Top 15 buses: Renault PR100.2

15 December 2023 ACT Bus

Until the end of 2023, ACT Bus will be revealing the Top 15 buses of all time in the Canberra / ACTION Bus fleet (determined by number in the fleet). Unless otherwise stated, information in this article was correct at time of original publication.

At number 1, is the Renault PR100.2 with 258 vehicles.

First in service: Bus 675, April 1987
Latest in service: Bus 982, June 1993
Last withdrawn: Bus 980, August 2024
Years in service: 38
Retained for training: Buses 930 962 980 & 982

In the mid 1980s, ACTION evaluated several buses to decide on its next bus order once the Mercedes-Benz O.305 order was completed in 1985. A Scania BR112H, a Leyland Lynx and a Renault PR100 were all considered alongside the O.305s and MAN SL200s already in the fleet. The Renault was chosen and an initial order of 45 vehicles was made – the bus would be built with a similar Ansair body used by the O.305. The evaluation PR100 would also be retained by ACTION, with the first of the new PR100.2 buses – ZIB-675 – commencing operations at Kingston Depot in April 1987.

In 1990, the “Mark 2” version commenced delivery – while mechanically the same, these buses featured body variations including STC/Cannon flip-dot destination displays, a repositioned luggage rack and a modified livery.

Several of these buses featured painted liveries promoting local Canberra institutions – including Questacon, the War Memorial and the Botanic Gardens. Three buses were painted to promote “Taking ACTION to conserve our fossil fuels” – these buses would remain in that livery for their full life at ACTION, with Bus 963 still in service after over 30 years.

The first of these buses were withdrawn in 2000 – after only 13 years of service. However by the 2010s the need to grow the bus fleet resulted in these buses being retained beyond their expected 20 year life. A further decision to withdraw the newer Dennis Dart and Renault PR100.3 models by 2020, before retiring the older PR100.2s, further extended their tenure at ACTION.

The Disability Discrimination Act (1992) required that public bus fleets be 100% disability-accessible by end of 2022. However supply problems prevented delivery of sufficient replacement buses resulting in 15 PR100.2 buses remaining in service at end of December 2023 – with an age range between 30 and 32 years.