The case in summary Scott Boje Bækkel rents out a 40-year-old Russian bus for NOK 2.5 million. The bus is so sought after that it has already been rented out for the next three years. Trygg Trafikk expresses concern about the safety of the bus, which has side-by-side seats and no seat belts. Bækkel deals in refurbishing and renting out old buses, and his company Buss Kompaniet AS owns 48 buses which are rented out to Russians all over the country. The Russian group Hotmale 2024 from Oslo is first in the queue to rent the bus, and will pay NOK 2.5 million for the rent. Bækkel believes that a Russe bus with side-by-side seats can be safer than a bus with middle-positioned seats, and points out that all his buses are approved by the Norwegian Road Administration. The summary is made by an AI service from OpenAi. The content is quality assured by news’s journalists before publication. – It was bought as a wreck, says Scott Boje Bækkel (26). He works with renovation and rental of old buses. Now he shows a bus that is hidden in a plastic hall. PLASTIC BUS SHED: The most desirable bus is always parked indoors in a separate plastic hall. Photo: Lars Erik Skrefsrud / NRKBUSSKUR IN PLASTIC: The most sought-after bus is always indoors in a separate plastic hall. Photo: Lars Erik Skrefsrud / news Bækkel explains that the white vintage bus from the 80s has side-by-side seats, and rolls without seat belts. – It is rented out until 2027. There are long, long queues to rent it. In a few weeks, the bus will hit the road with the Russians. GULLEGG: For now, it’s just a shell, the furnishings are not yet in place. But according to Scott Boje Bækkel, the bus with side-by-side seats is leased until 2027. Photo: Lars Erik SkrefsrudGULLEGG: For now, it’s just a shell, the interior is not yet in place. But according to Scott Boje Bækkel, the bus with side-by-side seats has been leased until 2027. Photo: Lars Erik Skrefsrud Highly sought after The Russian group Hotmale 2024 from Oslo is first in the long queue. The price tag for renting the bus will this year end up at NOK 2.5 million for the 27 members. TO HIRE THE BUS FROM THE 80S: Russegruppen Hotmale has been looking forward to borrowing the bus for several years. They say that it is highly sought after in the Russian community. Photo: Emil Kristiansen / Privat The boys will be handed over the “Wonderboys” bus on 21 April, which means that the rent will cost them approximately NOK 625,000 a week during the holiday season. – The bus has not rolled since 2009, says Emil Kristiansen, who is part of the group. – It is one of 36 buses that are sought after in Oslo and Bærum. He therefore believes that the bus is worth the money. – Some buses are better than others, in terms of sound and number of seats. This one is the best in all of Norway. That’s why we were so excited to borrow it, says Kristiansen. PARTS BUS: Outside the plastic hall, there is a similar bus that is used for spare parts. Photo: Lars Erik Skrefsrud / NRKDELEBUSS: Outside the plastic hall is a similar bus that is used for spare parts. Photo: Lars Erik Skrefsrud / news A growing market More and more Russians borrow buses, rather than buy them. Now Scott Boje Bækkel and many others can therefore pimp up vintage buses as a means of livelihood. – Before it wasn’t so cool to rent – but now it is. Now you also get more for your money, says Bækkel. STRICTLY SECRET: Several of the buses are covered with a tarpaulin. It is because everything must be secret until it rolls, says Bækkel. Photo: Lars Erik Skrefsrud / NRKSTRENGT HEMMELIG: Several of the buses are covered with tarpaulin. That’s because everything must be secret until it rolls, says Bækkel. Photo: Lars Erik Skrefsrud / news Bækkel’s company, Buss Kompaniet AS, owns 48 buses and rents them out to Russians all over the country. They were one of the first companies to start renting Russian buses. – Instead of you having to rent facilities here, get someone to paint there, and get grandfather to do the carpentry, everything is put in one place. It’s easier. SPACE NEEDS: The Russe buses are stored outdoors, but now the company has bought a hall in Sweden, says Scott Boje Bækkel. Photo: Lars Erik Skrefsrud / news SPACE NEEDS: The Russe buses are stored outdoors, but now the company has bought a hall in Sweden, says Scott Boje Bækkel. Photo: Lars Erik Skrefsrud / news It’s become cool to rent This day, a Russian group from Hamar made the trip to Bækkel’s premises. The bus they have borrowed has been completed, and the girls from Jiggy 2024 will get to see it for the very first time. The bus is from 1997 and will cost them around NOK 630,000. When asked why they prefer to rent a bus, member Desiry Iradukunda has a clear answer: – If something happens during the rush hour, we know that there is someone who can come and help us at once. It is good to know that we have security. FULL OF IMPRESSIONS: The Russian girls from Hamar are excited after seeing the bus for the first time. Photo: Lars Erik Skrefsrud / news FULL OF IMPRESSIONS: The Russian girls from Hamar are excited after seeing the bus for the first time. Photo: Lars Erik Skrefsrud / news Skeptical of the loan Press manager at Trygg Trafikk, Christoffer Solstad Steen, advises against rolling with vintage buses with side-by-side seats. – We are concerned about this type of vehicle, in the way it is now intended, says Steen. – If it had been used as a vintage bus on a short trip at low speed, it would have been fine. But that is not how it is intended. The idea is to transport a whole bunch of young people, while they are fat inside the bus. What is the problem with side-by-side seats in buses? Some pre-2004 buses may have side-facing seats instead of forward-facing or rear-facing seats. This can be dangerous if an accident occurs on the road. The Norwegian Public Roads Administration writes that buses that have already been approved with side-by-side seats can keep these, as long as the seats are not changed. But it is not allowed to approve new buses with side-by-side seats. An important requirement for the buses is that the seats must be firmly fixed in the bus body. Buses with side-by-side seats are in demand among Russians because they are unique and offer flexibility with seating inside the bus. They are often rented out months or years before a group becomes drunk. He explains that it can become serious if the bus stops suddenly or goes off the road. – It is potentially life-threatening, says Steen. FRARÅDER RULLING: The press manager at Trygg Trafikk believes that drunken drunks and veteran buses are a bad combination. Photo: Erik Waage / news Comparing it with city buses Bus lessor Scott Bækken believes that a Russian bus with side-by-side seats can be safer than a bus with middle-positioned seats. – We can use buses that run in the city as a good example. They also don’t have belts. Moreover, most of them are also partially juxtaposed. MAINTENANCE: Scott Boje Bækkel makes no secret of the fact that old buses need a lot of maintenance, and that it is expensive. Here it is Viking pulling a bus out of winter hibernation. Photo: Lars Erik Skrefsrud / NRKVEDLIKEHOLD: Scott Boje Bækkel makes no secret of the fact that old buses need a lot of maintenance, and that it is expensive. Here it is Viking pulling a bus out of winter hibernation. Photo: Lars Erik Skrefsrud / news He goes on to say that the veteran buses built with side-by-side seats are still approved to this day. – You also have several vehicles that are in the same group. Cars, trucks that are also veteran. His buses undergo EU checks every year. – All the buses are approved by the Norwegian Road Administration, he says. – They should perhaps ban them if they think they are not safe. Hello! I wonder what you think about Russian time. Are you drunk yourself this year, and have you encountered problems? Or are you a parent who annoys you about the money spent by the younger ones? Feel free to send me an e-mail!
ttn-69
