sporveje-00451 (Linie 8, Dalgas Avenue, 26.5.10)DSC_2490_Balancer

            Bustype: Volvo B10MA-55
Bodytype: Säffle 2000NL
Date of registration: 2000 May 18th
Belongs to: Busselskabet Århus Sporveje
Registration: RL92427
Fleet#: 451
VIN: YV31MA617YA052277
Door placement: 2-2/2-0
Primary use: citybus
In service: ? (2020)
Photo location: Dalgas Avenue/Tangkrogen terminus, Central Aarhus (DK)

At the Dalgas Avenue/Tangkrogen terminus of the old route 8, now renamed 5A

History of service:
2000 Århus Sporveje - 451 (RL92427)
2012 retired after collision
2012 Dansk Bus Renovering (dealership)

The long history of bendy buses at Aarhus Sporveje had started back in 1988 with two DAB Series 7 1800B, fleet numbers 401 and 402. Three more followed in 1989, another three (now Series 12) in 1990, 3 more in 1991, 4 in 1992 and finally 2 more in 1993. At this time, the fleet numbers had reached 418, but with the DAB brand ceasing to exist, the company had to find a new bus type for 1994. They opted for Volvo B10MA-55 with Säffle 2000 bodywork, and no less than 13 of these were delivered in late 1994, 6 in 1995, 6 in 1996. After skipping 1997, 7 more arrived in 1998, bringing the total to 50 (fleet number 450)

At this time, high-floor buses were becoming increasingly unpopular with alternatives emerging, and Aarhus Sporveje set a long term goal of switching to low-floor or at least low-entry as soon as possible. So in 1999 no new bendy buses were bought, but the following year it was decided to buy two final vehicles, fleet numbers 451 and 452, since the first two DABs (401 and 402) were now 12 years old and approaching retirement (this happened in 2002)

In the years that followed, no acceptable low-floor or low-entry bendy bus alternatives were found, so the company switched their attention to low entry 15 meter buses (3-axle) instead. It wasn't until late 2006, that the next bendy buses would join the fleet in the shape of 4 Solaris Urbino 18 (fleet numbers 453, 454, 455 and 456) opening the floodgates for a huge number of these buses in the following years, but that's another story. 

In 2009, the last of the main fleet of Volvo bendy buses had been retired (fleet numbers 444 to 450, all exported to Estonia), leaving 451 and 452 as the last remaining high-floors. With a tidal wave of new, low-floor Solaris Urbino 18 rolling in, the two "dinosaurs" got relegated to reserve duties and were hardly ever seen in traffic. On the rare occasions when I spotted one of them, I went all-in on trying to get photos - rarely managing to get a "golden" shot.

But for some strange reason, near the end of 2011 they suddenly started appearing on regular duties again and I finally managed to build a decent base of photos. 

Unfortunately 451 got involved in an accident in february 2012. From what I've heard, the damages were fixable, but Aarhus Sporveje decided, that since the bus was going to be retired very soon anyway, they didn't want to bother, so the bus was sold with damages to dealership Dansk Bus Renovering (DBR) and that's where all traces end. 

It may have been fixed and exported or cannibalized for spares, but it never returned to danish roads. 

As for the sister bus, 452, it found a much more glorious fate: after being retired from service in march 2012, it was aquired by bus museum Sporvejshistorisk Selskab, where it was completely restored and used for tours/sightseeing on the museum premises. If you ever visit the museum, you may get lucky and catch a ride in this last dinosaur.


   

Some rights reserved

Taken in: Denmark / Central Jutland / Frederiksbjerg (show map)

Taken on: May 26, 2010

Tags:

Linie_8

Route_8

bus

citybus

Volvo

Volvo_B10MA

bendybus

ledbus

BÅS

Aarhus_Sporveje

Aarhus

Denmark

Danmark

Dänemark

Denemarken

Danemark

Danimarca

Säffle_2000NL

Säffle

newin2000

retired_in_2012

afmeldt_2012

abgemeldet_2012

Dalgas_Avenue

Tangkrogen

bybus

PublicTransport

offentlig_transport

Öffentliches_Verkehr

00_451

stadtverkehr

traffic

verkehr

trafik

bytrafik « less

Sets appears in: • 00-451 • New in 2000 more » • Volvo bus • Citybuses « less

Groups appears in: • Volvo - Bus and Coach • VOLVO trucks & buses

Camera: Nikon D5000, f/10.0, 1/200 sec, 18mm (=27mm), ISO 200 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Nikon D5000
Aperture:	f/10.0
Exposure Time:	0.005 sec (1/200)
Focal Length:	18mm (35mm equivalent: 27mm)
ISO:	200
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	Auto, Fired, Return detected
Exposure Program:	Not Defined
Exposure Mode:	Auto
Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
White Balance:	Auto
Saturation:	Low
Color Space:	sRGB
Software:	Photomatix Pro 6.1.1 (64-bit)
Show full info

Stats: 5,557 views

go back

Link to this photo view:
Link to this photo large view: