Eindhoven gets acquainted with the new generation Citea

Hermes presented its brand new generation Citea buses to the public on Monday 27th May 2024. With the deployment of the first 32 of a total of 64 new generation Citeas from VDL Bus & Coach, Hermes in North Brabant has the first look at the entirely new generation of Zero Emission buses.

The next step in Zero Emission

Hermes is pleased that it can replace its old buses with these brand new, highly modern buses that  make a  positive contribution to reducing the ecological footprint. Traveling by public transport is now even more environmentally friendly than it was. The buses that Hermes deploys in the Southeast Brabant region are equipped with various technological specifications, including the so-called ‘Brainport’ package; these include safety systems such as Forward Collision Warning and a Blind Spot Detection system. Thanks to the fully electric drive system, with battery packs in the floor and motors integrated into the wheels, there is room for a maximum of 92 passengers on board these new buses. In addition, the increased comfort for travelers is clearly noticeable through the unique interior design and special lighting, which contributes to a very positive travel experience.

Martijn Mentink, regional director of Hermes: “With these new zero-emission city buses, we take the next step towards a completely emission-free fleet in Southeast Brabant. The development also fully aligns with the vision of the public transport client, the province of North Brabant. It is good news for both them and the residents of our region. It seamlessly fits with the goal to provide fully emission-free bus transport by 2030. And our passenger is the main winner, because we are convinced that these new buses will contribute to an even better travel experience.”

Thought has also been given to the driver: during the design of the bus, a lot of time and attention was devoted to creating the optimal driver environment, with no compromises made on ergonomics, ease of operation, comfort, and safety.

Richard van den Dungen, CCO VDL Bus & Coach: “We are incredibly proud that our new generation of Citea’s will fill the streets of Eindhoven and surrounding areas. Hermes and Eindhoven are taking a first in the Netherlands with this. Passengers and drivers will experience an extremely comfortable journey, especially knowing that this trip is more environmentally friendly than traveling with the previous generations of buses.”

Gaining experience for the traveler

Hermes will deploy its new buses on the city routes in Eindhoven and the surrounding municipalities. Hermes would like to invite residents of Eindhoven to try out the comfort of the new buses. Through a specially designed webpage, a free ‘Zero Emission Drop Day Ticket’ can be requested. This allows free travel by bus from 9 am onwards, bypassing the morning rush hour. Participating lines are city routes 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 114. The promotion runs until 30 June.

Later this year, the following 32 new buses ordered by Hermes will be delivered. These regional buses will be able to cover greater distances and will therefore become more visible outside Eindhoven.

About VDL Bus & Coach

The core activities of VDL Bus & Coach consist of the development, production, sales, aftersales and service of a wide range of public transport buses and coaches. VDL Bus & Coach comprises several operating companies that are collectively active in the global market. Production takes place in Europe. Top priorities include quality, safety, sustainability, the environment, low energy consumption, comfort, and low maintenance costs. In the transition to zero-emission transport, VDL Bus & Coach offers comprehensive solutions. The sale of VDL Bus & Coach products is carried out through a network of own branches, importers, and agents in more than 30 countries. Customers can rely on quick and efficient handling for aftersales, service, and maintenance by staff at one of the many service points. A very extensive distribution network ensures that spare parts are delivered to the destination as quickly as possible. VDL Bus & Coach has now grown into one of the leading bus manufacturers in Europe.