The result has been a significant increase in passenger numbers, a reduction in the number of passenger cars and, therefore, a lower environmental impact. Some 26,500 passengers a day currently use the number-4 line served by 20 BusWay regular-service buses based on the Mercedes-Benz Citaro G with natural-gas drive. These buses link the 15 stations along the seven-kilometre route in less than 20 minutes, departing every three minutes at peak periods.
The buses feature a highly individual, extremely appealing design with a fairing around the roof edge, double-glazed side windows and masked wheel arches at the two rear axles. LED spots in two different colours split the passenger compartment into two distinctive zones. Further equipment and appointments available in the passenger compartment include uplights at the window pillars, grab rails in polished stainless steel, dark-blue seats and a camera-based monitoring system. The driver sits apart from the passengers in a separate, enclosed compartment.
BusWay in Nantes, France: BusWay regular-service bus based on the Mercedes-Benz Citaro G with natural-gas drive.
Photos and text:
Daimler AG