[srishiva]

This bus costs about 4 lakhs less than the existing multi-axle. So hopefully Volvo will have to reduce their prices.
Guess Black Box would be recording more of the vehicle data than just the speed like aircrafts.

[unk9ja]

Originally Posted by ghodlur

The service looks very promising. What are the routes where this new services are being planned?

Tirupati, Chennai, Nellore, Ernakulam and Hyderabad are the present destinations.

[silversteed]

Originally Posted by suresh_gs

May be what you have said is true. But KSRTC has quite a number of AL buses too in the Rajahaamsa fleet and no TATA buses. Not sure why this is so.

KaSRTC has more number of Rajahamsa buses built on TM LPO1618c chassis than AL chassis. But how is it related to the "Diamond class"?

Originally Posted by paragsachania

Except for the Blackbox I would like to know if rest of the advertised features were part of I-Shift multi-axle anyway??

There is nothing much significant that differentiates itself from Club Class (and not Klub class )here.

You hit the nail on the head. There's nothing, absolutely nothing, to differentiate this Diamond Class from the Club Class, concerning the passengers. For a mango person boarding a 'Vaalvo bussu', a Scania, Merc, Volvo, and in the rare case, an RE Leyland would all be the same.

However, there are a few differences between the Volvo B9R 9400XL i-Shift, and Scanio Metrolink HD 13.7:
360hp & 8-speed automated manual transmission, called Opticruise of the Scania vs 340hp and 6-speed AMT that Volvo calls i-Shift.
The Volvo doesn't have a steerable additional axle (pusher type), which is located ahead of the live axle, while the Scania has a steerable tag axle, which is the more common setup in multi-axle buses

Originally Posted by srishiva

This bus costs about 4 lakhs less than the existing multi-axle. So hopefully Volvo will have to reduce their prices

To give you an idea, Volvo offered the fully loaded B9R 9400XL coaches (leather seats, rear glass, seat belts on all seats, etc) to the KSRTC (Kerala) at a mouthwatering discounted rate, compared to what KaSRTC had paid for the slightly lower package; at a time when their sales were dull. So, they do play around with the pricing to garner more sales. Scania being the new entrant, will offer discounts to gain market share quickly.

Guess Black Box would be recording more of the vehicle data than just the speed like aircrafts.

Got to see what it does in the unfortunate event of an accident (pray there's never such a need). Most probably this would be their marketing jargon for the telemetry system.

[hserus]

I just posted this in another thread which is about long distance buses .. http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/commer...ml#post3739272

The indian express article quoted there says telemetry, driver behavior study + something called "alcolock" - maybe a sensor to detect drunk driving (and possibly also asleep at the wheel / sick / otherwise incapacitated drivers?) - that'd be very useful.

One thing that makes me feel uncomfortable is the "camera with 60 day retention of footage for passenger safety and security".

Images captured of sleeping people are inevitably going to end up exposing some body part they don't intend to expose. And there are at least some young couples who try to get intimate on board an all night bus when they think others are asleep.

Such clips taken on the delhi metro have already made their way to porn sites . http://www.ibnlive.com/news/india/de...tv-622454.html so this is a real risk.

[Bhodrolok]

Well done KSRTC. I have to say KSRTC is the best road transport organization I have come across in India by a mile compared to other state and private organizations. The buses are well maintained, clean, most drivers drive decently and they run on time as per schedule along with a very reasonable fare.

Nothing but kudos for them

[turbospooler]

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/...w/47827522.cms

After looking at pics of the "Diamond Class", I don't see any special features which makes it unique. Yes, the blackbox and recording are great features, but nothing to aid to the utility of the passengers making it a class apart.
I was expecting better features like those Olivia buses but this is a huge disappointment.
Maybe it is only Scania who is trying to market this product by adding the Diamond Class labeling.

[gsurya]

Originally Posted by Bhodrolok

Well done KSRTC. I have to say KSRTC is the best road transport organization I have come across in India by a mile compared to other state and private organizations. The buses are well maintained, clean, most drivers drive decently and they run on time as per schedule along with a very reasonable fare.

Nothing but kudos for them

Quite agree, if every state can replicate a BEST Mumbai model for the cities & KSRTC Karnataka model for intra-state transport, that will itself be Acche Din for the country! Chennai city buses are also not too bad.

[TheTeacher]

Don't know about the Scania, but every other luxury bus (Volvo, Mercedes, single, multi-axle) have been a pain because 4 seats in a row is too cramped for me. I have broad shoulders and if I end up next to a big person, we're both miserable. Instead of a 2+2 configuration, it should be 2+1. I'd be happy to pay more for this. There is one private player with this configuration, but the pricing is more than 2x of Volvo / Mercedes bus prices.

[GeeTee TSI]

Originally Posted by srishiva

Guess Black Box would be recording more of the vehicle data than just the speed like aircrafts.

The black box probably captures route data (including stoppages and delays), driving characteristics like speeds, acceleration and deceleration (braking) all logged against the particular driver on trip duty. If properly captured and analysed in the back end, a good tool to monitor driver performance on FE and safety aspects; to improve fleet efficiency.

[maltedvews]

Excellent!

Kudos to KSRTC. I've never had trouble travelling to Chennai as a single lady, even at night.

Thanks for sharing.

[amitdatta92]

These buses have been fitted with a new fire suppression system. Unlike regular suppression systems (tank size of 20L) these buses have 60L chemical tanks, which enables to douse fires automatically in the engine compartment, fuel tank area or the luggage boot (most dangerous locations in case of fire). The suppression system was developed by Scania along with external suppliers on special request from KSRTC. News is that even Volvo and Mercedes buses are looking forward to have a similar feature in their buses.

[BlueEyes]

Originally Posted by gsurya

Quite agree, if every state can replicate a BEST Mumbai model for the cities & KSRTC Karnataka model for intra-state transport, that will itself be Acche Din for the country!

Very well said my friend.
If I may add, good state transport combined with better roads across India is what we need for Acche Din In this day and age when we have reached out to Mars it is sad that we still talk about bad roads in our country

I have pretty much traveled all the states in the south and KA state transport always keeps updating there fleet of buses with latest. I remember reading a news article recently, which said only Maharashtra and Karnataka state transport are making profit. Though Hyderabad city transport now has new Volvos, I have seen some state run transport buses in the interiors of AP,extremely disappointing.

[coriollis]

After travelling a fair bit in KSRTC's premium route of Bangalore - Pune / Mumbai, all I can vouch is that, Whether it is a Scania or a Volvo, the things that will remain same as before are KSRTC's maddening obssesion for mileage and the resultant unbearable lugging of engine.

Jokes apart, I have traveled 4 -5 times in SRS Scania 14.5 HD. The first lot as well as the recent one. Personally I feel that Scania is more of a matured product, with outstanding ride comfort and fabulous passenger ergonomics such as soft touch window sill and pleasant lighting system to name a few and very good mileage figures of around 3 kmpl with speed lock at 100 kmph and driven constantly at that limit.
We can expect the same comfort and mileage in KSRTC Diamond Class too, So in-fact KSRTC does have a chance to clear itself from the tag of slow movers.

Cheers,
AB

[vasoo]

Having a black box in a bus is a good idea as long it is kept in working condition. I would expect it to track the technical/driving parameters (OBD data?) and GPS co-ordinates at a minimum. It will be good if it can also add behavioral data from driver through a camera and/or microphone. Additional sensors for tyre pressure and fuel/oil leakage are good to have.

[silversteed]

Originally Posted by coriollis

Whether it is a Scania or a Volvo, the things that will remain same as before are KSRTC's maddening obssesion for mileage and the resultant unbearable lugging of engine.

The Scania Opticruise AMT will not allow lugging the engine like how the KaSRTC drivers do to extract more FE. And, Scania offers all their Metrolink coaches with Opticruise and not with a manual shifter. But, it got to be seen if the corporation would be able to sweet-talk or arm-twist Scania to offer a Manual shifter variant to satiate their obsession for FE

Originally Posted by amitdatta92

These buses have been fitted with a new fire suppression system... News is that even Volvo and Mercedes buses are looking forward to have a similar feature in their buses.

This is the FDSS - Fire Detection & Suppression System, made mandatory for the CNG city buses. Good to see Scania and KaSRTC leading the way by implementing it in intercity buses. I'm sure the recent fires in long distance buses has had an impact on this decision.