Washington DC Bus Tours - Air and Space Museum

Washington DC Bus Tours - Air and Space Museum

The Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum, with the U.S. Capitol building in the background.
This is the most popular museum on the Mall. It has the original Wright Brothers plane, the Spirit of St. Louis, and a full size copy of NASA's Lunar Landing Module.


Open: Every day, except Christmas
Hours: 10 AM to 5:30 PM
Admission: Free
Address: 4th St and Independence Ave, SW
              Washington, DC 20560
Official Web Site:


Air and Space Museum

Tour Bus Rentals - USA Bus Charter - mytouristbus

Tour Bus Rentals - USA Bus Charter - mytouristbus

Bus charter, tour bus, limousine bus, shuttle bus, school bus and charter bus entertainer coach rentals are just the beggining of what USA Bus Charter can provide to you and your group. Experienced since 1983, the staff of USA Bus Charter make up the most experienced charter bus rental network in the U.S. today. Our CEO has been involved in the corporate, group and airport transportation business for 27 years. With more than 900 experienced, qualified, licensed and insured affiliates nationwide, USA Bus Charter has the bus you need at a price to fit all budgets.

About The Nationwide Fleet of Buses

With access to more than 9000 deluxe new and late model charter buses, tour buses, shuttle buses, school buses, limousine buses and specialty entertainer coaches nationwide, USA Bus Charter provides one of the largest fleets under one roof anywhere in North America. In fact, other bus companies contact us when they need a bus. With one of the largest selections nationwide, we've got the bus you want. Our "One Call Does It All" service allows you instant access to the charter bus type you need in more than 350 U.S. cities.

Demand The Best. Expect It!

Our clients demand several things when charteing a bus or arranging group transportation. With USA Bus Charter, our clients know they are riding with only the safest operators in the nation who meet or exceed all State and Federal standards for passenger transportation. In addition, USA Bus Charter conducts its own safety checks by utilizing the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to ensure all operators hold a Satisfactory (the highest rating assigned) by the Federal goverment on all charter bus operations. In addition, we check each buses insurance and operator safety rating prior to each and every charter.

The USA Bus Charter Difference!

If you found us on the internet you have probably found other websites as well. USA Bus Charter's staff started in this business before there was even internet. In fact, if you were to obtain a copy of the Official Airline Guide (OAG) from 1995 you'd see that we are still using the same telephone number today as we did back then. Most companies today found on the net that provide nationwide transportation are nothing more than a fancy website and not an actual company staffed with professional and dedicated account managers like USA. In the last 7 years alone we have provided service to more than 30,000 clients and an estimated "ONE MILLION PASSENGERS" worldwide.

Price. Safety. Selection. No One Even Comes Close!

We've spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to enhance the charter bus rental experience for you and your clients. Our dedicated staff of professional charter bus account managers will work with you and your group on on one from the quote to completion of your charter. This means you will have only one contact to work with and this greatly improves the end result of your service. With a nationwide buying power like very few companies have, USA Bus Charter negotiates the best rates for service, similar to online travel sites. Ride with the best...choose USA Bus Charter and save money now! 

Your Event is Our Specialty

No matter the group size and no matter the event or occasion, USA Bus Charter will be there to provide you and your group with flawless transportation for groups of 10 to 10,000 in more than 350 U.S. cities. 

Group Transportation Service.....Done Right!

USA Bus Charter knows you have a choice when it comes to chartering a bus and we want to be that clear choice and earn your business now.....and in the future. Unlike other companies you may find on the internet our CEO and Vice President have been in the business of transporting passengers since 1983. In fact, our telephone number today has been used by our family of nationwide transportation services since 1995. With roots in the transportation business for more than 27 years you and your group can sit back and relax knowing your riding with the best in the business. No one cares more for your group than USA Bus Charter and we take your safety, satisfaction and service very seriously. To learn more about how we keep our clients as safe as possible while using USA Bus.

A Message from Our Chief Executive Officer and President...

Thank you very much for stopping by our site today and giving USA Bus Charter the opportunity to earn your business. What I love sharing with our clients the most is that we are real people here at USA Bus Charter who have families, friends and children of our own and we know first hand the importance of your receiving the safest & finest service possible. If there is anything we can do for you and your group, please do not hesitate to contact us.

The Best Rate Without Negotiating!

USA Bus Charter believes our clients deserve the best rates, the best service and the best buses all without the need to negotiate or haggle. We've negotiated the best rates for you with our incredible buying power with more than 900 licensed and insured registered affiliates nationwide. This is your assurance that our best rate is always available to you and your group. Working with a small budget? Let us know!

Not All Charter Buses Are Created Equally.

When it comes time to choose a charter bus company trust a name that has been an industry leader, USA Bus Charter. Our staff of professional charter bus agents and operators will provide your group with the perfect charter bus experience....no hassles....no surprises....and at a price to fit any budget. Call one of our team members today to learn about how we can save your group time and money but riding with the best name in the business....USA Bus Charter

buses potho brijan tour - mytouristbus

buses potho  brijan tour - mytouristbus
Brijan Tours in Dawlish
15/5/2011
Brijan Tours of Hampshire in Dawlish.
They also run several bus services in the Southampton area.

Popular Neoplan AYH 583 - mytouristbus

Popular Neoplan AYH 583 - mytouristbus
Neoplan AYH 583

NEOPLAN N128/4 Built:1996
Foto: Halmstad Sweden 2009-04-23
four axle double deck coach

mega bus picture photo gallery

mega bus picture photo gallery

OC 500 chassis for buses and coaches now with ESP

OC 500 chassis for buses and coaches now with ESP

The Mercedes-Benz OC 500 RF chassis for buses and coaches produced in Sámano (Spain) is now available for two-axle touring coaches with ESP (Electronic Stability Program). This measure greatly enhances safety for buses and coaches based on chassis units and bodies. ESP helps to greatly reduce the risk of skidding, within the laws of physics, when cornering or performing evasive manoeuvres. If the bus or coach gets into a critical driving situation, ESP applies the brakes specifically and precisely at individual wheels to reduce the vehicle's speed until driving stability is restored. In the EU, ESP will be obligatory for touring coaches from 2014, for rural-service buses from 2015 and for new vehicles from as early as 2012/2013.

 

Wide range of chassis units

 

Custom-designed local bodies based on bus and coach chassis units are required for special applications so as to comply with national regulations and equipment requirements in many European countries and, above all, on the world market. With the OC 500 series (OC = Omnibus Chassis), the Mercedes-Benz Bus and Coach unit, part of EvoBus GmbH, offers a wide range of chassis units and engine variants for a broad spectrum of urban buses, rural-service buses and touring coaches. The OC 500 series produced at the Sámano plant includes chassis units for rural-service buses and touring coaches (OC 500 RF), for two- and three-axle touring coaches with independent suspension on the front axle and, where applicable, the trailing axle, as well as a low-entry chassis (OC 500 LE). All of the chassis units are available for left- or right-hand drive and can offer compliance with Euro III, IV and V as well as EEV.

 

Modular production

 

The OC 500 RF chassis units (RF = Raised Floor) are produced on a modular basis. They comprise five modules: driver's area, front axle, frame area between the axles, rear axle and drive unit comprising engine, transmission, radiator and exhaust system. Both vertically and horizontally installed six-cylinder in-line engines are available featuring economical, eco-friendly BlueTec technology. Outputs range from 260 kW to 315 kW (354 to 428 hp), while there is a choice between a six-speed manual transmission and an automatic transmission which likewise has six speeds. As a third variant, there is an automated manual transmission available.

The maximum body length is 13.5 m for the two-axle variant or 15 m for the three-axle variant. All models have size 295/80 R 22.5 tyres and tried-and-tested components, some of which are also used on the Mercedes-Benz Travego premium high-deck touring coach. The chassis has a CAN databus with standardised interfaces to the body electronics.

Further features include on-board diagnostics, a joystick gearshift with a pneumatic shifting aid, disc brakes all round, an electronically controlled braking system (EBS), an anti-lock braking system and Brake Assist. Optional equipment includes a retarder, acceleration skid control (ASR) and auxiliary brake integration as well as an auxiliary heater and provision for an air conditioning system.

The design of the Citaro leaves no doubt that this is a fundamental, new development, from the headlamps to the tail lights. Brighter colours and an uncluttered roof design make the interior of the new Citaro appear even more inviting. The driver takes his seat in a new, slightly higher cockpit. The instru¬ment cluster meets the requirements of the Association of German Transport Operators (VDV), but is now considerably more informative and ergonomically exemplary.

The safety concept of the new Citaro also sets new standards. The Electronic Stability Program ESP is available for this urban regular service bus for the first time, and likewise for the inter-urban buses in their low-floor and low-entry versions. As a unique feature for urban regular service buses, there is also frontal impact protection, as well as an even more rigid body structure.

The new Citaro has adopted the economical and environmentally friendly engines with Blue-Tec diesel technology in emission classes Euro-5 and EEV from its predecessor.

The new Mercedes-Benz Citaro will be presented in May, followed by a gradual market introduction from the end of 2011.

 

 

Mercedes-Benz hybrid buses

Mercedes-Benz hybrid buses

Mercedes-Benz Citaro G BlueTec Hybrid

To date the Citaro G BlueTec Hybrid is the only hybrid bus able to cover sections of its route under purely electric power, without its diesel engine, and arrive at bus-stops almost silently. Without the usual engine noise, it then moves off just as quietly to cover several bus-stops on the route. The bus is powered by four electric wheel hub motors which obtain their power from one of the world's largest lithium-ion batteries in automotive use. Electrical power is generated by braking recuperation, and when required it can also be obtained from a generator driven by a comparatively small diesel engine for this vehicle class. Specialists refer to this configuration as a serial hybrid drive system.

 

High-tech in a well-proven vehicle concept

This technologically sophisticated diesel-electric hybrid concept has been realised in a well-proven articulated variant of the world's most successful city bus family, the Mercedes-Benz Citaro. Apart from the higher roof structure for the battery, there is no visual difference from the conventional diesel bus. The difference is only noticeable on the move, when the four electric motors smoothly and rapidly accelerate the 18-metre long city bus in almost complete silence. These are installed near the wheel hubs at the centre and rear axles, and deliver a total output of 320 kW which can be obtained from the battery and the diesel engine driven generator when required. The electric motors are also used for braking, however. In this case they act like a generator or bicycle dynamo, converting the braking energy into electric power for the battery. When the battery reports an additional energy requirement, the diesel engine cuts in automatically to generate more power. The internal combustion engine is only half the size of that in a conventional diesel bus, weighs only 450 kg rather than 1000 kg and has a displacement of only 4.8 litres rather than twelve litres. Its output is approx. one third lower at 160 kW.

 

One of the world's largest lithium-ion batteries in automotive use

In the new Mercedes-Benz Citaro G BlueTec Hybrid, energy is stored in a lithium-ion battery whose performance is of a previously unprecedented order. The battery system has a maximum output of 240 kW, and is comparatively light in weight at under 350 kg. Major advantages over conventional battery systems include a higher energy density combined with a high storage capacity and low battery weight. By way of comparison, experimental hybrid-drive buses in Stuttgart carried lead/acid accumulators weighing 3000 kg thirty years ago.

Lithium-ion batteries first became commercially available in 1991. Today they are used practically wherever high capacity and low weight are important: mobile phones, digital cameras, camcorders, notebooks etc. They are still relatively recent in large vehicles such as passenger cars, trucks and buses. Daimler is already well experienced with lithium-ion batteries in buses. More than 1000 of the 3000 Orion hybrid buses on the roads – Orion is a Daimler brand in the USA, and the world market leader in hybrid buses – are equipped with lithium-ion batteries by the same manufacturer who supplies the battery system for the new Mercedes-Benz Citaro G BlueTec Hybrid. This delivers an output roughly appoximating to that of 9000 large laptop batteries.

Daimler Good Performance in 2010

Daimler Good Performance in 2010

  The bus market grew by 17 percent last year compared to 2009. This resulted in a total volume of approximately 305,000 units. The growth forecast issued last year for 2010 was around four percent. Daimler Buses was able to more than profit from this development, as its growth significantly outpaced that of the market as a whole last year.

Daimler Buses sold 39,118 chassis and complete buses in 2010. This figure corresponds to a 20-percent increase from the 32,482 units sold in 2009, and is also nearly as high as the record figure posted in 2008.

These sales generated revenues of €4.6 billion for the unit in 2010 (+8 percent). EBIT last year rose 17 percent to €215 million (2009: €183 million).

Speaking in Stuttgart today, Hartmut Schick, Head of Daimler Buses, had the following to say about business development in 2010: “Daimler Buses was once again the top performer in the global bus business. We were able to grow more rapidly than the market as a whole and this growth exceeded our own forecasts.”

 

Five strategic approaches for sustained success

 

“Daimler Buses is already the world’s most profitable bus manufacturer,” said Schick. “Our goal now is to achieve a return on sales of six percent on average across the entire business cycle, and thus consolidate our benchmark position. We will do this by fully exploiting existing growth potential in our traditional markets and by further expanding business in new ones. We will also extend our technological leadership. At the same time, we are continually working together with our approximately 17,000 employees to further improve our efficiency. As an attractive employer, we can rely on a highly qualified and effective team that will makes us more able than other companies to overcome future challenges.”

Daimler Buses will introduce two important new products in Europe this year: the new generation of the Mercedes-Benz Citaro urban bus and the small Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 77 city bus. The two models will make a major contribution to expanding the unit’s leading position even further. In the U.S. last year, Daimler Buses presented the new Setra TopClass S 417 and the Orion VII transit bus with EPA10 exhaust-gas treatment technology.

 

 

The Competence Center for Mercedes-Benz bus chassis in Brazil puts the unit in an outstanding position to participate in the dynamic market growth expected there. Moreover, the World Cup soccer championship in 2014 and the Olympic Games in 2016 will provide additional sales momentum.

In 2020, one out of every five buses with a GVW of over eight tons will be sold in India (currently the world’s second-largest bus market after China). Daimler Buses therefore plans to exploit all possible sales and service network synergies with Daimler Trucks in order to benefit from this growth as well. Besides the travel coaches it has already introduced to the Indian market, Daimler Buses is developing additional customized products for India.

Schick pointed out that markets like Indonesia also offer potential for profitable growth. “Strong growth was recorded in Indonesia over the last few years through the modernization of city bus fleets and infrastructure,” he said. “In fact, market volume in that country will nearly double over the next eight years. Sales growth of 73 percent in 2010 now gives us a market share of 40 percent in the country, and we’re very confident that we’ll be able to highly benefit from growth in Indonesia in the coming years as well.”

 

Growth through new products

 

Expansion of business in new markets offers growth opportunities that can be exploited with the help of new business models. Traffic volumes in large cities will continue to rise significantly — and this will also lead to an increase in demand for viable public transportation systems. A promising growth sector here is Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), a system in which buses run in extremely short intervals in separate traffic lanes. Daimler Buses is already active in this area in cities like Nantes, Istanbul, Bogota, and Johannesburg.

“Over the next few years, the potential for BRT systems is particularly high in Brazil,” Schick said. “We believe the World Cup and the Olympics will generate bus sales potential of 5,000 units.”

Daimler Buses is pursuing its vision of sustainable mobility with innovative products such as hybrid and fuel cell buses. Daimler Buses in North America has supplied the world’s biggest fleet of hybrid buses (more than 3,200), for instance. In Europe, Mercedes-Benz Citaro BlueTec Hybrid urban buses are already in operation in Stuttgart, Hamburg, Krefeld, Mühlheim, Rotterdam, and Milan. As part of the EU’s CHIC (Clean Hydrogen in European Cities) project, 26 Mercedes-Benz fuel cell-hybrid buses will begin to operate in five cities this year in order to demonstrate the suitability of fuel cell technology for everyday use.

Operational Excellence — the fourth pillar of Daimler Buses’ business strategy — focuses on consistent and continual efficiency enhancement. It’s therefore only logical that the unit is investing in its production locations. The body-in-white manufacturing facility in Mannheim was expanded, for example, as was the paint shop in Neu-Ulm. In 2010, Bus production capacity in Turkey was increased to 4,000 units per year in order to be able to respond more effectively to market demands. The division will also invest in the expansion of its production capacities in Latin America this year.

Daimler Buses’ production network ensures cost efficiency and flexibility. The division’s four European facilities form a flexible production network, thereby guaranteeing optimal capacity utilization and the ability to react effectively in the normally weak months at the beginning of the year and the more active ones in the second half.

With its innovative, high-quality new products, Daimler Buses expects to remain ahead of its competitors as the world’s leading supplier of buses over 8 tons GVW. The division also expects to build on last year’s high sales figures in 2011 and 2012. However, the room for growth is rather limited due to the anticipated development of the core markets in Western Europe and Latin America.

Schick summarized the expectations for 2011 as follows: “We expect global bus market volume to total approximately 310,000 units this year. As a result, we have set ourselves the firm goal of surpassing the important 40,000 unit sales mark for Daimler Buses in 2011.

Major Turkish customer orders 50 Setra coaches

Major Turkish customer
orders 50 Setra coaches

Lothar Holder, Director of Sales for Setra buses
and coaches at EvoBus GmbH (left), and Galip
Ötztürk seal the purchase of 50 Setra
ComfortClass 400 coaches
Established in 1992 by Galip Ötztürk, Metro
cooperates with subcontractors on the long-
distance routes that are so popular in Turkey. Its
fleet covers 73 of the country’s 81 provinces.
Having added a total of 40 double-decker S 431
DT coaches to its fleet from 2008 to 2009, the
latest order represents a further milestone for the
company. The 50 S 416 GT-HD/2 coaches will be
Metro’s first from the new Setra ComfortClass
400. The vehicles from this facelifted model series
are equipped with Front Collision Guard (FCG)
impact protection and can accommodate 50
passengers.
Luxury coaches provided by the Ulm-based
Daimler bus and coach brand have been
travelling on Turkish roads for 27 years now. In
the gateway to the Orient, the new Setra
TopClass 400 and new Setra ComfortClass 400
coaches are predominately used on long-distance
routes in the luxury segment.

Mercedes-Benz Tourismo withnew seats

New generation of touring coach seats
The design of the new seats is both attractive and
practical. Aluminium is used for the side trim, for
example, providing an overall stylish, high-quality
and lightweight finish. Lateral adjustment of the
aisle seats and adjustment of the backrest angle is
effortless and intuitive, thanks to a large and
clearly marked rocker-type switch.
The armrest on the new seats is not only
elegantly designed, but also has a generous and
ergonomically contoured surface. The very
straightforward pivoting mechanism used for
folding away the arm rest is a patented design
that could hardly be simpler to use. The seat
backrests and cushions have also been
recontoured. For the first time, the seat cushion
rests on a sprung system and can be easily
removed for cleaning or repairs.


Modular system allows almost unlimited
choice
The optional contrasting top-stitching for the new
upholstery allows for a multitude of different
combinations of colour, shape and material,
resulting in an even more high-quality
appearance and the possibility of more
individualised appointments. The modular
system means that the choices are virtually
unlimited. For vehicles used in regular-service
operations as well as for excursion travel, the
developers have designed both folding cinema-
style seats and swivel seats.
A steeper backrest angle in the starting position
makes standing up much simpler for passengers.
The aisle-side location of seat belt buckles on all
seats is a new feature that makes them easier to
use for passengers sitting next to the window,
whilst also facilitating access for the rescue
services in the event of an accident.
The seat frame is based on a lightweight
aluminium twin-tube design which, in
conjunction with a new mounting for the gas
springs, prevents irritating seat vibrations when
the bus is driven without passengers on board.
The use of lightweight materials has substantially
reduced the weight of each double seat. In a
12-metre-long three-star touring coach the
reduction amounts to around 70 kg

Mercedes-Benz gas buseshead for Norway

Mercedes-Benz gas buses
head for Norway

Transport operator Tide ASA has
ordered 37 EEV (Enhanced Environmentally
Friendly Vehicle) variants of the Mercedes-Benz
Citaro articulated bus with gas drive.

Powered by
natural gas, the low-floor urban buses are
characterised by their low emissions– particularly
when it comes to nitrogen oxides and particulates
–and already significantly exceed the Euro 5
emissions values currently in force.

The driving
force behind the buses is the M 447 hLAG natural
gas engine, which is available in two power
output variants producing 185 kW (252 hp) and
240 kW (326 hp).

Tide ASA is one of the largest transport operators
in Norway offering both road and water-based
public transport services. The company has 3700
employees and operates around 1000 coaches
and buses and also 80 ferries and express boats.

Citaro natural gas buses are available in two
length variants, namely a single vehicle
measuring 12 m and an articulated vehicle
measuring 18 m in length. The Norwegians have
opted for the 18 m articulated bus which can
accommodate up to 138 passengers.

Bus Tours New poHarapanJaya - Scania and Mercedes VIP bus 1526

 

 












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dedicate to the
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and Beyond VIP Bus
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the Daimler Engine Company and Kässbohrer: 100 Years of Cooperation

● As early as 1910, Ulm’s Master Cartwright Karl Kässbohrer began manufacturing the first Phaeton limousines and Landaulet bodies for the Daimler Engine Company (Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft)
● In addition to the many Kässbohrer coach and bus bodies built on Mercedes-Benz chassis, the Ulm company cooperated with Mercedes-Benz to come up with outstanding vehicle designs
● Streamlined coaches and the largest coach in the world built by Kässbohrer all carried the Mercedes-Benz star as their extremely visible trademark
● With the Setra product range 200, Mercedes-Benz engines started their triumphal march with the Setra. Nowadays, state-of-the-art low-pollution diesel engines with SCR technology from Mannheim are standard fittings in Setra buses and coaches
● The ongoing existence of the traditional brand Setra from Ulm and its successful development was secured 15 years ago through the newly-established EvoBus and its integration in the Daimler Group

Neu-Ulm/Stuttgart –  The business relationship between the former Ulm commercial vehicle manufacturer Karl Kässbohrer and the former Daimler Engine Company in Stuttgart goes back as far as 1910. The very successful and well-matched partnership between the two brands in the EvoBus started long before the largest European bus and coach manufacturer was set up under the roof of the Daimler AG Group. This is something to be remembered shortly before the 100th birthday of the first Kässbohrer bus which drove along the suburban route Ulm-Wiblingen  on 11th Februar, 1911, and in the year the brand Setra is 60 years old. In the review “The German Automotive Industry from 1886 to 1979” published by the German Association of the Automobile Industry (VDA), Karl Kässbohrer is already mentioned as early as 1908 as a body building manufacturer specializing in trailers for trucks, and this is then followed by a larger entry for 1910:

“Karl Kässbohrer Vehicle Manufacturer supplies not only carriages but also open Phaeton limousines and Landaulet bodies to Daimler, Opel, Adler and NSU.” At this time, most automobile manufacturers had their car bodies built by cartwrights and Phaeton limousines were comfortable touring cars. Landaulet is a French expression for a type of body which can be driven either with the roof open or closed. Because of this, the last section of the roof for these cars – which usually had four or six doors – was completed with a folding convertible-type top. Landaulet were mainly used as state cars and were the premium products of the best known manufacturers such as Mercedes, Maybach or Rolls-Royce.

Ten years after it had been set up, the cartwright’s business was known as “First Ulm Body Manufactory Karl Kässbohrer” and it moved from Lautenberg in the shadow of Ulm Minster to the northern edge of the city and what was then the Upper Karls Street, close to the railway lines Ulm–Stuttgart and Ulm–Aalen/Ellwangen. Following this very important development for the still young workshop, Karl Kässbohrer started his commercial vehicle manufactory in Ulm and over decades it grew to be the most important branch of industry in the city, providing work and daily bread for thousands of people and many generations.

The 11th February, 1911, was an important milestone and the actual start of the eventful history of Kässbohrer buses. This was the day the first Ulm bus line was opened, going from Ulm’s Minster Square to the southern suburb of Wiblingen. The transport company was founded especially for this event with Karl Kässbohrer as one of the partners and his share was his first motorbus. The bus was built on a Saurer chassis with 18 seats and standing room for ten people and was powered by a strong four-cylinder engine with a performance of 22 kW/30 HP. The whole body was well in advance of its time: Contrary to what was usual at that time, the driver was already sitting in a closed driving cab – the very first of its kind in a German commercial vehicle.

The successful symbiosis between the traditional bus and coach manufacturer from Ulm and the innovative “automobile inventor-company” incessantly searching for the latest technology founded by Gottlieb Daimler, Wilhelm Maybach and Karl Benz is to be seen in a great number of vehicles. In Europe following World War I there was an increasing demand for mobility. A great number of vehicle manufacturers which are hardly remembered today and the emerging transport industry with its numerous medium-sized companies already relied at this time on the Mercedes-Benz chassis and Kässbohrer bus bodies. An outstanding example of the cooperation between the two bus pioneers were the streamlined coaches developed by Kässbohrer in 1935 for the German National Railway. They were built by Kässbohrer on a Daimler-Benz chassis. These coaches were designed for use on scheduled services on the new motorways. They were supposed to keep to an average speed of 100 km/h and reached a top speed of 130 km/h. To achieve this, Daimler-Benz fitted the chassis with a specially fast gear-changing transmission and high speed tyres. These coaches were also used for the newly-opened scheduled service Leipzig – Berlin.

In 1938, the largest coach in the world at that time was built by Kässbohrer and it was also the product of joint development. The four-axle coach was towed by a Mercedes-Benz articulated truck, model LZ 8000, a world innovation in the truck branch. The overall length of the vehicle was 18.7 m long and provided enough room for 170 passengers. From 1976 on, the cooperation became even closer. At that time, Kässbohrer launched his bus product range 200. With this product range, Setra customers – following the integration of the previous engine supplier Henschl from Kassel in the Daimler-Benz Group – could choose between Mercedes-Benz or MAN diesel engines. Very soon, the proportion of Mercedes-Benz engines used in Setra buses and coaches had grown to almost 90 percent and Kässbohrer was one of the largest single customers in the non-captive market for the well tried and tested drive systems from Mannheim. Nowadays, all Setra buses and coaches with a performance range from 210 to 370 kW are fitted with state-of-the-art low-pollution and extremely cost-effective Mercedes-Benz diesel engines with SCR technology from Mannheim.

It is typical of the more than 80 years of good business relations between the Stuttgart automotive group and the medium-sized automobile manufacturer that when Karl Kässbohrer Vehicle Manufacturers Ltd found itself in financial difficulties in the mid-nineties of the 20th century the former Mercedes-Benz AG offered the Ulm company a cooperation agreement. Mercedes-Benz AG made an offer for Kässbohrer’s bus and coach sector with a job guarantee till the end of 1998. The first steps were thus taken towards the EvoBus GmbH which was founded in 1995 as a 100-percent Daimler subsidiary to combine the bus and coach activities of Mercedes-Benz Omnibus and the Kässbohrer brand Setra. The ongoing existence of the old-established and renowned bus and coach brand Setra was ensured together with the best prospects for its future development, and what is more, right up to the present day its success has proved that the fathers of this industrial joint venture were right.

the Setra to celebrate anniversary at etro Classics 2011

• 60 years of Setra buses – the idea of the self-supporting body wins through
• 100 years of bus expertise from Ulm/Neu-Ulm
• Four historical buses from 1911 to 1976 in hall 8

Stuttgart/Neu-Ulm – Setra Buses, Daimler AG's Ulm-based bus brand, will be celebrating the brand's 60th anniversary and the beginning of bus production in Ulm 100 years ago when it appears at Retro Classics 2011 in Stuttgart (11 – 13 March), presenting four historical buses in hall 8 (commercial vehicles).

The first Setra bus from 1951

The highlight at the exhibition stand will be the first Setra bus ever to be produced, bearing the chassis number -001. This vehicle was presented to bus companies for the first time at the Frankfurt International Motor Show in 1951. The defining characteristic of this vehicle was that it did not use a truck frame as its base. Instead, a self-supporting frame was lined with sheet metal to form the vehicle's body. Other features of the first Setra include a six-cylinder Henschel rear engine rated at 74 kW (100 hp), underfloor luggage compartments and a fully synchromeshed five-speed ZF manual transmission.

S 215 HD dating from 1976 - the prototype of the Setra 200 model series

The 200 series in the Setra brand's 25th year opened another successful chapter. This generation of vehicles introduced cross-flow ventilation, whereby fresh air was channelled draught-free into the passenger compartment along the entire length of the vehicle. The exhibit is the prototype of the 200 model series and is fitted with an OM 403 10-cylinder V engine from Mercedes-Benz rated at 235 kW (320 hp).

First Kässbohrer bus on Saurer chassis from 1911

It was 100 years ago, in February 1911, when Kässbohrer undertook its first step in the field of bus construction. The first Kässbohrer bus was built on a Saurer truck chassis for the city of Ulm's first bus service running from Münsterplatz to the suburb of Wiblingen. The exhibit is a fully functional replica of the lost original. The vehicle possesses a four-cylinder Saurer petrol engine with an output of around 29 kW (40 hp). The wooden body has 18 seats plus space for around ten standing passengers.

Bus on Opel Blitz chassis with Kässbohrer trailer, built in 1956

The compact bus dating from 1956 was built on the chassis of the Opel Blitz, which was highly popular among bus companies at the time. With the introduction of the Setra S 6, compact buses were also produced in self-supporting design from the mid-1950s. The exhibit is fitted with a six-cylinder petrol engine rated at 46 kW (62 hp). A Kässbohrer luggage trailer compensates for the lack of space in the luggage compartment.
Retro Classics 2011 is an international trade show for vintage vehicles, replacement parts and restoration which is to take place at the Stuttgart exhibition site from 11 to 13 March (preview on 10 March), with over 1000 exhibitors. Opening times are Friday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday/Sunday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission costs € 16 for adults, concessionary rate € 12.

the Setra presents new US touring coach in Florida

Stuttgart/Tampa. The Setra brand marked its attendance at this year's UMA Motorcoach Expo bus trade show in Tampa, Florida (19 - 23 January 2011), by featuring a newly designed touring coach. At the ceremony to unveil the coach, Lothar Holder, Director of Sales for Setra buses and coaches at EvoBus GmbH, said: "With the new ComfortClass S 407, we are now also positioning ourselves in the US business segment, and are offering coach operators a cost-effective alternative which fully meets all of our customers' requirements with the customary high quality standards expected of Setra."

Unlike the Setra TopClass S 417 which makes use of the European design concept, the new Setra ComfortClass S 407 is a classic touring coach based on North American design concepts. Series production of the vehicle is scheduled to begin in April 2011 in the German production plant in Neu-Ulm.

The visual appearance of the new touring coach is characterised by the standard American mirror system, as well as "Made in the USA" front and rear  bumpers (EASB: Energy Absorbing Safety Bumper). Whereas at the rear of the vehicle this mechanism is securely bolted to the framework body, the front bumper can be folded down to provide access to the storage area for the spare wheel. A strong framework structure in the front area as well as the bumpers help to absorb any forces generated in the event of the vehicle being involved in a collision - a design which fully complies with American APTA guidelines. Also complying with the corresponding regulations is the rear bumper, which is fitted beneath a rear light system which has been specially designed for the ComfortClass S 407 and features LED technology. From the very moment production commences, a cathodic dip painting process helps to ensure even coating of the metal surfaces and cavities of the entire framework, therefore guaranteeing optimum surface quality and corrosion protection.

LED "docking lights" guarantee good all-round illumination of the vehicle. The spotlights feature particularly powerful light output and a long service life. In addition, the Setra ComfortClass S 407 can also be fitted with a cassette lift on the right side of the vehicle.

Environmentally friendly engine available in two power bands

Just like the TopClass S 417, the Setra ComfortClass S 407 fulfils the American emissions standard EPA 10 in respect of nitrogen oxides and soot particles. This is thanks to a Mercedes-Benz engine which has a power output of 306 kW/1966 Nm and is available as standard in conjunction with an Allison transmission. As an option the vehicle can also be fitted with an engine with a power output of
336 kW/2100 Nm. In the case of this more powerful engine, customers can optionally choose a ZF AS-Tronic or Allison transmission. As part of installing the environmentally friendly EPA10 engine, an additional tank (15 gallons) has also been integrated into the existing tank compartment for the diesel exhaust fluid mixture (DEF) which is used for exhaust treatment. The tank volume of the Setra ComfortClass S 407 totals 680 litres (180 gallons).

The Setra ComfortClass S 407 is fitted as standard with 58 seats from the new EvoBus seat generation range. Presented for the first time in 2010, these passenger seats provide the ultimate in seating comfort and also feature a low-weight design and exemplary functionality.

Canadian bus operator buys TopClass S 417 exhibition vehicle

The Setra ComfortClass S 407 was not the only highlight for visitors to this year's trade show in Florida, however. The second exhibition vehicle, a Setra TopClass S 417, was also snapped up by a buyer during the show. The new owner is Canadian bus operator Trius Tours, which is based in Charlotte Town on Prince Edward Island. Offering tours through Atlantic Canada, Quebec, Ontario and New England, the company is the largest private customer of the Daimler bus brand in Canada, currently owning a fleet which includes no fewer than 15 Setra touring coaches. The long-term goal of owner Mike Cassidy is to switch over to a fleet comprised entirely of Setra vehicles. The 13.67-metre-long Setra TopClass S 417 is the first facelifted Setra touring coach for Canada.

Fitted with an integrated rear window and "Top Sky" glass roof, it can accommodate 56 passengers on high-quality travel seats. Thanks to its Mercedes-Benz OM 471 engines, it complies with the American emissions standard EPA 10 in respect of nitrogen oxides and soot particles. Its numerous safety features also include a Front Collision Guard (FCG).

The American version of the European TopClass 400 touring-coach generation – the S 417 – was presented in the United States for the first time in 2003, at the UMA Expo 2003 in Orlando, Florida.

Since this successful market launch, around 900 units of the luxury touring coach have already been sold in the USA, Canada and Mexico.
In 2010, Setra presented the facelifted variant. One of the main highlights of this enhanced version of the Setra TopClass S 417 was safety, something which the new vehicle demonstrated in a measure previously unseen in North America.

Setra is a brand of Daimler Buses North America

Setra buses and coaches, along with the brands Orion and Dodge Sprinter, are sold in North America under the umbrella of Daimler Buses North America (DBNA). The company is headquartered in Greensboro, North Carolina.

The Setra receives top honours in Bosnia

• S 415 GT-HD from coach operator Cicko Commerce is voted
"2010 Coach of the Year"

• Bus brand from Daimler AG receives top honours for the third time from specialist magazine

• Setra ComfortClass 400 enjoys widespread success with seven vehicle variants

Stuttgart/Sarajevo - Bosnian specialist magazine "Auto" has awarded the Setra brand the title of "2010 Coach of the Year". This is the third title that the brand from Daimler AG has picked up within a four-year period in Bosnia. After previously honouring two TopClass 400 vehicles - an S 417 HDH in 2006 and the Setra double-decker S 431 DT in 2009 - this year the jury once again voted a representative of the ComfortClass 400 onto the winner's podium in the guise of an S 415 GT-HD. As part of the voting process, it was the nominated vehicle from coach operator Cicko Commerce in Tomislavgrad, which is fitted with an environmentally-friendly Euro 5 engine, which emerged successful against an extensive field of competitors. Benjamin Gross, the Setra sales representative responsible for the area of Southeast Europe and Central Asia, and Branco Vajagic, the general distributor for Setra in Bosnia, accepted the award on behalf of the traditional brand from Neu-Ulm at a televised ceremony which took place in Sarajevo.
Lothar Holder, Sales Director for Setra buses and coaches at EvoBus GmbH, sees the award as a reflection of the further strengthening of the brand in the Balkan States: "Despite a difficult market situation, being awarded this prize in this sector is a clear sign that we are on the right road towards successfully establishing our products in Central and Eastern Europe."

ComfortClass 400 enjoys success with spacious length concept

The 12.2-metre-long S 415 GT-HD is one of a total of seven vehicle variants belonging to the Setra ComfortClass 400, which combines sophisticated levels of comfort with economically attractive operating costs. With raised-floor and high-deck coaches for excursion, long-distance or regular-service applications, the Ulm-based bus brand implemented an innovative length concept as early as 2003, designed to provide significantly more room in both the interior as well as the front entrance area. Another distinctive feature of the ComfortClass 400 is the cockpit, which boasts a unique, ergonomic design. The driver's area has a touring coach look incorporating a joystick-style gearshift and integrated navigation monitors, and is also fitted with a whole host of stowage facilities for the driver. For vehicles operating on regular-service routes, a ticket counter can also be easily installed. In addition, larger luggage compartment flaps and additional partitions in the S 415 GT-HD also help to guarantee even more storage space as well as convenient access for both driver and passengers.

More Mercedes-Benz gas buses head for Norway

Stuttgart – Transport operator Tide ASA has ordered 37 EEV (Enhanced Environmentally Friendly Vehicle) variants of the Mercedes-Benz Citaro articulated bus with gas drive. Powered by natural gas, the low-floor urban buses are characterised by their low emissions – particularly when it comes to nitrogen oxides and particulates – and already significantly exceed the Euro 5 emissions values currently in force. The driving force behind the buses is the M 447 hLAG natural gas engine, which is available in two power output variants producing 185 kW (252 hp) and 240 kW (326 hp).

Tide ASA is one of the largest transport operators in Norway offering both road and water-based public transport services. The company has 3700 employees and operates around 1000 coaches and buses and also 80 ferries and express boats.

Citaro natural gas buses are available in two length variants, namely a single vehicle measuring 12 m and an articulated vehicle measuring 18 m in length. The Norwegians have opted for the 18 m articulated bus which can accommodate up to 138 passengers.

Medenbach puts their trust in Setra for new rural bus routes

• Fleet with 15 model S 415 UL
vehicles is largest investment
in the company ’s history
• Hessian family company
wins Europe-wide call for
tenders
• S 415 UL is the best-selling
Setra rural-service bus in
Germany
Heinz Friedrich, Head of the
Setra domestic sales
department, hands over 15
model S 415 UL Setra
MultiClass buses to Peter
Medenbach (on right).

Neu-Ulm/Weilburg – With the
acquisition of 15 Setra model S
415 UL rural service buses,
Hessian company “Medenbach
traffic” carried out the largest
investment in its 50-year-long
company history, thus
underscoring the great trust it
has for many years placed in
this brand of the Daimler AG
group. Upon taking formal
delivery of the units in a
ceremony at the Neu-Ulm
Setra Customer Centre, CEO
Peter Medenbach stressed
before representatives from
the local business community
and politics sectors the high
standard of his expectations
concerning the competent
transport of their passengers,
expectations which focus on
comfort and reliability: “In
order to provide highly
professional services in the
local public transport sector,
our choice fell on Setra buses,
since they meet our quality
standards in every respect. ”
The order for 15 MultiClass
buses was the result of the
family company from
Weilburg-Hirschhausen
securing two local bus line
bundles in the Taunus area in
a Europe-wide call for
tenders.

On the ocassion of the bus
handover, Heinz Friedrich
attested to the great
entrepreneurial far-
sightedness of the firm ’s CEO
and his wife Dorothée Grebe:
“ You and your team have
made a powerful statement
and convincingly
demonstrated that a private
company can be successful in
a call for tenders even for
large bus line bundles ”. In
addition, according to the
head of Setra domestic sales
in Germany, with Medenbach’s
choice of the S 415 UL with full
complement of seats, the
company had opted for Setra ’s
best-selling model of rural-
service buses in Germany,
With their operation in these
local transport networks, the
new buses, to be delivered
both with vertical and with
raked windscreens, and
equipped with a lift to enable
the access of mobility-
impaired passengers, will
cover approx. 675,000
kilometres per year as from
2011.

Founded in 1935 as a haulage
firm
Today’s bus operation was
founded in 1935 by Adolf
Medenbach as a haulage firm
specialised in the transport of
goods. However, the company
founder soon perceived the
growing demand for
passenger transport. In 1949
he incorporated the first buses
to his vehicle fleet and in 1951
he laid the foundation for a
company policy which has
remained very successful to
this day, with the operation of
the bus line between Weilburg
and Wetzlar.

After the death
of his father, Lothar
Medenbach, who had directed
the company from 1965, Peter
Medenbach became manager
in 2003, taking on the
responsibility for a company
which currently counts 50
employees. Like his father and
grandfather before him, the
representative of the firm’s
third generation chose to rely
on the buses of Daimler AG
from Ulm.
Apart from the new business
area Medenbach traffic,
specially created for regular-
schedule services, the
company has a broad range of
offers in the long-distance
travel segment and is on the
road all over Europe under
the designation Medenbach
Touristik.