Transdev Melbourne News 2019

[Linto63]

With Australasian Bus & Coach describing the Gemilang bodied Scanias that have stairs beyond the rear door as 'low floor', seems my definition is in line with the trade press.

https://www.busnews.com.au/industry-new ... local-jobs

[tonyp]

With Australasian Bus & Coach describing the Gemilang bodied Scanias that have stairs beyond the rear door as 'low floor', seems my definition is in line with the trade press.

https://www.busnews.com.au/industry-new ... local-jobs

ABC isn't consistent in their use of terminology either. Don't forget a lot of these articles are lifted straight out of press releases and repeat whatever the press release says.

I'm surprised they're still ordering with single-leaf centre doors instead of double-leaf for metropolitan service in Mebourne.

[Mitch]

How much of an increase in loading and unloading times would a double-leaf door have over single-leaf? Like if it was high enough, I could see them justifying it for services that ran in and out of the city which had quite a high patronage throughout the day, but I wouldn't put it as standard across the board like TfNSW has done.

Thanks,
Mitch

[burrumbus]

With Australasian Bus & Coach describing the Gemilang bodied Scanias that have stairs beyond the rear door as 'low floor', seems my definition is in line with the trade press.

https://www.busnews.com.au/industry-new ... local-jobs

ABC isn't consistent in their use of terminology either. Don't forget a lot of these articles are lifted straight out of press releases and repeat whatever the press release says.

I'm surprised they're still ordering with single-leaf centre doors instead of double-leaf for metropolitan service in Mebourne.

Virtually every article in ABC is a straight lift from a press release,Tony.Pretty ordinary journalism.Compare that to the old Truck and Bus where everything was done right.

[tonyp]

How much of an increase in loading and unloading times would a double-leaf door have over single-leaf? Like if it was high enough, I could see them justifying it for services that ran in and out of the city which had quite a high patronage throughout the day, but I wouldn't put it as standard across the board like TfNSW has done.

Thanks,
Mitch

It can make several seconds difference to dwell times. I realise that Melbourne buses don't do the high-volume inner city work, as this is done by the trams, but I've seen videos of buses loading very big crowds there with all door loading and the single centre door is very obviously a constraint.

Edit: It seems apparently that buses are often called upon to perform some really heavy duty work:

https://www.skynews.com.au/details/_6024120106001

Isn't it better to have them designed to perform to their optimum in the first place?

[tonyp]

Virtually every article in ABC is a straight lift from a press release,Tony.Pretty ordinary journalism.Compare that to the old Truck and Bus where everything was done right.

I miss T&BT. I see from looking it up that it ended in 2003. Started in 1940.

[burrumbus]

Me too Tony.
The information in that magazine was just amazing.The longevity of the magazine was testament to how good it was.

[Centralian]

I wonder if the National Library Australia will ever scan the T&BT and its predecessor 'Transportation Newsmagazine' series onto Trove. Probably too specialised.
In Sydney you can sight the series at the State Library, although you need to be a member and book the request as they're stored off-site. Perhaps the State Library in Melbourne
may also have it in their collection. As burrumbus states, a great quality magazine that covered the road transport history of its time exceptionally well.

[scott]

You can look at Truck and Bus at the State Library in Melbourne, mainly the newer 1999-2003 editions are onsite and can be read on same day 30 minute request, the rest are stored off site and need advance booking. I have also practically looked at every back issue of Australian Bus Panorama that predated my own collection. I use my tablet to take photos of interesting pages (cheaper and quicker than photocopying). Geoff Johnson's articles are great reading and he did a great job. When I have holidays, I find it good place to spend a day.

[Centralian]

I miss T&BT. I see from looking it up that it ended in 2003. Started in 1940.

It's predecessor 'Transportation Magazine' dates from July 1936. Had a name change to Truck & Bus Transportation.

[Linto63]

Rather than have buried in an obscure part of the board, have started a new thread http://www.busaustralia.com/forum/viewt ... =2&t=89042 in the General Discussion section re the industry publications. Hopefully a friendly admin will be able to copy the relevant posts.

[system improver]

...Perhaps the State Library in Melbourne
may also have it in their collection...

It does, also stored off site, but you only need a day's notice. There are a few issues from 1957 missing.

[B10BLE]

Is this how Transdev disposes their buses?

[BluDART]

As of the start of July bus 118 (Scania K360UA/Gemilang artic) has returned to service following repairs for its fire incident a number of months ago.

[BluDART]

Sighted several new buses that entered service today,
1101 (Scania/Gemilang) seen heading outbound in the Eastern Fwy.
A number of Volgren Optimuses were in service this evening, the seats have changed from McConnell Centra design to the Metro design.
1128 (Scania/Volgren) rego BS05AD.
1131 (Scania/Volgren rego BS05AG.

[BluDART]

Can confirm the rego for bus 1133 is BS05AI.

[timmy1966]

Hey all,
Slightly old topic i know but why were the so called "Toaster Buses",Enterprise Designline buses actually withdrawn when they seem to run seem to do very well in the UK? Is it still the mentality that exists in transport in Melbourne in particular that if something is different to other things that it is XXX,and not worth fixing?Take the Z1's & B1's should still be running today,the B1's could have been upgraded in the current program to conform to B2 standards and 15-20 of the best Z1's given half life refurbs to fill the gap until new trams arrive and help overcrowding in the peaks or used on lightly trafficked routes like the 82.( End rant)...What replaced them on the 280/282 please.

[burrumbus]

Optare Solos timmy

[bussie]

Hey all,
Slightly old topic i know but why were the so called "Toaster Buses",Enterprise Designline buses actually withdrawn when they seem to run seem to do very well in the UK? Is it still the mentality that exists in transport in Melbourne in particular that if something is different to other things that it is XXX,and not worth fixing?Take the Z1's & B1's should still be running today,the B1's could have been upgraded in the current program to conform to B2 standards and 15-20 of the best Z1's given half life refurbs to fill the gap until new trams arrive and help overcrowding in the peaks or used on lightly trafficked routes like the 82.( End rant)...What replaced them on the 280/282 please.

The Enterprise Primos in the UK don't come with air-conditioning as standard and there are also more of them to go around, which allows for a sustainable parts supply chain to be set up. The Transdev ones on the other hand, are air-conditioned, and are orphans. The climate in Australia is also harsher to the buses, which are designed for lower temperatures (20 degree summers), which contribute to their unreliability.

[timmy1966]

Thanks for the replies guys,i forgot about the Optares,do they suffer the same aircon issues though.

[burrumbus]

Much better reliabiltiy from what I have heard and there are more of them in more fleets.

[ScaniaGrenda]

Transdev Bus #752 (Withdrawn Merc O405NH CC CB60) has appeared for sale on Pickles auctions. Just thought I'd make note of it here in case anyone is wondering what happened to this bus

And it's missing it's front windscreen, front bodywork and some emergency exit windows are broken.

[1whoknows]

752 was the one that came to grief on the freeway a while back - hence the sale.

[scott]

Saw the listing- good for parts at least.

Manheim have the recently replaced 2001-02 MAN CB30's up for grabs.

[PaxInfo]

So the front fell off?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3m5qxZm_JqM