Some Renault diesel buses will now be on Canberra’s roads until early 2024, more than 18 months after the fleet was meant to be retired. Photo: ACT Bus.
The full fleet of promised leased low-emission diesel buses – which were meant to replace the Territory’s ageing Renault diesel buses by the end of 2022 – now aren’t expected to be on Canberra’s roads until 2024.
Public transport advocates have warned excuses are “wearing very thin”, however, the Government has signalled even further delays aren’t off the table.
Transport Minister Chris Steel informed the Legislative Assembly that while 12 promised low-floor electric buses have been delivered, international supply chain issues have resulted in yet another delay on the promised buses from Scania Australia.
“In undertaking due diligence in its management of the contract with Scania Australia, Transport Canberra came to the realisation that changing suppliers at this stage would not result in the delivery of buses in a shorter time,” Mr Steel said.
“Although the delays are unfortunate, they were not deemed unreasonable under the circumstances being experienced by the sector.
“In addition to the supply chain challenges, the industry is now also experiencing a nationwide skills shortage which could result in further delays.”
The Government had entered into this contract in March 2022 and all low-emission diesel buses were meant to have arrived by the end of last year.
The leasing of the buses had been a short-term solution to replace the 34 Renault buses, which aren’t compliant under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992, in an attempt to make Transport Canberra’s fleet fully accessible. The chassis would have been imported from Sweden and the bodies manufactured in South Australia.
The contract was varied to reflect expected delays notified in July 2022, with all 26 promised buses to be delivered by February 2023 under the amended schedule.
While nine of the promised leased buses are on Canberra’s roads, a further nine are now expected to arrive by the end of the year.
The eight other buses should arrive in early 2024, allowing the remaining Renault buses to be retired at that time.
Mr Steel said the Government had come up with a new solution to support the retirement of the non-compliant buses in the interim.
“The ACT Government entered into a contract with Custom Denning for a further four battery electric buses. These buses will be based at the Belconnen Bus Depot, where charging equipment is being installed,” he said.
One bus has already arrived, with three others expected to be delivered and commissioned over the coming weeks. This would increase the total fleet of battery electric buses to 16.
Mr Steel said these arrangements had been made to ensure Canberrans could still be provided with reliable bus services.
“Continuing to delay the retirement of older fleet, while limiting their usage, until new replacement buses arrive will ensure Transport Canberra can continue to maintain service reliability,” he said.
“I am confident that the actions we are taking will support improved public transport services for Canberrans.”
The repeated delays have left many unimpressed, with some suggesting the Government could be doing even more to get a compliant bus fleet on our roads sooner.
The Public Transport Association of Canberra described the delay as a “profoundly disappointing” development.
“They’ve had 20 years to prepare for these requirements, and the excuses are wearing very thin indeed,” chair Ryan Hemsley said.
“The Minister should be looking at all options to provide Canberrans with a fully accessible, DDA-compliant bus fleet sooner than what is currently planned by Transport Canberra.”
The Council on the Ageing ACT branch said it shared the “same disappointment” as the Government about the delays in the replacement buses.
“We will continue to work with Transport Canberra to promote accessible options for older people who may need them, such as the Flexible Bus Service and option to request an accessible bus on a particular route,” a spokesperson said.
Shadow Transport Minister Mark Parton took it a step further, saying he was “astounded” the non-accessibility-compliant Renault buses were still allowed to operate on Canberra’s roads.
“They are nearly a year past being legal on our roads … it is not good enough and once again the Transport Minister Chris Steel has failed in this space,” he said.
“The ACT Labor-Greens Government is absolutely dragging the chain when it comes to the transition of the bus fleet to EV.”
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