Farewell to the Mercs

[Hornibrook]

As their days of revenue service in Queensland are slowly numbered (with some reports suggesting they could be gone as early as this weekend), I inadvertently ventured out this morning for some coverage of the Mercs which are currently on lease to Hornibrook Bus Lines.

First up we have (365) seen operating an inbound 326 service to Toombul Interchange on Norris Road this morning.


Secondly we have (370) operating a rare 314 service from Deagon to Sandgate - pictured here passing through Sandgate Station. The 314 service as it is known today was of course based upon the former Hornibrook and Sandgate-Lutwyche service "Route D" - which ironically may have had a better frequency than it has today!

[howlerbus]

Why are they going? They don't look that old...

[burgo_xbl1]

If Hornibrook loses these what will replace them? I loved riding them on school runs.

[gunzelbusdriver]

hornibrook will be getting MAN 18.310s 1010-1015 will be replacing the Merc O500LEs

[Bedford-29]

I passed a 0500 4 or 5 days back but this one was in all over white and doing a Hornibrook service.

[DavidH21]

Why are they going? They don't look that old...

I heard from elsewhere on the ATDB that the Mercedes O500LE's were just on a 10-year lease to BT... the real mystery is why BT wasn't impressed with these units as they bought none out of the original 40 (presuming that Carina's O500LEs aren't sold to BT).

[racingnathan]

As explained a couple of months back on this board. BCC reduced BT's budget and with new buses already on order the decision was taken to not renew the lease on the O500's.

[SuperMercC615]

As much as I love the 0500s, it makes sense for BT to not renew the lease for them. Not only is the allocated budget an issue but also streamlining the fleet into just Volvo, MAN, and Scania makes sense as it reduces the overhead costs of maintenance and parts. It probably isn't financially viable to operate only 40 of these buses when the fleet of BT is around 1200 buses which is made up mainly only of Volvos, MANs, and Scanias.
Plus the Mercs were beginning to show their age just a bit when compared to the new 0500.
I hear that Mercedes Benz are in the tender for the next batch of buses, so hopefully they'll be back again in bigger numbers.

[howlerbus]

As explained a couple of months back on this board. BCC reduced BT's budget and with new buses already on order the decision was taken to not renew the lease on the O500's.

Thanks for that. I am not from Qld so don't normally read the Qld posts...

[Fleet Lists]

Why are they going? They don't look that old...

20 of them have gone to Transit System which took over the operation of region 3 in Sydney as from today.

http://fleetlists.busaustralia.com/tsa. ... 2CR228L%22

[PoweredByCNG]

I hear that Mercedes Benz are in the tender for the next batch of buses, so hopefully they'll be back again in bigger numbers.

Not happening as the next contracts have been awarded to MAN, Volvo and Scania. Shame really, as the MB Euro V and Euro VI drivetrains are amazing!

[jibb]

Why are they going? They don't look that old...

20 of them have gone to Transit System which took over the operation of region 3 in Sydney as from today.

http://fleetlists.busaustralia.com/tsa. ... 2CR228L%22

What has happened to the other 20?

[racingnathan]

14 more have gone to Transit Systems and the last 6 are sitting at Carina withdrawn from service.

[Maladjusted]

In Reply to SupeMerc PoweredbyCNG wrote:
SuperMercC615 wrote:
I hear that Mercedes Benz are in the tender for the next batch of buses, so hopefully they'll be back again in bigger numbers.


Not happening as the next contracts have been awarded to MAN, Volvo and Scania. Shame really, as the MB Euro V and Euro VI drivetrains are amazing!

I think you might need to renew your sauce:- As far as I'm aware nothing has been formally decided on yet---it could yet be BCI's all round!

The O500 Mercedes at Carina have been sitting idle there for a little while now.

[Hornibrook]

In Reply to SupeMerc PoweredbyCNG wrote:
SuperMercC615 wrote:
I hear that Mercedes Benz are in the tender for the next batch of buses, so hopefully they'll be back again in bigger numbers.


Not happening as the next contracts have been awarded to MAN, Volvo and Scania. Shame really, as the MB Euro V and Euro VI drivetrains are amazing!

I think you might need to renew your sauce:- As far as I'm aware nothing has been formally decided on yet---it could yet be BCI's all round!

The O500 Mercedes at Carina have been sitting idle there for a little while now.

On the contrary, Volvos just been awarded a large contract. http://www.volvobuses.com/bus/australia ... uage=en-gb

[Tim Williams]

Two or more of these Mercs are sitting in the Mile End Depot in Adelaide - perhaps someone else has more detail and/or photos.

[BT-Otto]

Two or more of these Mercs are sitting in the Mile End Depot in Adelaide - perhaps someone else has more detail and/or photos.

Would be part of the last 6 ex Hornibrook ( # 365 - 370 ) which were held at Carina Depot for a couple of weeks to have the ticketing systems, advertising and etc removed from them before being sent on their way.

[jibb]

Two or more of these Mercs are sitting in the Mile End Depot in Adelaide - perhaps someone else has more detail and/or photos.

Tim all 6 are sitting at the Mile End depot of Torrens Transit.They will go into service I believe by the end of January(before they are repainted into Adelaide Metro livery),to enable the retirement of some of TT's older MAN SL200(ex Melbourne Bus Link) buses.

[Tim Williams]

Thanks for the reply Jibb, being low floor and a just superseded Volgren design, they will certainly be an improvement over the aged and high floor ex Melbourne MAN's

[TT]

Just found this thread. All 6 are in operation in Adelaide with Torrens Transit, and have been since about April 2014. In red-fronted Adelaide Metro livery, and all new seats in AdMet fabric. Absolutely brilliant to drive, I had one for my shift today.

[TT]

image.jpg (202.13 KiB) Viewed 3935 times

This photo from the Adelaide photos section, thanks to The Inspector.

[burgo_xbl1]

They look great. I miss the ride to school in the mornings, I now ride the MAN's.