Bus spotting in Europe.

[83G/84D]

Has anyone been bus spotting in Europe recently? If so where did you go and what was your experience like?
I have been to Madrid and Barcelona a few years ago and enjoyed it but would like to try somewhere different and was looking for some recommendations. I believe that some countries still operate older and unusual types of buses but can’t find any other information.
I am not really bothered about going to Malta to see the older buses there if they are still around.
Is there anyone who can help?

 

[citybus2500]

Has anyone been bus spotting in Europe recently? If so where did you go and what was your experience like?
I have been to Madrid and Barcelona a few years ago and enjoyed it but would like to try somewhere different and was looking for some recommendations. I believe that some countries still operate older and unusual types of buses but can’t find any other information.
I am not really bothered about going to Malta to see the older buses there if they are still around.
Is there anyone who can help?

It depends what you are interested in.

Poland is well covered here

Transport Database and Photogallery Phototrans.eu

Phototrans.eu, Page with thousands of urban transport photos and urban vehicle database.

phototrans.eu

You can search by city, bus type etc.

There is this site

http://fotobus.msk.ru/

Many countries get a mention, but coverage varies. It is very good for former Eastern block countries though. Just have a rumage and see what you can find.

My photos are here.

http://citybus.eu.com/

Sadly for enthusiasts many countries have invested heavily in modern new rolling stock in the last 5 years, meaning that former western European buses are no longer found in the large numbers that they once were.

Happy hunting!

 

[Segedunum]

Vilnius still has a load of old Škoda 14Tr Trolleybuses if that's your thing.

 

[83G/84D]

It depends what you are interested in.

Poland is well covered here

Transport Database and Photogallery Phototrans.eu

Phototrans.eu, Page with thousands of urban transport photos and urban vehicle database.

phototrans.eu

You can search by city, bus type etc.

There is this site

http://fotobus.msk.ru/

Many countries get a mention, but coverage varies. It is very good for former Eastern block countries though. Just have a rumage and see what you can find.

My photos are here.

http://citybus.eu.com/

Sadly for enthusiasts many countries have invested heavily in modern new rolling stock in the last 5 years, meaning that former western European buses are no longer found in the large numbers that they once were.

Happy hunting!

Thanks, I’ll check the websites. Shame that I didn’t head into Europe more a few years ago but it is what it is!

 

[richw]

I went to Budapest in 2022, lots of interesting stuff to spot there.

I went to Barcelona last year and it was nearly all very modern stuff, too new for my liking.

I also went to Milan last year and don’t recall much of interest although the city is predominantly trams. Noted some interesting looking stuff out towards Como

 

[citybus2500]

Vilnius still has a load of old Škoda 14Tr Trolleybuses if that's your thing.

Listed here. New trolleybuses are due to start arriving this summer.

Вильнюс, троллейбус — Список подвижного состава

Крупнейшая фотогалерея городского электротранспорта России и мира. Базы подвижного состава, видеокаталог.

transphoto.org

This site is good for trams/trolleybuses similar to the fotobus site is for buses.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 3 Apr 2024 ==

Thanks, I’ll check the websites. Shame that I didn’t head into Europe more a few years ago but it is what it is!

Indeed. Same with myself 10-15 years ago. Covid also put a big hole in me catching up with older stuff.

Are there any particular vehicle types you are after of is it more general?

I went to Budapest in 2022, lots of interesting stuff to spot there.

I went to Barcelona last year and it was nearly all very modern stuff, too new for my liking.

I also went to Milan last year and don’t recall much of interest although the city is predominantly trams. Noted some interesting looking stuff out towards Como

Budapest received a lot of new buses during 2023. All the old Ikarus have now gone. Still a good number of 18-20 year old B7L/B7LAs though.

 

[ClydeCoaster]

Madeira is still a bastion of old interurban step-entrance Scanias Volvos, including a couple of B58s when I was there in January. A good few rather unique looking things. Funchal's city fleet is starting to be dominated by Camo-bodied B8RLEs wiping out some of the older stuff, but the inter urban fleet has yet to be upgraded. Among the newer stuff is a few small electric Karsan and also a few Camo-bodied Volvo F8L off-road trucks for the harder to reach areas of Funchal.

 

[83G/84D]

I went to Budapest in 2022, lots of interesting stuff to spot there.

I went to Barcelona last year and it was nearly all very modern stuff, too new for my liking.

I also went to Milan last year and don’t recall much of interest although the city is predominantly trams. Noted some interesting looking stuff out towards Como

Thanks.

Listed here. New trolleybuses are due to start arriving this summer.

Вильнюс, троллейбус — Список подвижного состава

Крупнейшая фотогалерея городского электротранспорта России и мира. Базы подвижного состава, видеокаталог.

transphoto.org

This site is good for trams/trolleybuses similar to the fotobus site is for buses.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 3 Apr 2024 ==


Indeed. Same with myself 10-15 years ago. Covid also put a big hole in me catching up with older stuff.

Are there any particular vehicle types you are after of is it more general?


Budapest received a lot of new buses during 2023. All the old Ikarus have now gone. Still a good number of 18-20 year old B7L/B7LAs though.

Older types of any manufacturer are what I would like to see.

Madeira is still a bastion of old interurban step-entrance Scanias Volvos, including a couple of B58s when I was there in January. A good few rather unique looking things. Funchal's city fleet is starting to be dominated by Camo-bodied B8RLEs wiping out some of the older stuff, but the inter urban fleet has yet to be upgraded. Among the newer stuff is a few small electric Karsan and also a few Camo-bodied Volvo F8L off-road trucks for the harder to reach areas of Funchal.

Thanks, will give it some thought.

 

[Deerfold]

I am not really bothered about going to Malta to see the older buses there if they are still around.
Is there anyone who can help?

You'll struggle to find anything older that 2015 in Malta, when the old buses were replaced, with a couple of large increases in the fleet since then.

 

[Djb1]

Its been a few years since i visited, but depending on exactly how old you are looking for, Albania and i imagine Moldova are good bets. Like one of the other posters recommended, Vilnius is good too (or was when i went). I cant really vouch for how good they are for spotting, or photography as i didnt go for that reason, more passing observations. In most Eastern European countries i've been to, the oldest Relics are usually outside of the main cities.

 

[Wyrleybart]

Madeira is still a bastion of old interurban step-entrance Scanias Volvos, including a couple of B58s when I was there in January. A good few rather unique looking things. Funchal's city fleet is starting to be dominated by Camo-bodied B8RLEs wiping out some of the older stuff, but the inter urban fleet has yet to be upgraded. Among the newer stuff is a few small electric Karsan and also a few Camo-bodied Volvo F8L off-road trucks for the harder to reach areas of Funchal.

Out here in Madeira at the moment. Yes there seems to be plenty of newish yellow Volvos but there are still some very raucous old things which I believe are B10Ms.

However, the comment I would make is to have a ride on the hop on hop off red city sightseeing ex Berlin decker. We had 1h35m of a trip on a real thrashy beast where foot to the floor in 1st was needed to maintain forward movement. I have seen these ex Berlin beasts in several European cities but this is the first time I experienced one of these MANs.

A week in the sun in a spotlessly clean country is highly recommended.

 

[route101]

Its been a few years since i visited, but depending on exactly how old you are looking for, Albania and i imagine Moldova are good bets. Like one of the other posters recommended, Vilnius is good too (or was when i went). I cant really vouch for how good they are for spotting, or photography as i didnt go for that reason, more passing observations. In most Eastern European countries i've been to, the oldest Relics are usually outside of the main cities.

Albania has lot of second hand stuff from elsewhere. Last time I was on a ex Spanish coach from Andalucía still in its livery. There is some old KTEL Mercedes coaches from Greece too.

 

[Gag Halfrunt]

Albania has lot of second hand stuff from elsewhere

And Kosovo.

Jon Worth (@jon@gruene.social)

Attached: 1 image It was a while ago this was running in Calvi! Bus station Pejë

gruene.social

(Photo shows a Setra coach in "Corse Voyages" livery, at the bus station in Pejë, Kosovo.)

 

[Fin447]

Anyone know if the B7Ls and ex Berlin MANs are still around in Norway?

 

[ANDREW_D_WEBB]

Out here in Madeira at the moment. Yes there seems to be plenty of newish yellow Volvos but there are still some very raucous old things which I believe are B10Ms.

However, the comment I would make is to have a ride on the hop on hop off red city sightseeing ex Berlin decker. We had 1h35m of a trip on a real thrashy beast where foot to the floor in 1st was needed to maintain forward movement. I have seen these ex Berlin beasts in several European cities but this is the first time I experienced one of these MANs.

A week in the sun in a spotlessly clean country is highly recommended.

Believe a fleet of new Ivecos takes over from the old stuff next month.