Iceland (coaches) - July 2002

Tuesday 23 July 2002 – Austurleið-SBS was formed in 1999 as a result of the merger of Austurleið hf and SBS. Jonckheere bodied Mercedes-Benz(DP 908) was seen at 1830 hrs during the call at the pick-up point in Hella when working the 1700 services from Reykjavík to destinations along the southern coast. Quite an array of service number cards were carried in the front windscreen comprising service 1 to Selfoss and service 10 to Vík together with services 8 to Flúðir and 9 to Þhorsmork which are covered by feeder coaches from the main road route. The carriage of small goods items forms a key role on Icelandic coach services and the driver was busy unloading various boxes and packages at the petrol station shop during his quick call here. Hella has a population of just over 600 residents.

Tuesday 23 July 2002 – Austurleið-SBS was formed in 1999 as a result of the merger of Austurleið hf and SBS. Jonckheere bodied Mercedes-Benz(DP 908) was seen at 1830 hrs during the call at the pick-up point in Hella when working the 1700 services from Reykjavík to destinations along the southern coast. Quite an array of service number cards were carried in the front windscreen comprising service 1 to Selfoss and service 10 to Vík together with services 8 to Flúðir and 9 to Þhorsmork which are covered by feeder coaches from the main road route. The carriage of small goods items forms a key role on Icelandic coach services and the driver was busy unloading various boxes and packages at the petrol station shop during his quick call here. Hella has a population of just over 600 residents.

Monday 29 July 2002 – Sæmundur Sigmundsson M 507 stands between two coaches of Austurleið-SBS in the parking area at the BSÍ Coach Terminal, Reykjavík, Iceland. On the left, in former Austurleið livery, is coach 501 (with registration number 501). On the right is 510 (KJ258) in the post-merger green livery.

Monday 29 July 2002 – Austurleið-SBS coach number 510 (KJ 258), a Berkhof bodied Mercedes-Benz, carries the green livery which was finally adopted following the merger of the two companies in 1999. Seen at BSÍ Coach Terminal, Reykjavík, Iceland. (Rear lettering loosely translates as '...time travel into' ??)

Saturday 27 July 2002 - Austurleið-SBS 412 (SL 212), a cute looking Mercedes-Benz small coach, seen at Varmalið

Monday 22 July 2002 - Austurleið-SBS was formed in 1999 as a result of the merger of Austurleið hf and SBS which was based in Selfoss. Berkhof bodied DAF number 414 (X 14) still carried the colours of SBS. The company operates scheduled services from Reykjavík to destinations along the southern coast of the country although this coach was on tour work at Ϸingvellir National Park, Iceland. Ϸingvellir (Thingvellir) was where the first Icelandic Parliament, the Alþingi, was established in 930 A.D.

Monday 22 July 2002 - Austurleið-SBS was formed in 1999 as a result of the merger of Austurleið hf and SBS which was based in Selfoss. Berkhof bodied DAF number 414 (X 14) still carried the colours of SBS. The company operates scheduled services from Reykjavík to destinations along the southern coast of the country although this coach was on tour work when seen at Ϸingvellir National Park, Iceland. Ϸingvellir (Thingvellir) was where the first Icelandic Parliament, the Alþingi, was established in 930 A.D.

Tuesday 23 July 2002 - Despite its remoteness, Landmannalaugar is a well visited tourist spot in Iceland's southern highlands which is an area of geo-thermal and past volcanic activity. There were few 'comfort' facilities here other than tourist cabins for back-packers and a couple of mobile cafe buses. In this general view there are three tourist coaches among the tents of campers. The blue and white coach is Kolbeinn Erlendsson’s Mercedes-Benz R 364 and the green coach is Guðmundur Tyrfingsson's X 796. The third coach was operated by Guðmundur Jónasson.

Tuesday 23 July 2002 - Despite its remoteness, Landmannalaugar is a well visited tourist spot in Iceland's southern highlands which is an area of geo-thermal and past volcanic activity. The edge of a lava field appears on the right. There were few 'comfort' facilities here other than tourist cabins for back-packers and a couple of mobile cafe buses (visible on the left). In this general view a coach operated by Guðmundur Jónasson there stands among the tents of campers.

Monday 29 July 2002 – This impressive Kutter bodied Scania P112 of Sæmundur Sigmundsson Bus Company, M 606, carried lettering for the scheduled services the company operates between Reykjavík and the communities around the Borgarfjörður fjord area. It was parked at the BSÍ Coach Terminal, Reykjavík.

Monday 29 July 2002 – This impressive Kutter bodied Scania P112 of Sæmundur Sigmundsson Bus Company, M 606, carried lettering for the scheduled services the company operates between Reykjavík and the communities around the Borgarfjörður fjord area. It was parked at the BSÍ Coach Terminal, Reykjavík.

Thursday 25 July 2002 – Off the beaten track many Icelandic roads are only dirt and gravel surfaced requiring more rugged coaches with higher ground clearance. This Jonckheere bodied coach (M 707) of Sæmundur Sigmundsson Bus Company was operating a tour when seen at Hljóðaklettar. The company operates a number of scheduled services from Reykjavík to the communities around the Borgarfjörður fjord and the area of Snæfellsnes on the west coast.

Saturday 27 July 2002 – Sæmundur Sigmundsson Bus Company operated scheduled services between Reykjavík and the communities around the Borgarfjörður fjord area. RO 648 was seen parked at Borganes.

Monday 29 July 2002 – Sæmundur Sigmundsson Bus Company operated scheduled services between Reykjavík and the communities around the Borgarfjörður fjord area. RO 648 was seen here during a minor panic. The coach had just departed the coach terminal but within a moment was brought to a halt on the main road by a late running mail van bringing the mail destined for the communities up the coast from Reykjavík that needed to be on board the service. The mail was put on board the coach and off it went. The tower of Hallgrimskirkja church stands in the background.

Monday 29 July 2002 – Þhingvallaleið operated at least two of this unusual style of Mercedes-Benz coach. FÞ 049 was parked at the BSÍ coach terminal for most of the day on Monday 29 July 2002. Note that it carries BSÍ logo - the association of the scheduled coach operators that ran the coach terminal on the operators behalf. Þhingvallaleið operated services to the Þhingvellir National Park and to Grindavík via the Blue Lagoon - all popular tourist destinations.

Sunday 28 July 2002 – Þhingvallaleið operated services to the Þhingvellir National Park and to Grindavík via the Blue Lagoon - all popular tourist destinations. The company operated at least two of these unusual Mercedes-Benz coaches. TY 292 was seen loading for Reykjavík at the Blue Lagoon, a geo-thermal hot water bathing spot. Note that it carries the BSÍ logo which is the association of scheduled coach operators.

Sunday 28 July 2002 – Þhingvallaleið operated services to the Þhingvellir National Park and to Grindavík via the Blue Lagoon - all popular tourist destinations. The company operated at least two of these unusual Mercedes-Benz coaches and TY 292 was seen on a morning hotel pick-up in Reykjavík.

Friday 26 July 2002 - Erlingur Thdr of Eyrarbakka, Iceland Mercedes-Benz O 303 coach at Lauger which carried lettering for the tour operator HópferðaMiðstöðin.