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English   Citaro Euro VI: Mercedes-Benz Citaro in use on Germany's steepest bus route
09.05.2014 von admin

German version

Mercedes-Benz Citaro in use on Germany's steepest bus route
  • New Citaro faces the toughest of conditions
  • RVO regional bus route above Berchtesgaden in Bavaria


(from left to right): Mr. Andreas Datz, branch manager Berchtesgaden (RVO), Mr. Tammo Voigt, head of Public Transport Fleet Sales within the Mercedes-Benz Bus and Coach unit, Mr. Nicolaj Eberlein, division manager transportation/marketing (RVO).

At just 6.5 kilometres long, this bus route is nevertheless demanding. Up to 3700 passengers per day travel Germany's steepest bus route on the 1834-metre high Kehlstein Mountain where the Eagle's Nest is located. In the Berchtesgaden Alps, gradients of up to 24 percent test both driver and vehicle. During the second week of May, the regional bus company Regionalverkehr Oberbayern GmbH (RVO) added three new Mercedes-Benz Citaro Euro VI models to its fleet of intercity regular-service buses on the Kehlstein route. To mark the commissioning of the vehicles Tammo Voigt, Head of Public Transport Fleet Sales within the Mercedes-Benz Bus and Coach unit, symbolically handed over the key to Mr. Nicolaj Eberlein, division manager transportation/marketing (RVO).

A few statistics indicate the challenges awaiting the new Citaro buses: The high mountain road is on average just 3.5 m wide and has an elevation change of 770 m from its lowest to highest points. Vehicles go through five tunnels (total length 273 m). The route is seasonal with operation typically commencing in mid to late May and ceasing in late October. Extreme weather conditions need to be anticipated at all times, as well as bad roads. At peak times, up to 14 buses are in simultaneous use. There is only one passing place on the entire route: whilst vehicles travelling down towards the valley stop and wait for those going uphill to pass, passengers are able to enjoy a view of the Königsee.

RVO specially configured their new vehicles to complete the uphill stretches briskly and the downhill sections as safely as possible. Complying with the Euro VI standard, the Mercedes-Benz OM 936 engine delivers a torquey output of 260 kW (354 hp). Maximum torque of 1400 Nm is reached as early as 1200 rpm and the four-speed automatic transmission is precisely tailored to the Kehlstein route. The overall gear ratio of 6.21 means that the lower gears take into account the route's specific topographical features and retarder performance is significantly boosted on descents.


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