Media Release: Katy Gallagher MLA
ACT Chief Minister and Minister for Territory and Municipal Services, Katy Gallagher, today officially launched the first of 20 new accessible, articulated, large-capacity and environmentally friendly buses for the ACTION fleet.
“It is great to see the first new articulated bus in Canberra in nearly 20 years now entering service and I have no doubt it will be a valuable addition to the ACTION fleet,” the Chief Minister said.
“Between now and March 2013, twenty easy access articulated buses will be progressively delivered replacing ACTION’s ageing articulated fleet, some of which are now up to 24 years old.
“These new buses will assist in meeting demand on ACTION’s most highly patronised routes, such as the Blue and Red Rapid services, while also providing the safest transport for school children where high capacity buses are needed.
“I also hope they help to make public transport a more attractive alternative to driving for Canberrans,” the Chief Minister said.
A team of ACTION fleet representatives, together with driver and workshop representatives, performed a pre-production test of the buses last year to finalise their specifications.
The buses carry up to 107 passengers (65 seated) and are the latest available from the manufacturer, Scania. They are fully accessible, climate controlled and low emission and meet Environmentally Enhance Vehicle (EEV) emission standards.
Since the bus replacement program began in January 2004, 191 new buses have been added to ACTION’s fleet, replacing older non-DDA compliant buses. The 20 new articulated buses have been funded as part of the $75 million allocated in and since the 2008-2009 ACT Budget. The 2012-2013 ACT Budget provides a further $48.527 million to replace 90 buses over the next five financial years.
“These replacements will be part of the ACT Government’s commitment to achieving an accessible fleet target of 55% by December 2012 to meet the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (DDA),” the Chief Minister concluded.
This page was last updated on 6 August 2022
