[girimajiananth]

Will these kind of buses navigate through the underpass in our city ? I remember reading in a news paper that a big bus got struck below an underpass and people had to deflate the tyre .

[arunr]

I wonder the practical benefit offered from these buses as the luggage capacity in an existing Volvo bus is also substantial. Also customers would not prefer climbing up and getting down a flight of stairs during the scheduled comfort stops.

Also seems to be a top heavy design, which is a recipe for disaster on our expressways.

[naga.sid]

Hi

I can refuse my morning coffee. After all the thread was listed among Hot threads! What a kick!

I do agree that this seems to be a very top heavy design. Also, entry and exit for the driver would be a neck cruncher.

Much like an aircraft, this might need a load and trim sheet before movement.

The only possible plus could be using this bus on scenic rides, possible for tourism?

Best regards
Naga Sid

[TheARUN]

Azad used to make this design about 15 years ago! It was called the Lexia Aerodyna. A rusting bus at the petrol bunk near the Sharma Office in Kalasipalyam is the only reminder that this bus even existed. This bus was an instant hit and you could see so many of them on the Chennai, Hyderabad and Bombay routes. Don't know what, but Azad stopped making them

This is an excellent design for a bus, the luggage lowers the center of gravity and would give the bus the ability to corner as if on rails

[binaiks]

Originally Posted by TheARUN

Azad used to make this design about 15 years ago! It was called the Lexia Aerodyna. A rusting bus at the petrol bunk near the Sharma Office in Kalasipalyam is the only reminder that this bus even existed. This bus was an instant hit and you could see so many of them on the Chennai, Hyderabad and Bombay routes. Don't know what, but Azad stopped making them

This is an excellent design for a bus, the luggage lowers the center of gravity and would give the bus the ability to corner as if on rails

Wasn't lexia series made by Sutlej?

[TheARUN]

Originally Posted by binaiks

Wasn't lexia series made by Sutlej?

You are right, Sutlej was the original Lexia manufacturer, they had an integral coach with a Mercedes Benz 260bhp engine but Azad was making Lexia Aero Dyna, I have a picture somewhere, will try and post it if I find it

[DWind]

Was'nt the MB bus run by BlueLines? I remember a story of how they wanted this DD bus to be run between Madras and Bangalore but failed to get a permit with TN authorities taking objection to having more than one deck. In the end, the bus was run in Bangalore - Bombay sector.

[silversteed]

Originally Posted by binaiks

Wasn't lexia series made by Sutlej?

Originally Posted by TheARUN

You are right, Sutlej was the original Lexia manufacturer, they had an integral coach with a Mercedes Benz 260bhp engine...

A bit OT, I guess the Sutlej Lexia had a Cummins engine and TM axles. That's how it was in a Parveen tourist bus that I'd once seen somewhere (not sure if it was Chennai or Kochi, but definitely one among these two places).

A bit of searching took me to this thread

[rakeshnair14]

Well this was the same bus put up on exhibition at the second edition of the Bus World India exhibition held at Mumbai in the month of Feb'2013.
It did garner few attentions ,but was totally out shined by the Scania Metrolink buses which were unveiled in India for the first time & thronged the whole limelight during the expo.

Its the "ZhangTong Deccan Auto Navigator" bus, A Chinese bus maker , collaborated with Hyderabad based Deccan Auto . The PKD unit along with the bare chassis is imported from China & assembled at Deccan Auto's plant at Hyderabad. Last heard that these buses are still in in their crucial trials & testing mode & await certain approvals from CIRT & ARAI before they could venture out in the Indian Market .

The two models of their on display were a 12 mtr coach (LCK6129H) & a 14 mtr Multi axle coach (LCK6137H).

The LCK6129H being powered by a 336 BHP & LCK 6137 with a 375 BHP engine with 6 speed manual gear box.

Here are few snaps of the same:

[BunnyPunia]

They are testing not one but THREE versions in India.

Source - http://bit.ly/zhongtong

Hope mods are ok with the link share - wanted to simply add dope to the matter here

[rakeshnair14]

Now here's something surprising!
Was this bus (12 mtr coach LCK6129H ) ever been provided to Karnataka SRTC on trail basis. Got this snap from a friend of mine , said it is of 2012 & the bus shown here was an LHD . Doesn't seem to be like a photo- shopped pic.
Any KSRTC /BMTC geeks out here can shed some light on this?

[SunnyBoi]

Originally Posted by rakeshnair14

Now here's something surprising!
Was this bus (12 mtr coach LCK6129H ) ever been provided to Karnataka SRTC on trail basis. Got this snap from a friend of mine , said it is of 2012 & the bus shown here was an LHD . Doesn't seem to be like a photo- shopped pic.
Any KSRTC /BMTC geeks out here can shed some light on this?
Attachment 1251715

This photo is a fake.

[vivek95]

Bhagirathi Transports based Mumbai has 2 of these Zhongtongs - 1 biaxle and another muliaxle, both with 2+1 seating configuration and has been operating them on
Kolhapur--Ahmedabad route via Pune-Mumbai. They started off with Mumbai-Ahmedabad route past 1.5 months or so, then extended the service till Kolhapur. It seems neither of these buses are double deck, they are single deck. Probably ''High deck'' in real sense as compared to Scania High deck ?? Bhagirathi has a great reputation of maintaining its buses in mint condition for years together. People in Bombay would have regularly seen their well maintained Hispano buses.

Pic credits -- Shantanu for biaxle and Kunal for multiaxle

[rakeshnair14]

Originally Posted by vivek95

Bhagirathi Transports based Mumbai has 2 of these Zhongtongs - 1 biaxle and another muliaxle, both with 2+1 seating configuration and has been operating them on
Kolhapur--Ahmedabad route via Pune-Mumbai. They started off with Mumbai-Ahmedabad route past 1.5 months or so, then extended the service till Kolhapur. It seems neither of these buses are double deck, they are single deck. Probably ''High deck'' in real sense as compared to Scania High deck ?? Bhagirathi has a great reputation of maintaining its buses in mint condition for years together. People in Bombay would have regularly seen their well maintained Hispano buses.

Pic credits -- Shantanu for biaxle and Kunal for multiaxle

I believe both are the same buses that were exhibited in 2012 at Bus World.
Must be refurbished & sold to Bhagirathi Travels.

[Ashley2]

Originally Posted by vivek95

Bhagirathi Transports based Mumbai has 2 of these Zhongtongs - 1 biaxle and another muliaxle, ..... It seems neither of these buses are double deck, they are single deck. Probably ''High deck'' in real sense as compared to Scania High deck ?? Bhagirathi has a great reputation of maintaining its buses in mint condition for years together. People in Bombay would have regularly seen their well maintained Hispano buses.

Pic credits -- Shantanu for biaxle and Kunal for multiaxle

Technically you can call them as Single axle and Multi axle. There isn't something called biaxle.
Also they neither single deck or double deck and called as one and half deck.
Apprx 4m high.