A multi-axle bus is a bus or coach that has more than the conventional two axles (known as a twin-axle bus), usually three (known as a tri-axle bus), or more rarely, four (known as a quad-axle bus). Extra axles are usually added for legal weight restriction reasons, or to accommodate different vehicle designs such as articulation, or rarely, to implement trailer buses.
An early example of a multi-axle bus was a one-off three-axle Crossley Condor, shown here, built for the 1932 Scottish Bus Show.[1]
Reasons for multiple axles
The Bedford VAL twin steer coach, whose extra axle allowed for smaller lighter wheels and a lower floor height
Usually vehicle licensing authorities of different countries will set legal limits on the amount of weight that can be put on each axle. In the UK, a recent[when?] extension to the legal limit on the length of rigid buses and coaches has led to the increased use of three axles to accommodate the heavier chassis and passenger load. Certain countries apply exceptions to vehicle rules for specific operations.
Extra axles may also be provided on shorter buses and coaches to accommodate extra equipment loads, such as passenger lifts, or comforts such as toilets, televisions, climate controls. In addition, in some cases the need is bus cargo transport, when large cargo compartments and heavy weight of cargo needs extra axles.
Adding axles to chassis designs is done for specific reasons such as weight or legalities, as having extra axles means extra costs for the operator in terms of tyre replacement, and to an extent, higher fuel consumption.
Rear axle steering
In some buses the rearmost axle is connected to the steering, with the rear most set steering in the opposite direction to the front axle. This steering arrangement makes it possible for the longer triple axle buses to negotiate corners with greater ease than would otherwise be the case.
Tri-axle double-decker buses are common in high capacity operating environments where articulated buses are not used, such as Hong Kong and Singapore. Tri-axle buses also see high volume use in Dublin, Ireland. Imported tri-axle buses were used initially by Megabus for high capacity low cost intercity travel in the UK.
Tri-axle double decker coaches have been used to accommodate the extra weight. Models are also being introduced on high capacity inter-city routes, such as by the operator Megabus.
A twin steer coach is a rare type of tri-axled coach; where the double axles are in the front and steer, as in the Bedford VAL or Bustech CDi.
Quad-axle arrangement is sometimes employed on articulated buses to accommodate the extra weight of coach bodies, such as in this quad axle articulated coach Volvo Articulated Coach[permanent dead link], and the quad axle double deck articulated coach, the Neoplan Jumbocruiser. Quad-axle arrangement is also the exclusive arrangement for three part bi-articulated buses.
multi, axle, main, article, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor,. Main article Bus This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Multi axle bus news newspapers books scholar JSTOR November 2009 Learn how and when to remove this template message A multi axle bus is a bus or coach that has more than the conventional two axles known as a twin axle bus usually three known as a tri axle bus or more rarely four known as a quad axle bus Extra axles are usually added for legal weight restriction reasons or to accommodate different vehicle designs such as articulation or rarely to implement trailer buses A tri axle coach the Neoplan Skyliner Contents 1 History 2 Reasons for multiple axles 2 1 Rear axle steering 3 Rigid chassis 4 Articulated chassis 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksHistory EditAn early example of a multi axle bus was a one off three axle Crossley Condor shown here built for the 1932 Scottish Bus Show 1 Reasons for multiple axles Edit The Bedford VAL twin steer coach whose extra axle allowed for smaller lighter wheels and a lower floor height Usually vehicle licensing authorities of different countries will set legal limits on the amount of weight that can be put on each axle In the UK a recent when extension to the legal limit on the length of rigid buses and coaches has led to the increased use of three axles to accommodate the heavier chassis and passenger load Certain countries apply exceptions to vehicle rules for specific operations Extra axles may also be provided on shorter buses and coaches to accommodate extra equipment loads such as passenger lifts or comforts such as toilets televisions climate controls In addition in some cases the need is bus cargo transport when large cargo compartments and heavy weight of cargo needs extra axles Adding axles to chassis designs is done for specific reasons such as weight or legalities as having extra axles means extra costs for the operator in terms of tyre replacement and to an extent higher fuel consumption Rear axle steering Edit In some buses the rearmost axle is connected to the steering with the rear most set steering in the opposite direction to the front axle This steering arrangement makes it possible for the longer triple axle buses to negotiate corners with greater ease than would otherwise be the case Rigid chassis Edit An Austral Pacific bodied Scania K113TRBL 14 5 m 47 ft 7 in Quad axle coach in Canberra ACT Tri axle double decker buses are common in high capacity operating environments where articulated buses are not used such as Hong Kong and Singapore Tri axle buses also see high volume use in Dublin Ireland Imported tri axle buses were used initially by Megabus for high capacity low cost intercity travel in the UK Tri axle double decker coaches have been used to accommodate the extra weight Models are also being introduced on high capacity inter city routes such as by the operator Megabus A twin steer coach is a rare type of tri axled coach where the double axles are in the front and steer as in the Bedford VAL or Bustech CDi The Neoplan Megaliner was the first quad axle double decker coach and is used in Japan Further examples include the Scania K380IB 8x2 Articulated chassis Edit A tri axle trailer bus East Lancs bodied Volvo B9TL tri axle double decker bus in the United Kingdom Tri axle is the standard arrangement of two part articulated buses Quad axle arrangement is sometimes employed on articulated buses to accommodate the extra weight of coach bodies such as in this quad axle articulated coach Volvo Articulated Coach permanent dead link and the quad axle double deck articulated coach the Neoplan Jumbocruiser Quad axle arrangement is also the exclusive arrangement for three part bi articulated buses A rare reason citation needed why a bus may have multiple axles is in the case of a trailer bus where the bus passenger cabin is built as a body semi trailer towed by a separate tractor unit See also Edit Buses portalBRTS Bus Coach bus List of buses Trailer busReferences Edit Crossley Buses 1918 1939 Malcolm Asquith Crossley Motors org uk Retrieved 6 December 2009 External links Edit Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Multi axle bus amp oldid 1031851807, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
