Details of Cars

Neoplan Trendliner: the Lion’s Regio in Neoplan clothes

NEOPLAN

Neoplan Trendliner of CarPostal Méditerranée
A Neoplan Trendliner of CarPostal Méditerranée. Photo by Anthony Levrot, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons.

The Neoplan Trendliner was the brand’s version of the MAN Lion’s Regio, offered from 2004 to 2009. Apart from its front and rear styling it was identical to the MAN model, and both were built in the MAN bus plant at Ankara.

Neoplan Trendliner at a glance

Neoplan Trendliner key facts
Production 2004–2009
Based on MAN Lion’s Regio, built 2004–2017
Differences front and rear styling only
Duties inter-urban service, excursions and transfers
Plant MAN bus works, Ankara
Original lengths 12.25 m two-axle and 13.9 m three-axle
Added in 2006 13 m two-axle
Withdrawn 2009, when Neoplan concentrated on touring coaches
Successor Neoplan Jetliner, 2013–2015

Based on one source: the German Wikipedia article on the MAN Lion’s Regio, to which the Neoplan Trendliner page redirects.

History of the Neoplan Trendliner

A sister model to the Lion’s Regio

The Trendliner appeared in 2004, the same year as the MAN Lion’s Regio on which it was based. Both were combination buses, equally suited to inter-urban scheduled work and to excursions and transfer journeys. The two vehicles were identical apart from the outer appearance: the Neoplan carried its own front and rear styling over MAN engineering. The range began with a 12.25 m two-axle coach and a 13.9 m three-axle coach, and a 13 m two-axle version was added in 2006. All versions were produced at the MAN bus plant in Ankara, Turkey.

Neoplan Trendliner on a TER Lorraine service
A Trendliner on a TER Lorraine regional service. Photo by Occitandu34, CC0 via Wikimedia Commons.

The end of the line

Neoplan reorganised its range so that it would cover touring coaches only, and the Trendliner left the market in 2009. The MAN Lion’s Regio itself continued until 2017, when it was discontinued because a stricter rollover regulation would have required a complete redesign. Neoplan returned to the segment for the 2013 model year with the Jetliner, which again largely matched the Lion’s Regio, but that model was withdrawn in 2015.

Who bought them

ÖBB-Postbus, PostAuto Schweiz and the German Bundeswehr all bought larger numbers of Lion’s Regios for their fleets, and the Reutlingen fire service had a Trendliner converted into a command vehicle.

Design and features

  • MAN engineering: the same chassis, engines and running gear as the Lion’s Regio.
  • Neoplan styling: a different front and rear were the only external changes.
  • Combination duties: designed for both scheduled inter-urban service and excursion or transfer work.
  • Ankara production: built in the same Turkish plant as the MAN version.
  • Emergency use: a Trendliner served the Reutlingen fire service as a command vehicle.

Neoplan Trendliner versions

  • Trendliner 12.25 m: the original two-axle coach.
  • Trendliner 13.9 m: the original three-axle coach.
  • Trendliner 13 m: a two-axle version added in 2006.
  • Jetliner (2013–2015): the later Neoplan successor, again based on the Lion’s Regio.

The Trendliner took over the intercity duties of the Euroliner and sat below the touring coaches such as the Tourliner. The full range is in the Neoplan collection.

Sources

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