Neoplan
Encyclopedia
NEOPLAN Bus GmbH is a German
automotive
company that manufactures buses
, trolleybus
es and coaches
. NEOPLAN is now a subsidiary
of NEOMAN Bus GmbH
, which itself is a part of MAN SE.
The company was founded by Gottlob Auwärter in Stuttgart
in 1935, and manufactured bodywork
for bus
and truck
chassis
. From the very beginning, the designs of the buses produced were considered stylish. After World War II
, an all-steel
body design was developed, a rarity at that time. By 1953, the company had moved away from manufacturing buses on truck chassis, to a partial monocoque
design with a steel tube skeleton, providing the structural support, enhanced by welded side panels. The engine was moved to the rear
, and the running gear and body functioned as one. In 1957, air suspension
was made available, improving the ride of the bus for the passenger.
, as part of their dissertation at Hamburg University. The design also allowed every passenger to regulate their fresh air supply through a nozzle from two air ducts, commonly seen today.
Both Albrecht and Lee joined NEOPLAN after graduating from the university. Albrecht took over management of the company in 1965, and Bob Lee later became head of Engineering and Design.
In 1964, the founder's second son, Konrad Auwärter, developed a double-deck bus design
for a service bus as part of his dissertation. The 'Do-Bus' design had low weight, and could carry over 100 passengers. It also featured a low-frame front axle
with forward-mounted steering
gear that permitted a low flat floor. The double-deck principle was applied to the coach design, creating a high-capacity comfortable touring vehicle. This vehicle was known as the Skyliner
,.
for certain areas of the body, this was the first instance when this technique was used. In 1973, the Jetliner was introduced, featuring a large one-piece windshield
, with the driver and door windows sloping from the passenger window line down to the bottom of the windshield level.
A second manufacturing facility opened in Pilsting
in 1973, and a third opened in Kumasi
, Ghana in December 1974 to support increasing orders.
In 1975, the Jumbocruiser
was launched, a double-deck articulated coach 18 metre long and 4 metre high. The Spaceliner, introduced in 1979 took the Cityliner concept of passenger floor level above the driver, and extended the actual floor above the cab. This kept the height of the vehicle lower than a double-decker, at 3.65 metres (12 ft), but still allowed installation of toilets, kitchens or sleep cabins below the passenger compartment.
, and Bob Lee led the establishment of a fifth plant
in Lamar, Colorado
. In 1984, a further plant was added in Honey Brook, Pennsylvania
. The US plants were later spun off into a separate, and now defunct, independent company (Neoplan USA
) that used the NEOPLAN name under licence.
In 1980, the United Kingdom
deregulated services over 35 miles (56 km) in length. This led to intense competition on a variety of long-distance services, with operators looking to differentiate their service. NEOPLAN vehicles, with their futuristic design and high quality construction, began to be imported in greater numbers.
The Metroliner was introduced in 1988. This vehicle was the first full monocoque bus in the world, requiring no separate chassis or skeleton.
In 1992, the 15 metre four-axle Megaliner was introduced, prompting a change in European Union
regulations to allow non-articulated vehicles greater than 12 metre in length. The Starliner was introduced in 1996, and would go on to win the Bus of the Year award for two consecutive years - in 1998 and 1999.
. The Starliner won the Bus of the Year award for two more consecative years in 2001 and 2002.
A new coach designed for touring was introduced in 2003 under the name Tourliner, and the Starliner was redesigned in 2004 and included the Electronic Stability Programme
(ESP). The Trendliner was released in 2004, as a 'dual purpose' intercity and combination bus - which is designed to be used seven days a week.
In 2005, two new shorter 13 metre versions of the Tourliner and Trendliner were released. From 2006, Euro4 compliant engines from MAN began being fitted in the new generation Cityliner.
In 2007, a new Auwärter Museum was opened in Landau
/Isar
.
On 1 February 2008, NEOMAN Bus GmbH was fully integrated into the Bus Division of the larger MAN Nutzfahrzeuge Group, and ceased to exist in its own right. NEOPLAN and MAN AG Buses now operate as two separate but integrated marques of MAN Nutzfahrzeuge Group. As a result of the reorganisation and restructuring of the Bus Division, NEOPLAN will concentrate on production at its Plauen and Pilsting sites, with Plauen being used for luxury coaches, whilst Pilsting will concentrate on customisations.
, a Neoplan Skyliner
overturned on a French
highway, killing twenty-eight people.
In January 2007, a Neoplan Skyliner
operated by National Express Coaches overturned and crashed on the M25 motorway
near Heathrow Airport, killing two passengers; a third passenger died six-months later due to the injuries sustained in the crash. The company temporarily withdrew all twelve Skyliners from service pending investigations The crash was deemed to have been caused by travelling at excessive speed and the driver was charged with three counts of causing death by dangerous driving. He was subsequently jailed for five years and banned from driving for an additional three years. No safety issues were found in the bus.
On 28 May 2008, in Japan
one of two Neoplan Megaliners operated by West JR Bus Company caught fire while in service, and burnt down completely. No passengers were injured. The company resumed operations with its second Megaliner on July 2008.
On 16 March 2009, in Japan
one of two Megaliners operated by JR Kanto Bus Company caught fire on an overnight Seishun Mega-Dream Go service between Osaka
and Tokyo
. The 77 passengers and driver evacuated safely before the coach was completely destroyed. Following this accident, both operators suspended operations of the remaining two Megaliners in Japan.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
automotive
Automotive industry
The automotive industry designs, develops, manufactures, markets, and sells motor vehicles, and is one of the world's most important economic sectors by revenue....
company that manufactures buses
Bus manufacturing
Bus manufacturing is a specific sector of the automotive industry, which carries out the manufacturing of buses and coaches.-History:Bus manufacturing had its earliest origins in carriage building. Other bus manufacturers had their origins in truck manufacturing...
, trolleybus
Trolleybus
A trolleybus is an electric bus that draws its electricity from overhead wires using spring-loaded trolley poles. Two wires and poles are required to complete the electrical circuit...
es and coaches
Coach (vehicle)
A coach is a large motor vehicle, a type of bus, used for conveying passengers on excursions and on longer distance express coach scheduled transport between cities - or even between countries...
. NEOPLAN is now a subsidiary
Subsidiary
A subsidiary company, subsidiary, or daughter company is a company that is completely or partly owned and wholly controlled by another company that owns more than half of the subsidiary's stock. The subsidiary can be a company, corporation, or limited liability company. In some cases it is a...
of NEOMAN Bus GmbH
Neoman Bus
Neoman Bus GmbH, also known as Neoman Bus Group, was a former bus, trolleybus and coach manufacturer in Germany, created when MAN AG subsidiary MAN Nutzfahrzeuge AG acquired Neoplan Bus GmbH in 2001. While the parent company makes trucks and other vehicles, Neoman was focused on bus and coach...
, which itself is a part of MAN SE.
Foundations
Stuttgart
Stuttgart is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. The sixth-largest city in Germany, Stuttgart has a population of 600,038 while the metropolitan area has a population of 5.3 million ....
in 1935, and manufactured bodywork
Coachwork
Coachwork is the body of a horse-drawn coach or carriage, a motor vehicle , a railroad car or railway carriage. Usually reserved for bodies built on a separate chassis, rather than being of unitary or monocoque construction...
for bus
Bus
A bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-decker bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker buses and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are...
and truck
Truck
A truck or lorry is a motor vehicle designed to transport cargo. Trucks vary greatly in size, power, and configuration, with the smallest being mechanically similar to an automobile...
chassis
Chassis
A chassis consists of an internal framework that supports a man-made object. It is analogous to an animal's skeleton. An example of a chassis is the underpart of a motor vehicle, consisting of the frame with the wheels and machinery.- Vehicles :In the case of vehicles, the term chassis means the...
. From the very beginning, the designs of the buses produced were considered stylish. After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, an all-steel
Steel
Steel is an alloy that consists mostly of iron and has a carbon content between 0.2% and 2.1% by weight, depending on the grade. Carbon is the most common alloying material for iron, but various other alloying elements are used, such as manganese, chromium, vanadium, and tungsten...
body design was developed, a rarity at that time. By 1953, the company had moved away from manufacturing buses on truck chassis, to a partial monocoque
Monocoque
Monocoque is a construction technique that supports structural load by using an object's external skin, as opposed to using an internal frame or truss that is then covered with a non-load-bearing skin or coachwork...
design with a steel tube skeleton, providing the structural support, enhanced by welded side panels. The engine was moved to the rear
Rear-engine design
In automobile design, a rear-engine design layout places the engine at the rear of the vehicle. The center of gravity of the engine itself is past the rear axle...
, and the running gear and body functioned as one. In 1957, air suspension
Air suspension
Air suspension is a type of vehicle suspension powered by an engine driven or electric air pump or compressor. This pump pressurizes the air, using compressed air as a spring. Air suspension replaces conventional steel springs. If the engine is left off for an extended period, the car will settle...
was made available, improving the ride of the bus for the passenger.
1960s
In 1961, a new bus design, the Hamburg, was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show. At a time when most coaches were rounded, bulbous or streamlined, the new design had clear-cut lines with edges and large windows. Developed by the founder's eldest son, Albrecht Auwärter, and another student, Swiss national Bob LeeBob Lee
Bob Lee may refer to:*Bob Lee , see List of California district attorneys*Bob Lee , former professional baseball pitcher*Bob Lee , former professional American football player...
, as part of their dissertation at Hamburg University. The design also allowed every passenger to regulate their fresh air supply through a nozzle from two air ducts, commonly seen today.
Both Albrecht and Lee joined NEOPLAN after graduating from the university. Albrecht took over management of the company in 1965, and Bob Lee later became head of Engineering and Design.
In 1964, the founder's second son, Konrad Auwärter, developed a double-deck bus design
Double-decker bus
A double-decker bus is a bus that has two storeys or 'decks'. Global usage of this type of bus is more common in outer touring than in its intra-urban transportion role. Double-decker buses are also commonly found in certain parts of Europe, Asia, and former British colonies and protectorates...
for a service bus as part of his dissertation. The 'Do-Bus' design had low weight, and could carry over 100 passengers. It also featured a low-frame front axle
Axle
An axle is a central shaft for a rotating wheel or gear. On wheeled vehicles, the axle may be fixed to the wheels, rotating with them, or fixed to its surroundings, with the wheels rotating around the axle. In the former case, bearings or bushings are provided at the mounting points where the axle...
with forward-mounted steering
Steering
Steering is the term applied to the collection of components, linkages, etc. which will allow a vessel or vehicle to follow the desired course...
gear that permitted a low flat floor. The double-deck principle was applied to the coach design, creating a high-capacity comfortable touring vehicle. This vehicle was known as the Skyliner
Neoplan Skyliner
The NEOPLAN Skyliner is a double-deck multi-axle luxury touring coach built by the German coach manufacturer and MAN SE subsidiary NEOPLAN Bus GmbH.-History:...
,.
1970s
In 1971, the Cityliner was introduced to the public. This design had a passenger platform above the driver's cab, and included an onboard toilet. The vehicle also made use, of glass-fibre reinforced plasticGlass-reinforced plastic
Fiberglass , is a fiber reinforced polymer made of a plastic matrix reinforced by fine fibers of glass. It is also known as GFK ....
for certain areas of the body, this was the first instance when this technique was used. In 1973, the Jetliner was introduced, featuring a large one-piece windshield
Windshield
The windshield or windscreen of an aircraft, car, bus, motorbike or tram is the front window. Modern windshields are generally made of laminated safety glass, a type of treated glass, which consists of two curved sheets of glass with a plastic layer laminated between them for safety, and are glued...
, with the driver and door windows sloping from the passenger window line down to the bottom of the windshield level.
A second manufacturing facility opened in Pilsting
Pilsting
Pilsting is a municipality in the district of Dingolfing-Landau in Bavaria in Germany....
in 1973, and a third opened in Kumasi
Kumasi
Kumasi is a city in southern central Ghana's Ashanti region. It is located near Lake Bosomtwe, in the Rain Forest Region about northwest of Accra. Kumasi is approximately north of the Equator and north of the Gulf of Guinea...
, Ghana in December 1974 to support increasing orders.
In 1975, the Jumbocruiser
Neoplan Jumbocruiser
The NEOPLAN Jumbocruiser was an articulated double-deck multi-axle city coach built by NEOPLAN Bus GmbH between 1975 and 1992. At 18 meters in length, 2.50m wide and 4m in height, it is in the Guinness World Records as the world's largest bus with a capacity for 170 passengers.-History:The...
was launched, a double-deck articulated coach 18 metre long and 4 metre high. The Spaceliner, introduced in 1979 took the Cityliner concept of passenger floor level above the driver, and extended the actual floor above the cab. This kept the height of the vehicle lower than a double-decker, at 3.65 metres (12 ft), but still allowed installation of toilets, kitchens or sleep cabins below the passenger compartment.
1980s
A new fourth plant was added in 1981 in BerlinBerlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, and Bob Lee led the establishment of a fifth plant
Neoplan USA
Neoplan USA was a major transit bus manufacturing company based in Denver, Colorado, which was entirely separate from the German corporation, Neoplan, licensing its designs from the German company of the same name. The company was founded in 1981 and folded in 2006. It was originally a subsidiary...
in Lamar, Colorado
Lamar, Colorado
The City of Lamar is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Prowers County, Colorado, United States. The city population was 8,869 at the U.S...
. In 1984, a further plant was added in Honey Brook, Pennsylvania
Honey Brook, Pennsylvania
Honey Brook is a borough in Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 1,713 at the 2010 census. It is surrounded by the township of the same name, and both are referred to locally collectively as Honey Brook.-History:...
. The US plants were later spun off into a separate, and now defunct, independent company (Neoplan USA
Neoplan USA
Neoplan USA was a major transit bus manufacturing company based in Denver, Colorado, which was entirely separate from the German corporation, Neoplan, licensing its designs from the German company of the same name. The company was founded in 1981 and folded in 2006. It was originally a subsidiary...
) that used the NEOPLAN name under licence.
In 1980, the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
deregulated services over 35 miles (56 km) in length. This led to intense competition on a variety of long-distance services, with operators looking to differentiate their service. NEOPLAN vehicles, with their futuristic design and high quality construction, began to be imported in greater numbers.
The Metroliner was introduced in 1988. This vehicle was the first full monocoque bus in the world, requiring no separate chassis or skeleton.
1990s
A manufacturing facility was opened in Ehrenhain in 1990.In 1992, the 15 metre four-axle Megaliner was introduced, prompting a change in European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
regulations to allow non-articulated vehicles greater than 12 metre in length. The Starliner was introduced in 1996, and would go on to win the Bus of the Year award for two consecutive years - in 1998 and 1999.
2000s
In 2001, NEOPLAN, or correctly, "Gottlob Auwärter GmbH & Co KG" was acquired by MAN AG subsidy MAN Nutzfahrzeuge AG to form NEOMAN Bus GmbHNeoman Bus
Neoman Bus GmbH, also known as Neoman Bus Group, was a former bus, trolleybus and coach manufacturer in Germany, created when MAN AG subsidiary MAN Nutzfahrzeuge AG acquired Neoplan Bus GmbH in 2001. While the parent company makes trucks and other vehicles, Neoman was focused on bus and coach...
. The Starliner won the Bus of the Year award for two more consecative years in 2001 and 2002.
A new coach designed for touring was introduced in 2003 under the name Tourliner, and the Starliner was redesigned in 2004 and included the Electronic Stability Programme
Electronic stability control
Electronic stability control is a computerized technology that may potentially improve the safety of a vehicle's stability by detecting and minimizing skids. When ESC detects loss of steering control, it automatically applies the brakes to help "steer" the vehicle where the driver intends to go...
(ESP). The Trendliner was released in 2004, as a 'dual purpose' intercity and combination bus - which is designed to be used seven days a week.
In 2005, two new shorter 13 metre versions of the Tourliner and Trendliner were released. From 2006, Euro4 compliant engines from MAN began being fitted in the new generation Cityliner.
In 2007, a new Auwärter Museum was opened in Landau
Landau
Landau or Landau in der Pfalz is an autonomous city surrounded by the Südliche Weinstraße district of southern Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It is a university town , a long-standing cultural centre, and a market and shopping town, surrounded by vineyards and wine-growing villages of the...
/Isar
Isar
The Isar is a river in Tyrol, Austria and Bavaria, Germany. Its source is in the Karwendel range of the Alps in Tyrol; it enters Germany near Mittenwald, and flows through Bad Tölz, Munich, and Landshut before reaching the Danube near Deggendorf. At 295 km in length, it is the fourth largest river...
.
On 1 February 2008, NEOMAN Bus GmbH was fully integrated into the Bus Division of the larger MAN Nutzfahrzeuge Group, and ceased to exist in its own right. NEOPLAN and MAN AG Buses now operate as two separate but integrated marques of MAN Nutzfahrzeuge Group. As a result of the reorganisation and restructuring of the Bus Division, NEOPLAN will concentrate on production at its Plauen and Pilsting sites, with Plauen being used for luxury coaches, whilst Pilsting will concentrate on customisations.
Coaches
| model | internal combustion engine Internal combustion engine The internal combustion engine is an engine in which the combustion of a fuel occurs with an oxidizer in a combustion chamber. In an internal combustion engine, the expansion of the high-temperature and high -pressure gases produced by combustion apply direct force to some component of the engine... | max. power Power (physics) In physics, power is the rate at which energy is transferred, used, or transformed. For example, the rate at which a light bulb transforms electrical energy into heat and light is measured in watts—the more wattage, the more power, or equivalently the more electrical energy is used per unit... @ rpm Revolutions per minute Revolutions per minute is a measure of the frequency of a rotation. It annotates the number of full rotations completed in one minute around a fixed axis... | max. torque Torque Torque, moment or moment of force , is the tendency of a force to rotate an object about an axis, fulcrum, or pivot. Just as a force is a push or a pull, a torque can be thought of as a twist.... @ rpm | transmission Transmission (mechanics) A machine consists of a power source and a power transmission system, which provides controlled application of the power. Merriam-Webster defines transmission as: an assembly of parts including the speed-changing gears and the propeller shaft by which the power is transmitted from an engine to a... | wheelbase Wheelbase In both road and rail vehicles, the wheelbase is the distance between the centers of the front and rear wheels.- Road :In automobiles, the wheelbase is the horizontal distance between the center of the front wheel and the center of the rear wheel... | length | width | height |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tourliner |
MAN D2066 LOH 03 or 04, 10518 cc R6 common rail Common rail Common rail direct fuel injection is a modern variant of direct fuel injection system for petrol and diesel engines.On diesel engines, it features a high-pressure fuel rail feeding individual solenoid valves, as opposed to low-pressure fuel pump feeding unit injectors... turbodiesel Turbodiesel Turbodiesel refers to any diesel engine with a turbocharger. Turbocharging is the norm rather than the exception in modern car and truck diesel engines... MAN D2676 LOH EEV, 12419 cc R6 common rail turbodiesel |
294 or @ 1,900 324 kW @ 1,900 |
1900 or @ 1,000-1,400 2100 N·m (1,549 ft·lbf) @ 1,100-1,400 |
6-speed manual Manual transmission A manual transmission, also known as a manual gearbox or standard transmission is a type of transmission used in motor vehicle applications... or 12-speed TipMatic ZF ZF Friedrichshafen ZF Friedrichshafen AG, also known as ZF Group, and commonly abbreviated to ZF, is a German public company headquartered in Friedrichshafen, in the south-west German region of Baden-Württemberg.... AS Tronic automated manual Semi-automatic transmission A semi-automatic transmission is an automobile transmission that does not change gears automatically, but rather facilitates manual gear changes by dispensing with the need to press... |
6060 mm (238.6 in) | 12 metre | 2.55 metre | 3.8 metre |
| Tourliner C (multi-axle Multi-axle bus A multi-axle bus is a bus or coach that has more than the conventional two axles, usually three , or more rarely, four... ) |
MAN D2676 LOH EEV, 12419 cc R6 common rail turbodiesel MAN D2066 LOH 04, 10518 cc R6 common rail turbodiesel |
324 or @ 1,900 324 kW @ 1,900 |
2100 or @ 1,100-1,400 2100 N·m (1,549 ft·lbf) @ 1,000-1,400 |
6-speed manual or 12-speed TipMatic ZF AS Tronic automated manual |
6060 and 1470 mm (238.6 and 57.9 ) | 13.26 metre | 2.55 metre | 3.8 metre |
| Tourliner L (multi-axle Multi-axle bus A multi-axle bus is a bus or coach that has more than the conventional two axles, usually three , or more rarely, four... ) |
MAN D2676 LOH EEV, 12419 cc R6 common rail turbodiesel MAN D2066 LOH 04, 10518 cc R6 common rail turbodiesel |
324 or @ 1,900 324 kW @ 1,900 |
2100 or @ 1,100-1,400 2100 N·m (1,549 ft·lbf) @ 1,000-1,400 |
6-speed manual or 12-speed TipMatic ZF AS Tronic automated manual |
6600 and 1470 mm (259.8 and 57.9 ) | 13.8 metre | 2.55 metre | 3.8 metre |
| Cityliner |
MAN D2066 LOH 03 or 04, 10518 cc R6 common rail turbodiesel MAN D2676 LOH, 12419 cc R6 common rail turbodiesel |
294 or @ 1,900 324 kW @ 1,900 |
1900 or @ 1,000-1,400 2300 N·m (1,696 ft·lbf) @ 1,100-1,400 |
6-speed manual or 12-speed TipMatic ZF AS Tronic automated manual |
6060 mm (238.6 in) | 12.24 metre | 2.55 metre | 3.68 metre |
| Cityliner C (multi-axle Multi-axle bus A multi-axle bus is a bus or coach that has more than the conventional two axles, usually three , or more rarely, four... ) |
MAN D2066 LOH 04, 10518 cc R6 common rail turbodiesel MAN D2676 LOH, 12419 cc R6 common rail turbodiesel |
324 kW @ 1,900 324 or @ 1,900 |
2100 N·m (1,549 ft·lbf) @ 1,000-1,400 2100 or @ 1,100-1,400 |
6-speed manual or 12-speed TipMatic ZF AS Tronic automated manual |
6200 and 1470 mm (244.1 and 57.9 ) | 12.99 metre | 2.55 metre | 3.72 metre |
| Cityliner L (multi-axle Multi-axle bus A multi-axle bus is a bus or coach that has more than the conventional two axles, usually three , or more rarely, four... ) |
MAN D2066 LOH 04, 10518 cc R6 common rail turbodiesel MAN D2676 LOH, 12419 cc R6 common rail turbodiesel |
324 kW @ 1,900 324 or @ 1,900 |
2100 N·m (1,549 ft·lbf) @ 1,000-1,400 2100 or @ 1,100-1,400 |
6-speed manual or 12-speed TipMatic ZF AS Tronic automated manual |
6550 and 1470 mm (257.9 and 57.9 ) | 13.99 metre | 2.55 metre | 3.72 metre |
| Skyliner C Neoplan Skyliner The NEOPLAN Skyliner is a double-deck multi-axle luxury touring coach built by the German coach manufacturer and MAN SE subsidiary NEOPLAN Bus GmbH.-History:... (double-deck Double-decker bus A double-decker bus is a bus that has two storeys or 'decks'. Global usage of this type of bus is more common in outer touring than in its intra-urban transportion role. Double-decker buses are also commonly found in certain parts of Europe, Asia, and former British colonies and protectorates... multi-axle Multi-axle bus A multi-axle bus is a bus or coach that has more than the conventional two axles, usually three , or more rarely, four... ) |
MAN D2676 LOH 02, 12412 cc R6 common rail turbodiesel |
353 kW @ 1,900 | 2300 N·m (1,696 ft·lbf) @ 1,100-1,400 |
12-speed TipMatic ZF AS Tronic automated manual |
5550 and 1300 mm (218.5 and 51.2 ) | 12.44 metre | 2.55 metre | 4 metre |
| Skyliner L Neoplan Skyliner The NEOPLAN Skyliner is a double-deck multi-axle luxury touring coach built by the German coach manufacturer and MAN SE subsidiary NEOPLAN Bus GmbH.-History:... (double-deck Double-decker bus A double-decker bus is a bus that has two storeys or 'decks'. Global usage of this type of bus is more common in outer touring than in its intra-urban transportion role. Double-decker buses are also commonly found in certain parts of Europe, Asia, and former British colonies and protectorates... multi-axle Multi-axle bus A multi-axle bus is a bus or coach that has more than the conventional two axles, usually three , or more rarely, four... ) |
MAN D2676 LOH 02, 12412 cc R6 common rail turbodiesel |
353 kW @ 1,900 | 2300 N·m (1,696 ft·lbf) @ 1,100-1,400 |
12-speed TipMatic ZF AS Tronic automated manual |
6900 and 1300 mm (271.7 and 51.2 ) | 13.79 metre | 2.55 metre | 4 metre |
| Starliner C (multi-axle Multi-axle bus A multi-axle bus is a bus or coach that has more than the conventional two axles, usually three , or more rarely, four... ) |
MAN D2676 LOH, 12419 cc R6 common rail turbodiesel |
353 or @ 1,900 | 2300 N·m (1,696 ft·lbf) @ 1,100-1,400 |
12-speed TipMatic ZF AS Tronic automated manual |
6200 and 1470 mm (244.1 and 57.9 ) | 12.99 metre | 2.55 metre | 3.97 metre |
| Starliner L (multi-axle Multi-axle bus A multi-axle bus is a bus or coach that has more than the conventional two axles, usually three , or more rarely, four... ) |
MAN D2676 LOH, 12419 cc R6 common rail turbodiesel |
353 or @ 1,900 | 2300 N·m (1,696 ft·lbf) @ 1,100-1,400 |
12-speed TipMatic ZF AS Tronic automated manual |
6550 and 1470 mm (257.9 and 57.9 ) | 13.99 metre | 2.55 metre | 3.97 metre |
| model | internal combustion engine Internal combustion engine The internal combustion engine is an engine in which the combustion of a fuel occurs with an oxidizer in a combustion chamber. In an internal combustion engine, the expansion of the high-temperature and high -pressure gases produced by combustion apply direct force to some component of the engine... | max. power Power (physics) In physics, power is the rate at which energy is transferred, used, or transformed. For example, the rate at which a light bulb transforms electrical energy into heat and light is measured in watts—the more wattage, the more power, or equivalently the more electrical energy is used per unit... @ rpm Revolutions per minute Revolutions per minute is a measure of the frequency of a rotation. It annotates the number of full rotations completed in one minute around a fixed axis... | max. torque Torque Torque, moment or moment of force , is the tendency of a force to rotate an object about an axis, fulcrum, or pivot. Just as a force is a push or a pull, a torque can be thought of as a twist.... @ rpm | transmission Transmission (mechanics) A machine consists of a power source and a power transmission system, which provides controlled application of the power. Merriam-Webster defines transmission as: an assembly of parts including the speed-changing gears and the propeller shaft by which the power is transmitted from an engine to a... | wheelbase Wheelbase In both road and rail vehicles, the wheelbase is the distance between the centers of the front and rear wheels.- Road :In automobiles, the wheelbase is the horizontal distance between the center of the front wheel and the center of the rear wheel... | length | width | height |
Buses
- CentrolinerNeoplan CentrolinerThe NEOPLAN Centroliner is a series of low floor bus which was first unveiled in 1997, and mainly built by NEOPLAN Bus GmbH for the European market...
- Electroliner (electric trolleybus)
- Neoplan Airliner (airport apron bus, 1960–present)
- Tropicliner
Past
- Neoplan Hamburg
- Neoplan Megaliner
- JumbocruiserNeoplan JumbocruiserThe NEOPLAN Jumbocruiser was an articulated double-deck multi-axle city coach built by NEOPLAN Bus GmbH between 1975 and 1992. At 18 meters in length, 2.50m wide and 4m in height, it is in the Guinness World Records as the world's largest bus with a capacity for 170 passengers.-History:The...
- Neoplan Jetliner
- Neoplan Spaceliner
- Neoplan Metroliner
- TranslinerNeoplan TranslinerThe NEOPLAN Transliner in Europe is a single-decker inter-urban coach and rental coach built by NEOPLAN Bus GmbH for the European market in 1990s, of either a single-axle or multi-axle bus design. Some Dennis Javelin and MAN coaches in the United Kingdom also have the Transliner bodywork.-American...
- Neoplan Trendliner
- Neoplan Euroliner
- Neoplan Megashuttle
Accidents
On 17 May 2003 in FranceFrance
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, a Neoplan Skyliner
Neoplan Skyliner
The NEOPLAN Skyliner is a double-deck multi-axle luxury touring coach built by the German coach manufacturer and MAN SE subsidiary NEOPLAN Bus GmbH.-History:...
overturned on a French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
highway, killing twenty-eight people.
In January 2007, a Neoplan Skyliner
Neoplan Skyliner
The NEOPLAN Skyliner is a double-deck multi-axle luxury touring coach built by the German coach manufacturer and MAN SE subsidiary NEOPLAN Bus GmbH.-History:...
operated by National Express Coaches overturned and crashed on the M25 motorway
M25 motorway
The M25 motorway, or London Orbital, is a orbital motorway that almost encircles Greater London, England, in the United Kingdom. The motorway was first mooted early in the 20th century. A few sections, based on the now abandoned London Ringways plan, were constructed in the early 1970s and it ...
near Heathrow Airport, killing two passengers; a third passenger died six-months later due to the injuries sustained in the crash. The company temporarily withdrew all twelve Skyliners from service pending investigations The crash was deemed to have been caused by travelling at excessive speed and the driver was charged with three counts of causing death by dangerous driving. He was subsequently jailed for five years and banned from driving for an additional three years. No safety issues were found in the bus.
On 28 May 2008, in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
one of two Neoplan Megaliners operated by West JR Bus Company caught fire while in service, and burnt down completely. No passengers were injured. The company resumed operations with its second Megaliner on July 2008.
On 16 March 2009, in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
one of two Megaliners operated by JR Kanto Bus Company caught fire on an overnight Seishun Mega-Dream Go service between Osaka
Osaka
is a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...
and Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
. The 77 passengers and driver evacuated safely before the coach was completely destroyed. Following this accident, both operators suspended operations of the remaining two Megaliners in Japan.
See also
- BüssingBüssingBüssing was a German bus and truck manufacturer established by Heinrich Büssing at Braunschweig in 1903. Büssing's first truck was a 2 ton payload machine powered by a 2-cylinder gasoline engine and featuring worm drive...
- MAN AG Buses
- MANAŞManasManas may refer to one of the following:*Manas, a Kyrgyz epic poem with 500,000 lines.*The Pali and Sanskrit term for "mind"; see**Manas **Manas-vijnana, one of the eight consciousnesses taught in Yogacara Buddhism...
- NEOMAN Bus GmbHNeoman BusNeoman Bus GmbH, also known as Neoman Bus Group, was a former bus, trolleybus and coach manufacturer in Germany, created when MAN AG subsidiary MAN Nutzfahrzeuge AG acquired Neoplan Bus GmbH in 2001. While the parent company makes trucks and other vehicles, Neoman was focused on bus and coach...
- Neoplan USANeoplan USANeoplan USA was a major transit bus manufacturing company based in Denver, Colorado, which was entirely separate from the German corporation, Neoplan, licensing its designs from the German company of the same name. The company was founded in 1981 and folded in 2006. It was originally a subsidiary...
defunct US subsidiary - Viseon BusViseon BusViseon Bus GmbH is a German bus, trolleybus and coach manufacturer, based in Pilsting, Bavaria, Germany. It was established in July 2008, and in April 2009 it took over the former bus and coach production facility of MAN Nutzfahrzeuge AG in Pilsting and a workforce of about 200 employees...
- Multi-axle busMulti-axle busA multi-axle bus is a bus or coach that has more than the conventional two axles, usually three , or more rarely, four...
External links
- NEOPLAN Bus GmbH - official website
- NEOPLAN.co.uk - MAN Truck & Bus UK Ltd