[Ashley2]

Originally Posted by siddvi

Didn't know that Scania was available in India. Whom have they tied up with here?

Also, most of the TATA trucks the military uses have the ALL Wheel Drive feature. Are these AWD trucks available for the general public from TATA?

There is nothing like most of the Tata trucks are AWD.
The ones supplied to Defence purpose are with AWD.
There is no necessity for AWD for Civillian application and if the need arises it will certainly be produced.
But right now ALL is leading with defence products with more than 56000 stallion in Indian Army. Its the largest fleet of any vehicle in any Indian army.

Can any one give a detailed review of New ULE's supplied by ALL to DTC.
How is the over all fit and finish?
How is the NVH levels compared to Marcopolo's.
I feel these buses are very promising since they look very good compared to Marcos.

Its time that most of our metros are moving to comprehensive BRT systems. Cities like Pune, Delhi have already started. The speed, reliability, bus stop locations and environmental friendliness of the BRT system have caused many middle- and upper class people to begin using it.
Requirements may be as follows:
1. Carry more passengers.
2. Faster Turnaround.
3. Fully Built options.
4. Improved Passenger ergonomics and comfort
5. Improved driver comfort.
6. Lesser Initial and operational and cost.
7. Higher engine power (at least 250 BHP)
8. Sophisticated features specific to Intra City traffic.
My view in products goes in this way.
1. Extending the current vehicle length from 12m to 13.7 or even more by using 6x4 platform if required.
2. This should happen in both ULE and SLF platforms (E+1 and E+2).
3. Quad Axle Bi Articulated buses like Volvo 7500.
4. Extending the concept of SLF to vestibule buses.(I think its not attempted earlier).
And finally if possible there should be an answer to Neoplan Mega shuttle which is currently the largest passenger carrying bus in world with 195 passengers (95 seats+75 standees).

[BaCkSeAtDrIVeR]

Originally Posted by Ashley2

1. Extending the current vehicle length from 12m to 13.7 or even more by using 6x4 platform if required.
2. This should happen in both ULE and SLF platforms (E+1 and E+2).
3. Quad Axle Bi Articulated buses like Volvo 7500.
4. Extending the concept of SLF to vestibule buses.(I think its not attempted earlier).
And finally if possible there should be an answer to Neoplan Mega shuttle which is currently the largest passenger carrying bus in world with 195 passengers (95 seats+75 standees).

Nice questions. I know you are doing a marketing research, therefore am answering the questions. ;-P

We really cannot really generalize like this. I have stated this before, and am repeating, travelling in city is not just get into public transport from point X get off at point Y.

Travelling in city is getting out of your origin, reaching a point where public transport is available, waiting for it, and once a bus which has enough space for you arrives, get into it and hang patiently among a million sweating bodies as the vehicle meanders through the specific routes, (which are NEVER the shortest or fastest routes) getting out of the public transport at the nearest point from where you want to go, get off and then, find the way to your destination.

In fact, this true of every kind of public transport.

The low floor buses, high capacity buses, and all these things would only ease the part of travel in bold above. A successful and efficient public transport system has to ease the pain involved in the other legs of the public transport system.

For this we need mini buses and good substitutes for those "share taxis" and "share autos" which will take the busy and crowded traffic of the narrower roads.

I am not, for a moment, deriding the importance or necessicity of any of the ULF / SLF multi axle, articulated, etc vehicles. These only serve whay may be termed as "trunk" routes. What I am saying is that all these should be complemented by appropriate number and quality smaller "feeder" vehicles.

[Transsenger]

Here are some pictures of new Ashok Leyland fully built School Bus on "LYNX" platform. The body is built by Veera Vahana bangalore.
(Source-Veera vahana)

Earlier AL had sold similar school buses on LYNX & STAG chassis (built by Harsha) in Kerala.

[Ashley2]

Originally Posted by BaCkSeAtDrIVeR

Nice questions. I know you are doing a marketing research, therefore am answering the questions. ;-P

We really cannot really generalize like this. I have stated this before, and am repeating, travelling in city is not just get into public transport from point X get off at point Y.

Travelling in city is getting out of your origin, reaching a point where public transport is available, waiting for it, and once a bus which has enough space for you arrives, get into it and hang patiently among a million sweating bodies as the vehicle meanders through the specific routes, (which are NEVER the shortest or fastest routes) getting out of the public transport at the nearest point from where you want to go, get off and then, find the way to your destination.

In fact, this true of every kind of public transport.

The low floor buses, high capacity buses, and all these things would only ease the part of travel in bold above. A successful and efficient public transport system has to ease the pain involved in the other legs of the public transport system.

For this we need mini buses and good substitutes for those "share taxis" and "share autos" which will take the busy and crowded traffic of the narrower roads.

I am not, for a moment, deriding the importance or necessicity of any of the ULF / SLF multi axle, articulated, etc vehicles. These only serve whay may be termed as "trunk" routes. What I am saying is that all these should be complemented by appropriate number and quality smaller "feeder" vehicles.

Of course BaCkSeAtDrIVeR, its a generalised statement and its applicable to many cities.Thats the reason systems like BRT are hugely successful. Leave it in India since its not fully utilised or implemented in a hurry without understanding the basics of BRT.

Even from your words "get into it and hang patiently among a million sweating bodies as the vehicle meanders through the specific routes," there is a clue that there should be more space and ease for travelling and to reduce the travel time. That is what I have mentioned in my post.
In some cities and in specific routes only its possible for us to go for Mini buses as used by BEST and not in all the routes as this will lead to increase in traffic in road with decrese in passenger density. Further Mini bus is a way of life for many of us here in Tamilnadu which are definetely a boon for smaller routes and lesses dense routes. And so this is kept aside without combining it with normal mode of transport in cities.

Cities like Madurai, coimbatore and even in Hosur in Tamilnadu which are much smaller, there are select routes which are run with Articulated busses and these are run away success and earning good revenues to STU's. I was trying capture this point coupled with BRT.
And no offense in my post and views are always welcome

[binaiks]

Originally Posted by Transsenger

Here are some pictures of new Ashok Leyland fully built School Bus on "LYNX" platform. The body is built by Veera Vahana bangalore.
(Source-Veera vahana)

Earlier AL had sold similar school buses on LYNX & STAG chassis (built by Harsha) in Kerala.

Being an ardent fan of Ashok Leyland products, I have all rights to say this : Shame on AL. This bus looks too similar to the now-popular Tata Marcopolo mini-bus.

BTW, is Ashok Leyland entrusting most of its OEM jobs to Veera? What happened to their much-coveted Irizar-TVS venture?

[teamveevee]

Originally Posted by binaiks

Being an ardent fan of Ashok Leyland products, I have all rights to say this : Shame on AL. This bus looks too similar to the now-popular Tata Marcopolo mini-bus.

I thought you are a Volvo fan .

BTW, is Ashok Leyland entrusting most of its OEM jobs to Veera? What happened to their much-coveted Irizar-TVS venture?

Starting their own Captive bus plant might have irked the TVS group. Veera may be a stop gap arrangement until their own bus plant becomes fully operational.
Exact copy in case of School bus, Chinese design in case of low floor buses, what happened to AL R&D? Hindujas (yikes) dont want to spent any money on RD?

[AkMar]

Spotted a white Isuzu bus operated by Neeta on Western Express highway at Borivali.

[binaiks]

Originally Posted by teamveevee

I thought you are a Volvo fan .

Both are a league of their own...

Originally Posted by teamveevee

Starting their own Captive bus plant might have irked the TVS group. Veera may be a stop gap arrangement until their own bus plant becomes fully operational.

But wasn't Leyland holding a stake in the Irizar-TVS venture?

Originally Posted by teamveevee

Exact copy in case of School bus, Chinese design in case of low floor buses, what happened to AL R&D? Hindujas (yikes) dont want to spent any money on RD?

Something seriously wrong with Leyland. They are not getting it right these days

[vharihar]

See

YouTube - Tata's Army of 300!

[gold class]

2010: Auto Expo ; Curtain Raiser
Mercedes Benz - Mercedes-Benz will be making some important launches at the Auto Expo this year. Leading the event for the three-pointed star will be a preview of a high end limousine on the very first day of the show. If the rumour mill is to be believed, this launch could change the face of the super luxury saloon segment in India in which Mercedes is already a leading choice. The second day of the 10th Auto Expo will also see Mercedes preview a brand new bus for the Indian commercial vehicle space. The bus will offer the Volvo buses stiff competition with its high standards of safety, quality, efficiency and reliability. If the grapevine is to be believed, the new bus may just be head-on competition to the relatively recent Volvo B9R bus.

[quattroa4]

at last it got launched ! i remember watching it in auto expo 2008 , since then it look nearly 2 years to launch it !!

[Ashley2]

Live webcast on www.ashokleyalnd.com on Jan 06 from 0900 to 1130 from Auto expo 2010. Coverage including media conferance.

[AMATMO]

@sivasankar that wud be the corona

also i was lookin foreward to see the navistar trucks with bonnet in the front with distinct american looks ,bit dissapointed there
but i admit even with the trucks they have launched its an ambitious move
nice to see that cause after all the trucks they have launched which will give them numbers not the fancy ones i dream of seeing on indian roads
but i hope they launch those atleast for speacial purpose

[DWind]

Originally Posted by binaiks

Karnataka SRTC has introduced a Corona AC Sleeper Service between Bangalore and Ernakulam.

They also now have service from Chennai. Please refer attachment.

Curiously, their upper birth(berth!) leaves the bus stand one minute earlier than the lower birth. Maybe, the upper birth goes via Chitoor.

BTW does anybody has the specs of Corona? It is heavily inspired by Volvo and hope it has the matching hp and Torque to boot.

[teamveevee]

Originally Posted by raj_5004

time taken by 'PRAKASH' to build the body: 1.5 months. Waiting period for chassis: 1 week (depends on availability)

Originally Posted by raj_5004

colour- not yet. i will be flying to bangalore next week to prakash's office & will decide upon the colour & various interior fitments.

Dude, 2 1/2 months, no update, what happened?