Double-Decker Transport

They’re on the road anyway, so why not make them more efficient and effective?

Melbourne is due to launch its answer to London and Hong Kong, by releasing its new double-decker buses next month.

CDC Melbourne has launched its first Double Decker Bus in Victoria.

The Melbourne-built bus is the first of its kind in Australia and seats up to 88 people plus standing room for additional 23 people. It will provide the highest seating capacity on the network and will service Melbourne's fastest growing Western region of Wyndham.

The launch of the Double Decker Bus will coincide with the opening of the new Tarneit Regional Railway Line (RRL) on 13 June 15, set to transform Victoria’s public transport industry.

While it won’t get a fleet (only one is being used as a trial), and that it will only initially function in the Wyndham region, the question will remain as to whether we want these in Melbourne? In London, they are institutional and, much like Melbourne’s trams, can be extremely frustrating.

Pollution of these big people movers also proposes another question, with the latest double-decker buses in London being built as hybrids in an attempt to significantly decrease emission output. 

In the spirit of cooperation, the debut of the latest Euro 5 Volgren Double Decker bus comes at an exciting time for CDC Victoria, Volgren and Public Transport Victoria (PTV), coinciding with the 21st June network changes to the Wyndham area.

Nicholas Yap, General Manager of CDC Victoria said.”This Double Decker bus will result in and enhance the customer experience through the roll out of one of the biggest changes to the bus network in Melbourne’s West.

The introduction of this new bus concept may be exciting, but the implementation of both the $3.65b Regional Rail Link, that will run 45km from West Werribee to Southern Cross Station, as well as the proposed, and still contentious, monorail network, may suppress the Government’s inclination to bring in more and more double-decker buses. 

All in all, improvements of transport, make greater more accessible, and networks part of Melbourne that had previously been ignored.