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Saturday 7 January 2017

Fantastic Beasts & Where To Find Them?

The answer is Chile. I saw this magnificent coach on the Brazilian blog Onebus Fotos de Onibus a couple of months ago and immediately contacted the owner to get permission to use the pics. Unfortunately he was on a long sabbatical but today got in touch and I'm delighted to be able to share the pics with you. The blog is n the links section and I advise everyone to keep the occasional eye on it as there are some extraordinary vehicles out there.

Accompanying the pictures  is this article. Please note this article has clearly been through Google Translate although a power take-off would look truly spectacular and be a good congestion busting tool!

Marcopolo exports 32 new Paradiso 1800 Doubler Decker to Chilean EME Bus
Marcopolo delivered 32 new Paradiso 1800 Double Decker buses to the Chilean operator EME Bus, one of Chile's largest bus companies. The vehicles incorporated into the company's fleet will be used on interstate and inter-municipal routes in the country.

According to information from the export manager of Marcopolo, Ricardo Portolan, the Chilean market is warm and the main companies in the country have been looking for the renewal of the fleet this year. "Chile is one of the countries that most buy double-decker buses from Latin America. Local operators invest in more luxurious vehicles with great technological resources. The focus is always to offer more benefits to passengers, "emphasizes Ricardo.

Mounted on two different chassis (Scania K440 8x2 and Volvo B450 8x2), the vehicles manufactured for the EME Bus have a total length of 14 meters and a capacity to carry up to 57 passengers, of which 48 are in armchairs in the semi-bed configuration of 1.09m Width located on the top floor and 9 more on the seat configuration seats, located on the lower floor of the bus. All buses have 2 refrigerators, a liquid heater, power take-offs with USB roads scattered at various points in the salons for electronic devices, on-board computer, two air fresheners, heating, air conditioning system and system preparation. Monitoring and audiovisual with five monitors, DVD player and AM-FM radio.

The lighting of the passenger halls is all composed of indirect LED lights, which create an environment of comfort and sophistication. The LED's are also present with touch-trigger on the reading lights of the door lights, which also feature individual air-conditioning outputs, headphone jack and volume control. The foci also have built-in audio amplifiers.

Source: Marcopolo
Photos: Douglas de Souza Melo

Oh my! The Volvo at the Marcopolo factory         pic (c) Douglas de Souza Melo
Rear view                pic (c) Douglas de Souza Melo
Stunning.       pic (c) Douglas de Souza Melo
My thanks once again to my friends in Brazil for allowing me to share this with you - I do know First are looking at replacements for the X1 E400's at some point this year. It might mean a couple of tweaks to the route but..... National Express also take note - have a fleet of these as opposed to the Levantes and passengers would desert the railways in their thousands.

The second part of last week's Medway Running Day coming soon. Sorry for lack of posts recently.

10 comments:

  1. That Scania is a Volvo Steve :) Badging on the back would suggest so lol.

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    1. Well spotted! I admit to carelessness and only going by the distance view of the Marcopolo badge which I thought was a Scania badge! Will amend.

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  2. Should the new X1s be Metrodeckers? Would be nice but they'll likely be Streetdecks or E400MMCs wont they?

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    1. They will 100% not be Streetdecks. I think Scania MMC's the most likely but yes, Metrodeckers would be nice.

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  3. been on two x1 enviros recently they do seem pretty worn out and rattely. and wonder when they are going to be replaced and what they are going to be replaced with.

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    1. Still none the wiser as yet. I haven't heard of the Scania MMC demonstrator setting the place alight so we'll see what's next.

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    2. tbh i think they should just buy Coaches. they would be much more suited for the grueling work on the X1.

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    3. I agree entirely. Plaxton Interdecks aren't that much more expensive. Van Hools another option as are on the London - Oxford runs. But this is First and I'll be surprised if they go down that road. Can't upset the buggy pushers can we!

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    4. yep true they will complain but thats the way to go im suprised the enviros have even lasted this long apecially seeing one of your ealier blogs on it when they were just 3 months old. as for the scanias to despite having a scania engine and being on a scania chassis there still enviro 400s.

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    5. looks like they are looking at coaches after all they are trialing a new scania 17 plate tri axle coach what do you think?

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