Last year's budget included the purchase of 30 battery electric buses.
I've been keeping watch for a tender or announcements. In the last sitting week of the ACT Assembly, Chris Steel has given the best indication of the status of these buses:
QuoteWe looked at the options and, based on the information that was provided by Transport Canberra's contracted bus supplier, VDI Australia, Transport Canberra confirmed that buses could not be delivered to Transport Canberra earlier than six months from contract signing, with the flow of vehicles then being a minimum of one per week.
He's also mentioned that the procurement is still underway.
So this pretty much confirms they will purchase additional Yutongs by amending the current contract. The six month waiting period means no delivery before October at the earliest.
Edit to add: the six months should also provide time to commence installation of additional charging equipment at Tuggeranong Depot. (Note: there is no tender yet for this process.)
Is it a reasonable guess that these electric buses will start replacing the Diesel MANs?
It's a reasonable guess. But it's probably incorrect.
While there has been no announcement of their intentions, the Government is wanting to increase driver numbers (and therefore the bus fleet size) in 2027.
There's also no need for any further bus withdrawals until 2029 and, provided they actually get around to installing more chargers at Tuggeranong, there's plenty of room in the depots for 30 additional buses.
The Labor party policy was for 50 new buses during this parliamentary term: so a further 20 might be announced for 2028, and these might be replacements.
Purely speculation, but what is likely to happen is that these 30 buses will go to Tuggeranong because there is plenty of space there (a very small number could go to Woden, but it's unlikely) and Belconnen will probably get some Bustechs to even the numbers out (presumably they'll return 702-708, but hopefully they make the numbers nice and go 700-708 instead). They may even have enough resources to be able to transfer some MANs to training duties, since the Renaults can't go forever (not to mention the potential double up of BUS 930).
Quote from: L94UBbusfan on April 17, 2026, 09:19:23 PMPurely speculation, but what is likely to happen is that these 30 buses will go to Tuggeranong because there is plenty of space there (a very small number could go to Woden, but it's unlikely) and Belconnen will probably get some Bustechs to even the numbers out (presumably they'll return 702-708, but hopefully they make the numbers nice and go 700-708 instead). They may even have enough resources to be able to transfer some MANs to training duties, since the Renaults can't go forever (not to mention the potential double up of BUS 930).
It will also depend upon where the additional drivers will be allocated, however I would agree with the above. The first few new buses may go to Woden, depending on available space.
There's also the question of when the additional services will be introduced, considering the delivery schedule won't be more than 1 per week. Without knowing when the contract might actually be signed, the earliest they could increase services is Term 2 in 2027 (depending on driver recruitment), but more likely Term 3 (mid-2027). Worth remembering that the Commonwealth Ave bridge works are expected to finish by end of 2027 - so another timetable change will be due early 2028.
Quote from: Barry Drive on April 19, 2026, 10:42:16 AM- so another timetable change will be due early 2028.
History shows around that end of the decade is when we see a major network review & alterations.