ABC #399

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.
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ABC November 2020 busnews.com.au