Bus Manufacturer News & Discussion

[joieman]

Or rather, the double decks in your area are long compared with the norm. I know the likes of Reading and Nottingham go for longer double decks, but they're very much outliers.

Ah, yes, the looooooong Scania Omnidekkas!

 

[MCR247]

Ah, yes, the looooooong Scania Omnidekkas!

They spoilt us

 

[RacsoMoquette]

Exactly how many regional Stagecoach bus operations have orders examples of Optare/Switch Solos? It is good to see new examples entering service. It would also be very good to maybe see the Diesel Metrodecker to restart production! It would certainly give them more orders regionally, albeit they are quite a few examples of Switch electric products in London (New Builds).

 

[aswilliamsuk]

Exactly how many regional Stagecoach bus operations have orders examples of Optare/Switch Solos? It is good to see new examples entering service. It would also be very good to maybe see the Diesel Metrodecker to restart production! It would certainly give them more orders regionally, albeit they are quite a few examples of Switch electric products in London (New Builds).

The original order for 60 Solos has reported to be now increased to 118. Many ops within the group are getting them, it seems.

 

[Trnsprt4Sctlnd]

The original order for 60 Solos has reported to be now increased to 118. Many ops within the group are getting them, it seems.

I thought many ops may have stuck to something like a Mellor Strata.

 

[Blindtraveler]

Reality is that like them or hate them. There's always going to be a market for a product like the slimline solo that has been reactivated and is now being delivered. Does anyone you know what build quality is like? I'm aware they're going for the same Cummins power pack as in the E200

 

[Energy]

Reality is that like them or hate them. There's always going to be a market for a product like the slimline solo that has been reactivated and is now being delivered.

Indeed, a recent article on the bigger order says they will largely replace the oldest Solos in the fleet. I presume Stagecoach has deemed these routes unlikely to be possible on electric and that they can't cascade enough Enviro 200s out, or for many not much more than a Solo would fit.

I thought many ops may have stuck to something like a Mellor Strata.

Stagecoach have a few. They may not be impressed with them, or Mellor can't make enough in a reasonable timeframe, or they cost more than a Solo SR.

 

[johnw]

I would think that ordering Solos rather than other smaller bus options is a positive move as it provides customers with a ‘big bus’ environment in marginal routes.

The Volvo situation coach wise is interesting as how many operators such as Parks of Hamilton will be happy to accept MCV as the only body option.

 

[hst43102]

The Volvo situation coach wise is interesting as how many operators such as Parks of Hamilton will be happy to accept MCV as the only body option.

Does Jonckheere still produce bodies for Volvo chassis?

 

[Energy]

Does Jonckheere still produce bodies for Volvo chassis?

There was a delivery of one in January 2023. Volvo no longer offers the B11R so any order would need the JHV2 offered on the B13R.

Jonckheere has been part of VDL for a while, if you look closely at more recent examples you can see some VDL-looking interior components. VDL is currently slimming the Van Hool range so they do not compete, I wouldn't be surprised if they didn't have any intent of bodying other chassis anymore.

 

[RacsoMoquette]

Optare/Switch recent Metrocity EV product to London operators seems to be relatively well built, with minimal rattles and loose panels compared to Wright or ADL products. I think they are excellent for the small low patronage routes they serve! I think that they have really upped their game since their build quality issues in 2019 and hence why more operators are trusting them to deliver on time. The Stagecoarch South Wales Solos were not delayed upon entering service. More interest was massively aided by the reintroduction of the Slimline Solo and by watching YouTube journeys, they seem to be smooth and great little buses to ride!

 

[Blindtraveler]

It wouldn't surprise me if Volvo find themselves approached by a new bodybuilder going forward. Interested in working with them. I suspect that part of the reason for the number of reductions in bodybuilders has been the not insignificant update to Volvo's coach range in recent times and the mid to long distance market is going to look very different going forward. Anyway, intermediate or mid-distance services including those shuttling between major transport hubs such as air and seaports and town and City centres within 100 or so miles radius is going to be adequately served by the electric market in the next couple of years. So it's only really super long distance work that is still going to require diesel or hybrid. And as hybrid hasn't really taken off in the coach market, you're looking at diesel until such time. Indeed, if such a time ever comes, that hydrogen becomes a viable option for the likes of long distance. In other words, over 100 or so miles trips
And equally interesting will be to see what the private hire and touring markets seem keen buy. Presumably there was a slump in orders for this market during the pandemic also, and I should imagine it's only now where some of these providers are looking to make significant fleet alterations. This in my view is where plaxton have missed a trick because their vehicles often appealed to private hire providers, particularly those during school or short to mid distance highers

 

[RacsoMoquette]

Could we see orders from the likes of Stagecoach possibly orders examples of Switch Metrocity to regional operations? Recently they have really seemed to gather momentum in London with now numerous examples operating with Abellio and Stagecoach on the respective routes!

 

[MotCO]

Could we see orders from the likes of Stagecoach possibly orders examples of Switch Metrocity to regional operations? Recently they have really seemed to gather momentum in London with now numerous examples operating with Abellio and Stagecoach on the respective routes!

Is this because of a price differential between the Metrocity and the E200? Or is it possible that delivery times for Switch products is better than for ADL (unbelievable I know, but maybe ADL has a very full order book / lack of BYD chassis during the changeover to in-house products?)

 

[citybus2500]

Optare/Switch recent Metrocity EV product to London operators seems to be relatively well built, with minimal rattles and loose panels compared to Wright or ADL products. I think they are excellent for the small low patronage routes they serve! I think that they have really upped their game since their build quality issues in 2019 and hence why more operators are trusting them to deliver on time. The Stagecoarch South Wales Solos were not delayed upon entering service. More interest was massively aided by the reintroduction of the Slimline Solo and by watching YouTube journeys, they seem to be smooth and great little buses to ride!

You must have been travelling on different Metrocitys to me then!

Rattle central. Particularly the back support for wheelchairs. The partition glass between the low and high floor areas showing micro cracks around the screws holding them in place due to excessive vibration.

Could we see orders from the likes of Stagecoach possibly orders examples of Switch Metrocity to regional operations? Recently they have really seemed to gather momentum in London with now numerous examples operating with Abellio and Stagecoach on the respective routes!

And the Metrocity being the only vehicle that met the spec for small buses. The majority of Stagecoach ones were also ordered by others (CT Plus, Tower Transit). They now ordered E100EVs

 

[Mikey C]

The E200BYD EV feels to me more like a heavyweight single decker, rather than the lighter Dart/E200/Metrocity/Streetlite etc, and thus the Metrocity found a nice niche in London for a few years.

Do Wright still produce the Streetlite?

 

[Energy]

Could we see orders from the likes of Stagecoach possibly orders examples of Switch Metrocity to regional operations? Recently they have really seemed to gather momentum in London with now numerous examples operating with Abellio and Stagecoach on the respective routes!

The Metrocity EV was the only one to meet TfL's capacity requirements for a sub 9m bus. The BYD E200 was available as 8.9m but didn't have a high enough capacity.

They now ordered E100EVs

The E100EV is quite a threat to Optare/Switch's London market.

 

[Blindtraveler]

But by contrast, if Alexander Dennis find that they've got too many London orders both for this and larger types. As the electrification program continues, switch might pick up orders from the provinces.

 

[joieman]

The E200BYD EV feels to me more like a heavyweight single decker, rather than the lighter Dart/E200/Metrocity/Streetlite etc, and thus the Metrocity found a nice niche in London for a few years.

Do Wright still produce the Streetlite?

It is still advertised on Wrightbus's website, but it presently doesn't have an electric version, and probably won't as it is over a decade old. Orders seem to be quite slow nowadays, however, compared to the all-conquering ADL Enviro200MMC: according to BusListsOnTheWeb, the last order for the StreetLite seems to have been in 2023.

 

[Goldfish62]

The E200BYD EV feels to me more like a heavyweight single decker

It very much is a heavyweight, utilising the BYD K-series chassis, same as the BYD E400EV.

 

[dgl]

The E200BYD EV feels to me more like a heavyweight single decker, rather than the lighter Dart/E200/Metrocity/Streetlite etc, and thus the Metrocity found a nice niche in London for a few years.

Do Wright still produce the Streetlite?

I believe essentially they do, the electric version is now called the Kite electroliner though I don't know what the parts commonality between them is given the differences of an electric drivetrain.

 

[Leyland Bus]

According to their website, they don't do an electric Streetlite and it appears all the diesel models are now called "Ultroliners"...

Wrightbus | World’s first hydrogen double decker bus

Wrightbus is leading the way in zero-emissions vehicles by driving the industry into a new era of energy efficient transport with its fuel cell vehicles.

wrightbus.com

STREETLITE
ULTROLINER W/F
ULTROLINER D/F

 

[Mikey C]

I believe essentially they do, the electric version is now called the Kite electroliner though I don't know what the parts commonality between them is given the differences of an electric drivetrain.

The GB Kite is a full size single decker though, rather than the shorter and lighter Streetlite.

 

[Goldfish62]

According to their website, they don't do an electric Streetlite and it appears all the diesel models are now called "Ultroliners"...

Wrightbus | World’s first hydrogen double decker bus

Wrightbus is leading the way in zero-emissions vehicles by driving the industry into a new era of energy efficient transport with its fuel cell vehicles.

wrightbus.com

STREETLITE
ULTROLINER W/F
ULTROLINER D/F

I must be going mad. I've just looked at the website and the only Ultroliner listed under "our buses" is the Streetdeck diesel. No reference anywhere to the Streetlite:

• STREETDECK
• HYDROLINER FCEV
• ELECTROLINER BEV
• ULTROLINER EU6
• OPEN TOP ELECTROLINER
• GB KITE
• HYDROLINER FCEV
• ELECTROLINER BEV

• GB HAWK
• EU6 DIESEL

 

[michael8]

I was in Portsmouth at the weekend and there is a new fleet of Wrightbus electric single deckers "Solent Electric". This is such a cool looking bus - it's really tall ! And the livery is great. It was amazing to walk along Queen Street and see bus after bus zipping along. Well worth a visit.

 

[Leyland Bus]

I must be going mad. I've just looked at the website and the only Ultroliner listed under "our buses" is the Streetdeck diesel. No reference anywhere to the Streetlite:

It's right there on the front page

 

[Goldfish62]

It's right there on the front page

Ah, I didn't scroll down. To prove I'm not actually going mad here's what's under "our buses" :

 

[Leyland Bus]

Ah, I didn't scroll down. To prove I'm not actually going mad here's what's under "our buses" :

Absolutely fantastic! Even they aren't sure if they still make it or not!

 

[MotCO]

Absolutely fantastic! Even they aren't sure if they still make it or not!

Maybe the're in denial. Would you own up to making the Streetlite?

 

[Leyland Bus]

Maybe the're in denial. Would you own up to making the Streetlite?

Very true!