Tasmanian Bus Observations - NOV 2011

Tas Bus Nut · Post by **Tas Bus Nut** » Mon Nov 07, 2011 6:34 pm

Well another month is here. Been quite a few mainland operators floating around Hobart in the last few days. Another cruise ship berthed today, however, strangely enough there were NO coaches operating neither tours OR shuttle (mind you it was quite small, compared to some others)

Tas Bus Nut · Post by **Tas Bus Nut** » Mon Nov 07, 2011 6:40 pm

Well, the big change at Metro in Tassie has been the contracting out of cleaning/fuelling services statewide. Yesterday (6th) was commenced with Burnie, 8th @ Launceston, with Hobart starting 13th. Trainers are out and about at the moment training the new contractors how to drive the buses. I for one, will be definately doing a more thorough PDC before leaving the yard Cannot remember who won the contract, but I'm sure yoda or someone will inform us (they remember the details better than me)

yoda · Post by **yoda** » Mon Nov 07, 2011 8:05 pm

ICS (International Cleaning Services) won the contract.
They require a licence even though they won't be driving them on the road because the yard is a "communal area".

In other "upcoming" observations, 20th November will hold the Point to Pinnacle (some sort of marathony thing) which is supported by Metro and will involve over 35 buses to the top of Mt Wellington to bring everyone back down. (Gents, get your camera's out

)

245 has been taken off the road due to the DIER accreditation (I assume for the steerable tag axle) expiring. With 201 in the workshops, and 203 in the panel shop, 14.5's are a rare sight on the road. Metro Man had 726 in replacement of a 14.5 today.

Edit: 314 will once again be in the Hobart Christmas Pageant on November 19th with bothwell flyer and Metro Man for HO-FM. Wonder where the strategically placed balls will be this year?

Tas Bus Nut · Post by **Tas Bus Nut** » Mon Nov 07, 2011 8:20 pm

Hope they don't break down this year

Tas Bus Nut · Post by **Tas Bus Nut** » Tue Nov 08, 2011 9:18 pm

Last months observations, a Q was asked about #631s repaint. YES ALL white with yellow front. #629 going same way.

O'Driscolls Coaches #13 (new Bothwell bus M.A.N. 14.240) is now painted with blue bumpers.

Apparently, the bike racks have been removed PERMANENTLY YAY Another lovely waste of $$$$$$$.

Arriving tomorrow (WED 9th) sees the arrival of the biggest cruise ship visiting Hobart this season - RADIANCE OF THE SEAS.
With it's size, hopefully there should be a HUGE amount of coaches operating shore excursions. Stay tuned

Derwent · Post by **Derwent** » Tue Nov 08, 2011 9:55 pm

13 is getting a full blue front like a metro yellow.
Too dark IMHO.
Drove it the other day...mixed feelings.

I like the dash, weird as it looks.
goes well at city speeds but frankly disappointing performance on the highway where it just didn't seem to pull on hills like I would have thought.
Maybe it will loosen up in time. Maybe it's a break in tune.
Either way, seemed to me to be lackluster above 70 or so.
Apart from that it's not bad.

Tas Bus Nut · Post by **Tas Bus Nut** » Wed Nov 09, 2011 4:24 pm

Derwent wrote:13 is getting a full blue front like a metro yellow.
Too dark IMHO.
.

Looks good IMO. Wonder what colour the headlight surrounds will be though. Something different

#302 - Tasmanian Racing Club has had it's AOA REMOVED today.

yoda · Post by **yoda** » Wed Nov 09, 2011 10:19 pm

Tas Bus Nut wrote:#302 - Tasmanian Racing Club has had it's AOA REMOVED today. Apparently Cadbury are no longer sponsoring the Hobart Cup.

Looks very naked.

royaltiger · Post by **royaltiger** » Wed Nov 09, 2011 11:01 pm

Tas Bus Nut wrote: Yesterday (6th) was commenced with Burnie, 8th @ Launceston, with Hobart starting 13th.

Other way around, Launceston started 6th, Burnie on 8th (was closed on Sunday and Monday).

Full HR licencing is not required by law if the road network is not accessed, but Metro and its insurers require it. It makes no difference in Launceston as the buses cannot avoid encroaching on the road space to get back to the bowsers.

Tas Bus Nut · Post by **Tas Bus Nut** » Thu Nov 10, 2011 9:43 am

royaltiger wrote:Other way around, Launceston started 6th, Burnie on 8th (was closed on Sunday and Monday).
.

Yes, those dates were said yesterday at the management meeting, however were printed in the "communicator" the other way round, which is what I quoted off

leyland clippers · Post by **leyland clippers** » Fri Nov 11, 2011 9:59 pm

Observed Uncle Trev driving one of the Volgren 14.5's on duty #839 outward the other day

. 5.10pm X1 outward. A sign of things to come

.

yoda · Post by **yoda** » Fri Nov 11, 2011 11:40 pm

leyland clippers wrote:Observed Uncle Trev driving one of the Volgren 14.5's on duty #839 outward the other day . 5.10pm X1 outward. A sign of things to come .

yoda wrote:245 has been taken off the road due to the DIER accreditation (I assume for the steerable tag axle) expiring. With 201 in the workshops, and 203 in the panel shop, 14.5's are a rare sight on the road.

Yes, 202 has been temporarily assigned to Uncle Trev. After Monday AM, he will have a bendy.
245 is not allowed on the road at all due to the permit expiring for the steerable tag axle.

AEC Regal · Post by **AEC Regal** » Sat Nov 12, 2011 4:16 am

yoda wrote:
leyland clippers wrote:Observed Uncle Trev driving one of the Volgren 14.5's on duty #839 outward the other day . 5.10pm X1 outward. A sign of things to come .

yoda wrote:245 has been taken off the road due to the DIER accreditation (I assume for the steerable tag axle) expiring. With 201 in the workshops, and 203 in the panel shop, 14.5's are a rare sight on the road.
Yes, 202 has been temporarily assigned to Uncle Trev. After Monday AM, he will have a bendy.
245 is not allowed on the road at all due to the permit expiring for the steerable tag axle.

This seems bizarre to me. Why did 245 need a DIER permit / accreditation for its steerable tag axles and how can the permit expire? Either its accredited to run or not - unless it has recently been modified and voided the permit? Surely any road vehicle built for service in Australia should only be sold after regulatory approval in the first place, so how did Metro even get a vehicle that is not fully and permanently accredited and approved to run? Unless, the tag axle is a custom Metro modification?

Tas Bus Nut · Post by **Tas Bus Nut** » Sat Nov 12, 2011 8:05 am

AEC Regal wrote:This seems bizarre to me. Why did 245 need a DIER permit / accreditation for its steerable tag axles and how can the permit expire? Either its accredited to run or not - unless it has recently been modified and voided the permit? Surely any road vehicle built for service in Australia should only be sold after regulatory approval in the first place, so how did Metro even get a vehicle that is not fully and permanently accredited and approved to run? Unless, the tag axle is a custom Metro modification?

D.I.E.R. work in mysterious ways and are a law unto themselves. Cannot fart without them wanting to know why

yoda wrote: 245 is not allowed on the road at all due to the permit expiring for the steerable tag axle.

Expired (I believe) Oct 31 (according to some of your previous posts), however they must have had a exemption to allow training of the new refuellers, as #245 was on the road Thursday when I passed it in Main Rd New Town

yoda · Post by **yoda** » Sat Nov 12, 2011 6:55 pm

Tas Bus Nut wrote:Expired (I believe) Oct 31 (according to some of your previous posts), however they must have had a exemption to allow training of the new refuellers, as #245 was on the road Thursday when I passed it in Main Rd New Town

Interesting.... it was moved during the week when room was required in Sick Bay and the call over the radio went "it's in lane 16, no one is to move it"

CB80 · Post by **CB80** » Sun Nov 13, 2011 3:26 pm

Metro contract out their fuellers? Seriously? Is this new or has the contractor just changed?

If this is new, what has happened to the existing Metro fuellers and cleaners?

Never heard of this being done elsewhere, cleaners yes but not fuellers.

yoda · Post by **yoda** » Sun Nov 13, 2011 4:33 pm

Yes, this is a new thing. Previously it was done "in-house".
Existing fuellers and cleaners that also drove have returned to the full driving roster and those that didn't drive were made redundant.

CB80 · Post by **CB80** » Sun Nov 13, 2011 7:01 pm

That's a pretty disgusting way to treat staff to save a few dollars, especially considering that Metro are government so aren't even in business for profit.

Tas Bus Nut · Post by **Tas Bus Nut** » Sun Nov 13, 2011 7:55 pm

The way things are going, the DRIVERS will be next - DON'T LAUGH, I bet they'd be looking at it Already done similar with radio operator

metro_tas · Post by **metro_tas** » Thu Nov 17, 2011 6:39 pm

forgot to mention that all buses listed in the fleetlists at satellite yards are no longer there... buses are now all springfield buses. Buses are dispatched in the arvo to satellite drivers they use any ole bus for their 2nd half and for their 1st half... bought back cleaned and refuelled then a new bus dispatched again that arvo...

no more shinny wheels

Tas Bus Nut · Post by **Tas Bus Nut** » Thu Nov 17, 2011 6:59 pm

metro_tas wrote:forgot to mention that all buses listed in the fleetlists at satellite yards are no longer there... buses are now all springfield buses.

Except for the NON-urban buses

metro_tas · Post by **metro_tas** » Thu Nov 17, 2011 8:45 pm

11, 191, 628, 640 and 656 correct? and duty 839 until sunday?

Tas Bus Nut · Post by **Tas Bus Nut** » Thu Nov 17, 2011 8:55 pm

metro_tas wrote:11, 191, 628, 640 and 656 correct? and duty 839 until sunday?

Close U forgot #15 @ Cygnet

leyland clippers · Post by **leyland clippers** » Thu Nov 17, 2011 9:09 pm

metro_tas wrote:11, 191, 628, 640 and 656 correct? and duty 839 until sunday?

What

Uncle Trev's favourite duty gone

Tas Bus Nut · Post by **Tas Bus Nut** » Thu Nov 17, 2011 9:11 pm

Fav duty, fav bus, place is falling apart at the seams At least the buses will now be cleaner always fuelled and same bus on same routes Not a happy worksite at the moment, worst I've EVER seen it