Travel Experience aboard ENA Coach KDD364N Scania F360 Gemilang on 24th October 2021 night.

KDD364N
Covid 19 now slowly being christened Covid 21 has redefined travel such that I had almost forgotten how night travel by bus is. The other times I have moved around at night or during curfew hours have been in a truck and that means that all eyes on the road or with me behind the wheel. You will agree that even our sleeping patterns have been affected. Most of the frequent night travellers will tell you that now they prefer booking a comfortable seat and falling asleep as soon as the journey begins.
This was my resolution and I had kitted myself for this even as I called Real Dennoh to help me secure a seat. I got B1 which is a front seat on ENA Coach buses. I relish the view as well as the warmth and the engine hum.
I had expected an F360 and a beautiful bus but I didn’t imagine that I was going to get the Gemilang. Hapa Dennoh uliniweza 10 nil. As a Bus travel enthusiast, it really matters to me what bus I will use. I speak for many. We can cancel tickets or move them ahead so as to travel by certain make and models of buses, bus crew and timings, petty right? Not so petty. Its actually a big deal for us.
I had been pestering him about getting me a seat on The Gemilang or the Emirata and he remained non-committal. He finally got me a seat on the Nairobi-Busia bus, little did I know that it would be on the newest Abujubuju as Hazel fondly refers to them. Hazel is a bus lover who loves the Gemilang to Sweden and back. Story for another day though.
Its a beautiful night by every definition. I mean, we had spent the day enjoying family time and in the evening we enjoyed Chapos and Ndengu handmade by Mrs Ben Hongo. She makes delicious chapos by the way. Liverpool was playing Manchester United and the scores were like a massacre. Lets just say, Luniz once sang I got five on it. Liverpool kept kicking Man Utd.
I get to be escorted to the Uthiru office and I get a notification from FB that I have been tagged on a photo by Real Dennoh. It was a pleasant surprise, I see KDD364N as the vessel to Busia. I share the excitement with my Mrs and she plays along. Pascal confirms that its the Gemi and suddenly I get butterflies in my belly. I can’t keep calm. I adjust my attire from sleep mode to Bravia mode mpaka bump ya nane.
She arrives in all her splendour, the Gemi, also Mrs Ben Hongo has beauty unmatched. I have to say this on record to enjoy more soft and peeling chapos. Even in the Uthiru starry night, the bus stands out, glowing LEDs, mean face, white colour with the ENA trademark orange paint. I keep my extra luggage in one of the hydraulic assisted boots and head over to my seat. I have a seat mate but its doesn’t matter.
20:48 Departure time and I could tell that the current driver was a little reserved. I now realise that we had waited for close to an hour to board, its all worth it.
Interior
The 3D Panoramic Full HD view. The Driver is seated comfortably like a king on his throne. This is because of the fully hydraulic seat and pneumatic steering and access to each and every component. The way the buttons controlling the different functions of the bus are all within his reach. From the automatic door, lights, air conditioning. He doesn’t break a sweat to access any.
20:54 Gitaru
Passenger comfort: The seats are made soft fabric with ease of access to USB charging port. The suspension of the bus is a combination of leaf springs, shocks and airbags and the triaxle that guarantee passenger comfort on almost any terrain. As we keep changing lanes, you can hardly notice the change in ride texture though the road surfaces keep changing. The front row seats have a 3point seatbelt as standard on the Gemilang. I wasn’t sure how the windows looked when the bus was launched but now seeing them, they are massive and immersive also.
21:08 Limuru
Mechanicals: This bus is based on an aggressive chasis the F360 churning out 360 whooping ponies all sent to the rear wheels. This means that you have loads of power. This has already been demonstrated a couple of times when overtaking. The new-gen Scania bus is also becoming quieter and quieter and this particular one is impressively quiet. In a past video I posted in one of the group, Peter Shigoli once commented that a Tuk Tuk is noisier than a full sized bus. The only noises audible enough are the swiii and the psssu and the Retarder.
About power again, we are doing the viewpoint incline pausing briefly to shift from 8 to 7 for that power then back to 8. No sweat broken.
The 360hp engine is matched to an 8spd automatic transmission controlled by Scania’s legendary OptiCruise. Modern innovation means that the driver can now concentrate on the road and not worry about matching gears to revs or on how to achieve impressive fuel economy. This is the future.
To Scania though, there is always an error in almost all of the buses and this is no exception. There are a couple of error lights on displayed on the dashboard. This particular model the F360 has been plagued by 3 main problems. One, The airbag sensors at the rear wheel. These are prone to failure and many at times, buses have had to stay on the roadside. Two, the rear diff. It gets noisy at speeds of 75kph and above. It can cause anxiety. I think that the engine produces more power than the diff can handle. Three, transmission sensor on the Opticruise gear box. The initial 12spd autos had issues with gears from 8upwards. We encountered this several times at the Sanchangwan incline when we could not go past gear no 7. I hope Scania rectifies this.
21:27 Kijabe turn off. Night travel is back in full swing, this is signalled by the number of highway buses we have met heading to Mombasa from upcountry. Tahmeed, Dream, Modern, Mash and several Nairobi destined buses. I guess those are late departures. We also meet ENA headed to Mombasa from Nyadorera. This is a sure time keeper, though today its trailing everyone. Sundays are easy na Mombasa ni hapa tu.
21:38 We are going down the Kinungi incline and the music sets in. The Scania Retarder and mehn isn’t it music to the keen ears? The first stage is inaudible but as the call to stop becomes more pronounced, so does the sound. Soon it becomes audible and I can only imagine the magic currently underneath the bus. Its another word for effortless non-costly braking with a dip of music.
There is a certain roar of the F360 when its accelerating and its heading down a hill that is near orgasmic. Its like the bus is breathing through its nostrils and its like the bus is almost snoring. I can’t find the words that would do it justice yet. If you have ever boarded an F360 then you will know it. A snippet of it is when the bus changes gears, there. A certain Mbbrrrr!
We meet more buses from Simba, Mash and Coast Bus all headed to Mombasa.
21:51 Trailing an Easy Coach Bus past Kayole into Naivasha. It takes just a single effort to get clear of him.
Nasty accident outside of Naivasha involving a saloon car and several trucks. Hoping for zero injuries.
22:03 Past Delemare. Its open road so I buckle up to enjoy the sprint. We are holding steady at 80kph and the roar is purely melodious, if only I could prevail on the driver to adjust the volume of the stereo downwards. I have chosen to focus on the F360 roar, the Retarder as well as the hydraulic lets offs during gear shifts. The tiny whistles as air is released, too too sweet. The turbo swiiiii, wueeeeh.
Our driver is seriously enjoying this. You can tell from the way he is powering down and then how he powers up when a chance to overtake presents itself. A particular sweep saw us past 3 trailers. It felt totally effortless, no sweat broken, again.
22:14 We get the Green Light at Gilgil Weighbridge and its all systems go.
22:53 Entry into Nakuru and we encounter traffic. It opens up as we join the dual carriageway. I am feeling settled into the safari, in a good way. I credit this to our driver.
Tahmeed at Costalina. We only get 15mins at the pitstop.
With the beautiful lights on, I get to examine the interior once again. No cost has been spared and nothing has been wasted. This is in summary. Its like the parts have been custom made to fit snugly on the intended component. Nothing has been awkwardly or ill placed. Nothing has been forced and as a result, its all beautiful. The fitting workmanship is also laudable, amazing. The result is a simple, compact strong looking and very beautiful inside of the bus. No pieces of metal jutting out dangerously, no visible bolts nuts that seem out of place. None look like they want to tear into your flesh or clothes.
Tahmeed has encountered a problematic automated door. Local fabs. Its a little hard for them given that the Rello has only one functional door.
23:17 We are off into the night.
23:37 Ngata Bridge and Guardian KCU Mada bites the dust. Ahead is a Climax HB3 who is determined to show us that he got muscles. We are not in a hurry to flex either.
The carelessness exhibited by small cars on the road at night can make you cringe. There is a discussion amongst the drivers over the error messages displayed on the dashboard. Before I can say error, a Climax Benz KDA sweeps past us like we are headed in the opposite direction and disappears into the dark night. Again KCR166P MAN HB4 ‘Ungelijua Hungelisema’ from Climax also sweeps past and slowly but surely disappears into the night. We are still doing a steady 80kph. Maybe its actually true that 80kph ya Scania haitoshani na 80kph ya Man ama ya Isuzu.
We manage to catch up briefly at Simba cement before we enjoy the dust.
One thing is for sure, the ride quality, comfort, speed and braking capability of the Man HB4 is by far more superior compared to that of the Scania F series buses.
23:56 Salgaa
True test of power up Sanchangwan nothing steep enough for the F360.
00:14 Molo junction
00:23 Mau Summit junction
00:30 Londiani junction and we proceed straight.
00:38 Kedowa
00:47 Chepseon
01:12 Kericho
Drivers switching positions. We have done decent timings. Driver 2 is more aggressive and is getting more excited with the revving. He is still trying to find his position judging from the way the seat is jumping up and down and also the steering adjustments.
01:23 Kipchimchim junction
01:29 Kapsoit
01:36 We catch up and leave behind Two Easy Coach buses at the Soliat Corner downs
01:36 Kaitui
More downs and more music from the retarder. Speed tables got nothing on this Gemi and like I said, he seems to be the regular driver. He is driving with gloves off.
01:48 Muhoroni junction
01:57 Awasi
02:12 Ahero Junction. We get detoured like we are headed for Katito before heading right to Ahero town. Bread and milk trucks have already been dispatched.
02:19 Ahero town for our first drop. Mash Silver Touring is heading to Nairobi from Kampala. Simba hot on the heels of that Touring. It won’t be long. Fidel seems to have had an accident, the area around the right rear tyre has been ripped off. The boot and tyre are exposed.
Once again we are enjoying open roads and the diesel taps are open. Driver 2 has no reservations within the allowable speed limit of 80kph. Revs don’t seem to limit him. The roads are clear, the weather and atmosphere very cool and relaxed.
The 50kph zone into Rabuor doesn’t count for anything.
02:29 Rabuor
02:35 Nyamasaria
02:38 Kachok. Smelling the lake breeze, I had missed this city for sure. The smell of the lake and its resident weed is now more pronounced. Its sweet I must say. We get to the office for more drops.
02:46 Aggressive exit from Kisumu. Sweet aroma from the lake is alluring. I am happy. I bet its the reason Kisumu folks are always happy.
02:53 Airport round about.
02:54 Bump ya kwanza
02:54 Bump ya pili
02:55 Bump ya tatu
02:55 Bump ya nne
02:55 Otonglo
02:56 Bump ya tano
02:57 Sita and saba
02:58 Bump ya nane
02:59 Safely home
I am glad that night travel is back for a couple of reasons. Its time saving, you get to carry out your activities during the day and travel to the next. The night is calmer, no chaos.
The Gemilang is beautiful and well done. Its light and sturdy. The body contours are smooth and neatly done, the windows well mated to the frame giving it a nice look.
No ratings on this one though because I love the Gemilang and I will give it the best marks possible.
Points to note by ENA though and I already said it before:
When a customer complains about a faulty charging port, don’t view it as a bother. Explain the reason, over and over as many times as you will be asked. Some of these things we are told of at the booking point.
Its okay for the crew to converse in their vernacular, I have no problem but when on the job, use a common language. It makes passengers feel like they are on the right bus.
Wi-Fi has become non existent on the buses.
Bus enthusiasts prefer seat 1, the centre of the action. We call it Bravia or 3D seat. We need to be there when it happens. Please. Like in this case the crew disappeared to the back.
Kudos to you for consistently delivering quality service on your routes, for beautiful and clean buses, for maintaining 80kph even when others fly past you and for providing a bottle of water. Its a nice gesture.
Truly Exemplary.