busnews.com.au May 2019 ABC^31It is no secret that
tourism throughout
Australasia is big
business.Above:
All ‘round air
suspension (four
springs at rear)
aid a smooth and
convenient ride.
Left:
Coach Design
uses its own
imported
wheelchair lifter
called Mobility
Lift from England.“The more things done in
Brisbane the better for us
anyhow, so we can take full
control of the final delivery
quality.”
Asked about the interior fitout,
Jamieson was quick to elaborate
on the thinking behind it.
“The seating capacity is
54 seats; however, the three
removable double seats are not
to be fitted while the vehicle is
in use. In the past this was not
the case and the vehicle was
supplied with the full amount
of seats. If a wheelchair-bound
passenger wanted to use the
service they would have to pre-
organise it and the seats were
removed. I guess that all got too
hard to regulate, so the seats are
left out.”
CRUCIAL APPOINTMENTS
Speaking of things like the
Disability Discrimination
Act (DDA) compliance and
wheelchairs, given V/Line is
part of a government-endorsed
transport system, the type of
facilities that are on this coach
is a key point of interest for such
a build.
“Coach Design are using
their own imported wheelchair
lifter called Mobility Lift from
England,” answered Jamieson.
“It is a brilliant lift and to
date [we] have not had much
trouble with them. It is a moving
part with many micro switches
for passenger safety and the
coaches usually are travelling on
rough roads, so they can go out
of adjustment,” he conceded.
“But we have fitted almost
every brand of wheelchair lifter
and they all have to be regularly
checked.
“We advise that the lifter beABOUT
V/LINE
V/Line is a major employer with
a workforce of 1,776, many of
whom live in regional Victoria.
According to the
organisation, its ‘Night
Network’ lets you explore
Melbourne’s vibrant nightlife
safely and conveniently with
public transport running all
night on weekends.
“Whether you’re out
dining, dancing or discovering
the city, we’ll help you get
around and back home
with all-night services every
Friday and Saturday on
metropolitan trains, trams
and buses, and regional
coaches,” it states.
The Night Coach runs from
the city to Ballarat, Bendigo,
Geelong, Seymour and
Traralgon.
“Each coach has a toilet
and space for one wheelchair.
Most stops are by request
only, let your driver know your
destination when you board.”
Ballarat Line – Coaches travel
from the city to Ballarat at
1.10am and 2.10am.
Bendigo Line – Coaches
travel from Bendigo to the city
at 10. 20pm.
Coaches also travel from the
city to Bendigo at 1.05am and
2.05am.
Geelong Line – Two coaches
leave Southern Cross at
2.15am. One stops on request
at Tarneit, Wyndham Vale,
Little River and Lara. The
second drops off passengers
at any station between Corio
and Waurn Ponds, and picks
up passengers from Geelong
Station.
Seymour Line – Coaches
travel from Seymour to the
city at 11pm. Coaches also
travel from the city to Seymour
at 2am.
Traralgon Line – Coaches
travel from Traralgon to the
city at 10pm. Coaches also
travel from the city to Traralgon
at 2am.