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Buses World News

In brief: Worldwide's news & informations about Buses, Busmakers, Passengers' and the Transport Industry

19.3.12

BUSES' SALES * WORLDWIDE

* Lithuania - Solaris 30 sells hybrid/biogas buses

Kaunas,Lithuania -Publics.bg -15 March 2012: -- Two Lithuanian cities have chosen a total of 30 climate-friendly Solaris buses to renew their fleets over the coming months... In Kaunas, municipal operator Kauno Autobusai has chosen the environmental benefits of biogas. The sustainably produced fuel will be used to power 24 Solaris Urbino 12 CNG...  Panevėžio Autobusų Parkas runs city buses in the northern city of Panevėžys. The company has ordered six diesel-electric Solaris Urbino 12 Hybrid...  Solaris and Panevėžys will be jointly leading the way towards climate-friendly transport, with the Solaris Urbino 12 Hybrid set to be the first hybrid buses in Lithuania...

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BUS MARKETS * WORLDWIDE

* China - Analysis of Bus market Production and Sales in Feb.


Beijing,China -China Buses, by Lily -13 March 2012: -- In February 2012, the production and  sales of Chinese buses including chassis respectively were 33,647 units and 32,990 units, which their production month-on month growth were 12.60% and and sales' 1.52 % and their year-on-year growth respectively were 61.69% and 39.24 %.

* Large Buses: The production and sales of Chinese large buses in February 2012, respectively were 4,464 units and 4,301 units, which their year-on-year growth respectively were 195.43 % and 139.61%. From Jan. to Feb. 2012, the production and sales of Chinese large buses respectively were 8,962 units and 9,016 units, which their production and sales' year-on-year growth respectively were 20.10% and 7.21 %.

* Medium Buses: The production and sales of Chinese medium buses respectively were 3,461 units and 3,288 units in February 2012, which their year-on-year growth respectively were 16.18% and 4.49%. From Jan. to Feb. 2012, the production and sales of Chinese medium buses respectively were 7,958 units and 8,100 units, which their production and sales' year-on-year growth respectively were 16.18% and 4.49%.


* Light Buses: The production and sales of Chinese light buses respectively were 20,807 units and 20,386 units in February 2012, which their year-on-year growth respectively were 48.65% and -7.45%. From Jan. to Feb. 2012, the production and sales of Chinese light buses respectively were 37,176 units and 37,664 units, which their production and sales' year-on-year growth respectively were 3.45% and -7.45%.

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15.3.12

BUSMAKERS R & D - Canada

* Quebec invests $30 million in electric-vehicle manufacturing for international market

Montreal,Quebec,CAN -The Montreal Gazette/Jark Business, by J. Taylor -March 12, 2012: -- Public-private partnership to produce green buses ... The Quebec government announced on Wednesday that it was investing $30 million in an ambitious $73-million public-private project that plans to develop electric buses for the international mass-transportation market... The funding is intended to give the province a leg up over the competition and a chance to become an innovation leader in the burgeoning global electric-vehicle industry... The announcement was made by Quebec Premier, Jean Charest, Wednesday morning at the headquarters of St. Eustache-based Nova Bus, the main supplier of buses used on Montreal Island... A non-profit organization, Consortium Bus Electric, has been established to manage the project. The group plans to produce two different size aluminum electric-bus models... 

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Public Transport * USA

* Mass transit use rises as gas prices soar

(Photo: Ridership on mass transit reaches second highest level since 1957 as gas prices soar)
New York,NY,USA -CNNMoney, by Steve Hargreaves -March 12, 2012: -- Ridership on the nation's trains and buses hit one of the highest levels in decades, with officials crediting high gas prices, a stronger economy and new technology that makes riding public transit easier... In 2011, Americans took 10.4 billion trips on mass transit -- which includes buses, trains, street cars and ferries, according to the American Public Transportation Association... That's a 2.3% increase over 2010 and just shy of the number of trips in 2008, when gasoline spiked to a record national average of $4.11 a gallon... Michael Melaniphy, president of APTA said gas prices near $4 a gallon tends to be the tipping point that pushes more people onto mass transit...

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12.3.12

BUSMAKERS NEWS * WORLDWIDE

* Germany - Daimler Buses Launches Growth and Efficiency Offensive. Division achieves its second-highest sales result ever in 2011

(Photo: The new Mercedes-Benz Citaro)
Stuttgart,Germany -MBenz's (PR) -Mar 12, 2012: -- Daimler Buses achieved its second-best sales result ever in 2011, selling a total of 39,740 vehicles or 2% more than in the previous year. The division achieved this result despite difficult sales conditions for complete buses. The only time that sales were even higher was in 2008, when almost 40,600 units were delivered. As a result, Daimler Buses continues to be the world’s leading supplier of buses weighing more than 8 tons GVW...  311,000 buses were sold worldwide, an increase of 2% compared to the previous year...


* Swiss - Mercedes-Benz showcases its Vito E-CELL emissions-free people hauler

(Photo: The Mercedes Vito E-Cell will be available around Europe in May)
Geneve,Swiss -Gizmag, by Chris Weiss -March 9, 2012: -- It may not be the sexiest electric vehicle on display at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show, but the Mercedes-Benz Vito E-Cell is definitely one of the hardest working...  The "crewbus" travels up to 80 miles (130 km), so it's not an effective people hauler for road trips or long airport shuttle routes - it's more comfortable on short commutes within city limits. Mercedes sees it as a useful tool for businesses, such as hotels that offer a shuttle around the city or tour buses for parks and nature preserves - essentially any business that needs to carry a van-load of people short distances and wants to cut emissions out of the equation. The van travels at speeds up to 55 mph (89 km/h), so it's definitely better off on city streets than the likes of the Autobahn... Though the production model will be available in a few months, Mercedes chose to focus on a transparent model in Geneva, giving attendees a look through the window of electric mobility. The show model uses LEDs to light up the path that electrons take from the 36 kWh lithium ion batteries to the 60 kW motor on the front axle...

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8.3.12

BATTERY MAKERS * India

* A123 announces plans to make battery packs for Tata hybrid buses

Mumbai,India -Autobloggreen, by Danny King -March 1st 2012: -- A123, the battery company that supplies lithium-ion battery packs, will produce battery packs for hybrid-electric buses made by Tata Motors, India's biggest automaker...  Tata represents at least the third new battery-making contract for A123 in the past couple of months...

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1.3.12

BUSMAKERS NEWS * China

* Shenzhen - BYD may locate its factory in Windsor

Shenzhen,China -China Buses, by Lily -24 Feb 2012: -- Chinese green company BYD Bus, which has its North American headquarters in Los Angeles, has been in discussions for over a year with Mayor Eddie Francis and other local officials about primary manufacturing plant for electric buses in Windsor... The number of possible jobs will likely range between 100 to 500, he said, citing the rate of employment as being roughly equivalent to one job to each bus produced annually... BYD's electric bus was taken on a 15-city tour recently that included Windsor and Toronto (ONT/Canada), Washington and Los Angeles (USA)...  The bus costs roughly 20 per cent more than a natural gas hybrid bus, but offers savings through having no fuel costs. A bus can operate all day on a single charge. The company's only other electric bus manufacturing plant is located in China and produces roughly 1,000 vehicles per year, he said...


* Shanghai - Sunlong signed a cooperative agreement with Vibracoustic

Shanghai,SH,China -China Buses, by Lily -24 Feb 2012: -- Sunlong Bus and Germany Vibracoustic signed an strategic cooperative agreement... According to the agreement, both sides will further cooperate and exchange various technical skills in the damping system products etc... In addition, the two sides also keep the regular communication of companies' top executives to set up information sharing platform and constantly improve cooperation relationship between development of strategic cooperation agreement... Vibracoustic is wholly-owned subsidiaries by the Freudenberg Group which is a Germany-based company that supplies seals, vibration control technology components, filters, nonwovens, release agents and lubricants to almost all of the world’s car manufacturers. Under the Freudenberg Group, Vibracoustic now become the NO.1 in the air suspension industry. In China, only 20%-30% of the buses use the air suspension in it...


* Jiangxi - Shangrao Coach Company Secures Big Orders in February

(Image: Shangrao school bus Jiangxi B-Energy)
Shangrao,Jiangxi,China -China Buses, by Song -24 Feb 2012:  --  Unlike slack season in previous February, Shangrao Coach Company has made its 600 workers rush out for school bus orders since the third day of the lunar year. In February, the company delivers over 200 school buses, increasing 50% over last February...  Cooperating with Chinese Academy of Sciences on new-energy buses, Shangrao Coach Company secured many big overseas orders for high-end buses. With over 40 models of school buses in national bulletin, Shangrao Coach sold nearly 1000 school buses last year, ranking No.5...


* USA - School bus maker to build plant in China

Fort Valley,GA,USA -Automotive News China -28 Feb 2012: -- Blue Bird Corp., a U.S. school bus maker, plans to build an assembly plant with Xiamen Fentai Bus & Coach Co., a Chinese company, in the east China city of Xiamen...  The U.S. company said it wants to partner with Xiamen Fentai to build a plant in the city's Haichang district. The plant would produce up to 20,000 school buses a year...


* China - Smith Electric Vehicles and Wanxiang Group to build electric school buses in

Xiaoshan District,Hangzhou,China -Charged EVs (USA), by Charlie Morris -28 Feb 2012: -- Smith Electric Vehicles and Chinese auto parts maker Wanxiang Group announced this morning that they will from a joint venture to manufacture electric school buses and commercial vehicles in China. The companies signed a letter of intent at the US-China Economic and Trade Cooperation Forum in Los Angeles...  The EVs will be sold under the Smith brand, and will combine Wanxiang’s components with Smith’s proprietary drive and battery platforms. The Smith Drive system features a configurable drive controller with integrated inverters for the management of auxiliary systems, as well as a brushless permanent magnet motor. The Smith Power battery system uses battery cells of various sizes from Valence and A123... Smith currently manufactures the Newton and Edison electric commercial vans...

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23.2.12

BUSMAKERS NEWS * WORLDWIDE

* Geneve Motor Show - Ford Tourneo Concept previews new Transit

Cologne,Germany -Ford's PR -Feb. 22, 2012:   --  The dynamic new Ford Tourneo Custom Concept will make its global debut at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show in March, bringing a new level of energy and style to the European personal use vehicle segment...  Previewing the introduction of a completely new range of people movers, with commercial vehicles to follow, the Tourneo Custom Concept showcases a dramatic new look that will appeal to customers seeking style, functionality and space... Among the smart, innovative features included on the concept are:
* ECOnetic Technologies – Ford’s advanced low-CO2 features including Auto-Start-Stop and Smart Regenerative Charging
* SYNC voice-activated, in-car connectivity system – enables mobile phones and music players to be connected to the vehicle, and controlled using voice control
* Emergency Assistance – enabled by SYNC, this new feature is designed to assist occupants to contact the Emergency Services in the event of an accident, providing vehicle location information
* Advanced restraint system – including driver, passenger, side and curtain airbags
* Rear-view camera – integrated into the rear view mirror
* Lane Departure Warning and Driver Alert – latest driver assistance features to alert the driver if the system detects the vehicle is inadvertently drifting out of the lane, or the driver is becoming tired behind the wheel


* Germany - Daimler Boosts Mobility: Bus Chassis of New Assembly Facility for Colombia

(Photo: Mercedes Benz Atego 1016, ensamblado en Bogota)
Stuttgart,Germany / Bogota,Colombia -Daimler (PR) -Feb 22, 2012: -- On February 16, the Daimler subsidiary, Daimler Colombia S.A., officially opened a new bus chassis assembly in Bogota so that it can continue to meet the demand for buses from Daimler, especially for efficient passenger transportation in densely populated cities... Daimler to have an initial output of 500 chassis in 2012 to prepare for growing demand for buses and efficient bus transport systems in major Colombian cities. Four-digit production capacity in the medium term... The facility will assemble bus chassis based on the Mercedes-Benz 1016 and the Thomas EF 1723, and will initially assemble a batch of 500 units this year... The models’ design is unique, since they were specifically developed for the Colombian market and are being exclusively assembled in Bogota. As completely knocked down kits (CKD), the Mercedes-Benz 1016 chassis are delivered from the plant in Wörth, Germany, and the Thomas EF 1723 chassis are conveyed from the Thomas Built Buses facility in High Point, North Carolina, and are finally assembled in Bogota...

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20.2.12

BUSMAKERS NEWS * WORLDWIDE

* UK - New London doubledecker bus mixes old and new

(Photo: A new doubledecker bus of London)
London,EN,UK -Busworld (Belgium) -16 Feb 2012: -- Transport for London now introduces a new bus to replace the unpopular Mercedes-Benz Citaro articulated bus. TfL wanted the bendy bus’s replacement to pay homage to its predecessor, the Routemaster, whose distinguishing feature was an open platform at the rear allowing passengers to hop on and off...  But this new double-decker has a very low emission, just exhausting 640g per km and 3.96g per km respectively, thus beating the EU Euro 5 rules. This was achieved through engineering and low-weight construction for fuel- efficiency by the bus manufacturer Wrightbus. The interior and exterior aesthetic design was provided by London agency Heatherwick Studio... The hybrid engine and running gear were specially configured with software tailored for a London bus that is on the road for up to 22 hours a day, travelling on average 6mph and stopping and starting every 100 metres. While Wrightbus’s buses are typically made of bolted aluminium frames and sheet panels, the rear of the new bus instead comprises lightweight fibre-reinforced composite. The new London doubledecker is 11.3m long but 100kg lighter than a standard Wrightbus doubledecker, which has a length of 10.6m long...


* Japan - Mitsubishi Aero Star Bus fitted with Allison Transmission

(Photo: The Mitsubishi Bus 2012)
Hakone,Japan -Busworld (Belgium) -14 Feb 2012: -- The Hakone area outside Tokyo, Japan, has long has been known as a dangerous area for road travel due to steep mountain roads and sharp curves that are the most precipitous in the country. Drivers encounter these treacherous roads and curves at short intervals over long stretches, making driving a difficult task... Even the roads that pass through the historical section of town are narrow, and for buses that must travel these roads, steering is a challenge. To make driving in areas such as these a little easier, operator Hakone Tozan Bus is acquiring Mitsubishi Fuso Aero Star buses equipped with the T310 model fully automatic from Allison Transmission... The new Aero Stars operated by Hakone Tozan Bus are able to stop safely at the many bus stops located on hilly roads and also minimize the sudden jolting that usually occurs when manual vehicles begin accelerating from a stop...


* India - AMW launches Magnus Coach

(Photo: An AMW's Magnus)
Mumbai,Maharashtra,India -Busworld (Belgium) -20 Feb 2012: -- Indian truck manufaturer Asia Motor Works has entered the coach market with the launching of the Magnus luxury coach, presented during the New Delhi Auto Show, where this coach was one of the highlights of the AMW pavilion...  The 14.3 metre long, 57-seat, inter-city bus is at this moment the longest in the country and will offer a host of comfort features to ensure a stress-free journey. The company ís strategy is to offer global products at an affordable price, and with this product the company is confident of competing with established players at the very top of the bus market in India...


* Thailand - Dongfeng minitruck starts production in

(Photo: A Dongfeng's Yu'an)
Bangkok,Thailand -Xinhua -February 17,2012: -- Dongfeng Xiao Kang, a well-known minitruck model of China, has been put into mass production in Thailand to address rising local demand, the company announced on Thursday... The factory, located in Gateway Industrial Estate in Cha Choeng Sao province, is estimated to produce 5,000 units of minitrucks per year... The factory aims to enhance productivity and meet rising market demand, estimating that the sales of Dongfeng minitruck this year would reach 3000 units, a rise of 90 percent from 2011...

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BUSES SALES * WORLDWIDE

* Sweden - 25 Volvo hybrid buses for Göterborg

(Photo: A Volvo Hybrid, Goteborg)
Goteborg,Sweden -Busworld (Belgium) -10 Feb 2012: -- Volvo has now sold a total of 100 buses powered by hybrid technology in the Nordic countries. The latest order to be received by Volvo Buses is for 25 hybrid buses for Göteborgs Spårvägar (Gothenburg Tramways), which operates public transport services on behalf of Västtrafik...  More and more transport authorities and operators are now discovering the benefits of hybrid technology, with Nobina, Nettbuss and, most recently, Göteborgs Spårvägar, as the biggest customers in the Nordic countries... The 25 Volvo 7700 hybrid buses are powered by a small diesel engine and an electric motor. Fuel consumption is radically reduced by the use of regenerative braking to recover the energy generated when the vehicle’s brakes are applied. The diesel engine is shut off at bus stops, enabling the bus to operate silently and emission-free on electricity. However, emissions from diesel operation are also low since the bus is fuelled by biodiesel. According to Volvo Buses, hybrid buses running on biodiesel have a distinctly lower environmental impact than other, comparable alternatives...

* India - Volvo CNG city bus is tested in Navi Mumbai

(Photo: The Volvo 8400 Low Floor compressed natural gas bus)
Mumbai,Maharashtra,India -Busworld -12 Feb 2012: -- The Volvo 8400 Low Floor compressed natural gas bus with ZF Ecolife transmission has been acquired by the Navi Mumbai Municipal Transport (NMMT) of Maharashtra, for use on the Kharghar-Borivali route, which covers a daily distance of some 300 kilometers... This will be the second location after New Delhi where the Volvo CNG bus trials will be conducted. The test in the capital city is currently underway with Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) and has shown encouraging results thus far. Currently, the NMMT operates 26 Volvo 8400 city buses in Mumbai...


* India - MAN Force launched their 45 seater bus on the Indian market

(Photo: A MAN Airocoach 2012)
Pithampur,Madhya Pradesh,India -Busworld (Belgium) -9 Feb 2012: -- MAN Force Trucks unveiled its first offering in the Indian bus segment, the MAN Airobus, a 45 seaters airconditioned intercity coach at the Auto Expo 2012 ... The AIROBUS is powered by the 220hp BSIII MAN D08 engine up front, and is fitted with a 6 speed ZF synchromesh gearbox; Meritor axles and a MAN-designed air suspension on both front and rear axles...  A large windshield offers outstanding visibility, threeway adjustable deluxe driver seat and intelligently placed outside rear view mirrors make driving the MAN Bus an effortless fatigue free experience...  The Airobus is being manufactured at the company’s facility at Pithampur in Madhya Pradesh, where it has a production capacity of 24,000 trucks a year. MAN Force plan to sell around 6,000 units including the bus. Force Motors and MAN it's a joint venture company formed in 2006...


* China - Yungman buses to be exported to Israel

(Image: A Youngman's Bus model JNP6140FK)
Jinhua,Zhejiang,China -Busworld -11 Feb 2012: -- The Israeli automotive company Feldman Limited,has signed a long term exclusive agreement with Youngman Automotive to begin importing and selling the Chinese brand buses in Israel. Youngman coaches are produced in Jinhua, Zhejiang province; it specializes in producing high quality Neoplan-design buses, under special license from the German luxury bus brand, with a monocoque body structure and the Neoplan independent front suspension... The buses to be exported to Israel will be equipped with a Cummins 11L, Euro 5, engine with 420hp, ZF drive axle, ZF EcoLife automatic transmission and ESC system. Israel vehicle homologation regulations are strict, with high barriers for emission and safety. Youngman is expected to meet these standards...

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SMELL BUS SHELTERS * UK

* Spud-scented bus shelters are ads for the nose

(Picture by Kyrsty Hazell/The Huffington Post UK: Bus shelters across the UK will smell like baked potatoes, thanks to a new advertising campaign to promote McCain's ready-baked potato)
London,EN,UK -The Huffington Post(uk) -February 17, 2012: ... Bus shelters in cities across the UK are to be fitted with smell-emitting advertisements designed to mimic the aroma of a slow-baked potato... The shelters don't perpetually make smells, however. A button on the poster, when pressed by passers by, fires up a concealed heating element which creates the scent...

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18.2.12

BUSES RECALLS * USA

* Illinois - Navistar recalls more than 18,000 vehicles

(Photo: A Navistar's bus model IC BUS HC)
Warrenville,ILL,USA -Recall Cast -February 17, 2012: -- Navistar is recalling 18,959 of its International trucks and IC Bus branded buses in the USA... Navistar is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 IC Bus HC, and International 9400, and certain model year 2011 through 2013 International Durastar, Paystar, Workstar, Transtar, Lonestar, Prostar, 9200, and 9800, and certain model year 2013 International 9900...  Vehicles manufactured from Decembar 2, 2010, through January 26, 2012, and equipped with Bendix ATR-6 traction relay valves. In extremely cold conditions, these Bendix Relay Valves, may potentially develop internal leakage, that can lead to air pressure being delivered to affected primary or secondary brake, causing continuous brake appplication...

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6.2.12

BUSMAKERS NEWS * WORLDWIDE

* Germany - Public transport in Istanbul shifts into a higher gear with a major order for 221 Mercedes-Benz city buses

(Photo: A Mercedes-Benz Conecto articulated bus)
Stuttgart,Germany / Istanbul,Turkey -MB/Press Release -Feb 03, 2012: -- A new major order for 221 Mercedes-Benz Conecto articulated buses has been placed by the public transportation provider IETT to update its fleet of city buses in the metropolis on the Bosporus. IETT, which was established in 1871, operates light rail systems, subways, regular-service buses, and utilizes the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) mobility concept... The 221 Mercedes-Benz Conecto articulated buses are being produced at the Mercedes-Benz bus plant in Hosdere and will be delivered to the customer until September 2012. The 18-meter low-floor bus can carry up to 160 passengers...


* India - Eicher to set up manufacturing plant near Indore

Indore,Madhya Pradesh,India -Zig Wheels, by Rahul Basu -8 Feb 2012: -- New facility near Indore, Madhya Pradesh will commence production by the 2nd quarter of 2013, and will have a capacity to produce 10,000 buses when fully operational... Instrumental in pioneering and producing the first “Safe School Bus” in India, Eicher’s 25 year stint in India has seen the truck maker grow in leaps and bounds, with a product portfolio that today ranges from 5t to 40t GVW trucks and 21 to 69 seater buses... Since tying up with Swedish bus giant Volvo in 2008 to form the VE Commercial vehicles limited (Volvo Group and Eicher Motors JV), things have only gotten better for the indigenous truck maker and in an effort to further expand its operations in the country, Eicher recently conducted a ground breaking ceremony for its upcoming state-of-the art bus manufacturing plant in Madhya Pradesh... The plant would have robotic processes for bus painting and will be highly mechanized to ensure high quality consistency and productivity. An in-house training centre for the Blue collar workmen has been facilitated to ensure an on-going robust quality system from within the production plant...

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2.2.12

DRIVERS' STRIKE * INDIA

* School bus owners threaten indefinite stir

(Photo - Delhi: India auto rickshaw schoolbus transportation students)
Mumbai,India -The Times of India, by Shreya Bhandary -Feb 1, 2012: -- School bus owners have once again threatened to go on an indefinite strike, claiming that this time, they will stick to their plan...  On Monday, the School Bus Owners' Association (SBOA) called for a state-wide indefinite strike, starting from February 6, until the state government acknowledges their problems and the changes that they had asked for in the School Bus Safety Policy...   The SBOA has asked for certain changes in the school bus policy, including the rule regarding the compulsory inclusion of two fire extinguishers inside every bus (they demand this be changed to one), and rules pertaining to the age of buses being used, etc....

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1.2.12

BUSES FLEET * USA

* Washington - 'New' transit buses hit Tri-City streets

(Photo: Ben Transit bus) 
Bellingham,WASH,USA -Tri-City Herald, by Kristi Pihl -Jan. 30, 2012: -- Ben Franklin Transit riders will see some newer buses decorated with a blue wave taking over routes... Six of the 11 buses Ben Franklin Transit recently acquired from Seattle's Sound Transit already have replaced some of the agency's older buses...  Ben Franklin Transit hasn't received new bus grants for several years. Agencies of its size are considered low priority for new buses, according to the agency.
That means Ben Franklin Transit has fallen behind on replacing buses, which normally are scheduled to be retired when they reach 12 years and 500,000 miles, McMullen said. After that, maintenance costs begin to climb...  A new bus costs $350,000 to $400,000, she said. Ben Franklin Transit hopes to be able to buy as many as five new buses this year. In the meantime, the agency is looking to reuse...

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PORTAL FOR PASSENGERS * India

* A bus route portal for all your travel worries

Kannampalayam,Coimbatore,India -The Times of India, by Nandhu Sundaram -Jan 29, 2012: -- Ever found yourself stranded in a bus stop without knowing which vehicle to board to reach your destination? Now, there is a digital solution on your fingertips. J Saravanan, a fourth-year information technology student of Kalaignar Karunanidhi Institute of Technology in Kannampalayam, has developed a portal, which will help you find the right bus for almost every route in Coimbatore... The inspiration behind the portal www.way2cbe.com was the website of the Metropolitan Transport Corporation... "I spent a year developing the portal. Collecting the number of routes was the toughest job. With the help of my friends, I collected a database of bus routes. Then I created my bus route map of Coimbatore," says Saravanan...

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POPULAR BUS SERVICE * USA

* New York - Why Chinatown Buses Are Still So Popular

(Image: Chinatown map. Even with low-priced, high-amenity alternatives like BoltBus, many riders remain loyal to the Chinatown service)
New York,NY,USA -The Atlantic Cities, by Eric Jaffe -Jan 30, 2012: --  The intercity bus industry has Chinatown to thank for its remarkable revival. The popularity of bus travel fell dramatically in the mid to late 20th century, as air fares became cheaper. But the mode began to rebound with the advent of the Fung Wah bus, in 1998, which traveled between the Chinatown districts of New York and Boston for unbelievably low fares and with unbelievable frequency. The success of Chinatown curbside buses led to the creation of "corporate" curbside buses like the BoltBus, co-owned by Greyhound, and together these modes helped intercity bus travel more than double in the Northeast Corridor between 1998 and 2007 — with ridership levels topping 7 million passengers...   In research published in the latest issue of Urban Geography, Rutgers doctoral students Nicholas J. Klein and Andrew Zitcer examine the source of this enthusiasm among regular Chinatown bus riders. After conducting five focus groups with riders, Klein and Zitcer discovered that Chinatown curbside devotees see the service not just as a means of transportation but as an "authentic urban experience, a thrilling and danger-enhanced departure from daily life, and as an engagement with the multicultural city" ...

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HYBRID BUSES * Canada

* Ontario - City won’t buy more hybrid buses. OC Transpo’s multimillion-dollar hybrid bus program is losing energy

(Photo: An "Oc Transpo" bus, Ottawa)
Ottawa,ONT,CAN -The Ottawa Sun, by Jon Willing -January 27, 2012: -- Larry Atkinson, manager of transit maintenance, confirmed that the company has no plans to purchase new diesel-electric buses, once touted as the answer to ballooning fuel costs... In fact, the hybrids have become part of Transpo’s problem of its fuel budget projected to be 19% overspent when the books close on 2011... There are 154 hybrid buses in Transpo’s 1,000-bus fleet but managers have been hard-pressed to maximize the vehicles’ efficiency on Ottawa’s relatively high-speed transit network... Each hybrid bus has cost the city about $100,000 to $150,000 more to buy compared to a diesel bus... Transpo’s first hybrid buses hit Ottawa streets in late 2008 and were promoted as green machines that would reduce fuel costs by 17-36%... Fast forward to September 2011, when Transpo indicated the hybrids alone were contributing $1 million to the year’s fuel deficit... Transpo indicates it will look into natural gas as an alternative bus fuel, especially since there are projections for low natural gas prices and high diesel prices...

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BUSMAKERS NEWS * WORLDWIDE

* India - Scania to invest Rs 150 crore to set up plant in Bangalore


Bangalore,India -The Economic Times -31 Jan, 2012:  --  Swedish commercial vehicle-maker Scania today announced that it will invest Rs 150 crore to set up a manufacturing facility in India in the next one year...  The proposed plant in Bangalore will roll out 2,000 heavy haulage trucks and 1,000 inter-city buses and coaches over the next five years...  With the Indian commercial vehicles segment likely to register a growth of 8-10 per cent this year, the outlook for the industry is very promising, he added...  The company said it will invest Rs 150 crore in the coming year to set up the plant in Narasapura Industrial Area, Bangalore, and the first truck will be rolled out in 2013...  Scania said it plans to produce around 2,000 heavy haulage trucks and 1,000 inter-city buses and coaches from this plant within five years...  Once fully operational, the plant will employ up to 800 people over the next five years... 


* USA / Brazil - Navistar Announces Global Commercial Bus Partnership with Investment in Brazilian Bus Builder Neobus

(Photo: Brazil's Neobus Thunder Agrale)
Lisle,ILL,USA -PRNewswire -Jan. 31, 2012: -- Navistar, Inc. today announced a global commercial bus partnership with Brazilian commercial bus body manufacturer San Marino Onibus e Implementos Ltda (Neobus). With its investment, Navistar will leverage the bus body building expertise of Neobus and Navistar's strengths in powertrain and chassis development...   The Parties have recently signed a non-binding agreement and negotiations are at an advanced stage. Finalization and execution of the binding Definitive Agreements are expected in the near future...

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28.1.12

BUS ACCESORIES MAKERS * WORLDWIDE

* Germany - Voith Turbo, reliable all over the world

Crailsheim,Germany -Busworld (Belgium) -27 Jan 2012: -- The DIWA automatic is not only a transmission specifically developed for citybuses. It is also a gearbox that has proven itself worldwide in demanding applications, such as BRT systems, and also under tough climatic conditions. This is why transport operators in Central and South America, in Africa, Australia and the Far East rely on Voith. Alongside the transmission's high reliability, a key reason for this trust is the professional local service with designated teams. Over the last few months alone, Voith received orders for 650 transmissions for Perth, 600 each for Singapore and Panama, 400 for Morocco, 200 for Macau and 700 for Sao Paulo and Curitiba in Brazil...


* Turkey - Allison Boxes in new Burulas Buses

(Photo: An Otokar Doruk bus)
Bursa,Turkey -Busworld (Belgium) -19 Jan 2012: -- Allison Transmission has further grown its presence in the Turkish public transport market, with the BURULAS (Bursa Ulasim Toplu Tasima Isletmeciligi) operation in Bursa, Turkey, ordering 18 new Otokar Doruk 215LE buses... The vehicles feature Allison’s T280R fully automatic gearboxes, bringing the number of vehicles installed with Allison transmissions in that fleet to 63. Allison’s T280R from its Torqmatic Series is claimed to be an ideal solution for buses and coaches up to 24,000kg and engines up to some 260hp of power. Models from this range have six forward speeds and one reverse gear, as well as an optional integral hydraulic retarder. According to Allison, the advanced closed loop adaptive electronic controls ensure superior shift quality and strategy for optimum passenger comfort and fuel economy...


* UK - Firstbus signs 21ST Century for mobile CCTV Systems


London,EN,UK -Busworld -27 Jan 2012: -- 21st Century, the UK’s leading supplier of public transport CCTV and vehicle monitoring systems, has been awarded Preferred Supplier status to supply and maintain on-vehicle CCTV systems for FirstGroup plc's bus operating companies in the UK... With a fleet of 8,000 buses, FirstGroup is the UK's largest bus operator running more than one in five of all local bus services. FirstGroup is also the UK's largest rail operator. In North America it operates the iconic Greyhound coach services and is the largest provider of student transportation with some 57,000 yellow school buses... 

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posted by truckbus @ 1:51 PM  0 Comments Links to this post

24.1.12

BUSMAKERS NEWS * WORLDWIDE

* Turkey - Mercedes-Benz Turk A.S. history

(Photo: Aerial View Mercedes-Benz Türk A.Ş. bus and coach plant in Hoşdere)
Hosdere,Turkey -Busworld -27 Jan 2012: -- Mercedes-Benz Turk which was founded in Istanbul with “Otomarsan” title in 1967 with 36% joint partnership of Daimler-Benz AG started 0 302 model bus production in 1968... Only 2 years after starting production, in 1970 the company began exporting and became Mercedes-Benz “Turkey General Dealer” in 1984... In 1986, in parallel with Turkey’s growth potential, Aksaray factory which is in central Anatolia began producing trucks... The company changed its trade name as “Mercedes-Benz Turk A.S.” in November 1990. Today, Mercedes-Benz Turk A.S. is one of the biggest foreign capital investments of Turkey with an investment volume over 670 Million Euros and 4700 employees. Furthermore, Mercedes-Benz Turk A.S. has 2500 employees in dealers and after sales services network country-wide... The share of Daimler AG in Mercedes-Benz Turk capital is 67%... Currently, intercity and municipal bus models are being produced in Hoşdere Factory in Istanbul and medium and heavy types of trucks are being produced in Aksaray Factory. These facilities are a significant part of development and production network of Daimler AG. The company imports and sells all the products including the ones that are being produced in Turkey.


* UK - Optare enters small bus market with the Bonito

(Photo: Optare enters small bus market with the Bonito Optare)
London,EN,UK -The Commercial Vehicle Show 2012 -17 January 2012: -- Optare announces today that it will be entering the small and accessible bus market this year with an all new Optare-badged model – the Bonito. The vehicle, produced in the Netherlands by Plastisol to Optare’s specification...  The Bonito will go on sale to British operators from June... It uses a fully integrated composite body structure with accommodation for up to 16 passengers and no separate chassis...  It is based on the highly successful Fiat Ducato Maxi light commercial vehicle which features a gross vehicle weight of 4 tonnes, a 2999cc 157bhp diesel engine, and a choice of six speed manual or semi-automatic transmission...


* China - School bus makers split on safety draft


Beijing,China -Busworld -27 Jan 2012: -- Opinions were divided among school bus manufacturers at a national conference over proposed standards for the buses, with some complaining that a newly released draft of standards sets the bar too high... The conference, held by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, is aimed at seeking feedback from major bus producers on the draft of safety standards for school buses, including technical specifications and car seat standards. The solicitation of public opinion ended on Sunday... School bus safety has been a high priority for the central government following a string of deadly road accidents involving pupils and preschoolers in the last two months of 2011. China has seen a groundswell of voices calling for safer school buses and more school bus access nationwide...

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posted by truckbus @ 7:22 AM  0 Comments Links to this post