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UNIVERSITY BUS ADDITION IMPROVES ACCESS FOR ALL

A QUEENSLAND UNIVERSITY has added to its campus bus fleet – with the units travelling up to 500km per day – to improve access and transport needs of its students and staff with disabilities, it states.

The University of Southern Queensland (USQ) – a medium-sized, regional university based in Toowoomba with two other campuses at Springfield and Ipswich – purchased the new Yutong bus to give its users, “an easier time commuting between campuses”. The wheelchair-accessible bus features an electric wheelchair lift and secure docking areas, seating 39 passengers with room for two wheelchairs.

The new vehicle joins the first Yutong shuttle bus that was delivered in October last year, and has already travelled 85,000 kilometres.

Both vehicles have on-board Wi-Fi and USB charging points throughout, making the ride more convenient for passengers to work or study, it’s stated.

Standard features include a six-cylinder, 250hp Cummins ISB 6.7-litre Euro 5 diesel engine, Allison T280R six-speed automatic transmission with retarder, reverse-cycle air conditioning, TV/DVD/CD player and window curtains.

The latest vehicle was supplied with 39 genuine leather passenger seats, wheelchair lift with two positions and removable seats, and CCTV surveillance. 

Vice-Chancellor Professor Geraldine Mackenzie described the new wheels as an important step forward for USQ.

“More than 1,400 of our student population identifies as having a disability,” she said.

“This new service will improve the way these students, as well as staff with disabilities, are supported by the University.”

 Related article: Monash University partnership with bus industry starts to bear fruit
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The new addition will join USQ’s current fleet, moving around 30,000 people between the University’s three campuses every year.

USQ fleet coordinator Allen Clifford said that number was steadily growing.

“The service is becoming increasingly popular as more and more people take advantage of the free commute.” he said.

“Staff and students don’t have to pay, and the timetable is very convenient.”

“The first service starts at 6:45am with the last service returning after 6pm.”

Each bus completes two return trips every day and travels more than 10,000 kilometres per month.

The new Yutong shuttle buses were sold by the Brisbane dealership of Bus Stop Sales & Service – an Australian-owned company with over 40 years’ experience in the bus industry.

Bus Stop Sales dealer principal Pete White congratulated USQ on taking delivery of the state-of-the-art vehicles.

“The Bus Stop team has very much enjoyed working with USQ on the procurement and on-going servicing of the two buses,” he said.

“We are privileged to have been selected after a competitive tender process to supply these vehicles to USQ.”

To learn more about USQ’s inter-campus shuttle services, visit www.usq.edu.au/campus-services/transportation/shuttle-bus.

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