You get on a bus at a stop somewhere in Petržalka, and there is cool air from the climate control, USB-A and USB-C ports near the seats, and a screen showing your transfer in real time. This is not a test salon at an exhibition, but regular routes: the city carrier Dopravný podnik Bratislava (DPB, the city transport company) has released 18 new buses on the routes, and they are already carrying passengers.
This is just the beginning: by the end of the year, the city will receive another 126 new buses and electric buses. If you travel to work or study by public transport every day, your chances of getting on a new vehicle will increase every month.
What kind of buses have been released
These are 12-meter diesel SOR NS 12 buses from the Czech manufacturer SOR Libchavy, with a design developed by architect Patrik Kotas. According to the tender results, one such bus costs 238,500 euros without VAT. DPB has concluded a framework agreement for the purchase of up to 80 vehicles, the first batch of 63 units was ordered at the end of January 2022 — details about the model are collected on a specialized transport portal.
Technically, these are Euro 6E ecological standard buses with an FPT Industrial Tector 7 engine with a power of 210 kW and a 6-speed ZF EcoLife automatic transmission. Passenger capacity is 103 people, including 30 seats. The interior is fully low-floor, which is important for parents with strollers and people with limited mobility.
How new buses are different for passengers
In addition to climate control (Eberspächer system, works for both cooling and heating), the cabin has:
- USB ports for charging phones and free Wi-Fi.
- LCD displays showing real-time transfers — convenient if you don't know all the city routes by heart yet.
- Video surveillance cameras in the cabin.
But the main changes concern external safety. As reported, the buses are equipped with a collision warning system for pedestrians and cyclists, blind spot monitoring, and tire pressure control. For a city where the number of cyclists on the streets is increasing every year, this is a relevant addition.
This is part of a larger upgrade
The purchase of diesel SORs is only one piece of a large-scale modernization of the fleet. Previously, DPB had already received 50 new hybrid trolleybuses. The plans include articulated buses running on CNG fuel: according to the carrier itself, they are expected to appear on the streets of Bratislava next year. Separately, the city has arranged a grant from European funds to purchase hydrogen buses — the relevant agreement was confirmed by the Bratislava Region.
The practical takeaway for the passenger is simple: fares are not changing due to the new buses, you pay as usual — by card on board, through the app, or with a transport card. Only the comfort of the ride is changing and, hopefully, the regularity: new vehicles break down less often than old ones, which are increasingly having to be replaced.
