$120m for 160 new buses

[jibb]

From todays Advertiser-The State Government will spend $120 million to buy 160 new buses.Premier Mike Rann yesterday said the project which replaces old buses in the state's fleet of 808 was an extension of the $50 million included in this year's State Budget.
The decision extends that commitment to a full 5 year program until 2013.
The new contract would start in 2008.The need for gas or diesel-powered buses will not be written into the tender requirements with the Government waiting to see what tenderers are willing to offer.
It is understood that the replacement will focus on O-Bahn and inner-city buses which are approaching their 25 year limit.
Mr Rann said the procurement process would start this month and he hoped a contract would be finalized by June 2007.
Tenderers would be offerd the opportunity of a 5 year extension clause beyond 2013 as part of the negotiations.
The first bus should be delivered in 2008.
The original $90 million bus supply contract announced in 2001 allowed 170 buses to be replaced over 5 years.
Mr Rann said the further $10.08 million in this year's State Budget for additional peak services was close to being finalized.

[gen man]

With the current order for 170 Scania's (of which there are still about 120 yet to be delivered), along with this future order for another 160 new buses, you can say goodbye to the following buses over the next few years:
- all remaining MAN SL200's
- all remaining MB O305 O-Bahn buses
- all remaining MB O305G O-Bahn artic buses
- all remaining MAN SG280H artic buses
- and most older oddities, eg. Fuji's, the ex STA O305G, etc.
- and possibly some of the MAN SL202's.
Unless of course there is a sudden need for expanding the fleet.

[marc506]

With the current order for 170 Scania's (of which there are still about 120 yet to be delivered), along with this future order for another 160 new buses, you can say goodbye to the following buses over the next few years:
- all remaining MAN SL200's
- all remaining MB O305 O-Bahn buses
- all remaining MB O305G O-Bahn artic buses
- all remaining MAN SG280H artic buses
- and most older oddities, eg. Fuji's, the ex STA O305G, etc.
- and possibly some of the MAN SL202's.
Unless of course there is a sudden need for expanding the fleet.

Given the trend is for the flat floor buses with accessibility I'd say the Sl202s would be on borrowed time as well plus from 2008 they'll be getting close the the 20yr old mark.

But they've still gotta find an article suitable for track work.

[Dave C]

The SL202s where built between 1992 and 1996 so the first dont have to be retired until 2017 but I think all Adelaides buses have to be 100% low floor by 2012.

[Volvo B12B Driver]

The SL202s where built between 1992 and 1996 so the first dont have to be retired until 2017 but I think all Adelaides buses have to be 100% low floor by 2012.

I believe that it is 2022 that will come in affect. If the SL202 were withdrawn from service you'd find another operator will pick them up.

[jibb]

With the current order for 170 Scania's (of which there are still about 120 yet to be delivered), along with this future order for another 160 new buses, you can say goodbye to the following buses over the next few years:
- all remaining MAN SL200's
- all remaining MB O305 O-Bahn buses
- all remaining MB O305G O-Bahn artic buses
- all remaining MAN SG280H artic buses
- and most older oddities, eg. Fuji's, the ex STA O305G, etc.
- and possibly some of the MAN SL202's.
Unless of course there is a sudden need for expanding the fleet.

So far there have been 102 buses of the current order delivered-50 Artics and 52 rigids leaving 68 of the current order to be delivered by June 2008.(see Fleet lists)
This plus the new order owuld enable compulsory retirement of balance of Man SL 200's,91 Obahn mercs,and 40 MAN SG280H's.

[adelaidetransit]

Something interesting to note about this bus order, $120million divided by 160 buses is approximately $750000 per vehicle. If you assume that inflation doesnt skyrocket over the next 6 or 7 years you can only presume that $750000 is too much for a rigid. Since they will be replacing the 50 Merc Artics and 40 MAN Artics that only equates to 90 Artics. Therefore we may see an additional 70 artic replace 70 rigid buses in the system

[Dave C]

Something interesting to note about this bus order, $120million divided by 160 buses is approximately $750000 per vehicle. If you assume that inflation doesnt skyrocket over the next 6 or 7 years you can only presume that $750000 is too much for a rigid. Since they will be replacing the 50 Merc Artics and 40 MAN Artics that only equates to 90 Artics. Therefore we may see an additional 70 artic replace 70 rigid buses in the system

I couldnt see 70 rigids being replaced by 70 artics, we dont need that many. There may be a mistake in the press release.

The tender has not been released yet so we'll have to wait and see.

[Leigh]

I have no idea how much a bus is worth, but maybe they are looking at purchasing decent buses which cost a little more, unlike the Scania's!

[LTB_Enterprises]

Maybe the cost includes additional things like guide wheels, insurance and rego etc. In other words, the cost to get them fully operational instead of just building them.

Or.... maybe they will undertake a review of the ticketing system and replace it!!! *Pigs are fueled and ready for takeoff!!!*

[Ex-MAN]

Something interesting to note about this bus order, $120million divided by 160 buses is approximately $750000 per vehicle. If you assume that inflation doesnt skyrocket over the next 6 or 7 years you can only presume that $750000 is too much for a rigid. Since they will be replacing the 50 Merc Artics and 40 MAN Artics that only equates to 90 Artics. Therefore we may see an additional 70 artic replace 70 rigid buses in the system

I'd say that figure would have to be all up costs, including indirect extras, as I can't see the cost of a bus skyrocketing that much in a few years. As a guide, an NL202 Diesel (delivered) was approximately $370,000 worth in 1999, NL232CNG about $410,000 in 2002. CNG buses have a cost up about $25,000 over a diesel, so even the 18.280s shouldn't really have been much, if at all over $400,000. No ideas what the Scanias are worth. $750k seems a bit much even for an artic

Or, as mentioned above, the quoted figures in the article may be incorrect.

[Volvo B12B Driver]

The going rate for buses at the moment is about $450K Rigid Diesel $480K CNG Rigid and $780K for an Artic.

[adelaidetransit]

From what i have been told is that the going rate for a Rigid Bus is approximately $380,000 and an Artic is about $600,000. However there are extra costs involved which are additional to that figue. These may be customer specifications ordered by the Government. However, this is only about $50,000 to $100,000 per vehicle depending on whether artic, rigid or gas. I also know that gas buses are more expensive to buy. Theoretically with an order worth this much the government would be able to purchas all artics.

As for not being able to require them, ARTICS are becoming required on more and more routes. There is a shortage of artics across the system. This is also an oportunity for the government to increase capacity in peak hours without placing extra services on the road (i.e. an extra 3000 passenger capacity per hour).

[Simes]

I have no idea how much a bus is worth, but maybe they are looking at purchasing decent buses which cost a little more, unlike the Scania's!

Makes sense for them to maybe look at others, unless they want to become beholden to Scania!

[Tim Williams]

If the figures quoted in this thread are correct, I agree that it would be reasoanble to expect the majority, if not all of the 170 buses, to be high capacity.

And taking this one stage further, the OPT (or whatever it is called) was quoted as showing some interest in the Custom Coach City Mover concept - ie the semi-double decker.

Who knows - an interesting thought though.

[bigrobbo]

Can I ask a question about the current fleet?

Alot of low floor busses have been purchased in the last 8 years.

How are these going mechanically? Do they seem to spend alot of time in the workshop or are the pretty reliable with regular maintenance?

I appreciate they fact that vehicles that do the kilometres that these busses can do (especially heading up north or down south) tend to need new engines etc at a certain point.

While we can complain about certain busses that are in the fleet, we are stuck with them, and if they tend to spend more time in the workshop than on the road, then would it be better to make sure that the busses we buy are not just the cheapest on tender, but the most reliable?

[Norman]

Personally, all the busses lately have been very reliable from what I can see. I haven't had a bus break down in a good 5 years now, and before that it seemed to occur once or twice every summer and stormy days.

[Willie]

Most breakdowns are the result of superfical problems such as split water,coolant hoses,dirty radiators,electric fuses failing or worse case scenario a gearbox or engine is seized and requires a rebuild.

All the newer buses are decent,requiring little modification for everyday service in Adelaide and provided they are cared for in the intended manner will see many years of healthy service life.