FEATURE INDUSTRY ACHIEVEMENT CHALLENGE ACCEPTED As part of Sydney Metro’s upgrade, CDC New South Wales worked closely with Volgren and Volvo to deliver over 60 buses in just 140 days. Intensive planning, communication and process efficiency all came together to achieve an impressive result. WORDS JONATHAN RIVETT + CAMERON DONOVAN IMAGES BEN HOSKING + TFNSW 36 ABC October 2018 busnews.com.au busnews.com.au October 2018 ABC 37 FEATURE INDUSTRY ACHIEVEMENT I didn’t want too many first- of-a-kinds. This is why CDC chose the Volvo B7-Volgren Optimus combination. have to remove the unknowns – as many as you can. An unknown would be trying out an entirely different chassis or body, for example. I didn’t want to embark on a product where there were too many first-of-a-kinds,” he explained. This, Saradetch says, is why CDC chose the Volvo B7-Volgren Optimus combination. “The key fundamental we looked for in the purchase was a track record for punctuality of delivery. And the other consideration that led to [the HE SYDNEY METRO closed and buses will replace Group engineering manager selection] was our previous may seem like a those trains for more than half a for CDC in New South Wales, experience of product uptime, rail project – in fact, year. They are doing so now... Michael Saradetch, admits it was [which is] effectively a measure it’s been described Transport for NSW required a significant task, but never one of reliability.” Above: as the largest in more than 120 brand new that felt unmanageable. General manager at Volvo One of the Sydney AustraliaT – but when works buses to make certain Sydney “There certainly were points Buses Australia Lauren Downs Metro’s new tunnels. began in earnest at the end of commuters could get to during the project where all our says reliability comes in part Below: September, 2018, buses played where they needed to go, the resources were stretched across from decades of experience in TV legend Lee Lin Chin in a recent an integral part. government organisation says. the board, but we planned the Australian market, but also Transport for NSW The final major stage of the The contract was offered to a for those critical times when from the company’s operations ad campaign. Sydney Metro Northwest project joint venture formed between everyone had to be ‘all hands today. Right: Group involves upgrades to a section two bus operators: Transdev and on deck’, There was a good “We have the largest dedicated engineering manager of rail in the city’s north-west. CDC. CDC New South Wales was combination of very thorough major accounts team in the for CDC NSW Michael Saradetch; Inside and Currently, the line between obligated to provide half of the planning and highly competent industry and this proved integral ‘at the helm’. Epping and Chatswood has been required fleet. people throughout the entire to the delivery of this project. supply chain. As such, there were Very early on [in this project] – really no major surprises that long before any of the chassis occurred during the build and arrived here – we held a number delivery phases,” Saradetch said. of contract planning meetings to Those “competent people” ensure we were ready to handle came from CDC, but also from the load,” Downs said. the company’s two major partners in the project: THE SECRET TO SUCCESS chassis manufacturer Volvo and The critical importance of body manufacturer Volgren. collaborative preparation is a repeated theme in this project. RELIABLE PARTNERS Saradetch talks about ‘thorough “In a project such as this you planning’. Downs describes the have effectively unmoveable value of constant and often deadlines. In my experience, you daily communication involving 38 ABC October 2018 busnews.com.au busnews.com.au October 2018 ABC 39 FEATURE INDUSTRY ACHIEVEMENT Above: all three major partners – Lauren Downs, something that wouldn’t have general manager at Volvo Buses Australia. been necessary during a less- intensive fleet delivery contract. Opposite: An impressive sight And Volgren CEO Peter Dale says – more then 60 new the unusually large volume buses lined up and required in the unusually short ready to go! timeframe meant detailed Below: Volgren CEO organisation was essential. Peter Dale. “We had to rethink traditional the Volgren team in action. Sixty vehicles in 140 days – that’s “We had the opportunity to observe Volgren’s commitment on two fronts. definitely a phenomenal effort. One was their efforts towards defect minimisation. The buses were pretty much coming out close to perfect. We also got to see, first-hand, Volgren’s processes for delivery. CDC, Volvo Volvo Buses major accounts application of ‘lean principles’ along and Volgren worked together team in Sydney. the production line,” he said. to utilise all of their facilities “He was dedicated to the [fleet The fleet contract involved and resources across two states, delivery] contract and, along delivery of an average of four buses ensuring there was a pipeline full with other key staff members per week and, at times, CDC NSW of buses,” Dale said. and our partners at CMV, acted was accepting a bus every day. Volgren, All of Volgren’s manufacturing as the main communicator for its part, increased its output to took place at its headquarters between the different parties 2.5 buses per day and needed to in the Melbourne suburb of and stakeholders. He also significantly increase its resourcing Dandenong. Both CDC NSW and worked closely with CDC’s at the Dandenong factory to meet Volvo Buses Australia provided engineer, who came down to the demand. dedicated team members to Melbourne regularly, to carry out collaborate with the bus body inspections,” Downs explained. A BRIGHT BUS FUTURE budget to comprise 50 per cent of the replacements for trains until the line builder in Victoria. CDC’s Saradetch says that The careful planning, the frequent, required fleet. They were delivered between Epping and Chatswood has Downs says Volvo deployed inspection process, which took open and transparent communication, ahead of schedule to the custom-built been converted to Metro-standard a full-time quality and delivery place almost the moment a bus and the strict adherence to procedure, temporary depot in Camellia, NSW, for specifications. Station Link services coordinator, based in Melbourne, came off the line, was as much it seems, paid off. the project. are high-frequency, turn-up-and-go who worked closely with Volgren, about minimising congestion as Well before the September 30 The buses, together with the services that will keep the Macquarie CDC, Volvo’s dealer (the CMV it was about quality assurance. deadline the 62 Volvo-Volgren buses Transdev-Bustech fleet, will serve Park precinct moving for around seven Group in Melbourne) and the It also gave CDC a chance to see were delivered on time and on- the Station Link project and run as months while three train stations 40 ABC October 2018 busnews.com.au busnews.com.au October 2018 ABC 41 FEATURE INDUSTRY ACHIEVEMENT between Epping and Chatswood are Macquarie Park precinct have access to closed for Sydney Metro upgrades. Station Link buses that connect them to General manager of the joint venture stations between Epping and Chatswood Tony Ralph says the successful delivery of every six minutes during the peak – that’s the fleet is crucial to the project. more than 110 services per hour in the “People affected by the closure will busiest parts of the day!” she said. jump on board these buses for a high- Once rail is back up and running again, quality alternative transport option,” said the new buses will be redeployed. They’ll Ralph. remain in New South Wales, although Transport for NSW coordinator-general not many will stay in Sydney, Saradetch Marg Prendergast says they’ve been confirms. working hard with local businesses, “Most of the buses will go to the Specs residents and Macquarie University to Hunter Valley and the Blue Mountains help keep customers moving in the area. and they’ll be replacements for the BODY: 12.5m Volgren Optimus “Customers travelling in and around the oldest buses within those fleets. It will (aluminium) CHASSIS: Volvo B7RLE Euro AIRCON: CoachAir XT …all our resources SEATS: McConnell Metros were stretched trimmed in Realtex fabric across the board. CCTV: Mobitec WINDOWS: Double tinted give the communities that we serve in RAMP: Wheelchair ramp those regions significantly improved LIGHTS: Mobitec Ultima white access to wheelchair-accessible and LED front, rear and sides; NSW environmentally-friendly buses,” he said. school lights Volvo Buses’ Downs says it wasn’t really Painted in TfNSW COLOUR: until after the project concluded that she colour scheme; pink wrapped sat and reflected on the sheer size of the fronts project and what all parties have achieved FITTINGS: Stainless steel side together in such a limited time. walls, seat backs and hand rails “Sixty vehicles in 140 days – that’s DOORS: SMC door system definitely a phenomenal effort by all MIRRORS: External electric involved!” she exclaimed. “Incredible mirrors things can happen when dedicated, RADIO: Pioneer AM/FM radio/ professional and hardworking teams – USB/PA; Motorola DM4601e CDC, Volvo, Volgren and Transport for New two-way radio South Wales – work closely together with the one common goal.” 42 ABC October 2018 busnews.com.au.