SOR
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 Logo (which actually looks good) | |
| Foundation | 1991 |
|---|---|
| Catchphrase | VERY SHITY BUSES ! |
| Stock cap. | Interesting |
| Profits | poor |
| Source of income | Europe |
| Founder | Privatization |
| Chief | Some Gay |
| Employees | 739 |
| Products | Many, Many (Shitty) buses |
| Headquarters | Libchavy |
| Parent(s) | SOR |
SOR Libchavy (Sdružení opravárenství a rozvoje - Association for Repair and Development) is a Czech company that has taken the noble pursuit of making buses and turned it into an art form since 1991. Headquartered in the scenic Libchavy, the company produces everything from city buses to long-distance coaches, each one designed to give passengers the true Central European transportation experience.
SOR prides itself on "innovative" solutions, which is evident in their offerings of not just classic diesel buses but also electric vehicles that occasionally remember to charge fully before the route ends. Whether for city streets or highways, a SOR bus guarantees passengers a ride they'll likely remember—often for reasons beyond comfort.
How it started[edit | edit source]
Before its glamorous pivot to buses, the company that would become SOR Libchavy had a riveting start producing agricultural machinery – everything from feeding wagons to hay tedders and mountain mini-tractors. These weren’t just machines; they were the unsung heroes of Czech agriculture, faithfully turning hay and hauling silage with a rustic charm. Then came 1991: privatization fever hit, and the company went from handling hay to handling shareholder agreements. Nine ambitious souls from Vysoké Mýto and Libchavy pooled their savings (totaling a grand 180,000 Kč), and on December 6, 1991, they officially formed a limited liability company, with dreams much bigger than their capital.
In the beginning, the company dabbled in construction equipment – trailers and scaffolding, essentials for anyone building big dreams on a shoestring. It was during this phase that they ambitiously began developing buses, using profits from their trailer empire to fund prototypes. By 1993, they had their first bus prototype ready, and in 1994, they made history by selling their first bus to the city of Kadaň. Thus, a new era began, one scaffolding and hay tedder at a time.
Bus production[edit | edit source]
SOR buses are more than just vehicles—they’re an experience, blending practicality with a design philosophy that could only be described as “bare-bones durability.” From a distance, their iron-shaped, handleless profile signals to riders that this bus means business, and by business, we mean a back-to-basics, no-frills approach to public transportation. With their trademark rumble reminiscent of a classic tractor, SOR buses aren’t trying to hide their agricultural heritage; rather, they embrace it fully, offering passengers a sonic experience that’s part bus ride, part countryside symphony.
Inside, comfort was clearly considered a luxury that SOR opted to sidestep in favor of minimalist seating and legroom that’s economical in every sense. Passengers quickly learn to appreciate the ingenuity of SOR’s design as they settle into rock-hard seats that ensure they remain alert and aware of every bump and turn. Legroom is rationed thoughtfully, ensuring that every passenger can stretch out—just not too much.
However, what SOR buses lack in plush amenities, they more than make up for in reliability. These buses are built like tanks, capable of withstanding the most unforgiving Czech roads with barely a shudder. Their hardiness is legendary; potholes, cobblestones, and steep climbs don’t faze them in the least. It’s as if each bus is on a personal mission to prove that what doesn’t kill it makes it stronger. In fact, their durability could easily make one forget that they’re riding a vehicle from a company better known for feeding wagons and hay tedders.
Ultimately, SOR buses offer a truly unique ride: passengers may sacrifice comfort, but they gain an unbeatable sense of resilience and a sense of solidarity as they journey together, shoulder-to-shoulder, within this moving tribute to agricultural ingenuity.
Production under licence[edit | edit source]
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In a bold move to spread their no-nonsense approach to bus manufacturing, SOR took on licensing agreements with Solbus in Poland and Credo in Hungary, sharing their iconic "iron-without-a-handle" design philosophy beyond Czech borders. This collaboration allowed Solbus and Credo to adopt the classic SOR model—complete with its famously tractor-like rumble, spartan seating arrangements, and minimalist aesthetic.
For Solbus, this meant a new line of buses that combined Polish resilience with the unmistakable SOR soundscape, creating a hybrid experience that left passengers wondering if they were on a bus or a heavy-duty farm machine. In Hungary, Credo adopted the SOR design blueprint, allowing local commuters to experience the joys of reliable (if not always comfortable) transit, complete with that familiar iron-wrought, bare-bones look that says, “We’ll get you there—eventually.”
Through these licensing agreements, SOR successfully expanded its influence, bringing its brand of "agriculturally inspired" transportation to a new audience eager for a bus that could take on anything the road—and the countryside—could throw at it.
SOR-Ekobus and CNG buses production[edit | edit source]
Imagine the idyllic world of Czech bus manufacturing – a haven of innovation and eco-friendly dreams. Ekobus, a small yet plucky company from Česká Lípa, proudly leads the way in the green revolution, developing CNG-powered buses for SOR to clean up the air for future generations. With an earnest commitment to the environment and an ironclad license in hand, Ekobus sets out to prove that public transportation doesn’t have to belch diesel fumes to get people where they’re going.
Then, bam! Enter SOR. Unlike Ekobus, which believes in transparency and a steady path to success, SOR has other ideas. Spotting a lucrative opportunity in going green, they decide that there’s more than one way to get a bus running on CNG – and not all of them involve licensing agreements. With a little backroom diplomacy and just the right connections, SOR effectively sidelines Ekobus, grabbing the CNG market right out from under them.
In a flash, Ekobus is out of the game, and SOR is heralding its own line of CNG buses as the eco-saviors of public transport. Ekobus, meanwhile, is left to reminisce about its lost ‘green gold,’ as the market it pioneered drives on without them. The roads are soon filled with SOR buses emblazoned with a fresh eco-friendly logo, while Ekobus is relegated to history as yet another pioneer overtaken by corporate maneuvering.
Today, we can only chuckle at how quickly a green vision can shift its hue when the right people are signing on the dotted line.
Prague Transport System contract[edit | edit source]
Prague, the city of culture and progress, has awarded yet another contract to the SOR NB bus series – a fleet that has haunted its streets and tormented its passengers since 2009. These iron beasts, with their cacophony of rattles and shudders, are poised to continue delivering an unmatched “adventure travel” experience, one that has little to do with smooth rides or dependable schedules.
Picture the scene: weary commuters gather at a stop, silently praying that the incoming SOR NB bus will show up remotely close to its scheduled time. As it finally roars around the corner, often with a hint of dramatic delay, the crowd braces itself. Boarding means embarking on a journey where comfort is a distant dream and structural integrity feels, at best, like a rumor. Inside, the seating is a marvel of ergonomic oversight, offering passengers the choice of a too-hard seat cushion or the thrill of standing near a door that sounds like it’s about to pop off its hinges.
Once underway, the SOR NB offers two speeds: a sluggish crawl that could almost double as a meditation class, or a reckless, high-octane dash where each pothole becomes a jarring encounter and every passenger gets a free spinal alignment. The experience of traveling in an SOR NB bus is like a crash course in resilience; it tests your patience, your balance, and your endurance as you cling for dear life to an overheated handrail.
This “modern” fleet claims to be eco-friendly, but riders may question if the sheer noise and vibration output haven’t offset the bus’s carbon savings entirely. Yet despite all of this, Prague has doubled down on its commitment to the SOR NB – a clear sign that the city is loyal to its own kind of public transit adventure: one where reliability, comfort, and sanity all take a back seat to the rattle, hum, and grit of raw urban survival.
Intercity transport until 2022[edit | edit source]
The intercity buses by SOR are a tale of travel torment all their own, ranging from the comfort-deficient torture devices that are the C and CN series to the relatively tolerable LC line. Models like the SOR C and CN are renowned not so much for transporting passengers as for subjecting them to a uniquely rugged endurance test. Each ride brings a mix of hard seats, minimal legroom, and a suspension system seemingly designed to amplify every jolt and bump along the journey.
And then there’s the LC series, which, by comparison, is like a fleeting oasis. While still basic, it manages a semblance of comfort with more reasonable seating and a layout that spares passengers some of the harsher features of the C and CN models. Though the LC doesn’t deliver a luxury experience, it’s often hailed as a survival-friendly option in SOR’s lineup—a relative victory in the world of intercity transit.
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So, whether you find yourself on the rattling, backbreaking C or CN, or luck into the “luxury” of an LC, SOR’s intercity fleet promises an experience in perseverance, where each journey doubles as a gritty introduction to the sacrifices of public transportation.
Situation now[edit | edit source]
The retirement of the old SOR models—C, CN, B, BN, NB, and LC—marked the end of an era when travel felt more like a trial of endurance than a means of getting from point A to point B. These ancient series had earned a legendary reputation among passengers, with some dubbing them “torture devices on wheels” and others affectionately calling them “the indestructible tractors of public transport.” There were even those who reveled in their unique aesthetic—an industrial retro design that screamed, “I was built in a different time, and I’m not leaving quietly!”
But now, with the arrival of the new NS, ICN, and IBN models, it feels like the dawn of a new era. These buses have ditched the cramped seating, relentless rattling, and suspension systems that could double as medieval torture devices. Instead, they offer a surprisingly comfortable experience that could make even the most die-hard skeptics reconsider their opinions on intercity travel.
Imagine sinking into a seat that doesn’t feel like it was plucked from a 1970s dentist's office. Picture a ride that glides over potholes rather than plunging into them like a rollercoaster from hell. The new models promise not only a smoother journey but also a level of quality that could have you forgetting that you’re on a public bus.
This transformation extends beyond intercity travel—urban buses are also undergoing a much-needed facelift. Gone are the days of jostling for position while crammed into a rusty, overcrowded SOR NB. Now, commuters can enjoy a ride that feels less like an extreme sport and more like a pleasant jaunt through the city.
So, as the dust settles on the old SOR fleets, we can raise a toast (preferably in a non-spillable container) to the new era of public transport. After all, if we’re going to suffer the whims of commuting, we might as well do it in style—preferably while seated comfortably!
Palette of models[edit | edit source]
- SOR B 7,5 (1996 - 2004) “When compact was still cool!” Role: Narrow city streets, tight schedules, and occasionally fitting two passengers per seat. Features: The bus version of a ‘90s mini truck; good for short hops, but don’t expect luxury.
- SOR C 7,5 "Lili" (2002 - 2008) “The mini-van of city buses.” Role: Quiet neighborhood routes and, ideally, routes without too many complaints about legroom. Features: Named after your favorite aunt; compact, quirky, and with more personality than seat space.
- SOR BN 8,5 (2008 - 2022) “When 8.5 meters felt just right!” Role: Designed for routes where the width of your bus matters... immensely. Features: Shorter and slimmer, perfect for city planners who weren’t anticipating double-parking.
- SOR NB 12 (2008 - 2022) “Classic but tired.” Role: The standard city bus—durable, predictable, and a favorite of everyone who likes standing room only. Features: Low-floor and perfect for shuffling commuters in and out at record speeds.
- SOR NB 18 (2008 - 2022) “For when you need to double down on public transport.” Role: City’s busiest routes, morning rush, and testing how long it takes to snake around corners. Features: Articulated design, maximum capacity, with an accordion middle section that’s both flexible and prone to jamming.
- SOR NS 12 (2018 - present) “Sleek, silent, and almost futuristic.” Role: Eco-conscious, and occasionally surprising passengers with its eerie silence. Features: Fully electric, emission-free, and prone to starting conversations about the future of public transport.
- SOR EBN 11 (2010 - present) “Electric and, technically, futuristic.” Role: Environmental zones and showing off for city eco-initiatives. Features: Quiet and zippy, but occasionally plagued by battery anxiety.
Intercity Buses: "The Wanderers"[edit | edit source]
- SOR B 9,5 (1999 - 2004) “Taking comfort and practicality… but mainly practicality.” Role: Short intercity routes, reminding passengers of their childhood road trips. Features: Just big enough to be called “intercity,” yet small enough to remind you it’s more city than inter.
- SOR C 10,5 (2000 - 2022) “Where size meets compromise.” Role: Moderate intercity routes with moderate demands for comfort. Features: Stretching its length, aiming for maximum legroom for exactly one person per row.
- SOR ICN 12 (2022 - present) “For the modern intercity experience!” Role: The upgraded, streamlined model for intercity routes with a hint of flair. Features: Modern design, eco-friendly options, and just enough onboard tech to keep passengers mildly entertained.
- SOR LH 10,5 (2005 - present) “Stretch your legs… a little.” Role: Suburban and intercity routes where space is a luxury. Features: Compact yet surprisingly comfortable, it’s like the IKEA couch of intercity buses.
- SOR CN 12 (2005 - 2012) “Not too fancy, but it works.” Role: Basic intercity routes for budget-conscious travelers. Features: Clean design, straightforward comfort, and just enough amenities to make the trip feel official.
- SOR LC 12 (2005 - present) “Luxury is a state of mind.” Role: Long-distance, occasionally feeling a touch upscale but only if you’re in a forgiving mood. Features: Reclining seats, air conditioning (if it’s working), and enough space to feel like the business class of buses.
