The Perm region received new gas-powered buses with a driver condition monitoring system

Low-floor buses in Russia

K. Ushanov, photo by the author

The lower the better. Within a reasonable

The first low-floor bus that passed through the testing department of RIA "Rossbusiness", which publishes the magazines "Fixed Means" and "Truck Press", were vehicles of the bus branch of the Minsk Automobile Plant (AMAZ), and immediately the low-floor 15-meter three-axle MAZ-107 (6x2). It must be said that in 2001, when the first model of the MAZ-107 was born, it was a completely crude version. The bus was equipped with a weak Renault engine and a non-steering rear axle.

Fully loaded, he walked with tension on a slight rise and wore down the rear axle tires to “slicks”. In 2003, we tested another sample of the Minsk three-axle MAZ-107-060 at the FSUE NITSIAMT test site and fully felt the difference between the first sample and the current model.

The Minsk bus now has a rotating rear axle of its own design, and the 280-horsepower Mercedes-Benz OM906LA diesel engine, which complies with the Euro 3 standard, gives the bus excellent dynamics even at full weight. The power unit is coupled with an automatic transmission from Voith.

The capacity of the MAZ-107-060 is 150...160 passengers, seating capacity is 25...31, depending on the interior configuration. This capacity is obtained due to the so-called “mine” layout of the engine compartment, i.e. on the left in the rear of the bus. The power unit is also located on the base model MAZ-103. In 2003, the MAZ-103-065 version with disc brakes and a ramp for wheelchair access was introduced in Russia.

On the articulated low-floor bus MAZ-105, the power unit is located centrally, in the main compartment of the cabin. The maximum capacity of this bus is 190 people.

The standard equipment of all models of Minsk low-floor buses includes ABS and ASR systems, air suspension, a floor level regulator that corrects the level of its inclination at stops, and a differential locking mechanism. Almost all communications, except electrical wiring, are located in the upper part of the bus interior in niches, very similar to luggage compartments in intercity and tourist buses. The body frames are protected with an anti-corrosion compound, the external cladding of the body is made of galvanized sheets, the wheel arches are made of stainless steel.

At the buyer's request, Minsk buses are equipped with turbocharged diesel engines: V-shaped six-cylinder YaMZ-236 HE (MAZ-104), Renault, Mercedes-Benz, Deutz, MAN or in-line six-cylinder MMZ D-260.5. All engines comply with Euro 2 or Euro 3 environmental standards.

Low-floor AMAZ buses have spacious door openings, large storage areas, and good ergonomics for both passengers and the driver. The buses are very maneuverable and easy to drive, which is of great importance on city routes. If at a bus stop there is a car standing too close, say, at a distance of 1...1.5 m from a stopped bus (which is prohibited by traffic rules), then the bus will calmly go around this obstacle. A great advantage in maneuvering in city traffic, especially on the crowded streets of Moscow and St. Petersburg, is provided by the good acceleration dynamics of all AMAZ models.

In Moscow, mainly MAZ-103 buses operate on routes, and even then in small numbers. But in Yaroslavl, St. Petersburg, Kemerovo and others, on urban and suburban routes you will more often see buses made in Minsk.

AMAZ supplies its products to Romania, Hungary, the Baltic countries, and former Soviet republics. Recently, operators from Germany have become interested in Minsk buses, which indicates a high level of production of Belarusian vehicles, since Germany itself produces some of the best buses in the world.

Swedish Russians

On June 18, 2002, the official opening of the bus and the release of the first city bus Scania Omni Link CL94UB 4x2 took place in St. Petersburg. Scania-Peter LLC is a Russian company with 100% Swedish capital. It is integrated into the overall production system and fully complies with all Scania requirements, as well as European and Russian legislative requirements for product quality.

The design of the Scania Omni Link CL94UB 4x2 base is combined. The front and middle parts are low-floor, the floor on the front door area is heated. The design of the rear part, where the power unit is located, is frame, made of open profiles. Accordingly, the entrance to the rear third door has steps.

The body of a Swedish coach-type bus, assembled in Russia, is framed from longitudinal-transverse aluminum beams. The originality of the body is that its frame is entirely assembled from aluminum profiles without the use of welding. The front and rear panels (“masks”) made of multilayer fiberglass are also installed without welding, using special glue. In general, this ensures high corrosion resistance, reliability, durability of the bus and guarantees its service life of at least 20 years.

The side and rear windows are tinted double glass without shatterproof gas-filled glass, glued into the body. Panoramic windshield - monolithic tinted triplex. The bus uses the most modern noise and vibration damping materials.

The St. Petersburg Scania Omni Link ventilation and heating system is interesting, which, combined with good thermal insulation of the bus, provides a comfortable microclimate in the cabin. The design of the bus includes in the heating system, in addition to convector heaters on the side walls, ceiling heaters that supply heated fresh air through air filters into the cabin. As a result, the bus windows do not fog up or freeze even in severe frost.

The driver's workplace is perfectly designed: the air-suspended seat is adjustable both horizontally and in terms of backrest angle. The steering column is also adjustable. Visibility from the driver's seat is excellent, and handling is worthy of praise. The bus has comfortable acceleration: the gas pedal responds to the slightest command from the driver, and acceleration occurs very smoothly, but quickly.

Good traction dynamics of the Scania Omni Link are provided by the Scania DC 901 (Euro 3) diesel engine, located in the rear overhang. Its working volume is 9 liters, power – 230 hp. Quite acceptable for working on city streets. The engine is mated to a ZF 5HP 502 C automatic transmission (five forward gears), a locking device to reduce fuel consumption and an integrated hydraulic retarder. The power unit also has a “zest”. The gearbox is coordinated with Scania's electronic fuel injection system, which ensures smooth gear changes, powerful and smooth retarder functions and reduced fuel consumption.

The driver controls the air suspension from the workplace, increasing ground clearance and overhang angles when passing obstacles.

Scania Omni Link is designed to work with long service intervals: 20 thousand km in urban conditions and 35 thousand km in suburban operation. In general, the resource of the power unit is designed for 2 million kilometers. The most important advantage of Scania Omni Link buses is reliability and, accordingly, profitability. The customers of Scania-Piter LLC are municipal and private transport enterprises in cities such as St. Petersburg and the Leningrad region, Moscow, Samara, Kurgan, Neryungri (Yakutia), Astana (Republic of Kazakhstan), etc.

Low poly from the Moscow region

Based on the description of previous low-floor buses, one might get the impression that no company in Russia produces vehicles of this type. And this will be half fair. Indeed, in the Russian Federation not a single bus plant produces low-floor buses in-line. However, it cannot be said that Russian bus manufacturers are not working on this topic at all.

At the Moscow bus plant in Likino, they developed a new model of a city bus with a low floor - LiAZ-5292. This model has undergone serious restyling, but the familiar features of the LiAZ-5256 bus are very well recognizable. The layout of the bus is new - four-stroke six-cylinder in-line diesel Caterpillar 3116 (Euro 3) with a power of 230 hp. aggregated with a Voith automatic transmission, located transversely at the rear and connected to the drive axle using a bevel gear. Thanks to this, the power unit takes up little space in length, which, combined with the use of the original RABA rear axle, made it possible to create a low floor along the entire length in the cabin. The Likinsky car is equipped with disc brakes on all four wheels with ABS brakes as standard. Access to the engine compartment is possible both from the rear, through the opening rear wall, and from the interior, where there are two removable panels.

The interior of this model is designed for 120 passengers, with 22 seats. The interior of the city car makes a very pleasant impression: it is beautifully decorated, and the low floor adds comfort to the interior.

The driver's workplace is equipped with an air-suspended seat with a sufficient number of adjustments to comfortably accommodate a person of almost any size. The steering column is adjustable, and the selected position is fixed by a push-button pneumatic locking mechanism. It should be noted that an adjustable steering column was used for the first time on the vehicles of Likinsky Bus LLC. The steering wheel is very comfortable: it is made in such a way that the instrument cluster is perfectly visible from the driver’s seat at any position of the steering column.

The Likinsky bus moves smoothly, swaying slightly on uneven roads. The automatic transmission does not falter or jerk when accelerating. Acceleration dynamics, as well as braking efficiency, are not bad. When maneuvering the steering wheel does not require much effort. In addition, there is a slight self-return of the steering wheel, and this is generally rare on buses.

When measuring the maximum speed, the Likino bus accelerated to 81.6 km/h and stopped accelerating, since the Caterpillar engine is equipped with an electronic speed limiter. But the city LiAZ-5292 doesn’t need more. Its fuel consumption in simulating city traffic mode with a full load is only 32.3 l/100 km, which is a very good indicator for such a car.

Let us remind you once again that LiAZ-5292 is a prototype of Likinsky Bus LLC, and if all minor shortcomings are eliminated by the start of mass production, passengers of low-floor cars of the Moscow region plant are guaranteed a pleasant trip.

Another "Gazelle"

I've been driving the Gazelle NEXT for a year now. Compared to the old Gazelle, it’s on a completely different level. I also had to work on foreign-made buses. Even NEXT is practically in no way inferior to them. — Sergey M., driver.

New small-capacity bus “Gazelle NEXT”

All he inherited from his predecessor was his name. Completely redesigned, modern, European design. It's not even a bus, but a whole family. Various wheelbase options, capacity from 14 to 22 seats, large selection of interior layouts: urban, suburban, tourist options.

The car provides a high level of comfort for passengers: the cabin height is almost two meters, comfortable seats with practical upholstery, an effective heating and ventilation system, a high and wide side door with an electric drive, and a retractable step for easy boarding. The bus is equipped with an effective braking system, its suspension ensures stability and a smooth ride. The differential lock allows you to move confidently on broken and slippery winter roads.

What is especially important for the owner is that Gazelle NEXT requires moderate maintenance costs. The service interval has been increased to 20,000 km, the warranty is 2 years without mileage limitation. LPG equipment installed at the plant reduces fuel costs by almost half! By the way, the state subsidizes the purchase of gas-fuelled buses. Starting this year, the priority of state support in this matter has changed. If previously fixed funds were allocated to support producers, now direct buyers are primarily subsidized. Gas fuel models have been created, now they need to be actively purchased.

It is possible to order a car with a special configuration. There are buses for transporting passengers with limited mobility, school versions, and options with a luxury interior. "Gazelle NEXT" is a family of buses for all occasions. This is a small route bus, a car for small tourist groups, a school bus, and a service bus. And considering the purchase price of 412 thousand rubles, this is also a very affordable bus.

Go!

Of course, small and medium buses are not the main transport of large cities. Large capacity buses are a priority here. But there are cramped streets of the old city where the articulated hulk simply cannot fit. There are routes with low passenger traffic where the use of large buses is unprofitable. There are suburban transportation, where “kids” are used very actively. Small buses are used for rental, service, excursion transportation...

The three families of buses offered by the distributor of the GAZ brand, GC Modern Transport Technologies, have many common features. This is a new, advanced design, modern, reliable aggregate base, low operating costs. The design of the cars fits perfectly into the style of a modern city. The new products provide passengers and drivers with a high level of comfort and safety. All models meet the requirements of the Accessible Environment program.

The country is gradually emerging from restrictions associated with the coronavirus pandemic. Passenger traffic is growing, temporarily canceled routes are being restored. The country's transport system is coming to life. How will we travel to the future, Russians?