PTA and Mercedes reach agreement on OC500 buses

There were several fires on PTA late model Mercedes-Benz Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses during late 2012 and early 2013.

These fire incidents have been subject to a detailed technical investigation by fire analysis experts recruited from the original bus supplier, local fire investigation specialists and engineering consultants from both Australia and overseas.
 
As a result of the investigations, a number of improvements and modifications to PTA’s Mercedes-Benz CNG buses have undergone testing and subsequent field trials. These engineering modifications will now be carried out on PTA’s entire fleet of 474 CNG buses by Mercedes-Benz and the bus body builder Volgren Australia. Mercedes-Benz and the PTA have concluded the necessary negotiations in order to carry out these remedial works over a period of approximately 18 months.

The terms and costs associated with this task remain commercial in confidence.
 
It is envisaged that this remedial works program will assist to reduce the likelihood of such incidents in the PTA’s Mercedes-Benz CNG buses fleet originally purchased in the period from 2004 to 2010 .