Renaults a go go: the final frontier

[Sylvan Loves Buses]

They're more reliable than buses half their age lol

[Barry Drive]

Wonder why there is such a shortage of other buses that Renaults are appearing on R services which are supposed to be 100% accessible?

This might be the reason:

In the interim the use of old Renault diesel buses will be minimised as much as possible on the route bus network.

What might have happened is that in order to minimise Renault use, all available low floor buses were put into service: only for a bus to breakdown, or not start. With all low floors in use, the only available replacement would be a Renault.

[Busnerd]

All services are meant to be 100% accessible, not just rapids. People will just have to choose to wait for the next service as they have done for 30 years or just wait 3 months until all the high floors are gone.

[triumph]

This might be the reason:
What might have happened is that in order to minimise Renault use, all available low floor buses were put into service: only for a bus to breakdown, or not start. With all low floors in use, the only available replacement would be a Renault.

There is actually a case for restricting replacement Renaults to the frequent R services as the wait for a low floor is minimised, but this may not be practical as many shifts seem to be a mix of R and Local trips.
But referring to Barry Drive's post. I had wondered whether there had been a temporary surge in breakdowns/accidents as suggested by Barry, AND/OR is the problem more subtle, and to do with understaffing in the workshops and/or parts delivery delays? Short of a political or TC announcement providing some clarification, we are unlikely to know.
The present circumstances still imply that determining the last public and school services operated by Renaults may be a challenge. 
Whatever, for those keen on Renaults not everything is an ill-wind.

 

[Bus It]

There is actually a case for restricting replacement Renaults to the frequent R services as the wait for a low floor is minimised, but this may not be practical as many shifts seem to be a mix of R and Local trips.
But referring to Barry Drive's post. I had wondered whether there had been a temporary surge in breakdowns/accidents as suggested by Barry, AND/OR is the problem more subtle, and to do with understaffing in the workshops and/or parts delivery delays? Short of a political or TC announcement providing some clarification, we are unlikely to know.
The present circumstances still imply that determining the last public and school services operated by Renaults may be a challenge. 
Whatever, for those keen on Renaults not everything is an ill-wind.

 

Given that I've seen far more Irisbuses around even during shoulder periods, this could be contributing to more maintenance issues/breakdowns than before.

[Barry Drive]

I had wondered whether there had been a temporary surge in breakdowns/accidents as suggested by Barry, AND/OR is the problem more subtle, and to do with understaffing in the workshops and/or parts delivery delays?

I think: neither. There's no evidence of any surge in breakdowns, nor of any understaffing or backlog in workshops.

A single Renault on an R3 is simply that: a single occurrence. My explanation was that it was due to bad timing: a breakdown (or vehicle unavailability) that occurred at a time when there were no spare low floor buses - due to a policy to limit the use of PR100.2s wherever possible (which may also have been exacerbated by Irisbus unavailability as posited by Bus It.)

** Also it's only a theory **

Meanwhile (getting back to topic): Tuggeranong has only 7 Renaults left in service. They may not last past the end of School Term 1.

[triumph]

Around 3.55pm at Westfield Belconnen there are often 3 Renaults simultaneously at Plat 2 on local outbound services. This was the case yesterday, but can't be for much longer.

The opportunity still exists, but luck is involved in having all 3 at the platform simultaneously, and even more so nose to tail. Today each of the 3 services (all conformed outbound) arrived and departed separately (one was 927, still active).
The opportunity will probably continue at least until 723, etc. enter service, which may be only a matter of a few working days now, from the Belconnen Depot.
(It only seems possible at present to check by observation as Any Trip, when I look, does not show live detail for route 46, which with 40 and 41 are the routes involved.)

[Sylvan Loves Buses]

I'm just glad my 71/72s are still getting them. I suppose given they're the first active Renault shifts for both morning and afternoons the drivers are getting first picks, but with only 6 or something Tuggy Renault's left in service and Anytrip not always picking them up, it's getting tricky.
I finally got around to trying out my plan again last week, sadly only running the morning section of it as I was too tired by midday, still managed to get 5 Belco Renault runs in a row without fail. Will have to attempt the second half at some point before it's too late - still haven't ridden a couple of the 950s one last time (rip 956). Almost got 944 on that day too lol, why are they still training drivers on them? Seems such a waste at this point.

[743]

Almost got 944 on that day too lol, why are they still training drivers on them? Seems such a waste at this point.

The driver training may not be Renault-specific, rather it might be general heavy vehicle familiarisation (lane placement, turning, weight etc), route familiarisation and so on. Given there are two vehicles already specifically allocated as trainers, it means they can be used if and when required (including peak hour) without taking away from the 'active' fleet.
It does raise the question though of the future of the training fleet. Would it be worth holding on to two vehicles which would no longer be standard within the fleet? Despite them being trainers, maintenance and spare parts would still be required. Time will tell, I guess.

[Barry Drive]

It does raise the question though of the future of the training fleet.

I did pose that question at the start of this topic.

The minister has stated that each new bus will be a "one for one" replacement for a Renault PR100.2 - and so far this is exactly what has occurred:

974 - 800
975 - 808
956 - 722
973 - 809
978 - 811
977 - 807
981 - 810
969 - 806
970 - 802
972 - 801

But: they will be getting 38 new buses to replace 37 Renaults. So in theory they may be able to afford to transfer two low floor buses to become permanent trainers (e.g 390 & 391). However, there's also the question of whether 693 is permanently withdrawn and needs to be replaced (or does Belconnen give up another bus to cover for it)?

Edit: OK, maybe not MANs - they aren't old enough to be relegated to be trainers. Irisbuses would be preferable for now.

[Barry Drive]

To recap, there are 39 in total: 927-963 at Belconnen (23), 969-982 at Tuggeranong (14) and 943-944 as trainers.

Based on best available information (and subject to change), 3 PR100.2s remain in service at Tuggeranong (979 980 & 982), with 944 & 976 now being used as trainers.

Belconnen has withdrawn 929 956 & 961.

[Sylvan Loves Buses]

Having ridden 980 this morning, I can confirm a least one of those
Nice while it lasts to have my normal 6-7am routes back.

[triumph]

The 3 Renaults coming through Platform 2 at Westfield Belconnen just before 4pm weekdays is still happening but mostly not together. Seen today passing separately.

[triumph]

With slow deliveries, the three weekday Renault departures from Platform 2 in the 10min up to 4pm are still happening, but my recent few observations have not found them at the platform together.
With the news (see 26 Scanias thread) that future deliveries are expected to be one per week, at one for one retirements, it seems the Renaults will now be soldiering on for another 4 to 5 months.   

[Sylvan Loves Buses]

Yay

[triumph]

Expected that. You didn't disappoint.
(BTW Platform 2 at Westfield, Belconnen)

[Sylvan Loves Buses]

Well I'm practically never up around Belconnen cuz I'm a valley boy, but it's good to know the Belco ones are (mostly) still on the same shifts as they were a couple months ago.

[triumph]

With the resumption of full services after the school holidays, the opportunity to perhaps see 3 Renaults simultaneously on departing services from Platform 2 at Westfield, Belconnen around 3.55pm has disappeared. Only 3 services around this time are now shown in the on-line TT as being non-disability suitable. Rtes 42 around 3.35pm, 45 around 3.45pm, and 41 around 3.55pm. So now normally one at a time.

[Sylvan Loves Buses]

The ones around 8 in the morning are still going. Saw a bunch on Monday.

[Barry Drive]

so far this is exactly what has occurred:

974 - 800
975 - 808
956 - 722
973 - 809
978 - 811
977 - 807
981 - 810
969 - 806
970 - 802
972 - 801

To update the list of withdrawn buses:

976*
971 - 803
961 - 804
929 - 805
955 - 723
930* - 724
952 - 725
962* - 726
939 - 727
935 - 728

* transferred to training duties

[triumph]

Article in today's Riot Act on the new Custom Denning Element, attributes Minister Steel as advising that due to delays in the leasing of diesel buses, the Renaults will not be phased out until early 2024. That's a bit vague still - how early I wonder?

[Barry Drive]

It's deliberately vague. To date, BusTech have failed to meet their commitments - so why should the minister make definite announcements when he has no direct control over them?

[Sylvan Loves Buses]

how early I wonder?

December 2024 probably

[Barry Drive]

Update: if the promised 9 Scanias arrive this year, they should be enough to replace the remaining Belconnen Renaults. Assuming they can get them into service, Belconnen may not have any Renaults after December 2023 - although this is massively optimistic.

[triumph]

Update: if the promised 9 Scanias arrive this year, they should be enough to replace the remaining Belconnen Renaults. Assuming they can get them into service, Belconnen may not have any Renaults after December 2023 - although this is massively optimistic.

Idle to speculate what has changed at the manufacturer? All sorts of possibilities including the completion of another contract allowing more production to be allocated to TC, a lot full of near finished buses (like at times Boeing and Airbus with new planes) awaiting specific parts from sub-suppliers with a 'container' due, supply of chassis at improved rate, specialist staff returning from leave, etc. and combinations of factors.

Fleetwiki says now 15 active Renaults. 748 has yet to result in a retirement. So 15 less 4 Elements, gives 11, the 9 due(??) gives 2 in service. If 693 returns before 2024 school starts, that leaves 1. Perhaps the return of the bus having its floor replaced might release this last Renault unless another floor replacement is pending, or more deliveries occur in January. So it very much depends on the 9 whether we even see any Renaults in service after the end of term 4 this year, or, less likely, after term 1 starts next year. Other unknowns (to me anyway) is whether any of the school runs are not integrated with other public runs, or runs can be adjusted (some overtime perhaps) to achieve that; in which case the final Renault(s) might end up only doing school runs. The possible flexibility of workshop scheduling and stand-by could also cover the retirement of the last Renault(s).

Bottom line remains, wait and see; and for surety get any wanted rides in ASAP, and at worst, before the end of this school term. 

 

[Barry Drive]

I did say Belconnen (Depot). The minister/Transport Canberra are not brave enough to suggest all Renaults will be gone by December.

Even if all the buses are delivered as expected, they will still need to be fitted out and drivers trained between now and the end of January, since no Renaults are needed during School Holidays.

... a lot full of near finished buses (like at times Boeing and Airbus with new planes) awaiting specific parts from sub-suppliers with a 'container' due, supply of chassis at improved rate, specialist staff returning from leave, etc. and combinations of factors. 

Based on the statement given by the minister: all of the chassis have been delivered (to either BusTech or Scania Adelaide). Other than that, any of the above reasons could be possible. Reading other forums, there was a similar delay to supply of buses to Adelaide, so it wasn't due to Adelaide buses being given priority in the production line.