Kunegel, Illzach 6751 WP 68 - September 2001
I generally have a bit of a blind spot when it comes to rural buses - my camera seems to shy away from them. However, having travelled on a few of them, I do quite like the Tracer. They're comfortable and civilised buses, good for rural work even if their underfloor-engined layout and high floor means that they don't quite fit in with current trends. And when I discovered this one in Alsace operator Kunegel's livery parked up at Mulhouse station I had to take a photo. The bright yellow livery with kangaroo logo is very eye-catching. Note the radiator grille under the driver's window, a feature of the Tracer design.

The Tracer (or R332 as it was initially designated) was intended to replace the S-series in the market segments that it still retained - rural bus and school bus work. As time had worn on, high-floor underfloor-engined types had become unacceptable on urban and suburban service bus work, so there was little point in producing a model to directly replace the S105RX. Similarly, standards in the touring coach market were now much higher than they had been in the 1970s and early 1980s, so Renault were now selling few S-series into this sector - more luxurious models such as the Renault FR1 were available to fill this market segment. This left rural bus and school bus work, sectors where the S-series was still selling strongly.

The S-series' replacement in these sectors was again to be an underfloor-engined design - this offered the sort of simplicity that operators were looking for. However, passengers and operators now demanded a few more creature comforts than the S-series had offered, so the Tracer was longer, heavier and a bit more sophisticated than its predecessor. Despite any reservations that the complexity of the new model would limit its appeal among operators used to the simpler S-series, Renault were quickly proved right. The Tracer was an instant hit, selling well across the country, and it soon became a familiar sight on the highways of rural France.

CTS, Strasbourg nos. 607 (5404 XF 67) and 610 (2389 ZE 67) - September 2001
More buses from CTS' rural fleet, in departmental 'Réseau 67' colours. This photo shows the two main Tracer variants. No. 607 on the left is an earlier vehicle and has the two-leaf doors fitted to all early Tracers. 610 shows the later option of plug doors. CTS have eleven Tracers among their rural fleet.

Initially, all Tracers were built with two doors, a front entrance and centre exit, with two-leaf doors at each. In 1992 a version was launched with plug-type doors instead - not only did these look less bus-like but they allowed an extra row of seats to be added to the nearside of the bus, upping the maximum seating capacity from 57 to 59. Most (if not all) Tracers are fitted with non-reclining high-back seats, and the vehicle as a whole is thoroughly pleasant to travel in - quiet, smooth riding and comfortable.

The Tracer remained in production until late 2001 when its replacement was launched. The Tracer's position in the market has now been filled by two models. Renault produce the rear-engined Arès coach which is gaining in popularity with interurban bus operators - the Arès appears to be pitched at a slightly more luxurious market than the Tracer was, however it is still less luxurious and more suited to service work than the Iliade touring coach that heads Renault's range. Additionally, Renault acquired the Czech manufacturer Karosa in the mid-1990s, and Renault-badged (but Karosa-built) Récreo coaches soon began appearing in France. The Récreo was a particular hit as cheap schools transport, and a modified version known as the Axer has now been launched to directly replace both the Récreo and the Tracer.

Rapides de Bourgogne, Auxerre 5474 RN 89 - September 2001
Over the past few decades the French railway company SNCF has been steadily cutting back on rural train services. Often these have been replaced by bus services, sometimes resulting in the complete closure of the line to passenger traffic, in other cases just leaving the busiest journeys operated by trains. Since the 1980s, SNCF regional services have been branded as TER (Train Express Régional), and the trains are painted in one of four colour schemes. These are white with relief in either green, blue, red or yellow, the colour used being selected by the region concerned. The replacement buses, contracted from local operators, usually also carry TER branding and a standard grey-based livery incorporating the regional choice of colour. Champagne-Ardenne is a 'blue' region, and this Rapides de Bourgogne Tracer (seen resting outside Troyes station) carries the grey livery with blue flash. Tracers are commonly used on TER work, often alongside Renault FR1 and Iliade coaches.