DARWIN BUS Recommendations

[Busman66]

Hi, I am heading to Darwin in October for a long weekend, is there any buses I should try while I am there? Thx

[Merc1107]

It's a big Mercedes city as far as urban buses go, all the more interesting stuff, the O405NH, B10s, lone B12, Scania artics, have long been out of service and moved to pastures anew.

Some of the older stuff (up to 174, and the former TT/DBS buses 123 - 125, which have been renumbered 240 - 242) are O500LEs with exhaust brakes and Ecomats. There'd be at least another dozen Ecomats in service on top of that. None are particularly loud.

I'll add you should maintain situational awareness at all times while on a bus in Darwin.

[Busman66]

It's a big Mercedes city as far as urban buses go, all the more interesting stuff, the O405NH, B10s, lone B12, Scania artics, have long been out of service and moved to pastures anew.

Some of the older stuff (up to 174, and the former TT/DBS buses 123 - 125, which have been renumbered 240 - 242) are O500LEs with exhaust brakes and Ecomats. There'd be at least another dozen Ecomats in service on top of that. None are particularly loud.

I'll add you should maintain situational awareness at all times while on a bus in Darwin.

I like Mercs, we have very few in route service in Brisbane (I believe only Transdev and HBL have them in Brisbane). Wonder what next orders are since Merc does not make 0500LE anymore.

[Merc1107]

States here that "nine new Volvo Hybrid buses are expected during the contract period."

However, the contract was awarded by the previous Labor Government, and the current CLP Government have not been afraid to alter the NT's trajectory on similar emissions-related matters, like renewable energy ("it's too unstable ... we need to keep the {EOL!} gas generators going").

No news of new buses urban entering the fleet, nothing on the Fleetlists, and the buses in service are now between nearly 7 and 21 years of age. Two CB80s slip in at about 6yrs old, although it's quite possible these were outstanding orders at the time of Custom's last collapse.

The oldest buses, 167 - 173, were actually relegated to school duties years ago during Buslink's time (pre-pandemic), but have since been equipped with full barriers and pressed back into regular urban service, as it seems they needed the additional buses after CDC won the contract to run the entire NT urban operation. Suggests the terms around fleet renewal have altered, as Territory Transit and Buslink were both retiring buses from urban service before they reached 20yrs of age (in some cases, well before 20yrs) during the 2010s.

[Busman66]

Mainly Volgren with some CB80s isn't it

[Busman66]

Are there any bendys at the moment?

[Merc1107]

Nope. The last left the fleet by June 2022 and is now a charter bus with Horizons West in Perth, with two of its other former stablemates. The fourth (well, first of the L94s) is still in Adelaide being used for driver training.

[Busman66]

Nope. The last left the fleet by June 2022 and is now a charter bus with Horizons West in Perth, with two of its other former stablemates. The fourth (well, first of the L94s) is still in Adelaide being used for driver training.

Bugga, an Optimus bendy would look great in Darwinbus colours. ALSO, should we get around by bus or Uber? I wanna catch bus, I regretted not taking one in Melbourne in 2023, but I am going to Melbourne next year for the Tram Championships. Hopefully I get a cool CR228L. Are there any CNG buses?

[Merc1107]

There are no CNG buses. Fairly large fleets were required to justify the cost of installing (expensive) CNG refuelling stations, not to mention Darwin little to no mains gas network. LPG conversions were trialled by the erstwhile Darwin Bus Service in the early-2000s but it didn't pan out.

Look at the timetables for Darwinbus, and you'll have your answer about getting around. Interchanging between services is difficult, not the least of which because Casuarina Interchange has been closed (due to being a hotspot of anti-social behaviour), but also because practically no services are designed to connect. Services run to erratic timetables. Many routes finish by around 6pm, although some push on later in the night at infrequent intervals. Many points of interest for the tourist are not accessible by bus. That sort of thing.

Given the poor value for money of Uber, you'd be better off hiring a car.

[Busman66]

Any good busspotting places?

[TheTransportPro]

Any good busspotting places?

Casuarina, Trower Rd stop, thats where all terminating buses to Cas and the departing services for the northern suburbs start from. Be there at afternoon peak as thats when most buses come through and it is the safest. Just dont film any of the indigenous people to be safe.