The 2019 BusVic Conference and Bus Expo was held at the Melbourne Conference and Exhibition Centre on 1 and 2 October 2019, the same venue as the last Victorian bus show in 2015.

Busvic once again generously provided the BCSV with a free exhibition stand. Our photo displays this year, prepared by Paul Kennelly, featured a tribute to the late Patrick Ryan, retrospectives on Warrnambool operators Warrnambool Bus Lines and South Western Roadways and a history of the Bay Road bus service, between Sandringham and Cheltenham, through its three owners prior to Moorabbin Transit.

The stand proved popular with conference attendees with many familiar faces visiting and some new ones as well. BusVic also generously allowed BCSV members free entry to the Expo on the afternoon of the second day and about 20 members and potential new members were noted taking advantage of this.

A feature was the launch of Scania’s hybrid bus in Australia, for McHarry’s in Geelong. The Express bodied K320UB is Scania’s world first right had drive hybrid and the new technology on this model allows the bus to travel solely on battery power for up to 4kms, at a speed of up to 45kph with zero emissions.

Electric and hybrid urban buses were displayed on a number of the stands. Other new additions were Mellor bodies from the UK on Iveco and Mercedes chassis, a new BCI coach style body, a double decker coach from Bonluck and the new low floor Endeavour body from Custom. Another new product is the Challenger V10 and V12 – built in China but designed and developed by Australian bus operator Greg Sloan. One of the first has gone to Jamie Whitmore.

A full review of the show will be in the November 2019 issue of Australian Bus Panorama. In the meantime some pictures of vehicles displayed are presented.