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Delivery of 2500th Setra Double-Decker Coach


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Gerardo Marino (left), owner of "Autolinee Marino", and his wife Loredana Caggiano, take delivery of the 2500th Setra S 431 DT double-decker coach from Jochen Duppui, Head of the Neu-Ulm EvoBus bus and coach plant.

  • Italian coach operator "Autolinee Marino" takes delivery of S 431 DT
  • Milestone vehicle is also 250th double-decker coach with Euro VI engine
  • Vehicle to be used on weekly basis for international regular-service routes

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STUTTGART/ALTAMURA -- June 9, 2015: Italian coach operator "Autolinee Marino" has taken delivery of the 2500th Setra double-decker coach to be manufactured in Neu-Ulm. The S 431 DT is also the 250th vehicle of its type to feature a Euro VI engine. The milestone coach, fitted with 80 "Setra Voyage Plus" seats and two club tables, is part of an order for a total of five S 431 DT models. With the addition of the three-axle vehicle, the Italian operator's fleet has expanded to include a total of 54 Setra double-deckers. The vehicles are predominantly used for regular service routes between Italy, Luxembourg, Belgium, Switzerland and Germany. Based in Altamura in the province of Bari, the company employs 250 people and has been operating with Setra coaches, including a large number of double-decker models, since 1982. In total the company owns 110 of the Ulm brand's vehicles.
Owner and CEO Gerardo Marino sees plenty of reasons for the German-Italian partnership to continue for many years to come: "With their smooth handling, these coaches offer both passengers and drivers a high degree of comfort. And they're beautiful to look at".
S 431 DT with eco-friendly Euro VI engine since 2013
The S 431 DT, first introduced in 2002, was the flagship of the Setra TopClass 400. This premium model series was superseded in 2014 by the TopClass 500. The 13.89 m-long double-decker coaches, available since 2013 with the Euro VI drive system and the 375 kW (510 hp) OM 471 engine, remain an integral part of the current product range. The Setra TopClass 400 coaches boast over 40 new features not offered by their Euro V predecessors. These include a revised cockpit with a new multifunction steering wheel, two sets of steps as standard and a luggage compartment door that is 23 cm wider.
Thanks to its Setra S 431 DT double-decker coach, Daimler is also a compelling choice when it comes to long-distance regular-service transport. With a market share of some 50 percent, Daimler is the leading player in the German long-distance coach market. Demand has led to rapid growth in the double-decker segment in particular. Here the Setra S 431 DT is the dominant force on the road with a share of over 80 percent.