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Hilding Carlsson diesel in Sweden

Calabro Lucane Raylway (FCL) railbus Emmina M1c.82 in Italy

Modern-day railbus, built originally by Ferrostaal, entirely rebuilt and redesigned in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia

"Railbus" may also refer to Rail replacement bus service.

A railbus is a lightweight passenger rail vehicle that shares many aspects of its construction with a bus, typically having a bus (original or modified) body and four wheels on a fixed base, instead of on bogies. Originally designed and developed during the 1930s, railbuses have evolved into larger dimensions, with characteristics similar in appearance to a light railcar, with the terms railcar and railbus often used interchangeably. Railbuses designed for use specifically on little-used railway lines were commonly employed in countries such as Germany, Italy, France, the United Kingdom and Sweden.^[1]

Today, railbuses are being replaced by modern light DMU railcar designs.

Usage by country

Argentina

Locally manufactured TecnoTren railbuses are in use around Argentina, most notably on the University train of La Plata. They are mostly used in rural parts of the country where the tracks have not yet been repaired and so can't handle the weight of regular trains.^[2]

Australia

In 1937, the NSW Department of Railways added six four-wheel streamlined rail buses to serve on small branch lines in Cowra and Harden that did not have enough passengers to justify a rail motor.^[3] Powered by a Ford V8 engine, they were given the designation FP1 to FP6. When the railbus service wasn't popular, several of the buses became mobile pay cars used to pay railway employees at stations and working on tracks.

In December 1941, one of these railbuses (FP 5) was destroyed when dynamite was placed on railway tracks near Yanderra. The three-man crew of the railbus were killed in the explosion. Though £2000 of loose cash was taken, the safe in the railcar could not be opened by the robbers. No one was prosecuted for the offence.^[4]

The first railbus, FP1, has been restored where it is on display at New South Wales Rail Transport Museum in Thirlmere, New South Wales.

In Queensland, Australia, "RailBus service" refers to the (road) bus service running parallel to portions of some railway lines, substituting for commuter train.

Czech Republic and Slovakia

In the Czech Republic and Slovakia, railbuses are used on less frequented rural lines. Most railbuses are based on a former ČSD M 152.0 diesel multiple unit, also known as ČD/ŽSR Class 810.

Germany

Two-engined Uerdingen railbus of Deutsche Bundesbahn

VT 2.09 of Deutsche Reichsbahn

In Germany, the Schienenbus was developed in the 1930s to fulfill the need for an inexpensive rail vehicle. It was built to standard specifications on Germany’s Reichsbahn (the predecessor to DB) to meet the demand for cost-effective services on light railways or Kleinbahnen (the Wismar railbus was a pioneer in those days.) After the Second World War, the eventually ubiquitous Uerdingen railbuses were developed by Deutsche Bundesbahn in single-engined and double-engined versions. The latter were powerful enough to haul through coaches and freight cars. Matching trailers and driving trailers were developed as well. These railbuses were a predecessor of the modern diesel multiple units. In the late 1950s, Deutsche Reichsbahn in the GDR developed the single-engined class VT 2.09 with matching trailers and driving trailers, built by Waggonbau Bautzen.

A number of serious accidents in Germany in the late 1970s involving railbuses resulted in the specification and development of larger, more robustly designed diesel railcars. Although these cars were more similar in size to the U.S. produced diesel railcars, they would not have complied with current FRA requirements, and, like their North American cousin rail diesel cars, are largely railroad-derivative designs. The DB Class 628 exemplifies the contemporary German diesel railcar. This type of car replaced the Schienenbus and locomotive-hauled train consists where possible on branch-line and main-line assignments during the 1980s and 1990s. Both the Uerdingen Schienenbus and the Bautzen railbuses have virtually disappeared from regular revenue service, but its diesel rail car successors are still widely used. DMUs of a third generation in succession after the Schienenbus are now being ordered by the hundreds in a variety of modular design combinations.^[5]

India

Indian Railways operates many railbuses on its branch lines. They are mostly electric. These railbuses are being replaced by EMUs due to increase in passengers.

Indonesia

On August 5, 2012, the first Batara Kresna Railbus service in Indonesia is launched to accommodate a part of commuter Prameks Train passengers from Solo to Yogyakarta City v.v through Sukoharjo.^[6]

In 2014, PT Kereta Api launched railbus between Kertapati Palembang to Indralaya Ogan Ilir v.v. to ease road traffic.^[7]

In 2016, Mak Buih Railbus operated by PT Kereta Api in Padang ready to serve route from Padang to Minangkabau International Airport.^[8]

Ireland

A Great Northern Railway railbus at the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum, 2014

The Great Northern Railway of Ireland produced railbuses at the Railway Works in Dundalk.^[9]

Japan

Nanbu Jukan Railbus Kiha102Th

The president of JNR visited West Germany in 1953 and was introduced to railbusses there. JNR subsequently drew up a plan for railbus introduction plan in JNR, and a prototype was built in 1955. However, JNR found railbuses less reliable in daily operation as compared to standard rail equipment and discontinued their use in the 1960s.
One railbus produced by Fuji Heavy Industries was operational on a minor line until the company withdrew the line from service.

Motorization soared in Japan from the 1970s on, reducing consuming passenger numbers on local private railway. Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. in 1982 began development of an "LE-Car that incorporates significantly the structure of the bus, deficit local lines of JNR has been adopted by many of the railway company that local governments and private companies are operated by joint investment.

Sri Lanka

In areas without significant demand for regular commuter trains, such as in the Eastern province, railbus connects towns and cities. These buses were built by converting two buses originally built for road transport.

United Kingdom

Preserved (British Rail) railbus built by Waggon und Maschinenbau

British Rail produced a variety of railbuses as a means both of building new rolling stock cheaply, and to provide services on lightly used lines economically.

A variety of railbus known as Pacers, which were constructed in the 1980s, are still in common use today, although they are being gradually replaced.

See also

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Railbuses.

• Project «El Expreso Panamericano»