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#31
Fleet / Re: 26 Scanias: 2022-24
Last post by Busnerd - April 01, 2024, 08:46:24 PMIt seems the post was 12 minutes and 8 seconds prior to April Fools Day commencing but I will still take this as an april fools joke.
#32
Fleet / Re: Four CD Element 2s (748-75...
Last post by Barry Drive - April 01, 2024, 04:38:53 PMSee also this question and answer in the Legislative Assembly from last year regarding diesel generators:
https://questions.parliament.act.gov.au/details/41938d56c16c4ed6930fd246cb4bbc9d
https://questions.parliament.act.gov.au/details/41938d56c16c4ed6930fd246cb4bbc9d
#33
Fleet / Re: 26 Scanias: 2022-24
Last post by Bus 400 - April 01, 2024, 10:47:52 AMNot sure what's going on, but there's a new contract signed with Transport for NSW to sapply TC 20 x retired low floor buses.
When I get home I'll go through the contract in more detail. But noted was they were to be delivered this week.
When I get home I'll go through the contract in more detail. But noted was they were to be delivered this week.
#34
Fleet / Re: Four CD Element 2s (748-75...
Last post by Barry Drive - April 01, 2024, 09:25:10 AMThere has been no recent contract awarded for supply of a diesel generator. The comment referred to 200K which just happens to be what it cost to install the ABB chargers at each depot.
While a power outage will prevent all buses from being recharged or refuelled, from a risk management perspective the likelihood of a long term outage is low. I believe their contingency plan in the event of a planned outage is to hire a generator from Kennards (or similar).
Edit to add: I did a quick check of the ACT data portal - I couldn't find any payments to Custom Denning for the Elements. However, the reportable threshold is $25000, so the monthly lease payments may be less than that anyway.
While a power outage will prevent all buses from being recharged or refuelled, from a risk management perspective the likelihood of a long term outage is low. I believe their contingency plan in the event of a planned outage is to hire a generator from Kennards (or similar).
Edit to add: I did a quick check of the ACT data portal - I couldn't find any payments to Custom Denning for the Elements. However, the reportable threshold is $25000, so the monthly lease payments may be less than that anyway.
#35
Fleet / Re: Four CD Element 2s (748-75...
Last post by triumph - April 01, 2024, 01:20:42 AMWas a diesel generator acquired at all? If not are the Depots already equipped? It seems necessary to have substantial diesel generation (or a very large battery) standby to cover the consequences of a bad power outage.
#36
Fleet / Re: Four CD Element 2s (748-75...
Last post by Barry Drive - March 31, 2024, 11:20:16 PMThe article can be viewed at:
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/8573493/electric-bus-was-ready-for-a-photo-op-but-not-canberras-streets/?cs=14329
A non paywall version can be read here:
https://www.printfriendly.com/p/g/qrFLe4
As expected, most of the comments are from people who are clueless about the facts, including claims that (A) there is a diesel generator to charge the batteries - which is entirely false and (B) they don't have sufficient capacity to charge them - also false.
As has been mentioned here, the delays are entirely due to the buses not passing whatever testing has been performed by TC at the depot, and requiring a possible software update.
As one person mentioned in the comments, the Launceston buses have an ongoing software problem (although the number of buses there is 4, not 3). This was public information that should have been in the original article, as is the fact that the 9 Sydney Element buses are also not in service.
From my reading of the contract, lease payments only commence after the buses have been "accepted". Given none are yet registered, I presume they haven't been accepted so no money has been outlayed, except to install the chargers at Belconnen. (ACT Government publishes its expenditure, so that should also not be too hard for a journalist to determine.)
About the only useful detail in the article is from an unnamed ACT spokeswoman who said the four buses would enter service in the coming weeks. We'll soon see how accurate that is.
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/8573493/electric-bus-was-ready-for-a-photo-op-but-not-canberras-streets/?cs=14329
A non paywall version can be read here:
https://www.printfriendly.com/p/g/qrFLe4
As expected, most of the comments are from people who are clueless about the facts, including claims that (A) there is a diesel generator to charge the batteries - which is entirely false and (B) they don't have sufficient capacity to charge them - also false.
As has been mentioned here, the delays are entirely due to the buses not passing whatever testing has been performed by TC at the depot, and requiring a possible software update.
As one person mentioned in the comments, the Launceston buses have an ongoing software problem (although the number of buses there is 4, not 3). This was public information that should have been in the original article, as is the fact that the 9 Sydney Element buses are also not in service.
From my reading of the contract, lease payments only commence after the buses have been "accepted". Given none are yet registered, I presume they haven't been accepted so no money has been outlayed, except to install the chargers at Belconnen. (ACT Government publishes its expenditure, so that should also not be too hard for a journalist to determine.)
About the only useful detail in the article is from an unnamed ACT spokeswoman who said the four buses would enter service in the coming weeks. We'll soon see how accurate that is.
#37
Fleet / Re: Four CD Element 2s (748-75...
Last post by triumph - March 31, 2024, 07:47:02 PMAmazed it has taken this long. The fact that the Elements are not yet in service has finally made the mainstream media. Article today in the on-line version of the Canberra Times.
#38
The Playground / Re: What PT did you get today?...
Last post by triumph - March 27, 2024, 07:13:07 PM410 (R3) Caught up R4 then separated by traffic lights. Overtaken by next R4, transferred to the following R4 - not well managed today.
631 (R4) Made connection to 57 by 2min
323 (57)
495 (57)
805 (R4)
483 (R4)
367 (66)
959 (47)
958 (47)
662 (47)
712 (R3)
631 (R4) Made connection to 57 by 2min
323 (57)
495 (57)
805 (R4)
483 (R4)
367 (66)
959 (47)
958 (47)
662 (47)
712 (R3)
#39
Routes and Timetables / Re: Saturday improved timetabl...
Last post by Sylvan Loves Buses - March 27, 2024, 04:31:24 PMI expected as much, so I'm not butt-hurt this time. I knew of this change without the forum anyway, I'm just annoyed that they keep fixing the opposite of things that actually need it
For example, as unhelpful as the Sunday timetable is, my anger is more because of how confusing the weekend timetables have been the last couple years. I've often been caught out on a Saturday afternoon because I thought the times were similar to the Sunday times - they are for some, but not others. Benefits aside, also because of how the buses run much later than they do on weekdays.
The latest 30min R4 frequency after 7pm (even though it's still 15min throughout the weekends) has been super hard to deal with. I spend most of my weekly outings in the afternoon/evening times, and as bad as the 70-series was a few networks ago where basically every route left woden at the same time every hour, the halved R4s has made getting home at night a lot harder - recently impossible on some nights. Getting home from Manuka after 10pm on a Saturday is fine, but the R6 on a weekday means I have to walk home from Woden, no thanks... I've had to almost take my life into my hands on some occasions due to the fact that these R4s are now crowded (even up until 10pm sometimes), which is not something I've personally had to deal with on a daily basis before. Not to mention freezing my tits off at Woden when one happens to be late.
For example, as unhelpful as the Sunday timetable is, my anger is more because of how confusing the weekend timetables have been the last couple years. I've often been caught out on a Saturday afternoon because I thought the times were similar to the Sunday times - they are for some, but not others. Benefits aside, also because of how the buses run much later than they do on weekdays.
The latest 30min R4 frequency after 7pm (even though it's still 15min throughout the weekends) has been super hard to deal with. I spend most of my weekly outings in the afternoon/evening times, and as bad as the 70-series was a few networks ago where basically every route left woden at the same time every hour, the halved R4s has made getting home at night a lot harder - recently impossible on some nights. Getting home from Manuka after 10pm on a Saturday is fine, but the R6 on a weekday means I have to walk home from Woden, no thanks... I've had to almost take my life into my hands on some occasions due to the fact that these R4s are now crowded (even up until 10pm sometimes), which is not something I've personally had to deal with on a daily basis before. Not to mention freezing my tits off at Woden when one happens to be late.
#40
Routes and Timetables / Re: Saturday improved timetabl...
Last post by Barry Drive - March 27, 2024, 02:16:40 PMQuote from: Sylvan Loves Buses on March 26, 2024, 10:32:42 PMYes, a few extra hours of normal hourly running, how helpful.Which is exactly what they said they'd do. (Refer: https://www.cmtedd.act.gov.au/open_government/inform/act_government_media_releases/chris-steel-mla-media-releases/2024/new-transport-canberra-eba-to-support-weekend-services )
Would I have liked improved Sunday services? Or course. But you can't criticise them for delivering exactly what they promised (and nothing else).
NOTE: this rant is not directed solely at Sylvan, but also at various other whingers who said much the same thing.