cbt20 for website lowres r1

&coach buswww.truckandbus.net.au Issue 20 $6.60 incl. GST

INTERVIEW: Nikki Brouwers NEWS: Volgren Double-Deck EVENT: 61st UITP Milan, 2015 TECH: Solar Roads Concept

DAIMLER'S AWARD-WINNING CITARO IS FINALLY HERE!

Shining Star

CBT20_p000_COV.indd 1 25/06/2015 10:20 pm

Higer has a wide range of 28 to 57 seat buses designed specifically for local conditions. Best-in-class components and standard safety features include ABS, ASR, lap sash seat belts and reversing camera on every model. With the addition of EBS and ESC Higer ensures maximum safety, comfort and class-leading reliability.

Combine this with an extensive dealer and service network and extended driveline warranty,* and it’s easy to see why more people are getting on board with Higer.

*Optional 2 year driveline warranty extension available (4 years total). Conditions apply.

There’s a Higer for every purpose

HIGER’S NEW BUS & COACH RANGE

To find your nearest Higer dealer call 1300 850 206 or visit higer.com.au

PLUS COMING IN 2015

City Bus

4x4 Bus

Large Tour Coach

001Driver’s Seat

“...the strength and growth and perseverance, really, of our industry in an ever-changing transport world.”

Fabian Cotter

WE MIGHT BE still six months from Christmas, but in bus terms it sure feels like it now mid-year with the 2015 BusVic

Maintenance Conference and Exhibition in Melbourne attracting some of the latest and greatest coach and bus vehicles and tech to our shores, for us all to sink our collective and figurative teeth into.

As its new home, the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre is a stunning backdrop for the event, the highlight for our industry this calendar year. The extra space is ideal not just for the physical presence and presentation of exhibitor stands and displays, but also for representing the strength and growth and perseverance, really, of our industry in an ever-changing transport world.

And changing it is. Sometimes for worse, some will say, be it because of increased regulation and compliance or such, while others will have noted the rapid advances in technology that is helping shape the buses of the future that we’ll be driving, operating and selling. More fuel-efficient engines or enhanced batteries and hybrid or electric powertrains, right the way through to cleaner alternative fuels and the latest telematics improvements and developments.

Yet one of the biggest areas that underpins much of it is safety. When something goes wrong it is the first thing examined and called into question: what happened and why? How could it have been minimised or avoided? What do we need to do in future to ensure it doesn’t happen again?

Yet here’s the thing: for as many experts that earn their living running through these scenarios and hypotheses before such often-tragic incidents occur - all in the endeavour of helping shape and guide directives and preventative measures - there’s potentially a whole stack of us who may well not give the issue the fullest attention and respect it

absolutely deserves.And, unfortunately, that’s easy to do.

Complacency has a nasty habit of giving us a false sense of security in so many things in life, sneakily stepping out of the picture right at the time it’s too late and we getting bitten on the bum.

Shows like the BusVic Conference, or any of the massive global ones like 2015 Busworld Kortrijk coming up this October in Belgium, or even the just recent biennial 61st 2015 UITP World Congress and Exhibition for Public Transport (see page 30 this issue) in Milan, showcase a raft of new safety features, devices and ideas that really are worth your time and attention, if you get the chance. And it’s always a good idea to be open-minded about these things, especially if they are in their infancy. ‘Don’t knock it ‘til ya try it!’ And ‘give peace a chance’ kind of thing.

Now, this safety issue is that crucial that Mercedes-Benz pushed hard to get one of their leading vehicular custodians of safety onto our roads for public use: the Citaro, our coverstory this issue. The multi-award winning European bus is finally here and in Euro6 guise no less.

But it’s not just imported vehicles that feature the latest safety considerations and standards; the amount of development that local companies like Bustech, Custom Bus Australia and Volgren put into their bodies in terms of protecting occupants while trying to minimise impact and injury to the outside is world class. The latter particularly invoking such a mindset most recently in the development of its Aussie-designed, Optimus-derived new double-deck unit.

On show in Melbourne, it’s quite an achievement for Volgren and Volvo to get that baby into service finally, so ensure you check it out if you get the chance.

Now in this, the 20th issue (and we are bi-monthly, so that’s like 40 in dog years, or something) of your favourite magazine – yes, it’s even better than the 1970s crossword puzzle mag you have hidden away under your work desks – we have a stack of interesting stuff for you.

We check out the emerging trend of what can only be described as ‘mega artics’ coming out of Germany, plus we get the 60-minute lowdown on bus driver health and wellbeing with resident expert in the

field Nikki Brouwers. We take a look at the thought-provoking Iveco Ellisup Concept bus and investigate the intriguing issue of solar-powered roads. Yep, you read that right. Solar-powered roads. There’s stuff going on in that field that could prove mighty useful in future. And as a special treat, we’ve also prepared a quick guide for operators on bus refurbishment where we check out a few companies for where to go and what they do. Too easy.

And finally, speaking of new tech and on-road safety from a commercial vehicles point of view, I was fascinated to read recently about the Samsung Safety Truck – which has a camera up front and a massive screen on the back, so that drivers behind it can see what’s in front of it, ideally for potential overtaking situations on open highways. I’m sure there are still things to work out on it to make it foolproof and super effective, but I think it’s a great idea and one that needs further consideration for buses. Yes, it would be expensive and loads of engineering needed and yes, blah, blah – but please just hear me out.

I mean, modern buses and coaches are just visual dead spaces at the rear nowadays, so I’m wondering if there’s any enhanced safety feature of having such screens on engine bay covers or above there (heat insulated and dissipating, of course), but not just for overtaking purposes. Maybe we could have cameras set up so that any drivers behind the bus could see, for example, school children up in front before they randomly dart out onto the street and into oncoming – or in this case, ensuing - traffic.

I don’t know. I’m just putting it out there. You don’t ask, you don’t get. I’m not saying it’s a perfect idea, just one that needs further consideration if there is indeed a worthy safety aspect to it for pedestrians and all modes of transport.

Until the next thrilling instalment … see ya’ll at the show.

CBT20_p001_Fab.indd 1 6/07/2015 11:40 am

Issue 020

Regulars

ContentsCONTACT DETAILS

PO Box 3294 Erina, NSW 2250 www.truckandbus.net.au

Enquiries Tel: 0411 099 091

Follow us on Twitter #truckandbusnews

Managing Editor/Editor Fabian Cotter [email protected]

Art Director Luke Melbourne www.groeningdesigns.com.au

Senior Designer Adelle Chang www.groeningdesigns.com.au

Advertising Sales E: [email protected] T: 0411 099 091

Contributing Writers Chris Smith, David Meredith, Sven-Erik Lindstrand, Allen Matzel

Contributing Photographers Mark Bean, Cristian Brunelli, Jan Glovac, David Meredith, Chris Smith, Paul Jakubicki, Matthew Everingham

Coach & Bus magazine is produced under license by the Truck Power Media Group Pty Ltd. ABN 85 122 374 547 six times per year and is distributed to bus and coach operators, business professionals and the industry throughout Australia.

All material contained herein including text, photography, design elements and format are copyright and cannot be reproduced by any means without the written permission of the publisher. Truck Power Media Group is a member of the Copyright Agency Limited (1800 066 844).

Editorial contributions are welcome for consideration. Contact the Editor for guidelines, fees and level of interest.

All unsolicited manuscripts must be accompanied by a stamp, addressed envelope for their return. We will not be held responsible for material supplied electronically.

Proudly printed in Australia.

Single copy price $6.60 incl. GST

Driver’s SeatWith the BusVic Show 2015 upon us, editor Cotter soaks it all in and gas-bags a bit about safety. Can’t shut him up, seriously.

Up FrontWe wrap up the key local and international bus and coach news that affects us as a global industry and where we are heading.

In Depth - The DoorsTECH TREND: Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) is still the modern commuter transport system of choice in many cities around the world, relegating light rail initiatives to the realm of needless expense. With articulated buses seemingly key to BRT, we check out two latest interpretations from Germany.

Hot Stuff - Gadgets on the GoIf you are past Lego and Meccano then these trick gadgets on the go are hard to resist. You

may not need them, but you’ll certainly want them. Or is that vice-versa?

Working WheelsIt might not be here yet – if at all – but the new LHD Hyundai H350 van debuting recently in Europe means the RHD market is more than a bit teased. Hey, good looker? Fabian Cotter susses it out.

Company CarWith pricing for the sexy new Jaguar XE announced, the smallest, lightest and stiffest Jaguar saloon is gabbing the attention of more than a few executive buyers. Fabian Cotter reports.

MoneyLong-term investment isn’t just based on how long we live, but how and where we invest our funds to finance our retirement. On average living longer, we need to be smarter. Paul Clitheroe explains.

01041860626364

3022

5649

Missed an issue? Surf to www.truckandbus.net.au to register for a FREE back-issue today!


LEARNING SPANISHIRIZAR - AT HOME IN OZOPERATOR: Buslink VIVO NEWS: Scania Poo Bus? INTERNATIONAL: Volvo Hybrid Electric INTERVIEW: HVA-King Long’s Anthony FisicaroCBT18_p000_COV.indd 1

25/02/2015 2:19 pm


CLASS ACTMB Mini-buses

Green-lighted

VOLVO’S B8RLEA HITS WEST OZArtic FoxOPERATOR: AAT Kings NEWS: UBC Take-over TECH: Air-powered Vehicles? INTERNATIONAL: Wrightbus Streetdeck

Aussie Pride!Volvo's First Euro6

Articulated Bus

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&coach bus

State of the SmartCOVERSTORY: It didn’t happen overnight, but it did happen – the multi-award-winning Mercedes-Benz Citaro is finally here and ready for business in Australia. And with its smart safety capabilities, could this be the local game-changer Daimler seeks? Fabian Cotter reports.

Milanese, If You Please!EVENT: The biennial 61st UITP World Congress and Exhibition for Public Transport got under way in Milan, Italy, recently and it featured a range of the latest buses and bus bits on display. Bus fans loved it! Fabian Cotter had a quick look around.

Back to the FutureGUIDE: Bus and coach refurbishment isn’t just big news for a few key ‘aftermarket’ players, there’s a slew of OEM-type ventures worldwide that are actively involved in the enterprise. We take a quick look at some of the domestic entities specialising in bus refurbishing. Fabian Cotter reports.

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Highway to CellTECH: Harnessing solar power successfully, efficiently and practically is still the holy grail for energy aficionados, but we are getting closer each day. Solar-powered roads? Why not, say those who dare to dream. Fabian Cotter investigates this most intriguing of techie transport concepts.

60 Minutes With...INTERVIEW: The modern bus driver has a heck of a task responsibly transporting thousands of commuters each day safety and on time. But there’s a whole host of issues affecting their bodies and minds at play. The Interact Group managing director Nikki Brouwers talks about crucial driver health.

By Design INTERNATIONAL: The Iveco Ellisup Concept bus wowed onlookers at the last Busworld 2013 show, so who knows what’s coming at the 2015 one? If the boundary-pushing Ellisup is anything to go by, it should be a doozie. Fabian Cotter takes a closer look.

“The relationship between mental health and the workplace is a complex one for bus drivers ... understanding and demystifying

depression and anxiety is important.”

Features

CBT20_p002-003_Con.indd 3 25/06/2015 10:13 pm

UpFront follow us online at: www.truckandbus.net.au

004 www.truckandbus.net.au

ELECTRIC BUSES WANTED FOR SYDNEY AIRPORT - REPORTSYDNEY AIRPORT is investigating

the addition of electric buses to the

airport’s parking and ground transport

operations, following publication of its first

Sustainability Report, it was announced

recently.

The airport thus invited Expressions of

Interest from manufacturers in Australia

and overseas to take part in an open

tender for the supply of electric buses, to

be used on the shuttle route between the

T2/T3 precinct and the Blu Emu Car Park.

The electric bus tender was part of the

airport’s commitment to sustainability

and follows recommendations of the

Sustainability Report.

“We are always looking to improve

the efficiency of our ground transport

operations and to do so in a sustainable

way,” Sydney Airport general manager

Parking & Ground Transport, Craig Norton,

explained.

“Finding sustainable transport solutions

is a priority for the airport, and advances in

electric vehicle technology in recent years

mean we can now look seriously at the

feasibility of introducing electric buses.”

Sydney Airport advertised its electric

bus tender in a number of publications in

Australia, the USA, the UK, Europe and Asia,

with interested parties required to register

Expressions of Interest by 12 June.

“We’re looking for a manufacturer who

can deliver first-rate electric vehicles to

replace the six diesel buses that currently

transport passengers and staff between

the Blu Emu Car Park and the domestic

terminals,” Norton said.

In 2014, more than 1.6 million

passengers and airport workers were

transported on the Blu Emu Car Park’s

buses.

“This is a busy shuttle route, and

optimum operational efficiency and

passenger comfort will be two of the

key criteria we’ll look for from any

manufacturer,” Norton said.

Electric shuttle buses operate in

Manchester and Nottingham in the UK and

at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport, while

electric bus trials have taken place in cities

as diverse as Los Angeles, Bangalore and

Kuala Lumpur.

Coach & Bus magazine will keep abreast

of the situation and will announce any

results and or developments in due time.

Phot

o co

urte

sy o

f BYD

CBT20_p004-013_NEWS.indd 4 25/06/2015 10:26 pm

A NEW double-deck design is being trialled by Public

Transport Victoria (PTV) in connection with the new

Regional Rail Link, with the view more of the Volgren-

Volvo bus will be produced depending on public demand,

Volgren states.

Making its show-stopping debut at the recent AusTech

Expo at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition

Centre – and on display also at this year’s 2015 BusVic

Maintenance Conference and Bus Expo at the same

venue – the Volgren Optimus-derived body on Volvo B9TL

chassis has passed all approvals required for on-road use

in Victoria – though not NSW, it would seem.

Confidential industry sources reveal such a vehicle

was on offer for months to Transport for NSW for use, but

State regulations and other delays prevented the new

double-decker from being trialled or put into service.

The bus is the first of four units that Volgren is

producing this year and touted as a leading-edge

example of the capabilities of the local transport

manufacturing industry.

Australian body builder Volgren, based in Dandenong,

Victoria, employing around 250 staff there (around 500

Australia wide), designed and manufactured the body for

the imported Volvo chassis.

With a total capacity for 111 passengers, it’s claimed,

the 88-seat bus will be operated by CDC Victoria, which

has routes in Melbourne’s west, Geelong and Ballarat, all

of which will be served by the Regional Rail Link.

The double-decker carries the equivalent of two

standard route buses, is about two-thirds their cost and

half their running cost, Volgren states.

VOLGREN-VOLVO DOUBLE-DECK DEBUTS IN MELBOURNE

BusVic Show 2015 – Bring It On!INDUSTRY EXCITMENT is at fever pitch

for the 2015 BusVic Maintenance

Conference and Bus Expo, being held

this year at its new larger venue the:

Melbourne Convention and Exhibition

Centre (MCEC), this July 8-9.

AS THE ONLY bus and coach expo

to be held in Australia in 2015, BusVic

anticipates there will be unprecedented

demand from the Australian and

international bus industry for access to

the event, which states it will be offering

unprecedented quality and value for

those that attend.

Key features of the event include:

* 15,000m2 of event space all under

the one roof;

* Maintenance, technical and

management conference sessions and

workshops delivered within the exhibit;

* Ample amount of time for delegates

to interact with over 150 leading

industry suppliers and be brought up to

date with the latest products, services

and developments;

* Catering and networking events held

within the exhibit;

* Premium keynote speakers and

entertainers as part of the two-day

conference programme including

Mark Donaldson VC, Mark ‘Bomber’

Thompson, Kate Ceberano and James

Galea;

* Industry gala dinner held at Crown

Palladium on July 8 and networking

dinner at Munich Brauhaus on July 9;

* and an event app available to enable

all exhibitors to further engage with

event delegates.

The Committee has developed an

exciting programme that will address

current issues and provide a great

learning and development experience,

it’s stated.

At the time of print registrations were

still open, so delegates and exhibitors

are encouraged to visit the BusVic

website at www.busvic.asn.au to check

out the Exhibition flyer including floor

plan and registration form, as well as

the Exhibitor Handbook. This includes

useful information and terms and

conditions.

A comprehensive technical

maintenance conference programme

is being run alongside the exhibition,

offering delegates the opportunity to

hear about the latest technologies and

innovations in buses and workshop

maintenance, plus best practice and

“How-To’s” in operational management.

There will also be various technical

workshops being convened throughout

the exhibition hall.

The MCEC is a stellar venue on the

banks of the Yarra River in Southbank,

on the doorstep of Melbourne city

centre and a short 20-minute taxi from

the airport.

Please note current BusVic and BIC

supplier members and partners will

have access to discount benefits for

the Event. Should you wish to become

a member or partner of BusVic or BIC,

please access the BusVic Associate

Member information here at www.

busvic.asn.au/public/membership/

membership-application-forms, or BIC

Member information at www.bic.asn.au/

membership-centre/how-to-join-bic

Should you have any queries, please

contact event organiser Craig Spurr on

+61 (0)3 9914 7011, +61 (0)3 9914

7011, or email [email protected]

CBT20_p004-013_NEWS.indd 5 25/06/2015 10:26 pm

VOLVO HYBRIDS WORLDWIDE2000


Engineering the Future

The future will be rolling on Lion’s Chassis.Lion’s Chassis form the ideal basis for coaches, city buses and school buses that combine premium quality with innovative engineering. The electronic stability program ESP is a series feature of the coach and school bus versions. This, along with the EBS electronic brake system and a body friendly electronic structure are all standard features of the Lion’s Chassis.

The modular two-and three-axle chassis give body manufacturers great freedom and flexibility in designing individual solutions with five module groups available:

Driver’s work-place module:The ergonomically designed driver’s work-place offers body manufacturers flexible integration options.

Front axle module:Highly convenient independent wheel suspension is now standard for coach and school bus. An optional rigid axle is also available for two-axle coach and school bus chassis. The Low Entry chassis is fitted as standard with the proven rigid axle.

Wheelbase module:A short transfer wheelbase lowers transport costs and the final wheelbase can be individually specified by the body manufacturer.

Rear axle module:A low-noise hypoid drive axle with low weight, high load capacity and long oil-change intervals

is standard. A stabiliser is fitted for increased stability and optimum safety, especially for high bodies. An actively steered trailing axle is available for three-axle coach Chassis.

Driveline module:The driveline can be perfectly configured with efficient common-rail engines for low-entry, school bus or coach chassis. The engines meet exhaust emission standards Euro 6 – well ahead of the statutory deadline. Available gearboxes include manual, automated manual (MAN TipMatic®) and automatic.

To find out more, contact your local MAN Sales Representative.

VIC, SA & TAS: John Dernaj M: 0419 329 636 QLD, NT & WA: Russell Bayfield M: 0421 613 143 NSW: Les Atkins M: 0418 293 077

www.man.com.au

MAN217R C&B

MAN217_Euro6Ad_C&B.indd 1 18/06/2015 5:11 pm

SALES OF Volvo hybrid buses passed

2000 units globally in the second

quarter of this year. Volvo Buses has

now sold these hybrid buses in about

20 countries since their introduction

in 2010. Fewer exhaust emissions,

low energy consumption and quieter

operation are appreciated by increasing

numbers of cities the world over, the

company states.

“With this on-going success we are

reinforcing our global lead in hybrid

buses. Cities all over the world now

regard electrified bus traffic as a cost-

efficient way of reducing the problems

of poor air quality and noise. Our

solution makes travel more attractive

and improves the environment without

the need for large investments in new

infrastructure.” says Håkan Agnevall,

president and CEO Volvo Buses.

Among the newly added markets for

Volvo’s hybrids are Denmark, Hungary

and Poland. The largest single market

is Great Britain. Colombia, Sweden,

Germany, Brazil and Switzerland are

other countries that have purchased

large numbers of hybrid buses. Most

of the models sold are two-axle buses,

while just over 60 are articulated

versions. The total sales figures include

Volvo Buses’ new electric hybrid, which

was launched in 2014 and has so far

been introduced in Hamburg, Stockholm

and Gothenburg.

June this year will see the start

of regular operations using the first

all-electric Volvo buses in Gothenburg.

These buses are part of ElectriCity – a

broad-based cooperative venture

between the corporate sector, research

institutes and public agencies on the

development of new solutions for public

transport.

“With our comprehensive range of

electrified buses we meet a wide variety

of customer needs. The way we see

it, urban public transport will require

a mix of hybrids, plug-in hybrids and

full-electric buses. Full-electric buses

are highly suitable in the city centres,

electric hybrids are excellent for

somewhat longer routes, and hybrids

are perfect for feeder traffic bringing

commuters into the city,” said Agnevall.

Compared to a conventional diesel

bus, the hybrid utilises energy otherwise

wasted during braking. The stored

energy is used to charge a battery,

allowing the bus to run in electric mode,

which saves fuel. The Volvo B5RLEH

hybrid chassis uses a parallel hybrid

system combining the electric and

diesel engine. This assists the vehicle

when the battery is low or when extra

power is needed for acceleration.

Volvo recently delivered a Hybrid

Bus to Brisbane City Council, which

meets their vision to make Brisbane a

sustainable city. Volvo has also delivered

hybrid buses to both Perth and Adelaide

with promising results, it’s claimed


CBT20_p004-013_NEWS.indd 6 25/06/2015 10:26 pm

www.truckandbus.net.au 051Engineering the Future

The future will be rolling on Lion’s Chassis.Lion’s Chassis form the ideal basis for coaches, city buses and school buses that combine premium quality with innovative engineering. The electronic stability program ESP is a series feature of the coach and school bus versions. This, along with the EBS electronic brake system and a body friendly electronic structure are all standard features of the Lion’s Chassis.

The modular two-and three-axle chassis give body manufacturers great freedom and flexibility in designing individual solutions with five module groups available:

Driver’s work-place module:The ergonomically designed driver’s work-place offers body manufacturers flexible integration options.

Front axle module:Highly convenient independent wheel suspension is now standard for coach and school bus. An optional rigid axle is also available for two-axle coach and school bus chassis. The Low Entry chassis is fitted as standard with the proven rigid axle.

Wheelbase module:A short transfer wheelbase lowers transport costs and the final wheelbase can be individually specified by the body manufacturer.

Rear axle module:A low-noise hypoid drive axle with low weight, high load capacity and long oil-change intervals

is standard. A stabiliser is fitted for increased stability and optimum safety, especially for high bodies. An actively steered trailing axle is available for three-axle coach Chassis.

Driveline module:The driveline can be perfectly configured with efficient common-rail engines for low-entry, school bus or coach chassis. The engines meet exhaust emission standards Euro 6 – well ahead of the statutory deadline. Available gearboxes include manual, automated manual (MAN TipMatic®) and automatic.

To find out more, contact your local MAN Sales Representative.

VIC, SA & TAS: John Dernaj M: 0419 329 636 QLD, NT & WA: Russell Bayfield M: 0421 613 143 NSW: Les Atkins M: 0418 293 077

www.man.com.au

MAN217R C&B

MAN217_Euro6Ad_C&B.indd 1 18/06/2015 5:11 pm

CBT20_p004-013_NEWS.indd 7 25/06/2015 10:26 pm

Australia’s Deadly Diesel?A PUBLIC HEALTH report has revealed that

around 3000 Australians die each year as

a result of diesel particulate emissions,

almost three times the annual road toll,

prompting Gas Energy Australia to call for

urgent government action to displace the

use of carcinogenic diesel fuel.

This alarming statistic was published in

a 2014 paper by the Australian and New

Zealand Journal of Public Health, It’s safe

to say there’s no safe level of air pollution.

Gas Energy Australia referred to the

findings of the paper in its submission on

the Working towards a National Clean Air

Agreement Discussion Paper.

Gas Energy Australia’s CEO Mike

Carmody said the impact of particulate

pollution on human health will only

worsen if government supported efforts to

move away from diesel don’t start now.

“According to this public health paper,

in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne

alone, another 6000 people would die

and a further 20,700 people would be

hospitalised each year if particulate

matter levels rose to just below the

National Environment Protection Measures

standards for air quality,” he said.

“We should be transitioning to cleaner

fuel alternatives, such as Australian LPG

and natural gas, to significantly reduce

harmful particulate emissions and carbon

emissions.”

In studies of heavy-duty vehicles, a

United States Department of Energy

review found that the use of Compressed

Natural Gas (CNG) and Liquefied Natural

Gas (LNG), when compared to diesel,

reduces life cycle particulate matter from

85 per cent to near 100 per cent (that is,

undetectable levels), emissions of nitrogen

oxides by 17 to 80 per cent and emissions

of GHGs by at least 16 to 23 per cent.

An Australian community group

concerned about harmful pollution from

diesel-powered vehicles in Melbourne’s

inner west has also argued for the need

to consider alternative fuel options. The

Maribyrnong Truck Action Group (MTAG)

also made a submission on the Working

towards a National Clean Air Agreement

Discussion Paper. It highlights a number

of ways that diesel pollution could be

significantly reduced, including through

a funded programme for alternative fuels

such as Compressed Natural Gas (CNG).

MTAG’s submission also recognises

that, “Australia is lagging behind the rest

of the developed world on reducing the

impact of on-road diesel emissions”.

News out of the UK just recently

solidifies that point.

The UK Supreme Court ruled that

the government must act now to cut

nitrogen dioxide pollution, which diesel

vehicles emit. According to the BBC, the

Government is now required to prepare

new air quality plans for the European

Commission by the end of the year.

Mr Carmody said it’s time Australia

made clean air a national policy priority.

“Not only is Australia trailing behind with

regard to on-road emissions standards,

there are no off-road diesel emission

standards at all,” Mr Carmody said.

“Groups like MTAG prove that everyday

Australians are worried about the impact

of diesel pollution on public health, and

numerous studies support their position.

“We welcome the agreement by

Australian Environment Ministers to work

towards establishing a National Clean

Air Agreement, and urge them to support

increased use of gaseous fuels to help

improve air quality and address the

human health threat posed by diesel.”


DONNA JOHNSON of South

Australia is the winner of MAN’s

recent Fraser Island competition.

Johnson and her family won five

nights at Kingfisher Bay Resort on

the unique, World Heritage-listed

Fraser Island, Queensland. Her

prize includes return economy

airfares, island ferry transfers,

accommodation and a 4WD coach

tour.

Kingfisher Bay Resort is a

fully-integrated ecotourism

resort, designed to give guests an

enjoyable nature-based experience

on Fraser Island whilst creating

minimal impact on the stunning

environment.

Congratulations to Mrs Johnson

and MAN would like to thank

everyone who entered.

MAN Competition Winner Announced

Call or email us for further information

Please visit www.kinglong.com.au

for more information

130-132 Freight Drive Somerton VIC Australia 3062

t. (03) 9305 2299 f. (03) 8339 0265 e. [email protected]

CAB-HVA-0515-SDLMCT No: 10735

NSW, QLD, WA & NTStephen Long Regional Sales Manager m. 0409 488 834 e. [email protected]

VIC, ACT, SA & TASChris CordiaRegional Sales Manager m. 0438 040 411 e. [email protected]

Anthony FisicaroGeneral Manager m. 0400 968 106 e. [email protected]

TRANSPORTING AUSTRALIA

www.kinglong.com.auVIEW OUR FULL RANGE ONLINE

CAB-HVA-0515FullPage-SD.indd 1 29/04/2015 8:24 am

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CBT20_p004-013_NEWS.indd 8 25/06/2015 10:26 pm

Call or email us for further information

Please visit www.kinglong.com.au

for more information

130-132 Freight Drive Somerton VIC Australia 3062

t. (03) 9305 2299 f. (03) 8339 0265 e. [email protected]

CAB-HVA-0515-SDLMCT No: 10735

NSW, QLD, WA & NTStephen Long Regional Sales Manager m. 0409 488 834 e. [email protected]

VIC, ACT, SA & TASChris CordiaRegional Sales Manager m. 0438 040 411 e. [email protected]

Anthony FisicaroGeneral Manager m. 0400 968 106 e. [email protected]

TRANSPORTING AUSTRALIA

www.kinglong.com.auVIEW OUR FULL RANGE ONLINE

CAB-HVA-0515FullPage-SD.indd 1 29/04/2015 8:24 am

CBT20_p004-013_NEWS.indd 9 25/06/2015 10:26 pm

SCANIA IN INDIASCANIA COMMERCIAL Vehicles India

inaugurated the company’s first bus

manufacturing plant in Asia recently, in

the presence of 1500 guests including

ministers, ambassadors, customers,

suppliers and employees,

The new bus production plant is

located at the Scania Narasapura facility,

in the Indian state of Karnataka, 40km

east of Bangalore.

Investments of EUR 40 million in the

first phase of the facility mean that

Scania will be able to manufacture 1000

buses and 3000 trucks there annually.

Since Scania first started assembling

trucks at the Narasapura facility in

October 2013, the workforce has grown

from 30 to 650 employees.

Scania’s president and CEO Martin

Lundstedt attended the inauguration,

stating: “Less than five years ago I

came here with a team from Scania

and we bought this piece of land that

we are standing on today. At that time

we had an idea and a vision of what we

wanted to build here. So I hope you can

appreciate that it is exciting for us to see

it being realised.

“We keep on growing and now that

we are opening our second industrial

facility with bus production we are further

expanding Scania’s ambition to offer state-

of-the-art sustainable transport solutions.

“We have entered the Indian market at

a pace never seen before in the history

of Scania. Our ambition is to sell 2500

trucks and 1000 buses per year in the

Indian market within the coming years

and employ 1200 people at this facility.

“I am convinced that together with

our customers, our partners and

our colleagues we will contribute to

developing not only our own position

here in India, but also in making a

contribution to the industrial base, the

sustainable transportation system and

the economy of India, in the true spirit

of Make in India (an Indian government

initiative to encourage companies to

manufacture their products in India).”

The inauguration was also the

unofficial kick-off for Scania’s work with

sustainable transport solutions in India.

The Indian Transport Minister, Nitin

Gadkari, praised Scania’s work to

develop sustainable fuels such as biogas

in India in his speech, adding: “This is

not only an opening of a new bus factory,

it’s also the opening of a new clean

technology for India.

“Our Government is recognising the

need for clean fuel and sustainability,

to build our Smart Cities (Indian

Government initiative to improve the

environment and transport systems in

India’s 100 largest cities) and a quality

of life for our citizens.

“Public transport in India has to be

redefined as sustainable and clean.

Scania’s strategy for India helps reduce

India’s dependence on fossil fuels. The

Scania model also provides a viable

option to create local fuel from local

waste and use it for local transport.”



Anders Grundströmer, managing director India,

and Martin Lundstedt, president and CEO.Hundreds attend the new Scania

facility opening in India.

ROLL WITH A LEGEND

50 Years on, still legendarY

our legendary buses and coaches arecustom made to your specifications and

wear the Hino badge, so you knowyou’re getting quality engineering.

so trust a brand with its roots in homesoil, 50 years on and Hino is still

producing legendary transport solutions.

hino.com.au

34214_v1 Revised Bus Ad for Coach & BusMagazine.indd 1 13/03/15 12:38 PM

CBT20_p004-013_NEWS.indd 10 25/06/2015 10:26 pm

ROLL WITH A LEGEND

50 Years on, still legendarY

our legendary buses and coaches arecustom made to your specifications and

wear the Hino badge, so you knowyou’re getting quality engineering.

so trust a brand with its roots in homesoil, 50 years on and Hino is still

producing legendary transport solutions.

hino.com.au

34214_v1 Revised Bus Ad for Coach & BusMagazine.indd 1 13/03/15 12:38 PM

CBT20_p004-013_NEWS.indd 11 25/06/2015 10:26 pm


AUCKLAND BUS shelters are set for a

new design following public feedback.

Back during July and August 2014

Auckland Transport asked for public

feedback on three new bus shelter

designs that were being trialled on

Symonds Street in the city.

Auckland Transport’s group

manager AT Metro Mark Lambert

says the level of interest in the trial

shelters was very encouraging with

856 feedback responses received.

“Public feedback helped us gauge

how the community felt about the trial

designs and gave us some ideas how

to make Auckland’s new bus shelter

even more appealing to bus users.”

The designs were assessed against

a range of criteria, such as public

feedback, value for money, customer

comfort, durability, and ease of

construction.

Shelter A is the final choice.

Mr Lambert says it’s attractive,

adaptable, innovative, safe and

comfortable.

The new shelter will help to create a

more recognisable bus network and it

will make life much more pleasant for

everyone who uses the buses.

The shelter is a modular system so

it can be configured to reflect local

settings by using different sizes and

layouts, building the shelter out of

materials that reflect local character

and attaching or inscribing art work

on the shelter.

The new shelter will gradually be

rolled out across Auckland from the

middle of the year.

New NZ Bus Shelters

CONSOLES ON Auckland’s bus fleet

are being modified after an incident

recently in which a driver was taken to

hospital with facial injuries.

A malfunction within a console,

which is used to store ticket and route

information, caused a plastic casing to

fly off, injuring the driver.

The fault was with an internal lithium

battery.

Thales Australia, which installed and

maintains the machines, recommended

they be replaced with upgraded

batteries, which have a short-circuit

fail-safe. Technicians are being flown

in and the new batteries will be fitted

on buses by Saturday.

AT also wants Thales Australia to

look at modifications to the console

casings.

Incidents involving faulty batteries of

this type are rare worldwide.

“We don’t believe this is a systemic

issue but rather a freak accident.

Thales have never had any experience

of an incident like this and they

advise the possibility of a similar

event is extremely low, and reduced

even further with the latest fail-safe

battery,” said AT’s chief executive

David Warburton.

Since the machines were installed

last year, Auckland’s 1150 buses have

travelled an estimated 46 million

kilometres (or approximately 1.9

million hours on the road).

Warburton has also expressed

concern for the bus driver involved

whose welfare is being looked after by

his employers.

BUS CONSOLE BATTERIES REPLACED

www.daewoobuses.com.au | (02) 9603 2900

Korea is recognised as the world leader in producing high quality, great value products, and Daewoo takes it a step further with cutting edge design and the very latest in drive line and diesel technology, making it the benchmark for reliability.

With the choice of ordering fully imported ‘complete built units’ or bus chassis built by a body builder of your choice. Either way, our extensive options list means every Daewoo is customised to meet your specific requirements.

Daewoo is backed by Australian bus specialists Asia Motors, who with over 40 years of local industry experience understand what it takes to build the best school buses in the market.

With a state of the art parts warehouse including fully computerised parts inventory management systems and factory qualified technicians on hand 24/7, Daewoo’s commitment is guaranteed.


SIMPLY SMARTER BUSINESS

BENCHMARK QUALITY

PROVEN RELIABILITY

SENSATIONAL VALUE

SERVICE YOU CAN COUNT ONAsia Motors knows buses like no other. This means we know which parts to keep in stock and how to get them to you fast. With 24/7 parts and technical support from factory-qualified technicians only a phone call away you know you have support when you need it.

Our investment in a state of the art parts warehouse including fully computerised parts and inventory management systems means our commitment is guaranteed.


www.daewoobuses.com.au

B E N C H M A R K Q U A L I T Y – P R O V E N R E L I A B I L I T Y – S E N S A T I O N A L V A L U E

DW3722/1014

CBT20_p004-013_NEWS.indd 12 25/06/2015 10:26 pm

www.daewoobuses.com.au | (02) 9603 2900

Korea is recognised as the world leader in producing high quality, great value products, and Daewoo takes it a step further with cutting edge design and the very latest in drive line and diesel technology, making it the benchmark for reliability.

With the choice of ordering fully imported ‘complete built units’ or bus chassis built by a body builder of your choice. Either way, our extensive options list means every Daewoo is customised to meet your specific requirements.

Daewoo is backed by Australian bus specialists Asia Motors, who with over 40 years of local industry experience understand what it takes to build the best school buses in the market.

With a state of the art parts warehouse including fully computerised parts inventory management systems and factory qualified technicians on hand 24/7, Daewoo’s commitment is guaranteed.


SIMPLY SMARTER BUSINESS

BENCHMARK QUALITY

PROVEN RELIABILITY

SENSATIONAL VALUE

CBT20_p004-013_NEWS.indd 13 25/06/2015 10:26 pm

UpFront

WMC Group has announced the

appointment of Francis Burdock as

the new national sales and marketing

manager for Higer Bus and Coach in

Australia.

Mr Burdock brings a wealth of bus

industry experience to the Higer brand,

including several years at Mercedes-

Benz, both in Australia and the UK.

“I am very excited to be working with

the Higer brand as it moves to the next

stage of growth in the Australian market”

said Burdock of his appointment. “Higer

is building a strong reputation locally,

with a product that is proving itself in the

tough Australian environment. We have

a very exciting year ahead, with some

excellent new products to be launched.”

Higer has also announced the

appointment of Paul Rochester as

the new Victorian regional sales

representative. Rochester is well known

in the bus industry, having many years

of experience at both body and chassis

manufacturers.

“Higer has enjoyed class-leading

sales growth over the past few years,”

said Neil Bamford, CEO of WMC Group.

“As the brand matures in the Australian

market, we will need to rely on the

experience of our sales force and build

lasting relationships with both large and

small fleets”.

Higer Australia Appointments

IN AN Australian first, the Queensland

State Government is trialling a new

generation audible information

system on the bus network to improve

accessibility for vision impaired persons

in Brisbane.

Disability Services Minister Coralee

O’Rourke said King George Square bus

station had been fitted with the easy-

to-use Step-Hear ® system as part of a

$50,000 trial of the new technology in a

busy public transport environment.

“The Step-Hear ® system provides

blind and vision impaired persons with

audible messages outlining bus station

facilities, bus stop locations and details

of which routes leave from any given

stop,” O’Rourke said.

“The user is alerted to the location

of speakers through the Step-Hear ®

app, or by a dedicated wrist band which

vibrates when in proximity, and they can

then activate the audio message using

either of these devices.

“King George Square bus station

has 30 speakers installed throughout

the building, including speakers at the

entry and each bus stop, which provide

information on specific stop services.

“Guide Dogs Queensland have played

a key role in this process, working

closely with TransLink on the system and

messaging to ensure it is as effective as

possible.

“This is all part of our commitment to

breaking down barriers and improving

the lives of people with disability.”

Guide Dogs Queensland CEO Barb

Tasker said the installation of the new

system meant greater independence and

certainty for vision impaired commuters.

For full details and to plan your journey,

visit www.translink.com.au or phone 13

12 30, any time

QLD AUDIO TRIAL


Francis Burdock, national sales and

marketing manager for WMC Higer.

CBT20_p004-013_NEWS.indd 14 25/06/2015 10:26 pm

W W W . I V E C O . C O M . A U

REGIONAL SALES MANAGER POSITION NSW

IVECO Bus Australia is expanding its sales team in NSW and as such seeks a suitable and experienced bus sales person.

This position would be part of a 2 person sales team servicing the NSW market.

The successful applicant must have the ability to cold call on non IVECO customers and also service the existing customer base.

Skill levels required:• Previous Sales experience in Bus

or Commercial vehicles• Proficient in Word, Powerpoint, Excel• Excellent time management • Medium rigid licence as a minimum• Technical skills

Package will consist:• Base salary (negotiable)• Commission • Volume bonus• Company car• Mobile & Laptop

All enquiry’s and applications should be sent to [email protected]

AB

C-H

H-5

1744

73-T

S-3

34-X

CC

LEADING CLUTCH manufacturer Exedy has a range of replacement bus and coach clutches available as part of its new Truck Tuff range. The company has clutches for Hino (RN, RK & FD models), Mitsubishi (Rosa), Mercedes-Benz (Citaro, 0 500) and many more.

Truck Tuff clutches cater for Japanese, American and European commercial vehicle clutch needs.

As the primary OEM clutch manufacturer for Isuzu, Hino,

Mitsubishi Fuso and Nissan UD, Exedy supplies clutch products for over 80 per cent of the domestic Japanese commercial vehicle market.

Failures due to poor quality can result not only in costly repairs but also loss of income.

In addition, the Exedy range extends to both European and American brands.

For further information on Exedy’s clutch range, visit www.exedy.com.au/clutch-finder

AUSTRALIAN HEAVY equipment manufacturer, Nepean Transport, has the only Australian-made brake testing equipment in the marketplace today, the company states.

Developed specifically for heavy-duty vehicles, the VIS-Check range quickly, easily and accurately analyses the vehicle’s efficiency and roadworthiness to ensure it meets standards for road registration.

Entirely engineered, designed and produced in Australia, the VIS-Check range includes in-ground, aboveground and mobile brake testing equipment. Depending on the user’s needs, the VIS-Check model can analyse a vehicle’s brakes and or steering, suspension and undercarriage components.

If you would like more information on the NEPEAN Transport VIS-Check trailer, visit www.nepean.com

EXEDY BUS CLUTCHES OZ-MADE BRAKE TESTING

follow us online at: www.truckandbus.net.au

CBT20_p004-013_NEWS.indd 15 25/06/2015 10:27 pm

VOLVO BUS120 Hume Highway, Chullora, NSW 2190 Tel: 02 8713 8201, www.volvobuses.com.au

Sign up for a Volvo Service Contract today for a more assured tomorrow.

At Volvo Bus we understand that you need to have a productive vehicleand that you want to reduce uncertainty about service costs. With VolvoBusso you get what you want when you want it.

Volvo Bus Service Contracts are specifically designed to give you completepeace of mind, with 24hr breakdown assistance included as standard to make sure you are never left behind. So you can relax, safe in the knowledgethat your vehicle will stay where it belongs – on the road.

Let us manage your vehicle, so that you have more time to manageyour business.

The World of Green Efficiency

Volvo service contractswe go further

volvo gold contractfor added

peace of mind

THE MOST IMPORTANT TOOL FOR

MaximumUPTIME

Service Contracts we tailor our service to meet your needs,

follow us online at: www.truckandbus.net.auUpFront

VEGETABLE OILS for buses? Yep! Volvo

Buses’ Euro6 engines for city buses and

intercity buses have now been certified

to run on Hydrogenated Vegetable Oils

(HVO), a renewable fuel that replaces

regular diesel, the company has

announced. The fuel copes with storage

and low temperatures in the same way as

regular diesel, but reduces CO2 emissions

by up to 90 per cent, it’s claimed.

The engines certified to use HVO are

the 5-litre and 8-litre Euro6 engines

(certified to the paraffinic fuels CEN

TS 15940 standard, which in addition

to HVO also covers tall oil diesel and

gas-to-liquid (GTL) fuels). Volvo Buses

also approves HVO as a fuel for all buses

with Euro5 engines, with no reduction

in service interval. This means that the

majority of newer Volvo buses can now

run on renewable fuel with very low

environmental impact.

“This is an important step that gives

customers who have access to HVO

the opportunity to greatly reduce their

climate impact while keeping the same

high level of reliability and availability,”

said Edward Jobson, environmental

director for Volvo Buses.

HVO is made from renewable

materials such as vegetable and animal

oils, from sources such as rapeseed

or slaughter waste, and is a direct

replacement for regular diesel fuel. It

reduces carbon emissions by between

30 and 90 per cent compared to regular

diesel, depending on the raw material.

Otherwise, HVO has the same properties

as regular diesel, such as storage life

and cold-resistance, and the two fuels

can be mixed. HVO can be distributed

by existing fuel depots using the same

types of tanks and nozzles.

Volvo’s approval of HVO is backed by

extensive field trials and careful studies

of the effects of the fuel on engine

performance and reliability, the company

states.

VOLVO GOES HVO


CBT20_p004-013_NEWS.indd 16 25/06/2015 10:27 pm

VOLVO BUS120 Hume Highway, Chullora, NSW 2190 Tel: 02 8713 8201, www.volvobuses.com.au

Sign up for a Volvo Service Contract today for a more assured tomorrow.

At Volvo Bus we understand that you need to have a productive vehicleand that you want to reduce uncertainty about service costs. With VolvoBusso you get what you want when you want it.

Volvo Bus Service Contracts are specifically designed to give you completepeace of mind, with 24hr breakdown assistance included as standard to make sure you are never left behind. So you can relax, safe in the knowledgethat your vehicle will stay where it belongs – on the road.

Let us manage your vehicle, so that you have more time to manageyour business.

The World of Green Efficiency

Volvo service contractswe go further

volvo gold contractfor added

peace of mind

THE MOST IMPORTANT TOOL FOR

MaximumUPTIME

Service Contracts we tailor our service to meet your needs,

CBT20_p004-013_NEWS.indd 17 25/06/2015 10:27 pm

In Depth

Light rail the answer? Plenty will argue so, though there’s much to be said about the merits of an efficient and well-engineered Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system. In some cities they are the only logical, cost-effective solution – and Germany’s top two bus marques have just the mega-long, multi-door artics for it. Coach & Bus editor Fabian Cotter investigates.

THE DOORS


CBT20_p018-021_Extended News_Merc.indd 16 25/06/2015 10:17 pm

www.truckandbus.net.au 019

Had rocker and American poet Jim Morrison been alive today he may well be disappointed there was no ‘breaking on through to the

other side’ by passengers as they scrambled out of the latest, largest articulated buses coming out of Europe. In fact, there’d be no scrambling or shenanigans at all - just the ordered entry and exit by passengers through one of the not two, not three, but four or more sets of ‘doors’. Yep, that’s how long the latest twin-bodied vehicles have become.

At the recent biennial 61st UITP 2015 World Congress & Exhibition, in Milan, Italy, both

MAN and Mercedes-Benz had their latest multi-door articulated buses on show. The trend towards having two or more doors on the trailing after-body section and seemingly ever increasing overall length all leads to a product trend focussed on comfortably transporting as many people as possible and having them get on or off the bus as quickly and safely as possible.

Add in either Euro6 engine emissions cleanliness as on the Mercedes-Benz CapaCity L, or Euro6 with CNG use as on the MAN Lion’s City GL CNG – which incidentally garnered the highly respected Bus of the Year

2015 award late last year – and such vehicles form an integral part of any BRT system’s adaptability and success.

The MAN Lion’s City GL is an 18.75m-long articulated bus that boasts a transport capacity of up to 142 passengers and features five double-width doors all told – making it the only five-door bus on the market, the company states. Such innovations ensure optimal passenger flow and reduced waiting time at stops, it’s stated. The vehicle is also fitted with three fold-out chairs, which the driver can control, meaning more standing room can be made available in the event of a



large influx of passengers. This five-door concept, unique on the

market says MAN, guarantees “optimal and rapid passenger flow and short stopping times, even in peak periods”.

Manoeuvrability of such long buses is key, though, so when the MAN moves off after standing with fore-body and after-body at a fairly tight angle, the electric articulation control system prevents pushing over the central axle. The segmented side wall cladding means that damaged parts can be more easily replaced, and so repair times and downtimes are thus significantly reduced.

Inside, a translucent concertina section, glass roof hatches and energy-efficient LED interior lighting (Light-Emitting Diodes) combine to give the passenger area a bright

and pleasant atmosphere, it’s stated.As for the new Mercedes, it’s a whopper!

At an imposing 21m long, it can hold up to 191 passengers as standard, it’s claimed. The CapaCity L high-capacity articulated bus makes “an important contribution towards counteracting the transport problems in inner cities,” the company states.

Around 3m longer than conventional articulated buses, the idea is operators can carry far more passengers with the same number of buses.

“It is the longest European bus with just one articulated turntable. Plus it is environmentally friendly – no other bus with a diesel engine has lower CO₂ emissions per passenger,” explained Hartmut Schick, head of Daimler Buses.

Ulrike Riedel, member of the executive board responsible for human resources and operations at Hochbahn, in Germany, said: “We are pleased about increasing passenger numbers. At peak times, we cannot further increase the frequency at which our buses are running in many cases, so high-capacity buses, such as the new CapaCity L, are a very appealing option for us.”

It requires a certificate of exemption on account of its length, as it is much longer than 18.75m - the maximum permissible length for vehicle combinations. A steered fourth axle raises the permissible Gross Vehicle Mass (GVW) to 32t, while an automatic control system called ASA (Additional Steering Axle) also ensures surprising manoeuvrability.

“...transporting as many people as possible, safely as possible.”

The unique ATC (Articulated Turntable Controller) system on the CapaCity L controls the hydraulic damping of the articulated turntable quickly and on demand, ensuring optimum steering characteristics during normal operation. If any instability is encountered – on a slippery road surface, for example – ATC stabilises the articulated bus within the bounds of physical possibility, according to MB. The ATC is thus the only system of its type to achieve anything like the effect of an electronic stability control system (ESP). This means a new level of safety for articulated buses, it’s stated.

ATC

� Just like a train pulling up at the station, people can quickly and easily get on or off, given so many doors.



The MB CapaCity L holds 191 people throughout its length. That’s massive.These ‘mega’ artics are quite an imposing sight on the road. Heck, and why not?

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Coverstory


C I T A R O

CBT20_p020-025_CoverStory.indd 22 25/06/2015 10:31 pm


Smarter buses mean safer journeys, or so the theory goes. The endeavour to provide Australasian commuters the latest bus and coach technology to embellish their travel experience is secondary to saving their lives if an horrific accident occurs. And so Daimler Buses’s award-winning, feature-laden Citaro is finally here to further help champion that cause. Coach & Bus editor Fabian Cotter reports.

STATE OF THE SMART


1

A t its best it’s called ‘a rainy day’. At its worst it’s the dreaded ‘worst-case scenario’. It seems that in almost everything we do

as a species when it comes to planning our lives – regardless of how flippantly or seriously we approach that idea – often enough we’ll factor in considerations too far removed from good old Murphy’s Law. It’s the happier, sunnier-disposition way we look at life, or how we define the ‘everydayness’ of every day, where statistically something bad happening is so much in the realm of chance and not inevitability that we can comfortably ignore it. Complacently so. But usually not for long.

Traffic accident statistics tell only part of the story, in that to the layman analysing them and running the math for future policy and regulation formation – or even just mindless banter with mates later that night at the local pub – they often ignore near misses or non-accident close calls. No prang, so did it exist? And it is here where bus drivers and the vehicles themselves are regularly put to the test on our roads daily.

Sure, there are hundreds of buses out on our roads getting on in years but still doing the job admirably, fulfilling their originally advertised service lives and often exceeding those like champions - pending appropriate upkeep and maintenance schedules. But the elephant in the room is this: advances in technology from a fuel-saving, emissions-cleanliness, structural-integrity and, perhaps most importantly, safety point of view is out-pacing many of the engineering benchmarks previously expected and set. Indeed, a lot can happen and improve during a minimum average 10-year bus life-cycle.

And it is for this very reason not only are many companies specialising in retrofitting the latest parts and components onto older buses, to give them some form of parity with their newer contemporaries coming onto the market, but that the leading global bus and coach players are offering customers their latest technology-laden units so that operators are best prepared for when any unfortunate incident may occur.

Daimler’s multi-award-winning Citaro is one of the big German company’s leading market sellers and ambassador for the latest safety and performance advances on offer. And it is finally here in Australia.

Daimler Bus Asia-Pacific general manager Justin Whitford says there was significant interest in bringing the European 2013 Bus of the Year Citaro here driven by build quality, safety specifications, fuel efficiency and also

due to the single-invoice business model it presents.

“It is not our intention to introduce the Citaro into every segment of the Australian City Bus market and believe there is still the opportunity for both the Mercedes-Benz ‘integral’ bus, as well as the continuation of the chassis-body partnerships currently in place.

“Our customers, and in particular our passengers and our drivers, deserve to have access to the safest buses and coaches in the world. Such specifications include driver crash protection, electronic stability control, roll-over full compliance, ABS, cornering assist and a range of other options that deliver the highest in safety standards,” he said.

The Citaro nameplate first rolled off production lines in 1998, with the latest design iteration shown here launched in 2011, at the Mannheim Daimler factory in May that year. To date, with sales in excess of 40,000 units during 17 years of production, the Mercedes-Benz Citaro is the most successful regular-service bus of all time, the company states.

While it’s taken a while to get here to Australia – though our appetite was whet with an initial assessment model showcased in Melbourne late 2013 – the various ADR compliance and general feasibility tests in the ensuing months have been well worth it, judging by the excited folk at Daimler Bus Asia-Pacific. And the best bit? It means we get the Euro6 version, baby, straight off the bat. Result!

When the Citaro came out in 2013 in Europe it was the world’s first series-production urban bus to comply with the Euro6 emissions standard - about a year before it was mandatory there.

The raw facts are as follows: the new OM 936 six-cylinder, 7.7-litre, Euro6 inline motor delivers 220kW with a maximum of 1200Nm. And its ‘state-of-the-smart’ technology also brings big fuel savings. Global reports state the latest Citaro is said to be 3-5 per cent more efficient that its predecessor (which we did not get here), which all adds up to about 1000 litres of diesel saved every year. That’s massive. In turn, this reduced fuel usage contributes to a claimed drop in emissions by more than 2 per cent.

In terms of power consumption efficiency, the additional energy storage supplies power to the on-board network as needed. So, for example, when the bus is coasting or driving downhill it is actually generating electrical energy and that is stored in a type of super-capacitor. That stored energy is channelled back into the on-board network to power things like the interior lights and the information displays.

A very cool optional feature is the electrically


2


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A stylish and modern interior offering commuters award-winning ergonomic design.Drivers will love the fully adjustable and comfy seat in the new Citaro.

“Daimler’s ... leading [bus] ambassador for the latest safety and performance advances.”

At the IAA 2014, the ‘world’s most successful urban bus’ and Daimler’s top seller scored 85 per cent of total points in the IBC international comparative test to win the coveted IBC trophy outright.The Mercedes-Benz Citaro, which beat no fewer than four competitors to emerge triumphant in the year’s toughest comparative test for buses, featured a newly developed design and met the high expectations of industry insiders, according to Mercedes-Benz in Europe.It recorded the lowest fuel consumption levels of all, as well as raising the bar in its segment with “exemplary active and passive safety features”.

PRIZE FIGHTER



“It means we get the Euro6 version, baby, straight off the bat. Result!”

The new Euro6 Citaro is making its mark in

many cities around the world.

The ‘almond’-shaped headlights of the latest Citaro are equally functional as they are gorgeous.



operated cassette ramp that can be deployed at the press of a button at the rear door, which can handily hold up to 350kg on it. Its application seems seamless, like some clever synchronised swimming display, with the doors only opening for the ramp to hop up to secure itself into place for wheelchair use. It was unconfirmed whether this option will be available for the Australian models immediately, but we sure do hope so.

Inside, passengers are greeted by a luxurious interior with a modern feel, arguably exceeding what people would normally expect in many modes of public transport. The beautifully styled seats add a special touch and the silver material on them in the Citaro pictured here is very cool-looking, indeed. It will be interesting to note how it handles passenger use and abuse over time (You know how it is with some elements of uncouth youth these days. Bloody ratbags!)

New mums with prams, though, will love the folding-up seats, giving ample room for prams away from other passengers, from what we could determine (NOTE: No prams were injured in the testing of such spacing), with the door-open button conveniently located in this ‘wheelchair friendly’ area just perfect for convenience’s sake.

Reports are that the seamless ride is impressive and the bus doesn’t jump around too much on bumpy roads, so we can’t wait to experience this ourselves soon too. And with comfort being an important consideration for many elderly passengers over a vehicle’s looks, it should strike a chord with that segment of the intended commuter market. That said, it’s

just as well the new Citaro – which makes its proper Australian debut at the 2015 BusVic Conference and Exhibition in Melbourne this July - is a bit of a looker, too.

Getting on or off the bus looks to be a doddle, with the centre hand-railing between the front doors well placed and non-restrictive for giving passengers a good gripping point for their own stability and safety. It should also enforce orderly alighting of passengers.

As for the drivers who may spend hours on end in the Citaro, they’ll surely be impressed with the seat and its adjustability in all directions – plus there’s plenty of legroom. And in some buses where you can only change steering wheel height, the distance from you to the tiller here can be adjusted too for optimal reach. The surrounding dash buttons are easy to get too as well while the instrument cluster – which meets the requirements of the Association of German Transport Operators (VDV) – is now more informative and ergonomic, it’s stated. And radio controls on the steering wheel? Bonus! It means both hands stay always on the wheel – unless you really, really have to scratch your nose. Come on now, we’ve all have those days. Anyway, it’s just another nice little safety consideration.

Speaking of which, the improved driver’s cockpit area means the door – with clear part-shield attached above – enhances driver safety in the event of an attack, where it seems they can push the assailant back with it and thus block them in the bus, while it aids the driver’s escape through the front. Hmmm - not a bad little trick that!

On the road, the Citaro prides itself in

HEY, BIG SELLER!With more than 40,000 units produced to date, the Citaro is the Mercedes-Benz bus with the highest production output of all time. It has now even overtaken the previous No.1 bus bearing the three-pointed star. At the end of its career, the Mercedes-Benz O 303, in production from 1974 to 1992, was the bus with the highest production output worldwide, at more than 38,000 units.With a total of 3027 units in 2013, the Citaro achieved a market share of 37 per cent in Germany and 16.4 per cent in Europe.The Citaro here in Australia will be a ‘Tier 2’ product and it should be priced below AUD$390K.

A light and airy feel inside and invitingly

austere and svelte seat design. Love it!


FOR SALES & CUSTOMER ENQUIRIES:

+61 3 9791 4255www.marcopoloaustralia.com.au

BUILT TO LASTANY CONDITION, ANY TIME, ANY PLACE

FOR SERVICE AND SPARE PARTS:

Melbourne:

221-243 Hammond RdDandenong VIC 3175Phone: 03 9791 4255Fax: 03 9794 0336

Queensland:

20 Amy Johnson PlEagle Farm QLD 4009Phone: 07 3243 5300Fax: 07 3243 5399

New South Wales:

3-13 Kilcoy DriveTomago NSW 2322Mob: 0409 767 910

8 Enterprise CirPrestons NSW 2170Phone: 02 9426 6500 Fax: 02 9826 9403

Western Australia:

47 Beringarra AveMalaga WA 6090Phone: 08 9248 8055 Fax: 08 9248 8066


handling well in emergency situations and has won global acclaim for just that. With its standard-fitted ESP function, there’s a dramatic reduction any real lateral sway while cornering or swerving hard, imbuing it with commanding steering control for the driver. Which you would hope so, given Mercedes-Benz was one of, if not the, earliest contributors to evolving such safety-enhancing technology over near 20 years. And that’s got to be good for drivers, passengers and other road users alike.

Like many of the modern buses and coaches coming out, the key is to look so good that people want onto get on urban public transport, and the Citaro – from its attractive, low-slung integrated almond-shaped headlights to its distinctively striking tail-lights and its subtle, uncluttered and stylish wheel-arch and body-defining lines between – accomplishes that with aplomb.

Yet it’s not all for looks; underneath the skin there is also frontal impact protection, as well as an even more rigid body structure, the

company states.Andreas Renschler, Daimler Board of

Management member responsible for Daimler Trucks and Daimler Buses said at the time of its launch: “The new Mercedes-Benz Citaro city bus will enable us to play a key role in shaping the future of local public transportation and it once again demonstrates that Daimler’s bus business expertise is unsurpassed.”

“The new Citaro uncompromisingly focuses on economy, comfort and safety, and its design will be an attractive sight in any urban environment.”

Said Hartmut Schick, head of Daimler Buses, in Europe: “Besides being equipped with state-of-the-art technology, the new Citaro is the result of tremendous dedication and passion. I’m convinced the new Citaro will be even more successful than its predecessor and once again set new benchmarks.”

Well, it’s here in Australia now and so Coach & Bus magazine will be keen to watch and find out. Stay tuned... Bis später, tschüß!

BUS SPECS

MAKE: Mercedes-BenzMODEL: CitaroENGINE: OM 936 7.7-litre Euro6 Bluetec diesel. Power – 220kW@2200rpm. Torque – [email protected]: ZF Ecolife automatic transmission (Voith optional)SUSPENSION: Front axle - ZF RL 75 E, independent; Rear - ZF AV 132, ratio 5.77:1BRAKES: Electronic braking system (EBS); Anti-lock Braking System (ABS); Electronic stability programme (ESP); Acceleration slip regulation (ASR)WHEELS: Steel 22.5-inch wheels; Tyres - 275/70INTERIOR: City Star Eco seats with La Plata fabric upholstery; reading lamps above every seat and above the standing section.MISC.: Electronic Stability Program (ESP), bi-xenon headlamps, LED entrance lights, video monitoring of the cash register, entrance areas and passenger compartment, as well as a fire detection and extinguishing system.

“...the key is to look so good that people want to get onto urban public transport.”

The ESP stability control of the new Citaro gives drivers

better control by reducing lateral sway when forced to

corner hard.


FOR SALES & CUSTOMER ENQUIRIES:

+61 3 9791 4255www.marcopoloaustralia.com.au

BUILT TO LASTANY CONDITION, ANY TIME, ANY PLACE

FOR SERVICE AND SPARE PARTS:

Melbourne:

221-243 Hammond RdDandenong VIC 3175Phone: 03 9791 4255Fax: 03 9794 0336

Queensland:

20 Amy Johnson PlEagle Farm QLD 4009Phone: 07 3243 5300Fax: 07 3243 5399

New South Wales:

3-13 Kilcoy DriveTomago NSW 2322Mob: 0409 767 910

8 Enterprise CirPrestons NSW 2170Phone: 02 9426 6500 Fax: 02 9826 9403

Western Australia:

47 Beringarra AveMalaga WA 6090Phone: 08 9248 8055 Fax: 08 9248 8066


Showtime


MILANESE, IF YOU PLEASE!

CBT20_p030-035_MILANO.indd 30 25/06/2015 10:34 pm


Better known as a high-fashion capital of the world, Milan, Italy, played host to the biennial 61st UITP 2015 World Congress & Exhibition for public transport. And here some of the latest and greatest buses strutted their stuff on the catwalk - so to speak. Coach & Bus editor Fabian Cotter reports.

Driver’s area of latest Mercedes-

Benz CapaCity L ‘artic’ [pictured

below] looks pretty sweet.

The Volvo Bus Europe stand was quite impressive.


You could just imagine the high quality of the cappuccinos around the venue, couldn’t you? The juicy, sensual fresh coffee aroma wafting

up each nostril as you surveyed a slew of high-tech and super-smart-looking buses on display at one of the world’s biggest and most important public transport events. For global bus fans, it truly sounds like La Dolce Vita. Ahhh...

More than 2200 delegates from 83 countries and 284 exhibitors from across the industry (attracting more than 15,000 single-entry visitors to the Exhibition) gathered in the Italian city of Milan and the mood was one of ambition faced with the challenges of: financing; the arrival of new mobility services; infrastructure needs in smart and growing cities; the impact on cities of new vehicle and IT technologies; and focusing on customer service, organisers say.

In 2009, the public transport sector set itself a goal: double its market share worldwide by 2025 to make cities more liveable and more productive, states UITP. By 2015, at the Congress & Exhibition held 8-10 June, UITP presented a report to illustrate the urban policies that are moving cities closer to that goal, as best and fastest possible.

The plenary session demonstrated the drive within the sector to continue developing the

market share of public transport and shone a light on some of the successful urban policies that are already showing results in some major cities, such as Vienna, Oslo, London, Paris and Geneva. Successful measures to control urban sprawl and reduce private car transport in these cities led to an increase in public transport modal share of more than 20 per cent, it’s claimed.

While the event is about public transport issues as a whole, buses and coaches make up a key component of that mix, and this year’s award winner – a Bus Rapid Transit system (BRT) in Rio, de Janeiro – goes some way to highlight such segment importance as well as vindicating such a system for moving large amounts of commuters around efficiently and expediently. All entrants, though, were deemed to be successfully contributing towards meeting the sector goal of doubling the market share of public transport by 2025.

An international jury of public transport experts from very different countries and backgrounds evaluated the projects and narrowed the hundreds of applications from all around the world down to a short-list of 25 finalists.

The FEDERAÇAO DAS EMPRESAS DE TRANSPORTES DE PASSAGEIROS DO ESTADO DO RIO DE JANEIRO - FETRANSPOR (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) got top


The International Association of Public Transport (UITP) is “a passionate champion of sustainable urban mobility and is the only worldwide network to bring together all public transport stakeholders and all Supporting Organisations Local Hosts’ sustainable transport modes,” it states.It has 1300 member companies giving access to 14,000 contacts from 92 countries. Its members are public transport authorities and operators, policy decision-makers, research institutes and the public transport supply and service industry.

U WHO?



3

12

3

And the show gets under way! Yeeha!MAN’s Lion’s City G artic boasts a whopping five doors......and it was decked out to celebrate 100 years of MAN Truck and Bus.

“...to double the market share of public transport worldwide by 2025.”

U WHO? 1 2



honours for the project ‘Reshaping mobility demand in Rio with a BRT network’. The recognition was for the completion of two BRT lines by 2014 and the 157km BRT network by 2016, based on a long-term strategy which will allow the city to meet the challenge of a growing economy and demographics in the years to come.

Also of note was the Design Award to SOLARIS BUS & COACH S.A. (Owinska, Poland), for the project ‘The new Solaris Urbino’. This was for recognition of the original exterior style and carefully designed interior details of the new Solaris Urbino, a standard bus that enhances the customer experience, it’s stated. The new Solaris Urbino is the result of an outstanding design management process, the judges found.

“Our strategy to double the market share of public transport worldwide by 2025 is about cities: making them better places

to live and work,” said UITP Supporting Organisations Local Hosts secretary general Alain Flausch. “Our data shows that cities with a higher public transport market share use less of their urban space for transport. This space can then be used for recreational as well as economically productive functions. The results so far show great cause for optimism but also highlight the work that still needs to be done in terms of increasing urban density and managing private car use in order to reach our ambitious 2025 objective”.

With the closing of the event came other news: to reflect what is already the biggest event in public transport’s growth in stature, the World Congress & Exhibition will become the ‘Global Public Transport Summit’ in time for the next edition in 2017 in Montreal, Canada: the same event but with even larger ambitions, it’s stated.

� Scooping the Design Award was the Solaris Urbino ‘artic’. Bonus points for using green, maybe.

� World premieres aplenty in Milano. The Citea SLFA Electric was a huge hit.

“...buses and coaches make up a key component of that mix.”


� This Iveco gas-powered bus got plenty of attention. “Two tickets, please, to Funkytown.”



Register now for the Australasian industry’s leading exhibition, conference and networking event, combined all under

one roof at Australia’s premier expo venue. The exhibition space is almost full and the programme has been released; this event will

deliver unprecedented quality and value for all that attend.

For registration and further information, visit www.busvic.asn.au or contact Craig Spurr on (03) 9914 7011

or [email protected]

• 15,000m2 of event space.

• Maintenance, technical & management conference sessions and workshops delivered within the exhibit.

• Ample amount of time for delegates to interact with over 150 leading industry suppliers and be brought up to date with the latest products, services and developments.

• Catering and networking events held within the exhibit.

• Premium keynote speakers and entertainers as part of the 2 day conference programme including: Mark Donaldson VC, Mark ‘Bomber’ Thompson, Kate Ceberano and James Galea.

• Industry gala dinner held at Crown Palladium on July 8, and networking dinner at Munich Brauhaus on July 9.

MAINTENANCE20

15 CONFERENCEAND BUS EXPO

AUSTRALIA’S ONLY BUS AND COACH EXPO IN 2015!MELBOURNE EXHIBITION CENTRE JULY 8 AND 9, 2015

MAINTENANCE20

15 CONFERENCEAND BUS EXPO


• Fuel and fuel injection systems.• General OEM workshop education panels.• Safe workshop operations and manual handling.• Workshop manager and mechanic open forum.• Kangan Automotive Centre of Excellence Tour.• Air conditioning maintenance and service.• Transmissions: Technology; diagnosis; servicing;

and repair.• How to systematise electric fault finding. • BIC Technical Update: Bus Fires, Vehicle Mass

and Tyres.

• Network service planning: Transport’s role in enhancing productivity and liveability in Victoria by 2050.

• Completing your Accreditation application.• Data and information management and use.• Chain of Responsibility.• IR: The PVTA 2014.• Mental health workplace initiatives. • Fatigue management for supervisors.• Using telematics to your advantage.• Economic and financial services update.

Programme HighlightsTechnical Management

CBT20_p036-p043_bus refurb.indd 36 25/06/2015 10:37 pm

Bus Advice

BACK TO THE FUTURE


Bus refurbishment is still a logical and viable option for keeping vehicles at peak operational standards, for many operators. Retro-fitting uprated gear, or repairing ‘minor’ damage potentially adds up to cost savings and vehicle longevity, with a range of companies targetting this niche. Coach & Bus editor Fabian Cotter has a quick look.

Register now for the Australasian industry’s leading exhibition, conference and networking event, combined all under

one roof at Australia’s premier expo venue. The exhibition space is almost full and the programme has been released; this event will

deliver unprecedented quality and value for all that attend.

For registration and further information, visit www.busvic.asn.au or contact Craig Spurr on (03) 9914 7011

or [email protected]

• 15,000m2 of event space.

• Maintenance, technical & management conference sessions and workshops delivered within the exhibit.

• Ample amount of time for delegates to interact with over 150 leading industry suppliers and be brought up to date with the latest products, services and developments.

• Catering and networking events held within the exhibit.

• Premium keynote speakers and entertainers as part of the 2 day conference programme including: Mark Donaldson VC, Mark ‘Bomber’ Thompson, Kate Ceberano and James Galea.

• Industry gala dinner held at Crown Palladium on July 8, and networking dinner at Munich Brauhaus on July 9.

MAINTENANCE

2015 CONFERENCE

AND BUS EXPO


MAINTENANCE

2015 CONFERENCE

AND BUS EXPO


• Fuel and fuel injection systems.• General OEM workshop education panels.• Safe workshop operations and manual handling.• Workshop manager and mechanic open forum.• Kangan Automotive Centre of Excellence Tour.• Air conditioning maintenance and service.• Transmissions: Technology; diagnosis; servicing;

and repair.• How to systematise electric fault finding. • BIC Technical Update: Bus Fires, Vehicle Mass

and Tyres.

• Network service planning: Transport’s role in enhancing productivity and liveability in Victoria by 2050.

• Completing your Accreditation application.• Data and information management and use.• Chain of Responsibility.• IR: The PVTA 2014.• Mental health workplace initiatives. • Fatigue management for supervisors.• Using telematics to your advantage.• Economic and financial services update.

Programme HighlightsTechnical Management


“...just what the doctor ordered to get it back on the road and doing business safely and efficiently again.”


W hile some global bus markets are happy to have vehicles in service for an average of 10 years or so, before on-selling

it if still in great condition - or wanting to drive it off a cliff Thelma and Louise style if it turned out to be an absolute dog’s breakfast - in Australia our tough bus-build standards means buses and coaches can kick on for ages. And depending on how you look at it, that’s no bad thing.

Now while there are a few buses that have seen better days and still doing the rounds but should be put out of their misery – and fast – there are a stack which have been blessed by decent operator ownership and a disciplined maintenance schedule throughout the years, so these just need a refurbish.

Often enough, it’s just a case of a long-mileage major engine service and rebuild, or gutting the interior for updated gear instead, but other times day-to-day damage means some quality but

quick repairs are just want the doctor ordered to get it back on the road and doing business safely and efficiently again.

Traditionally the realm of ‘aftermarket’ specialists and product manufacturers, the refurbishing area is not untouched by new bus makers themselves, which are still keen to look after their brand name during a bus’s life and ensure it’s all part of their past, present and no doubt future customer service philosophy.

So much so, that in Europe the industry witnessed Daimler’s BusStore concept – it’s used-bus brand sales and service, refurbish and repair facility. Heck, a year after MB started it they made a whole big show out of it – cleverly ensuring customers were always welcomed into the fold and not feeling disenfranchised in the ‘used’ market, where many would probably look elsewhere to fix or service their older vehicles. If there’s a demand there then expediently adjust and meet it – don’t just ignore it, it would seem

was the idea there. After all, it’s all good revenue and PR.

Around 1000 visitors from more than 25 European countries attended the international used-bus show, with some 71 buses of all application types and a range of brands changing hands, indicating how big and important the bus-refurbishing industry is, from a global perspective.

How major manufacturers like MB handle the issue in Europe, the US, Asia and elsewhere is something to keep a discerning eyeball on, but the many companies doing quality bus-refurbishment work in Australasia offer operators here ‘something for everyone’, with a geographical spread that makes the idea of giving used buses a figurative up-to-date kick up the bum a usually cost-viable option.

The following is just a brief listing of a few of the key players in the ‘local’ bus-refurbishment game. If you are looking at getting some bus-refurbishment work done, check them out!



� A minor bingle? No chance. The impact was intense; the truck was fully laden and hit the bus at approximately 60km/h.

CUSTOM CARE is one of the largest bus repairers in Australia, an Australian bus-manufacturing icon since 1955 and service provider to support the bus industry since 2001. Buses that are built by Custom Bus Australia are built with a design life of 25 years. With this 25-year life comes a level of engineering that ensures strength and reliability in the bus, the company says. It needs to be sure that in the event of an accident the safety of the passengers is paramount.

As evident in some of these photos, you will note damage of a route bus that was hit by a truck last year. The impact was intense; the truck was fully laden and hit the bus at approximately 60km/h. The strength in the frame work on the side and floor of the bus ensured that the damage inside the cabin was minimised. In the event one of your buses is damaged, Custom Care has a highly qualified workshop team ready to assist you. Custom Care has a vast pool of resources at its disposal with a state-of-the-art engineering department. This capability provides you with the comfort that Custom can handle every repair, no matter how big or small, the company states.

It also specialises in mid-life refurbishments, ensuring that your fleet always looks great, no matter the age. Custom Care has two spray booths, both capable of holding double-decker

and articulated buses. Custom Care has worked closely with clients for

over 10 years to ensure the optimal running life of its buses. From interior refits to renew the life of a hard-working city bus, to structural conversions of buses to motorhomes, the Custom Care team has the knowledge and know-how to meet your needs, the company says.

Better still, working from dedicated facilities located in Sydney, the Gold Coast and Adelaide, each member of the Custom Care team brings a diverse array of skills and knowledge. The team can can look after all your refurbishment needs including: Conversions to lap-sash seat belts and seating installation or modifications; Modification and fitment of wheelchair ramps, mirrors, windscreens, air conditioning, TV/video, etc.; Full interior and external refurbishments; State-of-the-art paint booths for repaint, signwriting and fleet refinishing; Chassis repairs and modifications; and Installation of full-body security grille driver’s safety screen.

CUSTOM CAREWHERE: Sydney & AdelaideWEB: www.custombus.com.auPHONE: (02) 9914 3800

CONTACT

CUSTOM CARE


BUT WAIT! THERE’S MORE...


“...indicating how big and important the bus-refurbishing industry is.”

ROADTREK OFFERS its customers all the benefits of having a one-stop shop for its entire requirement pertaining to bus refurbishment and repair services in Australia. RoadTrek has the resources to do the job and to do it right, the first time, the company states.

Bus Refurbishment services include, but are not limited to: Corrosion both structural and body panel refurbishment; Complete body panel replacement; Re-modelling and modernisation of front and rear fibreglass; Glass delimitation, reseal and bonding; Interior trim refurbishments – fabrics, floor coverings; ADR68 Seat body modifications for seat replacement; Stratal modifications including VASS Certification; Retrofitting of all major components including – TV / video/ sound systems, air conditioning; ADR seating; wheelchair access equipment; and 25-year inspection.

In terms of accident repairs and insurance work, RoadTrek prides itself on quality service. The process in the event of all bus repair and insurance work is simple.

STEP 1: A thorough assessment of the vehicle is conducted. STEP 2: A genuine quotation is provided to the

customer or insurance company. STEP 3: Both parties agree to the work that will be completed. STEP 4: Quality repairs are done in minimum turn-around. STEP 5: The vehicle is back on the road without complications.

RoadTrek has a reputation for providing quality repair services of buses in Australia with all the major insurance companies. It is a major supplier of spare parts to the bus/coach and Motorhome/RV industry. It employs only qualified and skilled tradesmen, and it’s equipped with all the necessary equipment to do any job. Please note. at the time of print, RoadTrek was moving into massive new premises at 39-49 Longview Court.

� Bus repair and refurbishment should be all about quality solutions done on time and for safety, to get your bus back to tip-top condition and on the road.

ROADTREK

ROADTREKWHERE: Thomastown, VIC WEB: www.roadtrek.com.auPHONE: (03) 9465 4511

CONTACT

NB PASSENGER SEATING is a wholly owned Australian company based in Melbourne Victoria. It is the proud supplier of high quality ‘low floor route bus seats’. Backed with 20 years of transport seating experience, it provides all Australian and New Zealand bus, tram and train operators with a real alternative for their seating needs, the company states. NB Passenger Seating also provides a full spare parts and installation service and is supported by professional and friendly staff. It also has NB Trimming.

N.B. PASSENGER SEATING PTY LTDWHERE: Somerton, VictoriaWEB: www.nbpassengerseating.com.au PHONE: (03) 9303 9996

NB PASSENGER SEATING




COACHWORKS is a “One-Stop Bus & Coach Body Specialist”. The business currently employs 50 people and provides the following services:• Repairs and refurbishments; • Refinish;

• Accident repairs; • Mini-bus conversions; and

• Special projects such as contract vehicle

manufacturing.

Based in Acacia Ridge, Queensland, Coachworks is proud to service operators, manufacturers and chassis suppliers Australia wide.

“We believe our biggest strength is our employees and the company is proud that the majority have been with us long term, which only adds to the collective experience of the team,” said Coachworks general manager, Scott Isaacs.

In the Repair and Refurbishment section, the company is currently completing many repair and refurbishment jobs including things such as: QLD Transport Frame inspections; accident repairs and retrofitting of air-conditioning units; wheelchair lifts; seating and many other components to both stock local and imported vehicles.

Coachworks’ spray-painting section continues to be a big part of the business and, along with the repaired and refurbished vehicles, it is proud to supply quality OEM Refinish services to its local manufacturers. The company is also a member of the PPG Fleetpool group, which is a group of PPG-preferred repairers offering

the heavy vehicle industry a national network of repairers to support the PPG paint products.

Within the New Vehicle / Manufacturing section, Coachworks is currently making some new vehicles with local manufacturer Coach Design and also have many projects in the area of mini-bus conversions, including everything from seating upgrades to mini coach fit-outs and the addition of components such as bull-bars and other mine-spec items.

The versatility that its workforce and facility offers allows Coachworks to support the areas mentioned above and, in most recent years, to support the many imported vehicle options with pre-sales and after-sales support.

“Having completed our 25th year in the industry in 2014, Coachworks is very proud of this achievement and is grateful to our many stakeholders including customers, suppliers staff and friends who have and continue to support us,” added Isaacs.

COACHWORKS

COACHWORKSWHERE: Acacia Ridge, QueenslandWEB: www.coachworks.com.auPHONE: (07) 3344 4544

CONTACT

Fleetpool is a global initiative from PPG Industries, which offers substantial advantages to commercial transport fleets and operators at a local level, whether they run a single vehicle or a large national fleet. Fleetpool’s purpose, values and commitment to the commercial transport and heavy vehicle industry is focused upon quality, on-time delivery, integrity and value for money, it’s claimed.FleetPool Network members specialise in the painting, repair, re-livery (branding change) and refurbishment of heavy vehicles, ranging from trucks, vans and buses, to trailers and other large commercial and industrial vehicles.

PPG INDUSTRIES AUSTRALIA PTY LTDWHERE: Clayton South, VICWEB: www.ppgrefinish.com.auPHONE: 13 24 24

FLEETPOOL

� There’s nothing like a new lick of paint to update things fast. Choosing

quality refinish paint is paramount. Coachworks uses PPG.



VOLGREN offers comprehensive after-sales services in Victoria, New South Wales (Prestons in Sydney and Tomago in Newcastle), Queensland and Western Australia. Its bus repair facility includes the very latest spray booths and its specialised team of tradespeople offer quick and efficient solutions for your entire bus repair, body maintenance and spare part requirements, the company states.

Its qualified tradespeople will offer a comprehensive bus repair service encompassing: accident repair; bus refurbishments; customised work; spare parts; rust repairs; warranty repairs; re-sprays; on-site work and breakdowns.

Volgren’s service centres currently has three field service and 11 employees operating in other states to ensure its customers receive the highest level of service, the company says.

As for cost-effective bus repair, as Volgren is committed to leading bus manufacture

and design, its buses are fitted with the latest aluminium technology, resulting in lighter, stronger and more energy efficient vehicles, it says. With an aluminium bus body, its vehicles are cheaper to run during their lifetime, resulting in minimal bus repair. Substantial savings can be achieved with any Volgren bus and customers can avoid expensive corrosion repairs and achieve lower costs for accident repairs, it states.

VOLGREN

VOLGREN (BUS REFURBISHING)WHERE: Dandenong, VIC; Prestons, NSW; Tomago, NSW and Malaga, WAWEB: www.volgren.com.auPHONE: (03) 9791 4255, (02) 9426 6500, (02) 4913 7100, (08) 9248 8055

CONTACT


Wales Bus Repairs offers bus repair and refurbishment using a fully trained and specialised team of tradesmen including: mechanics, body builders, panel beaters, fabricators, fibreglassers, spray painters, chassis aligners and electricians. It has in-house operations for quality assurance, cost control and faster completion, the company states.Plus there’s real-time computer monitoring and management of all work, and an ongoing investment into the latest equipment and technology - including custom jigs and a 100-tonne ‘cold press’ chassis alignment system.Wales Bus Repairs has a national recovery service and administration support team; a fast and accurate digital quotation system; in-house specialists in all mechanical repairs, body re-building (minor dents to major collision damage), chassis re-alignment / modifications, and body refurbishment. It offers high-quality, fleet-specific PPG paint refinishing and signwriting. Plus there’s in-house reassembly, quality control and road testing; genuine after-repair customer service; an environmental policy to reduce the carbon footprint of your repair; and a lifetime warranty, it’s stated.Wales Bus Repairs is a member of the M.T.A and founding member of the A.H.V.R.

WALES BUS REPAIRSWHERE: Smithfield, NSWWEB: www.walesbusrepairs.comPHONE: (02) 9725 3143

WALES BUS REPAIRS

� Volgren’s qualified tradespeople offer a comprehensive bus repair and refurbishment service, the company says.


East Coast Master Blasters was established to cater for clients that wanted a superb quality metal finish using low-abrasive blasting materials. Situated at Ourimbah, on the NSW Central Coast, the business is 2km off the M1 Motorway exit, making it ideal for any coach and bus owner on Australia’s east coast to get to.

Owner Steve Turner explained what makes this unique process so much better than traditional blasting methods: “When traditional sandblasting was first introduced it was hailed as the new way to restore and repair damaged or rusted items. As time went on more innovative blasting media were discovered that not only did a better job but actually were ‘kinder’ to the articles being worked on. We now use a Class 3 blasting process - which is crushed glass blown at very low pressure to provide an intricate and non-metal-hardening process. This grade is suitable for everything from aeronautical to automotive and is a very low abrasive”. “Our new blasting booth can take up to a

Coaster-sized bus with no problems while we have plenty of extra space to take larger coaches as well,” he added.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL US NOW: 07 3344 4544OR VISIT: WWW.COACHWORKS.COM.AU

BODY MAINTENANCE • FLEET REFURBISHING & REFINISHINGACCIDENT REPAIRS • SPARE PARTS • SEATING RETROFITS

CoachWorks.indd 1 25/06/2015 8:54 pm

“...giving used buses a figurative up-to-date kick up the bum.”

EAST COAST MASTER BLASTERS

EAST COAST MASTER BLASTERSWHERE: Ourimbah, NSWWEB: http://ecmb.bizPHONE: (0450) 308 454

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Kiwi Bus Builders understands that sometimes a new bus is not the best financial option, but your current bus isn’t quite up to scratch. That’s why it offers a full refurbishment option.This could include a large number of things to make your bus look new again without the price tag of a new build, the company states. The sort of things it commonly does is new interior trim – which can include floors, walls, seats etc. It also offers a full paint facility to make the outside of your bus shine, it claims.

KIWI BUS BUILDERS LTDWHERE: Tauriko, Tauranga, NZWEB: www.kiwibus.co.nzPHONE: +64 7 5710100

KIWI BUS BUILDERS


Future Proof


CBT20_p044-047_TECH.indd 44 25/06/2015 10:40 pm


Solar-powered roads? It sounds as amazing and logical as it does impractical and otherworldly. Not to mention expensive. The concept might be just the dumbest idea kicking around, or a landmark stroke of genius. Either way, there’s a lot more support for making it work than you might think – with an equal amount of debunkers. Coach & Bus editor Fabian Cotter investigates.

HIGHWAY TO CELL

I t is an intense debate. Two tribes going to verbal and psychological war online mostly, as they choose their side upon which they want to hedge their bets: will solar-powered roads work,

or won’t they? And if so, are they cost viable?Long story short, on an intensely massive scale

and put in its simplest terms – if you remember racing slot cars around a track as a kid, or watched others spend hours on end fanging their little cars around such a track then the idea of an electrified road, one that can ‘conduct’ or transport electricity, is essentially what it is all about. With one minor twist: the electricity is generated by solar power.

Fast forward to today where electric and hybrid-electric vehicles are seemingly all the rage, be they cars, buses – and given recent trials by Scania – even trucks, and the value in investing in or at least entertaining the idea of solar-powered roads to generate the power to somehow and somewhere recharge them in future is obvious.

The conundrum for any vehicle using electricity for motive power is how long the charge lasts, how often it needs to be charged and how or where does it get the next top-up? And while the automotive industry is grappling to somehow cost-effectively encourage the infrastructure to make that happen – so that it’s as easy as filling up gas in a regular vehicle at a petrol station – others are looking to see how the very road itself can

CBT20_p044-047_TECH.indd 45 25/06/2015 10:40 pm

somehow be incorporated into this ‘charge it quickly, safely and cheaply’ equation.

If it were just one mob having a go at doing this then it might just be too laughable to take seriously, but with others trying various derivations of the idea there are many punters believing like some repetitively aggravating TV shampoo ad that ‘it won’t happen overnight, but it will happen’.

So who’s involved and what’s the state of play? In 2006, two US engineers and husband and wife team Scott and Julie Brusaw started developing solar panels for road use, trying out a range of shapes and ‘glass’ casings so that the actual solar panel wasn’t crushed when taking the weight of a vehicle – in this case, a tractor. Today, the current incarnation of the product is a 1/4-inch thick acrylic hexagonal glass-panel ‘tile’, which interlocks to ‘pave’ a road that converts sunlight into electricity and, in theory, could be used to put power back into a grid for street lights, housing and vehicle-charging capabilities. In fact, their design also incorporates coloured LEDS into each panel and they say this could be used to mark up the road with lane lines and other traffic and emergency signs and information. Their vision to have all roads and highways and even carparks converted is commendably ambitious, if probably impracticable. Their website claims that if all the roads in the US were converted to solar roadways, the country would generate three times as much energy as it currently uses

and cut greenhouse gases by 75 per cent. Their company, Solar Roadways – and

probably thanks to their viral video ‘Solar Freakin’ Roadways’ (www.solarroadways.com) - received a contract from America’s Federal Highway Administration to build a prototype in 2009 and in 2012 the idea even got the endorsement of U.S Republican Senator for Idaho Mike Crapo.

For many, though, like online Australian electronics cult-figure Dave Jones from the EEV Blog (which has over 500,000 subscribers worldwide) the numbers simple don’t add up. Be those numbers claimed electricity power figures, or the raw maths used to calculate how astronomical it would all cost.

Yet the idea isn’t too far removed from other countries or companies tackling the issue. Only recently did Dutch firm SolaRoad.nl release the first batch of results after 6 months of trialling its SolaRoad – more a cycle pathway really, but touted as “the first road in the world that converts sunlight into electricity” – and found that: “We did not expect a yield as high as this so quickly,” said Sten de Wit, spokesperson for SolaRoad.nl

“The bike road opened half a year ago [late 2014] and already generated over 3000kWh. This can provide a single-person household with electricity for a year, or power an electric scooter to drive 2.5 times around the world. If we translate this to an annual yield, we expect more than the 70kWh per square metre per


“This can provide a single-person household with electricity for a year.”

CBT20_p044-047_TECH.indd 46 25/06/2015 10:40 pm


year, which we predicted as an upper limit in the laboratory stage. We can therefore conclude that it was a successful first half year.”

SolaRoad was developed by TNO, the Province of Noord-Holland, Ooms Civiel and Imtech. SolaRoad is in a pilot phase for a three-year period, where various measurements and tests are being performed as input to further development. Since the opening, more than 150,000 cyclists have crossed SolaRoad.

“They hardly notice it is a special path, therefore our goal of acceptance has also been achieved,” de Wit added.

Described as a living lab of about 70 metres, SolaRoad consists of a cycle path constructed of concrete modules of 2.5-3.5 metres. In one lane, solar cells are fitted underneath a tempered glass top layer of approximately 1cm thickness, covered by a transparent and skid-resistant coating. There are no solar cells embedded in the other lane; this lane is used for reference and to test various coatings. The solar electricity from the road is fed into the electricity grid and can be used, for example, for street lighting, traffic systems, households and (eventually) electric cars that drive over it, it’s claimed.

This first piece of SolaRoad is located in Krommenie, along the provincial road N203, near the Texaco garage on the railway track side (GPS data: 52.493875, 4.767134).

According to the company, SolaRoad offers a

large, effective surface area for collecting solar energy from already-existing infrastructure, with little or no impact on the landscape. SolaRoad feeds energy back into the grid and stimulates further sustainable energy innovation. With nearly 140,000 kilometres of roadway in the Netherlands – nearly twice the surface area of the rooftops – the energy that can be collected from SolaRoad could make a serious contribution to sustainable energy production.

‘Could’? With the release of these latest results, critics like the EEV Blog have been quick to – and justifiably so on paper, thanks to the comprehensive mathematics worked out in his videos – knock the results. Sure, it’s making energy, but perhaps not enough of it. Maybe just under half what comparative roof-mounted panels might make – for a range of reasons (roof-mounted panels are on an angle, they stay cleaner, cooler) – all affecting a cell’s ability to trap solar power and convert maximum electricity.

So where does it all leave buses and public transport, you might ask?

In a very interesting place potentially. It seems while many are quick to highlight the mammoth expense and inefficient cost-viability because of the sheer amount of roadway to potentially replace, others can still see its ‘lesser’ use in specialised tracts of area, like car parks and bus lanes. And this latter idea could be ideal in terms of how well electric-dependant buses of the future recharge and operate.

A BELIEVABLE SOLAR ROAD?

Is this solar-panel-covered bike-way in the middle of a South Korean highway the most practical and implementable idea of a true ‘solar road’? Built between the cities of Daejeon and Sejong, 2-3 hours from Seoul, this 20-odd-mile stretch of solar-panel-covered bike-way provides electricity to nearby areas – as well as shade and protection from rain for the bike riders underneath. Hmm … solar-powered bus lanes in the middle of our freeways one day, maybe? Just a thought.

� Roads that collect solar power and convert it to electricity - cost effectively - might not be too far off. Or are they?

CBT20_p044-047_TECH.indd 47 25/06/2015 10:40 pm

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60mins with...Nikki BrouwersManaging director, The Interact Group

Interview


Bus driving as a career has myriad rewards, but it isn’t always easy street for many - and that’s aside from the cars parked illegally in narrow streets blocking a bus’s way! The daily stresses and physical and health challenges add another often under-appreciated dimension to the role. Coach & Bus editor Fabian Cotter recently caught up with The Interact Group’s Nikki Brouwers in Sydney to learn how crucial it all is.

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QHi Nikki, thanks for taking the time to chat with Coach & Bus magazine, glad to have you on board. Nikki, please tell us a bit

about yourself and how you got to where you are today. What was your background and influences that lead you here to The Interact Group? NB: “I started The Interact Group 21 years ago and it has grown to its current size of 100 staff. I graduated from the University of Sydney as an Occupational Therapist in 1992 and attained a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) from the Macquarie Graduate School of Management in 2012. Our team of experienced health professionals operate on the ground with local communities to deliver services that make a ‘real-life’ impact for those we do work with.

I’m a current member of the Australasian Faculty of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (AFOEM) Health Benefits of Work (HBOW) Signatory Steering Group (SSG) and a former board member of the National Employment Services Association (NESA). I’ve also served as member of the NSW’s Workers Compensation and Work Health and Safety Council, providing expert technical and operational advice to the Minister for Finance and Services and have served on a number of committees under the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations’ Disability Employment Services program.I specialise in the field of disability management, workers compensation and risk and safety management at work. This includes having presented at, and participated in, International Disability Forums on Disability Management (IFDM) in London, Los Angeles and Berlin.

Q. You use the terms ‘strengthen’ and ‘build our resilience’ when it comes to the role of the modern-day bus driver. Sounds like they are pretty much getting hammered by various segments of the public each day, for various reasons. From what you’ve seen and heard about, how bad is the situation would you say? And are things improving or getting worse and why? NB: “Through my extensive experience in working with the industry, I am impressed to see how bus operators balance their

traditional family-owned business practices with modern, innovative and at times confronting new-age workplace pressures. In March of this year, we delivered the results of an industry-first Health & Wellbeing Study to the industry, which revealed a new benchmark in driver health and wellbeing best-practice for the bus and coach industry. The Study revealed an industry thriving on innovation, leadership and core family values. The Study highlighted that drivers often face frequent occurrences of bullying, harassment or discrimination in the workplace (consistent with Safe Work Australia’s statement on the Psychological Health and Safety and Bulling in Australian Workplaces released in 2014) and that by empowering them with appropriate response techniques and behavioural management tools, they are better able to manage incidents at the time they occur, instead of after the fact.We are seeing an improvement in Driver resilience. For example, our ‘Day In The Life Of A Bus Driver’ case study used during the Bus & Coach Health & Wellbeing Study showed us that almost all study participants (96 per cent) completed the Interact Group’s bullying and harassment training with 96 per cent of participants indicating that they had not experienced bullying or harassment since the trials.There has been a 10 per cent increase in the number of participants (previously 86 per cent) who said that they had not experienced bullying or harassment since a NSW Bus Operator Health and Wellbeing Survey was conducted by The Interact Group in 2012.” Q. You’ve made mention of an ‘aging Australian workforce’ in terms of bus drivers. Are negative interactions with younger commuters solely generational based as regards to communication misinterpretation and techniques between the two, or is it just disgruntled and anti-social behaviour of some passengers across the board regardless of age? How hard is it for the modern bus driver to deal with this stuff day to day. What can they do to avoid or diffuse it? NB: “At a recent BusNSW seminar I discussed this topic at length and simply put to the audience that perhaps we cannot


“... 96 per cent had not experienced bullying or harassment since the trials.”

CBT20_p048-055_60mins.indd 50 26/06/2015 11:24 am


change our passengers, but we can build our resilience. The audience strongly agreed. For any driver facing a diverse range of passengers each day it can be challenging to adapt and manage different scenarios that occur with passengers; however, given the appropriate responses and behavioural techniques they can be empowered to manage incidents as they occur.

The bus and coach industry attracts and retains Australia’s aging workforce; therefore, we should be celebrating and encouraging the employment of mature-age workers within the industry and acknowledging that their culture and values may be different to that of their passengers.” Q. We hear about bullying in school and in the workplace. Have you heard of much of this stress-inducing activity happening in busy environments? What are some of the tips and techniques drivers can invoke to deal with such? NB: “The relationship between mental health and the workplace is a complex one for bus drivers both in terms of the significant proportion of time they spend at work, as well as the contribution the workplace has on the development or worsening of depression and anxiety conditions through a number of notable factors.

An understanding and demystifying of depression and anxiety is an important way to build the skills and knowledge of bus operators. We know that anxiety and depression is prevalent in our workplaces; however, the skills and confidence to address these issues differs across organisations and we need to build competence in this area.For drivers trying to deal with incidents of bullying and harassment, often all it takes is applying a good fair common-sense approach to prevent the incidents from occurring, or taking some time to think through their response before reacting.”

Q. From a bus owner/operator’s point of view, what kind of stuff can they do to fix, or enhance, or at least monitor any negative occurrences involving their bus drivers? Some organisations are of the size that makes these things manageable and monitorable, but would you agree that some organisations are so large that it’s hard to detect how their fleet drivers and sundry bus

CBT20_p048-055_60mins.indd 51 26/06/2015 11:24 am


operational staff are dealing with stresses and problems? What can they do? NB: “In my experience, an organisation of any size can make a positive impact on the mental health and overall health and wellbeing of their staff. Typically, workplace mental health issues come to the attention of management or colleagues when everything reaches rock bottom. This is simply too late. Early intervention and prevention is critical. Building trusting relationships where issues and concerns can be discussed in confidence to prevent any escalation into something bigger is a great first step for bus operators. Refer to these seven habits of a healthy bus company, in terms of what bus operators can do to detect mental health issues:

1. Promote and support healthy lifestyle choices; 2. Have a zero tolerance for bullying or harassment; 3. Understand that work is good for your health and promotes remaining at work following injury, illness or disease to promote recovery; 4. Support staff through strong supervisor soft skills; 5. Provide access to Employee Assistance Program (EAP) counselling for staff and family; 6. Build the resilience of drivers to deal with passengers through training; and 7. Understand the needs of an ageing workforce and adapt accordingly.”

Q. What kind of things does The Interact Group offer both bus drivers and bus operators, in terms of making their workplaces better? What percentage of ‘the message’ is positively received or is it largely falling on deaf ears, so to speak? How can this be addressed? NB: “We are working with operators and their drivers daily to actively promote the Health Benefits of Work. We offer services that complement our HBOW philosophy “work is a tonic that makes you well”, including workplace rehabilitation; employment services; corporate health and wellbeing; and Employee Assistance Programs and training and assessments. We find the bus and coach industry to be

CBT20_p048-055_60mins.indd 52 26/06/2015 11:24 am

extremely responsive in their understanding of the HBOW, as well as the importance of these programmes in maintaining a long and healthy future for their businesses – for every $1 spent there is an $8 saving.

For us it’s simple, if someone is sick or injured,we get them back engaged with work as soon as possible and recovery at work is a key message that is being heard by the industry.” Q. Are problems faced by drivers solely a bi-product of their working environment, or does the individual often have their own deeply seated mental health issues that need to be addressed? How is it both detectable and manageable by both the individual driver and the operator employer etc? Is a stressful work environment independently and exclusively bringing these issues to the surface, or is it a much bigger contributor to such? And who and how should the issue be approached upon discovery? NB: “Workplace harassment can have significant human and financial costs for a business and can lead to the breakdown of teams and individual relationships, poor worker health and reduced efficiency, productivity and profitability. For bus operators it makes good business sense to ensure workplace harassment is prevented or controlled.

Building trusting relationships, where issues and concerns can be discussed in confidence to prevent any escalation into something bigger, is a great first step for employers. Operators should foster an open, transparent and safe communication, so that their drivers feel comfortable in reporting what they experience - or see others experience - without fearing judgement or consequences.Earlier this year we developed a 24-hour, 7 days per week, confidential telephone counselling service for drivers to give them instant access to a team of health professionals to discuss issues, incidents or trauma they are experiencing at work or at home. What we can then determine from each confidential phone call is if psychological treatment is required and, if so, connect them with our registered psychologists. This service forms part of our Employee Assistance Programs and feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.”

“Typically, workplace

mental health issues come to

the attention of management or

colleagueswhen everything

reaches rock bottom.”


CBT20_p048-055_60mins.indd 53 26/06/2015 11:24 am


Q. Bus drivers spend many hours behind the wheel, and sleeping odd hours between shifts often. How can and does this affect their personal health and what sort of stuff can they do to help alleviate such inactivity? What are some of the simple things that they can do themselves during the day to stay fit and healthy? NB: “Both drivers and operators need to ensure that exercising and healthy eating choices become a daily part of their routine – both at home and at work. Operators should lead by example and implement programmes and provide support to their drivers to assist them in making healthy choices and they’ll see the flow-on effects in the health of their drivers.Maintaining an active lifestyle, through work, physical activity and other hobbies ensures a long and healthy future.” Q. And finally, have you noticed any trends when it comes to problems drivers face or organisations come to you with? For example, is there a commonality or theme that seems to be evident throughout all entities approaching you, or do certain sized organisations in certain areas of Australia and New Zealand seem to have the most regular problems? Does the age of the company have anything to do with? Is it more often management’s fault or the workers or solely outside factors marring the ‘bus driving experience’ day to day? And have these been able to be successfully addressed? If not, how and why? NB: “I am fortunate enough to have seen, first hand, the success that bus operators have had where, through changing culturally accepted workplace ‘norms’, they have managed to positively influence the psychological wellbeing of their employees as well as their business. Not only are operators changing the way they manage and prevent workplace bullying, but drivers are also adopting new skills when it comes to managing their own workplace health and wellbeing. The industry has taken a proactive stance and is at the forefront of change.”

“Maintaining an active lifestyle ... ensures a long and healthy future.”

Mini bus. Mighty features.

It may be smaller than a regular bus, but the all-new Mercedes-Benz Minibus is packed with the latest innovations in safety, fuel efficiency and performance, setting a new benchmark for minibuses in Australia.

Whichever industry you operate in, your passengers deserve the very best in safety and comfort when travelling in your care.

Give the people what they want.

Introducing Australia’s first and only genuine Mercedes-Benz Minibus.

To find out more about the unrivalled Mercedes-Benz quality features of the new Minibus, visit www.mercedes-benz.com.au/buses

HEM1971

CBT20_p048-055_60mins.indd 54 26/06/2015 11:24 am

Mini bus. Mighty features.

It may be smaller than a regular bus, but the all-new Mercedes-Benz Minibus is packed with the latest innovations in safety, fuel efficiency and performance, setting a new benchmark for minibuses in Australia.

Whichever industry you operate in, your passengers deserve the very best in safety and comfort when travelling in your care.

Give the people what they want.

Introducing Australia’s first and only genuine Mercedes-Benz Minibus.

To find out more about the unrivalled Mercedes-Benz quality features of the new Minibus, visit www.mercedes-benz.com.au/buses

HEM1971

CBT20_p048-055_60mins.indd 55 26/06/2015 11:24 am

We Want


BY DESIGN

CBT20_p056-059_International.indd 56 25/06/2015 10:43 pm


Sometimes it’s not about thinking outside the square, but more thinking a little in the circle and ‘loopy’ to push the boundaries of conventional bus design. What the Iveco Ellisup may lack in immediate visual acceptability it sure makes up for in redefining conventional stylistic thought. Coach & Bus editor Fabian Cotter explains.



The Gemini 3 Style body looks pretty good in the rear.A slightly edgier look, especially around the front widscreen and top window.Looks like good vision for passengers all-’round. Winner, winner, chicken dinner.

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Oh, it’s out there. Way out there. Not like some so-called mythical Nibiru planet on an apparent death-wish collision course with

the Earth or something, as some Area 57-type, weird-oufit-wearing space buffs might ramble on about at an unofficial Star Trek convention or such, but it’s definitely a little bit out of the ordinary for sure. Yet there’s so much to learn from the Iveco 12m Ellisup Concept plug-in electric bus.

Making its debut at the 2013 Busworld Kortrijk show, in Belgium, the Ellisup was a delightful reminder that it’s not so much about breaking design rules, but in fact doing

something that sets a new benchmark that will force the various powers that be to totally re-write or abandon them. Or at least scare them into the possibility of that. Not just embellish something old, but try something new.

With the 2015 Busworld show just around the figurative corner, it is such landmark interpretations at such an event of what will influence or be the bus of the future that for many is the thoroughly exciting part of where the global bus industry could go. A snapshot into the way things could be improved or done altogether more differently, challenging our perceptions of bus and coach design acceptability and usability.

Consider, for example, the very fact most – if not all – current bus seating designs have commuters forwards or backwards facing, with only a small area of seats running parallel with the bus. That’s fine, and in many cases legally and pragmatically the done thing. But what about people facing each other and travelling sideways throughout the bus? Totally throw their visual perception of movement around a little, keep them on their toes so to speak, break the monotony of the traditional journey with a healthy shot of cognitive variety? It can’t hurt, could it? These days and in those to come the exponential growth rate of people not even looking out the

The Ellisup was a quite the show-stopper; gave many people loads to talk about.It’s probably too stylish for real-world use, but the idea is what counts.Aside from the delightfully panoramic front windscreen, it looks rather conventional from front on.

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windows as their faces will be buried in deep concentration looking at tablet and phone screens means they’d hardly get bored at glancing at others, or watching the world rush by without twisting the neck.

Either way, the beauty of the Ellisup’s interior design means passengers now have the option of choosing in which direction they want to face. And if that means it engenders a greater atmosphere of friendly interaction and communication with commuters then perhaps Iveco is looking at the whole humble bus-trip experience in an exciting new light.

Touted as “an innovative concept for tomorrow’s public transport sector”, the Ellisup Concept Bus project, led by Iveco Bus and its partners, is controlled by the French Environment and Energy Management Agency (ADEME). It is directed by Iveco Bus in collaboration with Michelin; RATP (the French state-owned public transport operator); EDF (Électricité de France); the CEA (French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission); IFP Energies Nouvelles; IFSTTAR (the French Institute of Science and Technology for Transport, Spatial Planning, Development and Networks); ERCTEEL

(Commercial and Technical Study and Development centre for electric and electronic technologies); and RECUPYL (a company specialising in the innovative recycling of batteries into strategic metals).

The objective? To develop a new electric bus concept able to operate in full electric mode along an entire service line and rapidly recharge in the span of a few minutes at the end of the line. Simple enough as an idea.

According to Iveco, the target total cost of ownership for this system is between that of a diesel fleet and that of a trolleybus. The Ellisup is equipped with an electric motor developed by Michelin, which is housed within four of the eight small wheels. The motor uses an innovative combination of batteries and super-capacitors, which act as devices for the storage of energy, characterised by high power density and great durability, it’s claimed.

The small wheel size enables a new architecture, which is a total departure from that of a traditional bus, says Iveco. The interior space has been increased and rendered more liveable, optimising the flow of passengers at bus stops (boarding and

exiting). The design also allows for larger windows that grant passengers panoramic views, it’s said.

As a concept bus, it incorporates numerous other innovations that enhance on-board comfort and safety, as well as operator profitability, it’s claimed. The vehicle is a demonstration of the progress that Iveco Bus and its partners have made in terms of innovation for the future of urban transport.

It may not suit all bus uses, but as a niche market product it raises a lot of interest into how we could travel in future and on what type of routes. It’s eye-catching internal illumination is matched by the bedazzling exterior LED screens embedded into the roof hem, which could be used for all sorts of information dissemination – like weather, temperature and full-capacity data to immediate onlookers as they approach.

As an airport-tarmac shuttle it could prove ideal, or for inter-hotel transit needs it could be just the ticket for keeping discerning travellers enthralled and interactively involved.

We can’t wait to see what new possible design directions Busworld 2015 might bring...


“...passengers now have the option of choosing in which direction they want to face.”

AT A GLANCE...MAIN FEATURES:- 8km Autonomy- 4-minute fast charging- Electric wheel hub motors- New space organisation (ideal passengers flow and new seat layout)- Panoramic view- Innovative electric plug-in system- Internal and external information displays- Adaptive indirect LED lightings- Emphasised door frame- Enhanced operator’s productivity due to a reduced dwell time- Large surface available for standing passengers, increased compared to a conventional bus- Full-electric mode with unlimited autonomy and high passenger capacity- A revolution in terms of passenger communication and advertising with dynamic extra-large screens




Green-lighted



Articulated Bus

CBT19_p000_COV.indd 1 12/05/2015 10:40 am

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Hot Stuff By Fabian Cotter

Gadgets on the go

WE ALL like to carry our phones and tablets with us when we are out and about on business, and the odd spurt of typing messages is fine to do when they are hand held, but what if you really have to sit down and do work? This is where you might invest in a Bluetooth keyboard, but what a hassle to just have one keyboard paired to one device, or worse –

one where you can’t really rest the phone or tablet properly so you can see the screen as you type?

The Logitech Bluetooth® Multi-Device Keyboard K480 is perfect as a one-stop shop when it comes to allowing you to type on a range of Bluetooth screen devices – and even better it has an in-built slot or cradle where you can firmly place your device for easy reading as you type. Brilliant!

Touted as a new standard for wireless convenience and versatility, the Logitech Bluetooth® Multi-Device Keyboard K480 connects with

up to three Bluetooth wireless–capable computers or mobile devices and lets you switch effortlessly between them.

Suitable for all Windows®, Android™, Chrome™, Mac OS® X, and iOS systems, the K480 works with all types of devices that support an external keyboard.

Available in white and black, it has a Bluetooth range of up to 10m (30ft) and a rechargeable (pre-installed 2x AAA) battery life of two years (claimed and depending on use). There’s an On/Off power switch and also a battery-life indicator light. Result!

THIS WILL sound pretty weird and the claims of increasing old battery power output must be grossly overrated – otherwise why hasn’t this been mass produced before? - but it seems the technology of a ‘joule thief’ is behind the Batteriser, which claims to ‘resurrect’ dead batteries and imbue them with new life. If it does so and that helps you power something briefly in an emergency situation, only then might something like this be handy to have on you.

It seems most new batteries contain 1.5V of energy when first bought. The problem is that many devices stop functioning at around the 1.3V mark. Batteriser uses micro-circuitry that lets you instantly tap into the 80 per cent energy that is usually thrown away, it claims (probably more like 20 per cent).

Batteriser is “an intelligent voltage management and delivery mechanism device made of thin 0.1mm stainless steel that slips over your battery and fits neatly

back into your device’s battery compartment, which can extend the life of your battery up to 8x. Batterisers are reusable on new and most “used” batteries and will be available in AA, AAA, C, and D variations. Batteriser uses no chemicals and is safe for airline travel, the company states.

We’ve scoured the globe for all the latest gadgets and gizmos for when you are on the go.

Batteriser

Logitech Multi-Device Keyboard

IT MAY not work exactly as well as the absolutely amazing promotional videos going around YouTube, but the Lily Camera – a personal drone that is also a camera that flies above and around you filming everything you do – is an absolutely ingenious invention. There are all sorts of cool and practical implications for this tech.

Whether you are playing sport or just getting out and about outdoors and want to film it from above, the Lily Camera will be your new best friend as she locks onto the tracking device you are wearing and captures your every move.

Just think of the search and rescue advantages, or other corporate filming uses! Yep,

ultimate selfies!The Midnight Black

polycarbonate and brushed aluminium 1.3kg drone has a built-in lithium-ion battery, good for 20 minutes flight time, charging via a 5A charger for two hours. It’s waterproof to rating IP67 and its camera has video resolution of 1080p at 60 fps / 720p 120 fps, filming in H.264 codec, .mp4 file format. Pics are 12 MP. Add in digital gimballing, image stabilisation, fixed focus, GPS, lens front, lens below, 4GB micro SD slot – this thing is the business!

Lily Camera

WHAT? Lily Camera DroneWHO? Lily CameraHOW MUCH? USD$619 (delivered)CONTACT? www.lily.camera

WHAT? Bluetooth® Multi-Device Keyboard K480WHO? LogitechHOW MUCH? AUD$79.95 (RRP)CONTACT? www.logitech.com

WHAT? BatteriserWHO? Batteroo Inc.HOW MUCH? USD$3 (approx.)CONTACT? www.batteriser.com

CBT20_p060-061_Gadgets.indd 60 25/06/2015 10:44 pm



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Working Wheels

Aimed at the European market, Hyundai’s got the light commercial vehicle (LCV) game firmly in its sights with the H350 van making its debut recently. Will it get to Oz? Fabian Cotter reports.

“...a flexible platform that supports three body styles: Van, Bus and Chassis-cab.”

All Eyes On Me

L ET’S CUT to the chase right now:

the Hyundai H350 is currently only

available in Left-Hand Drive (LHD).

Right, with that out of the way,

perhaps depending on sales and demand and if

a RHD version hits the British marketplace then

the H350 could be well placed to make its way

down here.

Manufactured in Europe for the European

market by Hyundai’s partner Karsan Automotive

in Turkey, hopes are that the all-new H350 will

play a key role in the European commercial

vehicle market, according to the big Korean

automotive giant.

With production started of the company’s first

multi-purpose light commercial vehicle (LCV),

the all-new H350 is engineered to “deliver

value beyond customer expectations and will

establish new standards in its class,” it’s stated.

And reminding many remarkably of a current

Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, arguably half the job

has already been done for it in that regard.

The all-new vehicle is built on a flexible

platform that supports three body styles: Van,

Bus and Chassis-cab, giving it options to go

against the said Sprinter, Fiat Ducato and Ford

Transit, for example. And with the Hyundai

iLoad already doing well here just behind

Toyota’s Hi-Ace it all could prove to be very

interesting times.

“With the start of production of the All-new

H350 today, Hyundai will begin to play a key

role in the European commercial vehicle sector.

This portion of the market is forecast to grow

significantly over the next few years, so now is

the right time for Hyundai to enter Europe’s big

van segment. Built in Europe, the H350 has

been developed and tailored to meet the specific

needs of most demanding customers across

the region,” said Byung Tae Yea, executive vice

president of Hyundai Motor Company.

According to Hyundai, the 3.5-tonne (GVW)

H350 Van will be available with a choice of 5.5m

or 6.2m overall lengths delivering best-in-class

cargo capacity (12.9m3) and the unique ability to

carry five Euro-standard pallets. The 4.0-tonne

(GVW) H350 Bus offers customers two 13+1-

seat layouts and a choice of passenger access

doors. The Turkish plant will also build the

flexible H350 Chassis-cab, which provides an

efficient, versatile and robust foundation for

customised bodywork for cargo boxes up to

4.0m long and 2.32m wide, it’s claimed.

Hyundai anticipates that the all-new H350

will have strong appeal to customers seeking

a premium LCV thanks to its large cargo

capacity, ergonomic design and car-like comfort.

Designers and engineers made efforts to

develop the refined ride, strong performance and

high safety standards that European customers

expect, while delivering Hyundai’s characteristic

reliability, competitive cost of ownership and

generous warranty.

Hyundai sales of the all-new H350 started in

Turkey during May with availability in eight other

European countries starting in June. Further

expansion across Europe is due throughout

2016.

The H350 is currently only being produced in

LHD; however, plans to engineer a RHD variant

are being reviewed with no time-frame yet

confirmed, the company states.

VAN SPECS

� Cargo area up to 12.9 metres cubed; Wide 180- and 270-degree rear access for ease of loading, wide sliding side door� Load floor fitted with 14 cargo anchor points� High-strength bodyshell (75 per cent advanced high-strength steel)Use of 98 per cent anti-corrosion steelVehicle Dynamic Control system� Hydraulic Brake Assist, Emergency Stop Signal� Lane Departure Warning SystemHill-Start Assist, Roll Over Mitigation3.5-tonne (GVW) cargo van with two/three seats� 4.0 tonne Passenger Bus with 14/15 seats


CBT20_p062-063_WW&CC.indd 62 25/06/2015 10:46 pm

All Eyes On MeCompany Car

The iconic Jaguar brand has had its ups and downs, but its stunning new XE is definitely helping the big cat climb back up the tree. Having teased us for ages it is now due here in September, 2015. Fabian Cotter reports.

“...promises an engaging drive and pragmatic fuel economy.”

Very XE Lady

I t’s a tough old market the compact luxury

sedan one, dominated by the likes of

BMW’s 3-series, Mercedes-Benz’s C-Class

and Audi’s venerable A4, but Jaguar’s

quietly confident its new XE sports saloon

redefines not just itself but the market segment

as well to be the ‘driver’s car’ in its class.

A lofty goal for sure and why not? While

judgement can only be really given once it

lands, on paper and in imagery it certain looks

and sounds the goods – a definite powerslide

in the right direction perhaps.

Boasting lightweight construction,

streamlined styling, luxurious interior and

outstanding ride and handling, the rear-drive

XE is the only vehicle in its class to use an

aluminium-intensive monocoque. Extremely

robust yet light, this structure - together with

double-wishbone front suspension and an

Integral Link rear axle – promises an engaging

drive and pragmatic fuel economy for the

modern company car driver.

With the new Ingenium diesel engines, the

XE can achieve 4.2 litres/100km and 111g/

km CO2. When powered by the supercharged

3.0-litre V6 petrol engine, from the Jaguar

F-TYPE, the XE S is capable of 0-100kph in 5.1

seconds.

The low seating position and long 2835mm

wheelbase engenders a streamlined and

well-proportioned physique, while inside the

aluminium-intensive Jaguar XE offers a range

of exquisite materials and finishes. XE will be

available in four trim levels: Prestige, Portfolio,

R-Sport and S, offering the customer a choice

of increasing luxury or sportiness.

Four advanced engines - from the all-new

highly efficient Ingenium diesel engine to the

F-TYPE-derived 3.0-litre V6 supercharged

petrol – are offered. Outputs are as follows:

the 2.0-litre i4 turbo diesel ‘20d’ delivering

132kW/430Nm; 2.0-litre i4 turbo petrol ‘20t’

delivering 147W/280Nm; 2.0-litre i4 turbo

petrol ‘25t’ delivering 177kW/340Nm; and the

3.0-litre V6 supercharged petrol pumping out

250kW/450Nm.

Pricing starts from $60,400 (ex. on-roads)

for the 2.0T Prestige right the way to the big

bopper V6 S at $104,200 (ex. on-roads).

The smallest, lightest and stiffest Jaguar

saloon is also the most aerodynamic Jaguar

ever with a Cd of 0.26, accentuating its

gorgeousness when hunkering down thanks

to sports suspension (with Adaptive Dynamics)

over 19-inch ‘Venom’ five twin-spoke alloy

wheels with red brake calipers on the S variant.

Mmmm. Bring on September 1st!

CAR SPECS

MAKE: JaguarMODEL: XE SENGINE: 3.0-litre V6 supercharged petrol. Power – 250kW; Torque - 450NmTRANSMISSION: 8-speed auto with paddle shiftersSUSPENSION: Double wishbone and integral link; Sports suspension (with Adaptive Dynamics) MISC.: All Surface Progress Control (ASPC); laser projection technology; deployable bonnet

CBT20_p062-063_WW&CC.indd 63 25/06/2015 10:46 pm


064Money Matters

INVESTING FOR A LONG TIME

The Federal Government’s latest Intergenerational Report has dished up some remarkable findings about our life expectancy. It’s estimated

that in around 40 years, nearly 2 million Australians will be aged 85 or more, including 40,000 people who will live beyond their 100th birthday. This exceptional rise in longevity has profound implications for the way we invest our retirement savings.

When we think about investing, the issue of ‘market’ risk often comes to mind. It’s the likelihood that investment markets will take a dip in the red leaving us with less capital and, therefore, reduced money to live on in our senior years.

But there is growing awareness of ‘longevity’ risk – the possibility that we could outlive our savings. And it’s not just something future generations of retirees need to plan for.

The Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (ASFA) recently released a report entitled ‘The Future of Retirement Income’.

It shows the average life expectancy of a 65-year-old female today is about a further 22 years, to 87. A 65-year-old man can expect to live for a further 19 years to about age 84.

Remember, these are averages. The same research shows around 40 per cent of women - and 26 per cent of men – currently aged 65 will live to age 90.

With potential lifespans like these, tucking all your retirement assets into term deposits and other cash-based investments that yield low returns are no longer a realistic approach to making your money last through retirement. After all, your retirement could span 30, maybe even 40 years. Portfolio diversification and having greater exposure to growth assets, like shares, are the keys that can help retirees make their superannuation last longer.

To see how this works in practice, ASFA looked at a number of scenarios. It found that retirees with a ‘defensive’ portfolio, where the bulk of their money (75 per cent) is invested in cash and fixed income assets, could

Paul Clitheroe

reasonably expect their super savings to last until about age 90 (assuming eligibility for a part Age Pension).

By contrast, retirees who invest in a more diversified portfolio with 43 per cent in cash/fixed income and the remainder spread across local and international shares, property and other investments, could stretch out their retirement savings for an extra eight years.

These projections rely on a few important assumptions - notably a lump sum of $510,000 on retirement, and a comfortable though not extravagant lifestyle. Nonetheless the exercise highlights the merits of investing in growth assets in our senior years.

Along with the potential for higher returns, growth assets bring additional risks. This

leaves retirees facing some complex decisions when deciding their ideal portfolio mix. Making the right choice is important and accessing quality information plays a valuable role here.

ASFA’s consumer website – Super Guru (www.superguru.com.au) - features a range of useful booklets and fact sheets, or take a look at my book Making Money for ideas on investing in retirement. Tailored advice can be an excellent investment in retirement and many super funds offer a financial planning service, or speak with a professional financial adviser to determine the blend of investments best suited for your retirement needs.

“...cash-based investments that yield low returns are no longer a realistic approach to making your money last through retirement.”

Paul Clitheroe is a founding director of financial planning firm ipac, chairman of the Australian Government Financial Literacy Board and chief commentator for Money maga-zine. Visit www.paulsmoney.com.au for more information.

CBT20_p064_MONEY.indd 64 25/06/2015 10:47 pm

Global TechnologyVisit us online www.volgren.com.au or contact Sales +61 3 9791 4255

VICTORIA221-243 Hammond RdDandenong VIC 3175 +61 3 9791 4255

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QUEENSLAND20 Amy Johnson PlaceEagle Farm QLD 4009 +61 7 3243 5300

Volgren. Built smart. Built safe.

TOP OF THE CLASS

EXPERIENCE HAS NO SUBSTITUTE

OVER 35 YEARS IN BUS MANUFACTURING FOR AUSTRALIA

VOLGREN

Global TechnologyVisit us online www.volgren.com.au or contact Sales +61 3 9791 4255

VICTORIA221-243 Hammond RdDandenong VIC 3175 +61 3 9791 4255

NEW SOUTH WALES8 Enterprise CircuitPrestons NSW 2170 +61 2 9426 6500

3-13 Kilcoy DveTomago NSW 2322 +61 2 4913 7100

WESTERN AUSTRALIA47 Beringarra AveMalaga WA 6090 +61 8 9248 8055

QUEENSLAND20 Amy Johnson PlaceEagle Farm QLD 4009 +61 7 3243 5300

Volgren. Built smart. Built safe.

TOP OF THE CLASS

EXPERIENCE HAS NO SUBSTITUTE

OVER 35 YEARS IN BUS MANUFACTURING FOR AUSTRALIA

VOLGREN

Call 1300 429 134 or visit fuso.com.au to find out more.

*Rosa is Australia’s top-selling bus in its class for the last ten years based on Vfacts sales volumes 2004-2014. Fuso is distributed by Mercedes-Benz Australia/Pacific Pty Ltd ACN 004 411 410. Fuso Financial is a registered business name of Mercedes-Benz Financial Services Australia Pty Ltd ABN 73 074 134 517 AFSL 247271. Bluetooth® is a registered trade mark of Bluetooth SIG.

AUSTRALIA’S BEST SELLING BUS

in its class

11 years running*

3 years maps,bluetooth ®

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Sat-nav with

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Rosa has up to

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