2 10.5 Thermo King 45 – – – – – X Fansia Y 

A Aisin 2 8 Denso 18 – – – – X – Styleride N 

A Aisin 2 8 Denso 18 – – – – X – Styleride Y 

A Aisin 2 8 Denso 18 – – – – X – McConnell N 

A ZF 2 12 Thermo King 57 – – – – – X Styleride N 

A ZF 2 12 Thermo King 57 – – – – – X Styleride Y 

A Aisin 2 7.99 Thermo King 34 – – – – – X Styleride Y 

A Allison 2 10-12.9 Denso 52 – – – – X – Styleride N 

A ZF 2 10-12.9 Coachair 33 – – – – X – McConnell N 

A ZF 2 10-12.9 Lou Air 57 – – – – – X McConnell Y 

A ZF 2 10-12.9 Thermo King 33 – – – – X – McConnell Y 

A ZF 2 13.5 Thermo King 57 – – – – – X McConnell N 

A ZF 2 13.5 Thermo King 61 – – – – – X Styleride N 

A ZF 2 12.5 Thermo King 47 – – – – X – McConnell N 

A ZF 2 13.5 Thermo King 57 – – – – – X McConnell Y 


A ZF 2 12.5 Coachair 45 – – – – X – McConnell N 

A ZF 2 13.5 Thermo King – 53 – – X – – Sege Y 


A ZF 2 13.5 Thermo King – 53 – – X – – Sege Y 

A Allison 2 12.5 Thermo King 57 – – – – X – Styleride N 

A ZF 2 13.5 Hispacold 57 – – – – – X McConnell N 


O Scania 3 13.5 Thermo King – 49 – x – – – Sege Y 

O Scania 2 12.5 Thermo King – 49 – – – – X McConnell Y 

A ZF 2 12 Coachair – – 41 – – X – McConnell N 

A ZF 2 12.5 Hispacold – – 42 – – X – Styleride N 

A ZF 2 12.3 Hispacold 57 – – – – – X McConnell Y 

A ZF 2 12.5 Spheros – – 44 – – X – Custom Bus N 

A ZF 2 12.5 Spheros – – 44 – – X – McConnell N 

A ZF 2 13 Hispacold 57 – – – – – x McConnell Y 

A ZF 2 12.3 Konvekta 57 – – – – – x McConnell Y 

A ZF 2 12.5 Coachair – – 41 – – x – McConnell N 

A ZF 2 12.3 Konvekta 49 – – – – – x McConnell Y 

O Scania 2 12.3 Konvekta 57 – – – – – – Styleride N 

A ZF 2 12.5 Thermo King – – 44 – – x – McConnell N 

A ZF 2 12.5 Thermo King – – 41 – – x – McConnell N 

A ZF 2 12.3 Thermo King 50 – – – – x – Styleride N 




A ZF 2 10-12.9 Hispacold 57 – – – X – – McConnell Y 

A ZF 2 10-12.9 Thermo King – – 41 – – X – McConnell N 

A ZF 2 10-12.9 Spheros – – X – – X – McConnell N 

AS Volvo 2 10-12.9 Valeo – – 40 – – X – McConnell N 

AS Volvo 3 10-12.9 Hispacold – X – – X – – N/A Y 

A ZF 2 10-12.9 Thermo King 50 – – – – – X Styleride Y 

A ZF 2 10-12.9 Thermo King – – 50 – – X – Styleride N 

A ZF 2 10-12.9 Thermo King – – 50 – – X – Styleride N 

A ZF 2 10-12.9 Denso – – 43 – – X – N/A N 

A ZF 2 10-12.9 Thermoking 57 – – – – – X McConnell Y 

N/A Allison 2 12.4 Cling-Yutong 57 – – – X – – N/A Y 

N/A Allison 2 12.4 Cling-Yutong 57 – – – X – – N/A Y 

N/A Allison 2 12.4 Cling-Yutong 57 – – – – – X N/A Y 

N/A ZF 2 12.4 Cling-Yutong 53 – – – – – X N/A Y 

Charter 

City or 

Route 

School 

SEAT 

BELTS 

*Australian Bus Corporation (ABC) comprises Bustech (16), Precision Buses (10) and Elphinstone (2). Volgren’s count includes two units from its partnership with Supportrans. 


57

DRIVEN 

MAN RR8 IC 19.290 E5 

TOO COOL 

FOR SCHOOL 

58 


The new MAN RR8 IC 19.290 E5 has been 

designed for the school run, but has been built 

with a luxury coach feel. It more than proved its 

mettle in wet and wintery conditions on a recent 

test out of the Penske home base in Wacol, Qld. 

WORDS AND IMAGES PAUL ALDRIDGE 

Usually a trip to 

Queensland will mean 

a stint of warmer, fine 

weather, but today’s 

visit to test drive the 

new RR8 at Penske headquarters in 

Wacol, just outside Brisbane, gave 

us a new spin on ‘the show must go 

on’. To say it was pretty miserable 

is an understatement, but the RR8 

stood out straight away as looking 

more like a smart coach than school 

bus. This one’s off to Cowan’s Bus 

Services in Sandy Hollow, NSW, 

to be part of the school bus fleet, 

painted in its company colours: a 

royal blue tail end, the Southern 

Cross and distinctive large logo 

across the front. 

Mark Nichols, regional sales 

manager for MAN Bus at Penske 

Australia, was happy to take this 

brand new RR8 with only 96 

kilometres on the clock out for a 

drive to show just how good it drives 

in the really miserable conditions. 

Asked if this was the first 

collaboration with Coach Design he 

explained: “No, we’ve been building 

with Coach Design since Penske 

started in Brisbane; they’re only half 

an hour away in Archerfield so it’s 

ideal. We’ve always got a quite a few 

on build with them at any time, we 

have a big relationship with them.” 

Regarding any specific requests 

Cowan’s asked for, Nichols 

commented: “Other than the 

colours and livery it’s just what they 

ordered through the panel. They 

wanted a MAN chassis because 

they’ve always had MANs for quite 

a few years now, and they want a 

Coach Design body and this combo 

worked in their favour to get the 

10.5-metre build because there’s no 

other OEM that can do this at the 

moment. Being a school bus, it has 

all the school lights and everything 

as required by Transport for New 

South Wales for Category Three. It 

has all fire suppression gear, tyre 

pressure monitoring, everything 

that’s required.” 

This isn’t just a one-off, either, 

he added, saying that the 10.5m, 

up-to-45-seat bus fills a hole in the 

growing Category Three market. 

This particular model can go from 

a 35-seat and be pushed up to a 

45-seater. 


59

DRIVEN 

MAN RR8 IC 19.290 E5 

Top: 

MAN says driving the 

new RR8 will feel 

more like driving a 

small coach than a 

school bus. 

Above: 

This particular model 

can go from a 35- 

seat and be pushed 

up to a 45-seater. 

Right: 

There are two bin 

doors and the area 

is made to feel more 

roomy with the fuel 

tanks being moved 

right back. 

“We’ve already sold a few more,” 

he said. “Quinn’s Buses have 

ordered one.” 

For the all-important 

turnaround time for an order 

like this, Nichols explained: “If we 

have the chassis in stock, it’s just 

a four-month build time to get 

it pre-delivery and everything 

like that. If we’ve got to order 

the chassis you’re looking at six 

months to seven months max in 

total.” Not too bad, four months if 

the chassis is in stock. 

Regarding driver comfort, “all 

MAN chassis are quiet, really nice 

to drive”, he pointed out. “It works 

every day; it’s been made to 

work every day. You’ll find it’s no 

different to driving a coach. It’s the 

same seat you’re sitting in, same 

dash that you sit at; you’ll feel like 

you’re driving a coach, a small 

coach, and not a school bus. 

“The warranty on this model is 

two years for the MAN chassis, so 

one year complete and a second 

year for the driveline and two for 

the Coach Design body as well. 

Servicing is at a confident 45,000 

service intervals for the 290, if 

you go up to the 320 horsepower 

[239kW], it’s a different engine, 

they have 60,000 intervals, big 

intervals, we really stand by them 

all,” said Nichols. Asked what 

kilometres are covered, because 

sometimes the kilometres are the 

ruling factor not the timeframe, 

he replied: “The RR8 has unlimited 

kilometres warranty so you just get 

in and go.” 

Last big question – the price: 

“You’re looking at roughly just 

under 400K, say 380 to 400K,” 

Nichols said. 

“Most importantly, MAN is 

reliable, does the work and gives 

extended service intervals. It’s 

telling to have 45- and 60,000 

intervals and MAN wouldn’t offer it 

if these buses didn’t work hard.” 

60 


ON THE ROAD 

Leaving Penske’s site at Wacol, we’re off 

for one wet test drive. Then again, test 

driving a school bus in these conditions 

might be a good thing as we are going 

to get a feel for how the RR8 handles 

and drives in bad conditions. We might 

be one wet driver and videographer 

today, but the run will certainly give us a 

true drive, just like us school bus drivers 

have to experience all the time. 

Nichols had pointed out before we left 

that the MANs are a great quiet drive; 

get on board and close the door and 

everything is impressively quiet. You can 

just hear the engine and aircon – internal 

cabin noise great. It’s often small or the 

minor things that make a big difference 

in driver and passenger comfort. 

The door on this model is a glide-away 

door. Nichols says this is the model 

door used on MAN school buses with 

the plug door used on the coaches. It 

was certainly windy and the door was 

sufficient to keep the noise down inside. 

The Euro 5 MAN D0836 LOH 

64 upright in-line six-cylinder has 

213kW/290hp@2,300rpm. Nichols had 

spoken in depth about the torque and 

the importance of torque in the power 

performance. Straight away, you can feel 

it’s got power. 

At the first roundabout and already it 

just wants to take off. It’s only a 290, but 

it’s all about the torque. It’s a really busy 

roundabout and you need to get in and 

away – the RR8 certainly does that. 

The rear view camera is good – having 

vision of what’s behind is a useful feature 

even when not reversing. As a school 

It works every day; it’s been made to 

work every day. You’ll find it’s no different 

to driving a coach. 

bus driver, knowing what’s going on 

all around your vehicle is important for 

passenger safety. 

In bad weather conditions it is good 

to know that all the safety features 

are there. The four wheel discs have 

self-adjusting calipers and integral wear 

pad sensors and the electronic braking 

system (EBS) incorporates an anti-lock 

brake system (ABS) and anti-spin 

regulator (ASR) for traction control. 

We did some sharp corners in the 

pouring rain and the brakes handled 

it all perfectly. There was a slight bit of 

understeer, which you would expect 

from brand new tyres. 

The visibility out of the windscreen is 

great. It’s a split screen and this gives 

no hindrance at all. The mirrors also 

worked well – it wasn’t clear if they 

were standard MAN mirrors, but no 

complaints about any part of the vehicle. 

For the blind spot down the bottom 

there’s a switch that the driver can adjust 

to move the blind spot viewing point. 

If the driver wants to look at the front 

of the bus, they can roll it right down 


61

DRIVEN 

MAN RR8 IC 19.290 E5 

This combo worked in their favour to get the 

10.5-metre build because there’s no other OEM 

that can do this at the moment. 

Specs 

MAKE: MAN 

MODEL: RR8 IC 19.290 E5 

DIMENSIONS: Length – 10.5m, 

Width – 2.5m 

ENGINE: Euro 5 MAN D0836 LOH 

64 upright in-line six-cylinder; 

213kW/290hp at 2,300 rpm 

TORQUE: 1,100Nm@1,200- 

1,750rpm 

WEIGHT: 9.5 tonne 

TRANSMISSION: ZF six-speed 

Ecolife automatic 

AXLES: Front – MAN VOK- 

08-B-06 rigid front axle with two 

combination air spring damper 

modules and maintenance-free 

wheel bearings; Rear – Hypoid 

type HY1350-B03 with narrow 

track rear air suspension, rear 

stabiliser bar and maintenancefree 

wheel bearings 

STEERING: ZF Servocom 8098, 

adjustable steering column 

BODY: Coach Design 

FUEL TANK: 300L; option for 2x 

200L 

MISC.: EBS, ABS, ASR, optional 

electronic stability program 

Above: 

A rear-view 

camera provides 

valuable visibility. 

Below: 

Euro 5 MAN 

D0836 LOH 64 

upright in-line 

six-cylinder has 

213kW/290hp@ 

2,300rpm. 

and they can even get really 

good vision of the front wheel 

on both sides. This feature 

would be handy when you’re 

manoeuvring and you want to 

see what your wheels are doing. 

There often can be tricky or 

tight places that this would 

be useful in. Say you go to a 

sporting complex for the first 

time with a bus load of kids 

and drop off access is really 

tight – sometimes you can need 

to get out and check what’s 

going on, but these mirrors can 

do that for you. This would be 

particularly good in conditions 

like today when you definitely 

don’t want to be outside. 

Another area found to be really 

clever and well thought out was 

the bin area; it has a surprisingly 

high level attention to detail. 

At only 10.5m long, the RR8 

still has a really good useable bin 

space of about 10 square metres, 

which is more than ample for its 

needs. There are two bin doors 

and the area is made to feel 

more roomy with the fuel tanks 

being moved right back. 

This is meant to be a school 

bus, but the finish to this bin area 

was high detail. 

It has a tough coated surface, 

but what is particularly good 

is that all of the electrical 

componentry is located here 

instead of the standard front of 

bus or in the wheel arches. 

For servicing and diagnostics, 

etc., the placement is ideal: out 

of the weather and really easy to 

access. It wouldn’t be a surprise 

if this placement is one that we 

see other manufacturers take 

on board. 

Ease of servicing has been 

really well provided for; you 

always know a bus is going to be 

successful when all parts of its 

operation have been considered. 

It’s one thing to look great and 

drive perfectly, but if speed and 

ease of maintenance hasn’t been 

a priority in the design and build, 

it will be a bus that won’t have 

longevity and repeat customers. 

The RR8 passes this test. 

Indeed, the RR8 is built to be 

a school bus, a route bus, a 

bus for small charter work, 

but it does have a small 

luxury coach feel. The colour 

combinations used and fit-out 

are really smart and its looks 

will stand the test of time. 

With 290hp and 1,100Nm it 

might not sound like a powerful 

bus, but having that shorter body 

length with 41 seats means that 

the power-to-weight combo is 

excellent. 

Any driver would be more 

than happy to have this bus 

on their route. 

62 


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ABC #395

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