Scania unveils latest Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) giant bus capable of holding 270 passengers
A huge 28-metre, bi-articulated Scania could provide a cost effective alternative to rail in Australia’s biggest cities in the future.
While the organisation has no plans to bring the beast to Australian shores just yet, the Brazilian market will provide an excellent testing-ground for the high-capacity vehicles, following its release recently.
“It’s the same as removing 135 cars each carrying two passengers from the road,” Scania Brazil’s head of bus and coach sales Silvio Munhoz says.
The mega bus is powered by Scania’s 360 horse power front engine, with a body by Brazilian bus bodybuilders Caio or Neobus, and has five doors for efficient boarding and exiting.
The passenger-per-kilometre cost is also 40 percent less than regular articulated buses, according to Scania.
“This is very much in line with Scania’s aim to provide sustainable transport,” Munhoz says.
“As cities continue to grow, ensuring mobility is an increasing concern and efficient BRT systems are the most cost-effective means of providing public transport.”
With such a huge passenger capacity, the new Scania is being touted as a viable alternative to rail, especially on express routes where capital expenditure must be kept to a minimum and the need for some route flexibility is required.