News & Discussion: Public Transport Contracts, Service & Policy

[rogue]

Finally, new edition of New Connections has been released: http://210.247.132.180/alt-host/assets/ ... active.pdf

[BillD]

Here are a couple of shots of Flexity 112 inbound from Melbourne.

The usual keen photographers met 112's convoy at Coomandook (~140k's out). A semi' carrying the ramps went through about half an hour earlier.

Offloading should take place around 1:30am tomorrow morning.

This first shot is approaching Tailem Bend.


The second was taken shortly after the tram's arrival at the Mt Barker truck stop ( 5:45pm 8/5/2011).

[metro]

mm it's so new and shiny and undamaged by those vandals who stick advertising all over them

was on one of those flexity trams the other day, it reminds me of the trains a few years ago. you cant see out of the windows anymore, nice

suppose once it arrives in Adelaide they'll cover it in Advertising and they will just blend right in, the only way to tell it's new will be the new tram smell on the inside

[BillD]

Here's 112 being reversed into the hard-standing area adjacent to the Entertainment Centre stop.
I had to leave around 2:30am as they were setting up the ramps.

[HeapsGood]

Great photos Bill, thanks

[The Scooter Guy]

How many more Flexicitys to go?
Looking forward to seeing our 12th one!

[BillD]

How many more Flexicitys to go?
Looking forward to seeing our 12th one!

Three more Flexitys to come Scooter.
We're also anticipating six more Citadis trams.

Bill

[bay transit]

That's a new one Bill-where did that one come from? On the 5AA and ABC 891 traffic reports this morning they were referring to the new Flexity arrival this morning(and they said it would be in service this afternoon???).They also mentioned 6 new Citadis trams arriving,but I assumed that they had been given the wrong info by DTEI,and it was in fact the 6 we had already received!
Rod Hook was interviewed by Ian Henschke on his 9am 891 programme and talked about future plans for trams(aka Light Rail),but did say that it all depended on future State Government funding!
Rod also said that the second Flexity was due in another month and the remaining 2 later in the year,and that because of the 55% increase in the tram patronage over the past 12 months it was obvious that more services were neede!

[BillD]

Hi bay transit,

The extra-six-Citadis story has been doing the rounds for some months. I also heard it on the radio this morning, so it sounds like the rumour is firming up!
I have no knowledge of the funding of the Citadis purchase. We'll just have to wait and see.
I also thought that the next Flexity was a couple of months off, but Rod should have the real story.

Bill.

[The Scooter Guy]

How many more Flexicitys to go?
Looking forward to seeing our 12th one!

Three more Flexitys to come Scooter.
We're also anticipating six more Citadis trams.

Bill

That adds up to 15 Flexicity & 12 Citadis trams!

[BillD]

Travelling along North Tce on Saturday (18th June), I observed surveyors working around the single-track section near the Morphett St bridge. I had to keep moving with the traffic but saw a theodolite on the footpath, and one of the guys was holding the usual reflector-post on one of the the rails.
Does anyone know whether this is in preparation for the oft-predicted upgrade to double tracks?

"Reliable sources" here are hinting that the next Flexity (113) is quite likely to be delivered in Melbourne next month.
Our shipping guy suggests that, unless the Hoegh company is back on the job, the current schedule indicates a likely arrival in Melbourne on the TIJUCA on 23/06/2011 or the TOSCANA on 28/06/2011. If the use of Wilhelmsen is a one-off and they use Hoegh, then the only likely ships are HOEGH SHANGHAI, due on 01/07/2011 and HOEGH TRADER, due on 02/07/2011.

Bill.

[Nathan]

How it is "matching the trams" when the only ones with a red front are the Citadis trams (which is the livery from Madrid), I don't know. And considering that they're not repainting the existing buses, the "matching" justification is even more ridiculous.

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/new-bus-f ... 6092645009

New bus fleet paints town red
Political Reporter Sarah Martin From: The Advertiser July 12, 2011 12:00am

THE first of a new fleet of buses will roll off the production line today, painted red to match the trams.

The new CB80 bus, which was short-listed in the Australian International Design Awards last year, includes new safety features for bus drivers and passengers.

Bus drivers, vulnerable to late night assaults, will be better protected than on existing vehicles, with a reinforced cabin and a plastic safety screen.

Royal Park manufacturing company Custom Coaches will deliver the first two of Adelaide Metro's 45 new buses today, worth about $500,000 each.

Custom has already built 20 new buses, with the remainder to be built over the next two years.

Custom Coaches owner Mark Burgess said the Adelaide manufacturing plant had spearheaded the design of the bus, which used world-leading technology and recycled materials.

He said the buses were more fuel efficient and more spacious than the previous fleet.

"It is quieter, it's lighter, it is more environmentally friendly and it is much more interesting to look at," he said. "It's a bit more funky, a bit brighter and a bit more attractive."

The buses have increased passenger capacity, up from 59 to 64 seats, and standing room for about 40.

The buses will also be more conspicuous on Adelaide's streets, as the Government is not repainting the existing fleet.

[metro]

i didnt notice any new features, these are just the same old buses. The only thing new is the smell inside and the really bad livery outside.

[Vee]

I like the colour scheme of the new buses. The predominantly red frontage is stylish just like the "matching" trams.

Other plus factors:
* local employment - built here in South Australia by Custom Coaches (Royal Park)
* improved driver safety
* more fuel efficient
* quieter, more environmentally friendly

New and aesthetically pleasing public transport, with improved design, does help in attracting people to use public transport.

It's good to see more buses added to the fleet with improved accessibility for elderly citizens and mobility impaired folk, who find it difficult to climb aboard the old clunkers.

[The Scooter Guy]

Here's the video of the bus above:
http://video.adelaidenow.com.au/2050287 ... -new-buses

Will one of them be tested on the O-Bahn?