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Showing posts from March, 2020

Esperança

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Nestas duas últimas semanas, alguns leitores mais jovens têm-me perguntado se é aconselhável continuar a tirar fotos de veículos de transporte durante a pandemia do COVID-19. A minha resposta é – e isto é estritamente uma opinião pessoal – não . Não vão aos terminais de transporte, a menos que precisem. Por razões fora do nosso controlo, estes lugares não são seguros – e estes não são tempos felizes. Os profissionais de media já estão em campo a tirar todas as fotos necessárias para lembrar esta triste ocasião. A vossa presença é um risco desnecessário. Especialmente para os leitores mais jovens, se não têm nada para fazer, fiquem em casa. Aproveitem a oportunidade para verificar e organizar as vossas fotos e anotações ou colecções. Permaneçam em contacto com aqueles que amam e estimam. Leiam um livro. Se for da vossa natureza, tentem ajudar alguns vizinhos mais velhos verificando as suas condições, fazendo-lhes recados se necessário e possível. Ou ofereçam algumas palavras de

Hope

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In the past two weeks, some younger readers have asked me whether it is advisable to continue taking pictures of transportation vehicles during the COVID-19 pandemic. My answer is – and this is strictly a personal opinion – no . Don’t go to transportation terminals unless you need to. For reasons beyond our control, these are not safe places – and these are not happy times. Media professionals are already in the field taking all the pictures we need to remember this sad occasion. Your presence is an unnecessary risk. Especially for younger readers, if you have nothing to do, stay at home. Take the opportunity to check and organize your photos and notes or collections. Stay in touch with those you love and cherish. Read a book. If it is in your nature, try to help some older neighbors by checking their condition, doing some errands if necessary and possible. Or offer a few words of comfort on the phone – many are understandably agitated by this situation. Let's wait for th

Rodoviária do Oeste 4256 – Setra S 315 GT

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Coach operated by Rodoviária do Oeste seen near the Terminal do Campo Grande, Lisboa, in August 2016. This coach with fleet number 4256 is a Setra S 315 GT first registered in 2003. It has an overall length of 39.4 ft, features integral construction, and uses the Mercedes-Benz OM 457 hLA engine. Rodoviária do Oeste is set up in 2015 to operate a number of services previously offered by Rodoviária do Tejo and Empresa de Transportes Auto Penafiel. Based in Caldas da Rainha , Rodoviária do Oeste operates regular services, regular specialized services, and occasional services. Here, we see this Setra S 315 GT laying over in the Peniche–Lisboa regular service, branded as Rápida Azul . As a note of interest, the Setra S 315 GT designation denotes a coach of the ComfortClass lineup which can be used for interurban or regional services, as well as tourist services ( GT , G rand T ourisme ), from the 300-series ( 3 ), accepting a maximum of fifteen rows of seats ( S itzreihen 15 ). Launch

Rodoviária do Alentejo 8356 – Setra S 215 UL

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Coach operated by Rodoviária do Alentejo seen in front of the Estremoz train station in July 2011. This coach with fleet number 8356 is a Setra S 215 UL first registered in 1991. It has an overall length of 39.4 ft, features integral construction, and uses a Mercedes-Benz engine. Established in 1928 and based in Évora , Rodoviária do Alentejo operates regular services, regular specialized services, and occasional services. Here, we see this Setra S 215 UL laying over in a regular service. The station cat seems more interested in the MAN ÜL 292 with fleet number 8347 parked a few yards away. Produced between 1983 and 1994, the Setra S 215 UL is a bus with a horizontal engine mounted longitudinally at the rear end. It uses Mercedes-Benz or MAN engines, with manual or automatic gearboxes. The Setra S 215 UL is succeeded in 1995 by the Setra S 315 UL. As a note of interest, the Setra S 215 UL designation denotes an interurban or regional bus ( UL , Überlandlinienbus ) from the 200-se

St.º António–Barraqueiro 187 – MAN SL 202

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Bus operated by St.º António–Barraqueir o seen at Terminal do Campo Grande, Lisboa, in August 2016. This bus with fleet number 187 is a MAN SL 202 first registered in 1990. It has an overall length of around 39.4 ft. Based in Frielas , St.º António–Barraqueiro, or Joaquim Jerónimo–Santo António, operates regular services, regular specialized services, and occasional services. Joaquim Jerónimo is the name of the founder of the Joaquim Jerónimo Lda. company established in 1933 and from which derives the present operation. St.º António comes from St.º António dos Cavaleiros, the geographic area served by this operator, which is part of the Barraqueiro group. Here, we see this MAN SL 202 on regular service Torres da Bela Vista–Campo Grande (via Avenida Padre Cruz). Produced between 1983 and 1993, the MAN SL 202 is a bus with a horizontal engine mounted at the rear end. It uses MAN D2566 LUH or D2866 LUH engines, and Voith, ZF, or Renko gearboxes. The MAN SL 202 can be found built to lo

Vimeca 212 – Irmãos Mota Atomic UR 95

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Bus operated by Vimeca seen on Alameda Edgar Cardoso, Lisboa, in January 2012. This bus with fleet number 212 is an Irmãos Mota Atomic UR 95 registered in 1998 and included in a series of 38 units, 203–240, placed in service in that same year. It has an overall length of around 39.4 ft and can accommodate 45 seated passengers and 27 standees (45+27+1). Esteban Urban 90 seats. It uses the Mercedes-Benz O 405 chassis with the 184 kW (250 hp) Mercedes-Benz OM 447 hA engine. Established in 1931 and based in  Queluz de Baixo ,  Vimeca  ¹ /Lisboa Transportes , operates regular services, regular specialized services and occasional services, serving the municipalities of Oeiras, Amadora, Cascais and Sintra. Part of Vimeca, Lisboa Transportes ensures, as the name suggests, the respective connections to Lisboa. Here, we see this Irmãos Mota Atomic UR 95 laying over in a regular service. As a note of interest, after leaving the Vimeca Transportes fleet, various units, such as this one, continu

Carristur 4122 – Mercedes-Benz Citaro

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Bus operated by Carristur seen on Rua de Campolide, Lisboa, in August 2016. This bus with fleet number 4122 is a first-generation Mercedes-Benz Citaro (or Mercedes-Benz O 530  ¹ ) registered in 2000 and included in a series of 29 units, 4111–4139, placed in service by Carris in that same year. Later, some units are operated by Groundforce Portugal in apron services at Aeroporto Humberto Delgado , and by Carristur in Aerobus services. This Mercedes-Benz Citaro has an overall length of 39.4 ft, features integral construction, and uses the Mercedes-Benz OM 457 hLA engine. Owned by Carris and based in Lisboa , Carristur operates regular specialized services and occasional services with buses, coaches, and streetcars, recognizable under the brand  Yellow Bus . In partnership with Transtejo, Carristur also operates cruises on the Tejo River, under the brand Yellow Boat . Here, we see this Mercedes-Benz Citaro on regular specialized service 96, Aerobus . Produced since 1997, the Mercede

TST 122 – Wright Commander

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Bus operated by TST seen at Avenida Dr. Manuel de Arriaga, Setúbal, in May 2019. This bus with fleet number 122 is a Wright Commander first registered in 2002. It has an overall length of 38.8 ft and can accommodate 33 seated passengers and 34 standees (33+34+1). Esteban Urban 90 seats. It uses the DAF SB 200 LF chassis with the 136 kW (185 hp) Cummins ISBe 185 engine. This is an ex-Arriva Nederland vehicle, possibly from the 5928–5939 series. As a note of interest, SB 200 LF denotes a low-floor ( LF ) bus chassis ( B , bus ) with the engine mounted at the back ( S , staart or tail), of the 200-series ( 200 ). Based in Laranjeiro , TST, or Transportes Sul do Tejo , operates regular services, regular specialized services, and occasional services. Here, we see this Wright Commander right beside the Terminal Rodoviário de Setúbal on regular service 780, Setúbal–Faralhão. Produced between 2001 and 2014, the DAF SB 200 LF chassis is used on low-floor buses with the vertical engine