Brisbane Metro opening

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Geoffrey Hansen

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Oct 21, 2024, 6:04:23 PM10/21/24
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Has anyone here been on the new Brisbane Metro yet and if so what did you think of it? 

Also is it a bit like a cross between a trolleybus and a Newcastle Light Rail Vehicle with it recharging at each stop? 

Regards 
Geoffrey 

Richard Youl

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Oct 21, 2024, 6:17:28 PM10/21/24
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I’m am heading off to do it now. Depot visit recorded 9 days ago, plus whatever is done today will be published Friday on YouTube. 


Richard

On 22 Oct 2024, at 8:04 AM, Geoffrey Hansen <gnhan...@gmail.com> wrote:


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Geoffrey Hansen

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Oct 21, 2024, 7:28:17 PM10/21/24
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Thanks Richard I'll be interested to hear about it. 

TP

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Oct 21, 2024, 9:53:00 PM10/21/24
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It's a battery-electric bus with opportunity and overnight charging. It's the same model Hess bi-artic as the Zurich trolleybuses that many of us would be familiar with from their appearance in photos alongside Zurich trams. The Zurich model collects its power from overhead wires (I think also with in-motion charging of batteries for running off-wire, like most modern trolleybuses). In Brisbane they've chosen to run the buses off battery, with overnight charging, plus charging at each terminus while in service. The terminus charging takes about 6 minutes, obviously making no allowance for quick turnaround if the bus is running late. This is the silly thing about Brisbane's choice. Given that these buses operate permanently on fixed routes, it would have been cheaper and more reliable to set them up as trolleybuses that are capable of running constantly with no downtime. Very similar to the issue with off-wire operation of trams, a (more expensive) solution in search of a problem.

Here is a similar electric bus in Bratislava (by Škoda-Solaris), more sensibly running on wires, with in-motion battery charging for off-wire operation.


Tony P

Greg Sutherland

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Oct 21, 2024, 10:18:02 PM10/21/24
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In addition B-triple buses, irrespective of their method of propulsion, cannot be registered to run on public roads according to current Australian National Road Standards.

Greg

TP

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Oct 21, 2024, 10:48:13 PM10/21/24
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This is an interesting one Greg, because there is some on-road running coming up on future routes. NHVR has either given an exemption, or a blind eye is being turned at present. It will be interesting to see how it pans out. At present, the NHVR regulations (which apply in all states and territories except WA and NT) prohibit articulated buses longer than 18 metres. The trucking industry is always on the watch for any leeway given to buses, so that they can argue for additional concessions themselves. This is what scuttled the Sydney proposal for bi-artic buses about 20 years ago.

Tony P

Tony Galloway

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Oct 21, 2024, 11:33:06 PM10/21/24
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Here it is, in all its mediocrity - young Rory here seems to have drunk a bit too much of the PR Kool-aid though :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6mBi-nWzxY&ab_channel=RoryDingTravels

Tony

espee8800

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Oct 22, 2024, 12:12:12 AM10/22/24
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Interesting but it is still a bus.

On Tue, 22 Oct 2024 at 14:33, 'Tony Galloway' via TramsDownUnder <tramsdo...@googlegroups.com> wrote:
Here it is, in all its mediocrity - young Rory here seems to have drunk a bit too much of the PR Kool-aid though :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6mBi-nWzxY&ab_channel=RoryDingTravels

Tony



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Brian Blunt

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Oct 22, 2024, 12:28:20 AM10/22/24
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The NHVR can issue over-dimensions permits for specific vehicles on fixed routes approved by LG councils. 



On 22 Oct 2024, at 15:12, espee8800 <espe...@gmail.com> wrote:


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Peter Hyde

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Oct 22, 2024, 12:44:29 AM10/22/24
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The Leyland Panther buses that replaced trams in Brisbane were all wider than allowed by regulation and were granted an exemption to operate within the greater Brisbane area.

Sent from BlueMail

TP

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Oct 25, 2024, 3:51:22 AM10/25/24
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Richard's video is up at:


Tony P
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