[Ravindra M]

Originally Posted by AkMar

MSRTC has started running brand new Volvo 9400s taken on hire basis. They are running on new routes like Borivali - Swargate & Pune Aurangabad. Borivali Swargate route had only 2-4 Kinglong services earlier which used to go via Ghodbunder road. Now there are Volvos almost every hour or two which go via WE highway & Sion.

I have attached a pic of the new bus.

Impressed. Very modern bus from very humble MSRTC. However the destination board is quite contrasting - it is age old.

[AkMar]

Originally Posted by hvkumar

BEST in Bombay City buys only CNG-powered Tatas now - this used to be a 100% AL market till 3 years ago.

AL has just made a comeback in BEST. They bagged the order for 550 semi low floor non AC CNG buses being procured under the JNNURM. They have also won the order for 250 CNG midi buses under the same project.

[hvkumar]

Originally Posted by AkMar

AL has just made a comeback in BEST. They bagged the order for 550 semi low floor non AC CNG buses being procured under the JNNURM. They have also won the order for 250 CNG midi buses under the same project.

The midi buses - there are already quite a few in South Bombay - but of late, I have been seeing less and less of them.

[MileCruncher]

Originally Posted by AkMar

AL has just made a comeback in BEST. They bagged the order for 550 semi low floor non AC CNG buses being procured under the JNNURM. They have also won the order for 250 CNG midi buses under the same project.

What are these Midi buses? Also any idea why we are moving away from double decker buses when actually they provide better utilisation wrt to road space, congestion and pollution caused.

[hvkumar]

Originally Posted by MileCruncher

What are these Midi buses? Also any idea why we are moving away from double decker buses when actually they provide better utilisation wrt to road space, congestion and pollution caused.

Here is the BEST Midi bus, used for short-distance routes. Al buses run on CNG - no idea how many seats they have. I think they are built on a AL Lynx chassis.

Double Deckers - BEST has decided to retain them, but only 200 of them. They had disclosed that the double deckers were loss-making compared to the regular buses.

[amtak]

Originally Posted by hvkumar

Here is the BEST Midi bus, used for short-distance routes. Al buses run on CNG - no idea how many seats they have. I think they are built on a AL Lynx chassis.

I think midi buses are used on routes where the normal full size buses cannot enter. For eg. bylanes in malad east (near station), towards powai from ghatkopar (all hill and it is difficult for even a bike to manouvre smoothly).

[AkMar]

Originally Posted by hvkumar

Here is the BEST Midi bus, used for short-distance routes. Al buses run on CNG - no idea how many seats they have. I think they are built on a AL Lynx chassis.

Hello Shri hvkumar,

There are diesel MIDI buses too, about 63 of them! I do not have a pic right now, but I will try to get one by tomorrow.

Seating capacity of CNG MIDI buses is around 36-39.

EDIT: Diesel Midi buses are smaller than the CNG Midi buses.

[binaiks]

Originally Posted by deepclutch

@Ashley Nair:Leyland bus numbers in KSRTC(kerala) are decreasing.many traditional leyland routes are now having tata buses.but I agree that Leyland Buses are very much preferred in Highranges as well as midlands-atleast in kerala.

Am surprised!!! In fact, more than 75% of the buses ordered by KSRTC during its last tender process were Leylands!!! It is notable that KSRTC changed its specifications during the last tendering process, which kind of 'kicked' TATA out of competition.

Many traditional TATA routes are now having Leylands - Thrissur depot, which was traditionally a TATA depot, is now having lots of Leyland buses. Same applies to Kodungallur Sub-depot as well.

[deepclutch]

Muvattupuzha,Kothamangalam,Thodupuzha,pala,"ponkun nam" depots are now having tata(some turbo model-quiet good!) buses as fast/super fast passengers apart from regular AL Buses.Recently TATA numbers are increasing.while earlier I guess the ratio of new buses bought were 2:1 where 2 no.of leyland chassis ,1 tata chassis is bought.Now it has changed.Else ,there is no chance of tata entering midland and highrange routes like above depots.

[Transsenger]

1. A tata bus in malayasia (model 1316). Compared with the one we find here.

2. Can anybody get pictures of "JNNURM buses" launched in various cities.

[Trapezio]

Originally Posted by deepclutch

Muvattupuzha,Kothamangalam,Thodupuzha,pala,"ponkun nam" depots are now having tata(some turbo model-quiet good!) buses as fast/super fast passengers apart from regular AL Buses.Recently TATA numbers are increasing.while earlier I guess the ratio of new buses bought were 2:1 where 2 no.of leyland chassis ,1 tata chassis is bought.Now it has changed.Else ,there is no chance of tata entering midland and highrange routes like above depots.

There were Tata buses plying in Kottayam-Kumily, Kottayam-Kattappana routes for years. I think these routes are easily steeper than those in Thodupuzha.

The problem with KSRTC is they will always order the cheapest in the range from a manufacturer. In Tata's case its the 1510. Then blaming Tata is silly.

[fx45]

Originally Posted by Ravindra M

Impressed. Very modern bus from very humble MSRTC. However the destination board is quite contrasting - it is age old.

MSRTC now even more modern

they have included about 6-7 new Mercedes benz buses in their fleet for mum pune route... happened to travel in one of those on their first day of operation... june first.. frm Pune to Dadar, awsome ride, awsome bus.. it looks the same as the neeta MBZ buses but its painted in MSRTC Shivneri Blue livery.. coudlnt take pics becasue my cell fone battery was drained.. the buses are MH 12 DT registered..

[turbo1787]

[quote=Transsenger;1331385]1. A tata bus in malayasia (model 1316). Compared with the one we find here.

To be fair Transsenger even our indian counterpart looks decent. You have taken the pic from NEW DHANJAL BODY BUILDER'S website. This bus belongs to Varun Beverages Ltd ( Bottling plant of pepsi) and can be regularly spotted in Noida-Greater Noida area. The Front cross rear-view mirrors have already been broken.

[AkMar]

TMT has got new semi low floor starbuses. They are running the buses between Thane - Mira Road. The bus has already got damaged in less than three months of operations! Considering TMT's past record, the future is not too bright for these buses. They will turn into Khataras in a couple of years.

[dkamath]

Originally Posted by Transsenger

2. Can anybody get pictures of "JNNURM buses" launched in various cities.

Sorry, no pictures, but i happened to see a Volvo B7RLE bus with route No.500C this morning. It resembles the BMTC Vajra in terms of colour (red), but doesn't have the white oval kind of stickers along the body. There is no mention of 'BMTC' or 'Vajra' on it, either. It's got only 'JnnURM' painted on it in huge letters, just after the driver's door.