The Setra bus is the brainchild of the German company Setra Omnibusse from Ulm. The company produces tourist, intercity and city buses of varying degrees of roominess and comfort. They are all equipped with diesel engines concern Daimler-Benz AG, located in the aft compartment of the body.

Company history and brand features

The history of SETRA buses dates back to 1911. The company was founded by Karl Kassbohrer, which was reflected in the design of the cars: until 1983, a large metal letter "K" flaunted in the center of the grille. It is still present, but made of plastic, shifted to the right and located under the SETRA inscription.

The SETRA brand name is an abbreviation, so the main is encrypted design feature these buses. Their body is self-supporting - SelbstRAgende, with a welded frame made of metal squares. The first model of this design - SETRA S8 - appeared on the roads of Germany in 1951.

The arrangement of the power units was made according to the "pushing" scheme - the engine in the aft compartment. It did not change in subsequent years, except for those cases when the car body was made in a composite - the SG series of articulated city buses. Since 1994, the company has been part of the Daimler AG concern.

In the European table of ranks, the SETRA brand is among the top ten manufacturers of luxury travel and intercity models. However, the model range of cars produced by it is much wider. It also includes medium-comfort intercity buses (MD series), as well as regular buses operating on municipal routes - SL series.

"Two-hundredth" series - the constructive foundation of the brand

In 1976, the Setra Omnibusse company began mass production of buses of the "series two hundred", the design and most of the constructive solutions of which are the basis of today's lineup... Externally, the cars were distinguished by the shape of the front end and a one-piece windshield. They were installed disc brakes and air suspension. The body with a welded space frame remains a signature feature of the brand.

The model range is based on the S200 model, presented in 1972 at the Geneva Motor Show. The car had a revolutionary - one and a half - story - design, which made it possible to provide passengers with special comfortable options during long trip... On its basis, the SETRA S215 HD models were built, as well as all cars with the HDH and HDS model indices.

The “two hundred” release consisted of the following set of models:

• S208, S209 - small machines for local lines.
• S211, S212 - city buses.
• S213 and S215 are intercity and tourist models.

Series 400 and 500

The release of all models of the "two hundred" series was discontinued in 1997. It was replaced first by the "three hundredth", and then by the series 400 and 500.

• The 500 series buses are luxury touring vehicles. They are divided into two classes: Top and Comfort. Among the first there are not only traditional one and a half - (HDH index), but also two-story (DT). Representatives of the Comfort type are also divided into two subclasses - HD and MD, differing in height due to the size of the luggage compartment.
• The 400 series belongs to the Multi class. These are urban (UL type) and intercity one and a half storey representatives of the medium comfort brand (H type). SETRA Multiclass S415 cars are medium in terms of passenger capacity and therefore the most common. They have 15 rows of seats and 53 seats a.

The seat layout for the 400 is shown in the figure below.

Dimensions and number of seats in new buses:

Conclusion

The modern Setra bus models are perfectly equipped for a comfortable ride on short and long routes. However, models of the 200 series are still in demand and are operated in Russia and other states. The reason is more cheap price and also the fact that the transport was originally well thought out for comfortable transportation.

This article will focus on the seats on the bus. We will talk about which ones are better to choose in order to feel safer, and which ones are better to ignore so as not to ruin your trip. Consider also the schemes of various buses.

Seats in long-distance buses

Transportation of people over long distances occupies a special niche in passenger transportation. It should be noted that tourist tours stand separately, in which large-capacity cars are often used. The location of the seat on the bus, the layout of which can change with different capacity of cars, can largely determine the comfort and safety of the trip. As a rule, the seat is reserved for the passenger until the end of the trip, so you need to be very responsible in his choice.

Seats on buses - location

In the fleets of travel companies and enterprises involved in the transportation of people over long distances, there is a wide variety of car models. There is no single position of a seat in a bus, the scheme of which would be common for all manufacturers. Manufacturers, as well as companies involved in transportation, can equip machines at their discretion, if they do not violate the safety requirements regulated by regulatory documents. Even single-brand buses produced in the same year may differ both in interior design and in the number of seats. To the question: "What is the location of the seat on the bus, how does the layout look like inside?" the answer is only approximate.

Before buying a ticket, you should check with the carrier for the seat layout.

In addition to convenience, you should consider safety, which determines the choice of the right place.

Safe places

News feeds often report road accidents involving passenger transport. Therefore, a careful selection of the location of the seat on the bus, the selection scheme of which is discussed below in the text, will directly affect the safety of your life.

For a safer trip, you need to consider the following points:

• one of the safest places is the one behind the driver's seat;
• you should choose seats located in the center of the cabin;
• it is better to choose the seats installed on the right side.

The following places can spoil your trip:

1. The last seats, because there is usually a lot of burning in this part, and after a certain period of time there is a risk of getting poisoned by the exhaust gases. Riding in the rear leads to more severe motion sickness, and with emergency braking, there is a chance of flying into the aisle.
2. Seats located next to the door or driver.
3. Non-folding seats, as a rule, are located at the end, as well as in front of the exit in the middle of the cabin.

Placement examples

The photo below shows the location of the seat on the bus. The 47-seat layout is typical.

This scheme is typical for the following brands: Higer KLQ 6119 TQ, YUTONG 6129.

The next photo also shows the location of the seat on the bus (diagram). 49 seats is a fairly common option.

The scheme is typical for the following brands: Higer KLQ6129Q, Bus Neoplan 1116, Setra 315.

Unfortunately, there is no single standard for numbering seats on buses. According to the results of a survey of carriers in Novosibirsk, it turned out that 6 different ways of numbering seats in the cabin are used. Even one carrier may have buses with different numbering systems. Below are examples of numbering that we found on the Internet and combined into a single drawing.

The problem is compounded by the fact that different brands and bus models have different seat layouts and in most cases it is impossible to predict in advance which bus will go on the trip. According to the agreement with the bus station, the carrier is obliged to put on the trip a bus of a certain capacity and type (for example, 42 soft seats). But the model of the bus becomes known only shortly before departure. Thus, even having the correct seat layouts on hand, it is impossible to indicate the required one, since the brand and model of the bus are not known in advance.

Having thoroughly analyzed the task, we came to the conclusion that we are not able to implement it with a satisfactory result. We know that some competing sites provide seat maps. We also know that this led to scandals, since the information provided in fact turned out to be unreliable.

So, you are probably wondering - what are these buses on which you will make your wonderful trips to different cities and countries?
These are machines specially designed for tourism, which are produced by a wide variety of companies. Some of you, of course, know, for example, Mercedes, Neoplan, but most of the companies that produce tourist buses (Van-Hool, Setra) are usually little known among people not associated with the tourist business, but at the same time - these companies are "monsters "in their field.

Moving away from stereotypes and big names, let's find out what kind of buses are there for tourist trips? First of all, they can be divided into one-story, one-and-a-half and two-story. In decent companies that take care of their customers, only one-and-a-half and double-decker buses, which are considered the most convenient for tourist purposes.

Differences between one and a half and double decker buses

The difference between these buses is that in a one and a half bus, the floor with passengers is raised relative to the level of the drivers and is the only passenger floor, while the double-decker bus has a first floor where passengers can also sit. Now let's move on to the interior of the bus. It is fairly standard, although it may differ in some minor details. The seats are always positioned the same, as shown in the photo, only the distance between them differs.

Interior of a modern bus

It depends on the class of the bus - the more stars, the greater the distance between the seats and the fewer seats it has. But in any case, there is enough space, in addition, you can always recline the back, or move the seats apart. As for the number of seats in the bus, depending on the manufacturer, the number of seats varies slightly, but on average for a one-and-a-half bus it is 42 places, and for a two-story - 62 places. Also, buses have seats with a table, depending on the type of bus, there may be a different number of them.

In addition to the external data and the number of seats, the buses differ in configuration, i.e. the presence of speaker system(music), video systems (set: color monitors suspended from the ceiling, usually 2, 3 or 4, and a VCR), air conditioner, bio-toilet (although the toilet is always present).

This is how TVs in the showroom look now.

And finally, it is worth adding that the undoubted advantages of tourist buses include luggage compartment, which can accommodate a very large amount of a wide variety of luggage.

So, this is the main thing that can be said about those buses that travel companies offer.

Sightseeing tourism seems to be specially designed for bus tours. Today this type of travel is gaining more and more popularity. Comfortable buses long-distance travel allows you to enjoy the pleasure of learning new things while traveling. Such transport is significantly different from city buses.

Long-distance buses are equipped with special soft seats, with reclining backrest and armrests. They have a cavity for the carriage of passengers' cargo, including shelves above the seats and a large space under the bus floor. The cabin itself may contain not only a chemical toilet, but also a dispenser with cold and hot water, a mini-fridge, a TV screen and other devices in order to make the trip comfortable.

When choosing a bus for a long sightseeing tour, you must take into account all these features and ask in advance how comfortable you will be on the road. One more important point- safe location in the ADS cabin. When buying a ticket, the seats belong to the passengers in the same way as on the train, so it will not be possible to change them in the future. The seat layout differs from one bus to another.

Location of seats on buses

Long-distance buses are a popular form of transport, so many different modifications of such vehicles are produced. In addition, the carrier has the right to independently equip the ADS salon at its own discretion. Therefore, even buses produced at the same plant at the same time may differ in both the number of seats and their location.

In particular, a special tourist bus MAN in the standard model is designed to accommodate 59 seats, and the numbering starts from the first seat and from the right row. However, the modification of MAN Lion's Coach R 08 has only 49 seats, while number one has a seat in the second row on the right. The first seats from the door are not numbered, so the latter are numbered 47 and 49.

Seat locations on the MAN Lions Coach R 08 Seat locations on the MAN bus

Such differences can be found on all brands of buses. For example, a small Mercedes 22360C is designed for 20 seats, and the numbering order is confused. The first seats 1 and 2 are located behind the driver, and the seats next to him are numbered 19 and 20. Further rows are numbered from right to left. Another bus from the same manufacturer, Mercedes-Benz 0303, is numbered from left to right and accommodates 45 seated passengers.

Seat locations in Seat locations in the Mercedes-Benz 0303 bus

bus Mersedes-22360C

The carrier can also change the location of the seats and the equipment of the bus, for example, remove several seats, add a dry closet, free up space for an office space. Depending on such innovations, the number and sometimes the location of the passenger seats will change. Therefore, when buying a ticket, you must carefully study the real scheme of the bus, asking for it from the carrier.

Where is the safest place to sit on a long distance bus

Driving safety is not the same for passengers occupying different seats on the bus. The same happens in passenger cars where the safest place is considered to be behind the driver's back, and the most at risk - next to him. When buying tickets for ADS, you should look for a ticket for a seat located in the most protected area of ​​the bus.

Here are some guidelines for bus safety:

• The safest place is right behind the driver's seat. It is believed that when a danger arises, the driver will subconsciously try to protect himself, respectively, the opposite side gets hit the fastest.
• The most comfortable and quietest seats with a good level of security are located in the center of the cabin. This zone remains the most intact both in a forehead impact and in a rear-end collision. Even in the event of a side collision, the impact can hit the rear end, bypassing the middle.
• Seats on the right side of the aisle rather than the window are considered safer than on the left.

It is also useful to inquire about the safety of the passenger seats themselves. The safety rules in the cabin of the aircraft also apply to the bus: do not walk around the cabin while driving, especially during maneuvers, when shaking or in a dangerous situation, bend forward and hide your head on your knees.

Where better not to get on the bus

This information has not been confirmed by special scientific studies, but there are several types of seats where passengers do not like to sit very much:

• The last row of seats is notorious. This prejudice is quite logical, since here it smells more strongly of fumes and exhaust gases. The tail of the cabin shifts more from side to side when driving and turning, here it is more seasick. If you brake hard, you can fall into the passage.
• The first row from the entrance and immediately behind the driver is also not popular. In a frontal impact, this part of the passenger compartment suffers the most.

When choosing a ticket, it is worth asking if the seats recline. There may be places in the cabin where the back does not move. A conscientious carrier will not sell them, but you should not hope for this, it is better to check in advance and ask the travel agent well. Most often, such chairs are installed on an unloved last row or next to the door in the middle of the bus. The place near the entrance has a number of features. In particular, it is coldest there in winter, but it is easy to get off first at any stop.

Important

When buying tickets, the specifics of accommodation in the salon are not indicated. You can also find out all the details about a specific bus from a travel agent, and for a conversation it is better to personally come to the office of the company. There they will be able to show you the exact layouts of buses, plans for the location of seats, tell you about what they would prefer to remain silent about when placing an order via the Internet.