[KL42]

Originally Posted by Fx14

These models are best suited for the new generation multi-lane expressways being built, where they can cruise effortlessly, providing higher comfort levels with minimal engine noise filtering in due to their rear mounted engines, as compared to the locally built buses with front engines.

True, These days most of new intercity buses coming out for service are default sleeper coaches. Even state transport corporation have shifted to sleeper coaches KE/KA SRTC's have quite a few and they are extremely comfortable compared to the seater coaches.

Its like how Ola and Uber. Once you are used to it, rarely a customer shifts back to the seater bus.

On Another note, the competitive offerings from AL/TATA/Eicher and Bharat Benz are not bad either. With increasing competition from Volvos, Scania's and Merc's, old guards too have upped their game with much better NVH even after being front engine set up.

[GeeTee TSI]

The wood finish floorboard pictured near the driver's seat is so Scandinavian! One can expect the ubiquitous green floor mat in buses pressed into service

Very graceful profile, much like a ship.

[Rahul Rao]

Originally Posted by ads295

I've always wondered how these buses are maintained.

If you ever come to Pune I can show you a parking where the buses stop between journeys. Even a bus that does 1000+km 20 hr trip in one direction is fully checked and repaired before it starts back within 3-4 Hrs. Team of 4-5 people attend to the bus. One sweeps interior, then washes windshield, then passenger door and then rest of the bus, front to back. That's why you may see a bus clean up front only especially during heavy rains.
Two others change bed sheets, and curtains if needed. Two others first check all the drive belts, fuses, bulbs, then clean the air filter (This is a daily job), drain water from the air tank, and have an overall look over the bus.
Oil change is at 1,00,000 km (1 lakh km) and many buses achieve this run in little over 3 months. The 1 lakh km service also has other component changes, components like tie rod ends etc are service replacement components. Major service is at 3 Years or 8 Lakh km where even more components are changed.
A bus with a good team looking after it easily does upto 30 lakh km on original engine when OEM's refuse to service it.
Most big transporters run the buses to 16-17 lakh km in 5 years before selling them to second owners, and usually retain these vehicles with them on contract basis for shorter routes.

[volkman10]

Volvo 9600 sleeper coach:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OD_tyyhLCro

[gischethans]

KSRTC (Karnataka) is expected to launch these along with electric buses in the coming months. Recently they launched a branding contest and just today they announced receipt of over 20000 entries.

KSRTC is known to use contests to brand its premium fleet, the last being Ambaari Dream Class.

The KSRTC chose the name for the services by a public contest in which V Lakshminarayana, the winner, named the service Ambaari Dream Class. Another person, Muniswamy Chandrashekar Balachandra, was chosen the winner for pitching in the tagline – ‘Travel With Dreams.’

[Yieldway17]

Saw this video last week. Apparently the first(?) 9600 delivered in India.

https://youtu.be/WQPj5q_LNsc

[volkman10]

Volvo Buses India supplies multi-axle sleeper coaches Volvo 9600 to KSRTC.









Volvo Buses India has announced that it will supply 20 units of Volvo 9600 sleeper coaches to Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), making it the first STU to add these luxurious buses to their fleet.
Sixteen of these coaches will operate from Bangalore, and the remaining from Mangalore. These coaches are an addition to 357 Volvo buses already operating under KSRTC’s existing fleet, the largest Volvo Coach operator in India. Launched in India in Sep 2022, the Volvo 9600, a 15m seater coach, has a passenger capacity of 55, whereas the sleeper coach has 40 berths.
The seater and sleeper applications incorporate 15.1 cubic metres and 9.2 cubic metres of luggage space, respectively. The 13.5m coach seats up to 47 passengers, while the sleeper variant hosts 36 berths. The corresponding luggage space for the seater and sleeper variants are 13.6 cubic metres and 8.1 cubic metres, respectively.


Link

[tharian]

These buses went to Ramanagara the same day for a drone photo shoot with the Vandhe Bharath train is what I heard in one of the bus fan vlogs. Hoping to see some nice clicks of that.
The design of the 9600 is perfect, not so the shade of color KSRTC decided on.

[tharian]

Originally Posted by tharian

These buses went to Ramanagara the same day for a drone photo shoot with the Vandhe Bharath train is what I heard in one of the bus fan vlogs. Hoping to see some nice clicks of that.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJm1LiyqCkA