Transperth has a fleet of 470 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses which are approaching end-of-life and due for retirement from the fleet. Due to the unique high-pressure refuelling system requirement for this type of vehicle, they are not suitable for re-sale to the traditional second-hand bus market or general public. This situation is also currently being experienced by large Government owned CNG bus fleet operators in other parts of Australia. The on-board gas storage cylinders must be safely decommissioned by appropriately licenced personnel as part of this process. Once the gas cylinders have been decommissioned the vehicle is then most likely prepared for scrap metal or salvage.

https://www.tenders.wa.gov.au/watenders ... pen-tender


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So far, the oldest OCs are at Fremantle, Malaga and Gosnells. These include 1234-1299, 1900-1919, 1855-1875, 100-122 and 1594-1627. In short, all units cooled by Coachair.

The contract has been awarded to Mannheim on Grogan road at the Airport business park

https://www.tenders.wa.gov.au/watenders ... AD91CCC968

TP1462 wrote: ↑Mon Feb 14, 2022 2:57 pm The contract has been awarded to Mannheim on Grogan road at the Airport business park

https://www.tenders.wa.gov.au/watenders ... AD91CCC968

Pity they can't get a new lease of life in private operation like their diesel counterparts.

While that's true, and leaving aside the issue of tanks, looking at the maintenance lists shown in the tenders, even the high-mile units that will still be around from October are overwhelmingly reported as still being on an original engine, gearbox and diff. That's spectacular for a bus that most consider to be heaps of rubbish, but at some points these components will fail. At 1.1-1.2mil km, I can't imagine major driveline components would have too much life leftover for a private operator, were that a possibility.

The same maintenance lists are also painting an interesting picture on newer types in the fleet - shame the now ex Rocky 2200s weren't on there, given the distance they've already covered.

I presume 1594-1603 are hiding somewhere at Manheim's yard, in that case.

Merc1107 wrote:While that's true, and leaving aside the issue of tanks, looking at the maintenance lists shown in the tenders, even the high-mile units that will still be around from October are overwhelmingly reported as still being on an original engine, gearbox and diff. That's spectacular for a bus that most consider to be heaps of rubbish, but at some points these components will fail. At 1.1-1.2mil km, I can't imagine major driveline components would have too much life leftover for a private operator, were that a possibility.

The same maintenance lists are also painting an interesting picture on newer types in the fleet - shame the now ex Rocky 2200s weren't on there, given the distance they've already covered.

provided they’ve had all been subjected to regular servicing they’ll last for ages like with anything really and they would have had all major issues addressed like timing chains, oil and coolant flushes, spark plugs at the required intervals and the engine, transmission and diff most likely would have been rebuilt when they past 500,000km or when they were refurbished


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Enviro 500 wrote:I presume 1594-1603 are hiding somewhere at Manheim's yard, in that case.

Canningvale visible from Roe Highway


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TP1462 wrote: ↑Tue Feb 15, 2022 12:27 am

Enviro 500 wrote:I presume 1594-1603 are hiding somewhere at Manheim's yard, in that case.

Canningvale visible from Roe Highway


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What about 1234-1276? Still stored at Freo?

TP1462 wrote: ↑Tue Feb 15, 2022 12:26 am the engine, transmission and diff most likely would have been rebuilt when they past 500,000km or when they were refurbished

My point is, the documents point out when this has occurred, IF it has occurred. In most cases, it has not.

TP1462 wrote: ↑Tue Feb 15, 2022 12:26 am provided they’ve had all been subjected to regular servicing they’ll last for ages like with anything really

They tend to replace buses much earlier in Perth compared to other cities in Australia, if anything.

Perfect example would be the Renault PR100.2 fleet, of which the final Transperth units were retired in 2015. Earlier this week I was in Canberra, and I saw multiple Renault PR100.2s of 1991-1993 vintage (equivalent to the later units Perth had) driving around in the middle of the day on route services - so clearly it's not impossible to keep a fleet of them running.

If they had wanted to, there's no reason why that PR100.2s couldn't have been kept and still be running now in Perth, except that they had the resources to replace them with newer vehicles earlier on, which was the better option. Same thing would have to apply with the O500LE gas buses now.

Perth's PR180.2 artic fleet ambled on, and by that I mean just barely scraping by until Q1 2018 (the last PR100s actually left in 2016 - CNG units originally built in the mid-late 80s except the lone PR100.3).

The word "stuffed" doesn't even begin to describe the last high floors that were in service - a real blight on an otherwise well-kept fleet. The last CNGs of that breed were in far better condition, however.

Sure if you like being stuck on the side of the road in a broken down bus without aircon in 40 degree heat the Renaults were beyond screwed by the time they surpassed retirement age


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TP1462 wrote: ↑Wed Feb 23, 2022 10:07 pm Sure if you like being stuck on the side of the road in a broken down bus without aircon in 40 degree heat the Renaults were beyond screwed by the time they surpassed retirement age


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Still rather a Renault than the modern junk thats in service now. Even the O405NH that I drive daily is more pleasing.

If anything, the Renaults were probably one of the most reliable bus types in the fleet. They were boring as an enthusiast, but they were solid and reliable.

BroadGauge wrote: ↑Wed Feb 23, 2022 9:32 pm Perfect example would be the Renault PR100.2 fleet, of which the final Transperth units were retired in 2015. Earlier this week I was in Canberra, and I saw multiple Renault PR100.2s of 1991-1993 vintage (equivalent to the later units Perth had) driving around in the middle of the day on route services - so clearly it's not impossible to keep a fleet of them running.

If they had wanted to, there's no reason why that PR100.2s couldn't have been kept and still be running now in Perth, except that they had the resources to replace them with newer vehicles earlier on, which was the better option. Same thing would have to apply with the O500LE gas buses now.

I think you'll find the reason for their withdrawal is accessibility or lack thereof.

Whilst I enjoyed driving them (especially the artics) I confess to having a soft spot for these buses having received a lot of my initial driving instruction on them in the mid 90's.

Bus-1809 wrote: ↑Wed Mar 02, 2022 12:44 am

TP1462 wrote: ↑Wed Feb 23, 2022 10:07 pm Sure if you like being stuck on the side of the road in a broken down bus without aircon in 40 degree heat the Renaults were beyond screwed by the time they surpassed retirement age


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Still rather a Renault than the modern junk thats in service now. Even the O405NH that I drive daily is more pleasing.

If anything, the Renaults were probably one of the most reliable bus types in the fleet. They were boring as an enthusiast, but they were solid and reliable.

Thing is Renault no longer builds buses.

Enviro 500 wrote: ↑Tue Mar 08, 2022 1:11 am
Thing is Renault no longer builds buses.

Irisbus is a derivative of RVI...

Bus-1809 wrote: ↑Sun Mar 20, 2022 7:59 pm

Enviro 500 wrote: ↑Tue Mar 08, 2022 1:11 am
Thing is Renault no longer builds buses.

Irisbus is a derivative of RVI...

Irisbus is now called Iveco Bus and is more famous for the Citelis, which we have one right here in WA.

Enviro 500 wrote:

Bus-1809 wrote: ↑Sun Mar 20, 2022 7:59 pm Irisbus is a derivative of RVI...

Irisbus is now called Iveco Bus and is more famous for the Citelis, which we have one right here in WA.

And the sky is blue


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Let’s bring this thread back on topic now please.

1861-63 recently laid up.

Irisbus is now called Iveco Bus and is more famous for the Citelis, which we have one right here in WA.

still going is she

Trevor 062 wrote: ↑Thu Mar 24, 2022 12:34 pm still going is she

On and off, as is the case for those three one-off CNG artics ... but a lot more "on" in recent years. Performance has improved noticeably (from the passenger's perspective) in the same timeframe - nice to see the time invested in making the bus run properly.

Trevor 062 wrote: ↑Thu Mar 24, 2022 12:34 pm Irisbus is now called Iveco Bus and is more famous for the Citelis, which we have one right here in WA.

still going is she

Apparently she is. 3000 ain't so lucky though. It's my favourite brand some more.

Returning to topic, 1234-78 are no longer registered, joining the likes of 1594-1603.

Manheim now have some of the disposed 12xx OC's on their website being listed as experssion of interest for scrap only, the CNG systems have been decommissioned.