Visitors to Melbourne's unique open range Werribee Zoo are treated to a smooth, comfortable ride while touring the Savannah exhibition, thanks to a fleet of specially-constructed safari buses equipped with Allison fully-automatic transmissions.

WERRIBEE, Victoria, Australia - Melbourne's famous Werribee Open Range Zoo is in the process of expanding its fleet of safari buses and has again turned to Allison automatic transmissions because of proven reliability, efficiency and performance.

The zoo currently operates a fleet of 13 safari buses on a six-kilometre trail, up to 40 times daily through its Lower Savannah exhibit. The original six safari vehicles have been operating since the early 2000s, comfortably allowing up to 77 visitors at a time to observe wild animals in their natural environment.

The zoo and has been extremely pleased with the smoothness Allison automatics provide, as well as the efficiency and dependability. According to Sean Pinan, general manager of operations at Werribee Open Range Zoo, the Allison-equipped fleet has passed the test of the African environment and surpassed the zoo's criteria.

"We looked for three key points with our safari buses: efficiency, reliability and most importantly, safety," said Pinan. "The older safari vehicles have served the zoo so well that when the time came to acquire additional vehicles, we specified that they be equal to or better than the existing fleet in all of those criteria."

In 2012, Werribee Zoo took delivery of two of the new second-generation safari buses built by custom vehicle specialists, Rambler Concept Vehicles. The new buses consist of a prime mover with three passenger trailers for a total length of up to 35 metres, around the same length of a B-triple trailer. Each bus is capable of carrying 150 passengers and has a gross vehicle mass (GVM) of 37 tons.

The prime movers are based on the Iveco Delta bus chassis fitted with Allison's T375R transmission and modified by Rambler to meet Werribee Zoo's specs. The Iveco Delta is a popular bus chassis used for transporting workers for the Australian mining industry and in other tough environments where its off-road capabilities are appreciated. According to Stephen O'Hare, managing director of Rambler Concept Vehicles, Allison automatics are dependable and efficient. "The key benefit of the Allison transmission is its reliability. It's paramount for the zoo, especially during peak times when thousands of people want to tour the savannahs to get up-close and personal with the animals," he said.

"Allison transmissions have proven to be incredibly dependable since the first batch of buses we used 13 years ago, operating in what are essentially quarry conditions at Werribee Zoo," he continued. "There are steep climbs and descents, and it's either dry and dusty or muddy and slippery. There's no in between, and the Allison automatics handle all conditions without issue."

O'Hare went on to say that Allison's state-of-the-art electronic controls allow Rambler to customize the transmission to the particular demands of the Lower Savannah loop, enhancing transmission performance for the zoo.

"Allison provides a very sophisticated system of gearshifts which allows us to have two user modes," he said. "When in 'zoo' mode, the bus is limited to the two lowest gears for optimum torque and performance, while also limiting speed for passenger safety. Flick a switch, and we can convert it to 'normal' mode which enables the full six-speed gearbox for any servicing needs."

As a result, the buses not only provide a smooth, safe safari experience, but are also simple to operate. Aided by the T375R's integral retarder, Allison automatics allow the buses to hold a steady speed on descents, contributing to greater safety, but also reducing brake wear.

"Drivers find the new buses very easy to operate, especially for such large vehicles. They track very well for their size, and have no problems over our Savannah loop," added Sean Pinan.

Rambler has also praised Allison's aftermarket support, which minimizes downtime for the Werribee Zoo safari buses. "Allison's exceptional backup and support have meant that any minor problems are quickly sorted out and we're always able to get them back into operation quickly," O'Hare reiterated.

About Werribee Open Range Zoo

Werribee Open Range Zoo is an open range zoo, situated approximately 30 minutes from the heart of Melbourne. The 225-hectare property replicates natural habitats of the African animals and a safari bus operates up to 40 times a daily, allowing visitors to get up close to the animals.

About Rambler Concept Vehicles

Rambler Concept Vehicles is a specialist custom vehicle manufacturer based in the Melbourne suburb of Campbellfield. Rambler has designed and built customized solutions, such as outside broadcast vehicles, display trucks and emergency vehicles since 1952. As well as providing vehicles for the Australian domestic market, Rambler has exported to: New Zealand, Thailand, Indonesia and Singapore and recently won its first tender to China.

About Allison Transmission

Allison Transmission is the world's largest manufacturer of fully automatic transmissions for medium- and heavy-duty commercial vehicles, medium- and heavy-tactical U.S. military vehicles and hybrid-propulsion systems for transit buses. Allison transmissions are used in a variety of applications including on-highway trucks (distribution, refuse, construction, fire and emergency), buses (primarily school and transit), motor homes, off-highway vehicles and equipment (primarily energy and mining) and military vehicles (wheeled and tracked). Founded in 1915, the Allison business is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.A. and employs approximately 2,800 people. Allison has manufacturing facilities and customization centers located in China, The Netherlands, Brazil, India and Hungary, with a global presence, serving customers in North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, South America and Africa, Allison also has approximately 1,400 independent distributor and dealer locations worldwide. More information about Allison is available at www.allisontransmission.com.