14 December 2023
- The Queensland Government in partnership with Keolis Downer has delivered 16 electric buses to the North Lakes depot, located north of Brisbane.
- Keolis Downer is proud to have delivered this bus depot conversion from diesel to fully electric, powered by 100 per cent green energy.
- Public transport users are now able to enjoy more sustainable and comfortable rides.
The Queensland Government’s commitment to rollout more zero emission vehicles on to Queensland roads continues to be delivered with 16 new electric buses at the Hornibrook (Keolis Downer) North Lakes Bus Depot.
Julien Dehornoy, Keolis Downer CEO, said this cements the company’s commitment to accelerate the energy transition with large-scale deployments.
“We are proud to partner with the Queensland Government to deliver the first depot to be fully converted to electric in North Lakes. Electric buses are providing a more sustainable transport option for the Northern Brisbane communities,” Mr Dehornoy said.
The electric bus services have been operating since July 2023, out of Brisbane’s first all-electric bus depot. Customers have been able to enjoy the difference on board the zero emission buses, in particular a more comfortable ride, due to the absence of engine and exhaust noise. The feedback received is extremely positive, stating that the bus ride is smooth and quiet.
This is also Brisbane’s first all-electric bus depot with a biodiesel-ready backup generator to make sure buses keep running even if the grid is down, ensuring no impact to services.
“After six months of successful operations, we are delighted to see that our customers appreciate smoother rides. Our drivers have also mentioned that they are extremely comfortable to drive and ride in, and the quietness is fantastic whilst driving,” Julien Dehornoy said.
Keolis Downer operates more than 1,300 buses across four States and will be transitioning several depots and more than 300 buses to electric in the coming years.
Acting Head of Translink Peter Milward said the Queensland Government was committed to a sustainable public transport network.
“We’ve made a commitment that all Translink-contracted urban buses in South East Queensland will be a zero-emission vehicle from 2025 but it’s great to see some of our delivery partners already transitioning to zero-emission bus fleets ahead of that timeframe,” Mr Milward said.
“It’s great to be here today to see the fully-electric depot and 16 electric buses in-person.
“Seeing how quiet and comfortable the buses are, it’s no surprise to me that Hornibrook Bus Lines is receiving a lot of positive feedback from its customers.”
About Keolis Downer
Keolis Downer is a leading operator and integrator of public transport in Australia. With over 5,300 employees and a presence in five states, Keolis Downer enables 350 million passenger journeys per year. We operate and maintain the largest tram network in the world in Melbourne (Yarra Trams), the light rail network on the Gold Coast (G:link), Adelaide Metro train services, the integrated transport network with light rail, bus and ferry in Newcastle and more than 1,300 buses in New South Wales, Western Australia, South Australia and Queensland.
Established in 2009, Keolis Downer is a joint venture between Keolis, a leading public transport operator established in 14 countries, and Downer, the leading provider of integrated services in Australia and New Zealand.
|