Transdev Melbourne Discussion Thread 2021/2022

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JRBUS123
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Transdev Melbourne Discussion Thread 2021/2022

Post by JRBUS123 »

Happy New Year everyone.

Thought I jump in to create the 2021 Transdev thread.

Have a great day :)
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Re: Transdev Melbourne Discussion Thread 2021

Post by JRBUS123 »

Almost all of the Volgren Volvo’s (ex Grenda’s/East West) in Transdev’s fleet have had their “smartbus” stickers removed and have now permanently moved off orbitals and into non-smartbus routes, with the exception of occasional runs on DART routes. I don’t know whether they still have Smartbus PIDS or other equipment installed in them

From pictures I’ve seen, I believe a majority of these buses are now based at North Fitzroy depot, running North Fitzroy based routes such as route 246 and route 250

Also, I think some of the custom Scanias buses have also moved from Doncaster to other depots as I have seen less of bus numbers #915-925 on usual Doncaster runs. How come Transdev did that?

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maxy54
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Re: Transdev Melbourne Discussion Thread 2021

Post by maxy54 »

JRBUS123 wrote: Thu Jan 21, 2021 6:17 pm Almost all of the Volgren Volvo’s (ex Grenda’s/East West) in Transdev’s fleet have had their “smartbus” stickers removed and have now permanently moved off orbitals and into non-smartbus routes, with the exception of occasional runs on DART routes. I don’t know whether they still have Smartbus PIDS or other equipment installed in them

From pictures I’ve seen, I believe a majority of these buses are now based at North Fitzroy depot, running North Fitzroy based routes such as route 246 and route 250

Also, I think some of the custom Scanias buses have also moved from Doncaster to other depots as I have seen less of bus numbers #915-925 on usual Doncaster runs. How come Transdev did that?

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The former SmartBus B7RLE's have had SmartBus equipment removed, which has been transferred into the Scania's who've moved onto the orbitals.
scott
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Re: Transdev Melbourne Discussion Thread 2021

Post by scott »

I wonder if they are ever going to repaint the ex Smartbus B7RLE's into PTV livery. A bit of an end of an era the B7RLE's retiring from orbitals, as I rode on them extensively over many years across routes 901 and 903.

Also noticed since I have returned from lockdown, that many of the buses that had the full 38xxxx fleet numbers applied, have had the 38 prefixes removed externally, but the newest Volgren Scanias have the long form fleet number applied inside ex 381200.

Also noticed a new type of Coachair A/C unit on a lot of the latest Scania deliveries, travelled on some and they work well. They are the CA series units according to the Coachair website, but the XT units remain available.
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Re: Transdev Melbourne Discussion Thread 2021

Post by BluDART »

Anyone else notice that Transdev's twitter account has suddenly become highly active since lockdown and now into the lead up to the future tender.
Transdev seems to place more importance on orbitals than anything else, as that's practically where all new buses they have received over the contract period have ended up. Whilst all the older buses on local runs being retired are replaced with former orbital units. Doncaster depot seems to fair the worst compared to the other depots fleets.

Although the new batch of 100 buses ordered by the Govt. are meant to be more standardised than previous orders, there are a number of differences between batches.
1101-1115? have had the original loop barriers replaced with a full perspex/glass enclosure that fully seals off the driver(bus 182 had the prototype screen).
There are 4 different aircons models on the 100 buses.
1101-1134, 1138-1148 and 1161-1166 have TK LRT units
1135-1137, 1149-1160, 1167-1184 and 1187-1200 have Coachair CA units
1185 has the only TK KSC unit
1186 has the only Denso LD9 unit, also the only unit with grey seat fabric.
The first 16 Volgrens don't have USB ports. The rest do.
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Re: Transdev Melbourne Discussion Thread 2021

Post by JRBUS123 »

BluDART wrote: Fri Jan 22, 2021 11:49 pm Anyone else notice that Transdev's twitter account has suddenly become highly active since lockdown and now into the lead up to the future tender.
They certainly have. And the details on their tweets are more informative than when they posted route disruptions or incidents a few years ago. They also post images advising passengers to “plan ahead” or “Allow extra time” when diversions or stops are missed, which I think is a nice addition to their tweets.
Transdev seems to place more importance on orbitals than anything else, as that's practically where all new buses they have received over the contract period have ended up. Whilst all the older buses on local runs being retired are replaced with former orbital units.
I feel like they have done this for quite a while now, but especially now since pretty much most of the 100 buses have been transferred to all 3 orbital routes.


I remember When buses #134-168 were delivered to Transdev in 2018, a majority of them were quickly put on route 901 or route 902, and since then, every time they receive a new order, they eventually have placed them onto orbitals.
Doncaster depot seems to fair the worst compared to the other depots fleets.
I kind of agree with that. Doncaster did lose a few of its newbies. First the Gemilang that were moved to orbitals for a short time and then the Volgren 2012 scanias, that Ventura had for a short time before Transdev took over, were transferred to Sunshine (I’m curious to know why they did that)

To be fair though, some newer fleet now operate out of Doncaster depot. I’ve seen a Majority of Gemilang buses #100-116 have returned to DART service (again) and noticed a few of them parked at the front of the depot.
I believe Doncaster also now have 2017-built Gemilang buses #134-140

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Last edited by JRBUS123 on Sat Feb 06, 2021 1:07 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Transdev Melbourne Discussion Thread 2021

Post by JRBUS123 »

scott wrote: Fri Jan 22, 2021 6:50 pm Also noticed since I have returned from lockdown, that many of the buses that had the full 38xxxx fleet numbers applied, have had the 38 prefixes removed externally, but the newest Volgren Scanias have the long form fleet number applied inside ex 381200.
This is very strange because the first few buses that were delivered to Transdev, as part of the 100 bus order, did not have the 38xxxx prefix applied internally and externally. I remember riding bus #1146 last year on route 305 and it did not have the prefix at all

But now they have applied it to the newest Volgren Scanias inside? I sort of find that weird

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Re: Transdev Melbourne Discussion Thread 2021

Post by Carivera »

Hi All,

I new to the discussion and currently I'm in the process for the trainee Bus driver positions and I would like to ask if anyone can help me with the type of roster for the drivers at the Sunshine West Depot.

Thanks in advance
Last edited by Carivera on Sun Feb 21, 2021 1:09 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Transdev Melbourne Discussion Thread 2021

Post by JRBUS123 »

Earlier this week on Wednesday I spotted non-smartbus Custom Scania #917 on a route 901 to Frankston, a very unusual one to find. Haven’t seen these kind of buses on orbital for a while now so that surprised me.

Also rode on bus #591 on route 281 and what I find fascinating is that it still has the old myki readers that are quite slower to process a touch-on/off.

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Re: Transdev Melbourne Discussion Thread 2021

Post by PaxInfo »

Route 246 'rapid running' trial starts tomorrow.
Buses will no longer wait at time points.

https://www.ptv.vic.gov.au/news-and-eve ... d-go-trial
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Re: Transdev Melbourne Discussion Thread 2021

Post by Heihachi_73 »

JRBUS123 wrote: Fri Feb 26, 2021 9:51 pm Earlier this week on Wednesday I spotted non-smartbus Custom Scania #917 on a route 901 to Frankston, a very unusual one to find. Haven’t seen these kind of buses on orbital for a while now so that surprised me.

Also rode on bus #591 on route 281 and what I find fascinating is that it still has the old myki readers that are quite slower to process a touch-on/off.

JRBUS123
I don't think I've ever seen a Custom bus on the 901, I guess that's right up with the time I managed to photograph non-bubble Designlines 575 and 576 on the 901 way back in 2014.
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Re: Transdev Melbourne Discussion Thread 2021

Post by B10BLE »

When Ventura still ran the 901, there was the odd blue CB60 Evo II on the 901 short trips between Dandenong and Chisholm Tafe
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BluDART
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Re: Transdev Melbourne Discussion Thread 2021

Post by BluDART »

Noticed recently that Transdev bus 755 (Mercedes Benz O405NH, CB60) has had its old flip-dot desto replaced by a new orange led display.
Also a new bus hook turn has been installed in the CBD for route 250/251 inbound buses doing right turns from Exhibition St into Lonsdale St.
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Re: Transdev Melbourne Discussion Thread 2021

Post by scott »

Those Custom CB60 O405NH's are long lived, buses about 5-6 years newer were being replaced before them, they are actually quite nice to ride on, they are either past or pushing towards their 21st birthday now.
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Re: Transdev Melbourne Discussion Thread 2021

Post by BluDART »

Transdev appears to have started rolling out the new driver protection screens by TransGlaze https://www.transglaze.com.au/covid/ across more of the fleet after the initial batch was done.
This design has also been selected by Dysons for their new Gemilang's.
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Re: Transdev Melbourne Discussion Thread 2021

Post by PaxInfo »

Looks like it's the end of the line for Transdev in Melbourne.

Kinetic (operators of Skybus) will take over Transdev routes from 31 January 2022.

https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/new-bus- ... ons-pledge

Watch the announcement here: https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?re ... 7529919099
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Re: Transdev Melbourne Discussion Thread 2021

Post by MotorOmnibus8562 »

Looks like next year's thread is going to have to be named "Kinetic group News" or something like that.
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Re: Transdev Melbourne Discussion Thread 2021

Post by Fleet Lists »

There is already an Australia and New Zealand wide Kinetic changes page https://www.busaustralia.com/forum/view ... 12&t=90202
Living in the Shire.
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Re: Transdev Melbourne Discussion Thread 2021

Post by Linto63 »

Not a huge surprise that Trandev didn't retain after maintenance issue of a few years ago.
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Re: Transdev Melbourne Discussion Thread 2021

Post by TheAussieBoi »

Looks like its almost the end of the road for the Transdev CC550s, buses #703, 705, 708, 710, 712, and 736 are currently deregistered and listed on Manheim (except #712)
As of current #737-739 are the only CC550 bodied Mercs left in service
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Re: Transdev Melbourne Discussion Thread 2021

Post by Heihachi_73 »

I don't know where to put this, but the Transdev fleet lists are missing the former operators (with the exception of East-West and MBL). Noticing that the older ex National/Ventura buses (e.g. Custom 550/CB60, Designlines etc.) aren't showing anything in the history, same with the ex Grenda/Invicta SmartBuses.
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Transdev Melbourne Discussion Thread 2021

Post by miclementson »

Noticed that the Transdev Stickers are being removed from their fleet.
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Re: Transdev Melbourne Discussion Thread 2021/2022

Post by Fleet Lists »

In preparation for the fleet and routes going to Kinetic Melbourne from 31 January.
Hence it has not been worth creating a 2022 discussion thread.
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Re: Transdev Melbourne Discussion Thread 2021/2022

Post by BluDART »

Even though Transdev has a couple of days left of their contract, their successor Kinetic isn't waiting for the changeover to start work, sighted Skybus bus 227 (with a few staff) today travelling east along a section of George St in Doncaster used by route 305 performing what appears to be route/network familiarisation.
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Re: Transdev Melbourne Discussion Thread 2021/2022

Post by timmy1966 »

I saw the same bus on Springfield rd Nunawading on tuesday 25/1.It was an all white scania L94UB with red Skybus lettering on the sides.
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