Coach (bus)

National Express Coaches Caetano Levante in the UK

A coach (also motor coach) is a type of bus used for conveying passengers. In contrast to transit buses that typically used within a single metropolitan region, coaches are used for longer-distance bus service. Often used for intercity—or even international—bus service, other coaches are also used for private charter for various purposes.

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 a 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 on-board restrooms, televisions, and overhead luggage space.

History

Background

Horse-drawn chariots and carriages ("coaches") were used by 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 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".[1] Stagecoaches (drawn by horses) were used for transport between cities from about 1500 in Great Britain until displaced by the arrival of the railways.[2]

One of the earliest motorised vehicles was the charabanc, which was used for short journeys and excursions until 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[3] by operators such as Royal Blue Coach Services, who purchased their first charabanc in 1913[4] and were running 72 coaches by 1926.[5]

Features

Interiors of coaches include many features not found in buses intended for shorter travel

Coaches, as they hold passengers for significant periods of time on long journeys, are designed for comfort. They vary considerably in quality from country to country and within countries. Higher specification vehicles include luxury seats and air conditioning. Coaches typically have only a single, narrow door, but sometimes they have two doors, as an increased loading time is acceptable due to infrequent stops. Some characteristics include:

Manufacture

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 a body to be added. A minority of 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 Buses, and Designline.

Modern coaches

A representative selection of vehicles currently ( or recently ) in use in different parts of the world.

Vintage coaches

A selection of vehicles in use in different parts of the world in the past.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Mackay, James (1988). The Guinness Book of Stamps. Guinness Publishing LTD, Enfield, UK. p. 26.
  2. ↑ Dyos, H. J. & Aldcroft, D. H. (1969) British Transport, an economic survey Penguin Books, p. 225.
  3. ↑ W C Standerwick Ltd by Peter Gould
  4. ↑ Anderson & Frankis, p. 28–29.
  5. ↑ Anderson & Frankis, p. 41.
  6. ↑ Cooperative design, visualization, and engineering: third international ... By Yuhua Luo, page 141
  • Anderson, R. C. A. and Frankis, G. (1970). History of Royal Blue Express Services. David & Charles.
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