ABC #399

AUSTRALASIAN BUS & COACH
ABC
ABC
ISSUE
BUSLINK NT
CDC SUBSIDIARY
COMMITS $660K+ TO
IMPROVE SAFETY
NZ ADL E-BUSES
EAST AUCKLAND
ISLAND DELIVERY +
KIWI BUS RENEWAL
BRISBANE COUNCIL
NATURAL-GAS
BUS FADE-OUT
ISSUE 399 Nov
2020
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CRÈME CARAMEL
GOING TO SCHOOL HAS NEVER BEEN SO COOL
in focus: tfnsw panel 3 operator: near or far, nsw deliveries: slip slightly

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contents
ISSUE 399 NOVEMBER 2020
08
in the know
6. editorial | ignition
Editor Cotter talks movies, elections, buses
and hotspots. And hopes there is no movie
coming about them all. ‘Cause it happens.
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.
36
20. column | BIC
PATH TO REOPENING
Michael Apps discusses creating
opportunities in a not-so Covid normal.
in focus
28. In focus | tfnsw panel 3 buses
ILLAWARRA TO SEE FIRST
‘PANEL 3’ BUSES
A family owned and operated bus
company in the coastal NSW Illawarra
region will soon be running the first
Transport for NSW (TfNSW) ‘Panel
3’-compliant buses from Volvo and Volgren,
which needed new fire-retardant materials
and fire-suppression systems to meet the
latest ‘Crib 7’ standard.
32. In focus | canberra bus rally
‘MUM AND DAD’ BUS BUSINESSES
STAGE CANBERRA RALLY
A 15-strong convoy of family owned ‘mum
and dad’ bus companies from across
Australia made its way to rally outside
Parliament House, Canberra, on October
26, to highlight the economic pressures
these small businesses are under.
36. In focus | transdev electric bus
FULLY ‘SUSTAINABLY POWERED’
E-BUS FOR SEQ
Transdev Queensland will launch a
100 per cent ‘sustainably powered’
full-sized electric bus for South East
Queensland early 2021, charged at a
fully solar-powered bus depot in Brisbane,
the company reports.
4
ABC November 2020 busnews.com.au

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48
EDITORIAL
Editor: Fabian Cotter
ph: 0451 194 600
e-mail: Fabian.Cotter@aremedia.com.au
Technical Writer: Paul Aldridge
Contributors: Michael Apps, Anjali Behl
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40. In focus | melbourne protest bus
MELBOURNE OPERATOR TAKES
PROTEST BUS TO THE STREETS
Victorian border closure uncertainty
– affecting a charter bus business’s
ability to reliably plan and honour tour
bookings – plus Melbourne’s recent
strict metro lockdown restrictions
forced one local family owned and run
bus operator to visibly protest his plight
and put more than half of his bus fleet
up for auction to help pay a spiralling
multi-million dollar debt.
42. coverstory | hino
SOMETHING SPECIAL
With its delicious retro look
underwritten by modern bus
performance and appeal, this very
first Hino RN8J chassis on a Custom
Adventurer-body ‘school bus’ is
something the kids will love and hate
to have to leave after each journey.
Fabian Cotter writes.
48. operator | near or far
WHEREVER YOU ARE
Husband and wife duo Rod and
Justine Williams are doing their best
to weather the current storm that has
hit the bus industry so hard. Despite
their four-year-old business being
Our business can
and will survive this
turmoil!
severely affected by the restrictions
brought on by the pandemic, they
remain upbeat and are using the time
to refurbish their fleet. Anjali Behl spoke
to them recently.
departments
54. 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!
60. factory facts | bus deliveries
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busnews.com.au November 2020 ABC
5

IGNITION
FABIAN COTTER
Get off my Planet! Now!
Pandemic movies already, US politics, state borders, Covid hotspots
and worse – packed fast-food ‘drive-thrus’. Someone, please help!
Friday night behind a 10-car long
take-way food drive-thru queue. “Get
off my planet! Now!” So frustrating...
If 2020 were an avalanche then right
about now many of us would calling out
for help and hoping the nearest rescue St
Bernard was on its way ASAP – with that
little neck barrel in tow. Nice one, Fido!
Interestingly, the internet points out
– so take it with a grain of salt; question
everything, I say – the ‘most famous’ St
Bernard was called Barry and he saved
between 40 and 100 ‘hooman’ lives during
his Italian-Swiss Alps rescuing stint. Go
Barry! What a legend. In fact, apparently
many of these dogs back in the day weren’t
trained and dogs just learned from other
dogs, each generation, how to rescue
people. How good is that?!
I tell you, if any of these dogs went into
politics they’d kill it! Talk about ‘doggy
bagging’ the popular vote come election
time for intelligence and commonsense.
Speaking of which, it’s been pretty hard
not to get into the all-permeating recent US
election – even for those of us hard pressed
to watch TV these days at the best of times.
‘Are we there yet?’ Apparently not – either
way. Allegations of vote rigging and/or
bad ballots or such continue and it looks
like there’s more of this to come. It seems
recounts have happened before in US
history (who knew?) and I saw something
about how the US Constitution was actually
set up to deal with such scenarios to
maintain integrity – and so it should - and
this involves court cases and either party’s
leaders not conceding etc., so that things
take its course. Hmm... Fascinating stuff.
Thankfully, there’s some new
light-hearted movies coming out to distract
us from the news for a bit – though one
called Songbird set a few years from now
seems to be about another virus and people
getting ripped out of their homes and stuck
into what looks like concentration camps
or such. Umm… No thanks! Making a buck
off current times’ vibes doesn’t sound right
to me, so skipping that one for sure. Borat’s
next one, though, looks worth a look.
BORDERS OPENING?
At the time of print, and according to the
NSW state government website, it will “…
re-open the border to Victoria at 12:01am
on Monday 23 November.” Great news! Ja?
Though everyone is obsessed with ‘cases’,
and with recent days of low to no cases in
Victoria and NSW as well, this sounds on
track, one would think and hope. And as
border closures massively affect the tour/
charter side of the bus business, well … we
watch and wait with baited breath. ‘Hey,
Barry! How’s that brandy coming along?’ ;)
I get press releases from various
governments either lifting classifications
of ‘hotspots’ or enforcing, so hoping
geographic areas don’t endure needless
‘demonising’, meaning discrimination of
people and affecting property prices in the
long run maybe.
WHAT’S IN THE BOX?
Not Pandora’s make-up or Medusa’s curlers
fortunately, but something all the more
pertinent to buses and coaches and public
transport overall in this, Issue 399, of ABC.
Firstly, kicking things off exclusively on the
front cover this month is the very retro-cool
Hino-Custom Adventurer school bus –
which is now part of Turnbull’s Bus Service
in rural Victoria.
This is the first time the new Adventurer is
on a Hino RN8J chassis and it certainly got
attention from members of the bus-loving
public as it made its way south to its new
home. A combination that’s usable for
school bus, mining spec, or for a charter/
coach feel, there may well be more of this
mix to come. Read more starting page 42.
In news developments, an evolving
situation (was going to say ‘case’, but
that’s now triggering all sorts of ‘Pavlov’s
dog’ fear responses these days) sees CDC’s
Buslink NT needing to invest AUD$660K+
into bus safety after a 2017 tragedy. Again,
massive condolences to the family, so
hoping the safety learnings from this may
well save other drivers in future, from a
national perspective via the campaign. We’ll
definitely be following up on this for all.
Also, ADL has delivered some e-buses
to Auckland Transport east of the city on
Waiheke Island and it’s also renewed its
partnership with Kiwi Bus Builders.
Brisbane City Council has announced it
will phase out its use of natural-gas buses,
which is interesting given the technology
has been advancing elsewhere around the
world, so maybe that’s something we can
look at more in future.
As for operators, given the current feel
of things, we visited Far Or Wide Bus and
Coach in the Blue Mountains west of
Sydney. Many of you have now heard of
owner Rod Williams and his company’s
pandemic plight, along with loads of
others, who orchestrated ‘demonstration
rallies’ both in NSW and then in Canberra
to highlight the impact of the pandemic
on so many family and independent bus
companies. To get to know the man and his
people a bit more and how they got to this
stage, read on from page 48.
Also in the mix we focus on Dion’s Bus
Service and its acquisition of the first TfNSW
‘Panel 3’-compliant bus – and the latest
fire-mitigation measures it needed. Plus we
check out Transdev’s fully solar-powered
“...with any good gut-churning,
vomit-inducing roller-coaster ride,
what goes up must come down, as they
say, right? Right???”
depot and e-bus charging plan in
South-East Queensland, and much more.
October deliveries? Yep, a slight dip
again, but with any good gut-churning,
vomit-inducing roller-coaster ride, what
goes up must come down, as they say – and
back again, right? Right??? Check it out
from page 60.
And with that, here we are. This time
next month we will – God willing – be about
to celebrate Christmas 2020, so hopefully
whatever other nightmare that might be
coming is polite enough to just back off
for a bit until the new year kicks in. Not like
right at midnight, ok, but say … well, a week
or two later would be nice. Or not at all. ;)
Until the next thrilling instalment…
6
ABC November 2020 busnews.com.au

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NEWS
BUSWAYS’ ADELAIDE METRO SUCCESS
NSW-BASED bus operator Busways
has successfully transitioned its new
Adelaide Metro workforce, using
a ‘digital employee engagement’
app strategy to help overcome the
challenges of the current pandemic,
it explains.
By using a clever ‘social media’
technology, Busways adapted
its interstate approach to move
smoothly into its new Adelaide Metro
contract’s two depots and welcome
215 new employees to the existing
Busways 1,500+ workforce.
The company was selected by the
South Australian government on
March 11, 2020 to begin operating
services for the Adelaide Outer South
contract on July 5; the only new
market entrant appointed in two
tranches of bus contract tenders,
it explains.
After 77 years of service in New
South Wales it was the company’s
first interstate expansion and made
Busways’ Australia’s largest privately
owned bus operator, it confirms.
Throw state border closures and
physical distancing rules into the
mix and Busways had to get creative
about employee engagement to
achieve a successful workforce
transition, it says.
Managing director Byron Rowe
explains that Busways’ primary focus
to uplift quality in service delivery
depended on engaging the existing
workforce to support and prepare
them to embrace change.
“Over the past few months, we
have fundamentally been changing
almost every operational aspect and
process, which is ultimately resulting
in a fleet that is cleaner, quieter and
more reliable,” Rowe said.
“Change is not easy, but employees
that are more engaged, better
trained and kept informed about
what the company is doing deal
with the transitioning process
much better.
“It’s important to me that every
Busways employee has opportunities
to discuss, challenge and ask
questions about Busways and what
we’re currently working towards.
“Communication is something we
are continuously finding better ways
to do,” Rowe added.
MANAGING COMMUNICATIONS
The rollout in early 2020 of a new
employee communication app
to Busways’ NSW workforce was
spearheaded by Busways head of
marketing and communications
Donna Frith.
“It has always been a challenge
to easily reach our frontline drivers,
mechanics, cleaners and yard staff
Above:
“Change is
not easy, but
employees
that are more
engaged, better
trained and
kept informed
about what
the company is
doing deal with
the transitioning
process much
better,” said Rowe
(pictured right).
Below:
Employee using
Blink.
who make up about 90 per cent of
our team overall,” Frith stated.
“We needed an app built
specifically for remote workers and
we found that in Blink, which works
for mobile and desktop and mimics
the usability of other social media
platforms, meaning the user learning
curve was minimal,” she added.
The new platform proved
instrumental in managing
communications for the interstate
transition, according to Busways.
The company had four months to
engage, recruit and ‘onboard’ the
incumbent Adelaide workforce
before commencing operations,
it says.
“Over the past
few months,
we have
fundamentally
been changing
almost every
operational
aspect and
process.”
8
ABC November 2020 busnews.com.au

INTERSTATE INTERACTION
With the Covid-19 border
closures, only half of the Busways
transition team was able to
get to Adelaide to manage
face-to-face meetings, depot and
fleet inspections, and training.
Original plans for depot-based
transition offices were changed to
accommodate physical distancing;
instead an off-site transition
office with expansive space was
established, Busways explains.
The team provided an
on-the-ground presence to
manage critical activities
and pared-back one-on-one
consultations, but most
engagement with transferring
employees had to be done
remotely, it says.
“We had to pivot our
engagement approach
to concentrate on regular,
meaningful and personal content
via the app. We committed to
a daily posting schedule, and
while that was managed by
our communications team, our
transition and leadership team
members actively participated
in posting their own content and
engaging in the comments so
relationships could be built early,”
Frith said.
All employees who registered to
transfer their employment signed
up for a user account and 99 per
cent accessed the app weekly
throughout the transition period,
Busways confirms. Utilisation has
remained high at 97 per cent of
users accessing the app at least
fortnightly since transition, it says.
E-BUSES PART OF QLD
ELECTION COMMITMENT
Ahead of the recent Queensland
state elections, the Labor government
announced a $23 billion investment to
“supercharge roads, public transport and
jobs”, with electric buses a key feature of
the plan.
The announcement would see the Gold
Coast and Logan areas set to become “the
home of electric buses with a re-elected
Palaszczuk government to supercharge
the industry by building and trialling
the technology in the growing region”,
it stated.
Transport and main roads minister
Mark Bailey says Gold Coast and
Logan commuters would enjoy “a
first-hand glimpse of the future” with
the government to partner with local
companies Bustech, Kinetic (Surfside
Buslines) and Clarks (Clarks Logan City
Bus Service), it confirms.
“We’ve built light rail, we’re rolling out
the longest electric vehicle superhighway
in the world, and from next year locals
will build and ride electric buses that
will be able to travel up to 300km from a
single charge,” minister Bailey said.
DRIVING FORCE
Member for Waterford, minister for
employment and small business,
and minister for training and skills
development Shannon Fentiman says 10
electric buses will be built on the Gold
Coast and rolled out across Logan.
“Before Covid-19 hit, our community
was a driving force behind two record
years of public transport use,” minister
Fentiman said.
“As part of Queensland’s plan for
economic recovery, the Palaszczuk
government is extending the busway
in Logan thanks to the $749 million
M1 upgrade through to Daisy Hill, and
very soon we’ll see electric buses on our
streets.”
Labor’s candidate for Currumbin
Kaylee Campradt says on the Gold Coast
electric buses would be used for the very
first time on the 777 bus route between
Broadbeach and the airport.
“We know buses play an important role
in connecting our community, alongside
the coast’s popular light rail and heavy
rail,” candidate Campradt said.
“With this very important first step it’ll
mean that by 2030 every new bus being
rolled out across Queensland will be a
zero-emissions bus, which is great news
for our environment too.
“We’re building more than $4 billion
in roads and transport for the region
supporting more than 3,000 jobs, and
with the electric bus market continually
evolving, I think we’ll potentially see
our community become the home of
advanced vehicle manufacturing in
Australia.”
Above: (L-R) Kinetic GM of SEQ Matt Campbell,
Labor candidate for Burleigh Wayne Bartholomew,
Labor candidate for Currumbin Kaylee Campradt,
Surfside Buslines depot manager Allyson Robinson
and minister for transport and main roads Mark
Bailey.
busnews.com.au November 2020 ABC
9

NEWS
BUSLINK NT COMMITS $660K TO
IMPROVE SAFETY
NORTHERN TERRITORY WorkSafe
has accepted a $660K ‘enforceable
undertaking’ from Buslink NT Pty Ltd
over the tragic death of a bus driver, who
was fatally injured as a result of a bus
rollaway incident in 2017.
NT WorkSafe alleged that despite
numerous safety reports in the
Australian bus industry highlighting
the dangers of bus rollaway incidents
and a Buslink bus being involved in a
similar near miss days earlier, Buslink NT
failed to implement adequate control
measures.
NT WorkSafe further alleges this failure
not only exposed the worker to the risk
of death or serious illness, but also had
the potential of placing the health and
safety of their passengers and nearby
pedestrians at risk, it states.
Buslink NT was charged with six
offences under Section 32 of the
Work Health and Safety (National
Uniform Legislation) Act 2011 for
failing in its duty to protect its drivers,
passengers and the community from
the risk of rollaway incidents, NT
WorkSafe confirms.
The six charges have been withdrawn,
but NT WorkSafe can commence
proceedings if Buslink NT fails to comply
with the terms of the undertaking,
it explains.
NEEDS TO BE DONE
The activities in the enforceable
undertaking to benefit the work health
and safety of the workers, industry and
the community are:
• installing MobilEye collision avoidance
systems in all 327 buses across
Buslink’s Northern Territory and
Queensland fleets
• producing and distributing an
instructional video on rollaway bus
prevention for bus operators and
drivers across Australia
• working with a partner organisation to
deliver a Northern Territory road safety
campaign targeting distracted driving.
SAFETY BENEFITS
The Northern Territory’s work health
and safety regulator Bill Esteves says
the NT WorkSafe investigation found
no evidence of ‘reckless conduct’ (Work
Health and Safety [National Uniform
Legislation] Act 2011 – Division 5,
Offences and penalties, section 31
Reckless conduct – Category 1), which
would have precluded the proposed
undertaking from being accepted.
“The activities Buslink NT committed
to in its enforceable undertaking have
been assessed as likely to result in
long-term, sustainable, measurable and
tangible work health and safety benefits
for the workplace, the industry and the
community,” Esteves said.
“The expected work health and
safety benefits will deliver outcomes
superior to those expected from a court
sanction, in particular the rollaway
bus prevention video will ensure that
learnings from Buslink NT’s experiences
will be communicated across Australia,”
Esteves added.
The financial obligations of the
proposal are significant, and exceed
penalties handed down for similar
incidents under equivalent legislation by
threefold, WorkSafe NT explains.
“Following the incident, Buslink
NT has worked with the original
equipment manufacturers to identify
and implement additional engineering
safety controls to further reduce the risk
of a bus rollaway.
“All owners and operators of buses
are urged to follow suit and review
their systems to minimise or eliminate
the risk of a bus rollway incident from
tragically occurring again,” said Esteves.
10
ABC November 2020 busnews.com.au

BYD-BACKED E-BUS MANUFACTURING SITE ACQUIRED
A PROPOSED $700 million e-bus
and e-vehicle manufacturing hub
in the NSW Southern Highlands –
backed by Chinese manufacturer
BYD – is a step closer after
‘cleantech’ company TruGreen’s
subsidiary Nexport secured a
51-hectare Moss Vale site.
As the Australian Financial Review
(AFR) reported, the site south-west
of Sydney aims to be at the forefront
of a revival of local manufacturing,
with as many as 2,000 new skilled
jobs envisaged for the entity.
According to the AFR, Nexport
chief executive Luke Todd confirms
the 51-hectare site at an industrial
estate at Moss Vale in the Southern
Highlands had been acquired for
the manufacturing operation as
it aims to become a big player in
making electric buses and vehicles.
Nexport is the largest supplier of
electric buses in Australia, it states,
and uses electric vehicle technology
developed by BYD.
Todd says the group was tapping
into the big shift towards rebuilding
Australia’s manufacturing base, and
an industry of the future in electric
vehicles.
Nexport “wanted to be part of
a manufacturing renaissance, in
line with the push by the federal
government to ensure that an
economic revival coming out of the
pandemic was accelerated”, the AFR
explains.
“It was already in the works but
we have taken the opportunity to
escalate and expedite and deepen
our investment,” Todd said.
“We are 100 per cent
Australian-owned.”
Other investors include Rod
Casson, who built up a large
motorcycle accessories business
with his brother, which they sold in
2017 for $123 million to ASX-listed
MotorCycle Holdings, the AFR states.
The Halifax family office has also
taken a stake, it reports.
Above:
Nexport chief
executive
Luke Todd
says the Moss
Vale industrial
production site
itself would be a
zero-emissions
site and would be
producing buses,
trucks, vans and
passenger vehicles
when it was at full
strength.
The New South Wales government
has begun the long process of
electrification of its fleet of 8000
buses, it adds.
Todd says the Moss Vale industrial
production site itself would be a
zero-emissions site and would be
producing buses, trucks, vans and
passenger vehicles when it was at
full strength.
He said Nexport and TrueGreen
were aiming to attract other
“cleantech” businesses to the site.
busnews.com.au November 2020 ABC
11

NEWS
uses all those new technologies
that we’ve been speaking about –
hydrogen, electric – it’s going to be a
mix of different technologies, but it’s
got to work in Brisbane conditions,”
he said.
“Diesel is going to need to be in
the mix in our public transport fleet
for the foreseeable future.”
BRISBANE FADES OUT
NATURAL-GAS BUSES
CLEAN DIESEL-technology buses
will slowly replace Brisbane City
Council’s aging ‘eco-friendly’
natural-gas run fleet, with reported
explosions resulting in gas tanks only
being half filled for safety, affecting
efficiency, an ABC Radio Brisbane
broadcast highlights recently.
As the basis for a printed story on
www.abc.net.au called ‘Brisbane
City Council swaps “exploding”
gas-powered buses for diesel
following gas cylinder explosions’, it
states that the, “…new diesel buses
are a stopgap, with Brisbane City
Council’s long-term plans to use
a mix of greener technologies,
like electricity and hydrogen,
still years off.”
It added: “Explosions in 2008 and
2012 led to policies that restricted
gas buses operating with half-filled
tanks, which meant they needed to
be refuelled more often.
“The council is withdrawing the
gas buses, which make up about a
third of the fleet, and they will be off
the roads by 2027,” it stated.
NO PROGRESS
As the report states, Brisbane public
and active transport chair Councillor
Ryan Murphy says natural gas “at its
heart” was cleaner than diesel, but
the former had not progressed in
two decades.
As a result, the Euro 6 standard
diesels – the council’s bus of choice
– had “leapfrogged” gas buses, with
lower particulate and nitrous oxide
emissions, it says.
“By 2023 we want to have a
procurement strategy in place that
uses all those new technologies
that we’ve been speaking about –
hydrogen, electric – it’s going to be a
mix of different technologies, but it’s
got to work in Brisbane conditions,”
Councillor Murphy said.
He explains that the
council wanted electric and
hydrogen-powered buses, but
needed to make sure they would
work in Brisbane’s climate and
conditions, and at scale, the
national-broadcaster ABC news
report states.
Councillor Murphy pointed to the
first Brisbane Metro bus that would
arrive mid next year: an electric bus
that could carry 150 passengers,
reach 90 kilometres per hour, and
fully charge in 4–6 minutes, the
reports states.
The United Kingdom and France
want diesel banned by 2040, and
India wants it off roads by 2030,
but Counsellor Murphy says those
countries are taking “some pretty big
bets” on their future public transport
fleets and Brisbane would be more
conservative, it quotes.
“By 2023 we want to have a
procurement strategy in place that
Above and
Below:
As the report
states, Brisbane
public andactive
transport chair
Councillor Ryan
Murphy says
natural gas “at its
heart” was cleaner
than diesel, but
the former had
not progressed in
two decades.
THE EXPLOSIONS
Brisbane opposition leader
Councillor Jared Cassidy (ALP) says
natural gas buses – introduced
under Labor Lord Mayor Jim Soorley
– had carried millions of passengers
for two decades.
“At the time they were
cutting-edge technology,” he
said, though “conceded it was
disappointing that two gas cylinders
had exploded in the fleet”, the
report states.
Councillor Cassidy supported
the council’s plan to import 60
electric buses for Brisbane Metro,
but insisted it needed to be more
ambitious and power its entire
1,200-strong fleet with electric or
hydrogen, it explains.
Councillor Cassidy says bus
manufacturer Volgren, based in
Brisbane, had the capability with
its international counterparts to
develop and build electric buses
for the city’s non-Metro routes, the
report confirms.
“We’ve got a fleet of 1,200 buses,”
he said.
“We’d be one of the very few of the
bus operators in Australia who could
lead the way on introducing electric
buses on a mass scale.
Councillor Murphy says replacing
the city’s diesel buses “overnight”
would be financially irresponsible
and leave working buses with
“nothing to do”.
12
ABC November 2020 busnews.com.au

ADL DELIVERS E-BUSES TO AUCKLAND
AUCKLAND TRANSPORT (AT) and ferry
operator Fullers360 now has six new
electric buses for use on Waiheke Island,
New Zealand, thanks to a delivery from
Alexander Dennis Limited (ADL), which
also has renewed its partnership with New
Zealand manufacturer Kiwi Bus Builders.
According to ADL – owned by North
America’s New Flyer Industries – it will
supply an additional two electric buses
to Fullers360 subsidiary Waiheke Bus
Company before Christmas, allowing half
of all buses on the island to be converted
to zero-emission operation.
At the launch event, attended by the
Mayor of Auckland and the British Consul
General in Auckland, ADL announced
its renewed partnership with local
manufacturer Kiwi Bus Builders, it adds.
This will now include the assembly of
electric buses, which for the New Zealand
market had until now taken place overseas,
it confirms.
In addition to two-axle models like
those for Waiheke Island, the partners will
produce 12.6m-long, three-axle electric
buses, which ADL has designed for the
specific requirements of bus operation in
New Zealand by carrying 78 passengers
without the requirement of an overweight
permit, a first for New Zealand, it states.
As the country prepares to fully transition
its bus fleet to zero-emission vehicles by
2035, their local assembly will support
up to 100 jobs at Kiwi Bus Builders, ADL
explains.
ADL’s general manager for New Zealand
Tony Moore said: “We have been a major
supplier to New Zealand for almost ten
years and during this time have already
supplied 500 vehicles with the help of our
friends at Kiwi Bus Builders. As Auckland
Transport and other transport authorities
prepare to move to a zero-emission fleet,
we are renewing this partnership in a clear
sign of our support for New Zealand jobs
and our commitment to this market.”
Kiwi Bus Builders managing director
Richard Drummond said: “The Enviro200
range of electric buses are not only
designed for our local requirements here
in New Zealand, but are also built in this
country. With investment in updated build
techniques, we will be able to scale up
our production to meet demand from
Auckland and elsewhere in New Zealand
as the fleet transformation gets under way
ahead of the 2035 zero-emissions target.”
busnews.com.au November 2020 ABC
13

NEWS
YUTONG E-BUS FOR
EAST AUCKLAND, NZ
EAST AUCKLANDERS will
electric vehicle on the road in
soon be able to enjoy a quiet,
Auckland, and our drivers are
zero-emissions bus experience
very excited to have been given
thanks to Auckland Transport
the opportunity to get behind
(AT) and local Transdev subsidiary
the wheel,” she explained.
Howick and Eastern, the
companies have announced.
2040 GOAL
Purchased by AT, the new
Transdev Australasia CEO Luke
including AT, to bring new
state-of-the-art Yutong E13
three-axle electric bus will
be operated by Howick and
Eastern on routes throughout
the Eastern suburbs and to and
from the City, catering for up to
78 passengers per trip, Transdev
confirms.
Agati congratulated Auckland
Transport for its ambition to
deliver a fully zero-emission bus
fleet by 2040.
“Globally, Transdev is a leader
in zero-emissions mobility and
we are proud to be partnering
with government agencies,
Above:
Auckland’s
newest electric
vehicle has
been specifically
designed to meet
New Zealand
conditions,
says Transdev
Australasia.
fleet and technologies to more
places,” Agati said.
“By replacing existing legacy
fleets with new zero-emissions
vehicles we can work together
to reduce our carbon footprint,
improve the long-term
sustainability of the transport
General manager of Howick
network, and make public
and Eastern Sheryll Otway says
transport an even easier choice
the new three-axle vehicle would
for customers,” he added.
provide a superior experience for
Auckland’s newest electric
both customers and drivers.
vehicle has been specifically
“The new vehicle is designed
designed to meet New Zealand
for passenger comfort, offering
conditions and is powered by a
a smoother, quieter and
422kW battery, with the vehicle
more sustainable journey for
capable of travelling up to 400
customers,” Otway said.
kilometres on a single charge,
“The bus is the first extra-large
Transdev confirms.
14
ABC November 2020 busnews.com.au

SITA BUSLINES REBRANDS TO
TRANSIT SYSTEMS VICTORIA
MORE THAN 18 months after Transit
Transit Systems subsidiary, says the
Systems acquired Melbourne-based
group is pleased to see the Transit
Sita Buslines – marking the
Systems network presence expand
company’s first foray into the state –
into Victoria.
the rebranded Victorian bus entity
“We have been successfully
is now officially known as Transit
running the operations in Victoria
Systems Victoria, it was announced
for over 18 months now, and the
recently.
time was right to consolidate
The company says it is extremely
the branding into the Transit
pleased to launch the new-look Sita
Systems network,” Feuerherdt
Buslines following the acquisition of
explained.
the group into the Transit Systems
“It is very much business as
portfolio in April 2019.
usual on the ground, but it
Transit Systems has successfully
transitioned more public transport
contracts than any other provider
in Australia, and is renowned for
innovation with leading on-demand
services, including ‘turn up and go’
services, and zero-emission transport
outcomes already in operation, the
company states.
Clint Feuerherdt, CEO SeaLink
demonstrates our commitment
to the Victorian transport network
as global operator with local
knowledge,” he said.
Transit Systems has a fleet of
electric buses running as part of
a trial with Transport for New
South Wales, as well as being one
of the most experienced hydrogen
fleet operators, experience gained
Above:
“We look forward
to seeing the
Transit Systems
fleet moving
around Victoria,
and we’re excited
by the possibilities
in the state,” said
Clint Feuerherdt,
CEO SeaLink
Travel Group.
for London network, it confirms.
“We are driven by the concept that
the more comfortable, convenient,
sustainable and reliable we make
public transport, the more we
can increase patronage, reduce
road congestion and decrease
emissions – improve performance
measurements and outcomes for
our clients and the community,”
Travel Group, which wholly owns the
in the globally renowned Transport
said Feuerherdt.
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busnews.com.au November 2020 ABC
15

NEWS
$100 MILLION NSW
REGIONAL JOB PUSH
SUPPORT GRANTS of up to
$10 million under a new NSW
government program designed
to create more jobs across the
state is open to businesses in the
transport and tourism sector, a
government spokesperson for
Deputy Premier John Barilaro
confirms.
Existing regional businesses
can apply for funding, as can
businesses located in metropolitan
areas, interstate or overseas that
want to establish operations in
regional NSW.
For the purposes of this fund,
regional NSW is defined as any area
in NSW that is outside of Greater
Metropolitan Sydney, Newcastle
or Wollongong, the government
clarifies.
The idea behind the plan is
regional businesses that can
increase employment by expanding
production lines or relocate
operations to regional NSW from
interstate or overseas will have
access to the grants.
Deputy Premier John Barilaro
says the $100 million Regional Job
Creation Fund, announced recently,
will provide businesses with the
money they need to fast track
expansion plans, to create jobs and
Above:
NSW Deputy
Premier Barilaro
says the Regional
Job Creation
Fund will provide
grants between
$100,000 and up
to $10 million
to undertake
projects that
create jobs.
stimulate the local economy.
“NSW businesses have
demonstrated remarkable
resilience in the face of drought,
bushfires and Covid-19 and this
unprecedented funding program
will help them thrive instead of
just survive,” Deputy Premier
Barilaro said.
“I have set an ambitious target for
the Regional Job Creation Fund to
create at least 5,000 new direct jobs
across regional NSW in the next
three years by providing businesses
with the equipment, infrastructure
and capacity they need to create
new opportunities and attract new
customers.
“Regional NSW is the engine
room of our state and this program
will deliver immediate economic
stimulus as businesses leverage new
opportunities by providing work for
tradies and suppliers.
“Regional NSW’s abundance of
natural resources, its pool of skilled
labour and the NSW government’s
record infrastructure spend is
providing businesses and industry
with everything they need to
succeed.”
Deputy premier Barilaro says the
Regional Job Creation Fund will
provide grants between $100,000
and up to $10 million to undertake
VOLVO BUS
AUSTRALIA
‘FAMILY’
CELEBRATES
MILESTONES
FATHER AND SON duo David and
Stuart Woodward are collectively
celebrating 40 years with Volvo
Bus Australia this year, with the
‘veterans’ reaching 25- and 15-year
milestones, respectively.
The 2020 career milestones
for the stalwart Woodward pair
highlights the integral support to
the Volvo Bus Australia team they’ve
provided and their nurturing of vital
relationships with customers and
industry stakeholders, the company
confirms.
16
ABC November 2020 busnews.com.au

projects that create jobs, including those
that:
• replace, upgrade or adapt existing plant
or equipment, including technology or
energy efficiency upgrades
• enable existing regional NSW businesses
to establish an additional production
line
• relocate a business from interstate
or internationally to regional NSW, or
onshore an activity currently being
undertaken overseas to regional NSW
• develop new tourism experiences and
attractions to create new demand in a
region.
TRANSPORT AND TOURISM
When ABC magazine contacted the
deputy premier’s office for further
information, a spokesperson for said:
“The NSW government’s $100 million
Regional Job Creation Fund will help
to create at least 5,000 new jobs across
the next three years by supporting
existing regional businesses and
encouraging interstate and international
business to invest in the regional NSW.
“The fund will assist businesses in key
and engine industries including transport
and logistics, agriculture, manufacturing,
defence technology and medical, by
co-funding projects providing businesses
with the money they need to fast track
expansion plans that will create jobs and
stimulate local economies.
“Projects include the expansion or
extension of existing buildings, facilities
or production lines or the construction
of new standalone buildings or facilities.
Projects must create at least five new
ongoing jobs.
“Existing regional businesses can apply
for funding, as can businesses located in
metropolitan areas, interstate or overseas
that want to establish operations in
regional NSW.
“For the purposes of this fund,
regional NSW is defined as any area
in NSW that is outside of Greater
Metropolitan Sydney, Newcastle or
Wollongong,” they stated.
CONTACT INFO
The NSW state government says it is
encouraging, “…businesses to discuss
their proposal with the Department
of Regional NSW by contacting
1300 679 673.”
For further information about the
program guidelines and eligibility,
visit www.nsw.gov.au/RCJFund or visit
https://www.investregional.nsw.gov.au/
investment-support/regional-jobcreation-fund/.
Applications are now open and
will close on May 14, 2021, or when
program funding is fully allocated, the
government explains.
Commencing his time with Volvo Bus
Australia in April, 1995, David Woodward
joined the team as Zone Service manager
NSW, servicing NSW and NT customers.
He later assumed the role of Regional
Service manager for the Sydney metro
area, where he serviced a large number
of customers across city, school, charter
and coach operations, before moving
into the newly created role of National
Competency manager in March this year,
Volvo Bus states.
Overall, Woodward Snr. has 44 years of
experience in the bus and coach industry
since landing his first industry job as an
apprentice mechanic in 1976. Since then
he has developed outstanding skills in
his field and has become regarded as
a technical guru in the industry, Volvo
explains.
LIKE FATHER, LIKE…
Passion and dedication to the bus and
coach industry clearly runs in the
Woodward family as David’s son,
Stuart, followed in his father’s footsteps
and began his career with Volvo Bus
Australia a decade later in 2005, Volvo
Bus confirms.
Having been immersed in the
industry and the close-knit bus and
coach community since he was a child
- where he attended various bus shows
and events – Woodward Jnr. has had
a passion for buses and coaches for as
long as he can remember, he says.
Stuart began his career with
Volvo Bus Australia as an apprentice
heavy diesel technician and later
transitioned to Service Advisor with
Volvo Commercial Vehicles Sydney.
He spent seven years as Contract and
Technical Support manager for Volvo
Bus in WA, and moved into his current
role as regional sales manager for NSW
in July 2019.
VALUABLE ASSETS
Both David and Stuart’s extensive
industry experience, exceptional
customer relationship skills and high
level of respect from the industry
make them valuable assets to Volvo
Bus and its customers, the company
states.
“We are very fortunate to have had
David and Stuart supporting the Volvo
Bus Australia team throughout the
years,” said David Mead, acting general
manager Volvo Bus Australia.
“Not only have they provided
invaluable service to our customers,
but they are truly passionate about the
bus and coach industry in Australia.
“Their career milestones are a
testament to their unwavering
dedication to the organisation and we
are very grateful to have them playing
such key roles within the Volvo Bus
team,” stated Mead.
busnews.com.au November 2020 ABC
17

NEWS
WWF-BACKED POST-
COVID RECOVERY
HIGHLIGHTS ‘CLEAN’
E-BUSES
THE WOT!?!
TAKING THE P***
This was the Edinburgh News’ front page on
November 9 – Lothian Buses drivers have been
accused of
dumping
bottles of
their urine
in bushes
on the aptly
named
Bogwood
Road in the
village of
Mayfield
near
Edinburgh.
“We have
worked
with local authorities and other partners to put
in place arrangements for toilet facilities along
our routes across Edinburgh and the Lothians,”
said Lothian Buses in its defence – raising the
question of where they thought bus drivers
were relieving themselves previously. And one
would hope that the bus is indeed stopped
before such matters are taken care of.
IN A MOVE to help stimulate Australia’s
pandemic-stymied economy, a World
Wildlife Fund (WWF) Australia campaign
video promoting a $2 billion recovery
focusing on green technology has
crucially thrust electric buses further
into the mainstream spotlight, recently.
Renewable heavy vehicles specialist
Electromotiv is fronting the WWF
Australia campaign, which evolved after
a WWF-commissioned report by EY
suggested a clean stimulus package
could create more than 100,000 jobs
in a post-Covid-19-led recovery. And a
central element to the initiative is a $240
million investment in electric buses.
In the video released by WWF this
week, Electromotiv’s managing director
and co-founder Toby Roxburgh explains
that Australia is well-placed to take
advantage of renewable energy and to
manufacture the buses that will replace
their fossil-fuel precursors.
“Australia has a fantastic renewable
energy resource; we’re the perfect
location for zero-emission buses. The
technology is there and we can make
them in Australia,” Roxburgh said in the
video that shows Transport Canberra’s
Yutong E12 electric trial bus travelling
the streets.
Roxburgh believes the campaign
could not have come at a better time,
saying Australian governments have
until recently been reluctant to add
zero-emission buses to their fleets, but
that’s changing rapidly.
“The demand for electric buses is
exponential. In the first quarter of this
year we did nine electric buses for
Auckland. We’re now working on our
next 50, our next hundred and our next
200 vehicles,” he said.
IN TRANSITION
Earlier this year, Transport for New South
Wales announced it would transition its
8000-strong bus fleet to zero-emission
technology by 2050. In 2019, Brisbane
City Council appointed a bid team
offering a high-capacity electric vehicle
and infrastructure combination to
service its $944 million Brisbane Metro
project.
WWF Australia Energy Transition
manager Nicky Ison says the
investment in electric buses
outlined in the EY report could
double local manufacturing jobs
in the bus sector.
“We can rebuild our economy in a way
that sets up Australia for prosperity in a
world hungry for a low-carbon future,”
Ison said.
“Secure jobs, cleaner air, improved
health and a nation envied as a world
leader in renewables – they are all within
our grasp. Australians will prosper and
thrive under a renewables-led recovery,”
Ison explained.
Above:
Roxburgh believes the WWF Australiabacked
campaign could not have come at a
better time, saying Australian governments
have until recently been reluctant to add
zero-emission buses to their fleets, but that’s
changing rapidly.
RAMBLE ON
Things are a bit happier south of the border
in North Yorkshire, where a three-hour
double-decker ride over the moors has been
named the UK’s most scenic bus route in a
competition run by Bus Users UK. The 840
route between Whitby and Leeds cruises past
the medieval city walls of York before rambling
through the rolling Yorkshire countryside to
finish up at the coast and a dramatic view of
Whitby’s ruined gothic abbey. Though, you
probably will need a wee after sitting on the
bus for three hours… Spare bottle, anyone?
BORN TO BUS
Looking for Christmas present ideas? Bus
Driver Simulator has now been released on
your console of choice, offering “a high level of
realism, buses from various countries and two
faithfully reproduced cities (Cologne, Germany
and Serpukhov, Russia)”. If you just can’t get
enough of it during work hours, it includes
road events such as traffic jams and accidents,
the need for fuel stops and variable weather,
though it doesn’t seem to have kangaroos
rocketing out of nowhere, possibly to the relief
of our European counterparts.
18
ABC November 2020 busnews.com.au

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BIC
MICHAEL APPS
The path to reopening
We have to look towards creating opportunities in a not-so Covid normal
Michael Apps
BIC executive
director
PO Box 6171,
Kingston ACT 2604
p: 02 6247 5990
f: 02 6273 1035
e: admin@bic.asn.au
On October 23, the Australian government
released its national policy to ‘open
Australia’: a ‘three-step framework for
a CovidSafe Australia’ to nationally
reopen to a state of ‘Covid normal’. At this stage,
Western Australia has decided not to join the rest
of the national cabinet in support of the Covid
normal plan.
It is possible that, by December 25, the whole of
Australia (except WA) may have open, quarantinefree
domestic borders and all Australians will be able
to socialise at any venue, at any time, at a distance
of 1.5m (not the currently prescribed 2 and 4 square
metre rules). Australians may also be permitted to
engage in low risk international travel, but I am yet to
be convinced of this.
So, what is Covid normal? Well, as I understand it,
our ‘new normal’ is:
• outbreaks are managed through a swift public
health response
• no domestic border restrictions
• physical distancing (1.5m) and personal
responsibility to hygiene and Covid testing
• all businesses to have a CovidSafe plan.
What places are CovidSafe? Any state or territory that
sustains a green light in a complex matrix of traffic
lights called the ‘Common Operating Picture’. The
‘picture’ measures state and territory performance on
managing Covid-19.
What other places are CovidSafe? Outside of
Australia, it remains New Zealand only. The recently
“I think the national Covid
normal plan, if adopted by all
states and territories, is an
extremely positive step for
industry.”
announced in-principle agreement between
Singapore and Hong Kong to establish a two-way air
travel bubble (ATB) is an interesting development to
be closely watched.
The ATB allows travel between both cities
without quarantine, with certain conditions such as
travellers testing negative for Covid. It is clear to me,
however, that our coach sector cannot rely on any
international borders opening anytime soon.
The latest tourism statistics (provided by the
Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry
in September) tells a compelling and painful
story for our coach tourism sector:
• international visitors for 2020 likely to be around
1.8 million versus 9.5 million last year – buggered if I
know where the 1.8m visitors are coming from;
• domestic interstate travel in June down 82 per cent
compared to last year with overnight spend down
to $404 million compared to $2.9 billion in June
2019;
• hotel occupancy rates in August/September in
key capital cities down around 30 –35 per cent
compared to 75–82 per cent last year.
The August results from Tourism Research Australia
show that regional areas are faring better than
capital cities (Sydney, for example, down 85 per cent
compared to August 2019), but regional QLD, WA
and SA are all on the way up.
However, I believe there is a strong opportunity
for our coach sector in both regional and urban
tourism. The BIC has long advocated to industry and
governments for people to travel across Australia not
over it and connect regional visitors to our cities and
vice versa. State regional visits are not dissimilar to a
regional coach tour in Europe.
If this new Covid normal plan pans out, coach
operators need to crank up the engine now
and start talking to the state tourism agencies
and local governments to grow a new and unique
service in Australian tourism. There is more to
local coach tourism than young backpackers
and grey nomads.
Not trying to tell operators how to suck eggs
here, but I believe we need to expand the market
opportunities across the board, not just the
traditional markets (charter school bus as an
example). Why not try something that offers an
experience for a family to see and experience our
regions and cities?
The BIC and the Bus Australia Network are
doing our bit to ensure that support for the sector
is on the agenda of all ministers in transport and
tourism – including providing a 10-year strategy
for coach solutions for land transport tourism.
We are also currently holding discussions with
the deputy PM Michael McCormack and the
national cabinet to support a number of initiatives
to encourage industry diversification, business
investment and tourist incentives.
The bureaucratic task moves slowly most of the
time, but I think the national Covid normal plan, if
adopted by all states and territories, is an extremely
positive step for industry and there-in lies an
opportunity for coach operators to flick the switch to
new ways to deliver a tourism product.
Keep safe and well. Stay informed at ozebus.com.
au/covid.
20
ABC November 2020 busnews.com.au

INSTANT ASSET WRITE OFF UP TO $150K UNTIL 30 JUNE 2021
ALL REASONABLE OFFERS CONSIDERED ON ALL VEHICLES ADVERTISED
3x 2014 Iveco
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WAS $265,000 + GST
$245,000 + GST
1 x 2013
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seats, curtains,
DVD, Bull bar and
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WAS $65,000 + GST
$60,000 + GST
Only 3 left x 2013
Iveco Delta Euro5
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From
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USED BUS
SALES AUSTRALIA
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USED BUS SALES AUSTRALIA
Phil on 0417 848 946, phil.stonestreet@stonestreets.com.au
or ken@usedbussales.com.au, 0419 661 220

SPONSORED CONTENT
FIRESTORM EVOLVES TO
UNITED SAFETY
Firestorm Fire Protection
has changed its name
to United Safety and
Survivability. With the
change of name comes
the best of safety and
survivability technology
for Australia.
Firestorm Fire Protection’s
heritage has been in vehicle fire
suppression, with a dedicated
team of specialists servicing the
transportation sector since 2010.
With now more than 10,000 Fogmakers
installed on buses throughout Australia
and New Zealand, the company has been
instrumental in the industry in producing
a notable downward trend in bus fires
year on year as uptake increases in both
public and private fleets, it states.
To continue with the company’s
core philosophy toward safety, it has
introduced new products that sit outside
of the fire mitigation, but still remain close
to its core values.
“This became the necessary catalyst to
change our name to United Safety and
Survivability Corporation (USSC),” national
product and innovation manager Kieran
McHatton shared.
Since 2004, the company has grown
steadily from a small base in the Hunter
Valley to now, in 2020, employing 130+ staff
and with nine metropolitan and regional
branches across Australia.
With the Pennsylvania, USA-based parent
company providing new and innovative
products to the portfolio, it quickly became
apparent that the next evolution was to
change the company’s name to USSC.
As part of this growth, the management
team has welcomed Brett Baxendale to
the position of business development
manager. Baxendale has applied experience
in passenger transport vehicles and shares
the vision to work with clients as partners in
safety and survivability.
In 2021, new product sets will be released
into the transport market. These products
will allow USSC to further assist the market
with the new challenges, such as proactive
sanitisation of buses, it says.
Active Air Purification at work.
22
ABC November 2020 busnews.com.au

COVID SOLUTIONS
AEGIS Microbe Shield is the first
product USSC released recently,
which has seen significant
interest from the bus sector.
AEGIS provides a 12-month
antimicrobial barrier for surfaces.
The product is applied to all high
touchpoints, including handrails,
seating, passenger windows and
driver cabin.
This gives the public
confidence to return to public
transport and interstate coach
travel, and when combined with
USSC’s PHI cell it provides a
“one-two punch” to bacteria
and viruses, the company says.
In addition to AEGIS, Active
Air with PHI Cell Technology is a
proven solution for Covid-19 in
vehicles and commercial areas,
USSC says.
The unit produces low levels
of hydroperoxides, which in pure
form is recognised as a highly
effective disinfection agent
commonly used in the health
and medical industries to kill
viruses and bacteria.
The Active Air unit can be
installed in the recirculating air
conditioning unit of a vehicle
with fixed glass windows to
continually sanitse the air as the
vehicle is operating. This occurs
autonomously and without driver
initiation and provides a constant
level of protection for both
occupants and driver.
This duration is the key to
elimination of colony-forming
bacterial and virus clusters, as
traditional high-disinfection
cleaning leaves vehicles
unprotected during operational
periods, USSC states.
Various-sized modules are
Fogmaker is Australia’s
leading vehicle watermist fire
suppression system, it says.
This gives the public confidence to
return to public transport and interstate
coach travel.
available from USSC to suit different
application areas, it explains.
FIRE-SUPPRESSION
SOLUTIONS
Zero Emission Buses (ZEBs) are now
being rolled out across metro areas,
which creates new challenges for
builders and operators alike.
As most fire-suppression systems
were tested on diesel fires. it is vital
to understand what systems are
available for ZEBs, the compliance
of those systems and the fire
performance, based on the risk.
United Safety offers a variety
of fire-suppression systems
including the Fogmaker Water
Mist, conventional foam systems,
dry chemical powder, dual agent,
aerosol and 3M Novec.
SAFETY SYSTEMS
Safety of vehicle occupants has
been the core attributing value
of the company’s mandate and
success throughout the years.
USSC has a neat and simple
solution for the end-of-shift driver
procedure that ensures no child
is left on board a bus, or any other
item in fact, the company says.
Child Check-Mate is a driver
alarm system that ensures that the
driver has walked the length of a
full-size bus to disable an alarm
system with a push of a button.
The small box has big
functionality says McHatton,
such as audible instructions,
GPS integration capability, delay
function for loading and fueling,
and telematic output for real-time
viewing by CCTV.
For more information about
USSC’s product offerings, contact
Brett Baxendale via email at
brett.baxendale@ussc.com.au,
call 1800 424 889, or visit USSC’s
website at www.ussc.com.au
busnews.com.au November 2020 ABC
23

SPONSORED CONTENT
AXALTA – A LEADER IN
PAINT AND COATINGS
2020 has been a
quiet year for many,
but that has not
stopped Axalta from
continuing to work
in the background,
supporting partners
and strengthening
businesses.
As the major supplier
of paint and
coatings to the bus
industry, Axalta has
striven to provide
products and solutions, resulting in
increased productivity, durability and
longer lifespan of vehicles, it says.
With the recent announcement
that Axalta has been appointed the
exclusive paint and coatings supplier
to Bustech, Axalta now supplies
to more than 75 per cent of all
Australian manufactured buses, the
company confirms.
Axalta puts its rapid growth within
the bus industry down to taking time
to truly understand the challenges
faced by Australian manufacturers.
“At Axalta we consider ourselves
a partner to manufacturers, not just
a supplier. Every bus carrying the
manufacturer’s logo also carries
our global reputation for industry
leading product and support,” Axalta
Australia OEM product manager
Michael Busch said.
“The predominantly coastal,
high-corrosion environment that
Australia’s buses operate within,
exposed to constant extreme
levels of UV, needs a unique
product offering.
“The Axalta product team
has done an outstanding job at
identifying the best possible product
combinations, which contribute
significantly to producing, in our
opinion, the best buses in Australia.”
However, the paint product itself is
just a small part of the product and
service offering provided by Axalta,
it says.
“Axalta’s partnership with
manufacturers includes extensive
initial and ongoing painter training,
assistance identifying quality new
recruits, analysis and improvement
of existing processes, quality
control and supply of international
benchmark quality product,” Busch
continued.
“We even work directly with the
manufacturer’s supply chain to
ensure the initial part is provided at
the quality level required, to allow
the final paintwork to present to its
full quality capacity.”
At Axalta we consider
ourselves a partner to
manufacturers, not just a
supplier.
Above:
Coatings
application on
a bus
Right:
Axalta’s
partnership with
manufacturers
includes ongoing
painter training
SUITE OF CLIENTS
A proud member and supporter
of the Australian Bus Industry
Confederation (BIC), Axalta’s suite
of clients domestically includes
Volgren’s three manufacturing
sites in Victoria, Western Australia
and Queensland, plus Bustech in
Queensland and Precision Buses in
South Australia.
Internationally, Axalta customers
include global powerhouses Volvo,
Yutong and BYD, the company
confirms.
The extensive national Axalta
technical team continues to offer
the highest levels of support to
manufacturers in all states and
territories of Australia, it explains.
24
ABC November 2020 busnews.com.au

SPECIAL EVENTS
IT’S NOT JUST A TRUCK
SHOW – IT’S A FESTIVAL
The latest announcement
about the 2021 Brisbane
Truck Show was not
about the truck show
at all. Yet it was greeted
with overwhelming
enthusiasm by stalwarts
from across the industry.
The last show to feature
heavy equipment and
machinery was also the
last show at the RNA –
Brisbane Showgrounds
– in 2009. The show’s hand was
forced by the redevelopment of the
Showgrounds; however, the move to
Brisbane Convention and Exhibition
Centre has been well rewarded.
Exhibitors have been able to really
step it up with the quality of their
displays in one of the world’s great
venues. The Brisbane Truck Show is the
only event that takes over the whole
centre, with fantastic displays filling all
three floors.
The proximity to South Bank and the
CBD has opened up new opportunities
for truck displays, networking, dining
and entertainment.
If there were one, the only downside
was that there was nowhere for the big
yellow construction gear.
Well, in Australia we never say
never. The exciting news that the
2021 Civil Construction Field Days will
be hosted by the Civil Construction
Federation of Queensland in tandem
with the Brisbane Truck Show was
confirmed last month. They have
delivered the concept on a smaller
scale before, but the 2021 event is
not short of ambition.
The new venue is downriver from the
Story Bridge alongside the fabulous
Northshore Hamilton development at
Portside Wharf.
It is large enough for a huge array of
heavy equipment and machinery and
plenty of parking, too. Not that you’ll
need it if you take the free shuttle from
the truck show, or jump on a Rivercat
from South Bank.
The reciprocal ticket means that your
entry into one show will also get you
into the other. That’s a lot of bang for
your buck.
HEAVY VEHICLE WEEK
Last year’s Brisbane Truck Show
brought with it a new umbrella event
that takes in all the displays, product
launches, dinners, conferences,
meetings and other activations
alongside the show.
The Australia Heavy Vehicle Industry
Week gave a name to an extraordinary
collection of activities that make
Brisbane an irresistible destination for
the industry every two years.
Next year will see major anniversaries
celebrated by a couple of the industry’s
biggest names. Plans are well
underway for how that will look on the
ground but enough to say that you, the
visitor, will be the beneficiary.
There will be more trucks and trailers
on display at South Bank parklands
and more again in the CBD.
Virtually every bar and restaurant in
the precinct will be offering deals for
truck show attendees; the National
Apprentice Challenge will be staged
Above: Todd Hacking (HVIA), Simon Turnbull
(Hastings Deering) and Damian Long (CCFQ)
launch the Civil Construction Field Days.
in the South Bank Piazza and live
entertainment every day – and every
night – will bring the festival to life.
Meanwhile the Brisbane Truck
Show will benefit from new features
including a dedicated Future Fuels
hub and an expanded Technology and
Innovation hub.
The Queensland Heritage Truck
Show over at Rocklea has been taking
place on the weekend of the show for
years. If you haven’t made your way
over there before, 2021 is definitely
the year.
Speaking of heritage trucks, the 1928
Thornycroft A2 that was the stage for
the very first Brisbane truck show in
1968 is currently being restored. That
project is no small challenge; however,
everything is on track to unveil her on
opening day of the show.
It sounds like everything that’s old
is new again, doesn’t it? All that and a
whole lot more.
With the borders opening up, hotel
rooms are booking fast. Make sure
you’ve locked in yours!
www.brisbanetruckshow.com.au
26
ABC November 2020 busnews.com.au

INNOVATION - SUSTAINABILITY - SAFETY - KNOWLEDGE - CAREERS - COMMUNITY

IN FOCUS
TFNSW PANEL 3 BUSES
ILLAWARRA
TO SEE FIRST
‘PANEL 3’ BUSES
A family owned
and operated
bus company in
the coastal NSW
Illawarra region will
soon be running
the first Transport
for NSW (TfNSW)
‘Panel 3’-compliant
buses, which needed
new fire-retardant
materials and firesuppression
systems
to meet the latest
‘Crib 7’ standard,
Volgren reports
recently.
Established in 1923, Dion’s Bus
Service – based in the
Wollongong suburb of Fairy
Meadow – is the oldest bus
operator in the Illawarra.
The concept behind the term ‘Panel
3’ refers to TfNSW’s new procurement
arrangement where all new buses travelling
in New South Wales must meet passenger
safety improvement measures, including
stringent new fire-mitigation specifications.
The two low-floor route buses,
incorporating Volgren Optimus bodies on
Volvo BR8 chassis, will replace vehicles
coming to the end of their life, and
Dion’s managing director Les Dion
says that will make a significant difference
to passengers.
“The two new buses will go into service in
late November, replacing two older buses
approaching their maximum contract bus
age of 25 years,” Dion said.
“Being low-floor accessible buses we
will be able to better accommodate
wheelchairs and prams, as well as our
elderly customers.
“By replacing two standard buses with
accessible buses we are now in a position to
be able to provide 100 per cent accessible
buses to all of our scheduled passenger
services,” he added.
GREAT TRANSFORMATION
Dion’s fleet, having served its customers
through World Wars and depressions,
has transformed greatly during that
time and now, as one could imagine.
“In early days you would use your
resources to maintain your fleet and
even add gas-producing charcoal
burners to keep the buses going when
fuel was scarce during the Second
World War,” Dion said.
In fact, there was even a period where
Dion’s would ‘re-body’ its own buses in
order to keep costs down. When it could
no longer do this, Dion’s would revert
to buying second-hand buses. In 1989,
Dion’s purchased its first new bus in 40
years, it confirms.
Les Dion says the company’s first
Volgren entered the fleet in 1998 and
that was the first time the team saw a
reliable bus body.
“This bus shared the same chassis as
three previous buses with a different
28
ABC November 2020 busnews.com.au

us body. All three of them
gave us grief and the common
denominator was the bus body
in this instance,” he explained.
“It is important that the bus
body and chassis complement
each other and we have seen
many instances where that was
not the case. What that equated
to is time off the road and
expensive repairs.
“Unnecessary ongoing
maintenance over the life of
the bus does not go down well,
especially when you know that
you will be stuck with the bus for
some 25 years,” he said.
MINUTE DETAILS
Dion points out that the
engagement with Volgren has
enabled him to address minute
details such as positioning of the
Consat screen and other control
By replacing two standard buses with
accessible buses we are now in a position to be
able to provide 100 per cent accessible buses
to all of our scheduled passenger services.
switches and devices affecting
the driver.
“Previously, it was a bit of a
lottery with where some of the
controls and switches would end
up,” he stated.
“With the demand of Panel 3
there were some limitations on
product patterns such as seating.
Instead of simply progressing
with the most convenient style,
Volgren made certain that we
understood the limitations and
were still happy with the colour
scheme that was provided.”
Today, the majority of Dion’s
fleet comprises Volvo buses and
about 80 per cent have Volgren
bodies. He says his company
has confidence that the Panel
3 version of the Volvo-Volgren
combination will perform well –
and in great part that confidence
comes down to the engagement.
“Working with Volgren on
Panel 3 is a totally different
procurement process [to what
has occurred before]. And
because there’s a lot more
required of manufactures there’s
been a lot more engagement in
terms of what’s going in the bus,
Above:
All new buses
travelling in New
South Wales
must meet
passenger safety
improvement
measures,
including
stringent new
fire-mitigation
specifications.
Opposite, Below:
Les Dion with two
Volvo/Volgrenbodied
buses
(Illawarra Mercury,
2017. Image:
Sylvia Liber).
busnews.com.au November 2020 ABC
29

IN FOCUS
TFNSW PANEL 3 BUSES
It’s just a massive leap in terms of the standard
of buses we are getting now and it lends itself
to a great customer experience.
Above:
There are new
standards in place
for increased
fire resistance of
materials, as well
as a new fireextinguisher
system
for the engine bay.
Below:
There has been
significant
engagement of the
operator with the
builder to build the
best bus possible.
where it should be positioned,
what it’s going to look like...”
KEY MILESTONE
Volgren’s sales and marketing
manager Yuri Tessari says
achieving Panel 3 compliance
is a key milestone for the
company and the result of strong
cooperation and engagement
with manufacturers, chassis
OEMs, operators and
government.
“These vehicles are the end
of a 12-month process working
closely with Volvo and Transport
for New South Wales,” Tessari
explained.
“There’s been a great deal of
company-wide collaboration –
design, manufacturing
engineering, sales – everyone’s
been invested in making sure the
vehicles exceed expectations.
“The process took a huge
amount of work researching
new fire-retardant materials
to bring them up to a Crib 7
standard.
“[We worked] with existing and
new suppliers to meet the Panel
3 requirements, [including] new
standards in fire suppression
materials – plastics, seat vinyl,
flooring, a new fire extinguisher
system for the engine bay...”
Tessari states the result is
an updated version of their
constantly improving flagship
Optimus now incorporating
the most rigorous fire-safety
specifications a Volgren bus has
ever possessed. And four more
will come to the south coast of
New South Wales very soon, the
company confirms. Volgren’s next
Panel 3 order is from Premier
Illawarra, and these buses will be
built on MAN chassis.
A MASSIVE LEAP
As for Dion’s, the new buses will
go into service mid-November
2020, across scheduled city
services and school runs, and
Les Dion says he’s found himself
wondering at how far the
company has come in almost
a century.
“It’s just a massive leap in
terms of the standard of buses
we are getting now and it
lends itself to a great customer
experience,” he said.
“When you step into a
bus you want to feel relaxed
and comfortable and enjoy
the journey.
“This chassis and body
[combination] lends itself to that.
“The chassis and body – and
relationship we have with the
manufacturers – tick all the boxes
for us,” he said.
30
ABC November 2020 busnews.com.au

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IN FOCUS
CANBERRA BUS RALLY
‘MUM AND DAD’ BUS
BUSINESSES STAGE
CANBERRA RALLY
A 15-strong convoy of family owned ‘mum and dad’ bus companies from across
Australia made its way to rally outside Parliament House, Canberra, on October
26 to highlight the economic pressures these small businesses are under.
To highlight their plight, the 15
‘desperate’ small bus-company
owners in their buses joined a
convoy that circled the lawn in
front of the Parliament building
in a display of solidarity – organised by
Australian Family Owned Bus Companies.
The buses joined the convoy after meeting
with shadow tourism minister Senator Don
Farrell and Labor MPs Susan Templeman
(Macquarie) and Mike Freelander (Macarthur)
to plead their case, organisers state.
They also spoke with shadow
infrastructure, transport and regional
development minister Senator Catherine
King in a phone conference.
Opposition leader in the Senate
Penny Wong and deputy Leader Kristina
Keneally have agreed to meet in the future,
organisers add.
According to rally spokespeople, as the
“bus industry faces extinction” due to a
range of issues such as “bankruptcy, bank
foreclosures, dangerous decline in mental
health and even suicide threats”, the
nationwide ‘mum and dad’ family owned
and independent bus industry faces such a
demise without a federal government rescue
package because of the impacts of Covid-19.
HOPELESS AND HELPLESS
Owner of Paramount Tours in Bankstown,
NSW, Laura Di Leva, said: “Every kilometre
travelled costs a business owner about $3.50,
so coming to Canberra was a huge sacrifice
that cost each operator hundreds of dollars
(thousands in some cases).”
She thanked politicians for meeting
with five Australian Family Owned Bus
Companies group representatives, but says
small bus company owners felt hopeless.
“They have no work and don’t see anything
changing,” she said.
The ongoing closure of international
Rally spokespeople had a meeting before
the rally with politicians including Labor MP
Susan Templeman (right), pleading their case.
borders had wiped out bus tours to tourist
sites around the nation, slashing operator
income to zero, she says.
Many who relied on the inbound tourism
market had heavily invested in vehicles to
serve the previous demand, she explains.
Now, the hiatus to vehicle repayments
had expired and banks and other lenders
demanded payment, Di Leva states.
Many could not pay and must consider
refinancing their homes or using the equity
in them to meet repayments. Some risked
losing everything, she outlines.
“One operator told me he has to fork
out over $5,000 per month in repayments
starting October,” Di Leva said.
“He doesn’t have that money unless he
sells his house. He’s 75 and was looking into
retiring before the pandemic broke out.
“He can’t even sell his vehicles as no-one
has the money to buy them, and if he sells
at auction he will get only half of their value.”
Domestic border closures have also
impacted the long-distance charter market.
With no indication on when they would
reopen, “…we cannot even plan tours for
the future.”
Many operators had been forced to
deregister vehicles they could not afford to
register, which also axed their potential to
work if circumstances changed, she adds.
All small bus company owners faced
financial hardship, with some facing
bankruptcy, Di Leva states, who says that she
has had zero income for 12 months.
VEHICLE REPAYMENT COSTS
Di Leve sold one of her coaches at a heavily
reduced rate and is looking at selling
another, she confirms.
While she had secured a repayment
deferral extension until February 2021, the
consequence was an extra $1,500 a month,
bringing the monthly total to $7,500 for just
one vehicle, and an additional eight months
to the contract term.
“I don’t see how I can make this repayment
if I don’t have a substantial amount of work,”
she said.
“I will have to draw down on my home loan
to cover just the vehicle repayment costs.”
Also a licensed travel agent, two interstate
and two overseas tours were cancelled and
Di Leva had to refund all her clients, she says.
32
ABC November 2020 busnews.com.au

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IN FOCUS
CANBERRA BUS RALLY
We are one of the first
industries impacted and
the last ones to recover.
got guys ringing me in tears and
threatening suicide, and that
impacts my own mental health,”
Williams said.
In total, she had lost approximately
$100,000 in income and
forfeited two years of work due to
the pandemic, she adds.
“I will not see that level of income
for at least another three years,”
she said.
“Our industry is not like
restaurants or coffee shops that can
convert their output to takeaways.
We are one of the first industries
impacted and the last ones to
recover.”
GRATEFUL BUT STRUGGLING
Director of Near or Far Bus & Coach
in the Blue Mountains, NSW, Rod
Williams especially thanked Ms
Templeman, who arranged the
meetings with her Parliamentary
colleagues and raised the issue in
a Private Member Statement in
Parliament.
Williams says while smaller
bus companies were grateful
for government help such as
JobKeeper, many aspects of the
industry had been overlooked.
Small bus companies needed
help with crippling costs like depot
rental payments, vehicle registration,
insurances, fuel costs and toll fees
to remain viable and provide job
security for employees, he explains.
The group is calling on state
governments to share transport
work with all accredited operators
rather than just large companies,
he states.
Hartley adds that an extension
of JobKeeper past March 2021 was
also needed, along with negotiations
with creditors and industry specific
mental health support.
Williams also worried about the
thousands of bus drivers, mechanics,
cleaning and other ancillary staff
employed by the bus industry.
“We’re not using our vehicles so
we don’t need windscreens, tyres or
technicians, which means we’re not
bringing business to these people,”
he said.
“It’s life and death now. I’ve
LIFELINE NEEDED
Meanwhile, communities would also
be stripped of affordable transport
options when normal travel
resumed if a lifeline was not thrown
to the small private bus industry
now, he says.
Pre-Covid, these operators had
filled their buses with everyday
Australians and transported them to
school camps, swimming carnivals
and sporting activities, school
holiday outings, weddings, seniors’
daytrips and other social group
events. Now they are on the brink of
collapse, they say.
He urged people to contact their
local politicians.
“Many operators like myself
will not be around much longer
without some instant cash
injections and then some form
of ongoing assistance such as
low-interest government loans
with a non-payment term, then a
long-term payment plan.”
Above:
15 ‘desperate’
small buscompany
owners
in their buses
joined a convoy
that circled the
lawn in front of
the Parliament
House in
Canberra.
34
ABC November 2020 busnews.com.au

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IN FOCUS
TRANSDEV ELECTRIC BUS
250 solar panels are capturing up to
159,000kWh of power per year.
‘SUSTAINABLY POWERED’
E-BUS FOR SEQ
Transdev Queensland will launch a 100 per cent ‘sustainably powered’
full-sized electric bus for South East Queensland early 2021, charged at
a fully solar-powered bus depot in Brisbane, the company reports.
Touted as a first for Australia,
global e-mobility leader
Transdev will operate the new
39-seat e-bus on TransLink
routes throughout Brisbane
and the Redlands from early 2021 under a
two-year partnership with the Queensland
state government, it confirms.
Transdev CEO Luke Agati says the
bus would be 100 per cent powered by
‘harvested’ sustainable solar energy, with
the company installing a new Green
Mobility Megawall, comprising 10 Tesla
Power Walls and solar network at its
Capalaba depot.
“Averaging more than 280 days of
sunshine per year, Queensland well and
truly lives up to its reputation as the
Sunshine State, and we are excited to be
bringing this clean, green, modern vehicle
to Brisbane and the Redlands,” Agati said.
“Globally, Transdev is a leader in
zero-emissions mobility, and work is
underway to introduce new fleet and
innovations to Australia and New Zealand
over the coming months.
“Research, testing and design for our
future zero-emissions fleet will be led
from our newly opened Maintenance and
Engineering Centre of Excellence, also
based at our Capalaba Depot.”
ZERO-EMISSION FLEET
Member for Capalaba Don Brown toured
Transdev’s Capalaba depot recently and
says the new e-bus would help to power
Queensland’s e-mobility industry and
support jobs.
“Not only will the new vehicle be
powered by the more than 159,000kWh of
local sunshine collected on-site each year,
but it will be Queensland research and
experience that will shape the design and
introduction of [a] new zero-emission fleet,
both here in Queensland, and elsewhere
across the country,” member Brown said.
“Global economies have been hard-hit
by Covid-19, and both Australia and
Queensland have not been immune.
“But Queensland’s ongoing health
response means we can continue our
plan for economy recovery, which means
creating jobs on major transport projects
like new, more energy-efficient buses, our
$371 million smart ticketing system and
the Eastern Transitway.
“The Palaszczuk government is
committed to collaborating with
industry on the transition to electric
vehicles and infrastructure and services,
and Transdev’s decision to lead it’s [sic]
e-mobility operations from Queensland
is a recognition of the expertise and
innovation that we have here in the
Sunshine State.”
BUS FACTS
• Route testing will occur for two years
– to identify suitable routes (based on
geography, stopping pattern, etc.) for
optimal energy efficiency
• Capacity for 61 passengers – 39 sitting,
22 standing
• Up to 300-kilometre range per charge
(operating under normal conditions)
• 348kW size battery
• Battery fully charged in under
five hours
• Enhanced passenger comfort – reduced
noise, USB charging ports and electric
ramp
36
ABC November 2020 busnews.com.au

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IN FOCUS
TRANSDEV ELECTRIC BUS
• Customised digital signage and
on-board display
• Volgren Optimus body integrated
with BYD e-bus chassis.
GREEN MOBILITY
MEGAWALL/SOLAR SYSTEM
• 250 solar panels capturing up to
159,000kWh of power per year –
average of 438kW per day
• Green Megawall consists of 10
individual Tesla Power Wall units
• Total storage capacity 135kWh.
Our day-to-day work influences
our families, friends and future
generations where they live, work
and play.”
In Australasia, Transdev has 5,704
people passionate about operating
its 2,150 vehicles and vessels, which
deliver more than 145 million
customer journeys each year, it
explains.
It will be Queensland
research and experience
that will shape the design
and introduction of [a]
new zero-emission fleet.
ABOUT TRANSDEV
According to Transdev it believes, “…
public transport plays an important
part in how a city comes to life.
Above: L-R: Transdev Australasia
head of engineering Marc Cleave,
TransLink CEO Matt Longland and
Transdev Queensland head of business
operations Mark McKenzie looking at
solar panel installation at Transdev’s
Capalaba Depot, Brisbane. Image
credit: Nicholas O’Sullivan.
Right:
A mock-up of the e-bus – final livery is
to be determined by TransLink.
38
ABC November 2020 busnews.com.au

THE ENGINE OIL
THAT WORKS AS
HARD AS YOU
Our customers depend on Shell Rimula to protect their bus
and coach fleets in the harsh Australian conditions. From long
distance coaches traveling through the centre of Australia, to
stop/start driving of city buses, you can trust Shell Rimula.
Shell Rimula oils are formulated to safeguard engines against
wear and acid corrosion, which can be harmful to engine and
oil life.
Coupled with a comprehensive range to transmission,
gearbox, hydraulic and differential oils as well as greases
and coolants, our range of lubricants cover just about every
application to keep your buses and coaches working as hard
as you do.
To find out more about Shell Rimula and other
quality lubricants call our technical team on
1300 134 205 or visit Shell.com.au/Rimula

IN FOCUS
MELBOURNE PROTEST BUS
MELBOURNE
OPERATOR
TAKES PROTEST
BUS TO THE
STREETS
Victorian border closure uncertainty – affecting a
charter bus business’s ability to reliably plan and
honour tour bookings – plus Melbourne’s strict
metro lockdown restrictions forced one local
family owned and run bus operator to visibly
protest his plight and put more than half of his
bus fleet up for auction to help pay a spiralling
multi-million dollar debt.
Laurie Pincini of Rockleigh Tours
drove his protest bus around
Melbourne metro precinct
recently, covered in anti-Victoria
premier Dan Andrews slogans.
Pincini says his business is “going
backwards” and that “it’s screwed”, after
having to put 12 of his 22 buses up for
auction.
Speaking exclusively to ABC, he said
that he has had to diversify his workload
to include hay bailing and silage trucking
to keep money flowing and help reduce
a $3.8 million (and growing) debt –
Pincini recounted a harrowing financial
predicament being felt by charter bus
operators Australia-wide.
“We are driving silage trucks, we are
doing hay contracting, we’re doing
anything to try to make a dollar, mate –
we’ve been closed since March 16,”
Pincini said.
“I’ve had one bus a day, or you know
a couple out… Out of the 22 buses, the
maximum I’ve had [doing] work has been
five in one day doing V/Line at night-time,
at 3.00am, 4.00am in the morning. That
doesn’t’ pay the bills when it costs us
$200K a month to open the door and
you’ve only got $50K a month coming in.
“We’ve been in the bus game now for
just on 75 years. We employ my sons,
my daughters, my sons-in-laws, uncles,
fathers in-laws, bloomin’ my kid’s uncle’s
brothers-in-laws plus families and
everything in the local community.
“Come the end of December and
something opens and goes bang! They are
all out of work because JobKeeper doesn’t
work past then when I’ve got to pay them
the 20 hours a week. I can’t afford it!”
When asked what the motivation behind
the protest bus was, Pincini referred
comparatively to the situation in NSW and
said: “It’s been causing waves; it’s all around
the world.”
The bus started doing the rounds
recently when the amended Victorian
Omnibus bill – still contentiously
interpreted by pro-democracy civil
libertarians while championed and
defended by premier Daniel Andrews
MP – was passed.
THE STRESS
Asked about the stress and impact this is
all having on his family and himself, Pincini
replied: “Well, mate – I’ve called Beyond
40
ABC November 2020 busnews.com.au

Blue... I’ve been there.
“I’ve had to make those phone
calls; I’ve had to make those
phone calls to family and friends...
I know they are out and having
depression again.
“When you walk past a yard full
of buses and an empty shed and
you go ‘there will be nobody here
for the next two weeks, if I knock
myself off who’s going to care?’ So
it gets to that point, mate.
“The mental strain and pressure...
And, you know financially if the
buses go, the house goes – they are
only items. The mental pressure
that you are dealing with that
you’ve let your team down, your
family down, your community
down – that’s what the problem is.
“It’s not so much the financial
because all of a sudden you
think you are a failure you’ve let
so many people down because
they have relied upon you to pay
their mortgages and everything.
And now they are struggling and
they can’t make their mortgage
repayments. And even though it
[the pandemic] wasn’t our fault,
you still take it to heart.”
BORDER GUARANTEE
Pincini says while they won’t
reject any financial assistance, the
point of the exercise is to draw
attention to the need to re-open
borders fully.
“Until they can get borders
open for the charter industry, the
industry is screwed.
“Every time Queensland decides
that three people in NSW have
got it and they are going to close
the border on them, how can an
operator book a tour – a five-day,
10-day, 15-day tour, whatever – to
not be able to go across the border?
“It took us until September to
get money back off Jetstar because
of cancellations, so how do I go to
book tours when there’s flights and
things that cancel due to Covid
and border closures and they only
gave us back the money in the end
because … they [the passenger/
airline] cancelled their flight?
“So how do we book tours and
that knowing we’ve got no money
coming back?
“If we can’t go because the tour
can’t happen because the border’s
closed and we lose flights, lose
hotels, lose everything, you are even
in worse sh*t.
“That’s why, as an industry, that’s
what we need: we need guarantees
the borders will stay open and they
are not going to [close].
“When did we go from ‘living
with Covid’ to ‘eradication’?
“It’s a stacked deck; none of
us are going to be able to reach
that.”
Above:
Pincini says that
he was driven
to protest by a
lack of clarity on
opening borders
and keeping
them open.
Left:
Pincini and his
employees have
been doing
everything from
driving silage
trucks to hay
contracting to
try and keep
themselves in
business.
Opposite:
Since Covid hit,
the most work
that’s come
through for
Rockleigh Tours
was running five
buses for rail
replacement
in the early
morning.
busnews.com.au November 2020 ABC
41

COVERSTORY
HINO-CUSTOM ADVENTURER
SOMETHING
SPECIAL
With its delicious retro look underwritten by modern bus
performance and appeal, this very first Hino RN8J chassis on a
Custom Adventurer-body ‘school bus’ is something the kids will love
and hate to have to leave after each journey.
WORDS FABIAN COTTER IMAGES SARA CLARK
42
ABC November 2020 busnews.com.au

Time ‘waits for no man’,
as the saying goes – and
nor should it. Yet its
passing brings equal
amounts of pleasure
or pain when we reminisce the
emotional sights and sounds of
our youthful yesteryears as we
spearhead into each new day.
Or perhaps some of us
sleep-deprived writers should
just merely start reading more
Hemingway…
That aside, there will be some
things of the past that seem to
transcend time and consistently find
a beautifully congruous place in the
modern day.
And when it comes to buses, the
strikingly retro-cool colour scheme
of Victoria’s Turnbull’s Bus Service –
in use since the company’s origins
some 70 years ago – still looks
stunning and ‘factory fresh’ now.
Well … technically it really is
factory fresh because the delectable
tan, cream and ruddy-brownish
maroon PPG paint hues actually are
new, gracing this recently released
Hino-Custom Adventurer school/
charter head-turner.
“We have always used that colour
scheme; it actually came from
an early Toyota Deluxe Coaster
colour option,” explained David
Turnbull, dealer-principal of Turnbull
Toyota in Yarrum and Sale.
“My 86-year-old father, Ian
Turnbull (the mastermind behind
the styling who started out as an
apprentice mechanic), originally
decided [on] that.
“We have always had Hino bus
Hino has a comprehensive
suite of business solutions
for its customers.
chassis and we currently run five
school buses and all [with] Custom
coach bodies.
“We use Denso air conditioning.
We like Denso as it’s the same that’s
in Toyota and we have had a Toyota
dealership for 56 years in Yarram
and Sale,” he said.
BORDER CROSSING
Right about now you can appreciate
where this is going.
Once recent pictures of the new
bus – while it was being refuelled
out in public by stalwart Hino sales
manager Kevin Fielding – surfaced
on a bus-related website and went
Above:
Ian and David
Turnbull,
representing
generations ‘two’
and ‘three’ out of
‘four’ to date.
Left:
This recently
released
Hino-Custom
Adventurer really
is a good-looking
head-turner.
busnews.com.au November 2020 ABC
43

COVERSTORY
HINO-CUSTOM ADVENTURER
HINO ADVANTAGE
The comprehensive Hino Advantage program provides Hino bus customers with
fleet training, a dedicated in-house customer care centre and access to Hino
genuine parts and service, Clark explains.
“Every day a bus is off the road, it is costing operators money and the pressure
to return it to service as quickly as possible can encourage some companies to
take shortcuts, but, in fact, the best option is to simply purchase Hino genuine
parts.”
Most Hino genuine parts are readily available from the Hino dealer network,
with 24/7 support available from the parts distribution centre in Sydney, which
also provides delivery to any Australian capital city as soon as the next business
day, Clark explains.
Hino genuine parts are guaranteed to ‘fit first time, every time’, minimising
downtime and increasing profitability, Clark adds.
All Hino genuine parts fitted on a Hino bus by an authorised Hino dealer come
with a three-year unlimited kilometre parts warranty.
As part of the Hino Advantage suite of business benefits, every Hino bus chassis
comes with a one-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty (whichever occurs first), and
a two-year/unlimited-kilometre standard powertrain warranty, she states.
Top:
The driver’s area
includes a Isri
6860 driver’s seat
and AC boost.
Above:
Styleride Orion 57
x non-reclining
seat-belted seats
with Transporter
vinyl tan trim.
Opposite,
Top + Below:
The company’s
traditional colour
scheme has
been applied to
this brand new
bus, melding
old school cool
with updated
technology.
‘viral’ in local bus circles, being built
in NSW it was going to prove tricky
to get it over the border down south
into Victoria, it would seem.
“The new bus we had to pick
up from Bombala, NSW, as Hino
couldn’t deliver across the border
without having to quarantine for
two weeks when they returned,”
explained Turnbull exclusively to
ABC magazine.
“I drove it back from Bombala
with Dad and it actually seems to
run better than the last few [SB50s]
we purchased.”
So what will the bus be used
for and where does it fit into the
Turnbull’s Bus Service mix? And
where and how did that story begin?
“We have six bus runs in total,”
Turnbull explained.
“My grandfather started the
business up around 70 years ago,
repairing cars and buses. He was
repairing a bus in the early days
and the customer didn’t have any
money to pay him so he gave him
the old bus.
“Back then the bus used more oil
than fuel and they used waste sump
oil to keep it going until they tried
some cored rings and that stopped
the oil usage.”
We can only assume things have
dramatically improved since then
with a current pandemic being the
new challenge for us all…
“We have been fortunate through
Covid [in] country Victoria. We were
able to battle through; just needed
to tighten up spending, etc.
“I’m the third generation in the
business and we already have the
fourth working in the company,”
Turnbull said.
MASTERMIND
So just what is it about this bus that
makes it so special? Its new-age
retro style with cream, tan and
maroon colour scheme definitely
makes what is old new again. Yet
more so, its minimalist styling
means it has a classic look and feel
with all of the modern comforts.
For the parties involved, this is the
first production Custom-Denning
Adventurer body on a twin-axle Hino
RN8J automatic bus chassis.
It pumps out 285hp/213kW from
its six-cylinder overhead-cam ‘Euro
44
ABC November 2020 busnews.com.au

Specs
5’ diesel engine, driven via a ZF Ecolite
six-speed automatic transmission.
Ride comfort comes via air suspension.
Hino Bus manager Sara Clark said:
“The RN8J is proven Hino product that
is comfortable and quiet to drive. The
ZF six-speed automatic transmission
combines with the six-cylinder engine for
smooth acceleration and excellent fuel
efficiency.
“For Hino bus customers, it is the service
and business benefits they receive once
they leave the dealership that is equally
as important as the sales experience,”
she said of the Hino Advantage concept
behind it all.
It should be noted that as a Toyota
Motor Group company, Hino has a
comprehensive suite of business
solutions for its customers, designed to
MAKE: Hino
MODEL: RN8J twin-axle chassis
ENGINE: Six-cylinder overhead-cam
EGR & DPR (meeting ADR 80/03 Euro
5) diesel; Power – 285hp/213kW
TRANSMISSION: ZF Ecolite six-speed
automatic
SUSPENSION: Air suspension
BODY: Custom-Denning 12m
Adventurer; Paint – PPG cream,
tan and maroon; Australian Made
certified, locally designed and
produced; Frame – stainless-steel
frame using 3CR12 malleable steel,
stipple stainless side walls included,
CAM-lock luggage bins, roofmounted
air intakes, lift-up wheel
arches
INSIDE: Seats – Styleride Orion 57 x
non-reclining seat-belted seats with
Transporter vinyl tan trim; flooring –
Tarkett Granit Safe ‘Terracotta’; side
wall interior trim – ABS sand finish in
dark grey, Centre wall interior trim
– powder-coated aluminium light
grey; driver’s seat – Isri 6860; Actia
multiplexing with driver interface
MISC.: Denso LD8 air-con with full
AC dashboard mounted controller;
destination system – Mobitec LED
16x140 with ICU602 controller; body
– field service support with onsite
repairs by appointment; large stock
volumes for quick parts supply;
options – electric front blind, 2x
half blinds NS and OS, driver’s AC
boost fan, Canon heated mirrors, full
through bins, four hopper windows
busnews.com.au November 2020 ABC
45

COVERSTORY
HINO-CUSTOM ADVENTURER
This was a totally new
bus for the client and being
a new Hino option, it was
exciting [for Custom] to work
with Hino Australia.
which was an SB50, purchased
around three years ago.
“The Adventurer is the
replacement of the SB50, as the
SB50 has now been phased out,”
he explained.
“Some states have excluded
low-mount mirrors on school
buses, and this one was built with
Canon arm-style mirrors which are
reduce costs over the life of the
BODY BEAUTIFUL
low-mounted mirrors.
vehicle, she explains.
Though not the first new
“This was a totally new bus for the
Like all Hino products, Hino
Adventurer to come out of the
client and, being a new Hino option,
buses are built with the core brand
latest Custom-Denning stable, of
it was exciting [for Custom] to work
attributes of quality, durability and
reliability (QDR) she says - and Hino
here has been delivering buses to
the Australian market for 55 years,
she confirms.
the Turnbull’s project – the first on
a Hino platform – national sales
manager Mick Neskes confirms
the customer had bought Custom
products in the past, the last of
Above:
The ‘Euro
5’-equivalent
diesel engine
pushes out
285hp/213kW.
with Hino Australia.
“The bus is so versatile it can
be a basic school bus, mine spec,
or dressed up as a charter/
coach-style bus!” he stated.
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46 ABC November 2020 busnews.com.au
12/9/19 10:25 am

FOR
SALE
OWNER MUST SELL
DUE TO HEALTH
PROPERTY WITH
TWO BUILDINGS
unit 1 & 2, unit 2 currently
rented to bus company.
Bus company has been in
operation in the top end
for 25 years. Will sell as a
whole or separate.
For information
Contact owner direct
Bill 0403 470 165

OPERATOR
NEAR OR FAR BUS AND COACH
Husband and wife duo
Rod and Justine Williams
are doing their best to
weather the current
storm that has hit the
bus industry so hard.
Despite their four-yearold
business being
severely affected by the
restrictions brought on
by the pandemic, they
remain upbeat and
are using the time to
refurbish their fleet.
Rod Williams is clearly passionate
about his business and feels
positive about serving the local
community.
A former school teacher, Rod
starting driving school excursions and local
scout trips while still pursuing his teaching
career in the mid-1990s.
When he decided to move on from teaching
he knew he could fall back on his driving skills,
as he had driven with a lot of other companies
in the previous 20 years.
In 2017, he and his wife, Justine, set up
Near or Far Bus and Coach, and they remain
steadfast in their commitment to provide a
reliable and safe bus service in country New
South Wales, they say.
The company operates bus charter in
the Blue Mountains and Western Sydney
regions, including Penrith, Emu Plains,
Kingswood, Windsor, Richmond, St Marys,
Blacktown, Katoomba, Blackheath, Mt.
Victoria, Springwood and Blaxland.
Its depot and office is located in Lawson in
the Blue Mountains.
Right:
Rod Williams credits his driver team as being a key
part of the Near or Far family.
NEAR,
FAR, WHEREVER
48
ABC November 2020 busnews.com.au

YOU ARE
WORDS
ANJALI BEHL
IMAGES PAUL ALDRIDGE
busnews.com.au November 2020 ABC
49

OPERATOR
NEAR OR FAR BUS AND COACH
Our determination kept us busy and we have
had our wheelchair accessible coach’s interior
refurbished and it looks fantastic.
Above:
It’s a family affair at
Near and Far, with
Rod and Justine’s four
children also involved
in the business.
Opposite:
Near or Far Bus and
Coach was set up
in 2017 by Rod and
Justine Williams.
Near or Far relies mostly
on toured charter. It holds a
standing order from Transport for
NSW for emergency busing, and
also works for a couple of schools
in the area. Its school contacts
were passed on from IHS
Coaches, when Rod purchased
the business from former owner
Kelvin Weatherburn, he explains.
Kelvin (affectionately called
Kel) continues his passion to
serve the local communities by
driving for Rod now.
LOVE FOR THE JOB
Justine continues to teach
at a local school, while taking
care of the ‘office’ side of
things, such as record-keeping
and compliance, while Rod
manages the day-to-day
operations and driving full-time.
“We love being able to serve
our local community. We’re glad
to have a wheelchair-accessible
coach in our fleet, which allows
us to cater to passengers with
special needs. Our determination
kept us busy and we have
had our wheelchair accessible
coach’s interior refurbished and
it looks fantastic,” Rod said.
“One of the other best parts
of running my own business is
having a team that is as devoted
to the work as Justine and I are.
“My team [Kelvin, Eddie, John
and Paul] is as much part of the
business as Justine and our kids.
“Our four children, Sienna,
Samuel, Ashleigh, Abigail, also
lend a helping hand in the family
business,” he said.
THE FLEET
Near or Far currently owns
four vehicles, ranging from a
53-seater to a 69-passenger
seat-belted coach. With the
charter business severely
crippled as a result of Covid-19,
the company recently sold its
fifth coach.
“We started out with one
bus that we bought from IHS
Coaches, but we sold that off
within the first year of operation,”
Rod explained.
“During the first year we also
started running a wheelchairaccessible
Scania coach. Today,
all our coaches are Scania and
we have a school bus that is
Volvo B10M.”
His team largely relies on
Quinlan’s Equipment Repairs in
Penrith for service and repairs
and Johnson’s Towing and
Mechanical in Bathurst.
“We need to have our
maintenance spot-on at all
times because being in the
50
ABC November 2020 busnews.com.au

usnews.com.au November 2020 ABC
51

OPERATOR
NEAR OR FAR BUS AND COACH
We need to have our maintenance
spot-on at all times because being in the
mountains does isolate you from access
to mechanical repairs in a hurry.
mountains does isolate you from access
to mechanical repairs in a hurry. So we
ensure our vehicles are always in top
condition and that’s why we try to avoid
any breakdowns as much as possible,”
he added.
THE ‘BIG C’ OF 2020
Rod is a resilient bloke. The ongoing
Covid-19 pandemic may have knocked
out 90 per cent of his business, but of all
the bus and coach business operators
we’ve have spoken to in the past four
months, Rod would be hands down the
most optimistic that things will turn out
for the better, even if the ‘when’ part
of the story is still up in the air.
“We’re here for the long term. We’ve
weathered the storm reasonably well,”
Rod said.
“We’ve used the time to refurbish our
fleet and further improve our vehicles.
Our business can and will survive this
turmoil! We are looking forward to
working to provide the best service
possible.
“We have Covid Safe cleaning and
travel practices that encourage a clean
and safe environment for our customers
and our staff.
“At present, it is tough out there.
There are so many companies relying
on international tourism and, with
that suspended, it has created a more
competitive environment for the
domestic market. What happens then
is you have people undercutting each
other, making businesses unsustainable.
“A lot of other small businesses have
become unsustainable, which is a
huge concern for us all. I remember,
by mid-March, every single booking for
the year was wiped. That’s thousands of
dollars of revenue gone.
“The JobKeeper allowances have
assisted some of our employees;
however, we had to sadly let go of one
52
ABC November 2020 busnews.com.au

CANBERRA RALLY
Rod is the spokesperson for the Australian Family Owned Bus
Companies group that has led two rallies since September to
highlight the Covid-induced quandary these businesses find
themselves in through no fault of their own, and lobby for a federal
government rescue package.
The group led their first peaceful rally to NSW state parliament on
September 16, with more than 50 family owned and independent
buses - representing regional and city bus operators, their staff and
service providers - circling the Parliament building.
Their second rally, which included a 15-strong convoy of family
owned ‘mum and dad’ bus companies from across Australia, made
its way to Parliament House in Canberra on October 26. The convoy
circled the lawn in front of the Parliament building, in a display of
solidarity to highlight their cause.
The group is calling on state governments to share transport
work with all accredited operators rather than just large companies.
Williams also worries about the thousands of bus drivers, mechanics,
cleaning and other ancillary staff employed by the bus industry that
have been affected by the pandemic. The group is also demanding
extension of JobKeeper past March, 202,1 and industry-specific
mental health support.
Rod says small bus companies needed help in the form of a
federal government rescue package to manage fixed costs to keep
their head above the water and provide job security for employees.
“Many operators had been forced to deregister vehicles they could
not afford to register, which also axed their potential to work if
circumstances changed,” he explained.
The local communities will also feel the knock-on effect of the bus
industry’s distress as they could be “stripped off affordable transport
options when normal travel resumed if a lifeline was not thrown to
the small private bus industry now”, he added.
of our staff member. We paid
them for as long as we could
before we needed to stop and
recommend they seek JobSeeker
payments. It was a tough decision
for us. We also had to de-register
two of our vehicles.”
Things are coming back,
although Rod says it’s patchy.
“People are still concerned. A
lot of our seniors’ groups don’t
want to travel at the moment
because they are understandably
concerned about their health.”
“Schools are coming back in
a limited regard, but we don’t
know when things will get back to
normal on the charter side.”
For now, Rod and his small team
are keeping their chins up and
looking forward to better times.
Above:
The coach
fleet is made
up of Scanias,
accompanied
by a Volvo B10M
school bus.
Right:
Rod says
that during
the Covid
downturn, the
company has
used its time to
refurbish and
improve its fleet.
busnews.com.au November 2020 ABC
53

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ABC SALES
& MAINTENANCE
Australian Owned and Operated
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MINING SPECS EQUIPMENT, fire suppressor, tyre
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1x 2017 YUTONG D9 ZK6930H
35 seater + toilet, diesel euro 5- Cummins IBS 6.7litre.
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$90,000
1x 2017 YUTONG D7 ZK6760DAA
82,00kms, Cummins isb4 4.5l, Euro5 103kw Allison
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YUTONG D9 ZK6938H
2017 115,00kms, Cummins ISB6.7E525 turbocharged,
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$90,000
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6 sp auto, thermoking heat/cool a/c, alloy bull bar,
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$60,000
1x 2013 HIGER MUNRO
28+1 seater, cummins isf 3.8 litre turbo engine, allison 6
sp auto, leather seats, spider mirrors, windscreen stone
guard, front nudge bar.
Barry Henderson: qldsales@yutong.com.au 0427 750 885
David Green: sales@abccoachsales.com.au 0418 253 422
56 ABC NOVEMBER 2020 busnews.com.au

WANT TO ADVERTISE? CALL 03 9567 4154 Bookings for next issue close on Dec 5th 2020
Yutong Bus Centre Brisbane
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Mercedes Benz engine with
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Yutong Bus Centre Cairns
Barry Henderson | 0427 750 885 | qldsales@yutong.com.au
David Green | 0418 253 422 | david@abccoachsales.com.au
2 X 2013 HIGER
MUNRO
Cummins ISF 165hp, automatic,
28 lap sash seat belted seats in
leather, roof A/C, DVD, towbar,
travelled approx. 200,000klm
very clean
$45,000.00+GST each
2016 BONLUCK
“SENATOR 9”
Cummins ISB 250hp
Allison auto inc retarder,43
lap sash seat belted seats,
A/C, underfloor bins,4 x sliding
windows, bull bar, travelled
approx. 145,000klm ,very clean
$135,000.00+GST
2 X 2007 DENNING
PHOENIX 4X2 12.5M
Cat C9 330hp, Allison auto inc
retarder, 53 lap sash seat belted
leather reclining seats, Thermo
King A/C, large underfloor bins,
Travelled approx. 730,000klm
many extras, very clean
Reduced to
$120,000.00+GST each
2010 MAN 18-360
ZF As Tronic trans, Coach Design
12.5m body, 57 McConnell
Educator 3/2 combination,
Thermo King A/C, underfloor
bins, DVD, travelled approx.
217,000klm, very clean
$175,000.00+GST
2005 MERCEDES
BENZ 0500
6sp manual,12.5m Mills Tui
body, 46 lap sash seat belted
recliners, mid toilet, Thermo King
A/C, Urn, Tachograph, DVD, UHF,
Guide seat, Travelled approx.
703,000klm
Priced to sell
$50,000.00+GST
2016 BONLUCK
“PRESIDENT 9”
Cummins ISB300HP, Aliison
automatic inc retarder, 43 fixed
coach seats inc lap sash seat
belts, Spheros heat cool A/C, large
underfloor bins, as new condition,
travelled only 134,000klm
$145,000.00+GST
2010 BCI “EXPLORER”
CUMMINS ISM410HP
Allison auto inc retarder, 58
lap sash seat belted leather
recliners, rear toilet, Tracs A/C,
large underfloor bins, very clean,
complete service history
$115,000.00+GST or
wheelchair lift equipped
model $125,000.00+GST
ABC-HH2-5129255-TS-398
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
2 X 2015 SCANIA
K440EB
Opticuise,13.5M Coach
Concepts body, 50 Styleride
lap sash leather recliners,
tachograph, 2 door, mid toilet,
many extras, one fitted with a
Wheelchair lift, travelled approx.
400 to 440,000klm
from $345,000+GST each
2014 BONLUCK
“PRESIDENT 2”
Cummins ISL360hp, Allison
automatic inc retarder, 53 lap
sash seat belted seats in leather,
large underfloor bins, DVD,
travelled approx. 307,000klm
$140,000.00+GST
2012 SCANIA
A30 K310IB
Opticruise trans inc retarder,
53 lap sash seat belted seats
in vinyl, underfloor bins, A/C,
complete chassis service
and repaint all over, travelled
approx. 328,000 klm
$120,000.00+GST
2010 MERCEDES
BENZ 1830
6sp manual, Mills Tui 12.5m
body, 50 lap sash seat belted
recliners, toilet, underfloor bins,
towbar, DVD, travelled approx.
260,000klm
$95,000.00+GST
2017 KING LONG
12.5m, Cummins ISL320,
automatic inc retarder, 57/61
fixed coach seats inc lap sash
seat belts, DVD, Thermo King
A/C, underfloor bins, travelled
approx. 145,000klm
$175,000.00+GST
4 X 2011/12 HIGER
“T SERIES”
Cummins ISB300, automatic,
57 lap sash seat belted seats,
A/C, underfloor bins, travelled
approx. 180-220,000klm
$85,000+GST each
PLUS MANY MORE, CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE AT
www.roddhoodsbusandcoachsales.com
Mobile: 0417 699 980 - Email: rodd.hood@bigpond.com.au
LICENSED MOTOR DEALER 3341258
Over 35 years experience in the bus and coach industry
busnews.com.au NOVEMBER 2020 ABC
57

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.
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2016 YUTONG Goanna
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Lou Riccardi | 0411426 148 | vicsales@yutong.com.au
NEW
D12
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yutong.com.au
CONTACT Phil 03 5623 5377
admin@warragulbuslines.com.au
2000 VOLVO B7R
50 Seatbelts, Toilet, TV/DVD, Manual
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.
$55,000 + GST
$32,000 + GST
$55,000 + GST
$170,000 + GST
2013 HIGER
T-Series, 12m, A/C,
57 Seatbelts
$98,000 + GST
2002 IVECO
Custom CB50 body, 61 seats, Manual,
Thermoking. 480,000km
$45,000 + GST
2006 HINO RK260
P&D body, 57 seats, Manual.
348,000 KMS
$55,000 + GST
2000 VOLVO B7
P&D body, 57 seatbelts,
Automatic
$40,000 + GST
ABC-HH-5171496-TS-399
58
ABC NOVEMBER 2020 busnews.com.au

WANT TO ADVERTISE? CALL 03 9567 4154 Bookings for next issue close on Dec 5th 2020
Need a good
STRETCH?
BUS SALES DATA
USED BUSES FOR SALE
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NEWS & REVIEWS
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2013 Scania K480 EB
Coach Design 62 pax body,
includes 5 TV’s, DVD/CB/PA,
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PROFESSIONAL REFINISHING
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news, reviews, events & entertainment
visit facebook.com/ABCBusnews
busnews.com.au NOVEMBER 2020 ABC
59

DELIVERIES OCTOBER 2020
Deliveries still feeling
the pandemic pinch
After a solid rise last month, the figures are back in the 70s,
exclusive ABC data reveals.
Amonth after bus and coach deliveries
seemed to be heading in the right direction,
the numbers have eased back to the 70s in
October.
While 71 is not the lowest figure yet this
year (70 in August), it’s down from the more optimistic 85 in
September and highlights the ongoing challenges caused
by the Covid-19 pandemic.
For the chassis sector, in a sign of the times, usual
leaders Volvo and Scania recorded 22 and 17 deliveries,
respectively. This number remains well down on tallies that
often exceeded 40 in the previous year. Mercedes-Benz was
next best, but didn’t break into double figures.
For the body builders, Volgren can lay claim to
an improved month, with its recorded deliveries
increasing from 23 in September to 31 in October.
Next best was Australian Bus Corporation, whose
three brands – Bustech (8), Precision Buses (5) and
Elphinstone (4) – combined for 17, down on 24 the
month past.
Thermo King retains its grip on the air-conditioning
sector, with 40 recorded deliveries in October. Despite well
above the chasing pack, this was down five on September.
Spheros followed on nine units, just one fewer than the
past month.
The state charts show some variety, with usual leaders
Victoria and NSW chased down by Queensland and WA.
Queensland topped the chart with 28 per cent, followed
by Victoria and WA neck and neck with 22 per cent. NSW
languished in fourth with 13 per cent.
Turn overleaf for comprehensive bus and coach delivery
information for September. Please note all data is as
supplied from manufacturers, with their involvement at
their discretion.
...state charts show some variety, with
usual leaders Victoria and NSW chased
down by Queensland and WA.
60
ABC November 2020 busnews.com.au

Volgren can
lay claim to an
improved month,
with its deliveries
increasing from 23
in September to 31 in
October.
Volgren 31
ABC* 17
Yutong 8
BCI 6
Coach Design 2
Express Coaches 2
Irizar 2
P&D Coachworks 2
Coach Concepts 1
SALES BY BODY
For the body builders, Volgren can lay claim
to an improved month, with its recorded
deliveries increasing from 23 in September to
31 in October. Next best was Australian Bus
Corporation, whose three brands – Bustech
(8), Precision Buses (5) and Elphinstone (4) –
combined for 17, down on 24 last month.
7%
SA
13%
22%
WA
6%
TAS
Percentage by
REGION
28%
QLD
%
SALES BY
AIR-CONDITIONER
Thermo King retains its grip on the air-conditioning sector,
with 40 recorded deliveries in October. Despite well above
the chasing pack, this was down five on September.
Spheros followed on nine, just one fewer than last month.
Thermo King 40
Spheros 9
Cling-Yutong 7
Hispacold 7
N/A 3
Denso 2
MCC 2
Coachair 1
NSW
24%
VIC
VOLVO 22
SCANIA 17
MERCEDES-BENZ 9
YUTONG 8
Sales by chassis
For the chassis sector, in a sign of the times, usual leaders Volvo and Scania recorded 22 and 17 deliveries,
respectively. This number remains well down on tallies that often exceeded 40 in the previous year.
Mercedes-Benz was next best, but didn’t break into double figures.
MAN 6
ABC (BUSTECH) 4
BCI 4
HINO 1
busnews.com.au November 2020 ABC
61

DELIVERIES OCTOBER 2020
MANUFACTURER,
OPERATOR & LOCATION
UNITS
CHASSIS
(Model)
BODY
BUILDER
HP*
ENGINES
Rear / Front
Emissions
standard
AUST BUS CORP* MetroTas TAS 4 Bustech XDI Elphinstone 300 R Euro 6
BCI Gosels Bus Service QLD 1 Citirider BCI 300 R Euro 5
Kenneth John Bailye WA 1 Cruiser 10 BCI 300 R Euro 5
Mechanical Mining WA 1 Cruiser 10 BCI 285 R Euro 5
The Entrance Red Bus Service NSW 1 Citirider 12 BCI 300 R Euro 5
HINO N/A NSW 1 RN8J P&D Coachworks 286 R Euro 5
MAN Transit Australia QLD 6 RC2 19.320 LE E5 Bustech 320 R Euro 5
MERC-BENZ N/A VIC 1 OC500RF E5 1936 Irizar 360 R Euro 5
N/A VIC 1 O500R Volgren 300 R Euro 5
N/A QLD 1 OC500RF E5 1936 BCI 360 R Euro 5
N/A QLD 1 OC500RF E5 1936 BCI 360 R Euro 5
N/A WA 1 O500R Express Coaches 300 R Euro 5
N/A NSW 1 OC500LE E6 Volgren 360 R Euro 6
N/A NSW 1 OC500LE E6 Volgren 360 R Euro 6
N/A NSW 1 OC500LE E6 Volgren 360 R Euro 6
N/A VIC 1 OC500LE E6 Express Coaches 360 R Euro 6
SCANIA Christians Bus Co VIC 1 K 310 IB4X2 Coach Design 310 R Euro 5
Cranbourne Transit VIC 1 K 310 UB4X2 Volgren 310 R Euro 5
Dept of Public Transport Infrastructure SA 5 K 320 UB4X2 Precision Buses 320 R Euro 6
Gillicks Bus Lines VIC 1 K 310 IB4X2 Irizar 310 R Euro 5
L C Dyson's Bus Services Pty Ltd VIC 1 K 310 UB4X2 Volgren 310 R Euro 5
Ventura Bus Lines VIC 1 K 320 UB4X2 Volgren 320 R Euro 6
Ventura Bus Lines VIC 2 K 310 UB4X2 Volgren 310 R Euro 5
Ventura Bus Lines VIC 2 K 320 UB4X2 Volgren 320 R Euro 6
Ventura Bus Lines VIC 1 K 320 UB4X2 Volgren 320 R Euro 6
Warrnambool Bus & Motor Co. VIC 1 K 320 IB4X2 Coach Design 310 R Euro 6
Wimmera Roadways VIC 1 K 310 IB4X2 Coach Concepts 310 R Euro 5
VOLVO Ronald Down VIC 1 B8R Volgren 330 R Euro 5
Maryborough Bus Lines VIC 1 B8R Volgren 330 R Euro 5
Clarks Logan City Bus Service QLD 2 B8RLE Bustech 320 R Euro 6
CDC Forest Coach Lines NSW 1 B8R Volgren 330 R Euro 5
N/A QLD 1 B8R P&D 330 R Euro 5
Brisbane City Council QLD 8 B8RLE Volgren 320 R Euro 6
Perth Transport Authorities WA 8 B8RLE Volgren 320 R Euro 6
YUTONG N/A WA 1 D7 Yutong 140 F Euro 5
N/A WA 1 D7 Yutong 140 F Euro 5
N/A WA 1 D7 Yutong 140 F Euro 5
N/A WA 1 D7 Yutong 140 F Euro 5
N/A WA 1 D12 Yutong 360 R Euro 5
N/A NSW 1 T12 Yutong 350 R Euro 5
N/A NSW 1 D9 Yutong 250 R Euro 5
N/A NSW 1 D9 Yutong 250 R Euro 5
TOTAL DELIVERIES 71
62
ABC November 2020 busnews.com.au

TRANSMISSION
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
Charter
City or
Route
School
SEATING
SEAT
BELTS
A ZF 2 10-12.9 Thermo King 52 – – – – X – Styleride N
A ZF 2 11 Thermo King 41 – – – – – X McConnell Y
A ZF 2 10.4 MCC 43 – – – – – X Sege Y
A ZF 2 10.40 MCC 43 – – – – – X Sege Y
A ZF 2 12 Denso – – 45 – – X – Ster N
A ZF 2 12 Denso 57 – – – – – X Styleride Y
A ZF 2 10-12.9 Thermo King 50 – – – – X – McConnell Y
A ZF 2 13.5 Hispacold 57 – – – – – X McConnell Y
A ZF 2 12.5 Coachair 57 – – – – – X McConnell Y
A ZF 2 13.5 N/A – – – – – – – N/A N/A
A ZF 2 13.5 N/A – – – – – – – N/A N/A
A ZF 2 12.5 N/A – – – – – – – N/A N/A
A ZF 2 13.5 Thermo King – – 45 – – X – McConnell N
A ZF 2 13.5 Thermo King – – 45 – – X – McConnell N
A ZF 2 13.5 Thermo King – – 45 – – X – McConnell N
A ZF 2 13.5 Thermo King 49 – – – – X – Styleride N
A ZF 2 12.5 Thermo King 57 – – – – – X McConnell Y
A ZF 2 12.5 Thermo King – – 44 – – X – McConnell N
A ZF 2 12.5 Hispacold – – 42 – – X – Styleride N
A ZF 2 12.5 Hispacold 57 – – – – – X Sege Y
A ZF 2 12 Thermo King – – 41 – – X – McConnell N
A ZF 2 12.5 Thermo King – – 44 – – X – McConnell N
A ZF 2 12 Thermo King – – 44 – – X – McConnell N
O Scania 2 12.5 Thermo King – – 44 – – X – McConnell N
O Scania 2 13 Thermo King – – 44 – – X – McConnell N
A ZF 2 12.3 Thermo King 57 – – – – X – McConnell N
A ZF 2 13 Thermo King 57 – – – – – X Styleride Y
A ZF 2 10-12.9 Thermo King 57 – – – – – X McConnell Y
A ZF 2 10-12.9 Thermo King 57 – – – – – X McConnell N
A ZF 2 10-12.9 Thermo King 50 – – – – – X Styleride N
A ZF 2 10-12.9 Thermo King 57 – – – – – X McConnell Y
A ZF 2 10-12.9 Thermo King 57 – – – – – X Styleride Y
A ZF 2 10-12.9 Spheros – – – – – X – McConnell N
A ZF 2 10-12.9 Thermo King – – 41 – – X – McConnell N
A Allison 2 8 Cling-Yutong 28 – – – X – – Yutong Y
A Allison 2 8 Cling-Yutong 28 – – – X – – Yutong Y
A Allison 2 8 Cling-Yutong 28 – – – X – – Yutong Y
A Allison 2 8 Cling-Yutong 28 – – – X – – Yutong Y
A Allison 2 12 Cling-Yutong 57 – – – – – X Yutong Y
A ZF 2 12 Spheros 57 – – – – – X Yutong Y
A Allison 2 10 Cling-Yutong 39 – – – – – X Yutong Y
A Allison 2 10 Cling-Yutong 43 – – – – – X Styleride Y
*Australian Bus Corporation (ABC) comprises Bustech (16), Precision Buses (10) and Elphinstone (2). Volgren’s count includes two units from its partnership with Supportrans.
busnews.com.au November 2020 ABC
63

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Greg Sloan m: +61 418 314 642 (International) 0418 314 642 (Australia)
e: greg@challengerbusandcoach.com.au w: www.challengerbusandcoach.com.au

School/Charter Bus
Custom Denning, an amalgamation of Australia’s two oldest
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NSW & QLD
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