Go West Tours has taken delivery of the first 30 buses ordered to supply buses for BHP’s Pilbara operations over the next seven years.

Twenty BCI buses have already arrived and a number of Volvo buses arrived today, all featuring custom safety features and modifications to suit remote conditions. All up Go West will increase its fleet from 300 to 350 buses to supply to BHP mine sites Yandi, Area C, Jimblebar, Eastern Ridge and Whaleback.

The new contract will employ an additional 50 people and expand Go West’s depots in Newman, Tom Price and Karratha.

Photo: General Manager David Haoust, North West Manager Brad Bunce and Maintenance Manager Darren Babich with the new Volvo buses.

Go West Tours has been awarded a major contract with BHP to supply buses for its Pilbara operations for up to the next seven years.

The contract is the biggest won by the integrated transport company in its 35 year history.

Buses and drivers will be supplied to BHP mine sites Yandi, Area C, Jimblebar, Eastern Ridge and Whaleback, increasing Go West’s fleet from 300 to 350 vehicles, employing an additional 50 people and expanding the company’s depots in Newman, Tom Price and Karratha.

Go West signed a contract with global bus manufacturers Irizar, BCI and Yutong on November 22 to supply 50 coaches with custom safety features and modifications to suit remote conditions and will take delivery of the first 30 vehicles in January.

General Manager David Haoust said investment in the latest technology Chartered Management System which includes bus tracking with client portals, tyre monitoring, braking and maintenance scheduling, a system which identifies and reports driver behaviour and the most modern buses in Australia had established Go West as a key operator in the industry.

“Go West has had a strategic focus over the past 10 years to continuously improve through innovation, investment in its people and at the same time be frugal in a challenging economy,” Mr Haoust said.

“We have also explored diversification opportunities so that we can adapt quickly in an ever-changing passenger transport industry environment.

“We are excited about the new contract with BHP which means Go West will invest further in regional communities throughout the state by hiring additional staff and procuring more local services to support our business.

“We look forward to soon being able to advertise for additional support staff and bus drivers to assist in the delivery of the BHP contract.”

A four metre scrub python found its way into an engine of one of the Go West buses used in the Rio Tinto contract in Weipa, North Queensland recently.

Go West called in expert onsite snake catcher Blake Hyland who said it was the largest snake he had been asked to remove and relocate.

Blake thinks the non-venomous snake was hungry and following some birds into the engine which had been seeking shelter, and after snacking, had curled up for a rest!

Meet Steven Twigger, a recruit from Forrest Personnel who has been at Go West Tours for nearly 10 years!

Steven is employed a day a week and helps clean buses and vehicles, tidies the yard, runs errands, helps catalogue parts, refuels vehicles and undertakes deliveries.

“I really enjoy working for Go West,” Steven said. “It’s taught me a lot of new skills over the years.”

Managing Director Stan Haoust said Steven had continued to grow during his time with the company and was always keen to learn new skills

“Over the years I’ve watched Steven progress, learning more tasks and always stepping up to any new challenges,” Stan said.

“He has always been on time, always turns up for work and is a considerate employee in the workplace.

“I’ve always been a big believer in giving disadvantaged people an opportunity to get some experience and have always provided these work placements during my working life to help make a difference to people’s lives.”

Go West has received some great praise from the Beer Farm in Metricup after transferring 150 people to and from Busselton, Margaret River, Cowaramup and Dunsborough for The Blazing Brews event in July.

The Beer Farm’s George Scott had special praise for Operations Coordinator Cassie Hughes and drivers Michael Penton, Keith Godley and Allan Goodchild.

“A big thank you to you personally, Cassie, for all the work you put in to get this up and running, it is most appreciated,” George said.

“All of your drivers were extremely helpful throughout the event which makes my life so much easier – another great example of how much we value the relationship.”