European Coach Week edition 2009
The Grand Award Coach Busworld 2009 turned out to be a riveting neck and neck race. By a very small margin, the Grand Award Coach goes out to the Setra 416 GT-HD. The Grand Award Bus also goes to a product from the Evobus stable: the Mercedes-Benz Citaro Low Entry. In the midi coach category, amongst other things the jury succumbed to the abundant on-board facilities for the tour guide in the Otokar Vectio 250T. The Environment Award goes to the hybrid fuel cell A330 FC coach built by Van Hool. The Innovation Award goes to the VDL Group for the wide raft of innovations on board the Citea bus intended for Dubai and the Jonckheere SB400 coach. The prizes were handed out to the winners at a reception held at Busworld’s headquarters in Rumbeke Castle. read more
The fourteenth edition of European Coach and Bus Week (ECW) in Kortrijk is set to
take place from Saturday 10 up to and including Tuesday 13 October 2009 and consists of a series of trials and presentations. The tests are to be
performed on the Xpo Kortrijk premises and a number of outside test courses.
ECW will follow a completely different course, geared to the aspirations of tomorrow’s bus and coach operators and travellers. A working group has reviewed and revised the formula to produce a modern concept with numerous innovations, down to the smallest details. These innovations are as follows.
Participation of buses
The first major innovation is that, for the first time, city and interurban buses can take part,
because there have been plenty of developments in this segment, too. And so, from now on, ECW stands for the European Coach and Bus Week. The
buses are given a general ranking. The bus with the highest overall score for innovation receives the Kortrijk Bus Grand Award. Naturally, the
general ranking for coaches will still continue. The coach with the highest overall score receives the Kortrijk Coach Grand Award.
The vehicles are presented in a standard commercial design.
Award for the environment
There is a second important innovation. Consideration of the environment increases with every
Busworld, all over the world. ECW will recognise this important development with the presentation of a specific award for the bus or coach with the
highest score for innovation related to the environment. This award is the Kortrijk Busworld Bus/Coach Environment Award.
The jury
The third major innovation is the composition of the jury. From now on, buses and coaches will be assessed by specialist professionals. For this event,
the jury members will pay particular attention to INNOVATION, the main theme of this event. They will consider the areas of safety, the environment,
accessibility, comfort, technology, and design.
Alternative Plaza
The fourth major innovation is ‘Idea Plaza’. The intention is that all bus designers put their heads together to present to the world all developments involving new technology, ranging from vehicles with alternative drive systems to unique ideas which capitalise on the constantly changing needs of the transport sectors. The vehicle with the highest score in this area can show off the Kortrijk Busworld Innovation Award at Busworld.
More media attention
The fifth innovation is increased media attention. More than ever before, Busworld will be communicating this event worldwide using the very latest tools now available. Winners and all participants will be given maximum media coverage via magazines, radio, television, and internet all over the world.
All our partners and contacts, from Kortrijk to Shanghai, from Mumbai to Moscow, will be given a full update every day on events at the ECW, culminating in the presentation of the awards at the press dinner on Wednesday 14 October in the Busworld headquarters in Rumbeke Castle at 8.00 p.m. to which all participating designers are invited.
The prizewinners will also be announced and celebrated during the official opening session of Busworld on Friday 16 October at 4.00 p.m.
In short, with this new approach, the ECW is aiming to play a pioneering role, developing into a tool for policy makers, and providing insight into developments in the field of mobility and genuine opportunities in the future.
You can register by e-mail Sonja.vandewiele@busworld.org with Sonja Vande Wiele until 10 September. Please do not hesitate to contact us, if you require more information.
List of awards ECW 2009
- - BUSWORLD Kortrijk Grand Award - Bus
- - BUSWORLD Kortrijk Grand Award - Coach
- - BUSWORLD Kortrijk Grand Award - Midi Coach
- - BUSWORLD Kortrijk Environment Award
- - BUSWORLD Kortrijk Innovation Award
