If there’s one thing about the bus and coach industry, it’s never stagnant. Each month there are new stories emerging. Acquisitions, retirements, changes, announcements, tenders and more. The opening months of 2024 have been no different as the segment picks up the pace and slips into a higher gear.
At the start of February, one of Australasia’s largest bus operators, Ventura Bus Lines, announced new owners in the form of Keppel Infrastructure Trust. By the end of the month, Ventura was back on deck, celebrating its 100th year as a business.
While this happened, the New South Wales Bus Industry Taskforce released its second report in a mammoth 204-page paper that delved into the various issues challenging the state’s bus and coach network. In the aftermath of such an impactful report, the NSW state government unveiled the Panel 4 Procurement list. To say that the past two months has been jam-packed is an understatement.
The March edition of ABC Magazine covers these various stories and more in what is another fruitful copy of news and features. The month’s news starts with our cover story, courtesy of Volvo Australia and its newly launched B13R coach. From page 20, the popular global manufacturer gives the industry deep insight into the exciting innovations that are featured on the keenly awaited new model.
Our March magazine focuses on the world of servicing, repairs and maintenance, with a wide range of repairers, OEMs and other suppliers discussing their latest innovations in the space. The Truck Tech Group is one of these repair companies that is making a name for itself in the bus and coach sector. After being formed in 2007 in the back of founder Barry Saad’s service ute, Truck Tech, from page 29, has been on quite a ride in the bus industry. While Truck Tech has evolved into the space, Wales Bus Repairs has been a constant presence. The family tale of Wales Bus Repairs starts on page 32 and finishes with an optimistic glance to the future for the bus and coach repairer.
To recap the service and maintenance lens, Irizar Asia Pacific gave ABC a tour of its new facility and service vans from page 34 that it’s using to provide unparalleled aftersales care to its growing list of customers.
Around the industry, and outside of the service focus, ABC read through the NSW Taskforce report and broke down what it means for the industry moving forward from page 25. In Queensland, VDI and its partner Yutong launched its Brisbane bus centre to a collection of industry members. From page 36, ABC was on sight to recap an intriguing, and humid, day in Eagle Farm.
From the likes of Webfleet’s fascinating new AI dashcam, as can be seen on page 44, to TransportME’s evolution as an ideal transport management solution for operators on page 42, cutting-edge technology was the talk of the town for March. On the supplier side, BCI lifts the lid on an exciting industry partnership that is set to take its body products to new heights in 2024 from page 38, while Bus Stop, on page 40, completed a special delivery in February to a newly-won school bus tender.
Alongside another productive month of deliveries and a Best Bus winning photo worthy of being framed, the March edition of ABC typifies the lively atmosphere currently being experienced in the bus and coach industry. We hope you enjoy reading this month’s magazine.
