Passenger transport company Rheinbahn of Düsseldorf has ordered a further 80 Citea LLEs from VDL Bus & Coach. This order comes on top of the 60 units that were delivered in 2013. “We are hugely proud of the confidence that Rheinbahn is putting in our products”, says Boris Höltermann, General Manager VDL Bus & Coach Deutschland. “This follow-up order also confirms our strategy regarding lightweight concepts and the reduction in the Total Cost of Ownership associated with them and optimisation of the Profit of Ownership.”
Innovative lightweight concept
For the VDL buses with a lightweight construction the focus is on achieving better fuel economy and the resulting emissions reductions. Naturally the buses also continue to meet the highest safety standards. The VDL Citea LLE has a net weight of around 9 tonnes and, based on Rheinbahn’s own experiences, uses 25% less diesel than comparable products. With this level of performance, the VDL Citea meets requirements normally placed on vehicles with hybrid and electric technology, without the additional expense related to that technology or the associated costs for service garages and infrastructure. In light of the current cost pressure, the choice for the VDL lightweight concept is a logical step for passenger transport companies that not only want to provide the best possible transport for their passengers but also seek to reduce emissions of harmful substances.
Rheinbahn
Rheinbahn AG provides the public transport in Düsseldorf, Meerbusch and substantial parts of the district of Mettmann. Currently 430 buses, 91 bus lines, 7 sprinter lines (partly underground) and 11 tram lines are in use. The railway network which extends as far as Neuss, Krefeld, Duisburg and Ratingen, is part of the railway network of Verkehrsverbund Rhein-Ruhr (Rhine-Ruhr public transport association) and is approximately 342 km in length. Rheinbahn carries around 216 million passengers a year.
VDL Bus & Coach
The core activities of VDL Bus & Coach consist of the development, manufacturing, sales and after-sales of a wide range of buses, coaches and chassis modules, the conversion or extension of mini & midi buses and the purchase and sales of second-hand buses. Manufacturing takes place in the Netherlands and Belgium. VDL Bus & Coach places high value on quality, safety, durability, the environment, low fuel consumption, comfort and low maintenance costs. Sales of VDL Bus & Coach products take place through a worldwide network consisting of corporate-owned sales offices, importers and agents in more than 30 countries. This makes it possible to offer custom-made transport solutions. For after-sales and maintenance, the client can count on rapid, hassle- free assistance from VDL Bus & Coach employees in any of the many service locations. An extensive distribution network ensures that spare parts and accessories are delivered to the requested destination as quickly as possible. VDL Bus & Coach is one of the largest bus producers in Europe.
