![]() ![]() ![]() Next up was the Volvo B10L based Liberator introduced at the end of 1995. A major customer for the Axcess-Ultralow was FirstGroup taking approximately 240. At this time it was selling in reasonable numbers to UK bus operators, but unlike other bodybuilders who could only offer the L113 with step-entrance bodies, Wright modified it by removing the middle section of the chassis and thus offered UK bus operators one of the first mainstream low-floor body/chassis combinations. The Axcess-Ultralow was introduced in 1995 and offered on the Scania L113 chassis. In 1993, the Pathfinder on low floor Dennis Lance SLF and Scania N113CRL chassis was unveiled. However Wright had become well established in the bus bodybuilding sector by then and was more than able to exploit the opportunities the low-floor revolution would offer it from the mid-1990s onwards. As a consequence the Urbanranger only attracted a handful of orders. This was launched around the time bus operators in the UK began switching to low floor chassis. Other Wright products introduced in this period included two Mercedes-Benz-based products, the O405 based Cityranger and the OH1416 based Urbanranger. This was followed by a move into the full size single deck market with the Endeavour which was fitted to Dennis Javelin, Leyland Tiger and Scania K93 chassis, and enabled Wright to develop its highly successful Endurance body which competed with the Alexander Strider and Northern Counties Paladin for orders on Volvo B10B and Scania N113CRB chassis. The Handybus was a midibus body offered on a variety of chassis but was more successful than the emerging Dennis Dart in attracting reasonably-sized orders from a variety of operators including London Buses, Go Ahead Northern, Ulsterbus and Citybus (Belfast). Wright's breakthrough into the mainstream bus bodybuilding sector came in the early 1990s. In 1978, the company released its first aluminium-structured bus bodywork. Wrightbus was founded in 1946 as Robert Wright & Son Coachbuilders. One-off usage is permitted but bulk copying is not.The Wrightbus Streetcar, used on the Las Vegas Strip and Downtown Express (SDX) route ![]() This material is protected by MA Business copyright The first order for RATP Dev London is for 56 double deck buses, with six being the new SRM and the remaining 50 with the Gemini 3 body style. “Wrightbus has certainly risen to the challenge we set them, which has resulted in the state-of-the-art bus we have here today.” “This latest addition to the Wrightbus/Volvo Bus partnership will form an important part of our drive to provide the best in passenger transport around our city,” adds Leon Daniels, managing director for surface transport for TfL. “The continued partnership between Wrightbus and Volvo Bus has delivered yet another great product and Wrightbus has worked hard to deliver against the challenges laid out to them by TfL,” confirms Richard Hall, managing director for RATP Dev London. “We are delighted and honoured that RATP Dev London have placed the order for the first vehicle.” Meanwhile, Downie says that Wrightbus has completed three vehicles to date. “This new Volvo Bus/Wrightbus combination gives operators a wider choice of body options from Wrightbus with the class leading B5LH Euro 6 Hybrid chassis.” “We are happy that our partnership continues to be developed in this way,” states Phil Owen, commercial sales director for Volvo Bus UK & Ireland. ![]() “This is an additional structure to the rest of the vehicle, whereas on the New Routemaster it is part of the structural integrity of the bodywork,” he explains. “From a body perspective, we also sought to achieve a high level of commonality of spare parts, so that the aftermarket support can be optimised.”ĭownie says that, aside from the chassis, the main difference between the Routemaster and the SRM is the moulded fibreglass dome. “The look of the side structure, roof and floor are the same as the original New Routemaster, along with a number of other important design features – to preserve the style of its iconic predecessor,” he continues. “TfL presented us with a challenge to develop the iconic look of the Routemaster with a shorter overall length, single staircase and twin doors, which could be built on an alternative driveline combination,” states Downie. Ian Downie, managing director, sales and custom care at Wrightbus, explains that the vehicle is the result of TfL’s (Transport For London) requirements. A new version of the Wrightbus double decker – inspired by the New Routemaster – was unveiled yesterday (16 March 2016), based on the Volvo B5LH Euro 6 hybrid chassis.ĭubbed SRM, the new bus body retains the look of the New Routemaster – more than 720 of which are currently in service around London – but has an overall length of 10.6m – 0.7m shorter – and has two doors and a single staircase, rather than three doors and twin staircases. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |