NSW Electric Bus Plan

Sydney / New South Wales Transport Discussion
tonyp
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Re: NSW Electric Bus Plan

Post by tonyp »

I can't find a way of linking another post, but to illustrate the two Elements in new service deployments (the STA trial is now finished), here's Busways MO 7012 (presumably production no. 4) at Cranebrook from CB1181's photo in Private observations thread (thank you CB1181).

Image

And here's Premier's MO 6520 (ex STA demo) at Unanderra (John Austin photo).

CD Unanderra.jpg

Both buses are being prepped for service, unlike with STA which took them much as they were and put them virtually straight on the road. The Premier one will get a ticket machine, which suggests use on the Shuttle where passengers are counted on the machine (yes, quaint, but it's TfNSW...). Not sure if Opal readers are involved yet. It may eventually get around more depots including Nowra. Premier has previously stated a lot of enthusiasm for electric buses and has the infrastructure already in place at Nowra.
tonyp
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Re: NSW Electric Bus Plan

Post by tonyp »

Actually, a closer look at the photos indicates that all these NSW demonstrators are fitted out for Opal and trackable.

CDPremier1.jpg
moa999
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Re: NSW Electric Bus Plan

Post by moa999 »

For a couple of weeks trial I guess STA thought it wasn't necessary, particularly if it meant it was off the road for a few days to get fitted out.

Any feedback on the trial.
At least it didn't seemingly burst into flames, breakdown or run out of electrons.
tonyp
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Re: NSW Electric Bus Plan

Post by tonyp »

moa999 wrote: Fri Apr 30, 2021 7:20 pm For a couple of weeks trial I guess STA thought it wasn't necessary, particularly if it meant it was off the road for a few days to get fitted out.

Any feedback on the trial.
At least it didn't seemingly burst into flames, breakdown or run out of electrons.
I don't know of any specific feedback from STA. The general picture I have is that CD was cautious in its expectations but the performance of the bus is turning out far better than they expected. There's a lot of interest in it (I've also even seen overseas write-ups as far afield as Finland and Argentina) and I understand production is getting underway. I believe CD has existing capacity to build about 300 buses (of any model) per year, which is as big as Volgren's current national maximum output. It's not on the NSW Panel yet but I believe it has to have a buyer to trigger that. Possibly Premier and Busways may be first off the rank. The only other manufacturer seriously moving forward in placements so far is Yutong and I've lost count of how many of those are about. There are only nine BYD chassis (with Gemilang or Volgren bodies) in public route operations but I believe Transit Systems has more on order. Bustech is still hiding in the shadows. Volgren is starting to build its two initial Volvos in Perth.
tonyp
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Re: NSW Electric Bus Plan

Post by tonyp »

There is a bus with a code number, not one of the usual Volgrens, running anti-clockwise on the Gong Shuttle today. This might be it.
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Fleet Lists
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Re: NSW Electric Bus Plan

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It is still running there now. But when I requested "electric Buses only" in Anytrip, it was no longer shown. But they may not mean anything.
Living in the Shire.
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Re: NSW Electric Bus Plan

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The code seems to be changing.
When I first looked at it, it showed 34456-317703-2456-55A-1
Some time later the 317703 had changed 317816 and on the next trip it had changed to 317942.
Also when in Anytrip I requested that the Vehicle label be shown, it showed 1027485 - does anyone know what that represents?
Living in the Shire.
tonyp
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Re: NSW Electric Bus Plan

Post by tonyp »

I'll be able to physically check in a couple of days if it's on the run. Anytrip hasn't shown any electric buses via the electric buses filter for a couple of months and they haven't acted on feedback.
tonyp
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Re: NSW Electric Bus Plan

Post by tonyp »

Fleet Lists wrote: Sat May 01, 2021 3:12 pm The code seems to be changing.
When I first looked at it, it showed 34456-317703-2456-55A-1
Some time later the 317703 had changed 317816 and on the next trip it had changed to 317942.
Also when in Anytrip I requested that the Vehicle label be shown, it showed 1027485 - does anyone know what that represents?
It turned out to be 7443MO, a MAN Volgren. Obviously not all proper bus IDs show up on Anytrip. It's obvious by now that the Element demonstrators aren't in Anytrip (same as in Sydney), so it's random secret runs. I have a confirmed sighting on Wollongong route 3 this morning.
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Re: NSW Electric Bus Plan

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What was the identification of 7443MO based on? Personal sighting or something else?
Living in the Shire.
tonyp
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Re: NSW Electric Bus Plan

Post by tonyp »

Fleet Lists wrote: Mon May 03, 2021 4:02 pm What was the identification of 7443MO based on? Personal sighting or something else?
Personal sighting and photographic evidence!
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Re: NSW Electric Bus Plan

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tonyp wrote: Sat May 01, 2021 3:25 pm I'll be able to physically check in a couple of days if it's on the run. Anytrip hasn't shown any electric buses via the electric buses filter for a couple of months and they haven't acted on feedback.
how do you provide feedback about such Anytrip situations?
Living in the Shire.
moa999
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Re: NSW Electric Bus Plan

Post by moa999 »

Android app lists hello @anytrip.com.au

They also have a Twitter account, as does the owner/main developer jxeeno.

But I'm yet to get a response to my email query re the electric bus filter, so maybe better via tweet dm
tonyp
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Re: NSW Electric Bus Plan

Post by tonyp »

At least we've established that demonstration buses aren't publicly tracked even when they're equipped for tracking. The in-service electric buses must all be there on Anytrip regardless of the filter, just that finding them is like looking for a needle in a haystack.
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Re: NSW Electric Bus Plan

Post by J_Busworth »

The Custom Element with STA had stickers suggesting that it was Opal enabled but didn't actually have any Opal or tracking equipment installed. I quired the driver about it and it appears that the Opal sticker was added erroneously as part of the standard issue of stickers that get added to every bus.
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BAMBAM
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Re: NSW Electric Bus Plan

Post by BAMBAM »

J_Busworth wrote: Tue May 04, 2021 7:43 pm The Custom Element with STA had stickers suggesting that it was Opal enabled but didn't actually have any Opal or tracking equipment installed. I quired the driver about it and it appears that the Opal sticker was added erroneously as part of the standard issue of stickers that get added to every bus.
Close friend of my at Premier has taken pictures for me of the bus trialed at STA having Opal readers and ticket machine.
tonyp
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Re: NSW Electric Bus Plan

Post by tonyp »

A scan through photos and videos taken during the STA trial show no Opal readers inside, but I believe there are now Opal readers in the Premier bus, apart from which Premier has fitted a ticket machine.
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Re: NSW Electric Bus Plan

Post by idontknow556 »

Will Burwood Depot be fitted with electric bus chargers soon since the B10BLEs are next to be retired after the Scania L113s?
BAMBAM
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Re: NSW Electric Bus Plan

Post by BAMBAM »

Busways is the 2nd operator to test the Custom Bus Element with passenger service today after STA, element bus running around today at Penrith doing 791, 794 and 799 today. Bus registered as M/O 5471 carrying the fleet number 7012
tonyp
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Re: NSW Electric Bus Plan

Post by tonyp »

BAMBAM wrote: Mon May 10, 2021 4:41 pm Busways is the 2nd operator to test the Custom Bus Element with passenger service today after STA, element bus running around today at Penrith doing 791, 794 and 799 today. Bus registered as M/O 5471 carrying the fleet number 7012
The third after Premier.
BAMBAM
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Re: NSW Electric Bus Plan

Post by BAMBAM »

tonyp wrote: Mon May 10, 2021 5:05 pm
BAMBAM wrote: Mon May 10, 2021 4:41 pm Busways is the 2nd operator to test the Custom Bus Element with passenger service today after STA, element bus running around today at Penrith doing 791, 794 and 799 today. Bus registered as M/O 5471 carrying the fleet number 7012
The third after Premier.
Has it even been in service, nothing been said whether it went in service?
tonyp
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Re: NSW Electric Bus Plan

Post by tonyp »

It's had some odd runs but hard to track down at the moment. The anticipation is that it will settle into a run on 55A/C.
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Re: NSW Electric Bus Plan

Post by Stonesourscotty »

PSX_20210511_180358.jpg
As reported in the private thread 7012 was on service 791 today
idontknow556
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Re: NSW Electric Bus Plan

Post by idontknow556 »

I just noticed an unusual bus type on Anytrip running on Busways Route 791- Scania L113CRB - Could that be Element 7012?
tonyp
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Re: NSW Electric Bus Plan

Post by tonyp »

It'll be what it says it is. The IDs are no help at all identifying electric buses. Even when there's just a number code it turns out to be just another diesel bus. Try ringing Busways, they might be more helpful than some other operators.
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