sripurna_987
Member
This one was ripping from Mangalore to Pune. They 'whistle' a lot more than B7R.
Volvo B9R
- Thread starter gideon1000
- Start date
bunnypunia
Member
Now this is my kinda thread..
In stock form, the B7R comes in a 45 seater config, though operators keep changing it. The B9R or the multi-axle as many people call it, comes in a 53 seater config, that is 2 rows more than the B7R.
The B9R is 1.7 meters more than the B7R (which is 12m) and comes with a 9000cc engine that belts out 380 bhp with 1740Nm of torque! Yes, i repeat 1740Nm of torque.
I have been traveling in these (both B7R and B9R) for quite some time now on the Pune-Davanagere route. Currently, only VRL and Sharma have B9Rs on this route.
On a recent trip, i sat on the co-driver seat of the VRL B9R and the next 4 hrs were spent enjoying the sheer power of this beast. As the bus was new, i was told that Volvo had electronically limited the bus to 100km/h. The driver was using the cruise control to the max and hence the bus was constantly doing 100km/h on straights and much higher on downhill. After the run-in, i was told, the limiter will be taken off and then, given the road, the bus will do more than 120km/h. The B9R also comes with ABS, traction control as well as adjustable air suspension for ride height.
The bus is around 10L more than the B7R but has a lower fuel economy by just 5%, due to which, over a period of time, an operator can recover money due to the extra seats.
More info on my blog : Travelling by Volvo B7R bus in India
Enjoy the pics!
Khurana's B9R on the Nagpur-Pune-Mumbai route
VRL's B9R on the Mumbai-Bangalore route.
Average speeds are more or less the same. And a lot depends on the operator. KSRTC usually sticks to 90-95km/h, Sharma to 95-100km/h and VRL beyond 100km/h. The Pune-Bangalore route, 840km, is usually done in 13-14 hours including two food breaks.
PS: Mercedes too has recently rolled out its multi-axle offering. It has the usual 4 wheel additional axle as compared to the 2-wheel additional axle on the B9R
In stock form, the B7R comes in a 45 seater config, though operators keep changing it. The B9R or the multi-axle as many people call it, comes in a 53 seater config, that is 2 rows more than the B7R.
The B9R is 1.7 meters more than the B7R (which is 12m) and comes with a 9000cc engine that belts out 380 bhp with 1740Nm of torque! Yes, i repeat 1740Nm of torque.
I have been traveling in these (both B7R and B9R) for quite some time now on the Pune-Davanagere route. Currently, only VRL and Sharma have B9Rs on this route.
On a recent trip, i sat on the co-driver seat of the VRL B9R and the next 4 hrs were spent enjoying the sheer power of this beast. As the bus was new, i was told that Volvo had electronically limited the bus to 100km/h. The driver was using the cruise control to the max and hence the bus was constantly doing 100km/h on straights and much higher on downhill. After the run-in, i was told, the limiter will be taken off and then, given the road, the bus will do more than 120km/h. The B9R also comes with ABS, traction control as well as adjustable air suspension for ride height.
The bus is around 10L more than the B7R but has a lower fuel economy by just 5%, due to which, over a period of time, an operator can recover money due to the extra seats.
More info on my blog : Travelling by Volvo B7R bus in India
Enjoy the pics!
Khurana's B9R on the Nagpur-Pune-Mumbai route
VRL's B9R on the Mumbai-Bangalore route.
Average speeds are more or less the same. And a lot depends on the operator. KSRTC usually sticks to 90-95km/h, Sharma to 95-100km/h and VRL beyond 100km/h. The Pune-Bangalore route, 840km, is usually done in 13-14 hours including two food breaks.
PS: Mercedes too has recently rolled out its multi-axle offering. It has the usual 4 wheel additional axle as compared to the 2-wheel additional axle on the B9R
gideon1000
Speedster
Hi Bunny,
Many thanks for your pics and valuable information. Yes, B9Rs are quicker than B7R. Also the acceleration is more than the B7R which inturn is more than any other conventional bus. So these buses really cruise along.
Many thanks for your pics and valuable information. Yes, B9Rs are quicker than B7R. Also the acceleration is more than the B7R which inturn is more than any other conventional bus. So these buses really cruise along.
our HR recently took his wife and kid from bangalore to chennai in KPN multiaxle volvo. As told by him the bus started at 11.30pm from kalasipalayam stopped at electronic city, silk board for five minutes each, reached hosur at 1220, and the bus went straight away to dharmapuri (dharmapuri is a town on the bangalore-salem stretch, some 30 kms from krishnagiri) picked up parcels for about 20 minutes and came back to krishnagiri (krishnagiri to chennai 270 kms) and started on its way to chennai. the bus stopped for a leak for 5 mins (probably somewhat near ambur) and they reached chennai (guindy) at 0530 in the morning. So as per my calculations the bus should have have reached back krishnagiri at 0130 or 0200 and did the 270 kms stretch in just 4 hours 
that's bloody fast.
I think its not only because of the vehicle but the road too. I think these speed are possible only in GQ, expressway. while i travelled from chennai to bangalore the time taken is ksrtc volvo six hours 15 mins (from cmbt to majestic) rajahamsa 7 hours (cmbt to majestic) and one time SETC 831AC when the service was started new (you know they gave shawl
)in exactly 8 hours 
(cmbt to majestic). satellite and shanthinagar busstand was not started then.
that's bloody fast. I think its not only because of the vehicle but the road too. I think these speed are possible only in GQ, expressway. while i travelled from chennai to bangalore the time taken is ksrtc volvo six hours 15 mins (from cmbt to majestic) rajahamsa 7 hours (cmbt to majestic) and one time SETC 831AC when the service was started new (you know they gave shawl
)in exactly 8 hours (cmbt to majestic). satellite and shanthinagar busstand was not started then.
gideon1000
Speedster
i travelled from chennai to pondicherry in a TNSTC Volvo B7R-LE. The bus goes via ECR, most beautiful scenic road. So we can enjoy the travel as well.
While going in ECR, i felt that the bus was going very slowly, i thought that the bus was going in 40-50 km/h speed. So i decided to clock the timing per KM since i didnt had a GPS in my mobile. I cloecked the time and to my surprise the bus was clocking a KM in 51 sec. Thats 70 km/h speed. But the bus was sooo smooth at that speed. Th ebus covered 170 kms in 2 and half hours. Thats an average speed of more than 60 kms. The bus was so smooth and silent so that i enjoyed the ECR ride and was able to enjoy the beach scenes...
While going in ECR, i felt that the bus was going very slowly, i thought that the bus was going in 40-50 km/h speed. So i decided to clock the timing per KM since i didnt had a GPS in my mobile. I cloecked the time and to my surprise the bus was clocking a KM in 51 sec. Thats 70 km/h speed. But the bus was sooo smooth at that speed. Th ebus covered 170 kms in 2 and half hours. Thats an average speed of more than 60 kms. The bus was so smooth and silent so that i enjoyed the ECR ride and was able to enjoy the beach scenes...
rajuustad
KL-07 to KL-01
Did a Trivandrum-Banglore to and fro trip this weekend. Both on a B9R. The TVM-Blore wan in a KPN. The Bus started from TVM a little after 6 PM and reached Madivala by 6.30 am the next day! . This was through the TVM Nagarcoil Salem Blore route . The return journey was by SRM B9R through the Blore, Salem, Coimbatore,Cohin route Started a Little after 6.30 from Madivala and reached TVM by 6.30 AM!! The driver was flying the bus to avoid the 6-6 Hartal in Trivandrum. Both the trips included the regular fuel stops and dinner break.
Speaking of Fuel Stops , this bus can be filed with fuel from both sides of the bus. (attaching the Pic).
Another funny Incident..
Imagine the situation..You are enjoying the comforts of the B9R and in deep sleep when the lights come on in the bus. The staff announces a 10 min break . The time is 3 AM and you notice that the bus is entering a fuel Pump. Fine.
I returned after emptying my bladders and to my shock..this what I find
4 Volvo B9R in queue to fill diesel. All from KPN, All of the same shade. Which bus is mine?.No probs, I remember my Bus had a fancy number “1” . But wait…there is more. The numbers of the 4 buses are like this..KA-23-D-1, KA-25-D-1, KA-xx-a-1, KA-yy-b-1. (Don’t remember all of the Properly). Noticed that all of them had different Sticker Jobs, but who was to remember that . I stepped into the bus one by one to check for my luggage and on the third Bus I saw it. Confirmed.
Speaking of Fuel Stops , this bus can be filed with fuel from both sides of the bus. (attaching the Pic).
Another funny Incident..
Imagine the situation..You are enjoying the comforts of the B9R and in deep sleep when the lights come on in the bus. The staff announces a 10 min break . The time is 3 AM and you notice that the bus is entering a fuel Pump. Fine.
I returned after emptying my bladders and to my shock..this what I find
4 Volvo B9R in queue to fill diesel. All from KPN, All of the same shade. Which bus is mine?.No probs, I remember my Bus had a fancy number “1” . But wait…there is more. The numbers of the 4 buses are like this..KA-23-D-1, KA-25-D-1, KA-xx-a-1, KA-yy-b-1. (Don’t remember all of the Properly). Noticed that all of them had different Sticker Jobs, but who was to remember that . I stepped into the bus one by one to check for my luggage and on the third Bus I saw it. Confirmed.
SachinOnTop
Full Use Else Lose
LOLzzz....
I experienced the same situation @ Behror Midway in night, while doing DEL-JPR in a B7R.
Yet to see a B9R!
koolharry
Rail and Road...
Some adventure, eh!
Nice trip log and look at the B9Rs line up! Must have been quite a sight. Thank you for sharing your experience
rajuustad
KL-07 to KL-01
Yup.. It was quite a good one. The one point that really stands out is the speed at which this Bus goes. Its something to be experienced.
BTW, the last photo is not from KPN..It was from my return journey in SRM. KPN Guys never unfold the middle screen. Have done at least 4 trips in KPN B9Rs and all the time they never bother to pull down the middle screen.
BTW, the last photo is not from KPN..It was from my return journey in SRM. KPN Guys never unfold the middle screen. Have done at least 4 trips in KPN B9Rs and all the time they never bother to pull down the middle screen.