21-676: The Mercedes-Benz Travego (also known as O580) is an integral coach produced since 1999 by Daimler / EvoBus in Neu-Ulm and Mannheim in Germany and since 2005 at Mercedes-Benz bus plant in Hoşdere, Istanbul , Turkey . It succeeded the O404 and was originally introduced as the flagship of Mercedes-Benz touring coach range. In year 1999, the O580 Travego 1st generation with all new exterior design succeeded
42-419: A body to be added. A few coaches are built with monocoque bodies without a chassis frame. Integrated manufacturers (most of whom also supply chassis) include Autosan , Scania , Fuso , and Alexander Dennis . Major coachwork providers (some of whom can build their own chassis) include Van Hool , Neoplan , Marcopolo , Irizar , MCI , Prevost , Volvo and Designline . In some European countries following
63-526: A four-in-hand stagecoach service to connect Bournemouth to the railway at Holmsley . That service became redundant when the railway was extended to Bournemouth in 1888, but by then Elliott had started running Royal Blue excursions by charabanc and coach around Bournemouth and the New Forest . When Thomas died in 1911, the business was taken over by his sons John and William. In 1913, Royal Blue purchased its first motor charabanc, and motors rapidly replaced
84-550: A specific category/type of RVs . Deriving the name from horse-drawn carriages and stagecoaches that carried passengers, luggage, and mail, modern motor coaches are almost always high-floor buses, with separate luggage hold mounted below the passenger compartment. In contrast to transit buses, motor coaches typically feature forward-facing seating, with no provision for standing. Other accommodations may include onboard restrooms, televisions, and overhead luggage space. Horse-drawn chariots and carriages ("coaches") were used by
105-476: The O404 in the segment of luxury touring coach flagship. It shares many of its components with Setra 400 TopClass Series . Three lengths were available for sale: O580-15 RHD with 2 axles in 12.2m, O580-16 RHD with 3 axles in 13m and O580-17 RHD in 14m. The 12m version was also available as O580-15 RH with lowered floor. Technical novelties include: All new driver seat with a joystick for shifting instead of traditional gearshift lever. One year after its introduction,
126-571: The Transport Act 1980 , express coach services were deregulated. In January 1983, Western National was divided into four companies and these were privatised between 1986 and 1988. In 1986, to strengthen the national brand, National Express dropped all regional names, and so the Royal Blue name came to an end after 106 years. In 1988, National Express was sold to its management, and in December 1992 it
147-566: The 1958 type certification treaty, coach (that is vehicle of type M2 or M3) type certification is regulated by regulation number 107 from the UNECE. In the U.S., commercial drivers of motorcoaches are regulated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). A representative selection of vehicles currently (or recently) in use in different parts of the world. A selection of vehicles in use in different parts of
168-573: The British Transport Commission's transport assets passing to the state-owned Transport Holding Company , which in turn passed to the state-owned National Bus Company on 1 January 1969. In 1972, the National Bus Company formed National Travel, which became National Express , to run long-distance coach services. The following year the operations of Royal Blue were franchised to National Express. Western National continued to own
189-518: The Royal Blue coaches, but was required to adopt the National Express brand white livery, somewhat inappropriate for Royal Blue. The Royal Blue name was retained. Unlike many local bus services, Royal Blue's coach services continued to make profits. The spread of the UK's motorway network in the 1970s cut journey times dramatically, and coach travel had a significant cost advantage over rail travel. Under
210-640: The Tilling Group also controlling the Bristol bus factory. World War II brought black-out night driving, fuel shortages and bomb damage to Royal Blue garages. Royal Blue was forced to cease operations from October 1942 to Easter 1946. In 1947, the Tilling Group sold its bus operations (including Western National and Southern National) to the British Transport Commission , so that Royal Blue became government owned. State control did little to hinder
231-512: The Travego received new assistance systems such as Adaptive Cruise Control (ART), Lane Assist (SPA), Continuous Brake Limiter (DBL), and Electronic Stability Program (ESP), which were available either as standard or as optional equipment. The third generation of Travego was launched in 2017. Unlike previous generations, it is available only in Turkey, where this model is produced. Elsewhere, Travego
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#1732876164586252-422: The bare essentials such as storage and restrooms. Coaches typically have only a single, narrow door, but some can have two doors, as an increased loading time is acceptable due to infrequent stops. Some characteristics include: Coaches, like buses, may be fully built by integrated manufacturers, or a separate chassis consisting of only an engine, wheels and basic frame may be delivered to a coachwork factory for
273-553: The early years of the 20th century. The first "motor coaches" were purchased by operators of those horse-drawn vehicles in the early 20th century by operators such as Royal Blue Coach Services , who purchased their first charabanc in 1913 and were running 72 coaches by 1926. As they hold passengers for significant periods of time on long journeys, coaches are designed for comfort. They can vary considerably in quality: some higher-specification coaches feature luxury seats, air conditioning , and refreshments, while others may only have
294-510: The expansion of Royal Blue services. Fuel shortages meant that in the early post-war years even those who owned cars hesitated to use them for long journeys, and few people went on holiday abroad, so there was a strong demand for long-distance coach travel. The Beeching cuts of the early 1960s generated more traffic for Royal Blue, and traffic peaked in 1965, with well over 1.5 million passenger journeys. On 1 January 1963, Royal Blue's owners, Western National and Southern National were included in
315-550: The first horse-drawn mail coaches in Europe since Roman times in 1650, and as they started in the town of Kocs, the use of these mail coaches gave rise to the term "coach". Stagecoaches (drawn by horses) were used for transport between cities from about 1500 in Great Britain until displaced by the arrival of the railways. One of the earliest motorized vehicles was the charabanc , which was used for short journeys and excursions until
336-701: The horses. In 1919, the Elliott Brothers took advantage of a railway strike to start a motor coach service from Bournemouth to London . The service was so successful that the service was increased to twice a week during 1920, and twice daily during 1921. By 1926, Royal Blue was operating 72 coaches. Until 1928, the express coach service only carried passengers to and from Bournemouth and London, not intermediate points. In 1928, Royal Blue obtained licences to pick up and set down en route, and started services from Bournemouth and London to many more cities, including Birmingham , Bristol and Plymouth . By 1930, Royal Blue
357-473: The wealthy and powerful where the roads were of a high enough standard from possibly 3000 BC. In Hungary , during the reign of King Matthias Corvinus in the 15th century, the wheelwrights of Kocs began to build a horse-drawn vehicle with steel-spring suspension. This "cart of Kocs" as the Hungarians called it ( Hungarian : kocsi szekér ) soon became popular all over Europe. The imperial post service employed
378-500: The world in the past. Royal Blue Coach Services Royal Blue Express Services was a coach operator in the south and west of England from 1880 until 1986. The Royal Blue business was founded in 1880 by Thomas Elliott in Bournemouth . The business, at first known as Royal Blue & Branksome Mews, included the hire of every kind of horse-drawn vehicle , as well as coach building, saddlery and blacksmithing. Elliott soon started
399-583: Was one of the founders of Associated Motorways , which co-ordinated coach routes of six operators. At the end of 1934, Elliot Brothers sold the Royal Blue business to Western National and Southern National, by then controlled by the Tilling Group . The new owners continued the process of acquiring competitors and expanding the route network, particularly in Devon and Cornwall . The change of control also meant that Royal Blue switched to Bristol for its new coaches,
420-855: Was operating 11 routes, an expansion prompted by the expected passage of the Road Traffic Act 1930 , which was to regulate competition for passenger road transport. The Road Traffic Act led coach operators to eliminate competition in two ways: by buying competitors and by reaching agreements with competitors to share services and pool revenues. Royal Blue did both. It acquired competitors in Plymouth (Traveller Coaches) and Portsmouth (Olympic Services), and made co-ordination agreements with Southdown and East Kent (between Margate and Bournemouth), Greyhound Motors (between London and Bristol), Western National (between London and Plymouth) and Southern National (between London and Paignton ). In 1934, Royal Blue
441-560: Was replaced by third generation of Mercedes-Benz Tourismo . [REDACTED] Media related to Mercedes-Benz Travego at Wikimedia Commons Coach (bus) A coach (also known as a coach bus , motorcoach or parlor coach ) is a type of bus built for longer-distance service, in contrast to transit buses that are typically used within a single metropolitan region. Often used for touring , intercity , and international bus service, coaches are also used for private charter for various purposes. Coaches are also related and fall under
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