DB Regio Bus NRW has divided the operation of its bus services in Germany’s largest federal state (in terms of number of inhabitants, fourth in terms of area) between three subsidiaries:
– Busverkehr Rheinland in Düsseldorf
– Ostwestfalen-Lippe Bus in Bielefeld
– Westfalenbus in Münster
The lines operated by Westfalenbus include an express bus line called ‘SprinterBus’ from Bocholt (near Wesel in the Rhineland) via the district town of Borken, Dülmen (Coesfeld district) and the A 43 motorway to the main railway station in Münster (line ‘S 75’). The line takes one hour and 38 minutes from end to end. From Bocholt to Dülmen it travels on main roads, in Dülmen it changes to the motorway, on which it reaches Münster after 30 minutes without any further stops.
The ‘Sprinterbus’ line was set up almost 30 years ago by Westfalenbus; in the last decade, a subsidiary of Krefeld-based SWK (Städtische Werke Krefeld) won the tender for the line. The Krefeld company introduced an interesting innovation on the line, as they used double-deckers from the Dutch manufacturer VDL (initially of the ‘Synergie SDD-141/510’ type and later of the ‘Futura FDD 2-141/510’ type) that had been adapted for long-distance scheduled services.
The use of double-deckers on such a long line, which also runs on a long section of motorway, makes a lot of sense. This is because the double-decker offers optimum seating capacity thanks to its upper and lower decks. However, it does not carry more passengers than a normal 12 metre long solo coach or even an articulated bus, as there is insufficient headroom for passengers without a seat on either the upper or lower deck of the double-decker. If all seats are occupied, the bus is full. Only in the case of regular double-deckers – such as those in Berlin – are there a few standing places. On a line with such a long route as the S 75, however, this is out of the question – do you want to stand for an hour and a half from Bocholt to Münster? What’s more, the route crosses the motorway, where standing passengers are prohibited anyway (or the bus is not allowed to exceed 60 km/h.
The new Setra double-deckers for Westfalenbus
Westfalenbus ‘reclaimed’ the line about a year ago. Initially, it had the line operated by private companies ‘on contract’. The Borken-based company Menchen took over one of the VDL double-deckers from Krefeld and now operates it for Westfalenbus on the ‘S 75’ line.
However, Westfalenbus wants to operate the line itself, with the same level of comfort that the Krefeld company already offered its passengers on the line. Three ‘S 531 DT Fernlinie’ double-deckers were therefore ordered from Mercedes subsidiary Setra. They are derived from the Setra S 531 DT double-decker coach.
The new coaches have now been presented to passengers and the public at an official presentation on 25 October at the bus station in Borken. They are coloured in the DB Group’s traffic red – the special ‘Sprinterbus design’ that the previous buses had no longer exists. From the outside, it is not only noticeable that the coaches are three-axle coaches (how could they not be with a length of 14 metres), but above all that they have a double-width door in the middle of the coach. This clearly distinguishes them from their brothers in the travelling version. Directly in front of this door, there is a special area on the right-hand side of the lower deck for wheelchairs, pushchairs or bulky luggage, for example.
Two staircases connect the lower and upper decks. The front staircase is located on the left-hand side of the coach directly behind the driver’s seat, while the rear staircase is located on the right-hand side of the coach directly behind the centre door. The front staircase runs at an angle of 180 degrees, the angle of the rear staircase is 90 degrees. Both staircases have seven steps.
Passengers sit on double seats of the ‘Setra Voyage Plus’ type, which are upholstered in blue fabric, reminiscent of the seat covers in DB regional trains. They are very comfortable and have raised backrests. However, unlike on the coach, the backrests cannot be adjusted in terms of angle – that’s where you notice the regular bus – and there are no fold-out armrests to the side of the centre aisle, which are familiar from coaches. As I said, the seats are comfortable, and the distance to the front seat is quite reasonable. All seats are forward-facing, with the exception of four seats in the lower deck directly behind the front wheel arches. Here there are four rear-facing seats. The resulting groups of four seats each have a table on both sides of the coach. Would you like to work on your computer while travelling? Not only is it possible here, you can also set up your computer comfortably. This is not just a place to work, it’s also a convenient place to set up your computer. And the tables are not just for computers.
Incidentally, the seats on both the upper and lower decks are arranged on platforms.
A word about the standing height: both on the lower and upper decks, the standing height of 1.75 metres is sufficient for a person of the author’s height; you can comfortably walk upright to your seat.
Passenger numbers on the S 75 line
At the presentation of the new Setra double-deckers, the responsible department head of the Borken district reported that the line had been very well received right from the start. And since then, passenger numbers have risen from year to year. No wonder she came to the conclusion: ‘It is one of our best lines. Good that we have it.’
Technical data Setra S 531 DT long-distance version
- – Length: 14,000 mm
- – Width: 2,550 mm
- – Height: 4,000 mm (maximum permissible height in road traffic)
- – Wheelbases: Front axle/drive axle: 6,700 mm, drive axle/trailing axle: 1,350 mm
- – Turning circle: 23,100 mm
- – Engine: Mercedes-Benz OM 471
- – Output: 375 kW (510 hp)
- – Emission standard: Euro VI, regulated exhaust gas recirculation, SCR technology, closed particulate filter
- – Transmission: Mercedes-Benz GO 250-8 (eight-speed gearbox)
- – Drive axle: Mercedes-Benz RO 440
- – Steering: ZF Servocom 8098
- – 79 seats (upper and lower deck), type: Setra Voyage Plus
- – All seats with two-point safety belts and forward-facing, only on the lower deck are there four rear-facing seats directly behind the front wheel arches, the two groups of four seats thus created also each have a table
- – Stairs to the upper deck: 180-degree front staircase on the left-hand side of the coach behind the driver’s seat, 90-degree rear staircase on the right-hand side of the coach behind the double-width centre door
- – Driver assistance systems:
- Electronic Stability Programme (ESP)
- Traction control system (ASR)
- Brake Assist System (BAS)
- Lane Assist System (SAS)
- Time Pressure Monitoring (TPM)
- Adaptive cruise control (ART)
- Active Break Assist 4 (ABA 4)
- Predictive Powertrain Control (PPC)
- Eco Driver Feedback (EDF)
- Attention Assist (AtAs)
- Start-off assistant
- Stopping brake with collision lock
- Stabiliser for front and rear axle
- Electronic levelling control (ENR)
