STA Observations 2020

[stajourneyman]

Noticed the other day that the STAs newest bus ...3120... has acquired an all over advert.

[Campbelltown busboy]

How does the NSW health 3 days COVID nobody in nobody out stay at home order for the northern beaches affect city bound bus services that come from anywhere north of the Spit when NSW health has put the Spit to Palm Beach on a 3 day stay at home order

[Off The Rails]

I would assume that bus services are running as normal due to essential workers? I doubt that something like this would affect services (at most, it may require drivers/buses from other depots to run services, but that's at a stretch).

Cheers!

[tonyp]

How does the NSW health 3 days COVID nobody in nobody out stay at home order for the northern beaches affect city bound bus services that come from anywhere north of the Spit when NSW health has put the Spit to Palm Beach on a 3 day stay at home order

It's probably the second easiest Australian region to seal off completely after Tasmania. Close the Manly ferry, patrol the water, close The Spit and Roseville bridges and blockade Mona Vale Rd.

[Campbelltown busboy]

I would assume that bus services are running as normal due to essential workers? I doubt that something like this would affect services (at most, it may require drivers/buses from other depots to run services, but that's at a stretch).

Cheers!

Then what would happen to those services if the police are ordered to block the Spit bridge from the Mossman side

[HHH]

How does the NSW health 3 days COVID nobody in nobody out stay at home order for the northern beaches affect city bound bus services that come from anywhere north of the Spit when NSW health has put the Spit to Palm Beach on a 3 day stay at home order

Why would this 3 x day lock down in an area within Sydney be any worse than when all of Sydney was in lock down for almost a month earlier this year?

[Off The Rails]

I would assume that bus services are running as normal due to essential workers? I doubt that something like this would affect services (at most, it may require drivers/buses from other depots to run services, but that's at a stretch).

Cheers!

Then what would happen to those services if the police are ordered to block the Spit bridge from the Mossman side

I'm sorry, huh?
The police/government in a right state of mind won't block buses from going about their shift - what if an elderly lady in, say, Brookvale has a specialist appointment at RNS? Could you imagine the outcry if that happened?

They won't stop buses transporting people for essential purposes.

Cheers!

[Fleet Lists]

From Transport Info
"COVID-19: Travel advice for Northern Beaches: We recommend avoiding non-essential travel to, from and around the Northern Beaches area. If you must travel, sit or stand on a green dot and wear a mask. Services will continue to run as normal. "

[stajourneyman]

Is it my imagination, or are most recent transfers into and within STA, vehicles with odd numbers.

What is behind this ?

[kypros1992]

Some extracts from the annual report

The process of transitioning all regions is expected to be complete by early 2022. It is anticipated the STA entity will continue to exist until 30 September 2022, when all financial requirements of the cessation of the agency are planned to be completed

Out of 1416 buses
- ~96% wheelchair accessible
- 65 Euro Euro 6 Complaint Diesel , 692 Euro 4 CNG and Euro 5 Diesel
- 274 Enhanced Environmentally Friendly Vehicles (EEV)

[Ray]

Is it my imagination, or are most recent transfers into and within STA, vehicles with odd numbers.

For the Bustechs to Mona Vale and the Volvo B10s to Waverley, I noticed that too. Other transfers don't follow this pattern.

Reminds me of the 1980s when Mk 2 and Mk 4 Mercs were allocated on an odd/even basis.

One possible reason is to avoid the usual accusations that the most problematic vehicles in each class are being moved. If there is an obvious numerical pattern to the movement, there is no need to explain why a particular vehicle was moved as opposed to an "identical" vehicle in better condition.

[J_Busworth]

Out of 1416 buses
- ~96% wheelchair accessible

Of those 47 (at last check) buses that aren't wheelchair accessible, 29 are at Randwick (61%). I imagine that would give Randwick one of the lowest shares of accessible vehicles across Sydney. The others being 11 at Willoughby, 4 at Ryde and 3 at Waverley.

Is it my imagination, or are most recent transfers into and within STA, vehicles with odd numbers.

Sorry to shatter the illusion, but todays transfers ex Brookvale to Waverley were 3926, 3928, 3929, 3930, 3931. Only 2 odd numbers in that batch, 3 even.

But admittedly up until this point that had been a pattern I've noticed.

[Stu]

^ 3932 & 3933 are at Brookvale and 3927 is at Region 6 Transit Systems Burwood Depot.

[Transport Buff]

Just noticed when browsing the Australian Bus Fleet Lists website:
x3 Iveco Metro Volgren Optimus buses (2696 ST, 2698 ST, 2700 ST) have been transferred from Randwick to Mona Vale. I'm guessing this is to do with the recent new Northern Beaches Region 8 network? It's quite interesting because I don't think any Volgren Optimus buses have operated north of The Spit (that I am aware of).
https://www.busaustralia.com/fleetlists ... ona%20Vale
https://www.busaustralia.com/fleetlists ... %20Optimus

Edit: Now all 7 have been transferred from Randwick to Mona Vale

Also, while I'm at it, hope all readers and members had a very Merry Christmas, and have a Happy New Year 2021. I'm sure most if not all of us can say good riddance to 2020. Let's all hope 2021 is at least better than 2020, even if COVID-19 is still with us.

[pgt]

Just noticed when browsing the Australian Bus Fleet Lists website:
x3 Iveco Metro Volgren Optimus buses (2696 ST, 2698 ST, 2700 ST) have been transferred from Randwick to Mona Vale. I'm guessing this is to do with the recent new Northern Beaches Region 8 network? It's quite interesting because I don't think any Volgren Optimus buses have operated north of The Spit (that I am aware of).
https://www.busaustralia.com/fleetlists ... ona%20Vale
https://www.busaustralia.com/fleetlists ... %20Optimus

Edit: Now all 7 have been transferred from Randwick to Mona Vale

That explains why I was seeing 2698 operating a 181X outbound service with a "F" run plate this afternoon.
Have to admit I wouldn't have picked they'd transfer those buses from Randwick, but I wonder if the powers that be wanted a more even mix of buses (by age/type) per depot prior to any privatisation?