The Australian bus and coach industry is particularly focused on New South Wales currently as Bus Procurement Panel Number 4 orders are set to be released shortly.
After being officially released on March 4 this year with a focus on local content for a zero-emissions future preferred, the panel included an initial list of “qualified companies to supply new buses, including battery electric buses, to operators”.
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Now, the industry is awaiting the announcement of first orders under the Panel for operators, with the future bus purchase estimates from Transport for NSW (TfNSW) outlining that 37 outer metropolitan replacement buses are expected to be procured in 2025/26.
On top of this, a total of 74 replacement buses are expected to be procured for regional urban and category three and four buses, bringing the total number of replacement buses needed in 2025/26 to 111, while a further 121 are expected in 2026/27.
ABC reached out to TfNSW for more details on when the industry can expect to hear the results of the Panel 4 orders, with no specific timeframe provided.
“Transport for NSW’s Zero Emission Buses (ZEB) program is currently going through internal processes and finalising the first orders of zero emission buses for Greater Sydney,” a TfNSW spokesperson told ABC.
“Transport for NSW will be advising the bus industry on the outcomes of Bus Procurement Panel Number 4 shortly.”
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