Bendy buses in the UK

[Robertj21a]

I notice recently a couple of articulated Citaros have appeared on the East Midland Airport car park run branded as Arriva, sporting a Leicester Uni "hopper" livery

Just filling in I believe until the 2 regulars return, repainted.

 

[Mikey C]

I am surprised that no one on this thread has referred to the Van Hool articulated buses on order for the new Belfast Rapid Transit network

http://www.vanhool.be/ENG/actua/30trambusesforbe.html

https://www.infrastructure-ni.gov.uk/articles/belfast-rapid-transit-introduction

It looks likely that the counterpart Birmingham 'Sprint' BRT network will run using similar vehicles; possibly in 24m double-articulated form, rather than 18m single-articulated.

https://www.tfwm.org.uk/development/sprint/

http://urbanthings.co/meet-sprint/

A key characteristics of these versions of 'bendy buses' is that they have a limited top speed - 40 mph - and hence can safely be configured with a much higher proportion of standing passengers (and fewer seated passengers) than on standard buses.

I'm surprised they didn't go with something like a Wright Streetcar for Belfast?

 

[nerd]

I'm surprised they didn't go with something like a Wright Streetcar for Belfast?

So were a fair number of people in Belfast!

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/n...n-lucrative-government-contract-34237844.html

But then the Streetcars are an old and tired design, and did't had a great deal of success in operation; being generally way overweight and under-powered. I presume that Van Hool was considered to have a more impressive track record, and could offer a current product line.

 

[WatcherZero]

Lol I like the insinuation from that the Government were penalising them for presenting the Routemaster as an option and were looking for a builder with an existing product whereas Wright hadn't produced a similar one for 7 years.