History
The model, introduced early 1994 (UL70 series also called U412-220 UL70) and produced until 2002, was mostly used in Bucharest's bus network operated by RATB even though some U 412-260s are also used in other Romanian cities such as Braşov, Cluj-Napoca, Galati, Craiova, and Oradea. [1] [2]
Rocar De Simon buses also were used by the army and the MAI. Used as a coach, it was also equipped with air conditioning, and it had 2 doors (front and mid). Also some Rocar De Simon buses were sold to some particulars, mainly versions with 2 doors, but also with 3 doors. 2-door versions are also available with a slightly shorter wheelbase. Rocar De Simon was built in 7 versions: U412-220 UL70, U412-220, U412-230, U412-260, U412E (trolleybus), U412 DAF (with DAF platform), and some 2-door versions based on U412-260, with slightly lower wheelbase.
STB has withdrawn all of them from service (including trolleybus 7454), because some of them were severely worn out, but also because RATB wanted to operate solely low floor busses with air conditioning. The only vehicle remaining at STB based on Rocar De Simon is trolleybus #7459. Some of them were scrapped (the most severely worn out), but some of them are still in some garages of STB in conservation, not in regular use for public transport, they are used for internal purposes or are proposed either for scrapping or sale.
A major problem RATB discovered at these buses after a few years of operation, was the broken chassis, either the rear console was bending, either some busses were bending at the mid, probably because frequently overloading them. It is one of the main reasons RATB removed them from regular service, apart from the fact that RATB wanted solely low floor buses. RATB removed Rocar De Simon buses from operation in mid to late 2011. All of them were replaced with low floor buses, Mercedes-Benz Citaro type.
Rocar De Simon was quite a modern vehicle at its time, actual design, having MAN Euro 2 engines, automatic transmission (although vehicles with manual transmission also existed), ABS, electronic controlled air suspension (ECAS), tubeless tires (although some were delivered with tube type wheel assembly), Fluorescent lighting of the saloon, plastic (sometimes with upholstery) seats, Blaupunkt sound system with public address with bus vox system announcing the stations, electrical ventilating rooftops, heated saloon, STOP button in the saloon (for announcing the driver to stop at some desired stations) and some safety features (like hammer for crashing the windows in case of fire), and many of them were equipped with electronic display (few of them were even equipped with luminescent display). Despite these advantages, it didn't prove very successful, mainly due to low number of manufactured vehicles, as only about 400 vehicles were manufactured between 1994 and 2002 (taking in consideration all its versions (220, 230, 260) and derivate vehicles – coach, trolleybus, shorter wheelbase version), and probably by concurrence (mainly second hand vehicles but also some new busses) and high price. However, it was bought in low numbers by other public transport companies around Romania and some particulars.
It had no successor because ROCAR went bankrupt, although its successors were meant to be either Rocar 812 series (built on BusOtto Autodromo platform) only one bus and one trolleybus were made in 1998, or ROCAR SOLARIS URBINO in 2002 (the last attempt before ROCAR went bankrupt, only one piece was spotted, but unknown if it was badged ROCAR or it was really built by ROCAR). Rocar De Simon was meant to be the successor of DAC/Rocar 112/212 and 117/217 series based on the older Roman 112 UD, but they continued the production of the later in parallel with De Simon until 2000. De Simon bus series, although originally had an articulated version, ROCAR never built articulated De Simon. It was the last bus ever made by ROCAR, its production ceased in 2002 some months before ROCAR officially declared Bankruptcy. Unlike Rocar 112/117/212/217 series which were exported to some countries, Rocar De Simon was not officially exported (at least no model is known to be sold outside Romania). All built vehicles, were delivered and operated in Romania. Rocar de Simon busses (so for Rocar 812 BusOtto Autodromo) were unaffected by the bankruptcy of its mother factory, ROCAR, compared to many other ROCAR products (apart from the fact they were outdated), as spare parts were (and sometimes are) widely available, because it was produced with components also used by many other manufacturers, some of them being interchangeable. Body parts like panels, glasses, tail lights and headlights could be brought from Italy or other countries which were operating De Simon Buses.
