ABC #402

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IGNITION FABIAN COTTER One step forward, two steps back A new economic and military alliance that could change the global balance of power? And we could be in it? Hmm... Sounds like fun. Maybe. “I said blue moon of Kentucky [gotta] keep on shining, Shine on the one that’s gone and left me blue. I said blue moon of Kentucky, keep on shining, Shine on the one that’s gone and left me blue.” Now, when an old Elvis Presley song plays across your favourite music streaming platform while doing the weekend vacuuming with the your wireless headphones on, I think it’s kind of rude not to shake your booty along when it is such a catchy beat. A cover version I would only recently learn (thanks DuckDuckGo), my old man – a country music-loving muso and guitar player himself at family parties and anywhere, really – use to drown out the house with Elvis vinyl-record tunes and Blue Moon of Kentucky always stood out most. That and Viva Las Vegas. As a totally uncoordinated and non-musical kid in a sporty-ish and musical family, connecting via Elvis tunes was basically some ethereal, spiritual experience. That, or hearing ‘Kentucky’ made me think about the chicken (I’m like 5, what else could it be?) and the salivation would put Pavlov’s dog in the shade. Late teens, it’s heard again – boom! I’ve worked out where Kentucky is now – roughly – and I’m wanting to go there. Cowboy boots and hat on. Mid-20s, thwack! I’m now visualising spitting out chewed ‘tobacco’ onto someone’s front porch while I cradle my trusty shotgun as I sit, rocking away, watching tumbleweeds roll by me and someone’s lazy bloodhound at my feet named Bubba. Yep, good times. But now, the only thing cradled is the Hoover’s nozzle after shaking out the sock that got sucked up into it. This is what you get when you’re trying to switch off from the world via music to avoid news of lockdowns and cases and border closures and restrictions. Man... WHAT’S CANZUK? I’m glad you asked. Following Elvis came a clip about CANZUK? Yep, that’s what I asked as well. An alliance system based on economic, military and general life and diplomacy between Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the UK – crucially while each maintains its sovereignty – absolutely caught my interest. Not just for collective bus-making cooperation, but in general, especially in these uncertain times. Its website states: “CANZUK International was founded in January 2015 and is the world’s leading advocacy organisation promoting facilitated migration, free trade and foreign policy coordination between Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom (the ‘CANZUK’ countries). “Our campaign advocates closer cooperation between these four nations so they may build upon existing economic, diplomatic and institutional ties to forge a cohesive alliance of nation-states with a truly global outlook.” Go check it out. Let’s talk later… LET’S FLIP Inside this February Issue 402 of ABC magazine we have a veritable treasure trove of curiously interesting and weird and wonderful bus stuff to get your public-transport juices flowing. Firstly, on our cover this month is indeed one we have featured and tested before, but now in its TfNSW regalia it is BCI’s first Australian operator-delivered e-bus that’s in full service. In the hands of South-west Sydney operator Interline, the Joe Oliveri-run organisation runs a pretty tight ‘bus ship’ out in those parts and the new BCI Citirider E is the first electric bus to kick off his emerging electro-mobility fleet, due to include another nine Yutong e12s and possibly a Custom Denning Element according to word around the campfire. Speaking of the latter, you might want to make sure you stick around for our next issue as I’m confident ABC magazine will have an exclusive coming up about that one, too. Well, I’m pretty sure that will happen. I know the editor and he says it’s looking good, so I’m just going off that. ;) Check the BCI out on pages 34–40. Further inside we finally get to air our Fuso Rosa test drive, which has been in the kitty since late last year – or was that earlier this year? (I tell you, these outbreaks and travel restrictions are totally doing my head in these days). The safety-laden new Rosa has some small-bus/van class-leading tech as standard and some style tweaks really look the part as well. Ensure you check out that one on pages 48–53. And then we have something a bit different. A big thanks to the deftly efficient bus industry PR who brought this one to my attention, even though it included a few other brands other than their client. Now whether that was because we are technically dealing with used buses on this one, so really there’s ‘no sheep stations’ on it (totally used the old sheep stations line to freak out our international readers), or merely because it’s for a good cause, I’m not sure. But I like to think because it’s about a great charity modifying buses to give thousands of homeless people a clean and safe place to sleep at night, that this is reason they felt compelled to drop me a line about it. As the 2017 Telstra Victorian Charity of the Year winner, it’s proof of what a great and noble idea it is and I think particularly the concept overall is a great ambassador for the many uses and value of used buses these days. That’s on pages 42–46. In terms of news, some big ones here. Kinetic (nee Skybus) has pretty much bought out Greyhound Resources (pending any final checks and approvals) and with rumours that Kinetic itself is sussing out the market for a buyer it will be interesting to see how that all unfolds. Also, NZ is helping out its councils update to cleaner public transport and bus fleets via some solid cash injection while operator Transit Systems has picked up a cool international customer service award. Read those and more news from page 8. Finally, good to hear – and without jinxing it – the January 2021 deliveries is on the up again, so that’s a great start to the year. A year that will have a slew of ups and downs, such is the way it seems to be now, unfortunately. On that note, catch you next month. And remember, be good! And if you can’t be good – be good at it, as they say. :) Until the next thrilling instalment. 6 ABC February 2021 busnews.com.au
YUTONG BUS NEW D7 SERIES schools / charters / mining SMALL ON SIZE, BIG ON SAFETY The all new D7 is the perfect combination of clever design and industry leading safety features. It sets the new benchmark in safety with a sensational 360 degree vehicle surround camera system, Mobileye advanced passenger & lane departure system and the latest passenger safety door system (TS155). Combine this with its lightweight, flexible design and clever NVH noise reducing technology, the new D7 is now the best bus in its class. Yutong D7. Simply better value. SAFETY INCLUSIONS Mobileye Lane Departure & Advance Driver Warning System 360° Driver Warning Camera System Fully Compliant TS155 Passenger Entry Door System Full Air Front & Rear Disc Brakes Full ABS, EBS, ASR & ECS System Reverse Camera to LCD Colour Screen with Warning Buzzer STANDARD INCLUSIONS LR Compliant 8000kg GVM 27 Seats Plus Driver (Optional 28x Plus Driver or 40x Passage Plus Driver using 3/2 Solution Seats) Roof Mounted Integrated HEAT/COOL Air Conditioning 9” Touch Screen To Dash with Integrated Audio System, SD Card, Bluetooth, PA System & Reverse Camera EURO VI Cummins ISB4.5 140kw/700Nm with 6 Speed Allison Automatic Transmission, Driver line Mounted Retarder & Electronic Keypad Control 19” Electric Fold Down LCD Screen Dual Electric Sun Blinds Electric Rear Vision Mirrors with Heating Multi-Function Steering Wheel 7x 235/75R 17.5 with Polished Alloy Rims 150 Lt Fuel Tank CONTACT ONE OF OUR YUTONG SALES TEAM | TOLL FREE 1800 YUTONG (988 664) NSW Mick Hall 0427 725 277 VIC/SA/TAS Don Imrie 0437 784 493 NORTH NSW/SOUTH QLD Barry Henderson 0427 750 885 NORTH QLD David Green 0418 253 422 yutong.com.au
Page 1: AUSTRALASIAN BUS & COACH ABC KINETI
Page 4 and 5: contents ISSUE 402 FEBRUARY 2021 08
Page 8 and 9: NEWS GREYHOUND RESOURCES SOLD TO SK
Page 10 and 11: NEWS CUSTOM-DENNING ELEMENT E-BUS N
Page 12 and 13: NEWS system customisable to specifi
Page 14 and 15: NEWS CLARKS LOGAN CITY LAUNCHES REC
Page 16 and 17: NEWS VOLGREN ANNOUNCES NEW HEAD OF
Page 18: NEWS THE WOT!?! BCSA HANDS OVER BLK
Page 21 and 22: usnews.com.au February 2021 ABC 21
Page 25 and 26: and we’re proud to be the first o
Page 27 and 28: square metres in the Brussels Expo.
Page 29 and 30: The beauty of the Audace is you get
Page 31 and 32: Systematic Perfection! The electric
Page 33 and 34: INNOVATION - SUSTAINABILITY - SAFET
Page 35 and 36: If you’ve been around the traps l
Page 37 and 38: there is virtually no noise at all
Page 39 and 40: AC VS DC “Everyone [operators] se
Page 41 and 42: YOU'VE TRIED THE REST Bus Comfort 4
Page 45 and 46: SLEEPBUS.ORG MANTRA “Sleep change
Page 47 and 48: ABC-FP-5196630-TS-402
Page 49 and 50: LED headlamps, an electronic stabil
Page 51 and 52: changes. You can just put it into d
Page 53 and 54: Specs MAKE/MODEL: Fuso Rosa SEATS:
Page 55 and 56: AUSTRALIA’S #1 NEW AND USED BUS M
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Comfort, convenience and capacity T
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TRANSMISSION A: Automatic M: Manual
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V12 - 12.3 METRES WITH UP TO 57+ SE
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ABC #402

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