| | Painted in pure white with orange and sky-blue contrasts, the 18 Citaro buses have an overall capacity of 100 passengers. With a length of 11,950 mm and a width of 2550 mm, 35 seated and 65 standing passengers can be accommodated. |
An electronic level control system (ENR) allows the buses to be lowered on one side (kneeling) for convenient access and egress. In addition, folding ramps and external request buttons at wheelchair height make it easier for passengers with impaired mobility to use the vehicles. The interior is fitted out with hard-wearing and easily cleaned materials according to normal regular service practice. The sprayed-on, slip-resistant flooring in grey with orange and blue inserts provides a high level of passenger safety and prevents moisture traps. The new City Star Function (CSF) seating in the corporate colours of blue and orange is comfortably upholstered. Specially developed for the requirements of a modern regular service bus, CSF seats combine an up-to-date design with the commercial aspects of low weight and ease of repair. As the CSF seat consists of separate components, the seat and backrest cushions can be simply removed from the plastic frame and replaced when cleaning or repairs become necessary.
All the vehicles are equipped with disc brakes all-round, ABS, an electronic braking system (EBS) and acceleration skid control (ASR). The buses are powered by the OM 906 hLA turbodiesel engine generating 205 kW (279 hp). This horizontally installed in-line 6-cylinder unit already develops its maximum torque of 1120 Nm at 1300 rpm, while compliance with the Euro-5 standard is due to BlueTec diesel technology. This is mainly based on further engine development and an integrated exhaust aftertreatment system.
In this process, the nitrogen oxides are converted into harmless nitrogen and water vapour in an SCR catalytic converter by the addition of the aqueous reducing agent AdBlue. The engine electronics meter the amount of AdBlue, which is sprayed into the hot exhaust gases from a separate tank and hydrolises into ammonia to produce a chemical reaction. This means that the engine already complies wiith the Euro-5 limits coming into force from 2009, where the permitted nitrogen oxide content is reduced by a further 43% versus the Euro-4 standard.
As a subsidiary company of Versorgungs- und Verkehrsgesellschaft Saarbrücken (VVS), Saarbahn GmbH provides urban public transport services by road and rail for the state capital of Saarbrücken and its immediate surroundings. The company was founded purely as a rail transport provider in 1997.
In 2002, as a result of a reorganisation, the company was also entrusted with the provision of bus services for Saarbrücken. Today Saarbahn GmbH carries around 31 million passengers between its approx. 1400 bus stops each year. Around 300 employees and a fleet of 116 regular service buses ensure that the operation runs smoothly and provide assured mobility in the surrounding areas. |
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