Bus heater questions

[Mikey C]

One thing that always irritates me about the Metroline (in London) ADL E200s (08-10 reg) is their incredibly noisy and localised heaters. Scattered about the passenger area, so that if you're next to one you roast, but don't feel much if you're sitting elsewhere. And noisy enough to give you a headache

In recent years I haven't been on many other single deckers in winter, so I'm not sure if this is normal or not, but I don't remember such noisy heaters on other single deckers that I've used in winter (e.g. Darts of various bodywork, Wright Cadets), and the new electric E200EVs seem to use some sort of air cooling/heating system.

Additionally, on the top deck of double deckers, where and what heating is provided, as I've never ever seen anything on the floor or side?

 

[D2007wsm]

On the First 63 plate E400s at least (can’t remember the older ones) there is a trunking at floor level on the near side upstairs with vents that blows hot air. There is also vents under the front window upstairs too.

 

[WY Bus Spotter]

Try sitting at the back of an Optare Versa. Heat is blasted out (I assume straight from the engine) and it is unbearably hot at times; even in the coldest weather.

 

[Mikey C]

Try sitting at the back of an Optare Versa. Heat is blasted out (I assume straight from the engine) and it is unbearably hot at times; even in the coldest weather.

The back seat of Optare Solos is really hot also, I assume it's the heat from the engine, rather than anything intentional!

 

[Citistar]

Both Solos and Versas have heater outlets for saloon heating at the back. They are intentional and can be switched off by the driver. In terms of bus heating for cold weather, they are the most effective system i've come across and relatively easy to maintain compared to conventional side mounted saloon heating. There is a water fed heater matrix from the engine at the back which has a circulating motor mounted on top of it which pumps the warmed air in to the saloon.

The one criticism i would have (as has been suggested above) is that it can get too hot in the saloon and the driver is too far away to notice it, but since we've been trying to keep the saloon windows open it has become much less of an issue. Our passengers tend to be vocal enough to let us know if it's getting too warm!