Indholdsfortegnelse for Issue 351 i Australasian Bus & Coach

It is difficult to lose someone you love, someone you know, or even someone you never had the chance to meet. Working life brings you close to people you might not have otherwise rubbed shoulders with, and in the case of an industry as family oriented as the bus business, before long we all find that we share a common bond. Route bus operators face similar challenges in the course of their daily duties and, in the case of drivers, they can face very challenging circumstances as frontline community service providers. The deadly assault on a young driver, just 29 years old, really did serve as a reminder that drivers are exposed to all elements of the public. Just like police, paramedics and hospital staff, bus drivers are on the…

After a low point for bus and coach deliveries in September, supply figures have almost returned to double digits for October. Deliveries suffered in September, which was a disappointing result following a stellar few months of above-average numbers. Coming from a total of 88 deliveries in September, October saw 97 buses delivered, representing a hike of about 10 per cent. This is a strong result near the end of 2016, especially considering there were no delivery totals above 86 from January through to May. It remains to be seen whether figures for the next two months will remain high or trail off. For suppliers, the vast majority of deliveries were Scanias (31), followed by Volvos (29). Yutong was the biggest surprise in terms of manufactures, reporting just five deliveries for…

The Auckland Transport Alignment Project (ATAP) final report has been released, signalling the start of the next 30 years of Auckland’s public transport system. The ATAP already has significant bus improvements on the books, including road infrastructure investment, and a busway from Westgate to Te Atatu. The main feature of the project is increased investment, which will help Auckland’s public transport systems cope with a large population increase expected in the coming decades. Finance minister Bill English says over the last 15 years, the government and Auckland Council’s combined annual transport investment in Auckland has increased from $500 million to $2.1 billion, allowing the city to keep pace with challenges stemming from population growth. However, he adds Auckland’s population is set to grow by 700,000 people in the next 30…

SPHEROS P: +61 3 9706 0084 E: info@spheros.com.au W: www.spheros.com REVO-E FEATURES • Hybrid; consumes electricity not fuel • Demand-responsive cooling output depending on available energy resources • Off-board power supply possible • Cooling of traction battery possible • Suitable for hot countries • Use as a heat pump possible • Single unit or articulated/double unit SPECIFICATIONS • Cooling capacity: 25kW and 31kW • Airfow volume: 4,400m3/h and 8,800m3/h • Heating capacity: 40kW and 80kW • Power consumption: Maximum: 22A Regulated: 9-11A • Weight: 250kg and 250kg plus 118kg • Dimensions: 2,800mm L x 2,091mm W x 370mm H (double size for double unit) CITYSPHERE FEATURES • Weight-reduced: saves expensive fuel and reduces CO2 emissions • Hermetically sealed, pre-filled cooling circuit: • Operation with alternative refrigerants possible in…

“The fuel cell bus can also be used as a power source in the event of disasters” Having already undergone testing, the Tokyo Government plans to utilise two Toyota FC buses as permanent route buses in Tokyo from early next year. Toyota will introduce more than 100 fuel cell buses in the city ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The fuel cell bus can also be used as a power source in the event of disasters at evacuation sites such as school gymnasiums, and its electricity supply can be harnessed for home electric appliance use. The FC bus was developed by Toyota based on the company’s experience in developing fuel cell buses together with Hino. The Toyota Fuel Cell System (TFCS) was first developed for the Mirai…

Graeme McDonald A member of the Money Resources Group P: 03 8699 5000 F: 03 9690 9484 M: 0401 189 160 E: graeme@ moneyresources.com.au Can I take your order, please? Yeah, no problems, I’ll have a cold-drip V60 fat white coffee and a smashed avocado on multigrain with fetta and a poached egg, thanks. We have all read the newspaper articles and seen the news reports on TV. An article by reputable analysist Bernard Salt caused the younger generation – typically the sub-30 age bracket – to have a meltdown, as it was suggested – slightly tongue in cheek – that the millennials’ lifestyle was the reason the younger generation cannot afford a first home. Well, actually, the assertion that lifestyle was more of a reason they didn’t own…

Australia’s first ever model to test the life cycle costs of Australian bus bodies has been developed by researchers at Monash University. Volgren set Monash the challenge to investigate life cycle cost differences between their buses and others in the Australian market. Monash Art Design and Architecture senior lecturer Robbie Napper, who led the research, said the model would ‘level the playing field’ for any operator, manufacturer and public transport provider interested in their bus expenses. “What started off as a simple question has led to detailed and robust model that has far reaching benefits across the wider bus industry and public transport sector,” Napper says. “Life cycle cost as a term is frequently thrown around, but until now there’s been little research to actually quantity and test different models.…

Recent years have seen some big swings in the way Australia does things, and I think it is important to recognise the role that we have played as an industry in reshaping the way our governments think about moving people in our cities and regions. We have been working for over a decade now in both the research and policy area, as well as our lobbying activities with all levels of government. There is no doubt that our work is becoming increasingly recognised and respected by decision-makers across the country. Their willingness to discuss our national agenda is exceptional and a clear endorsement of our strategic approach. We are seeing unprecedented investment into public transport infrastructure in most states and territories. Just think about Sydney Metro, Badgery’s Creek rail link…

The bus industry is booming if the recent Australian Bus + Coach Show is anything to go by. There were more new bus and coach products on display than at any other show or conference we’ve been to in recent years, and bus suppliers seemed happy with the level of genuine interest – as opposed to tyre kickers. Deals were actually done at the show too. Operators and suppliers from around the country would have been buoyed by the speech from Transport for NSW chief Tim Reardon, who was upbeat about the increasing demand for services from a rapidly growing population in his state. The same could be said for Victoria, and maybe a couple of other jurisdictions as well. On display were everything from double-deckers and long luxury 3-axle…

Anew autonomous pod was on show at the World Congress on Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) in Melbourne in October, as part of a partnership between the Australian Driverless Vehicle Initiative (ADVI) and autonomous vehicle developer RDM Group. It is the first time RDM Group has exhibited outside of Europe, and underlines its intention to expand into new territories including the Asia-Pacific market, where it is already in talks with governments and universities on providing transport solutions. Delegates at the show explored the pod at the ADVI stand and spoke to technical experts about the technology used and its capabilities, including a top speed of 24km/h, an operational range of 97km, and the fact it can be built in variations of two, four, six and eight seats. “ADVI and its 80…

“Times change, technology changes, and we wanted to keep up” As you may or may not be aware, I began a startup company over three years ago, named transportme. The reason I created this company, and the development of the transportme product, was due to frustrations I experienced myself as a bus operator with systems we already had or were looking to invest in. One such aspect was GPS technology. Investing in a GPS system was going to be quite an expensive outlay for our own company with an install in 32 buses – I’m sure you could estimate the costs involved. I needed to weigh up the importance of GPS for our operation. I decided to do a cost-benefit analysis in order to determine my end decision. The basic…

To stay ahead in the competitive air-conditioning market, suppliers and manufacturers need to stand out from the crowd to maintain, and hopefully increase, their market share. Company managers were happy to reveal new products they have on the market, and how these products are going to help them achieve longevity. KING OF THE HILL Thermo King Australia southern region sales manager Eddie Furmanczyk says the company’s latest product is the KRS 1139B Tropical Unit. The design of the system allows for installation anywhere on the roof of the bus allowing the installer to have fexibility in system positioning whilst achieving correct weight distribution. The lightweight Tropical Unit is made of all-aluminum construction with a very low profile, which Furmanczyk says “is the most aesthetically pleasing system on the market to…

There were a couple of optional equipment additions to buses and coaches which caught our eye at the show, with the manufacturers of both items saying they increase safety. One is Volvo’s ‘dynamic steering system’ or VDS, with a simulator being the centrepiece of Volvo’s large stand near the entrance of the show pavilion. We reported last month how an independent study in Sweden concluded that the electronically controlled system cut muscle strain and fatigue by an average of about 30 per cent in a study of 20 bus drivers. Volvo also says VDS increases safety by self-centring, keeping a heavy vehicle heading straight ahead in that common regional Australian scenario of having to drop off the bitumen while passing another vehicle or, heaven forbid, if you have a steer…

“The system will come as an option on all Mercedes-Benz Citaro city buses” Daimler claims its newly developed electro-hydraulic power steering (EHPS) system can reduce the fuel consumption of buses. The fully integrated system replaces the conventional power steering pumps used in all buses with a weight over 7.5 tonnes. The system will come as an option on all Mercedes-Benz Citaro city buses from mid-2017. Demand-based actuation of the electric power steering pump, which had previously been powered by the combustion engine, means that steering assist can be used regardless of the engine speed. The steering unit consists of a three-phase current synchronous motor, control unit, high-performance electrical system and hydraulic pump in a single housing, and enables simple visual inspections of the power steering fuid reservoir. Shorter hydraulic pipes…