The Featured Bus for March 2011 is Bus 113 – a Renault PR100.3a
Bus 113 was a Renault PR100.3a with an Austral Denning ‘Starliner’ body (the ‘a’ denotes that it is an accessible bus).
It was the prototype wheelchair-accessible bus in the ACTION Fleet. The bus featured an electric access ramp, step-less entry, two wheelchair spaces and kneeling suspension.
Prior to entering service in Canberra, Bus 113 was loaned to Brisbane Transport from 1 September 1994 until March 1995 as an evaluation vehicle. During this time it was allocated fleet number 997 and was registered 997-COQ. The front of the bus was painted into the BT livery however the remainder of the vehicle retained the ACTION livery.
It entered service in Canberra on 28 August 1995.
Following the success of the 113 trial, six more Renault PR100.3a vehicles became part of the ACTION Fleet (Buses 126 – 131), although these had a different seating layout and were fitted with plug doors.
In approximately 2007, the ramps and wheelchair spaces were removed due to sufficient new low-floor buses entering service. The step-less entry and kneeling suspension remained, however.
From December 2016, Bus 113 became the sole remaining PR100.3a bus in service following the withdrawal of Buses 126 to 131. Bus 113 was withdrawn in June 2020.
More Images:
Further details:
- Bus 113 on ACT Bus Fleetwiki
- Renault PR100.3a specifications on ACT Bus
- Featured Bus: Renault PR100.3
This page was last updated on 16 December 2023
