Egyptian Buses and Coaches http://egypt.fotopic.net/ 7 rows en-gb 60 Road trains in the Valley of the Kings http://egypt.fotopic.net/c1744015.html Road trains in the Valley of the Kings Saturday 22 August 2009: Road trains in the Valley of the Kings

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]]> Sat Aug 22 2009 Convoys http://egypt.fotopic.net/c1066500.html The main way of travelling between cities and resorts for many years was by coach in high speed convoys controlled by the Tourist Police. They operated at fixed departure times to fixed destinations, rather like National Express, but with armed gentlemen en route, and toilet halts attended by camels and goats... The toilets were always spotless, the camels calm, and the snacks good. But the routes were not without incident. On the Red Sea route from Luxor to Hurghada there were coach wrecks, including burned out double deckers.... Monday 28 August 2006: The main way of travelling between cities and resorts for many years was by coach in high speed convoys controlled by the Tourist Police. They operated at fixed departure times to fixed destinations, rather like National Express, but with armed gentlemen en route, and toilet halts attended by camels and goats... The toilets were always spotless, the camels calm, and the snacks good. But the routes were not without incident. On the Red Sea route from Luxor to Hurghada there were coach wrecks, including burned out double deckers....

Private bus to Kom Ombo - we still had to wait for the connecting police escort One of three Nissan local buses that were wrecked -two went down the bank beside the road - and a Toyota minicoach involved in a horrific smash. The convoy of police and numerous coaches - did not stop in a 70 mph helterskelter race to the next tourist attraction for fear of terrorist activity Mitsubishi truck 6121 passes the security checkpoint in Edfu Minibuses gathering at Luxor before the Red Sea morning convoy departed. Mercedes Benz/MCV 500 coaches queue at the Luxor convoy gathering point LS 734 viewed from one of the Travco Mercedes Benz/MCV coaches On the road to the Red Sea The Luxor-bound early morning convoy from Aswan passes the southbound convoy from the Red Sea. Travco RS 608 heads for the Red Sea Mountains Refreshment halt en route to the Red Sea. Among the identifiable Travco vehicles are RS 591 and (beyond it) RS 675 Some of the Bedouin youths with their camels seek baksheesh for photos The centre of the Red Sea road from Luxor has broken up in the mountains because of the heat. Double white lines are ignored by the police drivers who overtake on the LUX 643, a Hyundai minicoach, on the Hurghada section, waits for the coaches from El Gouna at Safarga In the Red Sea mountains RS 308, one of two Travco coaches - plus a Bedouin camel

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]]> Mon Aug 28 2006 El Gouna local transport http://egypt.fotopic.net/c1062932.html There are six minibuses that operate a punishing 19-hour a day, seven-day-a-week service between El Gouna (Downtown Bus Station) and the main hotels and attractions. Journeys operate for a maximum of 11 minutes, and all vehicles try to provide an interchange at Downtown. Tickets can be purchased for a day's unlimited travel (5 EP) or for a week's use (10 EP). They are on sale at the bus or at the hotel, information centre or some shops. They are also valid for the local boats that link some of the parts of the complex, but not for the Tok-Toks, three-seater, three-wheelers that operate with the speed of something moist sliding off a shovel ..... Buses are accessed from the nearside, which is mainly open. Seating is wooden, just like the suspension on the packed sand roads. The offside windows have been forcibly removed in some places as the result of damage. Other damages windows (all made of thick plastic) have shattered, but remain in "as broken" condition. One dreads to think what the British Traffic Commissioners would make of them. Vehicles are unregistered, but can be identified from each other by a paper sticker in the rear window which reads "Bus 1" etc. The buses were new in 2000. #1/2 Isuzu NPR 66L/Hashim Beach Bus HB-207 BB OB28D #3 - #6 Isuzu NPR 66L/Hashim Beach Bus HB-207 BB OB23D Friday 25 August 2006: There are six minibuses that operate a punishing 19-hour a day, seven-day-a-week service between El Gouna (Downtown Bus Station) and the main hotels and attractions. Journeys operate for a maximum of 11 minutes, and all vehicles try to provide an interchange at Downtown. Tickets can be purchased for a day's unlimited travel (5 EP) or for a week's use (10 EP). They are on sale at the bus or at the hotel, information centre or some shops. They are also valid for the local boats that link some of the parts of the complex, but not for the Tok-Toks, three-seater, three-wheelers that operate with the speed of something moist sliding off a shovel ..... Buses are accessed from the nearside, which is mainly open. Seating is wooden, just like the suspension on the packed sand roads. The offside windows have been forcibly removed in some places as the result of damage. Other damages windows (all made of thick plastic) have shattered, but remain in "as broken" condition. One dreads to think what the British Traffic Commissioners would make of them. Vehicles are unregistered, but can be identified from each other by a paper sticker in the rear window which reads "Bus 1" etc. The buses were new in 2000. #1/2 Isuzu NPR 66L/Hashim Beach Bus HB-207 BB OB28D #3 - #6 Isuzu NPR 66L/Hashim Beach Bus HB-207 BB OB23D

6, one of the Isuzu vehicles. 2, the sole example labelled as Hashim Bus, seen in Downtown A four-seat, three-wheel Tok-Tok 6, 4 and 5 with a minibus on one of the golf club runs 6, 4 and 5 at the Downtown terminus 1 in El Gouna 1 - the rear 1 - the driver's area, showing the wooden seats, and explaining why they are dubbed Beach Buses 6 1 3 and 6 6 3, showing the more modern back 2 - a back end comparison with 1 and 3 3 1 Tok-Tok Tok-Tok Golf carts are used around the Moevenpick to move luggage and (on occasions) customers Tok-Tok 6 The El Gouna local bus routes and timetables Daily ticket Pair of weekly tickets

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]]> Fri Aug 25 2006 Minibuses http://egypt.fotopic.net/c1062931.html Japanese manufacturers have taken over the minibus and minicoach scene in Upper Egypt. Toyota, Mitsubishi and Hyundai dominate a handful of Mercedes Benz/MCV 260, and the local manufacturer, Hashim Bus and Ghabbour (the main bodymaker). Friday 25 August 2006: Japanese manufacturers have taken over the minibus and minicoach scene in Upper Egypt. Toyota, Mitsubishi and Hyundai dominate a handful of Mercedes Benz/MCV 260, and the local manufacturer, Hashim Bus and Ghabbour (the main bodymaker).

2129, Luxor Toyota local bus, is followed by Luxor Police bus 80077 RS 317, a Mercedes shelters beneath the coach station canopy at Luxor International Airport SINS 10017, an Isuzu with El Waha B-type Challenger bodywork Luxor Police Mitsubishi Spring Tours, Luxor 2314: Toyota Coaster, Luxor Blue Sky 204 (RS 216) IS 352: a Toyota minibus with TS Bus registration: IS 352 284, a Ghabbour-bodied Isuzu 87, a Hyundai, pictured outside Le Meridien, Luxor Luxor town minibus with a passenger paying the crew and another leaving the saloon. Toyota registered 26, pictured outside John and John's English Carvery in Luxor (can't vouch for it - we were too busy eating every other available national dish) C 3208, a Toyota waiting to pick up passengers from one of the Nile riverboats LST Toyota 885 masks New Viking, Luxor 663 Luxor LU 613 is a Nissan Nissan town bus, pictured on the West bank of the Nile at Luxor 507 is a Toyota Luxor local bus Luxor local Toyota minibus 507 shows signs of considerable wear 2372, another Luxor Toyota local bus 1772, a Luxor minibus, passes the Ritz Restaurant A calesh - a horse-drawn Victorian carriage - tangles with traffic in Luxor Luxor local Toyota minibus 1179 is sandwiched between an unidentified local minibus and an Isuzu midibus 80077 is an Isuzu used by Luxor police Transco 1009, a Toyota Coaster TAR 2186, a Toyota town bus in Luxor Traveline 81, a Mercedes 140D.29 Sara Transport, Luxor LUX 429 is a Toyota Coaster Hyundai minicoach 2504 Traveline 81, a Mercedes 140D.29 Toyota 11182 Sara Transport, Luxor LUX 429, a Toyota Hiace Toyota Coaster 36 at Edfu temple Edfu 2152, a Toyota minibus Donkey carts pass outside Edfu, one, hauled by a pair of the beasts, carries a load of reeds for feeding livestock The donkeys haul their load of reeds into Edfu LUX 429, a Toyota Hiace 26, a Toyota, at the Sheraton in Luxor Mercedes Benz/MCV in the Western Desert near Hurghada The local Hurghada - El Gouna bus service, here provided by a Mercedes/MCV minibus MCV bodywork on ... what sort of chassis? This midibus was spotted in Hurghada, near the City Council's offices. El Gouna 18 - Ghabbour bodywork, but is a Mercedes hiding underneath? El Gouna Transport Co 460 - The local Hurghada - El Gouna bus service at the Hurghada terminal. In this case the front runner is a new Mercedes Benz with MCV 260 bodywork. El Gouna Transport Co 47, a Mercedes/MCV operates on the 15-minute local Hurghada - El Gouna bus service at the Hurghada terminus El Gouna Transport Co 60, a Mercedes/MCV Moevenpick, El Gouna RS 409, a hotel pickup RS 2635, a Toyota drops off passengers at the moevenpick in El Gouna Travco RS 644, an older Toyota Travel Red Sea Last Touch (!), El Gouna RS 2184, a Toyota used for trips into the desert Moevenpick RS 409, pictured at the hotel chain's El Gouna centre RS 869, a Mercedes minicoach

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]]> Fri Aug 25 2006 Local buses http://egypt.fotopic.net/c1062930.html Local buses in most towns in Upper Egypt are provided by 2.5 litre diesel-powered vans with locally-built bodies. Standard fittings are parallel rows of seats on each side of the body, push-bell calls to the driver to stop (supplemented by a shout), and grab rails at the rear for tose who want to hang on the rear platform. British ministry inspectors would have kittens.....! Friday 25 August 2006: Local buses in most towns in Upper Egypt are provided by 2.5 litre diesel-powered vans with locally-built bodies. Standard fittings are parallel rows of seats on each side of the body, push-bell calls to the driver to stop (supplemented by a shout), and grab rails at the rear for tose who want to hang on the rear platform. British ministry inspectors would have kittens.....!

Strap hanging on the local buses Luxor town bus 1390 - Nissan minibus at the rear of Luxor Temple Luxor town bus 2347, a Hyundai minibus Toyota local bus in Luxor Luxor town bus 957: Late night operation of the Luxor town services, here seen being operated by a Hyundai minibus Boarding the bus on the West Bank, Luxor West Bank, Luxor 3334 Medinet Habu minibus 129 Nissan town bus, pictured on the West bank of the Nile at Luxor Nissan town bus, pictured on the West bank of the Nile at Luxor Luxor town bus 507, an old Toyota Luxor town bus 2372 Edfu town bus 11752, a 2.5 litre Chevrolet Chevrolet 13717 shows it has plenty of horse power .... Hakim Bus, a normal-control bus seen near Edfu Edfu 16273, a Chevrolet snapped from the high-speed convoy Edfu local bus Hold very tight, please - A full load near Edfu Edfu local bus 13207 - Paying the driver at the end of the journey Edfu town bus 13216, an Isuzu Local buses are all proud to boast of their 2500cc, five-speed construction. The colours appear to relate to different town routes, here in Edfu Isuzu town bus in Edfu Edfu town bus 13172, an Isuzu town bus Edfu 12843, an Isuzu town bus turns towards Edfu Edfu town bus 13134, a now-rare Bedford town bus, and an unidentified one, on the outskirts of Edfu Edfu 12163 Edfu 12123, an Isuzu town bus, is followed by 12162, a similar machine caliming to have a Chevrolet origin Three Edfu Isuzu town buses Edfu town buses consisting of an unknown Isuzu, 12121, 12161 (both Isuzus), and 12159 (a Toyota) - all Isuzu - and a wise donkey working near Edfu Edfu town bus 13413 is a now rare Chevrolet town bus Edfu town bus 13311, an isuzu Edfu town bus 12570 Edfu town bus 13155, a Toyota town bus with canvas bodywork Edfu town bus Nissan 2700cc diesel town bus An Isuzu and a Nissan town bus turn towards Edfu town centre Two Isuzu town buses sandwich a Toyota minicoach on the outskirts of Edfu Edfu town bus 13316 Edfu town bus 12660, a Nissan town bus Edfu town bus 12038, a well-maintained Bedford minibus

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]]> Fri Aug 25 2006 Egyptian coaches http://egypt.fotopic.net/c1062928.html Most of the coaches in Upper Egypt are extremely modern. In the past three years, MCV - an Egyptian trailer maker - has taken a stranglehold on the local operations, providing the 400 or 500 body for the Mercedes Benz 0400 running units. This is in marked contrast with a few years ago when there were quite a few Setras imported secondhand from Germany, and an older fleet of Scania K112s with Ghabbour bodies, using Duple Metsec underframes. Few non-standard vehicles now remain, however. Friday 25 August 2006: Most of the coaches in Upper Egypt are extremely modern. In the past three years, MCV - an Egyptian trailer maker - has taken a stranglehold on the local operations, providing the 400 or 500 body for the Mercedes Benz 0400 running units. This is in marked contrast with a few years ago when there were quite a few Setras imported secondhand from Germany, and an older fleet of Scania K112s with Ghabbour bodies, using Duple Metsec underframes. Few non-standard vehicles now remain, however.

Speedo [Luxor] 217, a Mitsubishi Asia Travco RS 820, an early Mercedes 0400/MCV with the rear door behind the axle. It was pictured awaiting for tourists in the Luxor International Airport coach station Travco RS 708, a Mercedes/MCV in the Luxor International Airport coach station Travco RS 810, a Mercedes/MCV in the Luxor International Airport coach station Travtrans RS 449, a Mercedes/MCV in the Luxor International Airport coach station Blue Sky RS 428, a Mercedes/MCV in the Luxor International Airport coach station Travco C 4127, a Mercedes/MCV in the Luxor International Airport coach station Travco C 4127, a Mercedes/MCV in the Luxor International Airport coach station Travco RS 427, a Mercedes/MCV in the Luxor International Airport coach station Blue Sky, Luxor RS 427 SINS 10017, an Isuzu with El Waha B-type Challenger bodywork Travco C 337 in Tui livery. It was a Mercedes Benz 0303S with Turkish Ottoman bodywork Travco C 352 in Tui colours Travtrans RS 343 passes a calesh in Luxor Travco RS 825 Speedo Transport [Luxor] 91 (91), one of a reduced fleet of Scanias operating around Luxor Speedo Transport [Luxor] 91 Luxor 211 (Mercedes/MCV 400 ) and 4512 (Mercedes/MCV 500), 217 (Mitsubishi Asia), 213 (Scania/Ghabbour) plus two unidentified vehicles Mitsubishi Asia 213 and Scania 293 with an unidentified 51 Isis Travel 1419 in the coach park at the Valley of the Kings Travco C 1111, an S215HR which has operated around Luxor for several years New Viking Transport, Egypt 662, a Scania photographed in the Valley of the Kings Spring Tours, Luxor [Luxor] 303, a Mercedes with two-door MCV bodywork Blue Sky RS 398, a Brazilian Volvo B12R with Ghabbour bodywork Blue Sky 141 ([Luxor] 242) and 398 are rare Volvos, pictured in the Valley of the Kings. They are two of a batch of 20 Brazilian-built B12Rs fitted with Egyptian Ghabbour bodies. Spring Tours, Luxor C 3581, a Mercedes with MCV bodywork Blue Sky RS 398, a Brazilian-built Volvo B12R with Ghabbour bodywork Planet Tours, Luxor LU 1620 Egyptian Mercedes Benz at Luxor Travco RS 608 Seta First Travel LUX 176 near the Sonesta St George in Luxor Travco RS 919, a Mercedes/MCV Egypt SINS 10017, an Isuzu pictured in Luxor Travco C 529. It is a veteran Scania K112 with Ghabbour bodywork (recently modernised) operating for Thomson Holidays in Tui livery and leaving from the Sheraton Hotel in Luxor Travco RS 307, a Mercedes Benz/MCV 500 coach wearing Tui livery Viking Travel, Luxor RS 207, a Ghabbour-bodied ex-Travco Scania K112, passing the Temple on Luxor Corniche Travco RS 171 sports Tui promotional livery. It is a refronted Ghabbour-bodied Scania K112. Convoy preparations in luxor Travco RS 608, one of the large fleet of Mercedes-Benx with MCV bodywork 2390, a MAN/Ghabbour coach Convoy runs are often six or seven hours with a single driver, and a couple of brief breaks - then back home again. Travco Mercedes 0400/MCV Travco RS 591, during the 25-minute comfort stop between Luxor and Safarga Travco RS 667 and other vehicles at the crossover refreshment and comfort break between Safarga and Luxor. Travco RS 591 with patient Egyptian camel and young Bedouin Driver on the convoy Tui-liveried Travco Mercedes-Benz/MCV in the Red Sea mountains Tui-liveried Travco Mercedes-Benz/MCV in the Red Sea mountains Car running the wrong way on the dual carriageway between Safarga and El Gouna Car running the wrong way on the dual carriageway between Safarga and El Gouna

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]]> Fri Aug 25 2006 Egypt 2001 - 2003 http://egypt.fotopic.net/c1009856.html Egypt 2001 - 2003 Sunday 2 July 2006: Egypt 2001 - 2003

Multiple minibus crash, Egypt Trans Africa Express, pictured on the road to Hurghada in Egypt Multiple minibus crash, Egypt Multiple minibus crash, Egypt Scania/Ghabbour coaches have been a regular feature of Egyptian coach services for many years. There are still many round and about. This early example was pictured at Carlyle Works in the Eighties, having been transferred from the Duple Metsec works. Do you have any further information about the vehicles, the quantities, types and chassis numbers? I'm hoping to see some more in the summer (providing they still survive the influx of high quality Mercs from Turkey and Scanias which are flooding the Egyptian tourist services. If you have ever wondered what it is like to go banger racing in a coach takje it from me a trip to Egypt is well worth the experience: 75mph, three abreast, trying to keep up with armed police escorts, and wildly cheering locals (often waving rifles in friendly greeting as they churn through the villages in convoys of 50 or 60 vehicles is something spectacular. And the occasional burned out wreck is a reminder that sometimes it doesn't go the way the driver plans... Egyptian (ex German) Setra S215HD in Hurghada, Egypt German Setra S215HD in Hurghada, Egypt

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