Private Bus Observations 2021

[1whoknows]

I'm in a hotel overlooking Railway Square. In the last 15 mins have seen one each from Allstar, Clarke, NSBC, Murrays and AAT all out on region 6 route work. Doubtless there will be more buses and operators as the morning peak progresses.

[Aurora]

I'm in a hotel overlooking Railway Square. In the last 15 mins have seen one each from Allstar, Clarke, NSBC, Murrays and AAT all out on region 6 route work. Doubtless there will be more buses and operators as the morning peak progresses.

I wouldn’t think those coach operators would have Opal readers installed/available.

[Fleet Lists]

The most likely would be the routes to Sutherland and Cronulla which are currently operated by State Transit but would make more sense to operate them from Taren Point. This could be part of the region 9 reorganisation.

There have not been any new N10 and N11metables since then BUT I just noticed that the existing timetables now show that these routes are operated by Transdev instead of State Transit.
https://transportnsw.info/documents/tim ... 210101.pdf

[idontknow556]

I noticed on the TNSW website a few days ago mentioning that there will be an indefinite ban on refuelling of Transit Systems vehicles from 4th December. What does that mean, as in what effect will it have on the network? Maybe we'll see these coaches everyday operating TSA services till an agreement is reached, since the TSA buses can't go anywhere without being refuelled?

[Fleet Lists]

That was changed to stoppages for region 6 today and region 3 tomorrow,
https://transportnsw.info/news/2021/bus ... ial-action

[boronia]

I noticed on the TNSW website a few days ago mentioning that there will be an indefinite ban on refuelling of Transit Systems vehicles from 4th December. What does that mean, as in what effect will it have on the network? Maybe we'll see these coaches everyday operating TSA services till an agreement is reached, since the TSA buses can't go anywhere without being refuelled?

It has been mentioned elsewhere recently that there is a looming shortage of AdBlue, this is likely to have an effect on future refuelling of much of the fleet?

[Fleet Lists]

But that would not be restricted to Transit Systems.

About the possible shortage see https://www.whichcar.com.au/news/adblue ... l-vehicles

[Stu]

The most likely would be the routes to Sutherland and Cronulla which are currently operated by State Transit but would make more sense to operate them from Taren Point. This could be part of the region 9 reorganisation.

There have not been any new N10 and N11metables since then BUT I just noticed that the existing timetables now show that these routes are operated by Transdev instead of State Transit.
https://transportnsw.info/documents/tim ... 210101.pdf

The transfer of these routes was planned long ago as it is part of the TfNSW plan to allocate the Nightride routes to a specific region (relative to the operating area) and include the Nightride routes into the contract of the operator of the specified region.

Call it coincidence with Region 10 already operated by Transdev and Region 9 will be operated by Transdev from April 2022. From a TfNSW and Transdev operational point of view it is more efficient to have the N10 & N11 to operate from Region 10 Menai Depot and Taren Point Depot much like it used to be before STA operated the N10 & N11 for a short time.

[Stu]

I noticed on the TNSW website a few days ago mentioning that there will be an indefinite ban on refuelling of Transit Systems vehicles from 4th December. What does that mean, as in what effect will it have on the network? Maybe we'll see these coaches everyday operating TSA services till an agreement is reached, since the TSA buses can't go anywhere without being refuelled?

The ban on refuelling is purely a part of the planned industrial action.

[jpp42]

Does that include a ban on plugging in the electric buses to recharge?

[tonyp]

Does that include a ban on plugging in the electric buses to recharge?

Careful, that might be the spark that ignites another dispute!

[Merc1107]

I noticed on the TNSW website a few days ago mentioning that there will be an indefinite ban on refuelling of Transit Systems vehicles from 4th December. What does that mean, as in what effect will it have on the network? Maybe we'll see these coaches everyday operating TSA services till an agreement is reached, since the TSA buses can't go anywhere without being refuelled?

The ban on refuelling is purely a part of the planned industrial action.

If drivers are tasked with duties such as sweeping and refuelling, I would assume it means TSA would have to find someone else to do it.

[BAMBAM]

Noticed on 9 news several Gemilang Buses parked at Hoxton Park Depot.

https://youtu.be/JYJIdC0rQpc?t=139[/youtube]

[1whoknows]

Charter operator buses were in use between Parramatta and Liverpool via the T-Way yesterday. Operators included Glenorie, North Sydney Bus Charters, Sydney Coach Charters and others. A few low floors but mostly coach type vehicles including at least one tag axle unit.

[Stonesourscotty]

New arrival at Busways Penrith Element 5001 on the 797 first day reported in service.

[Swift]

I hope it doesn't blow an element

[Stonesourscotty]

It's currently hasn't Swift I've just seen her on the 4644 heading back into Penrith I've just overtook it aboard 850 from Glendenning on the Long 776.

[Swift]

There's always the element of surprise when your don't hear it coming toward you.

[Stonesourscotty]

You definitely won't hear an element if your onboard a Scania K230UB

[boronia]

They still thump and bump over all the potholes and road defects, can't get rid of those noises

[Merc1107]

Or creaky, rattling bodywork that is like that from the factory. Electrics will show up who can, and cannot construct a bus with quality components to save their lives...

[Centralian]

I was out in Bathurst a few weeks back trying to get a photo of the demonstrator out there with Buslines. It snuck up behind me without my camera ready, but I did think I could hear quite a bit of road noise and rattling as it passed. The lack of engine noise only highlights such things. I'd like to hear some of the ones running around Penrith as a comparison.

[Swift]

Fortunate we only had a handful of high floor ones on trial from Designline in the late 1990s. Damned impressive. The buses they ended up choosing instead of them were opposite. Creaky low entry bus with super agricultural CNG engines. The one the only 0405NH CNG for very superficial political reasons.

[tonyp]

I was out in Bathurst a few weeks back trying to get a photo of the demonstrator out there with Buslines. It snuck up behind me without my camera ready, but I did think I could hear quite a bit of road noise and rattling as it passed. The lack of engine noise only highlights such things. I'd like to hear some of the ones running around Penrith as a comparison.

You're never going to get a quiet low floor urban bus with a good ride except on some rare perfectly smooth street. It's the nature of the beast. Anything will be better than a diesel, that's the worst thing.

[Swift]

Busways Scania is K230UBs with the Custom EvoII body do a decent job soaking up the moonscape. It doesn't do it without metallic knocking and thud sounds, but your bones don't feel it like the Bustech K280/310UBs or Busways MAN 18.310/320s with the Bustech VST mark III or IV bodies.
I hope the Element is a similar ride quality or better to the CC K230.