Hillsbus Volvo B10MA (Custom Coaches CB50)

[@LiftsInAustralia]

I never got to ride these buses myself, but they are really nice. Glad you did a review on them.

[@TalkingPlanning]

Glad I got to check one out for the last time - Always a unique experience, but having an accessible fleet is an important milestone for a safer, more inclusive and more useable transport network.

[@Fong148]

Glad to have catch a ride on these B10MAs during my visit to Sydney. Quite an amazing experience to ride it on the freeways too, it tends to sway left and right when it is travelling at a speed of 100km/h, pretty much like a roller coaster 😂.

[@TalkingPlanning]

Certainly a unique experience, and glad I got to try one out before they go!

[@TheAussieBusman]

Two of the former Brisbane B10M MK3 Bendys are actually in Port Macquarie NSW, They are still in service with Port Bus doing Charter work. But running My own Charter & Party Bus business I’ll continue to run a mix of High floor and accessible units, Granted for the time being I’ve only got one bus being a B10M mk2 57 seater but that won’t last long. Route buses aside I think the high floor coaches with wheel chair lifts will be around for a long while yet, As I don’t see a low floor Coach happening anytime soon unless they swap the luggage bays from underneath to the rear above the motor or a trailer.

[@TalkingPlanning]

Ahh cool - I knew about the two ex-Brisbane ones that went to Port Stephens Coaches, but completely forgot about Portbus! Good to hear that you're keeping a Mk2 going for charters and party buses, they are still great for those roles if all the mechanicals are in good order. Coaches with wheelchair lifts are still quite suitable for long distance services, as underfloor storage is important, although it would be interesting to see combo floor buses being more widely used for short and medium distance services.

[@mangobaby_videos]

This looks like a very interesting bus! I really hope I can find it sometime.

[@TalkingPlanning]

Best of luck! The 'target date' for 100% of route services being operated by accessible buses (or via 'equivalent access' provisions) was the 31st of December 2022. I've heard that some have operated since then, but I don't live close enough to Sydney to easily verify that 🤣.

[@mangobaby_videos]

@@TalkingPlanning Oh, would probably be pretty difficult then. It's alright though, not too much of a bus-fan. Although if there were some non-accessible/high-floor services running, would they be more likely on weekdays or weekends?

[@TalkingPlanning]

@@mangobaby_videoshigh floor buses tended to operate on weekdays, and close to morning and afternoon peaks where possible.

[@mangobaby_videos]

@@TalkingPlanning Thank you!

[@microwavedpopcorn3209]

There's still plenty of time to catch these buses again, they might stay until 2028 when their 25 year 364 day age limit is reached, although they may be retired earlier as they do not support wheelchair access but also potentially because of rising fuel prices over the next few years caused by the transition to renewable energy. The B10 series high floors actually have two fuel tanks, with one cap on each side, so it must cost quite a bit to get them running. A likely reason Hillsbus didn't choose to order more articulated vehicles could be because patronage is too low on most routes to justify a higher capacity vehicle, with the exception of the 607X, 610X, 612X and 616X (and previously the 619), which utilise the motorway. Tri-axle vehicles are more abundant in the Hillsbus fleet as they are safer and more efficient to run than articulated vehicles at high speeds and cost less to purchase and run without too big of a compromise in passenger capacity. There's a fifth one of these (1454), stored at Hillsbus Foundry Road Depot, deregistered.

[@TalkingPlanning]

The DDA compliance aspect is a big deal, certainly for route service, now that there is a 100% compliance target. They may continue on school services and charters on a much more regular basis, but I suspect they are not going to be as regular of a fixture on route service. The electric transition is happening and is well underway, although there haven't been many high capacity bus options available in the Australian market yet, but hopefully that will change!

[@GreatAussieDrives]

Great video. I've ALWAYS wanted to ride one of these. They're definitely one of the most fascinating buses in Sydney especially with the engine in the front section. Never got a chance to though, so pretty bummed out to hear they're now being retired!

[@TalkingPlanning]

Definitely an interesting bit of kit, and glad I got to catch one for the last time in December. Although it may be sad to see them go, wheelchair accessibility is an important attribute and makes public trasnsport well...suitable for more of the public!

[@volgrencr221]

sister bus 23 is now owned by sundancer buses and does rail rep in melbourne its a great bus to review

[@just10618]

I'm sad to see these go and unfortunately didn't catch these buses in time so I don't know if one of them will be preserved. But thank you for this review, it shows the whole bus and now I know what it feels and looks like. This review was very great, these artics are one of my favorites. They did go to Parramatta too like 601, 663 etc.

[@TalkingPlanning]

Definitely a unique experience, and from what i've heard on the enthusiast pages and forums, I think there's a few people keen to get their hands on one. Hope they have a big garage! I had seen them show up around Parra on AnyTrip, unfortunately, just never crossed paths with one there. As far as I have heard, they have been seen in route service since 31 Dec 22, but can't go and confirm being a little too far West for that!

[@mangobaby_videos]

@@TalkingPlanning Do you know what routes?

[@RobotsSharkTaleAndNIMH2Fan2005]

I saw that on the 28th December 2022 on the Sydney Harbour Bridge

[@TalkingPlanning]

Good spotting! And with the new DDA compliance target, it may be a lot harder to see one now.

[@phillip1604]

What was the maximum speed the bus got to on the M2? I know the CDis are limited to 80 or 90km/h but not sure on these artics.

[@TalkingPlanning]

I'm not 100% sure! We generally kept up with the flow of traffic so probably at least 90, if not 100.

[@NiffyYT]

I don’t know if Transdev’s B10Ms or O405s have been replaced yet. But their replacement is some ex-Transdev QLD B10BLE CB60s!

[@TalkingPlanning]

Maybe they will do better in a climate where the air-conditioners don't have to work so hard. Wonder if the CB60 bodied Bustech's at Transdev Qld will also make their way up north soon?

[@Gary-vv5gt]

I think one or 2 got sent to CDC charter sections and only done as charters.

[@EOL76678]

These were the only high floor articulated types with hillsbus.

[@RobotsSharkTaleAndNIMH2Fan2005]

Request can you do a Mercedes O405NH Bustech from Transdev please

[@TalkingPlanning]

I don't take requests (full time job, and being about 4 hours West of Sydney), but it is one I had been interested in checking out if I was in the right place at the right time.

[@transportnswcb6067]

I gotta say Volo B10MA custom coach CB50 bendy bus high floor is best and only high floor bendy step buses runs in hillsbus but I've been on M/O 8269 2 times and same driver who drives M/O 8269 all the time which I kinda met him before when I got on 611 route. Sadly because DDA wanted to stop all high floor buses were running however because Volvo B10MA that was built in 2002 it was gonna retired them but they can keep them for 5 years since it's meant to stop them in 2022 even tho there still young in 20s. Also there's a 5th actually I believe it's M/O 1454 but unfortunately it was withdrawn which it could be either for spare parts for repair or I must have problem electric wire or engine problem or It must have got into accident.

[@TalkingPlanning]

They are quite a good bit of kit, but providing accessible public transport is also very important, so whilst I do enjoy travelling on these (although very occasionally), DDA compliant transport should be the goal (at a minimum).

[@dylangreen7762]

I'm told M/O1454 has a blown motor and is sitting at the Foundry Road depot next to the 14.5m B10M with the Custom 510 body.

[@satransitvideos]

What do you use to edit your videos?

[@TalkingPlanning]

I use Premiere Pro, part of the Adobe creative suite. A brilliant way to burn money 😂

[@AussieTrainsVlogs]

i dont understand why they dont retrofit them with a wheelchair lift

[@TalkingPlanning]

A wheelchair lift would be helpful but is only one part of developing a more accessible network. A low entry or low floor network is much more suitable overall and more modern designs have much lower tailpipe emissions (or even zero!). A wheelchair lift might make them more versatile for charter, but probably not a good longer term option for route service.

[@Militantkiller]

🥐🥐

[@TalkingPlanning]

I've always been used to them as 'banana buses' from up in Queensland. But croissant could work too!

[@TheRealMillennium]

🍌