Consortium of Solaris Bus & Coach S.A. and Millenium Leasing won the tender to deliver four buses to municipal company TESKO from Zakopane. Solaris Urbino 8,9 LE will operate on two lines which will be launched in the Polish mountain resort in April this year.
Under the terms of the tender Urbino will be leased for three years with a final purchase option. The first two units are planned to be handed over to Zakopane in March 2016 and the remaining two vehicles in August. It is clear today that the buses will operate on two lines providing connections between main railway station and other parts of the city, including popular tourist spots located near Tatra National Park.
The Urbino LE with its length of 8,9 meters and width of 2,4 metres are the smallest low-entry vehicles manufactured by Solaris. The bus was designed primarily for overcoming narrow and winding suburban and regional routes, but it also performs well on city streets, especially on less busy routes. These characteristics, combined with a strong and eco-friendly Cummins ISB6.7 E6 250B (187 kW) engine make this model a perfect choice for the winter capital of Poland. The vehicles for Zakopane are to be fitted with CCTV, passenger information system as well as ticket machines. A special wheelchair space for disabled travelers will be available in each bus. Urbino 8,9 LE stands out in terms of its comfortable and ergonomic interior. Noteworthy is the easy access to the very spacious rear and the five rows of comfortable seats adapted especially to longer routes. Solaris engineers made sure that the access from the low-floor part of the bus to the rear was comfortable and easy.
The delivery of four Urbino 8,9 LE will not be manufacturer’s first encounter with the picturesque Zakopane which lies at the foot of the High Tatras. In 2013, Solaris electric bus was tested here circulating between the most popular and known places in Tatra National Park as Morskie Oko and Kuźnice. In a few months’ time passengers of regular city lines will be able to see for themselves the benefits of Urbino.
Opening of the two lines marks the beginning of the development of the city transport network on a larger scale. Zakopane is planning to launch further fifteen lines, starting from January 2017. New routes are to be operated by the companies which will obtain a licence to transport passengers in the mode of an open tender.
Information Solaris
Solaris Bus & Coach sp. z o.o. is one of the leading producers of city and intercity buses in Europe. It focuses in particular on the development of zero-emission vehicles, i. e. electric and hydrogen buses as well as trolleybuses. This has resulted in the widest zero-emission product range in the European market and a leading position in this segment with a market share of 15.2%. Nearly 25,000 Solaris vehicles have been delivered so far and they ply the streets in 850 towns and cities across 33 countries located throughout Europe as well as beyond it. Solaris is part of the Spanish CAF Group (Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles) S.A. From conception, to the design and manufacturing phases, all Solaris buses are produced in Poland. Moreover, all activities undertaken by the manufacturer are in line with the brand’s mission, which is reflected in the motto “We are changing the image of public transport”. Solaris also actively partners with public transport operators and provides them with comprehensive support in their transition to zero-emission mobility.
Additional information
Mateusz Figaszewski
E-mobility Development & Market Intelligence Director
mateusz.figaszewski@solarisbus.com
