Bremer Straßenbahn AG sourced 33 particularly environmentally friendly Mercedes-Benz Citaro G urban regular-service buses

• Bremen-based company’s procurement plan is characterised by ambitious environmental goals
• Distinctive vehicle design visualises company’s sustainability considerations
• Citaro boasts comprehensive safety features

29-8-2013 — /EuropaWire/ — The decision to commission 33 particularly environmentally friendly urban regular-service buses was made by Bremer Straßenbahn AG (BSAG) as early as the end of last year. Procurement of the vehicles formed part of a sustainability programme, aimed at continually optimising environmentally safe technology and working methods across all of the business units of BSAG. On 27 August 2013, delivery of the first of 33 Mercedes-Benz Citaro articulated buses was celebrated as part of a handover ceremony held in Bremen’s market square. In the presence of Jens Böhrnsen, Bremen’s Lord Mayor, and Andreas Kellermann, plant manager of the Mercedes-Benz Bremen plant, the symbolic key to the new Mercedes-Benz urban bus fleet was handed over by Hartmut Schick, the head of Daimler Buses, to Wilfried Eisenberg, Technical Director and spokesman for BSAG. According to Hartmut Schick: “We are delighted that BSAG has once again opted for the Mercedes-Benz brand. The new Citaro is one of the most modern urban regular-service buses in the world. We are certain that it will quickly become a popular mode of transport in Bremen.”

Ambassador of environmentally friendly local public transport

Commenting on the move, Wilfried Eisenberg said: “BSAG considers itself an integral part of the solution to air and climate protection problems which exist in Bremen. Our role also includes providing a sustainable and modern public local transport service.” Thanks to a target-oriented environmental protection policy and sustainability programme, over the past 10 years the company has been able to reduce fine particle and CO2 emissions significantly. For BSAG’s bus fleet, the implementation of environmental targets has meant ongoing modernisation of the fleet with environmentally friendly drive systems. All of the 33 Mercedes-Benz Citaro models are 18.1 m long, new-generation articulated buses and meet the demanding EEV (Enhanced Environmentally friendly Vehicle) emissions standard, the limits of which are even lower than those of the current legally applicable Euro V standard. This means even lower harmful emissions – by around 30 percent for particulate emissions, without any increase in fuel consumption. Of particular note here is that this result is achieved in the case of the Mercedes-Benz BlueTec engines exclusively on the basis of in-engine measures, without any additional particulate filters.

BSAG is also continuing to consistently apply these environmental considerations in visual terms too: the handover vehicle is kitted out on the outside with a theme depicting a large globe and water waves. And in the interior, the wood-look floor covering immediately catches the eye. Even in the ceiling area too, BSAG has revisited the theme of sustainability. The roof edge is decorated with a foil film which graphically captures the natural elements of water, air and fire.

Passenger safety has priority

BSAG has equipped the new fleet with a whole host of safety features. Just like almost all of the buses in the fleet, the articulated buses feature a complete interior monitoring system comprising six interior cameras and a reversing camera. The image data are recorded via the IBIS computer, enabling recordings to be assessed in the event of vandalism, assault or theft. In order to continue the bright, friendly appearance of the passenger compartment in the shaded articulated section too, the Bremen-based company has opted for translucent, and therefore transparent, expansion bellows, and has also “brightened up” this section with additional LED illumination. The lighting concept also includes extensive illumination of the entrances and exits as standard, as well as indirect illumination of the outer ceiling flaps by means of multi-dimensional ceiling light lenses. In the front and rear sections of the bus, two 19 inch TFT monitors keep the passengers informed about the current stage of the route and the next stop. Information on the stage of the route captured via GPS is relayed by the IBIS on-board computer to the passenger information panels at the bus stops. Waiting passengers are therefore kept informed about precise arrival and departure times in real-time. In addition to controlling the passenger information system, the IBIS is also responsible for influencing the light signalling systems. Easy access via door 1 is guaranteed thanks to the lift system. Here the entire front entrance area can be lowered to road height. On the inside, a 2.3 m wide wheelchair space is provided in front of door 2. It features a leaning area and folding armrests.

Three large hinged sliding doors ensure convenient entry and exit and also guarantee a rapid flow of passengers. As a result, the door areas boast additional interior space, which in turn helps to create more individual space and make journeys more pleasant when the vehicle is carrying a full passenger load. A fire detection and extinguishing system in the engine compartment rounds off the comprehensive package of safety features.

Bremer Straßenbahn AG
An independent expert confirmed as early as 2002 that BSAG has succeeded in continually reducing its environmental impact: since that time fine particle emissions have fallen by 2/3 and water consumption by 1/4, and in 2007 each passenger accounted for an average CO2 output of just 88.3 g/km. As part of its company sustainability report, each year BSAG undergoes a test procedure conducted by an independent expert who examines all of the business units with regard to sustainability and sets new annual goals to continually optimise and promote environmentally friendly technology and working methods.
With some 343 vehicles, trams and buses and almost 2000 employees, Bremer Straßenbahn AG provides a host of local public transport services in Bremen. Around 280,000 people use these services in and around Bremen on a daily basis.

Media Contact

Nada Filipovic
Product Communications Mercedes-Benz Buses & Coaches
e-mail
Phone: +49 (0)711 17 51091
Fax: +49 (0)711 17 91520

RaimundGrammer
Product Communications Trucks / Unimog / Buses & Coaches
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Phone: +49 (0)711 17 53058
Fax: +49 (0)711 17 91595

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F.l.t.r.: Hajo Müller, Board Member BSAG, Tammo Voigt, Head of Public Transport Fleet Sales at Mercedes-Benz Buses & Coaches, Jens Böhrnsen, Bremen’s Lord Mayor, Wilfried Eisenberg, Board Member BSAG and Hartmut Schick, Head of Daimler Buses