Neoplan Cityliner Manual by Tourix

NEOPLAN 58/2007

NE OPL AN

Cityliner

New version of a classic bus Panasonic Toyota Racing Team

A Starliner at the f1 HOS geldiniz NEOPLAN!

Sales Launch in Turkey

Vip class

aktuell

NEOPLAN Aktuell 58/2007

Contents FOREWORD

Sabine Drzisga, Member of the Executive Board

YOUNG AT HEART

of MAN Nutzfahrzeuge AG

The first Cityliner from 1971

A NEW VERSION OF THE

A Starliner AT THE FormULA 1

ClassiC MODEL

Design and safety as NEOPLAN sees them

The Panasonic Toyota Racing Team gets a new coach

The Cityliner of today IAA COMMERCIAL VEHICLES 2006

AN AWARD FOR NEOPLAN

GETTING ON, BUT STILL

THREE GenerationS The NEOPLAN poster Hos geldiniz, NEOPLAN! Sales operations take off in Turkey

Rankings and prizes MAN TRUCK & BUS DEUTSCHLAND GMBH

Joining forces makes for a powerful team CUSTOMER NEWS

Vehicles presented to customers around the globe

MASTHEAD Publisher: Postal address: Responsible on behalf of the publisher: Editorial department: Contributors to this issue: Translated by: Circulation:

NEOMAN Bus Group Heinrich-Büssing-Straße 1 · 38239 Salzgitter phone: (0049) 53 41/28-0 · fax: (0049) 53 41/28-14 77 NEOPLAN Bus GmbH Gottlob-Auwärter-Weg 1 · D-94431 Pilsting phone: (0049) 99 53/9 20-0 · fax: (0049) 99 53/9 20-10 09 www.neoplan.de · E-Mail: info@neoplan.de Jan de Haas Simone Setka (head) · Simone.Setka@neoman.de Thorsten Wagner Jürgen Görgler, Dieter Hanke, Simone Setka, Thorsten Wagner Amper Translation Service, Fürstenfeldbruck, www.ampertrans.de 20,000 issues (13,000 in German, 3,500 in English, 1,500 in French and 1,000 each in Spanish and Italian) Produced in Germany by Stünings Medien GmbH

FOREWORD

Foreword Dear customers, business associates and friends of NEOPLAN, I would like to use this opportunity to take my leave of you – although it won’t be for good, fortunately. The reason is I became a member of the Executive Board at MAN Nutzfahrzeuge AG on 1 January 2007 and gave up my position as member of the Management Board at NEOPLAN Bus GmbH at the same time. Nevertheless, I shall still stay in touch with the bus and coach sector, and with NEOPLAN in particular, so the sadness I feel at leaving is not as overwhelming as it might have been. I have grown quite attached to the brand in the course of my work in Salzgitter – but since you are a NEOPLAN customer, you already know exactly what I mean.

Last year was strongly influenced by the IAA Commercial Vehicles show. Although this major trade event has been over for a while now, we would like to recall our successful appearance there in this issue and at the same time present our new “flagship” to you, the NEOPLAN Cityliner. Many of you will have already taken a look at our latest coach, so in this issue of NEOPLAN aktuell we are going to present further details and views of it. One of our Starliners recently found an exciting new home – it was handed over to the Panasonic Toyota Racing Team. German TV presenter Kai Ebel and top-class racing driver Ralf Schumacher took part in the official handover of the coach in Cologne and gave us a unique insight into the world of motorsport.

The NEOPLAN brand has now been launched on the Turkish market – in an official ceremony with a stunning firework display. With immediate effect, the Tourliner and the Starliner are being sold on the domestic market by MAN Türkiye. I’m sure this is the start of a very successful story. I personally wish NEOPLAN all the success the brand deserves, and I sincerely hope you will continue to put your trust in us. Wishing you all the best for the future (and in the hope of meeting you again soon), Yours truly

Sabine Drzisga

Sabine Drzisga, member of the Executive Board at MAN Nutzfahrzeuge AG

t h e ne w C i t y l i ne r 2 0 0 6

04/05

A classic in a new look The Cityliner – 35 years old and as fresh as ever. NEOPLAN premiered its newly designed Cityliner coach at the IAA Commercial Vehicles show in September 2006. 35 years after the presentation of the first high-deck coach of this kind, the new Cityliner sets visual and technical standards in its class, continuing a long NEOPLAN tradition of creating buses that are not only extremely functional but also downright attractive. The top-ofthe-range touring coach made its appearance at the IAA as a two-axle high-decker 12.24 metres in length (the Cityliner HD). Another version with

three-axles is already available with a length of 12.9 metres (the Cityliner HDC), to be followed later by one of 13.9 metres (the Cityliner HDL). This entirely newly conceived coach generation from NEOPLAN marks a new chapter in the history of the Cityliner, more than 7,000 of which have been sold all over the world since 1971. exterior and interior – balanced Elegance The new NEOPLAN Cityliner embodies bus design at its very best. Its lines radiate a sleek elegance, the dynamic shaping and expansive, understated glass and gloss surfaces generating

the overall impression. NEOPLAN designer Michael Streicher deliberately avoided visual decoration and superfluous flourishes. This is what made it possible to give the Cityliner a new, modern face and at the same time, by carefully developing typical form elements, to preserve the distinctiveness of a classic touring coach with a long tradition. The fact that the face of the new coach has a more modern look to it than that of its predecessor, despite all the nurturing of tradition and constancy of the brand, is due to a number of design contrivances and of course the formal relationship with the premium NEOPLAN

Starliner high-decker. Design features like the diamond cut at the roof edge above the side windows or the backward sweep of the driver‘s windows, accentuating the typical lookout platform impression of the front, give the bus its unmistakeable character, while tried-and-tested parts from the Starliner, like the front apron, rear panel, side flap handles or side windows, produce enduring quality from the very start. Behind the top-hung luggage compartment flaps, which can also be chosen to swivel parallel, there is space for between 9.4 and 11.4 cubic metres of luggage (Cityliner HD/HDL).

The new Cityliner radiates the kind of elegance that immediately draws attention.

The passenger area of the Cityliner is generously scaled and modern.

The cockpit – a successful blend of design and utility.

A sense of spaciousness is created by the freely suspended luggage compartments.

Just as impressive as the bodywork of the new NEOPLAN Cityliner is the timeless elegance of the interior. The high, seemingly self-supporting luggage racks lend an air of spaciousness, and with a height of 215 mm they are among the biggest in their class. The two-axle 12.24-metre-long Cityliner HD offers seating for between 46 and 51 passengers (in the 4-star and 3-star version respectively). The three-axle and 12.99-metre-long Cityliner HDC seats 50 or 55, while the stretched three-axle Cityliner HDL will seat 54 or 59 (all figures with a built-in toilet). The cockpit is also a successful mixture of attractive and functional design, immediately striking through its spaciousness and extreme practicality. The driver is able to operate all major driving and on-board functions straight from the multifunction steering wheel (optionally in leather).

drive and chassis – powerful and dynamic

issues power to the driving axle. The chassis, with its proven independent wheel suspension for the front axle and multiply tracked hypoid axle at the rear, is based on well-engineered MAN technology and comes with an electronic stability program (ESP), contributing to the stability of the vehicle in critical situations by intervening in engine or brake management. Electronically controlled comfort drive suspension (CDS), ensuring optimal comfort, improved vehicle handling and greater road safety in every situation, is an optional extra (see box).

modern Electronic systems – on-board assistants

The new NEOPLAN Cityliner is powered to standard by a 10.5-litre six-cylinder inline turbodiesel MAN D 2066 LOH 03/04 common rail engine. It thus features the latest Euro 4 technology, dispensing with the costly and complicated use of urea. The bus even has a standard, open structured particulate filter on board – the patented MAN PM-KAT®. In the series version the vertically configured, rear-mounted engine produces 400 hp for the two-axle Cityliner HD, and a version with 440 hp is also available. For the longer threeaxle version of the Cityliner, in addition to the standard 440 hp engine there is also the 480 hp MAN D 2676 LOH 02 common rail with 12.4 litres capacity, available with a TipMatic gearbox. The otherwise standard six-speed gearbox, operated by a comfortable cable-controlled gear shift,

Proven circular frame technology was used for the construction of the framework.

Safety is enhanced by electronic systems like the standard brake assistant or maximum speed limiter. The new NEOPLAN Cityliner also optionally incorporates the latest driver assistance systems like adaptive cruise control (ACC) or a lane guard system (LGS). Extra safety is afforded by an active cornering light, offered for the first time in a vehicle of this class, where an enlarged light beam very much improves vision in tight curves and when cornering. The modular headlights can also be fitted with bi-xenon lamps.

t h e ne w C i t y l i ne r 2 0 0 6

cityliner The new Cityliner scores maximum points on everything that counts in the touring coach sector – modern design, dependable engineering and comprehensive safety features. This classic vehicle in new attire has the right makings to continue the success of its predecessors.

The aesthetic rear – a crowning completion.

COMFORT DRIVE SUSPENSION (CDS) FOR TOURING COACHES CDS, specifically adapted to the touring coach, is aimed at enhancing comfort and safety. It is possible to choose manually between two levels of comfort that influence the suspension. In this way a vehicle can be adapted to special load situations

or driving conditions. Whether accelerated cornering or cruising along on a motorway with hefty cross furrows, CDS makes coach driving a special experience. Pitching of the front of the coach is barely noticeable: the whole coach body seems to rest within itself. The vehicle features ESP to standard, while ACC and LGS are optionally integrated. The result is a virtual safety buffer that starts with

06/07

TechniCAL DATA

Model

Cityliner N 1216 HD

Cityliner N 1217 HDC

Cityliner N 1218 HDL

Length/width/height (m)

12,240/2,550/3,680

12,990/2,550/3,680

13,990/2,550/3,680

Wheelbase (m)

6,060

6,200/1,470

6,550/1,470

Clearance circle (m)

21,154

21,494

22,354

Seating 4-star/ 3-star (with built-in toilet)

46/51

50/55

54/59

Standing height (m)

2,066

Luggage compartment volume (m³)

9.4

10.4

11.4

Engine design

MAN 6-cylinder inline D 20/26 with common rail injection, Euro 4 with cooled exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) and MAN PM-KAT®

Engine/capacity

MAN D 2066 LOH/ 10,516 cm³

MAN D 2066 LOH/ 10,516 cm³; MAN D 2676 LOH/ 12,412 cm³

Power rating/torque

400 hp/1,900 Nm; 440 hp/ 2,100 Nm

440 hp/2,100 Nm; 480 hp/2,300 Nm

the smooth controlling effect of CDS and increasingly draws upon the other safety systems the closer to the critical region the vehicle gets. With this new system, which NEOPLAN is the first bus and coach producer to offer worldwide, the brand has consolidated its claim to produce VIP-class touring coaches.

The new Cityliner drew many admiring glances.

Design and safety as NEOPLAN NEOPLAN presented various impressive concepts for vehicles as well as a host of innovative features at the 61st IAA Commercial Vehicles show in Hanover, Germany. The themes it covered ranged from breathtaking designs like the striking Starliner and the revamped Cityliner to the new CDS system for extra comfort and safety in touring coaches. On the much-praised 1,500 sqm stand in hall 12 of the Hanover showground, NEOPLAN displayed four of its buses and coaches, an effective overview of its highly attractive product range. spot on the New Cityliner The highlight of the IAA Commercial Vehicles was without doubt the new NEOPLAN Cityliner, making its world première. Centred on this classic touring coach, a fascinating show was staged four times a day. A Cityliner song (“Holding this World”) was even specially written for the occasion and distributed to the public on a CD. This evergreen, which first appeared in 1971, is still extremely popular and has now been virtually reinvented. Its harmonious lines derive from the

sees them sharp-cut design of the NEOPLAN Starliner and encompass all the technical refinements and comfort enhancements one expects from a coach of this category. The two-axle version that was on show will be joined by a short three-axle model early in 2007. Enjoying the spotlight were also a short three-axle Starliner SHD (awarded the title “Coach of the Year 2006”), the Trendliner Ü intercity bus and the classic Tourliner L coach in a three-axle version. The NEOPLAN area was based on the MAN motto for the show – “New Horizons”, reflected in the meridians sweeping over the stand. The champagne colour of the vehicles emphasised the premium claim of the brand, continued in the interiors by extravagantly styled seat covers showing impressive sunrises and by dynamic lines in trendy colour nuances of a warmth unusual for the NEOPLAN brand. It was certainly a real headturner again! NEOPLAN touring coaches with new Euro 4 engines With the change to Euro 4 standard, the new and more compact engines of the MAN D20 LOH com-

The Cityliner song “Holding this World” was presented with lots of emotion.

mon rail series are now being fitted into the rear of the coaches. The patented MAN PM-KAT®, which won the environment prize of the Federation of German Industries (BDI), produces the necessary reduction of particulates in line with Euro 4. So an operator can easily do away with an additive like AdBlue, which would mean extra handling expenses and about 150 kg more weight. NEOPLAN and MAN hold a virtually unique selling position in this respect. The new engines with a case of high-strength but lightweight vermicular graphite cast iron provide 400 and 440 hp of power (max. torque 1,900 and 2,100 Nm) and are thus ready for every purpose. The smaller cubic capacity compared to predecessor engines is also a guarantee for low fuel consumption. The exhibited Tourliner has the vertical LOH version, the Trendliner the horizontal D2066 LUH, with power ratings of 310 hp (only two-axle), 350 hp, 390 hp and 430 hp (the latter only being for the three-axle version). The modern and efficient power packs are fitted to standard with easymovement six-speed gearboxes or optionally with the 12-speed MAN TipMatic including EasyStart (hill holder).

Safety underscored Another special feature from NEOPLAN is the advanced ESP (electronic stability program), which is currently becoming standard on touring coaches and is optionally available for the intercity NEOPLAN Trendliner. The new electronic safety systems ACC (adaptive cruise control) and LGS (lane guard system) are now obtainable for both the Starliner and the Cityliner, and this year will see their use on the Tourliner, too. Apart from its market dominance as regards vehicle design, NEOPLAN is also frequently associated with safety. Together with the new active cornering light and electronic CDS (comfort drive suspension), these advanced features make NEOPLAN the bus manufacturer with the safest touring coaches on the market. Visitors to the show actually had a chance to see NEOPLAN being put to the test in an outdoor area near hall 25: a Starliner with the new CDS could be seen in live demonstrations every 15 minutes. It was especially impressive to see how the Starliner, about ten centimetres higher than a competitor‘s vehicle, exhibited far less side tilt. NEOPLAN was clearly the leader in safety at the IAA 2006.

The Starliner impressed the public and convinced them it was a safe coach.

NEOPLAN Aktuell 58/2007

Getting on, but still young at heart The IAA in Hanover was not only the scene of the glamorous première of the new NEOPLAN Cityliner, but it also marked the comeback of its oldest predecessor. One of the very first Cityliners to be made was restored on the 35 th anniversary of this legendary series, thanks to the efforts of Dr. Konrad Auwärter. A number of years ago, this coach was added to the list of vintage exhibits at the Auwärter Museum. The staff here set themselves the goal of bringing the history of the NEOPLAN coach back to people’s minds through pictures, documents and real vehicles, thus illustrating the significant role that the brand played in coach con-

struction in general. Maintaining vehicles that can still be driven is one of their main focuses. The Cityliner is one of the cornerstones of NEOPLAN’s success. Initially produced in 1971, it was the first high-deck coach in Europe to have all the features that still characterise luxury coaches today: an elevated passenger area free of bothersome wheel housings, a lower driver’s cockpit

allowing the passengers the best view ahead possible, an underfloor toilet, a kitchenette, a driver’s bunk and – on request – an air-conditioning system and double glazing. If one compares the Cityliner with its rivals of the early ’70s, it will soon become apparent how far NEOPLAN was ahead of its time. The Cityliner didn’t just stand out because of its special features; it actually represented a quantum leap for the bus and coach industry. Bus and coach operator Heinrich Bröskamp was only being consistent when he put his trust in the NEOPLAN Cityliner as the backbone of his first travel brochure, published in 1971. “The Cityliner caused a stir

in its day, particularly in the press,” Heinz Bröskamp recalls, adding: “We were the first company in the region to purchase such a modern vehicle.” The progressive design of the vehicle helped Bröskamp’s business to quickly establish a firm footing in the tourist sector, an area that soon came to be the main focus of its operations, which is still the case today. As the years went by, Bröskamp acquired further Cityliners for the tourist market, and negotiations are currently being conducted on the purchase of a new coach. The first Cityliner that Bröskamp’s travel business acquired enjoyed a special status and remained

Restoring an “evergreen”.

The Cityliner was completely dismantled.

The brushed steel exterior only needed enhancing.

Wind, rain and snow all left their mark on the coach.

in the company until the autumn of 1990, when it was returned to NEOPLAN. It came to rest in the company museum when it was opened in November 1990; many a visitor will doubtless still remember it. But time had already started to wear away at the coach – years of travel along the roads of Europe coupled with constant exposure to the elements leave their mark on any product, however high its original quality. Being protected in the museum slowed down the ageing process, but it couldn’t halt it altogether. So one day Konrad Auwärter decided it was time for the coach to be restored to its former glory.

Restoration was carried out by a specialist company based in Syrau, Saxony, once the engine, axles and brakes had been repaired or replaced by Omnibus-Service Südwest (OSSW) in Herrenberg near Stuttgart. Matthias Kühn and his team stripped the Cityliner down to its bare bones and discovered that the skeleton beneath the window ledge had completely rusted through, just like the wheel housings. Moisture penetrating the rubber window seal, which had become porous with age, had had a bad effect on the spars over the years. Each of the profiles of the running gear and the body’s skeleton had to be replaced. The brushed

steel exterior was still in good condition and just needed enhancing and polishing. The renovation specialists had to completely renew the luggage flaps, though, and the metal door panels. There are certain things inside the coach today, in fact, that look more attractive than in the original coach when it was new. “Restoring vehicles is a great challenge,” says Matthias Kühn, “as lots of spare parts are hard to obtain.” By chance, they were able to purchase the lower pane of the windscreen through Ebay, and eventually the team even managed to get some replacement rubber seals. A huge effort was necessary to get the Cityliner

ready for the IAA. Matthias Kühn and his mechanics even spent whole weekends working on the coach. “It’s actually more work than making a new coach because we don’t have the ideal equipment – a lot of parts have to be made by hand,” Kühn explains. But the final product makes up for all the sweat and toil, even if one can’t see how much work actually went into restoring it. Konrad Auwärter is certainly proud of the new addition to his collection of vintage vehicles, and Heinz Bröskamp also enjoyed inspecting “his” revamped Cityliner at the IAA.

Blindtext Blindtext Blindtext Blindtext Blindtext Blindtext Blindtext Blindtext

NEOPLAN Aktuell 58/2007

NEOPLAN Starliner on track for Formula 1 Toyota driver Ralf Schumacher christened a new NEOPLAN Starliner for the Cologne-based racing team. We were given an opportunity to look behind the scenes, talk to the racing driver, try our hand at a pit stop – and came away with unique impressions.

Ralf Schumacher presents his racer in front of the new Starliner – a well-rounded team.

Enormous Budget Where financing is concerned, Toyota is not quite as liberal with its information. Insiders put its annual Grand Prix budget at about 350 million euros. By comparison, until now Ferrari was considered to have the biggest budget at some 300 million euros (2006). The Cologne-based Formula 1 team is currently investing in a second wind tunnel – at a cost of 38 million euros – for more efficiency in terms of aerodynamics.

The NEOPLAN Starliner seems to be attracted to motor racing. After recently mastering the Nürburgring course in a bus test – where the integrated stability program put on a particularly impressive show – here it was to commence transporting VIPs in the service of the Panasonic Toyota racing team. The handover of a brand-new Starliner to the Cologne-based Formula 1 team was a special event with active participation by the guests attending. Because, before the planned meeting with Ralf Schumacher, a “pit stop challenge” was on the agenda. The scene was set just like the real thing, with a Formula 1 racing car, spare wheels and tools, and all with a running commentary by Kai Ebel, known to German Formula 1 fans through his racing reports. Split into eight groups, the NEOPLAN guests were called on to show how fast they could change a wheel. One or the other of them had already tackled this kind of chore on a vehicle of his own, of course, but here everything was suddenly different, meas-

ured on a scale of fractions of a second. The rattling of pneumatic wrenches hung in the air, mixed with commands, cheers and exhortations, and beads of perspiration collecting on many a brow. Team “6” won the challenge with a more than respectable time – just 8.33 seconds! Actually, racing fever had already got hold of the participants in the event on the evening before, when they had been able to race some rounds on the nearby go-cart course belonging to Michael Schumacher. Toyota generously threw open its doors for NEOPLAN, allowing a look into how a Formula 1 operation works – from engine design to the “baking ovens” in which carbon parts for the red and white racers are hardened, and then to the powerful wind tunnel. We were struck by the shining floors everywhere; the passages between the different departments are sterilised worthy of a clinic. The information provided by our escorts was equally impressive. Every year the team designs and builds between 10 and 15 monocoques plus 350 engines (primarily for trials). After a race all units are stripped right down to their smallest parts, measured and assembled afresh with new parts for the next race. To make sure everything works smoothly, Toyota Motorsport GmbH currently employs 680 people. For some, that might recall Albrecht Auwärter‘s maxim of building 1,000 buses with 1,000 employ-

To y o ta S ta r l i ne r

ees. But here we are speaking of two entirely different worlds, even though high tech is now well established in modern buses. All the visual impressions of the guided tour were followed by an acoustic one – the trial run of an engine without silencers, making it clear to everyone why they had first been issued with ear-plugs. Then the guests were joined by Ralf Schumacher to answer the questions the motor-racing fans wanted to ask in a casual interview hosted by Ebel and NEOPLAN chairman Joachim Reinmuth. What was his impression of driving a bus after a trial run in the Starliner? The last time he had seen the inside of a bus was when he was at school. But that was likely to change in future, he added, with a glance at the impressive new team coach. Still, for him, getting in and driving away was obviously not that simple, admitted Schumacher, given all

Ralf Schumacher christening the new team bus.

Deluxe fittings plus multimedia – for the well-being of team and guests.

the switches and buttons in the cockpit. But he had been impressed by the generous torque of the 12.8-liter engine, the design, the comfort and – grinning – the integrated PlayStation. As for Formula 1, most of the guests did not know until then that high gravitational force was the biggest stress factor for the driver (it can be as much as 5 G during accelerating, cornering and braking). Your pulse went up to 180 and you had to be sure you didn’t forget to breathe. Nevertheless, as someone wanted to know, the tension of a race had hardly any effect on bodily weight. What course did he like most? The answer: Montreal. How often did he train? Four times a week, three hours each time. How many times did he have radio contact during a race? Once to co-ordinate, twice for stops, twice for other matters. What were they watching in particular for the coming season? Tyre development

by Bridgestone. And the questions continued. Then came the highlight of the event, the presentation and handover of the NEOPLAN Starliner. The excitement was almost like that of a vehicle unveiling because few of those present had actually seen the new team coach. Applause for the striking finish in the colours of the racing team, with the logos of sponsors and oversize portraits of Ralf Schumacher and his team colleague Jarno Trulli. After the keys had been given to Toyota Motorsport president John Howett, Ralf Schumacher climbed a, for him, familiar winner‘s rostrum to christen the bus with a shower of champagne. Before saying goodbye to the NEOPLAN group, he held an autograph session and signed his name on models of the team bus, a popular choice among the guests, who were pleased to have met such a friendly personality personally.

12/13

The team’s coach Neoplan starliner SDHL Length:

13.33 m

Width:

3.97 m

Height (overall): Engine:

2.55 m MAN D 2876 LOH

Capacity:

12,816 cm3

Power rating:

480 hp

Max. torque:

2,300 Nm

Max. total weight: Seating:

24.9 t (2 back-to-back seats and 5-seat club corner)

Leather seats, PlayStation, DVD system, flat-panel screens, DVB-T module for digital TV reception, laptop terminal for transmission to monitors. The team bus is serviced and operated by Weinzierl in Cologne, a NEOPLAN customer of many years with 55 employees and a fleet of 20 buses and 15 coaches.

Joachim Reinmuth (NEOPLAN chairman):

Andy Fuchs (Toyota Motorsport, marketing manager):

Here the “Coach of the Year 2006” not only serves as an attractive means of conveyance but also as

We want to offer the very best service to the 5,000 guests that sponsors send to visit us every year.

an excellent marketing tool. Through the co-operation with Toyota, the Starliner will create optimal

With it being a premium product among coaches, the Starliner is just right for the purpose. Our ex-

advertising impact for both of us at different kinds of events.

perience with MAN is very good anyway as 19 MAN trucks handle the transport and logistics needs of the racing team.

NEOPLAN Aktuell 58/2007

S A L E S T A K E O FF I N TURK E Y

16/17

NEOPLAN launched in Turkey The NEOPLAN brand has been marketed in Turkey since last year. An official opening ceremony in Istanbul provided a festive backdrop for the launch of the NEOPLAN Starliner and NEOPLAN Tourliner in Turkey. Some 300 guests and customers looked on as the two models were revealed that MAN Türkiye is now going to promote locally. An integral part of the NEOMAN Group, MAN Turkey (locally known as “MAN Türkiye”) already plays a significant role in enabling the Group to achieve its common goals. The launching of NEOPLAN sales operations on the Turkish market

to the NEOPLAN line to be sold in this country. Available in two lengths, the Tourliner is based on the modules used in the construction of NEOMAN coaches and comes equipped with diesel engines with power ratings from 310 to 460 hp. It also possesses most of the safety features and high-end features that other MAN and NEOPLAN coaches boast, such as ESP, an optional extra. By importing the luxury NEOPLAN Starliner from Germany, where it is produced, MAN Turkey is picking up the thread of a long tradition in the country. A new importer, it is largely focusing its attention on customers who typically cover long

cover the business sector as well, thereby offering passengers a very high standard of travel. The Starliner is predestined for this type of usage as it not only has a stunning exterior but is also luxurious and extremely comfortable to travel in. The launch of the NEOPLAN brand is yet another milestone in MAN Turkey’s 40-year history. In addition to serving the domestic market and Western Europe, the most important markets for the vehicles rolling off the line at the Ankara plant are those of the Middle East and North Africa. Orhan Düzgün, Chairman of MAN Türkiye, and

GmbH, jointly announced the commencement of sales operations for NEOPLAN vehicles at a breathtaking ceremony in Istanbul attended by some 300 guests, in which the two types of coaches were unveiled, glittering in the spotlights and further illuminated by an indoor firework display. Once the official ceremony was over, many of the guests – particularly customers – hurried over to the exhibits and took a close look at the vehicles. People were taken by the entire concept behind the coaches, the thoughts on everyone’s minds being concerned with the interior and exterior design. The sales team at MAN Türkiye

is ample proof of this. In production since 2002, the Tourliner is the first standard coach belonging

interurban routes stretching across Turkey by marketing this coach. Such customers mostly

Joachim Reinmuth, Chairman of the Management Board and brand spokesman for NEOPLAN Bus

is sure both of these models are set to be a great success on the Turkish market.

The Management Board of MAN Türkiye A.Ş. (from the left): Gottfried Kastner, Orhan Düzgün (Chairman), Ralf Egner-Walter.

The “Coach and Bus of the Year” jury and NEOMAN’s management greatly enjoyed the event.

One big party, with the coaches as special guests.

NEOPLAN Aktuell 58/2007

NEOPLAN receives award tekom’s documentation prize for the NEOPLAN Starliner manual

The TD team on receiving their award

The Technical Documentation department at NEOMAN Bus GmbH has been awarded the “tekom Doku-Preis 2006” for the attractive design and structure of its operator’s manual for the NEOPLAN Starliner. The prize was presented to Nicolai Mezger, head of TD, and Jürgen Köstlin, team manager of TD, by the deputy chairman of tekom, Herbert Herzke, in Hanover, Germany. A large professional association promoting technical communication and information development, tekom is based in Hanover. Each year since 1997, a jury headed by professor Rolf Schwermer has awarded the prize in recognition of the high quality of user guides, assembly and operating manuals and other such user documentation. In order to ascertain which guides and manuals are worthy of receiving an award, the association gets an independent body of experts from the University of Applied Science in Hanover who work in the field of technical documentation to review all the documentation that is submitted, judging it in accordance with a list of predetermined criteria. This list contains seven main

categories: structure/text, illustrations, layout, notes on safety precautions, navigation, scope and a comparison of the product in question with its documentation. In addition, 24 sub-criteria are checked. Certified by the German quality organisation TÜV Product Service, the TD department first received the tekom “Doku-Preis” for its operator’s manual for the MAN Lion’s Regio back in 2005. Up until now, the NEOMAN Bus Group has been the only manufacturer of commercial vehicles whose user documentation has been certified as being “user-friendly”. The documentation in question concerns buses and coaches from MAN and NEOPLAN. NEOMAN comes third in “Design 2005/2006” ranking for German firms MAN and NEOPLAN buses and coaches have a unique and unmistakeable design. NEOPLAN’s coaches, in particular, stand out from the crowd because of their unusual appearance. In a recently published work entitled Ranking: Design 2005/2006 für Deutschland, the NEOMAN Bus Group came third in the category of “Means of Transport and Special Vehicles” in the “Product Design” section. The various major design awards the Group had

previously received were the reason for this superb result: the “reddot design award” for the new NEOPLAN Starliner, the NEOPLAN Trendliner and the MAN Lion’s Regio, plus the iF Design Award for the MAN Lion’s City. According to the detailed evaluation, NEOMAN came in behind BMW and Audi, but ahead of DaimlerChrysler. NEOMAN Bus GmbH was able to move up in the “Hall of Fame” of the best manufacturers with respect to design (and thus awards), jumping from 10th to 7th place. Regularly updated since 1997, this list contains rankings based on renowned design awards and the number of prizes firms have won for superb product design.

N E WS

18/19

MAN Truck & Bus Deutschland GmbH For extra benefit to the customer, the MAN Nutzfahrzeuge Group has restructured its sales and service activities in Germany as of 1 January 2007. This involved uniting the activities of MAN Nutzfahrzeuge Vertrieb GmbH (MVD, sales and customer service for MAN trucks) and NEOMAN Bus Vertrieb GmbH (BVD, sales and customer service for MAN and NEOPLAN buses and coaches). The new company is called MAN Truck & Bus Deutschland GmbH (MTBD). The managing directors of MTBD are Thomas Hemmerich (spokesman), Hans-Joachim Pilz (responsible for the bus and coach business) and Markus Geyer (financial controlling). MTBD is headquartered in Munich. And what are its objectives? Primarily, it is aimed at customer benefit, of course. How can resources in sales, the back office and customer care be used more efficiently? What do customers want, how can we support them in obtaining it and what can we do to add to their satisfaction? Another important aim is to strengthen the company‘s position on the German market. MTBD can reach its customers in the truck or bus sector nationwide through more than 370 outlets

The managing directors of MAN Truck & Bus Deutschland GmbH (from left): Hans-Joachim Pilz, Thomas Hemmerich, Markus Geyer.

(100 of which are already specialised in buses and coaches). The servicing of buses and coaches is to be expanded throughout the network of workshops by appropriate training and further education. The specialised teams for bus, coach and truck sales have remained in place, so customers still have the same contacts as they did in 2006. As far as buses and coaches are concerned, this means that all eight branches in Berlin, Ober-

hausen, Stuttgart, Munich, Dresden, Wiesbaden, Bielefeld and Forchheim will continue as before. One of MTBD’s medium-term aims, though, is to uniformly structure all of its branches, which will be called “international centres” in future and will all sell trucks, buses and coaches. From the customers’ point of view, then, only the name has really changed; they are no longer customers of MVD or BVD but of MTBD. New contracts and business correspondence will bear the name of the new company. MTBD assumes existing rights and obligations. Customers can be assured that there will be no

restrictions or difficulties in the transition phase as regards customer service. If they have any questions, bus, coach and truck operators can get in touch with their salesperson or their usual contact.

NEOPLAN Aktuell 58/2007

Vehicle handovers

The NEOMAN France team

Premières aplenty in France The NEOMAN France team (from left: sales representatives Cyril Goineau, Gilbert Marcoux and Arnaud Marmouset, Daniel Limoges (marketing), managing director Rudi Kuchta, Jeanny Touchet (administration), sales representatives Guy Oclin and Pascal Bertineau, and sales manager Uwe Jürgeleit) was highly motivated going into the Mitcar International 2006 autosalon in Paris and gave visitors a warm welcome. On the four days of the show some 1,100 bus and coach operators

Cars Ginhoux

– 30% more than the year before – called by at the stand of the NEOMAN team. The biggest crowdpuller was no doubt the new NEOPLAN Cityliner, presented in France for the first time. But the decision by NEOMAN management to implement the necessary reduction of particulates to satisfy Euro 4 using the patented MAN PM-KAT®, and without additives like AdBlue, was also a reason for many to visit the stand and find out more.

The first Cityliner of the new generation in France was handed over to Florence Ginhoux (4th from right), director of the Cars Ginhoux travel agency in the Ardèche. The business was established as long ago as 1830, when transport was still by horsedrawn coach, of course. Guy Oclin (3rd from left), sales representative for the south-east region, handed over the premier touring coach before the French press at Mitcar 2006. The Cityliner, which made its debut in September 2006 at the IAA Commercial Vehicles, bolsters the 185-vehicle fleet of

the bus enterprise covering routes throughout France every day. Sales representative Gilbert Marcoux (on the right in the first photo opposite) handed over an exclusive NEOPLAN Tourliner to Olivier Glantzmann, director of Voyages Glantzmann. The familyowned business based in Masevaux (Alsace) was founded in 1927 by Achille Glantzmann and expanded by his son Gilbert during the economic boom of the 1960s. Today‘s enterprise is managed

CUST O M E R N E WS

20/21

Voyages Glantzmann

Cars Wingert

OGC Nice, a professional football club

The AG2R Prévoyance cycling team coach

by Nicolas and Olivier Glantzmann, comprises 20 vehicles, including 17 NEOPLAN Tourliners and Cityliners, and specialises in long-distance touring.

ing. Rudi Kuchta, managing director of MAN Camion & Bus France (left), and sales representative Gilbert Marcoux (2nd from left) made the acquaintance of Christian Schmitt (3rd from left), director of Kristina Tours, at the handover, and his seven-year-old daughter Marion, next in line to manage the business. Little Marion was fascinated by the luxury coach.

to the next. Take basketball club CSP Limoges, for example, which is driven to its matches in a Tourliner operated by Autocars Polytours of Croix St. Georges. The bus has VIP fittings with sleeping bunks and club corners and is also just right for transporting basketball players, with it having an interior standing height of almost two meters.

with a complete kitchen, two shower cabins and large cupboards and cabinets, plus a washing machine/drier in the luggage compartments. The team and invited guests can watch all races on large 104-cm video screens.

The first Starliner of the new generation in France bears the name of Cars Wingert of Obernai. This business, together with Cars Bastien and Cars Jardel, belongs to the Kristina Tours Voyages group. The overall fleet of the group numbers 32 vehicles, deployed entirely in long-distance tour-

Many French sports clubs trust in NEOPLAN coaches to transport their teams from one venue

The AG2R Prévoyance cycling team also travels in a NEOPLAN Tourliner. Interior fittings specialist Iseo transformed the coach into a luxurious salon

Yet another NEOPLAN Tourliner, operated by Jardel Côte d’Azur, transports professional football club OGC Nice.

NEOPLAN Aktuell 58/2007

The Starliner for Parry’s International and the Euroliner for Applegate’s Supreme Travel.

The new hall was consecrated by a priest, then the guests were able to admire the new Cityliner.

Deliveries and product launch in the UK

Family-run business Applegate’s Supreme Trav-

quality of the design and workmanship of the

witnessed the consecration of the building com-

A NEOPLAN distributor in the UK, Mentor Coach & Bus Ltd. of Rotherham, has been able to continue its successful activities of the previous year. The licence holder delivered three Starliners alone to Parry’s International Tours from Walsall. These are to be used on the national and international routes that the high-class travel company serves. All in all, there are twelve NEOPLAN Starliners in Parry’s fleet.

el based in Gloucestershire is now the proud owner of a new Euroliner SHDL to be used for international routes. K&B Travel in Cumbria has purchased two Euroliner SHDL coaches to strengthen its impressive fleet. The vehicles are to be used on round trips and excursions.

coaches was still able to turn a lot of heads, and the questions that visitors from travel companies asked the Mentor team were a clear sign of the great interest there was in the vehicles. Sales in Britain seem set to do very well.

plex by a Greek Orthodox priest prior to Martin Scharrer, member of the Management Board at NEOMAN Bus GmbH, officially cutting the tape. To celebrate the inauguration, an opulent firework display was held. In his inaugural speech, Konstantinos Papadakis emphasised the long tradition of successful collaboration with NEOMAN and the positive sales record of recent years, which he illustrated with his company’s impressive sales figures for the Greek market. The new NEOPLAN Cityliner was also presented to customers at the event, of course. This model is set to continue its success in Greece as well.

Three new Euroliners have also been sold to Coliseum Coaches, whose fleet now consists of thirteen coaches of this type from NEOPLAN.

The NEOPLAN Tourliner has been sold in two lengths in Britain since November last year, 12 m and 13.8 m. The vehicles were first put on show at the Eurobus Expo in Birmingham in 2006. Although the show hall was full of vehicles, the

Grand opening at Papadakis Bros., Greece As part of a large official opening ceremony at Papadakis Bros. in Athens, NEOPLAN’s main importer in Greece opened a new showroom, offices and a workshop for servicing vehicles. Business associates and customers from the whole of Greece were invited to attend and

CUST O M E R N E WS

22/23

The NEOPLAN Cityliner celebrated its Austrian première in the exclusive atmosphere of Vienna’s Event Pyramid, where it was much admired by the many guests.

The two new Tourliner SHD coaches for C.A.P.

MAN Turkey has made an impressive number of sales. Numerous Starliners and Tourliners have been sold.

Exclusive bus presentations in Austria

in the exclusive atmosphere of Vienna’s Event

NEOPLAN Tourliner SHD coaches. C.A.P.’s fleet

NEOPLAN sells well in Turkey The launch of NEOPLAN’s sales operations in Turkey was celebrated only in the middle of 2006 (see pp. 16-17), but MAN Türkiye is already in a position to present some initial sales figures. A coach company called Metro, for instance, bought 13 Starliners and two Tourliners, Anadolu Seyahat boosted its fleet with four Starliners, Kamil Koç – the largest coach company in Turkey – purchased two Starliners for its impressive fleet, and Çanakkale Truva acquired an entire fleet of 15 Tourliner coaches. In just six months,

Customers from Austria have been regularly invited to learn about the new innovations developed by NEOPLAN and MAN since 1988. They can also drive the vehicles themselves if they wish. MAN Nutzfahrzeuge Vertrieb Süd AG also invited customers from Croatia and Slovenia to the last get-together for the very first time. The NEOPLAN Cityliner was naturally at the centre of attention since it was just celebrating its première in Austria and was also ready to be test-driven – an offer the customers did not want to miss! Around 150 people attended the first of three events in all and had an unforgettable time

Pyramid. With its exotic flair, the venue was the ideal location for presenting the various coaches. Beside several MAN exhibits and the NEOPLAN Cityliner, there were also a Tourliner, a Skyliner and a Starliner on show. Further presentations took place in Eugendorf and Lustenau.

consists of 250 vehicles in all and covers the entire range of buses and coaches, from touring coaches to interurban and town buses. It has now been strengthened by two NEOPLAN vehicles, which were bought for the first time. C.A.P., a large private consortium in Tuscany, expressed great interest in the entire range of NEOMAN products. The Italian enterprise is an advocate of NEOMAN’s strategy of achieving Euro 4 emission limits in the bus and coach sector by optimising engine design rather than by employing fuel additives.

MAN Turkey has managed to sell a total of 75 NEOPLAN buses, 46 Tourliners and 29 Starliners on the domestic market and aims to steadily increase its turnover. “Customer satisfaction and the quality of the vehicles both make us more competitive. We intend to make NEOPLAN one of the leading brands in Turkey,” say Kemal Erdoğan, head of NEOMAN Türkiye bus sales, and Önsel Demircioğlu, NEOPLAN sales. The Tourliner is the first standard coach from NEOPLAN to be made in Turkey, where production started in 2002. The Starliner has been imported from Germany for a number of years.

Two Tourliner SHD coaches for C.A.P. in Italy MAN Nutzfahrzeuge Vertrieb Süd AG Autobus Unità Operativa Sant’Agata Bolognese has acquired a new customer: Cooperativa Autotrasporti Pratese (C.A.P.), which bought two

NEOPLAN Aktuell 58/2007

The new Starliner for the Müller Reisen fleet.

The 50th Skyliner for Bayern Express.

Bayerische Bahngesellschaften: Karl-Heinz Winkler (managing director of OVF Franken, centre) and Peter Heider (managing director of Bayerische Bahngesellschaften, 2nd from right) before the two jubilee buses.

Sales representative Daniel Fischer handing over the bus to company founder Günter Bohr.

EVAG’s NEOPLAN N 4516 CNG Centroliner travelling through the wintry Harz.

Bayerische Bahngesellschaften Bayerische Bahngesellschaften purchased a total of 60 MAN and NEOPLAN buses. The largest batch consisted of 46 gas-driven buses of the NEOPLAN Centroliner N 4416 Ü CNG type. In addition, two NEOPLAN Centroliner N 4521 articulated buses with Euro 4 engines are being delivered, plus a NEOPLAN Trendliner intercity bus. The remainder of the delivery is made up of eleven low-floor MAN Lion’s City buses. The handover of the latest batch of 16 N 4416 Ü CNG Centroliners each for OVF Nuremberg and

RVO Regensburg marked two jubilees – the 250th NEOMAN gas-driven bus for Bayerische Bahngesellschaften and the 150th for OVF Nuremberg.

buses. Bohr Omnibusse currently has a workforce of about 180, and in addition to bus transport it operates a large filling station with a restaurant, the “Oil Rig”, popular throughout the region.

Bohr Omnibusse GmbH, Lautzenhausen One of the last NEOPLAN Euroliners produced in Pilsting was purchased by Günter Bohr for his fleet. The business is based in Lautzenhausen close to Hahn Airport (in the Hunsrück area) and provides transport from the airport to Cologne, Düsseldorf and Frankfurt/Main. The Euroliner N 3318/3 SHD is the first NEOPLAN in the company‘s fleet of 80

Erfurter Verkehrsbetriebe AG EVAG has been a faithful NEOPLAN customer for more than ten years. Now a NEOPLAN Centroliner N 4516 CNG has been added to the fleet. The company transports some 36 million passengers annually on 24 city routes with a length of 273 km. It also operates city railway, regional and school bus services.

Müller Reisen GmbH, Bestwig Rüdiger Müller, managing director of Müller Reisen, collected the first NEOPLAN Starliner N 5217 SHD in Sauerland together with driver Hans Heiner Schmidt. Sales representative Sven Jankowski handed over the five-star vehicle in Pilsting. “The Starliner is the pièce de résistance of our fleet,” said Müller. Among other things, the design and the exceptional comfort of the luxury touring coach were what persuaded him to purchase it – true to his company‘s motto “Coach travel like never before”. Bayern Express & P. Kühn GmbH, Berlin The 50th Skyliner in the history of his company was handed over to managing director Jörg Schaube of Bayern Express & P. Kühn GmbH. Renate Kneuttinger, manager of the NEOMAN branch in Berlin, thanked him for the many years of good and loyal business relationships. Orthen, Herschbach To mark the 75th anniversary of the company, Orthen of Herschbach added two NEOPLAN Tourliners, a two-axle and a three-axle model, to its 30-vehicle fleet. The firm has been family-owned

CUST O M E R N E WS

The exclusive Starliner and one of the two Skyliners for Rosi Reisen.

24/25

One of the two Trendliners now operated by Bäuml-Reisen.

double-deckers – incidentally the company‘s 20th NEOPLAN coach – went straight on the road for a trip to Dresden by trade union members, faithful customers for many years. Present at the handover were Hans-Werner Kazmierczak and Karl-Heinz Dresselhaus of the trade union, Johannes Gerd Overhoff senior and junior of Rosi Reisen and sales representative Heiko Haumer.

The family-owned Orthen enterprise boasts two new Tourliners.

Key account manager Ronny Richter (right) hands over the two Trendliners to James R. Dürrschmid, managing director of PNVG Bad Salzungen.

for three generations. Hermann Orthen established a car rental service in Gebhardshain in 1931. The first bus was acquired in 1935. Groups of tourists were already filling the order books before WW2. In the 1950s steel workers were transported to the mills, and public transport and a school bus service were also commenced. From 1967 to 1995 the company was managed by Alfons Orthen, who then handed over the reins to his son Jörg. Orthen operates the route Herschbach-Montabaur-Koblenz under contract to RMV and the route HachenburgHerschbach-Dierdorf-Isenburg-Koblenz independently.

PNVG Bad Salzungen The Bad Salzungen public transport company (“PNVG”) purchased two NEOPLAN N 3516 ÜC Trendliners to bolster its fleet. These 13-metre-long intercity buses are all-round talents, suitable for both public transport and excursions. James R. Dürrschmid, managing director of PNVG Bad Salzungen, was given the keys to the buses in Pilsting by key account manager Ronny Richter. Rosi Reisen, Marl Two NEOPLAN Skyliner L coaches now reinforce the fleet of Rosi Reisen in Marl. One of the two

An exclusive NEOPLAN N 5217 Starliner was also delivered to Rosi Reisen. The futuristic design and “comfort like never before” were what persuaded the company to purchase it. The new vehicle was presented to the public for the first time by Rosi Reisen at the Bergstrasse Wine Festival. The visitors were fascinated and in some cases almost overwhelmed by the style and comfort. Bäuml-Reisen Bäuml-Reisen, an travel enterprise based in Bavarian Pförring, is now operating two new NEOPLAN Trendliners. One of the coaches is painted in the colours of the borough of Bad Gögging and was handed over to Gerhard Bäuml, owner of the company, at a ceremony attended by director of tourism Hans-Dieter Niederprüm and mayor Thomas

Reimer of Neustadt/Donau, Edmund Patrick (manager of the Munich branch) and sales representative Bernd Schmidt. Bäuml-Reisen was established in 1952 when the then company owner Johann Bäuml took over a small haulage and bus business. Four buses were operating by the end of the 1960s. In 1977 the company went onto the market with its own excursion programme and has been offering a varied selection of coach excursions for customers in the Ingolstadt, Neustadt/Donau and Regensburg region ever since then.

NEOPLAN Aktuell 58/2007

Andre Schrage with the keys to the last Euroliner to be built in Pilsting.

Erdgas Schwaben’s Euroliner “Bobo I” run by Schwaben Mobil Nahverkehr Service GmbH.

Andre Schrage The last Euroliner to be built in Pilsting is now owned by Andre Schrage, a bus operator from Wenden. The vehicle, which has exclusive interior fittings, including leather seats and a rear lounge area, is the young company’s hallmark. Sven Jankowski (a NEOMAN sales representative) and Joachim Reinmuth (Chairman of the Management Board at NEOPLAN Bus GmbH) congratulated Mr Schrage sen. and Andre Schrage, the owner of the business, when the coach was handed over to them in Pilsting. Also shown in the photo are Mr Brandl, the man responsible for the handover, and project manager Birgit Schuy (from left to right).

Schwaben Mobil Nahverkehr Service GmbH, Bobingen A Euroliner with interior fittings specially made for handicapped passengers has now joined the fleet owned by Schwaben Mobil Nahverkehr Service GmbH near Augsburg. While seating up to 63 passengers, it can also be adapted to accommodate up to three wheelchairs if necessary. If room is made for one wheelchair, the coach can seat 59, while accommodating two wheelchairs leaves 55 seats available. There are 53 seats if room is made for three wheelchairs. Thanks to an extendable ramp being fitted, it’s relatively easy for wheelchair users to get on and off the bus. Erdgas Schwaben [Swabia Natural Gas] has developed a sponsoring scheme that enables clubs and charitable organisations to use the intercity

The new Cityliner for bus company Sieckendiek in Versmold.

The Starliner purchased by Josef Heuel GmbH. The keys were handed over to managing director Stefan Heuel (left).

bus for excursions free of charge. The Euroliner, which is painted in the colours of Erdgas Schwaben, was given the name of “Bobo I” by Bobingen’s mayor, Bernd Müller. Schwaben Mobil Nahverkehr Service GmbH grew out of Werner Ziegelmeier GmbH, a large family business that has been based in Bobingen since 1968.

logical that we decided to lend the new Cityliner to the experts in Versmold, too,” says Nötzel.

Sieckendiek, Versmold The first of 20 bus companies in Europe to test NEOPLAN’s new Cityliner, Sieckendiek based in Versmold is currently finding out what the modern vehicle can really do. Bus drivers Thorsten Henger and Matthias Strangmann have been given the task of testing the luxury touring coach in everyday situations for a period of 24 months before it can go into series production, during which time it will also be serviced in their local workshop. Sieckendiek, a bus and coach operator, received a prototype of the vehicle for test trials directly after its international première at the IAA Commercial Vehicles show last September. “Test drives are vital despite all the technical refinement and perfection added at the drawing-board. There are still small things we can improve in these prototypes,” explains Hans-Joachim Nötzel, head of NEOMAN’s Oberhausen office. The enterprise first became a tester back in 2004, shortly before the NEOPLAN Starliner was due to be launched. “We greatly profited from that co-operation, so it’s only

Sauerlandgruss-Reisen, Drolshagen Travel company Heuel GmbH, which is more familiar to travellers from the region as “Sauerlandgruss-Reisen” [roughly “Sauerland Trips”], rounded off the section of luxury vehicles in its fleet with a Starliner N 516/3 HC, a coach belonging to the last generation. The coach operator from Drolshagen has eleven NEOPLAN touring coaches in all. Managing director Stefan Heuel is one of the people who originally set up the “Westfalenstern” [Westphalian Star], an association of four longestablished bus and coach operators from the Sauerland/Ruhr region in the west of Germany. All of the operators are family-run businesses now in the hands of the third generation of managers. With over 300 years of cumulative experience in the travel industry, the firms involved in the association are able to provide a high degree of customer satisfaction to their passengers. Besides Sauerlandgruss-Reisen, the other operators in the group are Kattwinkel Reisen from Halver (which has two Cityliners in its fleet), Quecke Reisen from Schwerte (which includes a Skyliner and several NEOPLAN and MAN citiy buses) and Hausemann & Mager from Hohenlimburg (which runs a Cityliner, a Skyliner and a Starliner from NEOPLAN, among other brands).

THE NEW TOURLINER makes a striking impression both inside and outside. Its innovative engineering and attractive design make travelling a pleasure – on every single trip. Thanks to an economic engine and “bags” of space inside, it’s the ideal coach for making short and long journeys. The new Tourliner – there’s no end to what it can do!

Freedom to travel FOR EVERYONE

VIP CLASS

NEOPLAN Bus GmbH info@neoplan.de | www.neoplan.de

A member of the MAN Group

Gottlob-Auwärter-Straße 1 94431 Pilsting Germany phone: (0049) 9953 920-0 fax: (0049) 9953 920-10 09 Editorial Office in Stuttgart Vaihinger Straße 118–122 70567 Stuttgart Germany phone: (0049) 711 7835-0 fax: (0049) 711 780 1696

Vip class