How can i find out the length of a bus vehicle?

[swt class 450]

Is there an easy way to know the length of a bus vehicle that is produced in multiple different lengths without having to compare photos of different lengths?

Some buses (eg Optare Excel, Optare Metrocity, Optare Solo, Optare Tempo, Optare Versa etc) have the length in their model code so you can just simply go on to www.buslistsontheweb.co.uk and type in the reg number and find out the length quickly and easily.

However many other buses don't. For example the Enviro 200 was built in five lengths (8.8m, 9.3m, 10.2m, 10.8m, 11.3m) but there doesn't appear to be any way to find out the length. So how does one find out the length of an Enviro 200 bus without having to compare lots of photos of the different lengths? Is it possible to find out easily?

Is there anything in the chassis number or body number of bus vehicles that tells you the length of a vehicle?

Many thanks for any information.

 

[Jordan Adam]

I can't help much with the Enviro200s as i simply just tell the difference by eye. But on Volvos the wheelbase length is normally in the chassis name/code.

For Example with a Volvo B10M-55
B: Bus
10: Engine size rounded to the nearest litre (9.6L)
M: Mid Engine
-55: 5.5 Metre wheelbase (Length)

I know this doesn't help when it comes to the overall length of a vehicle, but it's still an example nonetheless!

 

[Mwanesh]

E200 start by checking the Stagecoach list 36000 are short ones then 26000 are long MMC if it helps i know Porth have a short E 200 dont know the fleet number

 

[Jordan Adam]

E200 start by checking the Stagecoach list 36000 are short ones then 26000 are long MMC if it helps i know Porth have a short E 200 dont know the fleet number

That's not strictly true. Most of the 36xxx Enviro200s are the standard 10.8M length, Stagecoach allocate 3xxxx numbers to all E200 & E200MMC's that are not the long wheelbase 11.5/11.8M model.

 

[Mwanesh]

That's not strictly true. Most of the 36xxx Enviro200s are the standard 10.8M length, Stagecoach allocate 3xxxx numbers to all E200 & E200MMC's that are not the long wheelbase 11.5/11.8M model.

Its still what i have written .

 

[Jordan Adam]

Its still what i have written .

Perhaps but most of the 36xxx are not "short Enviro200s".

 

[GusB]

Seating capacity might give a clue. Going back to the DarkAges, C53F would generally indicate an 11m vehicle, while C57F would suggest 12m. As long as the vehicles are built to a standard layout and don't have any special configuration.

 

[Eyersey468]

I agree seating capacity generally gives a clue

 

[Surreyman]

At the risk of stating the obvious, most operators list the height/ length of the vehicle in the drivers cab, usually high up in fairly large letters.

 

[Jordan Adam]

At the risk of stating the obvious, most operators list the height/ length of the vehicle in the drivers cab, usually high up in fairly large letters.

While a fair point, Under that same logic you could just look at the chassis/body plate. I think the OP was more asking if there was a way to tell through chassis/body codes etc. Also many vehicles don't contain the height or length in the cab, I believe that it's only required if the vehicle is above a certain length/height.

 

[big all]

would it not be a case off say basic short chassis x doors+x windows every addition window or half = 500mm more ???

 

[Jordan Adam]

would it not be a case off say basic short chassis x doors+x windows every addition window or half = 500mm more ???

Not really as the window sizes vary quite significantly.

 

[big all]

within the same manufacturer ??
remember i think it was routmasters had an extra half window on a streached version

 

[iantherev]

E200 start by checking the Stagecoach list 36000 are short ones then 26000 are long MMC if it helps i know Porth have a short E 200 dont know the fleet number

It’s 37467 so slap bang in the 10.8m section.

 

[goldisgood]

It’s 37467 so slap bang in the 10.8m section.

37467 is actually an 8.9m one - as mentioned above, 3xxxx can be any Enviro 200 except for the 11.8m (and possibly 11.5m?)

 

[iantherev]

37467 is actually an 8.9m one - as mentioned above, 3xxxx can be any Enviro 200 except for the 11.8m (and possibly 11.5m?)

And there was I thinking that Porth had left it out in the rain overnight when I saw it this morning......

 

[Jordan Adam]

37467 is actually an 8.9m one - as mentioned above, 3xxxx can be any Enviro 200 except for the 11.8m (and possibly 11.5m?)

The 11.5M and 11.8M are really the same model, the only difference is the bigger 6 cylinder Cummins ISB which makes the rear overhang 30CM longer (hence the longer length). To my knowledge Stagecoach have not bought any long wheelbase 4 cylinder E200MMCs as of yet.

ADL also offer the 6 cylinder engine in the 10.8M model, which would make it 11.1M. But none of these have been built.

 

[jammy36]

Is there an easy way to know the length of a bus vehicle that is produced in multiple different lengths without having to compare photos of different lengths?

Some buses (eg Optare Excel, Optare Metrocity, Optare Solo, Optare Tempo, Optare Versa etc) have the length in their model code so you can just simply go on to www.buslistsontheweb.co.uk and type in the reg number and find out the length quickly and easily.

However many other buses don't. For example the Enviro 200 was built in five lengths (8.8m, 9.3m, 10.2m, 10.8m, 11.3m) but there doesn't appear to be any way to find out the length. So how does one find out the length of an Enviro 200 bus without having to compare lots of photos of the different lengths? Is it possible to find out easily?

Is there anything in the chassis number or body number of bus vehicles that tells you the length of a vehicle?

Many thanks for any information.

For Dennis/ADL products the chassis length is actually in the VIN (just coded). So for example for Dart SLFs the shortest length (8.8/8.9m MPDs) example's VINs all start SFD6 whereas the longest (11.3/11.4 SPDs) all start SFD4

Length codes can also be found within the E200, Trident, MMC, etc chassis codes, but you need to learn how to translate them.

 

[flymo]

Or just look at the body plate of the E200 (assuming it has one next to the chassis plate) which should have the length stamped on in mm.

 

[Jordan Adam]

Or just look at the body plate of the E200 (assuming it has one next to the chassis plate) which should have the length stamped on in mm.

The body plate on ADL products doesn't show the length.

However the plates on the Streetlite/Streetdeck from Wrightbus do.

 

[swt class 450]

After a lot of searching i have just come across this excellent website here - www.motorcheck.ie - which will tell you the length of any Enviro 200 vehicle in the UK or Ireland. Just simply type in the reg number and it will show up with the length.

 

[flymo]

The body plate on ADL products doesn't show the length.

The ADL ones I've seen do, but of course these may not be on every bus. Might be different requirements for different places.

 

[Jordan Adam]

The ADL ones I've seen do, but of course these may not be on every bus. Might be different requirements for different places.

What vehicle type is that? If it's a older or Non-UK vehicle then that would probably explain why. The current plates on the UK products just state the weight.

 

[swt class 450]

After doing a lot of comparing of the chassis codes (thanks jammy36 for the information on this) on the - www.buslistsontheweb.co.uk - website i believe i have found another way to find out the lengths of Enviro 200 vehicles as follows (this doesn't include the MMC):

• Older original version (from around 2006):
Numbers starting SFD1xx - 8.8m
Numbers starting SFD3xx - 10.8m
Numbers starting SFD333 - 11.3m
Numbers starting SFD4xx - 9.3m
Numbers starting SFD5xx - 10.2m

• Newer facelift version (from around 2010):
Numbers starting SFD1xx - 8.8m
Numbers starting SFD5xx - 10.2m
Numbers starting SFD6xx - 11.3m
Numbers starting SFD7xx - 10.8m
Numbers starting SFD8xx - 9.3m

Can anyone confirm if this is correct?

Does anyone know more about the Alexander Dennis chassis numbering system who can explain how it works and how to translate them all?