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Translink reveals power source arrangement for new Ipswich depot up for tender

The New Chum depot part of the tender will have access to power from day one, but Translink says it may be in the form of diesel generators

Translink has revealed more details on the power source arrangement that will be in place for the recently announced Ipswich depot.

As part of the Department of Transport and Main Roads commencing an open market procurement for a new contract to operate nine new routes around Ipswich and Logan, Translink has publicly confirmed the electricity procurement arrangement for a new depot to open in New Chum.

“The state will ensure the New Chum depot has access to power from day one,” Translink says on updated documents for the contract’s Invitation to Offer (ITO) process.

“This may be in the form of diesel generators until such time as an electrical connection can be arranged. As such, the State Electricity Procurement Arrangement does not currently exist for the purposes of sharing.

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“The state will also supply diesel fuel and AdBlue for the diesel buses from day one. As such, the offeror does not need to cost depot electricity and diesel/AdBlue bus fuel costs in their offer.”

Translink says that once the depot has been upgraded to accommodate battery electric buses, the state will review the electricity procurement arrangement to consider the additional electricity requirements for charging the buses.

“At this point, the state will be happy to share relevant extracts of the State Electricity Procurement Arrangement as it relates to the charging KPI,” Translink says.

“For clarity, the offeror does not need to cost electricity supply in their offer.”

As of May 12, the ITO and contract tender to run the nine routes in Ipswich and Logan was updated to seek clarification on the frequency and number of trips per week outlined in service plans for routes 520 and 522.

The documents currently suggest the routes would span services from 5.30am to 9.30pm on weekdays and from 7am to 6pm on weekends, with 30 minute gaps in peaks from 6am to 8.30am and 4.30pm to 6.30pm and 60 minute frequency at all other times.

This would result in the total number of trips sitting at 268 per week, which is 10 trips higher per route per week than what is currently noted in network stats.

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