The new buses – with the capacity of 69 sitting passengers, the highest for any interstate bus service – is Transnasional’s newest interstate service and follows a trend of having a high passenger capacity double-decker bus to reduce total operating costs.  This is a relatively new concept in Malaysia where low-volume luxury services are the norm for these types of buses

With that in mind, Konsortium Transnasional Berhad (KTB) has now put into service 4 units Scania K114 6X2 double decker buses into this route – previously served by regular single deck buses with capacity of up to 44 passengers.  The new buses have been in service since its soft launch at the beginning of the year and have proved to be very popular amongst commuters for the 2 hour trip. 

The buses were officially launched recently at the Melaka Sentral bus terminal – officiated by the Chief Minister of the State of Melaka, YAB Datuk Seri Haji Mohamad Ali Bin Mohamad Rustam; and the Chairman & Managing Director of KTB, YB Dato’ Mohamad Nadzmi Mohamad Salleh.  Mr Peter Sjöblom, Managing Director of Scania (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, handed over the bus just prior to the official commencement of the new Transnasional Skyview service, using the new Scania buses for the KL-Melaka shuttle route.

The buses are amongst the safest buses on Malaysian roads today, and feature top-of-the-line safety features such as Anti-lock Braking System (ABS); Traction Control and Scania Retarder – which offers effective braking through the use of a hydraulic retarder within the gearbox that offers safe and efficient braking.

“We’re extremely proud to be offering these excellent buses to Transnasional for this important shuttle route,” says Idros Puteh, General Manager of Scania (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd.  “Running these very high passenger capacity buses puts a heavy burden of responsibility on the operator in terms of safety, reliability and safety.  Scania is proud to be working with KTB on realizing this project.”

These four buses run on the Scania 11-litre 6-cylinder 380 hp Euro 3 engine – one of the most environmentally friendly engine on sale in Malaysia today. 

Mr S. Vikneswaran, Bus Sales Manager for Scania (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd explains further on the new buses, "Together with the 8-speed transmission featuring the Scania Opticruise automatic gearchanging system, these engines offer a powerful and relaxed drive.  This is done by the automatic gear changes that matches the engine's characteristics of maximum torque at low engine speed.  This translates into low fuel consumption and excellent reliability, as the engine is not under too much stress."