JCBL Cerita JC 11 HD

1100D · 30th August 2007, 03:01

The steering boss is still wrapped in plastic!

Ram · 30th August 2007, 07:57

Well, apparently the Volvo B7Rs in and around Mumbai only have one Volvo service centre at Bhiwandi.

@windsurfer had written about Volvo operators' discomfort with inadequate number of Volvo service centres.

There was only one centre, located at
Dapoda-Mankoli [GPS:19.241628°N, 73.044786°E] near Bhiwandi, for the entire Mumbai region.
And nationally, Volvo had five own centres across India with fifteen others privately owned.

Does anybody know, what the scene is for JCBL, who would, of course, be keen to take a bite out of Volvo's market share.
Ram

Ram · 4th July 2008, 20:26

Friends:

JCBL have since improved their buses.

Recently I traveled in a JCBL Cerita JC 12 HD coach from Mumbai to Pune. The bus was much more refined and quiet compared to the JC 11 HD.

The operator was Maharashtra State Road Transport Corp. The service was branded "Shivneri", which we now associate with the well-maintained light blue Volvo B7Rs. The coach had Shivneri's new deep blue livery.

The front cowl had a curved torpedo-like bulge, to make it more aerodynamic and sleek teardrop shaped aero-headlamps

JCBL Cerita JC 11 HD-2008jcblkinglongjc12hdfront.jpg

As with the earlier King Long, it had an extra footstep that automatically extended when the door was opened. The area near the stairs had a fire-extinguisher provided.

The coach had side-marker lamps near the front and rear wheel arches.

The rooftop Haiger Chinese airconditioner cooled the bus well. The bus had an LCD video screen and the movie playing showed good high contrast picture quality in all lighting conditions. The windows had matching blue pleated perforated paper curtains.

The tail-lamps were custom made tail lamps, not those from the Sumo Victa anymore.

JCBL Cerita JC 11 HD-2008jcblkinglongjc12hdrear.jpg

And the exhaust pipe was faired-in to the rear bumper. Like American long-distance coaches, there were also four red roof-mounted outline marker lights and a proper number-plate light.

Service
True to the standards set by MSRTC Shivneri, the bus started on time as specified by the timetable. It stopped at the rest halt at Khalapur-Sajgaon for exactly 15 minutes, (announced by the driver as 10 minutes).

Shivneri bus drivers also double as conductors and are uniformed, polite and careful to stick to the timetable.

Ram

salilpawar1 · 4th July 2008, 21:05

Nice report, Sir!

This bus was spied long long ago during tests at ARAI, Pune. Wonder why it took so much time to enter the market.

So, can we safely assume now that Volvo's monopoly is FINALLY broken? I see more of Ceritas these days.

Now we want a report on the Tata Hispano Globus.

Ram · 5th July 2008, 10:25

Thank you salilpawar1.

ARAI may have tested the JC12 a while ago, but governmental agencies take their own time to buy and introduce a new product.

And have you seen a private operator using a brand new JC12 yet?

Volvo's monopoly may be broken, but

it was Volvo who first popularized the paradigm of breakdown-free luxury airconditioned coach travel in India,
they are still heavier, wider, reliable buses,
they will no more let the Bangalore Azad bodies represent brand-Volvo in India
they will build their own Volvo model 9400 in India with "international" Volvo bus production principles (sic), with personnel trained at Volvo, Poland from hereon.

BTW, which operators use the Tata Hispano Globus? Any pics of one in regular operational service?

salilpawar1 · 5th July 2008, 11:03

I haven't seen a non-private operator running JC 12 buses.

What is the opinion of the drivers/fellow passengers about Ceritas? Because till last few months there was lot of sceptism in the minds of the people about any bus which was NOT a Volvo thanks to the pathetic 'Mahabus' service where bus tickets were priced similar to Volvo tickets.

Neeta travels is using Hispano buses.
http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/883644-post455.html

Ram · 5th July 2008, 11:33

NEETA's buses are very badly maintained. Broken mirrors are not repaired. Dirty floors are not washed. The video is invariably broken. Stained and damaged seats are not repaired. Lately, you can detect a typical Neeta stench.
.
Externally, they rattle and smoke. One was even being driven with the engine hood missing.
.
Their disorderly staff have utter disregard for punctuality. They will delay a nearly full bus inconveniencing passengers, waiting for one or two last seats to fill. They will stop anywhere and everywhere to look for a possible passenger.
.
Besides, tickets are sold by rogues who issue an unnumbered chalu ticket and vary the ticket charges depending on demand and supply.

With travel on Neeta, becoming increasingly mediocre, Ajinkya and I gravitate towards MSRTC Shivneri (or even the desi Mahabus). If nothing else, they're at least on time.

abhijit 2284 · 5th July 2008, 12:06

have noticed a white twin axle rear engined bus( looks similar to the design ot the b7r series) going towards vrde( nagar) a couple of times while on my way to pune.
Anyone have any more info on this- is volvo getting ready to launch their b10r onwards series buses?

Ram · 5th July 2008, 12:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by abhijit 2284

have noticed a white twin axle rear engined bus( looks similar to the design ot the b7r series) going towards vrde( nagar) a couple of times while on my way to pune.
Anyone have any more info on this- is volvo getting ready to launch their b10r onwards series buses?

Volvo's B7R and B10R are not buses. They are chasses. Volvo is determined to sell only complete buses in India, not chasses any more. So it must be something other than B10R. Do publish a pic next time around, abhijit.

turbo1787 · 5th July 2008, 16:45

JCBL CERITA is giving serious competition to B7Rs in North. Recently PRTC( Punjab Govt) has started operating these buses on Delhi-Chandigarh route under their brand 'PUNBUS' . These are also equipped with LCD screens and cover the distance in 5 hours flat includding stoppage time.

Ram · 6th July 2008, 16:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by turbo1787

JCBL CERITA is giving serious competition to B7Rs in North. Recently PRTC( Punjab Govt) has started operating these buses on Delhi-Chandigarh route under their brand 'PUNBUS' . These are also equipped with LCD screens and cover the distance in 5 hours flat includding stoppage time.

PUNBUS (Punjab Government) supposedly have 360 new buses. To renovate and upgrade their bus stands, Amritsar, Ludhiana and Jalandhar have been given to private parties on a Build-Operate-Transfer basis. The expectation -- modern facilities to the public. Amritsar bus stand -- functioning since Sep 2005 is considered one of India's best bus stands.

BTW, these are the people that operate the India-Pakistan Punj-Aab Express Volvo. Amritsar-Lahore-Nankana Sahib(birthplace of Guru Nanak). Note the cool lightbar atop the bus.

JCBL Cerita JC 11 HD-volvob7rpunjaabexpress.jpg

fx45 · 6th July 2008, 23:38

any specific reason for that police style light?

30th August 2007, 03:01	#31
1100D Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Calcutta Posts: 4,390 Thanked: 4,096 Times View My Garage	The steering boss is still wrapped in plastic!
	() Thanks

30th August 2007, 07:57	#32
Ram Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Singapore, Mumbai, Nagpur Posts: 2,166 Thanked: 219 Times View My Garage	Well, apparently the Volvo B7Rs in and around Mumbai only have one Volvo service centre at Bhiwandi. @windsurfer had written about Volvo operators' discomfort with inadequate number of Volvo service centres. There was only one centre, located at Dapoda-Mankoli [GPS:19.241628°N, 73.044786°E] near Bhiwandi, for the entire Mumbai region. And nationally, Volvo had five own centres across India with fifteen others privately owned. Does anybody know, what the scene is for JCBL, who would, of course, be keen to take a bite out of Volvo's market share. Ram
	() Thanks

4th July 2008, 20:26	#33
Ram Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Singapore, Mumbai, Nagpur Posts: 2,166 Thanked: 219 Times View My Garage	New JCBL Cerita JC 12 HD coach Friends: JCBL have since improved their buses. Recently I traveled in a JCBL Cerita JC 12 HD coach from Mumbai to Pune. The bus was much more refined and quiet compared to the JC 11 HD. The operator was Maharashtra State Road Transport Corp. The service was branded "Shivneri", which we now associate with the well-maintained light blue Volvo B7Rs. The coach had Shivneri's new deep blue livery. The front cowl had a curved torpedo-like bulge, to make it more aerodynamic and sleek teardrop shaped aero-headlamps As with the earlier King Long, it had an extra footstep that automatically extended when the door was opened. The area near the stairs had a fire-extinguisher provided. The coach had side-marker lamps near the front and rear wheel arches. The rooftop Haiger Chinese airconditioner cooled the bus well. The bus had an LCD video screen and the movie playing showed good high contrast picture quality in all lighting conditions. The windows had matching blue pleated perforated paper curtains. The tail-lamps were custom made tail lamps, not those from the Sumo Victa anymore. And the exhaust pipe was faired-in to the rear bumper. Like American long-distance coaches, there were also four red roof-mounted outline marker lights and a proper number-plate light. Service True to the standards set by MSRTC Shivneri, the bus started on time as specified by the timetable. It stopped at the rest halt at Khalapur-Sajgaon for exactly 15 minutes, (announced by the driver as 10 minutes). Shivneri bus drivers also double as conductors and are uniformed, polite and careful to stick to the timetable. Ram
	() Thanks

4th July 2008, 21:05	#34
salilpawar1 BHPian Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Mumbai (MH-01) Posts: 852 Thanked: 247 Times View My Garage	Nice report, Sir! This bus was spied long long ago during tests at ARAI, Pune. Wonder why it took so much time to enter the market. So, can we safely assume now that Volvo's monopoly is FINALLY broken? I see more of Ceritas these days. Now we want a report on the Tata Hispano Globus.
	() Thanks

5th July 2008, 10:25	#35
Ram Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Singapore, Mumbai, Nagpur Posts: 2,166 Thanked: 219 Times View My Garage	Volvo won't fade away without a fight Thank you salilpawar1. ARAI may have tested the JC12 a while ago, but governmental agencies take their own time to buy and introduce a new product. And have you seen a private operator using a brand new JC12 yet? Volvo's monopoly may be broken, but it was Volvo who first popularized the paradigm of breakdown-free luxury airconditioned coach travel in India, they are still heavier, wider, reliable buses, they will no more let the Bangalore Azad bodies represent brand-Volvo in India they will build their own Volvo model 9400 in India with "international" Volvo bus production principles (sic), with personnel trained at Volvo, Poland from hereon. BTW, which operators use the Tata Hispano Globus? Any pics of one in regular operational service?
	() Thanks

5th July 2008, 11:03	#36
salilpawar1 BHPian Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Mumbai (MH-01) Posts: 852 Thanked: 247 Times View My Garage	I haven't seen a non-private operator running JC 12 buses. What is the opinion of the drivers/fellow passengers about Ceritas? Because till last few months there was lot of sceptism in the minds of the people about any bus which was NOT a Volvo thanks to the pathetic 'Mahabus' service where bus tickets were priced similar to Volvo tickets. Neeta travels is using Hispano buses. http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/883644-post455.html
	() Thanks

5th July 2008, 11:33	#37
Ram Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Singapore, Mumbai, Nagpur Posts: 2,166 Thanked: 219 Times View My Garage	NEETA's buses are very badly maintained. Broken mirrors are not repaired. Dirty floors are not washed. The video is invariably broken. Stained and damaged seats are not repaired. Lately, you can detect a typical Neeta stench. . Externally, they rattle and smoke. One was even being driven with the engine hood missing. . Their disorderly staff have utter disregard for punctuality. They will delay a nearly full bus inconveniencing passengers, waiting for one or two last seats to fill. They will stop anywhere and everywhere to look for a possible passenger. . Besides, tickets are sold by rogues who issue an unnumbered chalu ticket and vary the ticket charges depending on demand and supply. With travel on Neeta, becoming increasingly mediocre, Ajinkya and I gravitate towards MSRTC Shivneri (or even the desi Mahabus). If nothing else, they're at least on time. Last edited by Ram : 5th July 2008 at 11:34.
	() Thanks

5th July 2008, 12:06	#38
abhijit 2284 BHPian Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Aurangabad Posts: 206 Thanked: 113 Times View My Garage	have noticed a white twin axle rear engined bus( looks similar to the design ot the b7r series) going towards vrde( nagar) a couple of times while on my way to pune. Anyone have any more info on this- is volvo getting ready to launch their b10r onwards series buses?
	() Thanks

5th July 2008, 16:45	#40
turbo1787 BHPian Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: NOIDA Posts: 103 Thanked: 23 Times	JCBL CERITA is giving serious competition to B7Rs in North. Recently PRTC( Punjab Govt) has started operating these buses on Delhi-Chandigarh route under their brand 'PUNBUS' . These are also equipped with LCD screens and cover the distance in 5 hours flat includding stoppage time.
	() Thanks

6th July 2008, 23:38	#42
fx45 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: mumbai Posts: 1,823 Thanked: 384 Times	any specific reason for that police style light?
	() Thanks