Recent posts

#1

Fleet / Re: Renaults a go go: the fina...

Last post by triumph - Yesterday at 10:17:32 PM

Which raises the question - what is the minimum number of buses actually needed for a school term weekday to sustain the timetable. Then to add to this, there are buses not available for duty due to heavy repairs and servicing, and further a standby number to cover for accidents and breakdowns. Perhaps if push comes to shove, more servicing can be done off-peak/overnight/weekends. What we don't really know is how close things are to the point when some timetabled services have to be cancelled (unless some retired Renaults can be restored to service) . Clearly with the Renaults still retained in use there is not much fat in the fleet.

Barry Drive's comments highlight the interlocking shambles looming (and in an election year). New buses, though, could be rushed into service with no ticket devices and give free rides. Charging seems to becoming another intractable issue - is it possible to charge more, by utilising daytime when buses are free off peak, and is there any possibility of using chargers elsewhere?

So far the thoughts here have been about TC's own resources. Is it even likely, that short term hires/leases could be arranged from other operators? They are probably having supply issues too, and in the same boat. So probably not.

It looks like the 'interesting times' of that well known oriental curse.



 

#2

Fleet / Re: Renaults a go go: the fina...

Last post by Barry Drive - Yesterday at 04:45:36 PM

I can't see any significant deliveries of new Yutongs until September, at the earliest.

Tuggeranong Depot doesn't have the infrastructure to charge more than 12 buses and the new chargers seem to be many months away.

Additionally, I don't think they're likely to commission new buses with the old ticket system if they have to swap them out again straight away.

This wouldn't have been much of a problem if the Custom Dennings and BusTechs were actually in service by now, as was planned - we would have had enough buses to fully withdraw the Renaults and 7 CNG L94s.

#3

Fleet / Re: Renaults a go go: the fina...

Last post by L94UBbusfan - Yesterday at 08:45:38 AM

Probably haha 🤣

#4

Fleet / Re: Renaults a go go: the fina...

Last post by Sylvan Loves Buses - Yesterday at 02:28:50 AM

So much for the Renault farewell tour eh, we're gonna get the GAS bus farewell tour first at this rate xD

#5

Fleet / Re: Renaults a go go: the fina...

Last post by triumph - April 22, 2024, 11:11:13 PM

Long story short, the CNG Scanias entered service from June 2004 with CNG tanks installed just prior to delivery. These tanks are rated (strictly) to 20 years where they either have to be replaced or the vehicles would need to be converted back to diesel or scrapped. I personally thought TC would have gone down the diesel conversion path however who knows how much this, plus tank removal would cost for each vehicle.

It's now become quite apparent that they intend on scrapping them for now at least when mechanical repair is not economical for only a few months of residual life. Just like the Renaults, were seeing these vehicles being scrapped from some things which would almost be considered routine for them.

Looking more closely, and ruminating a bit.

Fleetwiki says 320 and 321 were delivered in June 2004 and entered service on the 2nd and 3rd of July. Deliveries are not subsequently noted, and many in-service dates are given only to the year. However 322 to 326 all entered service on 3rd July, and 327 to 332 are just quoted as July '04. 333 to 342 have 2004 only as in-service. 343 is given as entering service in March '05.

Relying on this and the quoted information, it seems that 5 more buses will need retiring within a month and a bit, and further 5 within about 2 months. Then a further 9 before the end of the year.

With 10 buses to go within a couple of months, how is TC going to cope? Are they really expecting another 5 or more deliveries to add to the buses on hand? At the present rate, this seems unlikely, but who knows. The implication is that the Renaults will need to soldier on. If further early gas bus retirements from 2005 deliveries occur due to severe failures and deliveries do not improve (a sleeper might be the rate of Yutong deliveries, now the newly ordered have started arriving), it is even possible to envisage some retired Renaults stored being reactivated (recall 927). TC seem to be on a very thin edge.

To cap it all off, an election is due. A nervous period for TC and the Minister.   

#6

The Playground / Re: What PT did you get today?...

Last post by triumph - April 21, 2024, 06:16:27 PM

Yesterday
577 (R3)
688 (R5)
720 (R4)
722 (R3)

#7

The Playground / Re: What PT did you get today?...

Last post by L94UBbusfan - April 18, 2024, 06:26:14 PM

452 (24)
530 (R2) - sounded awful
674 (R4) - new AOA, looks ok, however I didn't get any photos
367 (71)
482 (R4)
601 (R3)
627 (24)

Saw 473 broken down on Barry Drive around 5pm, didn't look too serious, tow truck was there

#8

The Playground / Re: What PT did you get today?...

Last post by triumph - April 18, 2024, 10:49:52 AM

Should have mentioned in previous post - R7 diverted (as did all other N bound traffic) into State Circle (clockwise) thence via Flynn and Coronation Drives back to Commonwealth Ave. This was due to a serious crash (reported on in the media) some 12 hours! earlier. Even so there were glimpses of a car just being loaded on to a tow truck.

#9

The Playground / Re: What PT did you get today?...

Last post by triumph - April 17, 2024, 07:31:59 PM

552 (R3)
491 (R5)
343 (65)
445 (R7)
001 (R1)
507 (R8)
509 (R3)

#10

The Playground / Re: What PT did you get today?...

Last post by triumph - April 16, 2024, 05:08:33 PM

Yesterday
393 (R3)
420 (32)
459 (32)
453 (R3)

Today
428 (R3)
497 (R3)