ISRAEL One of Israel’s largest bus operators, DAN Society for Public Transport, has introduced the first of 172 futuristically designed buses in Haifa. They are to form the backbone of the state-of-the-art Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems in Haifa and Tel Aviv.
MAN Truck & Bus is supplying three-axle low-floor articulated buses powered by 360bhp common-rail diesel engines compliant with EEV emission requirements.
The futuristic bodies are equipped with powerful airconditioning systems suitable for hot climates and are manufactured locally in Israel by the Ha´argaz company.
Michael Nagar, chairman of DAN and Shmuel Rafaeli, general manager, opted for EEV as well as separate bus lanes and a very special product design: “The new bus networks, ´Metronit´ in Haifa and ´Red Line´ in Tel Aviv, enable us to introduce highly modern transport systems into these built-up metropolitan areas in a short space of time. The design of the buses communicates we are making innovative ideas for local public transport a reality.”
The MAN chassis combine low floors throughout with a vehicle length of 18.75 metres. This construction, together with the body’s four double doors, allows especially time-saving boarding and alighting, a vital feature for efficient BRT systems.
MAN is the market leader for citybuses in Israel and has over thirty years history of co-operation with DAN. Almost every one of DAN’s fleet of 1,200 buses is built on an MAN chassis.
