Family - Setra

42 | Setra Family News Setra Individuell Highlight | 43 17
125 th anniversary of Ruhe-Reisen:
From 1 to 428 HP
The Ruhe-Reisen bus company from the Lower Saxony town of Hagen celebrated its 125 th anniversary
in 2012. The oldest bus company in Germany began with a horse-drawn tram. The latest addition to
its fleet in 2012 was a Setra S 416 GT-HD.
A
s Christian Ruhe opened his business on April 18, 1887, it
was still driven by horsepower, in the truest sense of the
word. In addition to a wage wagon and a horse bus, the
company ran the “Strassenbahn Stadthagen”. The tram ran on
rails, was towed by a horse and enjoyed great popularity in the city
at the time, also thanks to “Fat Frederick,” the very entertaining
conductor.
A new era in engine power
In the early 20s, Christian Ruhe’s son Heinrich took over the operation
and soon thereafter, he purchased his first motor coach – for
trips to the Schaumburg Land region. Then, the Second World War
interrupted the company’s emerging development. It was only in
the 50s that things started to look up again and the first Setra was
purchased in 1963. With over 100 hp, it rang in a new era of engine
power in the Ruhe company.
A focus on comfort and service
When Christian Ruhe passed away in 1964, Hildegard Ruhe took
over the helm and has been supported by her nephew Johannes
Wilkening-Ruhe since 1982. Together they set the company’s
growth course with a focus on upscale comfort and versatile service.
Ruhe-Reisen offers a variety of experience-oriented excursions
and ski trips as well as study tours. Cruises and air travel have also
been on the programme for several years. During their anniversary
year, for the first time, they even offered a trip to the USA.
Again and again Setra
The first Setra in Stadthagen from the year 1963 was followed by
45 more, including 35 new vehicles. To celebrate its centenary in
1987, the first Setra with luxury amenities, generous legroom, air
conditioning, a galley and video equipment was purchased – the
very first of its kind in the district of Schaumburg. In the 2012 anniversary
year, the fleet was enhanced by an extremely comfortable
S 416 GT-HD touring coach, which was picked up by a whole tour
group in Neu-Ulm. With 428 hp, this coach features at least “400
horses” more than Christian Ruhe could offer when the company
was founded in the late 19 th century.
Comfort creates growth
Investing in state-of-the-art coaches clearly pays off, as this
company’s evolution demonstrates. Discerning customers appreciate
upscale travel comfort and enjoy coming back. Carefree travel
with Ruhe-Reisen – a well-rounded business concept which has
brought with it great success over 125 years. The SetraFamily says
“Congratulations!” and “Keep it up!”
Setra goes tropical:
By coach
to the Brandenburg tropics
I
n
the largest self-supporting hall in the world, with over
66,000 m² of floor space, you’ll find a unique tropical getaway
where the plant worlds of Asia-Pacific, Africa and South
America meet. Up to 6,000 people can embark on a tropical holiday,
without long flight times, and explore the world’s largest indoor
rainforest on a surface of 10,000 m², with close to 50,000 plants,
or whiz down the highest water slide in Germany (27 m).
A holiday mood in the Setra tropical shuttle
Recently, two Setra S 415 UL and S 415 NF coaches were added to
the Tropical Islands fleet. The shuttles pick up tourists at the nearby
Brand train station and quickly immerse them in a holiday mood
during their no-cost ride to the recreation park. The coach’s exterior
is graced with a tropical island design which gives passengers
the impression of entering a jungle. Even the fabric of the ‘transit’
seats perfectly suits the concept. And, since temperatures can rise
in a jungle bus, the air conditioning system will ensure an atmosphere
that is always comfortable. Additionally, an infotainment
system with two monitors at the front and rear is installed in the
new vehicles. On one of them, the Tropical Islands corporate video
can be enjoyed as it sets the mood for the passengers’ holiday at
Tropical Islands, while the other one provides information on routing
and stops.
Fully accessible transportation
The Setra S 415 NF is equipped with a wheelchair ramp, since the
Tropical Islands getaway also offers barrier-free accessibility. The
low-entry coach facilitates passenger access with pushchairs and
heavy luggage, since for the most part, families take advantage of
this unique opportunity to reach the tropics by bus instead of by
plane.