Renault PR100.3
| Company type | Bus model |
|---|---|
| Industry | Automotive |
| Predecessor | Renault R312 |
Area served | Australia |
| Products | Single-decker buses (step-entrance and low-floor) |
The Renault PR100.3 represented a single-decker bus available in Australia, featuring both step-entrance and low-floor designs, and was derived from the Renault R312 model. Similar to the PR100.2, it integrated the front section, chassis, and dashboard of the R312 with a range of different body configurations.
Australia
In Australia, three operators incorporated the PR100.3 into their fleets: ACTION, King Brothers, and Transperth.
ACTION
ACTION added 42 PR100.3 vehicles to their lineup, all fitted with bodies by Austral-Denning that included the R312 front end. Initially, two of these buses operated on compressed natural gas (CNG) before being converted back to diesel fuel in 2007. The entire fleet was retired by July 2020.
Busways
Following its acquisition of King Brothers in 2004, Busways took over 25 PR100.3 buses. Among these, twenty-four were equipped with bodies from Custom Coaches, while one featured a body by Northcoast Bus & Coach. These buses primarily served routes along New South Wales’ Mid North Coast, with some units later transferred to Western Sydney.
Transperth
Transperth procured a single PR100.3 bus bodied by Volgren, which was operated by Path Transit. This vehicle differed significantly from ACTION’s versions in terms of body style and interior layout, retaining only the dashboard, chassis, steering column, and front section derived from the R312. It included an evaporative cooling system and was converted to run on CNG by Transcom. Designated as number 1133, it saw limited use due to unsatisfactory performance, was unsuccessfully offered for sale in 1993, withdrawn in 2016, and eventually sold privately for preservation purposes.