Classification of Bus: It's Not as Difficult as You Think

 Classification of Buses

Passenger carrying buses are classifies based on:

1. Distance traveled by the vehicle

i. Mini bus

ii. Town bus

iii. Suburban bus

iv. Touring Coaches / Luxury Coach

2. Based on the capacity of the vehicle

i. Micro bus

ii. Small Coaches for long distance

iii. Small buses for Towns

iv. Medium coaches for long distance

v. Medium buses for towns

vi. Large coaches for long distance

vii. Very large buses for towns

3. Based on Shape and Style of the vehicle

i. Classic type

ii. Single Decker

iii. Double Decker

iv. Split-Level bus

v. Two-Level single Decker

vi. Articulated bus

Mini bus

It should have a seating capacity up to 25 and it built on light duty truck chassis. It has front mounted engine and rear axle drive. It has soft and comfort suspension. It has reasonably comfortable seat. It has fairly small entry platforms.

Town bus

These buses are used for a short distance of about 20 to 30 kms. They provided with large number of standing places, wide doors with large entry and exit platform and hard seats covered with durable plastic materials. Due to short intervals between stops in local traffic, such buses are provided with wide entrance and exit doors with low steps entry and exit platform.

Suburban bus

These buses are used for a distance of about 40 to 50 kms. They usually have reasonably comfortable seats. Seating capacity of 38 persons with roof rack for hand luggage.

Touring Coaches / Luxury Coach

For longer distance touring coaches, very comfortable reclining seats are used. Toilets, Air conditioners, LED TV's, DVD etc are provided. Additional windows in the roof are used to improve visibility for the passengers. Thermal and acoustic insulation is usually elaborate and spacious luggage compartments are provided under the floor and on the roof.

Based on the capacity of the vehicle

S.No.        Name of the Coaches                                No. of Occupants

1.               Microbus                                                    8 to 15

2.               Small Coaches for long distance                16 to 30

3.               Small buses for towns                                up to 40

4.               Medium coaches for long distance            31 to 45

5.               Medium buses for towns                            41 to 60

6.               Large coaches for long distance                 46 to 60

7.               Very large buses for towns                         Over 80

Based on Shape and Style of the vehicle

Classic type

The classic or normal control bus has the engine in front of the passenger carrying compartment. This design, which was almost universal at one time has practically disappeared and is mainly of historical interest. Low ratio of useful length to overall length. It also has a high tare weight and poor aerodynamic shape. Now a days it is mainly use for school buses.

Single Decker

The full length bodywork, i.e. single deck bus or coach is almost universal today as this layout eliminates all the disadvantages of classic type. In this buses 'tahe' engine is mounted either inside or below the drivers cab, enabling additional length available for more seats and better angle of vision. It has a seating capacity of 52.

Double Decker

These buses have a greater number of seats for a given overall length than a single decker. Stability is not so high as for the single decker. Stability is not so high as for the single decker.  Double decker has a capacity of 65 to 75. It may have upper deck open for tourists. Engine is mounted on rear giving better visibility for passenger and driver.

Two level single Decker

Two level single Decker has been used for luxury coaches. This layout provides good forward visibility for all passengers, good luggage space and easy installation of an under floor or rear engine. Again this type is only made for special orders, as it is not easy to make derivations from the same body shell.

Articulated bus

Bodies for very large coaches or in particular city buses are often made in two parts because of axle load limitations. The rear portion is articulated to the main vehicle by a covered pivot allowing easy access between the two sections. A bi-articulated bus or double articulated bus is an extension of an articulated bus in that it has three passenger compartment sections instead of two.

This also involves the addition of an extra axle. Due to the extended length, bi-articulated buses tend to be used on high frequency core routes or bus rapid transit schemes rather than conventional bus routes. Mainly uses for in-city operation.