Family - Setra

Number 49 | Issue 1/12 

www.setra.de 

Magazine for customers and friends of the Setra brand 

Family 

Imprint 

Publisher 

EvoBus GmbH 

Setra Omnibusse 

Carl-Zeiss-Straße 2 

89231 Neu-Ulm 

Tel. +49 (0)731 181-0 

Fax +49 (0)731 181-2418 

www.setra.de 

Responsible for content: 

Dr Jens Heinemann, 

Head Marketing Communication Setra 

The following people worked on this issue: 

Christine Denzel, BUS/MPM-S 

Bernd Goy, BUS/MSG-4 

Dieter Startz, BUS/MSE-2 

Sonja Waldenspul, BUS/MSD-D 

Concept, editorial work, layout: 

Newport3 Werbeagentur GmbH & Co. KG 

Neumann-Reichardt-Str. 27-33 

22041 Hamburg 

www.newport3.de 

Repro: 

Final Art Production 

Neumann-Reichardt-Str. 27-33 

22041 Hamburg 

Printing: 

Süddeutsche Verlagsgesellschaft Ulm 

Nicolaus-Otto-Straße 14 

89079 Ulm 

Crowning glory 

The truly amazing “Final Edition” 

Football EC 

Football EC consortium bus 

Off to the stars 

Setra serves the shuttle service 

ComfortClass 400 special series 

operators kick off with Setra 

at the Guiana Space Centre 

Page 08 

Page 20 

Page 42

02 | Setra Impressions 

Setra Editorial | 03 

Dear customers and friends 

of the Setra brand, 

when American playwright Woody Allen 

was asked what his secret for success was, 

his answer was very straightforward: “Being 

different than the rest.” At Setra, we have 

been following this very simple maxim for 

decades. And with this in mind, the latest 

edition of the SetraFamily magazine takes a 

close look at the Setra ComfortClass’ truly 

unique and very refined vehicle concept. 

With its special Final Edition model, the 

ComfortClass sets unprecedented standards 

with regard to materials, comfort, 

equipment, reliability and design. In this 

issue, we also report on the delivery of a 

Final Edition coach to Linden-Reisen. We 

gathered fascinating impressions from the 

operator, his driver and passengers, having 

accompanied this very special vehicle on 

its maiden journey from the Customer- 

Center in Neu-Ulm to its new home Stadtkyll 

in Germany’s Eifel region. 

By the way, were you aware that our 

ComfortClass 400 vehicles are the most 

popular and most widely sold Setra touring 

coaches ever? In fact, shortly before this 

issue’s editorial close, the 6,000 th vehicle 

from the ComfortClass 400 range was delivered. 

The proud recipient of the milestone 

S 416 GT-HD Final Edition was Reisedienst 

Flaschenträger. We gladly send them 

our very best wishes. 

A major sport highlight this year is just 

around the corner. I’m talking about the 

European Football Championship which will 

be held in June/July in Poland and the U- 

kraine. We are looking forward to this event 

with bated breath, not only from a sporting 

perspective, but because the European 

Football Championship’s bus consortium 

will be kicking off with Setra. During the 

whole event, 40 Setra touring coaches will 

be deployed to transport teams, managers 

and officials. On April 18, the “Sindbad” 

and “RafTrans” companies, which make up 

the consortium, took over the first 30 

coaches in the context of a large event 

which we report on here in the SetraFamily. 

Also in this issue, we have a number of 

stories for you that are “pure Setra”. We are 

happy to introduce the 5-star luxury touring 

coaches recently purchased by Car Rouge – 

a premium tour operator in Bern, Switzerland. 

In spite of the 90 cm distance between 

seats, the developers succeeded at 

incorporating a fifth row of seats in front of 

the second entrance, as well as a 2+1 row 

right at the front entrance. We also report 

on Möllers Reisedienst’s experience with 

yet another seat configuration – staggered 

seating. The article is most interesting and 

certainly worth reading. Staying on the 

topic of customised seating, we have also 

highlighted how decorative stitching and 

quilting can give the seats in your Setra a 

touch of individuality and luxury. 

We also have news from the world of telematics. 

Most of you are familiar with the 

OMNIplus BusFleet fleet management system. 

Well, it has been developed further – 

specially for coaches and buses. As introduced 

for the first time at a recent 

SetraShow, it is now available under the 

name “FleetBoard” and can also be managed 

very easily from wherever you are on 

the road via iPhone or iPad. 

Of course, that isn’t all you’ll find in this 

latest issue of the SetraFamily. You can 

look forward to many exciting highlights 

from the fascinating and ever-changing 

world of coaches and buses. 

Wishing you pleasurable and informative 

reading. 

Best regards 

Lothar Holder 

Head of Sales Setra Buses and Coaches 

EvoBus GmbH 

Always on the ball! During the European Football Championship, teams, managers and officials will be travelling 

to the stadiums in Setra touring coaches

04 | Setra Content 

Setra Content | 05 

The culmination of the ComfortClass 400: 

08 a look at the Final Edition special series 

06 

The high-end tourism provider Club Med 

deploys Setra for its shuttle services 

20 

The European Football Championship bus 

operator consortium kick off with Setra 

Two MultiClass 400 buses connect Latvia’s 

17 metropolis Riga with the city of Talsi 

42 

Setra coaches deployed as shuttles at the 

Guiana Space Centre 

In Norway, there are Setras which have 

30 been customised into small hospitals 

Cover Story 

Best in Class 

Highlight 

Family News 

Setra Individual 

08 | Final Edition 

The highly advanced ComfortClass 400 

vehicle concept 

06 | A Setra for the islands 

Setra wins Club Med tender 

18 | Tailor-made electrics 

A look behind the scenes at pre-assembly 

in Neu-Ulm 

28 | Staggered seating 

A progress report from Möllers Reisedienst 

in Neumünster 

40 | Swiss flagship model 

Four Setra luxury coaches for premium 

tour operator Car Rouge 

20 | Setra at the Football EC 

16 teams, managers and officials travel in 

Setra coaches 

Premium Service 

26 | New fleet management system 

FleetBoard system for coaches and buses 

has come a long way 

34 | At your service 600 times over 

The various categories of the OMNIplus 

service points 

16 | A princely contract 

Four new low-entry buses for PostAuto 

Liechtenstein 

17 | To the “pearl of Kurland” 

Talsu Autotransports takes over 100 th 

new vehicle for Latvia 

22 | Setra Family get-togethers 

A look back and a look ahead at shows 

and exhibitions 

24 | Sweet dreams in a Setra 

A Setra for the baby’s bedroom 

25 | Contagious enthusiasm 

Sales-Lentz Autocars S. A. places most 

extensive Setra order in the history of 

EvoBus Belgium and Luxemburg 

32 | Coach and bus stories 

Real-life Setra stories 

36 | WESTbus drives Setra 

An attractive and very unique model for 

city connections in Austria 

37 | With safety in the foreground 

Cars Moreau also invests in passenger 

safety with ten new Setra coaches 

38 | Donating wages 

Bus builders at the Neu-Ulm location 

support the “Aktion 100 000 und 

Ulmer helft” charity campaign 

42 | With Setra to the stars 

Setra bus shuttle at the Guiana Space 

Centre 

30 | Hospital on wheels 

Geilo Turbusser uses Setra buses for 

transporting patients in Norway 

38 | Your company in the leading role 

The benefits of customised Setra on-board 

videos 

39 | Always a stitch ahead 

Decorative stitching and quilting give 

seating a touch of individuality 

41 | Travel pleasure all along “la ligne” 

Setra takes on intercity applications for 

the first time in France

Setra Best in Class | 07 

A perfect holiday feeling: Club Med offers its guests all-inclusive luxury – including an extremely comfortable shuttle bus 

T 

he “Les Boucaniers” Club Med in 

the Lesser Antilles offers everything 

to make travellers’ hearts 

beat just a little faster. The breathtakingly 

beautiful Club village is reminiscent of a 

fishing town on a picturesque bay where 

turquoise waters, endless palm trees and 

white powder beaches soothe the soul. 

With all this at guests’ disposal at the Club 

Med luxury resort, life can hardly get any 

better. 

Needed: luxury shuttles 

There are four different types of Club Med 

resorts, each offering a different level of 

comfort. “Les Boucaniers” is a premiumcategory 

resort visited by affluent international 

guests. To meet their discerning 

expectations in terms of comfort and luxury 

in shuttle services, Club Med called for 

tenders – where only the best would have a 

chance of winning. Setra customer, Transports 

Bernard, with a Setra S 411 HD and 

headquarters in Rivière-Salée, easily persuaded 

the resort management and was 

given the contract. Guy-Albert Bernard 

from Transports Bernard knew all along 

that he was on the right track with Setra: 

“At Transports Bernard, we believe that a 

luxurious holiday begins with a comfortable 

shuttle bus on the way to the resort from 

the airport. And from this perspective, Setra 

is and will always be our first choice.” 

Equipment perfectly suited 

to the tropics 

The S 411 HD carries guests to the Caribbean 

Club Med resort from the airport to the 

village, and also takes them on sightseeing 

excursions around the “Flower island”, as 

the locals call their Antillean gem. The luxury 

shuttle has 43 seats, two 19-inch screens 

as well as a panoramic-view and rear-view 

camera. As well, the shuttle is especially 

equipped for the tropical island climate. 

With a refrigerator, tinted windows and an 

air conditioning system suited to high tropical 

temperatures, journeys in the Setra are 

pure holiday pleasure. 

 

Club Med: 

A new definition of holiday luxury 

Since its inception in 1950, the Club Med 

chain, with its all-inclusive concept, has 

been single-mindedly driven by its objective 

to offer a new definition of holiday luxury to 

its guests. Travel, rooms, and evening entertainment 

are all included in the package. 

The concept has been met with great success: 

today the chain provides its guests 

all-inclusive holidays in over 80 Club Med 

resorts worldwide. Whether families, singles 

or newlyweds, sports enthusiasts, 

wellness fans or simply those looking for 

utter relaxation, Club Med has the right 

package for any target group. 

Martinique – Club Med uses Setra for its shuttle service: 

A Setra for the Caribbean islands 

“Where happiness meets the world” – just like its slogan promises, the luxurious Club Med chain 

offers all-inclusive, premium holidays. To ensure that the all-around luxury promise is met and that 

guests are absolutely satisfied with their travel experience, the “Les Boucaniers” Club Med resort on 

the Caribbean island of Martinique deploys a Setra S 411 HD coach as shuttle.

08 | Setra Cover Story Setra Cover Story | 09 

Two S 416 GT-HD/3 Final Edition coaches for Linden-Reisen: 

Experiencing something ultra-special 

It is the culmination of a longstanding success story. With the Final Edition, the ComfortClass 400 

has been refined even further – with exclusive design features and unusual, luxurious equipment 

details. The Krebs family of bus entrepreneurs recently took delivery of two S 416 GT-HD/3 Special 

Edition models at the Setra CustomerCenter in Neu-Ulm. And SetraFamily was there to witness their 

maiden voyages.


S 

hortly before 12 noon. Gearing up 

to the festive handover ceremony 

with over 80 guest passengers, 

driver Ralf Juchems had a little time to make 

himself comfortable in the coach. He studied 

the cockpit with meticulous attention to 

detail. His first impression: “The seating, 

the legroom and the all-around view are 

ideal. They promise a relaxed drive.” He 

was also impressed with the shape of the 

windscreen and the Final Edition’s uniquely 

forward-pulled roof. “The windscreen isn’t 

overly curved, so it offers ideal protection 

from direct sunlight.” 

ComfortClass 400 success model 

with 6,000 vehicles 

The day at the CustomerCenter was also a 

premiere for senior partner Dieter Krebs. 

“Linden-Reisen”, which was founded as a 

transportation company in 1939, has been 

a Setra partner since 1986. And now, the 

third-generation family business which is 

managed by son Marco is also deploying 

ComfortClass 400 Final Edition vehicles. 

And he knows he is in very good company. 

First launched in 2003, the advanced 

ComfortClass 400 has since sold 6,000 

units – and is thus the most popular Setra 

of all times. With the new Setra coaches, 

including the 20 th new Setra coach for 

Linden-Reisen, the company is ushering 

in a new generation of touring comfort. 

“Both S 416 GT-HD/3 beautifully complement 

our S 415 HD TopClass 400 coaches. 

With these remarkable vehicles, we are 

once again underscoring our quality 

commitment to safety, technology and 

to comfort as well”, proudly stated Dieter 

Krebs. 

4-star luxury 

The 4-star luxury coaches are equipped 

with 49 “Voyage Plus” touring seats. The 

seat backs feature leather headrest inserts. 

With the coaches’ on-board galley with 

integrated 40-cup coffee machine and 8.5 l 

sausage cooker, service personnel can 

pamper passengers. The touring coaches, 

which are driven by a powerful, dynamic 

and environmentally friendly 315 kW OM 

457 LA Mercedes-Benz engine, no wishes 

unanswered under their sheet metal exterior. 

Safety features include Adaptive Cruise 

Control (ART) with Active Brake Assist 

(ABA), Front Collision Guard (FCG) and 

Lane Assist (SPA). The driver has a complete 

view of goings-on all around and inside 

the coach. Both S 416 GT-HD/3 vehicles 

are equipped with a rear-view backup 

camera with integrated cleaning system, 

as well as a video surveillance system for 

the rear entrance. 

The best proof of satisfaction 

If his passengers are satisfied, then Dieter 

Krebs is too: “Many of our customers have 

been travelling with us all over Europe for 

years. And to me, that is still the best proof 

of satisfaction.” So, with this in mind, the 

premiere trip from Neu-Ulm to Rhineland- 

Palatinate was a true pleasure. The guests 

were delighted. Especially in Neu-Ulm when 

they were informed about the coaches’ ingenious, 

fully integrated safety system. After 

their return, 81-year-old Karl Holzhäuser 

commented: “I’ve been travelling with 

Linden-Reisen for over 50 years. It is hard to 

believe and so fascinating just how much 

has been done in the key areas of safety and 

comfort.” 

“You feel pleasantly relaxed” 

The state-of-the-art safety system also 

gives Jakob Blum peace of mind and a 

reassuring feeling. But there were other 

reasons why the 67-year-old felt comfortable 

on his first trip in a ComfortClass 400: 

“I noticed the generous leg space immediately. 

There is nothing that is narrow or 

cramped in this coach. You are made to feel 

absolutely relaxed. Even our driver was 

virtually seated as comfortably as he would 

be in a living room.” 

Top design 

44-year-old Ute Klinkhammer also found 

the coach very comfortable: “I really liked 

the two-colour ambiance with the curtains 

and ultra-comfortable seats. You notice 

these details as a woman.” Klaus-Peter 

Meyer (47) is a passionate coach traveller 

who looks at things very closely and admitted 

with a smile: “I love to run my hands over 

different surfaces. I can’t resist. For example, 

I find the lighter carpeting on the side walls 

beautifully finished. It all reflects a very high 

quality and attention to detail. Also the 

Setra lettering in the seats. You really do 

feel like you’re sitting in a premium limousine.” 

And that wasn’t all he enjoyed: “The 

Setra S 416 GT-HD/3 is very quiet. I sat in 

the last row at the rear directly above the 

engine. But during the whole drive, you 

could hardly hear a thing. What a smooth 

ride.”


For the love of detail 

The state-of-the-art cockpit of the Final Edition is a dream come true for bus drivers. The elegant, subdued 

design elements in the coach bear witness to the attention to detail Setra designers are known for.

14 | Setra Cover Story 

Setra Family News | 15 

1,000 th Setra S 431 DT goes to Dr. Richard 

T 

he Dr. Richard Group in Vienna took 

delivery of the double-decker coach. 

The largest private coach operator in 

Central Europe has accompanied the Setra 

brand right from the beginning with all five 

series – the 10, 100, 200, 300 and 400. It 

was also the first operator to drive all five 

model types of the current TopClass 400 

series. The company uses the S 431 DT for 

touring and excursion applications as well 

as in the prestigious G1 line, which connects 

the South Burgenland with Vienna 

The handover of the 1,000 th double-decker: Axel 

Stokinger, Head of EvoBus Austria, Lothar Holder, 

Head of Sales Setra Buses and Coaches EvoBus GmbH, 

Dr. Ludwig Richard, Dr. Richard Group Management 

Board, Hartmut Schick, Head of Daimler Buses (l. to r.) 

several times a day. The new double-decker 

coach is in good company at Dr. Richard’s. 

Close to 450 vehicles carrying the Setra 

name are deployed by the group, and 

40 of them are double-decker S 431 DT 

coaches. Since the market introduction of 

the S 431 DT in 2002, close to 15 % of all 

Setra double-decker coaches have been 

sold to customers in Austria. 

Passengers feel pampered when surrounded by the Final Edition’s stylish ambiance. You can not 

only see the attention to detail, you can also feel it. 

Austria crosses the 4,500 mark 

he Penner travel agency in Stockerau 

T recently became the proud owner of 

the 4,500 th new Setra vehicle destined for 

Austria – an S 411 HD – along with a 

ComfortClass S 415 GT-HD and MultiClass 

Anniversary coach handover: Martin Biewald, Setra 

Brand Manager Central Europe, Erwin and Mag. Elke 

M. Penner, and Josef Schmitt, Sales Setra Buses and 

Coaches (from l. to r.) 

S 415 H. Managing directors Erwin and 

Mag. Elke M. Penner are proud to have 

made the largest investment since the 

foundation of their company, which is celebrating 

its 20 th anniversary this year: “The 

three new Setra coaches feature state-ofthe-art 

equipment and the greatest possible 

comfort. And we now have the most advanced 

and environmentally friendly coach 

fleet in Austria’s Weinviertel region.” 

Scandinavia, Sweden, Setra! 

anaging directors Lena Persson and 

M Lennart Robertsson took delivery 

of the S 416 GT-HD anniversary vehicle 

at the Neu-Ulm CustomerCenter from 

Michael Frey, former Head of Market 

Management Setra Export Markets. With 

this new vehicle, the Karl Everts company, 

which was taken over four years ago by 

entrepreneurs Persson and Robertsson, 

currently deploys five Setra coaches. Lena 

Persson: “Most of all, we value Setra’s 

high quality and comprehensive aftersales 

service.” The vehicles owned by the South 

Swedish operation are on the road throughout 

Europe. 

 

Grattis!/Congratulations! Lena Persson (l.), 

Lennart Robertsson (m.) und Michael Frey, former 

Head of Market Management Setra Export Markets

16 | Setra Family News 


In Liechtenstein’s mountainous landscapes, powerful buses such as the Setra S 415 NF are needed 

Liechtenstein – four new Setra low-entry buses for PostAuto: 

A princely contract for Setra 

More than half of PostAuto Liechtenstein’s fleet has been modernised since 2011 – including four 

Setra S 415 NF buses. PostAuto Liechtenstein is on the road for the LIECHTENSTEINmobil Transport 

Services. 

Latvia – 100 th anniversary vehicle is a Setra S 415 UL: 

Two Setra vehicles for the “pearl of Kurland” 

With its purchase of two Setra S 415 UL buses, the “Talsu Autotransports” company recently took 

over the 100 th new vehicle for Latvia. The MultiClass 400 buses connect Talsi in West Latvia with 

Riga, the country’s capital. 

n the principality of Liechtenstein, public 

I transportation is almost exclusively 

served by bus lines. These are operated by 

PostAuto Liechtenstein under the authority 

of LIECHTENSTEINmobil (LIEmobil) with 

39 buses. Since January 2012, LIEmobil is 

the successor organisation to the Liechtenstein 

Bus Company. PostAuto Liechtenstein 

is a PostAuto Switzerland company, the 

most important distributor in Swiss public 

transportation. PostAuto has been operating 

the bus network in the principality on 

behalf of LIEmobil since 2001. As PostAuto 

was once again awarded with the contract 

in 2010, over half its fleet was updated. The 

country’s mountainous landscapes call for 

very reliable, powerful buses – and the 

S 415 NF easily fulfils these requirements. 

Since then, four more Setra S 415 NF buses 

have joined the fleet. Their maintenance is 

in the best of hands: all LIEmobil buses are 

serviced by OMNIplus BusPort Altherr AG 

Schaan from Nesslau in St. Gallen. 

I t was the 100th new Setra for Latvia, and 

the first to embark on the long trip to the 

central Baltic country since 1999. The 

S 415 UL from the Setra MultiClass 400, 

along with another S 415 UL, was delivered 

to the “Talsu Autotransports” company 

from Talsi to the West Latvian region 

Kurland. Both buses from Setra’s current 

generation of intercity buses are equipped 

with 49 seats. With their integrated service 

sets, double-glazing, adjustable seatbacks 

for the “Route” seats, air conditioning, 

destination display and space for a baby 

carriage across the middle entrance, they 

fulfil all requirements defined by the Latvian 

Raimonds Kalejs from the “Talsu Autotransports” bus 

company in front of the new Setra S 415 UL, the 100 th 

Setra for Latvia 

Ministry of Transportation. Both vehicles 

will be deployed in interurban applications 

all around the “pearl of Kurland”, as Talsi is 

often referred to, as well as on the route to 

the country’s capital Riga, 120 kilometres 

away. The “Talsu Autotransports” company 

has coaches from all three Setra ranges – 

the TopClass 400, ComfortClass 400 and 

MultiClass 400 – in its fleet. The operation 

not only serves local and regional service 

lines, it also deploys its coaches on behalf of 

tour operators for tours all across Europe.

18 | Setra Best in Class Setra Best in Class | 19 

Facility tour guide Rolf Kürsammer, 68, was previously employed as expert welding engineer at Kässbohrer/EvoBus for 38 years 

Factory tour – electrics pre-assembly: 

Tailor-made electrics 

The underbody cable bundle assembly at the Setra manufacturing facility in Neu-Ulm 

In the third part of our “Factory tour” series, tour guide Rolf Kürsammer, 68, escorts us through the 

Neu-Ulm production facility – where he takes us through electrics pre-assembly for the underbody 

cable bundle and cockpit cabling. 

Now that’s 

what I would 

call “cable 

spaghetti”! 

Mr Kürsammer, 

can anyone 

keep a clear 

overview here? 

Of course! Everything 

that goes 

on here is planned down to the smallest 

detail. For every vehicle, there are circuit 

diagrams, piece lists and working plans. 

This is how we make sure that during and 

after assembly, we can quickly follow up on 

where each cable comes from and where 

it’s going. 

Here we are at the “underbody cable 

bundle” assembly area. What exactly 

goes on here? 

The underbody cable bundle runs through 

the length of the bus – from the main control 

panel under the driver’s seat all the way 

to the secondary control panel right above 

the rear-right wheel well. It supplies the bus 

with its complete electrics and all circuitry, 

excluding the roof’s electrical system. 

But all we see here is what looks like a 

very thick hose ...? 

It’s the so-called “zipper hose” and there is 

a lot on its inside. In fact, the underbody 

cable bundle includes around 150 individual 

cables – sometimes a little more and sometimes 

a little less. After all, each and every 

Setra is unique – customised with its own 

features and components. Over and above 

the cable bundle supplied, at Setra it is 

given a “tailor-made suit” – specific to each 

bus. For this very purpose, the zipper is 

opened, additional cables are inserted and 

the bundle is then closed again. 

It looks quite heavy. 

How does it get into the bus? 

You’re right: heavy it is. The underbody 

cable bundle alone weighs around 75 kilograms. 

When it is ready, it is rolled onto an 

assembly trolley. During assembly, it is then 

installed in the so-called cable package in 

the central channel with different lines – for 

fuel, water, air conditioning and brakes. 

This cable package is then lifted using a 

crane through the windscreen and sunk 

into the coach’s central channel, so that all 

cables run under the floor. 

And what happens if one of these lines 

is defective? 

The lines all have a white casing with a 

number that matches one on the circuit 

diagram. Customers’ special options have 

yellow cables with numbers and are easy to 

recognise. Coloured lines are data lines, for 

example to connect diagnostic devices. 

This way, problems with a line can be easily 

identified. 

Here we see everyone working with 

great concentration. But who is actually 

supervising their work? 

There is no supervision per se during 

assembly, since the electrics work is performed 

with so-called “worker self-inspection”. 

This means that each worker is 

responsible for his or her own work and 

signs off on the vehicle’s specifications. 

But there must be some kind 

of a control system? 

Of course. At the final stage, a customerspecific 

software which is perfectly aligned 

to the specific customer’s bus configuration 

is entered into the system and then a tenpage 

checklist is processed. First of all, 

things are tested visually – do lights, indicators, 

brake lights, etc. all work? This is 

then followed by verification with diagnostic 

devices. In a stationary position, heating, 

pumps, valves, etc. are tested. And then, 

with the vehicle running, all electrical 

systems which relate to the engine are 

checked as well. In the finishing hall, the 

headlights are adjusted, and then it is 

verified in great detail whether the vehicle 

runs properly. 

Now we have arrived at the workstation 

for cockpit cabling. It doesn’t look any 

less complex. 

You’re right. The cockpit has a separate 

cable bundle, which also connects between 

400 and 500 cables with the main switchboard. 

In the cockpit itself, depending on 

the model, there will ultimately be up to 40 

switches with which the driver can operate 

the coach’s complete electrical system. 

How do the workers manage to lay 

400 to 500 cables, without getting 

their arms all in knots? 

The cockpit is assembled on a so-called 

“oxen grill”, on which an original bus part is 

positioned, so that the cockpit then fits 100 

percent during assembly. This oxen grill 

can be turned 360 degrees, so that the 

worker can always maintain an ideal working 

position, without having to twist and 

turn. When the cables are mounted, the 

cockpit is installed onto a steel structure, 

with the instrument panel and the various 

switches. Then, using a crane, the entire 

cockpit is lifted to its position through the 

opening in the windscreen. 

Looking at the cables, I can’t help but 

notice that they don’t have any soldered 

joints connecting them to the plugs. 

We don’t solder the cables. Instead we 

“squeeze” them using crimp connectors at 

cable ends. 

And that lasts? 

As long as a Setra does. In other words: 

forever. 

 

Underbody cable bundle and cockpit 

cabling – facts & figures: 

• Approx. 150 cables are used 

in the underbody cable bundle 

• The bundle weighs approx. 75 kg 

• It is 12-14 m long 

• It has a diameter of approx. 6 cm 

• There are approx. 3 km of cables 

in the underbody cable bundle 

• 400-500 cables are deployed 

in the cockpit cabling 

• There are approx. 40 switches 

in a Setra cockpit 

• And 7,000 connectors in every bus 

• 10 km of cable are used in a bus 

• 40 workers work in electrical 

pre-assembly 

Cables of different colours facilitate the diagnosis of problems as they occur 

Using a crane, the cable package is lowered into the bus’ middle channel

20 | Setra Highlight Setra Highlight | 21 

2012 European Football Championship: 

Successful double pass 

On June 8, the 14 th Football EC will be kicked off. The whole football world will be watching Poland 

and the Ukraine – and the Setra brand too. Bus operators from the 2012 European Football Championship 

consortium have already taken over the first 30 Setra touring coaches of the total 40 ordered. 

Gearing up to the EC with a smile (from left to right): 

Lothar Holder (Head of Sales Setra Buses and 

Coaches EvoBus GmbH), 

Rafał Janczuk ´ (owner of the RafTrans company), 

Ryszard Wójci (owner of the Sindbad company), 

Hartmut Schick (Head of Daimler Buses) 

J 

ust two short months before the official 

kick-off in Warsaw, the only thing 

everyone was talking about at the 

Setra CustomerCenter in Neu-Ulm was 

football. On April 18, Hartmut Schick, Head 

of Daimler Buses, and Lothar Holder, Head 

of Sales Setra Buses and Coaches EvoBus 

GmbH, handed over 30 luxury touring 

coaches to the organisers and drivers of 

the 2012 European Championship which 

will be held in eight stadiums between June 

8 and July 1. During the three-week championship, 

the vehicles will be available to 

transport the 16 teams, managers, officials 

and their guests. A consortium bringing together 

two bus operators “Sindbad” and 

“RafTrans”, as well as Setra’s Austrian 

customer “Blaguss”, is responsible for the 

organisation of the transfer. All three operations 

unanimously opted for the quality 

and safety of Setra’s touring coaches in coordination 

with the UEFA European Football 

Association and Hyundai, its official sponsor. 

Once again this year, the double pass 

with OMNIplus’ comprehensive service 

offering and its wide-coverage network 

were also key to the consortium’s decision. 

The three bus operators purchased a total 

of 40 coaches. The order included 19 S 415 

GT-HD vehicles, 15 S 416 GT-HD coaches, 

an S 417 GT-HD and two S 419 GT-HD 

vehicles from the Setra ComfortClass 400. 

An S 417 HDH and two double-decker 

S 431 DT coaches will be available to carry 

officials and VIPs in Poland and the Ukraine, 

along with two luxury Setra TopClass 400 

coaches. Following the awards ceremony, 

the vehicles will be joining the fleets of the 

three respective tour operators. 

As with football, solid training is vital to success 

in the bus world as well. For this very 

reason, OMNIplus invited the drivers of the 

European Championship coaches to Neu- 

Ulm two days prior to the festive handover 

celebration. In the nearby town of Langenau, 

the drivers received a theoretical and 

practical briefing at the buses followed by 

an extensive training program focusing on 

the key areas of safety, cost-effectiveness 

and driving skills which they successfully 

completed by passing a written test.



A look back and a look ahead: 

Setra get-togethers 

A main attraction for show visitors: the Setra stand at the 

RDA Workshop in Cologne 

Direct, personal contacts with peers are key to most business people, and this is especially true in the 

coach and bus sector. For this very reason, operators are keen on having all the important trade shows 

in their calendars. Here, SetraFamily provides an overview of past trade show highlights as well as the 

fascinating to operators who organise oneday 

shopping tours. 

UMA Motorcoach Expo, California, 

2/8-12/2012: 

At this year’s United Motorcoach Association 

(UMA) show, Setra presented an exclusive 

TopClass S 417 touring coach as 

well as an exceptionally cost-effective 

ComfortClass S 407 model. Along with a 

host of comfortable equipment features, 

this year’s exhibits were shown with the 

Electronic Stability Program (ESP) which 

will be available from now on in Setra’s 

North American touring coaches. In contrast 

with the Setra TopClass S 417 which 

features a European design concept, the 

Setra ComfortClass S 407 is a classical 

touring coach reflecting North American 

design trends – a very attractive alternative 

in the business segment. 

An American dream: the Setra TopClass S 417 

Showing its colours in Prague: the Setra S 415 GT-HD 

Holiday World, Prague, 2/9-12/2012: 

The first two days of the largest international 

tourism show in the Czech Republic, with 

its 20,000 m 2 exhibition area, were reserved 

for trade visitors. On the following weekend, 

the event was open to the public. 

725 exhibitors from 47 countries presented 

their goods and services to over 32,000 

visitors and nearly 800 press representatives. 

Setra was present on location with an 

S 415 GT-HD exhibited outdoors. 

SetraShow Berlin, 3/3-4/2012: 

The SetraShow in the German capital! 

Everyone, including Berlin residents, were 

delighted that a SetraShow once again took 

place at the BusWorld Home in Berlin-Mariendorf. 

With an S 8, an S 80, an S 208 H, an 

S 309 HD and an S 411 HD in the entrance 

area alone, five generations of coaches 

gave visitors an impressive welcome. At the 

BusWorld Home Berlin, an S 411 HD, a Final 

Edition S 415 GT-HD and an anniversary 

edition S 416 HDH were the true highlights 

of the show. The show also featured presentations 

on the “Coach travel 2.0” topic, 

the popular Setra GrandPrix Qualifying, test 

drives, ABA demonstrations as well as the 

introduction of FleetBoard, the new fleet 

management system. 

TUR Show, Göteborg, 3/22-25/2012: 

As always, the travel season in Sweden 

began with the TUR Show in Göteborg. Exhibitors 

from all over Sweden and other 

parts of the world – with a focus on travel 

and tourism – were there. Setra presented 

a Setra S 416 HDH which now belongs to 

Vartofta Buss AB. The TUR Show is an important 

Swedish meeting point – ideal for 

networking and meeting customers. 

BeoTruck, Belgrade, 3/27-31/2012: 

The BeoTruck show is the most important 

commercial vehicle trade exhibition in 

Southeast Europe. In close collaboration 

with its local organisation, the Setra brand 

presented the Final Edition S 415 GT-HD. 

As well, in the context of the show, Setra’s 

new sales partner for Serbia, Mr Branislav 

Vajagic, was officially presented to Serbian 

customers. A highlight of the event was the 

sale of an S 431 DT to a customer from 

Bosnia and Herzegovina. 

most important ones for the coming year. 

A look back: 

19 th International Pre-Owned Coach & 

Bus Fair (IGOM), 1/4-6/2012: 

The IGOM, which kicks off the new year, 

has evolved into an important contact platform 

with international flair. Right next to 

the Setra Pre-owned Vehicle Center, wellknown 

used-vehicle dealers, EvoBus subsidiaries 

and general representatives once 

again presented their attractive wares. And 

in fact, many of the 217 pre-owned vehicles 

available found proud, new owners. The 

participating dealers were also delighted 

with their sales success. The high export 

share of close to 50 % of the vehicles sold 

appears to indicate a recovery of export 

markets. More than 1,600 visitors from all 

over Europe gathered in Neu-Ulm for the 

event. 

Setra Träff, Sweden, 1/13-14/2012: 

In spite of the snow and cold weather conditions, 

the Swedish Setra Family got together 

in January at the traditional Setra 

Träff. Visitors had the opportunity to testdrive 

Setra coaches along the 2 km long 

test course, and to take part in seminars 

and technical discussions. This year’s uncontested 

guest of honour was, along 

with an S 416 GT-HD Final Edition, a Setra 

S 419 GT-HD with a second entrance behind 

the rear axle, and a WC and galley at 

the rear of the coach. This model sparked 

A cool appearance in Sweden 

quite a lot of enthusiasm, especially among 

customers who offer long-distance trips. 

While the very large luggage compartment 

with a continuous loading surface and the 

possibility to load from both sides was most 

A look ahead: 

Exhibition Preview RDA Workshop, 

Cologne, 7/17–19/2012: 

Service providers from all tourism sectors 

will be presenting their ideas and products 

to support tomorrow’s business. Not only 

will trends be highlighted, contacts made 

and enhanced, but also, orders will be 

placed and experiences shared – all at one 

venue and in just a little while. This year 

again, Setra will be presenting itself in Hall 

10 with two current vehicles in a very 

attractive ambiance. 

81 st Izmir Enternasyonal Fuari, 

8/31–9/9/2012: 

Trade shows in Turkey are always a very 

special experience. Doors usually open at 

17.00 and visitors can meet and chat in a 

relaxed atmosphere and enjoy the balmy 

weather until 1.00 in the morning. 

64 th IAA Commercial Vehicles Trade 

Show, Hanover, 9/20-27/2012: 

This year, the number one trade show for 

mobility, transportation and logistics will be 

profiling itself under the motto “Driving the 

Future”. Its comprehensive offering of innovations, 

exhibitors from wide-ranging groups 

and sectors, discussions and well-informed 

visitors all together make for an event that is 

quite unique. Setra will be represented with 

7 exhibits in the Daimler Hall. 

SetraShow Neu-Ulm, 11/17-18/2012: 

A new date at a well-known venue! Please 

note that the SetraShow in Neu-Ulm will be 

held at new dates this year. 

For more information on Setra and Setra events, 

simply visit www.setra.de. If you’d like to be kept up 

to date, our online newsletter will keep you informed 

regularly on all Setra news. Register 

now at www.setra.de and in no time 

at all, you’ll start receiving all your 

information first-hand.



Bulgaria – customised Setra furniture: 

Sweet dreams in a Setra 

Family businesses are often successful in the coach and bus sector. A company founded by the 

grandfather is often passed on to a son or daughter, and then further managed by their own children. 

These children are weaned on a love of buses and coaches early on. Or even in the coach itself, as 

with the Petkov family from Bulgaria. 

T 

he Chona Travel company is a 

small family operation in the Petrich 

region in Southern Bulgaria. Stefan 

Petkov manages the business together with 

his father and his older brother. The fleet 

includes only Setra coaches – an S 215 HD, 

an S 315 UL, an S 315 HD and, since 2010, 

an S 415 HD TopClass – the company’s 

pride and joy. 

As Stefan Petkov and his wife Gergana 

announced their family was expanding just 

a few months after the fleet itself had 

grown, Stefan came up with an offbeat 

idea. He thought it would be wonderful to 

pass on his passion for coaches directly to 

his child. Not with a real Setra of course, 

but a wood model – created especially for a 

child. With a sketch of his company’s Top- 

Class in hand, he headed to a local master 

carpenter and asked him to build a piece of 

kids’ furniture to look just like a Setra 

coach. 

The master carpenter, whose speciality is 

kitchen furniture, was pleased to accept 

the challenge and immediately got to work. 

With great attention to detail, he created a 

piece of furniture combining a bed, a clothes 

cupboard and a diaper-changing table. He 

sawed, drilled and sanded for close to a 

month, until his masterpiece was finished – 

150 cm long, 70 cm wide and 100 cm high. 

Just in time for the arrival of the baby, the 

mini-model Setra was delivered to Gergana 

and Stefan Petkov’s home. We don’t know 

yet whether the child dreams of coaches 

and travel. But little Alexander’s parents 

are convinced that we feels perfectly at 

home in his Setra. 

 

Get-together at the BusWorld show in Kortrijk: l. to r. Lothar Holder (Head of Sales Setra 

Buses and Coaches EvoBus GmbH), Jos Sales (Managing Director Sales-Lentz), Marc Sales 

(Managing Director Sales-Lentz), Hans Smits (CEO EvoBus Belgium) 

Belgium/Luxemburg – the Sales-Lentz Group drives Setra: 

Non-stop passion for Setra – as the first Setra coaches 

to Voyages Léonard S. A. are handed over 

(l. to r. Lothar Holder, David Léonard, Pascal Léonard) 

Contagious enthusiasm 

Close to the real thing – with a lot of storage space in the luggage compartment. A clothes cupboard is located behind the door, with a changing table right above it 

It is the most extensive Setra order in the history of EvoBus Belgium and Luxemburg. In January 

2011, Sales-Lentz Autocars S. A., the largest private bus operating company in Luxemburg, took over 

the Belgian touring company Voyages Léonard S. A. and ordered 32 new Setra coaches. 

W 

ith its impressive fleet of close 

to 300 vehicles, Sales-Lentz 

Autocars S. A., from the Bascharage 

region in Luxemburg, is a wellknown 

entity in the bus sector. Since January 

2011, the Voyages Léonard S. A. with 

headquarters in the Barchon area in Belgium 

also belongs to the Sales-Lentz Group. 

Pascal and David Léonard are both active in 

the third-generation family business which 

has been a loyal Setra customer for 40 years. 

The brothers are so convinced of the brand 

that the company’s 30-vehicle fleet includes 

only Setra coaches. 

Their enthusiasm for Setra was apparently 

contagious. After the take-over, Sales-Lentz 

signed a contract for the delivery of 32 new 

Setra TopClass coaches. “Setra belongs to 

the top segment and radiates top class”, 

says managing director Marc Sales. “We 

consider the Setra TopClass the Rolls-Royce 

among coaches. The drivers’ enthusiasm 

as well as that of all Voyages Léonard 

employees for the quality offered by the 

brand from Ulm really impressed us. This 

was definitely a big part of our decision to 

select the Setra brand for our company 

in Luxemburg as well as for Voyages 

Léonard.” 

The festive handover of the first ten vehicles 

for Léonard – five S 431 DTs, four 

S 416 HDHs and one S 415 HD – took place 

in December 2011 at the Setra Customer- 

Center in Neu-Ulm. For the occasion, the 

Belgians gathered together 50 employees, 

travel directors and several journalists, 

taking advantage of the opportunity to 

enjoy a tour of the city and the Setra 

manufacturing facilities. In January 2012, 

delivery of the first three from a total of 15 

TopClass coaches for Sales-Lentz took 

place, and at a later date seven more will 

be delivered to Léonard. All coaches are 

equipped with premium components and 

features, including a glass roof, multichannel 

sound system, state-of-the-art 

safety systems such as SPA, ABA and 

ART, as well as alloy wheels and Power- 

Shift transmission. Four vehicles are also 

equipped with premium 2+1 Ambassador 

seating.

26 | Setra Premium Service 

Setra Premium Service | 27 

With the App for iPhones and iPads, you can call up the location and availability of your fleet and your drivers – anywhere, anytime and free of charge! 

New FleetBoard fleet management system: 

Saving time and fuel with FleetBoard – 

conveniently and with ease 

Up until recently, the fleet management system specially conceived for coaches and buses was 

known under the BusFleet name. Now, the telematics system for intercity, touring and city vehicles 

has been developed further and is available through the Daimler FleetBoard GmbH telematics 

provider. The system’s latest innovation is that you can access it conveniently via iPhone or iPad 

when you’re on the road. 

W 

here exactly is my bus? How 

long has my driver been on 

the road? How soon will both 

of them be ready for the next trip? Operators 

know that high-level transparency with 

regard to their coaches and drivers is indispensable 

for a well-run operation. And this 

is exactly what FleetBoard, the coach and 

bus-specific fleet management system, offers. 

Serving customer needs to a tee, it 

can reveal significant unused savings potential. 

For instance, it offers the possibility 

to significantly reduce fuel consumption. 

Setra and Mercedes-Benz coaches and 

buses Europe-wide can be equipped with 

the FleetBoard system ex works. Vehicles 

from other manufacturers can be retrofitted. 

Here, SetraFamily provides an overview 

of the different FleetBoard services 

available. 

Mapping: Where is my bus? 

With FleetBoard Mapping, using a digital 

street map, operators can call up the current 

location of a coach or even a detailed 

tracking at 30-second intervals. And this, 

at any point in time. Over and above locating, 

key trip events, warning and status 

notifications and reports can be displayed 

as well. With the “Geofencing” function, specific 

entry and exit areas can be defined. 

This not only provides key information on 

location of bus and driver, but also a big 

security benefit in the case of theft. 

Deployment Analysis: 

How cost-effective is my coach’s 

performance? 

Using the FleetBoard Deployment Analysis 

function, you can considerably optimise 

your coach’s cost-effectiveness: fuel consumption 

as well as wear & tear can be 

reduced by up to 10 % – simply by driving 

more cost-effectively. Driver data and data 

on vehicle speed, rotational speed and heavy 

braking enable objective conclusions to be 

drawn on the driver’s individual driving 

style. These assessments provide valuable 

assistance, especially on how driving style 

can be optimised. 

Trip Recording: 

When is my bus moving and when has 

it stopped? 

With the help of the Trip Recording function, 

you can determine exactly when and 

where the coach drove or stopped, and 

whether the doors were opened or closed. 

Based on this information, you can follow 

up on passenger requests as to whether a 

certain vehicle actually stopped at a bus 

stop, or whether the ramp for people with 

limited mobility was used. Via the “Reports” 

feature, the driver can send standardised 

messages to headquarters. And vice versa: 

messages can also be sent from the company 

to the bus via the instrument cluster 

display. The transmission of further vehicle 

reports enable, for instance, information on 

the use of the retarder or the usage cycles 

of additional heating or air conditioning. 

Conclusions regarding the condition of the 

An overview of FleetBoard services 

FleetBoard services encompass numerous 

functions targeted at optimising the quality 

of driving and processes – to reduce 

vehicle wear and fuel consumption while 

increasing service quality: 

Mapping: Worldwide overview at a glance 

Deployment Analysis: Documentation on 

quality of driving 

Trip Recording: Transparency on bus 

deployment 

Notifications: Text communication with 

the bus 

Time Management: Analysis and archiving 

of tachograph data 

Service: Analysis of operational data, 

maintenance planning 

vehicle, and therefore on cost-effectiveness 

or comfort, can be derived. This 

contributes to more effective planning of 

required maintenance schedules and timecritical 

vehicle inspections. 

Time Management: 

When is my driver driving or relaxing? 

With the FleetBoard Time Management 

function, driver work times can be planned 

based on actual rest periods and remaining 

drive times. The data can then be automatically 

entered into a payroll accounting 

system. Also, the legally prescribed driver 

card download can be carried out anywhere 

and anytime. Additionally, automatic 

transmission of mass memory data from 

the digital tachograph can be performed 

remotely. Especially for long coach absences, 

this enables significant time and 

cost savings. 

Service: 

When does my coach need to be 

inspected? 

Using the Service function, all key operational 

data including of course mileage, 

along with selected warning messages can 

be transmitted. Timely messages and 

alerts, i.e. on oil level or pressure are processed 

immediately by FleetBoard and 

made available by means of the “Bus- 

Client“. The operator therefore knows early 

on when the bus needs to go in for repairs 

or maintenance. 

Free FleetBoard App 

As the first provider of telematics solutions, 

FleetBoard offers a free App for iPhones 

and iPads to support fleet management and 

deployment analysis. The only prerequisites 

for use are a vehicle equipped with 

FleetBoard and a service contract. The App 

enables vehicle deployment, work times 

and driver’s driving style, vehicle fuel consumption 

and even door and ramp status to 

be displayed – anywhere and anytime. With 

just a few clicks, operators can access a 

detailed overview of their entire fleet. This 

not only saves time and money, but also 

frayed nerves. You’ll find further information 

at www.fleetboard.com. 

 

The Daimler FleetBoard GmbH ... 

… has, since its foundation in 2000, established 

itself as one of the European market 

leaders in commercial vehicle telematics. 

The user-friendly FleetBoard terminals and 

services support fleet managers, planners 

and drivers of buses, trucks and transportation 

fleets in all sectors and brands. With 

FleetBoard, you can significantly improve 

your fleet’s performance with regard to: 

• Cost-effectiveness: with considerable 

savings on fuel, repairs and maintenance 

costs. 

• Optimising logistics, information and 

organisational processes: transport 

management and time management with 

tachograph downloads. 

• Environmental protection: CO 2 

savings 

through reduced fuel consumption. 

Since 2000, 95,000 vehicles with over 2,500 

customers have been equipped with a Fleet- 

Board system.

28 | Setra Best in Class Setra Best in Class | 29 

Staggered seating as special equipment: 

“Never again without!” 

Setra always comes up with innovative concepts – for its coaches’ interiors as well. For example, its 

staggered seating configuration – with the aisle seats positioned slightly ahead of the window seats – 

available as special equipment for TopClass models since 2011. Companies like Möllers Reisedienst 

from Neumünster love the idea. 

J 

ust a few extra centimetres make a 

huge difference. In fact, six centimetres 

open up more space and 

comfort in the shoulder and elbow areas, 

while allowing an enhanced view through 

side windows. With the staggered seating, 

the aisle-side passenger seats are positioned 

six centimetres ahead of the window 

seats. “The passengers were somewhat 

perplexed when they entered the coach 

and saw the staggered seats for the first 

time”, reports Peter Möller from Möllers 

Reisedienst in Neumünster, Schleswig-Holstein, 

“but as soon as they settled into their 

seats, they were delighted.” 

“Comfort is key to our passengers” 

Siblings Silke and Peter Möller are the 

managing directors of the company in Neumünster. 

And, since the early eighties, they 

only deploy the coaches from Neu-Ulm, 

currently eight TopClass S 415 HDH models. 

“Setra simply builds the best and the 

safest coaches”, says Peter Möller. He is 

convinced that his 4-star fleet will soon 

evolve into a 5-star business. Since 2011, 

they have had two S 415 HDH models with 

the staggered seating configuration – 

available exclusively with Setra – and the 

response has been so positive that another 

one joined the fleet in March 2012. “Never 

again without staggered seating”, Peter 

Möller adds. “Along with safety, what’s really 

important for passengers is comfort. And 

staggered seating, with generous space 

between seats, plays an important role. It’s 

not only couples who travel by coach. There 

Staggered seating: more freedom of movement and an enhanced view for passengers 

are times where you’re sitting next to 

someone you hardly know or even a perfect 

stranger. Freedom of movement is therefore 

really important.” 

Coveted window seats 

Over and above more freedom of movement, 

passengers are delighted with the 

enhanced view. Driver Thomas Holstein 

knows this well. He has been driving for 

Möllers Reisedienst for a good 25 years. 

“Passengers who have travelled just once 

with staggered seating, want to have it 

again on their next trip”, he reports. “One of 

the great advantages of coach travel is the 

fact that you can enjoy the landscapes up 

close. With staggered seating, the passenger 

sitting in the aisle seat can enjoy the 

view just as much as the one seated right 

next to the panoramic window.” 

Experienced drivers have also come to 

appreciate another fact resulting from 

staggered seating: “Before staggered 

seating, there were often discussions 

between passengers as to who would take 

the coveted window seat. Now, it’s no 

longer an issue.”

30 | Setra Individual 

Setra Individual | 31 

Transporting patients and medicine 

Geilo Turbusser from the winter sport paradise 

Geilo in Hallingdal won one of these 

tenders and, to meet demand, purchased 

two new Setra S 419 G-HD hospital buses 

– rounding out Geilo Turbusser’s active 

fleet to seven Setra hospital buses. The two 

new Setra coaches drive the Geilo-Ringerike-Oslo 

and Geilo-Drammen-Oslo routes. 

They have several hospitals along their 

routes and transport not only patients, but 

also medical supplies and equipment between 

hospitals. 

Medical first aid 

Over and above their daily routes, the hospital 

buses are also deployed as emergency 

stations at large sports events or whenever 

quick medical support is required for many 

people at one time. The separating walls, 

workstations, WC, electronics, water tanks 

and vacuum units in the hospital buses are 

installed by the Frenzel company in Obersulm-Sülzbach 

near Heilbronn. The specialised 

medical equipment is then installed by 

the Norwegian company Handicare. 

A hospital on wheels 

The buses left the Setra production facility 

with an even floor, a disabled lift and airline 

tracks – ideally equipped for the tasks 

to come. The front part of the buses is 

equipped like a touring coach with passenger 

seating, including calf support, whereas 

medical devices and equipment are located 

in the rear section of the coach. Moreover, 

there are three hospital beds, a WC for the 

disabled, a mini-galley to provide patients 

with hot beverages and snacks, hot and 

cold water, as well as an electrical connection 

at every seat. Just like a small hospital 

– on wheels. 

In 1999, Geilo Turbusser was founded by 

Steinar Juvet in Geilo, Hallingdal. In the 

same year, he purchased his first Setra, an 

S 215 HDH coach. Geilo’s core business is 

to provide hospital bus services. But coach 

travel and class excursions are also on the 

program. Geilo Turbusser is currently planning 

on further expanding the company’s 

hospital bus business: the next S 419 GT-HD 

hospital bus is expected in May of this year. 

Along with the hospital buses, the company 

has three Setra touring coaches in its fleet. 

Norway – two Setra hospital buses for Geilo Turbusser: 

The hospital on wheels 

Long-distance touring and line service are the most common applications for Setra coaches. But 

Setra can also offer so much more. In Norway, bus operators such as Geilo Turbusser are deploying 

Setra buses for unusual applications: for instance, as a mobile hospital. 

I 

n Norway, many rural areas are 

sparsely populated. As a result, many 

people live quite a distance from hospitals 

and, if need be, they have to call a taxi 

or an ambulance – which can be extremely 

expensive especially for the chronically ill. 

With this in mind, Norwegian hospitals 

came up with the idea to equip and deploy 

spacious coaches with emergency medical 

equipment and personnel, as an alternative 

to individualised transport. It turned out to 

be much more than just a good idea. Today, 

all around the country, tenders for supplying 

medical services are being held where 

such support is needed. 

Patients can lie comfortably in Geilo Turbusser’s Setra hospital bus


Setra Familien News | 29 

Setra anniversary year coach stories: 

Real-life Setra stories 

To commemorate the 60 th anniversary of the Setra brand, we collected stories about Setra coaches 

and buses from all around the world. The SetraFamily is delighted to present to you a selection of 

these very unique anecdotes as part of an ongoing series. You’ll also find them at www.setra.de 

B 

us 

operator Christian K. remembers 

March 10, 1961 very well. It 

was the day he took delivery of 

his very first Setra. And from that day on, 

the Setra S 6 was his pride and joy. At the 

time, the “Club bus” with its six rows of 

seats was quite unusual. Kässbohrer had 

succeeded in designing a coach with all the 

handling characteristics of a passenger car. 

Christian couldn’t wait to go on tour with 

it, so he quickly spread the news and announced 

the first trips. The destinations 

were mostly in the Alps and were very well 

received by the passengers who didn’t have 

cars and who wanted to do some exploring. 

During the Pentecost holiday in 1984, Christian 

had become the proud owner of another 

Setra S 6, and he was once again 

headed towards the Swiss Rhone Valley. 

As always, both Setra-Kässbohrer coaches 

easily mastered the steep mountain passes. 

The trip was a great success. The following 

morning, however, he looked out the window 

and couldn’t believe his eyes – everything 

was covered in pure white! He knew 

right away that we wouldn’t be able to climb 

the 2,436 m Furkapass, which joins the 

Ursern valley in the Swiss Canton of Uri 

with the district of Goms in the Canton of 

Wallis. But then, since the weather was not 

scheduled to improve, he had an idea. Why 

not drive on the Bahn rail with the two 

coaches? He immediately contacted the 

historic Furkabahn. 

At the rail station, you could feel the excitement. 

Never before had buses been loaded 

onto the Furkabahn! Would the two coaches 

even fit onto the rail which usually only 

A coach on rails 

carried cars? The railway manager arrived 

with his yardstick and took the exact coach 

measurements. According to his figures, 

they would just fit. Loading them onto the 

rails seemed to take forever, and it was with 

great apprehension that Christian watched 

his coaches as they were heaved onto the 

wagons, centimetre by centimetre – praying 

that they wouldn’t get stuck along the 

way. 

In the meantime, several spectators had 

congregated, speculating whether something 

would go wrong with the loading 

process. But happily, everything worked 

according to plan. 

Once the coaches were safely loaded, the 

Furkabahn was more than generously 

rewarded for its efforts. The rail employees 

were thrilled: they had never done such 

good business on that line before. The bus 

operator was also relieved – after all, there 

is nothing you wouldn’t do to make sure 

your passengers arrive safely and on time. 

So they drove by rail all the way to Andermatt 

– where there was no snow to be 

found and where they could continue on 

their journey. The passengers didn’t seem 

to mind the delay. After all, not many of us 

can boast ever having travelled in a coach 

on rails. 

Submitted by Christian K., Lorch, Germany 

A 

fter 

working at Setra for 40 years, 

and today as a tour guide at the 

Setra plant, Rolf K. has some 

great stories to tell. But there is one that is 

most definitely his favourite story of all. For 

months, he and his co-workers laughed 

every time they thought about it, and even 

the one who the story is all about was ultimately 

able to laugh about his misfortune 

as well. 

Setra is famous for its special equipment – 

anything is possible. Along with club corners 

for tour groups or extravagantly luxurious 

equipment with gold and marble for oil 

barons and rock stars, Setra also customises 

coaches for very specialised applications, 

for instance library buses or even 

buses for prisoner transport. 

Of course, for applications such as these, it 

is especially important that the bus be 

taken for a test drive and checked very 

meticulously. After all, who wants to experience 

a breakdown with a bus full of criminals 

on a lonely country road? “Excuse me, 

All locked up 

would you pass me the jack?” I don’t think 

so: none of us really needs that. 

So, our colleague was driving through the 

countryside testing the various functions, 

when he suddenly heard a strange rattling 

at the back of the bus. Three curves later, 

he could still hear it. So he stopped the bus, 

walked around to the back and climbed in 

to check where the noise could possibly be 

coming from. 

As fate would have it, at that very moment, 

a hefty blast of wind slammed the door 

shut, literally imprisoning our test driver. 

And, as you would expect, the door could 

not be opened from the inside. As well, the 

bus didn’t feature normal windows, but 

only very small ones. Great views were 

clearly not a priority when customising 

these buses. Unfortunately this meant that 

the driver couldn’t even see when help was 

in sight. 

Our imprisoned test driver had no alternative 

but to hammer away at the walls and 

doors of the bus to catch attention. At one 

point, someone driving by noticed the bus 

and was perplexed by the noise coming 

from its insides. But, just think about it: 

would you be very enthusiastic about freeing 

someone from a prisoner bus? I know 

I wouldn’t. The police were called to the 

site where they proceeded to question the 

“prisoner” in great detail, until the driver 

was finally released. 

Needless to say, that after this experience, 

the bus passed the test and was certified 

as delivering absolute reliability against 

possible escape. The rattling door which 

caused the whole problem in the first place 

has since been taken care of as well. 

Submitted by Rolf K., Ulm, Germany

16 | Setra Premium Service 

Setra Premium Service | 35 

OMNIplus service point categories: 

How well do you know OMNIplus? 

Wherever you are, OMNIplus is always close – with 35 of its own service points and over 600 authorised 

service centers. What exactly do the OMNIplus BusWorld, OMNIplus BusPort and BusPoint designations 

mean? Here’s an overview from SetraFamily. 

“We did it for our customers” 

In January, the Eugen Herrmann GmbH from the Middle Franconian Schwabach area was rated with the 

highest possible OMNIplus BusWorld service category designation. The company, which was founded 

in 1967 by Eugen Herrmann, has 24 employees and is now managed by daughter Susanne. 

hether for repairs, maintenance, 

W original parts supply or even paintwork, 

lettering and film applications, the 

full-coverage OMNIplus ServiceNetwork is 

OMNIplus BusWorld is what we call our 

premium service points with the broadest 

available spectrum of services. BusWorld 

Home identifies our own operations in 

this category. The services offered by an 

OMNIplus BusPort are supplemented by: 

• Certified employees with expert training 

• The highest level of diagnostic expertise 

with direct contact to factory customer 

service 

• Body repairs, tire services 

and paintwork 

• The greatest parts availability 

• Extended opening hours: 

Mo-Fr 8-20h; Sa 8-12h; 24h SERVICE 

unique Europe-wide – in its quality, reliability, 

speed and proximity to customers. So 

that all our customers know who the right 

partner is to answer their needs, we have 

OMNIplus BusPort is the designation we use 

for basic ServiceNetwork locations offering 

bus-specific services with OMNIplus quality. 

This encompasses: 

• Bus-specific repairs; standardised basic 

employee qualification, supplemented by 

training in a variety of key areas 

• A diagnostic system for coaches and buses 

and comprehensive special tools 

• Either our own or coop partnerships with 

HVAC specialists 

• The complete offering of all OMNIplus 

services and service products as well as 

acceptance of the OMNIplus ServiceCard 

and SetraCard 

• The mobility concept 

• High parts availability 

• Europe-wide, country-specific 

opening hours 

categorised the OMNIplus service points 

according to the scope of services offered: 

BusPoint locations are our emergency 

service points which supplement the 

ServiceNetwork in export markets with 

low coach and bus inventories: 

• Repairs in the context of 24h SERVICE 

only, standardised basic employee 

qualification for emergency repairs 

• A diagnostic system for coaches and 

buses and a minimum inventory of 

special tools 

• Coop partnerships with HVAC specialists 

• Acceptance of the OMNIplus Service- 

Card and SetraCard 

Susanne and Martin Herrmann from Eugen Herrmann GmbH in Schwabach (Middle Franconia) received the 

coveted OMNIplus BusWorld service category designation in January 

Ms Herrmann, congratulations, 

Mr Herrmann, congratulations and 

welcome to OMNIplus BusWorld! 

What are the requirements which had to 

be met for you to achieve this highest 

category rating? 

The investments we made to meet all the requirements 

were quite high. It all began with 

a finely tuned replacement parts logistics 

and ordering process, and with our stocking 

up on the most important parts. Then, 

employee training in replacement parts 

logistics and in repairs was required, and 

we had to purchase special equipment and 

tools. Additionally, we adapted our outdoor 

signage and overall appearance to reflect 

the OMNIplus identity. And, of course, we 

had to be linked to the OMNIplus Service- 

Network. Finally, extended opening hours 

and 24h SERVICE were also important. 

What do you hope to achieve with the 

OMNIplus BusWorld service category 

designation? 

On the one hand, we want to underscore 

the fact that we offer specialised bus and 

coach services. We have 12 repair positions 

and are equipped to handle everything 

from maintenance to mechanics, bodywork, 

paintwork and upholstery all the way 

through to retrofitting comfort installations. 

As an OMNIplus BusWorld service point, 

we can now offer our customers even 

better service while ensuring enhanced 

operational availability and minimised 

vehicle downtime. Ultimately, we didn’t do 

it for ourselves, but for our customers. 

Did you know ... 

that you can find the service centres 

closest to you with addresses and maps, 

and determine the itineraries for all 

service stations along the selected 

route – quickly and easily at 

www.omniplus.de?



France – ten Setra coaches for Cars Moreau: 

With safety always in the foreground 

In October, ten new Setra coaches made their way to Cars Moreau to join the company’s fleet. 

Austria – new WESTbus transit provider drives Setra: 

bus + train = network 

With coordinated schedules, WESTbus and WESTbahn offer an attractive and very unique model for 

intercity transit in Austria under the name WESTnetz. The WESTbus routes are served by comfortable 

Setra coaches. 

Outstanding safety was a decisive purchase factor in favour of Setra coaches. 

T 

he family company from Fontaine- 

Fourches which was founded in 1958 

has been a Setra customer for a good 30 

years. It currently owns 23 Setra coaches. 

Along with design and first-class customer 

service and support, Setra’s exceptional 

safety was key to manager Danielle 

Moreau’s decision. For the most part, the 

coaches will be deployed in long-distance 

touring applications: “Passenger safety is 

always in the foreground. But we never 

compromise on comfort: with high-quality 

seats, an extra-generous distance between 

seats and the panorama roof.” 

The new coaches – four S 415 GT-HDs, 

four S 416 GT-HDs and two S 415 HDs – all 

feature state-of-the-art active and passive 

safety components. With the Adaptive 

Cruise Control (ART) feature, which automatically 

controls the distance to the vehicle 

ahead, the Active Brake Assist (ABA) 

emergency braking system, Lane Assist 

(SPA) which via video camera recognises 

the lane for up to 30 metres ahead of the 

coach, or the Front Collision Guard (FCG) 

system, Cars Moreau can rely on state-ofthe-art 

safety with its new coaches from 

Setra. 

 

S 

ince December 2011, the WESTbahn 

Management company, a 

private competitor to the Austrian 

state railway company (ÖBB), has been 

offering a close to hourly transit connection 

between Vienna and Salzburg. To meet 

their service standards and to carry customers 

to their destinations safely and on 

time, gaps in the WESTbahn schedule have 

been filled with coaches from WESTbus. 

The coaches and trains have also been 

coordinated in terms of looks. Together 

they create WESTnetz – a very positive 

example of a mutually beneficial collaboration 

between otherwise competitive 

methods of transportation, buses and 

trains, and a model for other countries. 

On a trip from St Pölten to Vienna, Stefan 

Wehinger, WESTbahn Managing Director, 

and Paul Blaguss, Blaguss Reisen’s Managing 

Director, had discussed how they could 

offer their customers even better service 

if coaches were used to supplement the 

train connections. Shortly thereafter, they 

founded the WESTbus company together, 

with 51 percent from Blaguss Reisen and 

49 percent from Rail Holding AG, the WESTbahn 

parent company. 

The passengers are delighted that lengthy 

waits for the intercity connections are a 

thing of the past. WESTbus kicks in whenever 

there’s a gap in the WESTbahn schedule. 

“The WESTbus is perfectly timed to the 

WESTbahn schedule and therefore ideally 

supplements our rail offering”, says Stefan 

Wehinger. “We are now closing gaps in the 

public transit network and responding to 

the thinning out of the rail offering. There 

are ten new Setra coaches serving WESTbus. 

Four Setra S 431 DT double-decker 

coaches with 76 seats travel the Klagenfurt-Vienna 

line, two triple-axle S 417 GT-HD 

coaches with 53 seats are deployed for 

the Linz-Graz line, and four double-axle 

S 415 GT-HDs with 45 seats are used for 

the Linz-Prague and Klagenfurt-Salzburg 

lines. A further Salzburg-Graz connection 

will be added in the course of 2012. “The 

brand new, environmentally friendly Setra 

coaches feature very comfortable seats 

and generous legroom. WESTbus customers 

can access WLAN (WESTlan) on 

board free of charge and a plug is always 

within reach. Of course, a lavatory and 

beverage dispenser are available in the 

coaches as well”, explains Paul Blaguss, 

Blaguss Reisen’s Managing Director. 

The SetraFamily magazine wishes this 

very promising business model resounding 

success! 

 

Welcome to the Setra family 

Austria: Böhm Judith, Kleinmutschen • Gollowitsch Franz Josef, Markt Hartmannsdorf • Gruber Touristik GmbH, Graz • Hofstätter Touristik 

GmbH, Althofen • Reisebüro Komm. Rat Franz Mayer GmbH, Semmering • Franz Mitterbauer GmbH, Ruprechtshofen • Neubauer Regina, 

Altenberg • P. Springer & Söhne, Klagenfurt • Belgium: Jean-Luc Cars, Bressoux • Voyages Roland Van Gyseghem, Mons • Zeimers AG, 

Heppenbach • Denmark: AlsBussen, Hadsund • Estonia: Indreg Kahn, Tallinn • Germany: Bad Wildunger Kraftwagen-Verkehrs- und 

Wasserversorgungsgesellschaft, Bad Wildungen • BE-Reisen, Minden • Bender, Ehringshausen • Beth, Lampertheim • Boos, Allershausen • 

Erich Diekena & Sohn, Upgant-Schott • Eisgruber, Velden • Florian Enders, Enders-Busbetrieb, Hannover • Enzinger, Piding • Friebel, 

Beerfelde • Geraldy, Schmelz • Hamburg City Vision GmbH, Hamburg • Halbasch, Lieberose • Emil Hilgen, Edewecht • Hirschmann, 

Lautenhofen • Höninger, Waldfeucht • Individual-Reisen, owned by Michael Koch, Bad Wünneberg • Kammerbauer, Titting • Königswinkel, 

Füssen • Landgraf-Reisen, Rückersdorf • LPG, Markranstädt • Ludwig, Schlottheim • Marquardt, Crailsheim • Nette, Burgstädt • 

Növermann, Mettmann • Pellemeyer, Lienen • Pfeil, Hohenstein • Pussack, Syke • Quitzk, Kolkwitz • Rothhaar, Zweibrücken • Sausner 

Reisen, owned by Frank Cordes, Stuhr • Scherer, St. Peter • Sdunek, Werneuchen • Schmid, Heubach • Stiehlow Tours, Schafflund • 

Tabu-Reisen, Eggersdorf • Teich, Quitzdorf • Ufer, Wipperfürth • Wackerl, Todtenweis • WMR, Müllheim • Else Wulf, taxi operator, Ihlow- 

Westersander • Iceland: Sudurleidir e.h.f. • Netherlands: Kras Reizen, Ammerzoden • Sweden: Sölvesborgs Taxi, Sölvesborg • Stockholmsbuss, 

Sollentuna • Sundströms Buss, Färila • Tottes Bussar, Visby • Switzerland: Bührer, Hirzel • GBS, Susten • Gloor, Veltheim • 

Twerenbold, Baden-Rütihof • Turkey: Ulusoy, Istanbul

38 | Setra Individual 

Setra Individual | 39 

Coach builders at the Neu-Ulm location support charity campaign: 

Donating wages 

In the context of the “Aktion 100 000 und Ulmer helft” charity campaign, donations are collected 

to support the needy in the region. EvoBus employees once again raised funds for a good cause. 

he “Aktion 100 000 und Ulmer helft” 

T charity campaign, organised by the 

city of Ulm and the Südwest Presse (the 

daily newspaper in the Ulm/Neu-Ulm/Alb- 

Donau district), has taken an all new approach 

to fundraising. The idea is that employees 

have an opportunity to donate a 

half-hour’s worth of their working wages. 

The funds benefit the needy and socialsupport 

facilities in Ulm, Neu-Ulm and both 

adjoining districts. 

For a single employee, wages for a halfhour 

of work don’t amount to much. But 

when close to the entire workforce of 

an organisation like EvoBus donates their 

wages for a half-hour of work, a very respectable 

sum comes together: EvoBus 

succeeded in raising 52,400 euros for the 

“Aktion 100 000 und Ulmer helft” charity 

campaign. 90 percent of the employees 

at the Neu-Ulm location participated in 

the voluntary fundraising campaign and 

collected 39,000 euros. A further 12,000 

euros were donated by management, and 

400 EvoBus/Kässbohrer retirees collected 

1,400 euros at their yearly get-together. 

Every cent collected goes directly to benefitting 

the needy. The donation enables the 

Südwest Presse to make employees available, 

to reactivate former employees and 

to source volunteers to participate in this 

good cause. The 52,400 euro donation is 

the largest individual donation the campaign 

has received in the 41 years since its 

inception. And it’s not the first time that 

Neu-Ulm has given its support: over the 

past three years, EvoBus donated a total of 

over 150,000 euros. 

 

Design – decorative stitching as special customer option: 

Outstanding quality every stitch of the way 

Setra has always been a significant step ahead in design. Or, perhaps more appropriately, a stitch 

ahead – with decorative stitching and quilting to lend a touch of individuality and luxury to the seats 

in your Setra coach. 

Setra Service – customised on-board videos: 

Your company in the leading role 

The Setra on-board video is very popular with bus and coach operators. More and more Setra customers 

are taking advantage of the opportunity to customise the video with their company messages. 

hat are the benefits of travelling in 

W a Setra? How can passengers adjust 

lighting, ventilation and seats? In a 

compact four-minute film, the Setra onboard 

video ensures that your guests can 

fully enjoy all the comfort offered by your 

Setra coach. We are quite certain that 

many of you are familiar with the film which 

is included with every delivery of a Setra 

TopClass and ComfortClass coach. But did 

you know that you can order the film in a 

version that has been customised to your 

company? 

Many companies all over Europe are currently 

using a customised version of the 

Setra on-board video – for instance the 

Norwegian Høves Royal Class company. 

The touring company from Nykirke, about 

100 kilometres south of Oslo, incorporated 

its logo at the beginning of the film and its 

key messages throughout the film. The 

result is a finely tuned profiling of two film 

stars – the company and Setra – which ideally 

prepares passengers for the trip ahead. 

If you are interested in a customised onboard 

video, please contact your Setra 

representative. He will be pleased to assist 

you in accessing the ordering platform. 

O 

ur specialised sewing machines 

offer a broad selection of stitches; 

in fact, up to 80 different stitches 

can be used to enhance your Setra seats 

with attractive decorative stitching. You’ll 

find that choosing isn’t always easy, however. 

Some may believe that seat stitching 

plays a minor role in a coach’s interior 

design. But just take a moment to imagine 

how black seat upholstery combined with a 

red, sporty, zig-zag “baseball stitch” will 

change the whole interior of your coach. 

Similarly, well chosen decorative stitching 

can give uni-coloured seats or a steering 

wheel an even more distinctive, high-quality 

appearance. 

Whether sporty, striking or elegant – Setra’s 

decorative stitching offers an opportunity 

to enhance your coach’s interior design 

with yet another individual note, without 

having to alter fabrics or cuts. And your interiors 

can be made even more distinctive 

with your company logo or other graphic 

highlights, which can be programmed 

following a digital template used with our 

Decorative stitching can upgrade the overall appearance of your coach’s seats 

special sewing machines. The stitching can 

be done on leather upholstery as well as on 

Dinamica, fabric or synthetic leather. It’s 

important that a support material be used 

as padding on the back of the material 

used, to prevent it from slipping and to 

ensure seams that are uniform, straight and 

clean. As well, a band can be used or, for 

large-surface stitching, a correspondingly 

large layer coating the cover material to be 

stitched. Whatever approach you select, 

the result is always a very unique look for 

your touring coach.

40 | Setra Best in Class Setra Individual | 41 

France – Setra S 431 DT used for intercity applications for the first time: 

Travel pleasure all along “la ligne” 

As in many other countries, the S 431 DT is also very popular in France for long-distance trips. 

What’s new however is its use as an intercity vehicle in France. Since May 2011, the SCAL company 

has been deploying the first French intercity double-decker coach. 

Switzerland – four Setra luxury touring coaches for Car Rouge: 

Travel comfort as corporate philosophy 

Car Rouge, a premium tour operator from Bern, has been using Setra double-decker coaches for its 

trips for over 25 years. Now, for the first time, the company has invested in four S 416 HDH touring 

coaches from the Setra TopClass, and is now the proud owner of the youngest and most advanced 

touring coach fleet in Switzerland. 

S 

ince the eighties, Car Rouge has 

been deploying Setra’s comfortable 

touring coaches. With the 

company’s very first double-decker coach 

from the 200 Series, the S 228 DT, Setra 

provided the Bern operator with extensively 

customised solutions – as they do today 

with 5-star coaches specially developed for 

Car Rouge and equipped with extravagant 

components and features. 

All around comfort 

The four recently delivered luxury S 416 HDH 

coaches are equipped with 33 recliners 

and a glass roof. The interior height of 2.1 

metres ensures a very generous feeling of 

space. Car Rouge also offers its guests an 

automatic coffee dispenser, so they can enjoy 

free coffee throughout the journey. All 

seats are equipped with a multi-channel 

sound system for passenger entertainment. 

In spite of the generous 90 cm distance 

between seats, the developers also managed 

to incorporate a fifth row of seats 

ahead of the second entrance, and to include 

a required 2+1 seating row right behind 

the front entrance. 

The Swiss tour operator couldn’t offer passengers 

any more comfort. For Managing 

Director Martin Wüthrich, passenger safety 

also plays a vital role in all decisions: “Bearing 

in mind our commitment to fulfil the 

highest standards of safety in the sector, 

travelling with Setra is an absolute given.” 

Driving comfort is decisive 

For Car Rouge, a company of the Swiss 

Eurobus Group, over and above exclusive 

destinations, passenger comfort is a key 

aspect of the company’s philosophy. Martin 

Wüthrich, who has headed Car Rouge since 

2006, experiences again and again that 

comfort is decisive to customers: “We offer 

guests our tours throughout Europe exclusively 

with 2+1 seating. We know that comfort 

is increasingly important for our customers. 

Especially people travelling alone 

appreciate this kind of seating.” 

Comfort in the foreground: Thomas Jenzer, Head of Packaged 

Tours Eurobus Group, Dietmar Widera, Head of Sales Setra 

Buses and Coaches, Switzerland, Martin Wüthrich, Managing 

Director Car Rouge, Christoph Hofmann, Head of Market 

Management Setra Export Markets (l. to r.) 

I 

n October 2011, Setra France presented 

a high-profile innovation to the 

French market at the Rencontres 

nationales du transport public (RNTP) trade 

show in Strasbourg. The double-decker 

was introduced under the “S 431 DT Ligne” 

name, clearly underscoring its appointment 

for long-distance line applications. The 

intercity double-decker’s many distinctive 

features, which include a panoramic glass 

roof, which Setra France presented at the 

RNTP, turn long-distance travel into pure 

pleasure. Room for a wheelchair user, a 

double rear entrance with an access ramp, 

as well as announcements of stops via 

loudspeaker and their display on 19-inch 

screens facilitate travel logistics – and not 

only for the disabled. Adaptive Cruise 

Control (ART), Lane Assist (SPA) and Active 

Brake Assist (ABA) ensure a safe journey. 

In May 2011, the SCAL company headquartered 

in Gap in south-eastern France, 

capital of the Département Hautes-Alpes, 

had taken over the first French intercity 

version of the Setra S 431 DT – the only 

intercity bus in France equipped with a 

stepless entrance. Until then, the high-end 

double-decker had been used exclusively 

as a touring coach. And intercity applications 

were conventionally taken on by less 

luxurious, single-level buses. For a number 

of years, the intercity version of the doubledecker 

coach has been deployed in other 

European countries. 

Double-decker coaches are ideal for many 

intercity applications – and not only due to 

their comfortable touring seats and stateof-the-art 

safety equipment. The galley is 

equipped with a coffee machine, an electric 

kettle, a microwave oven and a small refrigerator. 

Two gaming tables and outlets 

are available to the max. 83 passengers. 

Their much higher number of passenger 

seats represents a key benefit for companies 

like SCAL – where a single driver 

and one coach can transport double the 

passengers normally carried with a singlelevel 

bus. Over and above the intercity 

equipment featured by the Setra exhibition 

vehicle from Strasbourg, SCAL’s doubledecker 

coach boasts a series of clever 

extras: a money-changer, a breath-alcohol 

measuring device with an immobiliser unit, 

two 19-inch LCD screens on the lower 

deck, two 6.5-inch and two 19-inch LCD 

screens on the upper deck, and three-point 

safety belts. 

SCAL passengers are delighted with the 

brand new intercity coach now available on 

the French market: “The coach is very comfortable, 

smooth-running and quiet. I enjoy 

sitting on the upper deck and taking in the 

great view through the panorama glass 

roof”, raved a passenger on the trip from 

Gap to Marseille. “The stepless entrance is 

really practical, and on the lower deck you 

can sit right across from your travel partners”, 

exclaimed another passenger as he 

made himself comfortable with his friends 

in the four-person club seating area. 

SCAL is a family business which was 

founded in 1886 in the city of Gap in 

south-eastern France. With a fleet of 

45 vehicles, its main area of activity is 

servicing the Grenoble-Briançon-Nice- 

Marseille line, as well as coach tours all 

through Europe. SCAL, with its Setra 

double-decker deployed in intercity 

applications, is a first in France.

42 | Setra Family News Setra Family News | 43 

French Guiana – Setra shuttles at the Space Centre: 

With Setra to the stars 

The Transports Madeleine bus operator in French Guiana is responsible for shuttle service at the 

Guiana Space Centre. They know they can count on the outstanding reliability of Setra shuttle buses. 

F 

or the aerospace professionals at 

the Guiana Space Centre (Centre 

Spatial Guyanais, CSG), reliability 

is vital to success. Nothing is left to chance: 

when transporting satellites into space, or visitor 

groups to and from the centre. For this 

reason Setra vehicles are deployed for the 

shuttle service at the space centre, where unplanned 

waiting times are an absolute no-go. 

A space centre station 

with a long heritage 

Since 1979, the ArianeSpace European Space 

Transport Company’s Ariane 5 rockets have 

been launched from the Guiana Space 

Centre in French Guiana. The Russian Sojus 

rockets also take off from there, as have 

the European Space Organisation’s (ESA) 

state-of-the-art Vega launchers, the smallest 

of the European booster rockets, since 

February 2012. The CNES French national 

space agency operates the site. 

An ideal launch site 

Thanks to its location, the CSG is one of the 

most ideally positioned launch sites in the 

world. Only 500 km away from the Equator, 

the earth’s rotation ensures the best 

possible momentum for rocket launches. A 

further advantage is that the rockets can 

reach the most important orbits by flying 

directly over the ocean, without having to 

fly over populated areas. A definite plus for 

safety. 

A great atmosphere in the Setra 

The Transports Madeleine operator has been 

deploying Setra vehicles for its shuttle 

service since 2010. With several MultiClass 

S 415 UL and a ComfortClass 415 GT-HD in 

their fleet, the company transports international 

delegations and VIP guests who have 

been invited to a rocket launch in fully airconditioned 

Setra coaches – from the airport 

to the hotel and back, or to the rocket 

launch directly at the space station. 

The aerospace professionals at the Guiana Space Centre swear by Setra’s exceptional reliability 

to transport visitor groups

Family - Setra

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