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Low floor buses

admin — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 10:33:20 +0000

Low floor buses are based on so called low floor technology, determining a vehicle design with extra low floors. Vehicles with low floor technology are prior used in short-range public transportation. Using low floor technology for instance helps disabled people, seniors, wheelchair users, young mothers with baby buggies or little children and others to have a barrier-free access to the particular vehicle and increases the travel comfort for users of the short-range public transportation.

Vehicles, equipped with low floor technology, need preferably compact drive units, or alternatively a different assembly of accessories and drive technology than used with other types of omnibuses. The engine of a low floor bus, for example, is implemented in the rear, crossways to the driving direction. Low floor buses additionally have the ability of pneumatic lowering at the side of entry and exit, enabling passengers a comfortable ground-level entrance and exit at the different bus stops with higher curbstones.?
The rapid rise and development of low floor buses started at 1987, when bus manufacturer Neoplan together with the public utility company of Munich developed and introduced a low floor bus for the short-range public transportation of the Bavarian provincial capital. Following, large vehicle manufacturers MAN and Mercedes Benz also relied on low floor technology and themselves developed their own low floor bus models. Until 1997 almost all low floor bus models were based on the so called standard public service vehicle II. But since then, manufacturer-specific solutions became prevalent. So the so called Low-Entry-Bus was designed. With this omnibus type, only the front-wagon has a low floor, while the rear-wagon can only be accessed by passengers by a ramp or a step.?? Besides, vehicle manufacturers developed another system with low floor technology. The Neoplan N 4114 DE had a consistent ground-level passenger compartment and did not have rear wheel houses. The engine of this low floor bus was placed in a driving module above the tractable rear axle. Also these low floor buses had an electrical drive, but that concept could not prevail, although Mercedes Benz developed and manufactured a similar omnibus.

Omnibuses with low floor technology are in Germany mostly used in short-range public transportation in larger cities. Low floor buses are seldom used as country buses and usually not used in long-range public transportation. The reason is that, compared to the other introduced types of omnibuses, low floor buses have less comfort and amenities. Also the higher position of the seats and the associated view is an indispensable criterion for the sophisticated passenger, not to mention the missing possibilities of luggage deposit in low floor buses in comparison to coaches.?
For the use of low floor buses in short-range public transportation there are many regulations and ordinances to take care of. So buses used in short-range public transportation have to have at least one place for wheelchair users or baby buggies, including the required safety belt, so nothing will happen to the passengers while driving and wheelchair or baby buggy are saved adequately. ?
Omnibuses are also converted appropriately and equipped with low floor technology as well as special facilities for disabled or invalid people. These facilities among others are loading ramps, hydraulic ramps or lifts, especially designed fastening systems for wheelchairs as well as belts for the fastening of wheelchairs.?

These entry and exit systems, disabled-friendly and strictly fitted tot he needs of invalid or care-dependent people, are prior installed into minibuses or cars with enough ceiling height. However, some certain coaches and city buses also use those devises for easy entry and exit. There are some companies that are specialized on manufacturing tools for the safe and comfortable transportation of disabled, invalid or care-dependent people in the omnibus technology sector. For the operation of so called ambulance service- or wheelchair-buses there are very strict directives and standards in Germany.

Most low floor buses made by the large bus manufacturers have a length of at least ten meters. In the area of mini- and midibuses on the contrary there is only a little selection of low floor buses. This fact, among other things, has it’s origins in the construction of mini- and midibuses, which are based on already existing chassis of commercial vehicles, in principle not made and not appropriate for use in the context of low floor technology. Therefore, to make a low floor bus out of a mini- or midibus would mean a massive intrusion to the original chassis for the vehicle manufacturer, which would not be economically profitable and also is a matter of the vehicle body warranty. Besides, this would be associated with enormous costs for development and homologation (approval).

Only a few bus manufacturers, despite all adverse circumstances, are backing on development and manufacturing of low floor buses in the field of mini- and midibuses. Belonging to those are the Austrian bus manufacturer “Kutsenitz” and the Dutch manufacturer “VDL-Kusters”.

Nightliner Bus

admin — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 10:31:54 +0000

Nightliners are coaches that are rented by tour- and concert promoters to transport a singer, band or otherwise artistically active star from one place to another. Usually the bus transfer takes place at night, consequently nightliners are equipped. Other than conventional coaches, nightliners have beds for most of their prominent passengers. Also the rest of the furnishing is luxury. Many nightliners have the newest multimedia technology on board, starting with large LED- or plasma TVs, newest gaming consoles and the best and biggest hi-fi equipment available for omnibuses. Also modern nightliners have fully equipped kitchens, from fully automated coffee machine to microwave.?
Technically nightliners do not differ from usual coaches. The buses are produced by the large manufacturers without interior, meaning with almost identical coachwork and same engines, brakes and other parts needed for fluently operation. Afterwards the nightliners are equipped after the customized wishes and needs. Prime cost for one especially equipped nightliner can easily increase up to 1,2 million Euro.?
Modern nightliners are scaled into four categories by equipment and interior:

- Castliner,
- Crewbus,
- Bandbus, and
- Starbus

Coaches

admin — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 10:29:28 +0000

An omnibus used for tourist traffic as well as long range public transport is called coach. According to the equipment, acquisition costs of a modern coach can amount between 250.000 up to 600.000 Euro. In terms of construction a coach is an omnibus, which exclusively has seats. By EU-policy 2001/85 from November 20th 2001 coaches are categorized as “vehicles, exclusively built for transportation of seated passengers.”

Modern coaches are usually driven by six or eight cylinders and diesel engines with one or two turbo chargers, engine size of up to 16 liters, top engine power of approximately 375kW and 8-, 12-, or 16-speed transmission. Additional they have ASR, ABS, wear-free additional brakes, a lane departure warning system as well as active cruise control. By now also seat belts for every single seat are required by law. ?
Compared to other kinds of omnibuses, coaches have additional constitutions, taking care of the comfort of passengers and bus driver. In detail, these are:

- Footboards and foldout tables on every seat
- Comfortable seats with armrest, headrest and adjustable seat back for every passenger
- Drink holder and ashtray on every seat
- Deposit for hand luggage above the seats
- Curtain and reading lamp on every single seat
- Small bar or bistro
- Mini kitchen with coffee machine and microwave
- Refrigerator
- Board microphone system
- Radio system for the whole interior area of the bus
- Television with DVD-player
- Safety devices for passengers (seat belts, retarder, ABS, EPS)
- Luggage rooms in the bottom part of the bus (underneath the seats, accessibly from outside)
- Mist-free double-glazed windows
- Seat next to the bus driver for tour guide or second bus driver
- Air conditioning system
- Engine-independent air heating system
- GPS-navigation system

Coaches are differenced into single-deck and double-deck buses. The higher design of the last-mentioned gives passengers a better outlook, making them very interesting for sightseeing tours and such like. Modern coaches have a passenger capacity of 30 up to 59 seats, double-deck buses can transport up to 70 passengers on board. Also in many team sports, such as soccer, ice hockey or handball, coaches with all their comfort are used as team buses.?
Quality community “Buskomfort e.V.” classified coaches after a five-star-concept, similar to hotels. The ranking depends on the seat spacing. ?
Coaches are classified as follows:?

- Five stars: deluxe coach with seat spacing of at least 81 cm (Luxus-Class)
- Four stars: long-distance coach with seat spacing of at least 74 cm (First-Class)
- Three stars: coach with seat spacing of at least 68 cm (Comfort-Class)
- Two stars: bus with seat spacing of at least 65 cm (Tourist-Class)
- One star: excursion bus with seat spacing of at least 65 cm (Standard-Class)

School buses

admin — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 10:26:57 +0000

School buses are used for the transportation of students from their homes to school and back, as well as school excursions. They are especially used where the public network of bus stops cannot guarantee for a save way to school or the capacity of the particular transportation network does not last.

Basically school buses are mini- or midibuses, but compared to other models they mostly are equipped simpler, for example they have normal seats without a vertically adjustable seat back or they don’t have an air conditioning system.

Midibuses with a passenger capacity of up to 68 people

admin — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 10:25:32 +0000

A midibus is a public service vehicle with a length of 8 to 10 meters. Midibuses are mostly used in short-range public transportation in the country, in small towns and the suburbs of larger cities. Midibuses used in the tourism industry and tourism traffic are generally referred to as club buses. With their size and capacity midibuses fill in the gap between large omnibuses and minibuses. They have a passenger capacity of between 35 and up to 68 people.

According their size, midibus are classified into two different frame sizes. The larger models are shortened standard buses, where the middle part between front axle and 2nd bus door is shortened by two seat rows. Otherwise there are no differences in the construction of larger midibuses and standard buses. Smaller models usually are individual constructions. These models additionally have shorter overhangs in the front- and rear-area and partially are up to 15 cm narrower than standard buses. However, the transition between the two different frame sizes is fluent.

Midibuses are – optically and constructively – strongly guided by standard buses of the particular manufacturer. Many parts of the standard buses are also used with the midibuses. These are for example:

- Headlights,
- Taillights,
- Doors,
- Interiors,
- Bumpers,
- Installation position of the engine in the rear, and
- Side windows.

The position of the engine in the rear may be the key differentiation of midibuses to minibuses. Because they usually have front engines or similar engines of mini vans.

Midibuses are developed and manufactured to fit the needs and demands of potential passengers. To fill the niche between standard buses and minibuses is the main function of midibuses. While minibuses are totally ineligible for public transportation in a city with a population of 15.000, standard buses would appeal quite oversized. So Midibuses are the perfect alternative for the job. But also in tourist traffic and tourist industry midibuses are becoming increasingly popular. They are way more maneuverable than the larger standard buses, making them virtually predestinated for the use in the mountains with many serpentines or in the narrow winded streets of a historical downtown.

Best known representatives of midibuses among others are:

- Irisbus Accessbus GX 127
- Ikarus 405
- Solaris Alpino
- EvoBus Citaro K
- MAN Lion`s City M
- Neopaln Centroliner N 4007

Minibuses with a passenger capacity between 12 and 22 people

admin — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 10:24:19 +0000

In short-range public transportation there are also minibuses with a passenger capacity between 12 and 22 people. Those are prior used for public transportation on extra construed routes (taxi bus, quarter bus). With a lower ridership, these minibuses are passenger-friendly and more comfortable than bigger omnibuses. Also these minibuses are much more environmentally sound as large public service vehicles.

During the past years a trend away from large buses towards minibuses could be observed also in the tourism area. Because of smaller tour groups, many large coaches are not fully stretched anymore, so many travel agencies have a fleet of minibuses in their current car pools. Besides the regular public transportation minibuses are also used for school buses, ambulance service and transport of disabled people as well as in the tourism industry.

Manufacturers more and more upgrade their minibus models and constantly evolve them, to fit them to the needs of passengers and the standards of the different bus companies.

Among others, the following arrangements to increase the quality of minibuses were taken by the manufacturers:

- Assembly and alteration of windows (tinted wondows, optional conversion to double glazing),
- Assembly of lower entrance by an additional footstep or an extendable extra step,
- Alteration of hinged doors to electrically driven and automatically fold-out vehicle doors,
- Assembly of a new vehicle floor with integrated railing system, enabling stepless adjusting of the seats,
- Assembly of air conditioning with central or individual airstream,
- Possibility of requested interior trim or a new interior lighting, and
- Possibility of requested Assembly of multimedia systems, like DVD-player etc., refrigerator or cooling box or even a complete mini-kitchen.

Best known representatives of minibuses among others are:
- Mercedes Sprinter
- Mercedes Vito
- Mercedes Viano
- Ford Transit
- Renault Espace
- VW Crafter
- Opel Vivaro
- Nissan Primastar
- Fiat Ducato
- Peugeot Boxer
- Citroen Jumper

Minibuses with a passenger capacity of up to 9 people

admin — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 10:22:45 +0000

A so called minibus, which by the way got this name in Germany in the 1950′s when the VW-bus was introduced, is a mini-van with up to 9 seats (including the driver seat) based on a chassis of a utility vehicle.

Because of the limitation of seats to 9 people, in the German road traffic regulations minibuses count as automobiles. According to the traffic regulations, these minibuses can be driven with a driver license class 3, a license for automobiles.
Minibuses are often referred to as Van, a term that developed in the 1990′s when the Renault Espace was introduced to the market.

General information about omnibuses

admin — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 10:19:40 +0000

The official denomination for a motor driven omnibus in Germany is Kraftomnibus (KOM). The name omnibus might have its origin in an advertising slogan of the French businessman Omnes (“Omnes omnibus”) from 1825, which was then taken over and used by vehicle owner Baudry.

Omnibuses are mostly driven by diesel or gas engines, an alternative use of hydrogen powered engines is currently in a testing phase. Omnibuses are equipped with rear engines (except minibuses) and are rear-wheel driven. Compared with trucks, omnibuses are less heavy, so they mostly are sufficient with a six-speed manual transmission. It mostly has automatic clutch or a force supported gear change. However, more and more coaches are provided with fully automated transmissions. In public service vehicles, fully automated transmission is completely enforced already, most of all for more accommodation for passengers and the bus driver.

The official denomination denotes vehicles with a passenger capaity of more than eight people (without the driver) as omnibus or Kraftomnibus. To drive an omnibus, a particular driver license is necessary. By a unified regulation, valid in the whole European Union (EU), driver licenses for buses are denoted with the letter “D”. So driver license category “D1″ is valid for passenger capacity up to 16 people, with category “D1E” you can additionaly have a trailer with up to 750 kg. Driver License category “DE” qualifies for any omnibus with random passenger capacity plus a trailer of up to 750 kg.

Since 2007 there is a new speed ruling for omnibuses in Germany. New approved buses may have a high speed of 100 kilometers per hour, while the old ruling of 80 km/h is only still valid for very few older omnibus models. Omnibuses are used in 3 different main transportation areas. These are:
- Long-distance public transportation
- Tourist traffic, and
- Short-range public transportation.