Clear comms for NZ bus company

Auckland’s Howick and Eastern Buses hits the road with an Icom NXDN digital radio solution.

New Zealand’s Howick and Eastern Buses has operated in Auckland for over 95 years and prides itself on providing a dependable service to the public. In order to support Auckland Transport’s goals of improving the city’s public transport network, as well as continuing the company’s focus on service improvements, Howick and Eastern last year invested in a new dispatch and radio system — based on Icom gear — for its entire fleet of buses.

Troy O’Dea, Howick and Eastern’s Operations Manager, said it was a major purchase for the business, with the health and safety of its drivers at the top of its list of priorities.

The company had not had success with a previous system installation (from a different supplier) less than 18 months earlier. “We [had] endured frustration after frustration as the system failed time and time again,” said O’Dea. “We had to put up with interruptions to our business, complaints from staff and the union… It seemed like it would never end. We had installed a new system that was just not fit for purpose.”

Howick and Eastern turned to Signals NZ for help. Signals NZ had recently installed a Bury phone system for Mana Bus — a sister company of Howick and Eastern (both are under the Souter Group umbrella) that runs a city-to-city bus service — so it was familiar with Howick and Eastern’s requirements.

“Signals NZ, along with Icom New Zealand, provided a new NXDN digital radio and dispatch system that was off the shelf and amazing from day one,” said O’Dea.

After bringing in its technical team from all across the country, Signals NZ was able to change over the entire bus fleet over the course of six days.

“These guys worked around our day-to-day operations with no interruption to our operational work — it was if they weren’t even there. Our only clue was when the words ‘signals radio test’ kept coming over our new dispatch system,” said O’Dea. “The general manager of Icom NZ popped in at the end of each day of the changeover to see how it was going, which gave us peace of mind that behind the Signals team [was] a manufacturer willing to stand by their product.”

Digital delivery

The mobile radio chosen was Icom’s IC-F6063D NXDN digital model. The IC-F6063D offers multimode operation, scanning and flexible installation. The system can call individuals, preset groups or all buses at once to deliver important updates, changes to routes and driver welfare checks.

According to O’Dea, communications have become more efficient. The radios have provided an enhanced coverage area over the previous DMR digital system, drivers receive clear and loud audio thanks to the preset volume on the front-mounted speaker and the built-in audio compander improves signal to noise.

The health and safety issue that was a priority for O’Dea has been met by both the system’s reliability as well as by the radio’s escalating alarm. When a driver pushes the emergency button programmed on the front of the radio, a direct alarm is set off at the Howick and Eastern base along with the bus number it came from.

Howick and Eastern also purchased Icom IC-F4263DT NXDN digital handheld radios for its ground crews. In addition, the base gates are operated via the radios, providing hassle-free entry into and exit from the yard, as well as added safety and security.

Fleet expansion

Auckland’s public transport system has recently been bolstered by a fleet of 53 new double-decker buses, each of which can carry about 100 passengers instead of the usual 45 to 70. Enviro500 buses have been purchased by Howick and Eastern and NZ Bus, while Ritchies Transport Holdings has invested in new BCI vehicles. Howick and Eastern’s Enviro500s have the same Icom NXDN digital radios, installed by Signals NZ Ltd.

“We are extremely happy with our new Icom NXDN digital radio system and network. It was simple to use, cost effective and reliable,” said O’Dea. “From day one we had crystal clear communications.”