Australasian Bus & Coach – May 2019

(^32) ABC May 2019 busnews.com.au
COVERSTORY V/LINE COACH
Wejust buildit to the
V/Line spec and it is
all good.
Above:
13-litresix-
cylinder440hp
(328kW)Euro
5 SCRengine
thatcanrunon
biodiesel.
Specs
MAKE: Scania
MODEL: K440 EB 6x2*4
BODY: Coach Design
ENGINE:13-litre six-cylinder
Euro 5 with SCR (can run on
biodiesel). Power - 440hp.
GEARBOX: Scania GRS0895R
(non-overdrive), Scania
Automated Opticruise gear-
changing with Economy,
Standard and Power modes,
plus Ecocruise
Scania R 4100 D retarder.
Rear axle gear ratio 3.07:1
AXLES: Steerable tag, bogie
distance 1500mm
WHEELS/TYRES: Aluminium
wheels, Michelin tyres
BRAKES: Hill Hold, Disc
brakes, bus stop brake all
axles
SUSPENSION: Air suspension
all round (four springs at
rear); independent front
suspension with kneeling
function
MISC.: Axle load display on
dash, LED daytime-running
lights, leather steering
wheel, electronic stability
control, cruise control, Scania
Communicator (‘black box’)
used at least once a fortnight
and if that service plan is carried
out it keeps the lift in good
working order.
“Coach Design have [also]
introduced the new side-sliding
wheelchair access door to
improve the ease of opening
and closing,” he added.
SHE’S GOT THE LOOK!
What’s quite striking on this bus
is not just the now expected
‘diamond-look, spider-web
effect’ livery that typifies
Victorian Government transport
modes, but it really seems to
maximise its own effect in the
radiant purple and white scheme
rather than the metro-based
orange.
The purple livery, amongst
other specifications such as
engine fire-extinguisher system,
LED destination signs both inside
and outside and security system,
are the same for all V/Line
coaches now, he says.
GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS
With Scania winning the
business and subcontracting out
the body work to Coach Design,
were there problems dealing
with any red tape or tough
requirements?
“No red tape. We just build it to
the V/Line spec and it is all good,”
said Jamieson.
“With almost every new
vehicle built, the body builder is
the sub-contractor to the chassis
supplier, even though we would
have more body builder-to-
customer input. Things like
what type of A/C, seats, trim
colours, chassis brand and so
on,” he explained.
So what does body builder
think of regional coach services
around the country and the
current push to get more people
using them? Particularly V/Line’s
very cool and clever
‘Night Coach’ capability, where
people can go out for the
day and night in downtown
Melbourne but still have options
to get back late to their regional
destinations?
“V/Line (Vic) and Country Link
(NSW) operate in much the same
way. It is to bring people in outer
country areas to the closest
passenger railway link,”
Jamieson said.
“There are also many
rail shutdowns for track
maintenance and the coaches
play a major part in that roll.
In that case, they travel right
into the city centres, which is
great.”
SAFETY
NOTE: “If you’re travelling on
Night Coach, touch on at the
myki reader at Southern Cross
Coach Terminal. Touch off at
regional train stations or on
the coach.
“To help you explore the
night more safely, Protective
Services Officers (PSOs) patrol
all metropolitan stations
and four regional stations
(Bendigo, Traralgon, Ballarat
and Geelong) from 6pm
every night. All metropolitan
stations have CCTV.”