- Welcome to ACT Bus Forum.
Recent posts
#21
The Playground / Re: What PT did you get today?...
Last post by triumph - April 04, 2024, 05:14:44 PMTrue. Possibly why the driver elected to continue on and have a look, but the lack of advice re route 47 from operations was more likely foremost in the driver's mind. Police later reported multiple vehicles involved in the accident with no injuries. When a diversion due to a crash happens, it is always concerning as to the seriousness for those involved in the crash.
#22
The Playground / Re: What PT did you get today?...
Last post by Barry Drive - April 04, 2024, 12:04:00 PMQuote from: triumph on April 04, 2024, 09:54:50 AM931 (47) Outbound paused at stop beyond Lachlan St in Coulter Dr while driver listened to operations notifying of traffic accident and diversions to routes 32 and 45. Route 47 was not mentioned so, with some doubt I think, carried on. Sure enough, an accident site at junction of Coulter Dr and Shumack St came into view with traffic 'U' turning. Picked up passengers waiting at a stop and then did a multi-point turn and returned back to Lachlan St.. Continued via Lachlan and Redfern Sts to rejoin route. Then, a bit late, operations remembered route 47. Driver remarked to me he was grateful was not assigned a 'bendy'.If the bus was beyond Lachlan St at the time, it wouldn't have made any difference anyway. No point of escape until the accident site.
#23
The Playground / Re: What PT did you get today?...
Last post by triumph - April 04, 2024, 09:54:50 AMYesterday
545 (R3)
563 (57)
499 (57)
437 (R4)
810 (51)
811 (31)
931 (47) Outbound paused at stop beyond Lachlan St in Coulter Dr while driver listened to operations notifying of traffic accident and diversions to routes 32 and 45. Route 47 was not mentioned so, with some doubt I think, carried on. Sure enough, an accident site at junction of Coulter Dr and Shumack St came into view with traffic 'U' turning. Picked up passengers waiting at a stop and then did a multi-point turn and returned back to Lachlan St.. Continued via Lachlan and Redfern Sts to rejoin route. Then, a bit late, operations remembered route 47. Driver remarked to me he was grateful was not assigned a 'bendy'.
452 (47) Diversion still in place inbound.
665 (R3)
545 (R3)
563 (57)
499 (57)
437 (R4)
810 (51)
811 (31)
931 (47) Outbound paused at stop beyond Lachlan St in Coulter Dr while driver listened to operations notifying of traffic accident and diversions to routes 32 and 45. Route 47 was not mentioned so, with some doubt I think, carried on. Sure enough, an accident site at junction of Coulter Dr and Shumack St came into view with traffic 'U' turning. Picked up passengers waiting at a stop and then did a multi-point turn and returned back to Lachlan St.. Continued via Lachlan and Redfern Sts to rejoin route. Then, a bit late, operations remembered route 47. Driver remarked to me he was grateful was not assigned a 'bendy'.
452 (47) Diversion still in place inbound.
665 (R3)
#24
The Playground / Re: What PT did you get today?...
Last post by Sylvan Loves Buses - April 03, 2024, 03:22:09 PM980 (72S)
311 (71N)
311 (71N)
#25
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.
#26
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
#27
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.
#28
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.
#29
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.
#30
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.