A few weeks ago I jokingly mentioned Liechtenstein thinking no one would possibly know about buses there. Well I was wrong and someone got in touch telling me about the state owned operator there - Liemobil. So I did some digging and with grateful thanks to Pierre-Antoine Ardin, who has emailed me his extensive collection of Liemobil pics I am able to bring you a comprehensive look at buses in Liechtenstein. Hopefully this will be the first of a regular series featuring buses in countries around the world.
Liemobil was formed in 2000 from the previously named Liechtenstein Bus. They have 20 routes including a couple that cross the borders into Austria and Switzerland. They have a modern fleet including Volvo 7700 hybrids, MAN Lions City gas buses, Mercedes Citaros, and Setra 415's. I wonder if we'll ever see a UK city with a fleet like this one. Once again my thanks to Pierre Antoine and his really fascinating Flikr page can be found by clicking
here.
The first of Pierre-Antione's pictures is of a MAN Lions City DD. 13.74 metres long and triple doored this is the biggest in the Lion's City range, although I haven't managed to find out what fuel this example runs on - I assume diesel as i don't know of a double deck gas bus yet. Looks pretty damned inprssive though
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghtt9mO1XOf3rvnX2gTyfVFBS-lLhZNieYN-2gIMvH5ISj_Pt8qrExGBbHsMwc97LNNpGoNsZaNKfQTCF_GY7zl7o9Gm6FRzC1b2ZT65mUZRIdMfbN0loV6ApApQFAVxFc8lTkZhCEKMg/s1600/MAN_Lion_s_City_DD__A39__-_LieMobil_nr.81_23.jpg) |
MAN Lion's City DD on the Liemobil service 13 to Buchs |
The next pic is also a MAN Lion's City, only this one is a Lion's City G-A23 Bendi-gas-bus. Can you see these clogging up St Stephen's St in Norwich?
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVna04Q3Ornc1yyMVEaXRodFCnIreRWH_eSWDjR1Xm4DrQEtkqwMpVTeR_uDznGwON95o6ZvwoWXRgIaFqzzq4iZUef6hFPDsjLf_FVy2lYXGJWL00VNvRgPlWwZvvJfqRpJUWekZu4X4/s1600/MAN_Lion_s_City_G_A23_-_LieMobil_nr.63_26.jpg) |
MAN Lion's City G - A23 on the 12 to Sargans |
Next up we have a smaller gas bus, a MAN Lion's City U - A20. I really can't understand why there haven't been more initiatives to get more gas buses on the roads of UK, it seems to be the future.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipQpHdKM62U86xI21UCKKpzHiMCEA3VrvPukkxEQWrLg58hnrI-cA01GNFF8XQ61QOwwFtlak1Js-jgtso3Mq7tp6YtCPg_8yT1_YAk4xpOpN3qRaA6btOHiEv_Af8QjKwznTfJssLrNI/s1600/MAN_Lion_s_City_%C3%9C__A20__Liechtenstein_Bus_nr.11_17.jpg) |
MAN Lion's City U - A20 on the 12 to Buchs |
Something more recognisible to most of us is the Mercedes Citaro Bendibus. To be found on the 604 P&R in Norwich with Konectbus - I still have to travel on one despite all the years they have been around!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFgS99IlGn2OGWyBl_sJaDfcnCAJ16qb-zW3TpWWkSL9DUKas27mLbUW8eua18Y8I1b0N4Q_QTObyvIJFvptRpqUjxbtRz75DtVKp_EkAcAeh2KBbfwOi77uqKhZPgXwqkD4JAkoNK1b4/s1600/Mercedes_Citaro_G_II_-_LieMobil_nr.52_31.jpg) |
Mercedes Citaro G II Bendibus en route to Sargans |
We now have a rigid version of the Citaro, but what is going on on the roof is anyone's guess - looks like a solar panel but surely not! Answers on a postcard please!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_7HyEBt91UzDBOIjeXLgzK1TKleCBtxa-3H1ouLzWlSmsj_glRigkTS_eaDhNgS6q2xhhIwEw1YCszkGg-OAvWGPZhiHwsMVZXGCgS_mZYg0yz3-tTJ3h4brUfUEp7impQd-F_E7VNuo/s1600/Mercedes_Citaro_%C3%9C_II_-_LieMobil_Bus_nr.18_29.jpg) |
Mercedes Citaro U II |
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We finish with the only pic that isn't Pierre-Aintione's, that I sourced elsewhere, of one of Liemobil's Volvo 7700 Hybrids. I think Liechtenstein is now on my list of places to go - wonder if Megabus would consider going there - and has reminded me that buses outside the UK tend to be entirely different. I hope you enjoyed this look at something different and if you did let me know and I'll do some more of them.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXgqhu_pyqf2rVHIZguJq19FVkPcKuylvRo09OD46zu-k3aesPhMr059sngxTCyJ1jjE8xY8heqLujdSpZqoe_5yIhKNhehtWQRyok3K05y0vq8SE7AfcCer1wCH3Yy7BzP4ns7C-XdjU/s1600/800px-Liechtenstein_Lie_Mobil_Volvo_7700_n%C2%B091_L12_Schaan_Bahnhof_(2).JPG) |
Liemobil's Volvo 7700 Hybrid with Schaan Bahnhof body |
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ReplyDeleteAnd that, Harry is why I've had 7 years and counting of eye surgery!!!!
DeleteI like the plain simple colour, it says simplicity and a focused mind, in contrast to the jumble (not to say jumble sale) we often get in the UK!
ReplyDelete