Itaka – Solaris Vacanza 13


Coach operated by Itaka seen at Praça Marquês de Pombal, Lisboa, in July 2012. This coach is a Solaris Vacanza 13 registered in 2006. It has an overall length of 42.3 ft and uses the 315 kW (428 hp) DAF XE 315C engine. Established in 1989 by Mariusz Jańczuk and Leszek Szagdaj and based in Opole, Itaka (also Nowa Itaka) is a Polish tourist operator. On its website, the operator reveals the origin of the curious name, "The Greek island of Ithaca ¹, which inspired our name and logo, symbolizes long journeys and exciting homecomings." Here, we see this Solaris Vacanza 13 precisely on a "long journey" to Portugal.

Introduced in 2003 at the "Busworld" trade fair in Kortrijk, Belgium, and available to operators since 2004, the distinctive Solaris Vacanza 13, with three axles, derived from the Solaris Vacanza 12, with two axles, has a length of 42.3 ft and can accommodate up to 53 passengers (53+1+1). The self-supporting structure always receives the DAF XE 315C engine combined with the ZF 8S180 transmission. Created by the IFS Designatelier in Berlin, the vehicle's wedge-shaped design is bold, appealing and possibly functional, but not exactly harmonious, and incorporates peculiar details such as the asymmetrical windshield or trapezoidal windows. Despite its good attributes, the Solaris Vacanza 13 conquers few operators outside the Polish market. Production ceases in 2010. ●

Autocarro operado pela Itaka visto na Praça Marquês de Pombal, Lisboa, em Julho de 2012. Este autocarro é um Solaris Vacanza 13 registado em 2006 e utiliza o motor DAF XE 315C de 315 kW (428 hp). Estabelecida em 1989 por Mariusz Jańczuk and Leszek Szagdaj e baseada em Opole, a Itaka (também Nowa Itaka) é um operador turístico polaco. No seu website o operador revela a origem do curioso nome, "A ilha grega de Ithaca ¹, que inspirou nosso nome e logótipo, simboliza longas viagens e emocionantes regressos a casa." Aqui, vemos este Solaris Vacanza 13 precisamente numa "longa viagem" a Portugal.

Apresentado em 2003 na feira comercial "Busworld" em Kortrijk, Bélgica, e disponível para os operadores desde 2004, o distintivo Solaris Vacanza 13, com três eixos, derivado do Solaris Vacanza 12, com dois eixos, possui um comprimento de 12,90 m e pode acomodar até 53 passageiros (53+1+1). A estrutura autoportante recebe sempre o motor DAF XE 315C combinado com a transmissão ZF 8S180. Criado pelo IFS Designatelier, em Berlim, o desenho do veículo em forma de cunha é arrojado, apelativo e possivelmente funcional, mas não propriamente harmonioso, e incorpora detalhes peculiares como o pára-brisas assimétrico ou as janelas trapezoidais. Apesar dos seus bons atributos, o Solaris Vacanza 13 conquista poucos operadores fora do mercado polaco. A produção cessa em 2010. ● 

¹  Home of the mythological hero Odysseus. | Lar do herói mitológico Odisseu.


Itaka

Established in 1989 and based in Opole, Itaka is a Polish tourist operator. ●

Fleet Number

Registration

Year

Built

n/a

Coach

OP 86492

2006

2006


● References 

Wikipedia | "Solaris Bus & Coach"
Wikipedia | "Solaris Vacanza"  
Wikipedia | "Opole"
Wikipedia | "Opole" pt-br

1 m → 3.281 ft 
1 kW → 1,360 hp (metric/PS)
1 kW → 1,341 hp
1 hp (metric/PS) → 0,986 hp


● How does a Solaris Vacanza 13 sounds like in operation? Check it out here, on this video retrieved from Autobusikcom.





Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Transtejo "Algés" – FBM Marine TransCat

Image
Ferry operated by Transtejo  seen on the Tejo River arriving at Terminal Fluvial do Seixal in July 2019. This ferry of the catamaran type, named "Algés" and registered LX-3168-TL, is an FBM Marine TransCat completed in 1995, yard number 1422. Aluminum hull and superstructure. It has an overall length of 147.6 ft and can accommodate 496 passengers (496+4). Fainsa Arianne seats. It uses two 960 kW (1287 hp)  Deutz MWM TBD 616 V16 main engines and two Lips water jets, and can operate in just 6.6 ft of water. Service speed is 22 knots. Its class includes four vessels – "Algés", "Castelo", "Chiado" and "Bica". "Algés" and "Castelo" are designed and built in the United Kingdom by FBM Marine   ¹ . "Chiado" and "Bica" are built under license in Portugal by Estaleiros Navais do Mondego  ² . Similar in appearance, vessels from the "Algés" class are shorter and less powerful than those in the ...
Read more

Transtejo "Eborense" – Estaleiros Navais de Viana do Castelo

Image
Ferry operated by Transtejo seen on the Tejo River heading to Lisboa in October 2013. This ferry of the monohull type, named "Eborense" and registered LX-2794-TL, is built in Portugal by Estaleiros Navais de Viana do Castelo   ¹  and completed in 1954 with yard number 23. Steel hull and superstructure. It has an overall length of 154.3 ft and can accommodate 346 passengers and 30 vehicles (346+30 v+5). It is equipped with two 364 kW (495 hp) MTU 12V 183 TC91 main engines and two fixed pitch propellers. Top speed is 11 knots. Withdrawn in 1983, the "Eborense" is rebuilt in 1991 and returned to regular service, first between Lisboa (Cais do Sodré) and Cacilhas and then between Lisboa (Belém) and Trafaria, where it remains until 2017. Despite its historical value, the place it occupies in the hearts of successive generations of commuters and with a robustness and reliability that have not been surpassed by more recent constructions, it was not possible to keep the fe...
Read more

Back to Normality

Image
After the disastrous choice of the British operator VODAFONE as my internet provider , which sent my connectivity back into the dark ages and whose mediocre or non-existent service affected five months of publications (September, October, November, December and January), it is finally possible to bypass the obstacle with the support of an interested party. The return to normality should occur from February 20th, closing with sixteen publications the cycle dedicated to passenger vessels in regular or tourist service on the Tejo River. As a note of interest, partly motivated by this disastrous experience with the British operator VODAFONE, I will soon launch a new digital space –  UNPLEASANT | LX . It will be interesting. By the way, the problem reported to the operator VODAFONE in August 2023 is still unsolved in February March April October November 2024 . Literally, unbelievable . As I wrote in one of several texts published on social media and made known in Berkshire, «[…] ...
Read more