Deakin Uni turns to Allison auto

Deakin University's Geelong campus has chosen an Allison auto-equipped Fuso bus to promote efficient transport among its students and staff

The Geelong campus of Deakin University recently purchased a Fuso bus equipped with an Allison automatic transmission, as part of a $2.3 million program to encourage bus travel to and from its campuses.

The 62-seat Fuso MP300, which is fitted with Allison's six-speed T310 automatic transmission, takes students between the Waurn Ponds campus and Barwon Valley Activity Centre, before continuing on to the Geelong Waterfront Campus. Deakin University says around 1000 students and staff use the free service each day, between 6.45am and 8.30pm.

According to Deakin University's fleet management co-ordinator, Wendy Meesen, the Allison-equipped Fuso was a logical choice.

"An automatic transmission was a clear priority in the buying process, as the roads the bus negotiates require maximum concentration not only because they are narrow and difficult, but because of the many pedestrians, bicycles and cars on campus," she said.

"Our drivers love the automatic transmission because it enables them to concentrate on guiding the bus without having to worry about changing gears, which makes for less driver fatigue."

The MP300 complements Deakin's two smaller Fuso Rosa buses following a period of unprecedented growth for the university, which now caters to 44,000 students and 1379 staff in the Geelong area.

Finished in an eye-catching black and white wrap, the Fuso features on-board Wi-Fi while its arrival coincides with the opening of a new main campus transit hub that provides shelter and includes bicycle storage and showers.

Deakin Uni turns to Allison auto

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