The Legendary DAF Super Citytrain: A Marvel of Modern Engineering
The DAF Super Citytrain is often likened to a mythological creature , a massive assembly of metal sheets, complete with a potent motor and tires designed to glide across asphalt while carrying hundreds of passengers within. Information surrounding its history remains scarce; little has been shared about its origins or its fate. Despite the challenge of finding any visual evidence of this bus-like behemoth, it holds a remarkable distinction on the Guinness World Records pages as the longest bus ever manufactured.
While some argue that newer models hold more impressive records, the specifications of the DAF Super Citytrain are undeniably astonishing.
Don’t call it just a bus… This is more accurately referred to as the DAF Super Citytrain, celebrated as the largest bus ever built, at least according to the Guinness World Records entry. Both in its online version and in published materials dating back to 2015, it is recognized as the longest coach globally. With a length of 32.2 meters and an unladen weight of 28 tons, it is indeed a formidable passenger carrier, accommodating around 350 individuals comfortably.
Its impressive dimensions stand tall even when compared to other giants like the German Auto Tram Extra Grand and the Chinese Youngman Jnp6250G. The DAF Super Citytrain is not a recent innovation; it has held its Guinness record since 1989, which is over 30 years ago.
Unveiling the History of the DAF Super Citytrain
What is its story? Tracing the history of the DAF Super Citytrain can be a convoluted task due to the scarcity of documentation. Surprisingly, one of the most comprehensive insights comes from a company based far from Congo: the Transport Firm Slovaca Zvolen. They referenced an article from the magazine Commercial Engine published in September 1989, detailing that DAF International had just completed the sale of the “largest bus in the world” to a coach company in Kinshasa, the capital city of the then Republic of Zaire .
This article provides unique insight into the DAF Citytrain, describing it as a combination of a standard DAF power unit and a locally manufactured trailer with a custom bus body. Interestingly, it notes the vehicle’s capacity was 450 travelers—larger than the generally cited figure of 350 by Guinness. Furthermore, traffic regulations led to adjustments in the bus’s speed limit to less than 42 kilometers per hour.
Is there more exciting data? Absolutely! The Commercial Engine review reveals that the bus initially measured 18 meters and, following its success, DAF considered delivering 55 more units. They even planned to craft a “Super” version, which would include a second trailer capable of accommodating over 500 travelers. This projected capacity was mentioned in Guinness records but scaled down to 350.
Moreover, in late 1989, another semi-trailer bus dubbed the City Train entered service, illustrating the demand for such massive vehicles. For operational efficiency, the “Super” designation indicated a shift to greater capacity—allowing for 170 seated and 180 standing passengers in the first section of the vehicle.
<img alt="DAF Citytrain in action" width="375" height="142" src="https://i.blogs.es/adaf3d/r5s_4056-min/375_142.jpeg"/>The Ongoing Legacy of the DAF Super Citytrain
Its obsession continues. The prevalence of these oversized articulated buses is explicable, given the metropolitan demands of Kinshasa, which currently houses around 16.3 million residents, according to Macrotrends data.
The fascination with large buses isn’t limited to Congo; in previous decades, companies like Wyane Corporation in Indiana also produced massive models exceeding 23 meters. Numerous manufacturers have presented aspirations of creating oversized public transit systems, including designs like the Great Arte 300 and the Youngman JNP6250G. The Auto Tram Extra Grand, boasting a length of 30.7 meters, competes for current records, although it doesn’t quite reach the legendary length of the DAF Super Citytrain.
As urban areas continue to expand, the incredible legacy of the DAF Super Citytrain serves as a reminder of innovative engineering and the continual quest for efficient public transportation solutions.