F Great Eastern
Established Member
Nowt to stop Volvo from teaming up with ADL again.
It would make no business sense for ADL to do that in a tender competition where Volvo had no chance to otherwise win.
Nowt to stop Volvo from teaming up with ADL again.
Yes but ADL put themselves up for the tender, maybe because Wright went into administration. By then, it's too late for Volvo to go to ADLNowt to stop Volvo from teaming up with ADL again.
Lots of Volvo B5LHs in London in recent years. my area is full of them (whether Wrights or MCV bodied)
Metroline still purchase them but may switch to ADL now they have the E400EV.Doesn’t seem to be any London Operators getting them now though, although 2 for RATP were not delivered when Wrightbus collapsed.
Are Volvo still making the B5LH chassis, as they were looking to move to intregals and electric buses for Europe some time ago.
Metroline still purchase them but may switch to ADL now they have the E400EV.
RATP now seem to be leaning toward ADL.
GoAhead London and Tower Transit purchased their last ones in 2017.
Stagecoach purchased their last ones in 2015.
By Shawn Pogatchnik
31 January 2020 7:02 AM
Ballymena manufacturer Wrightbus missed out on a deal worth a potential £230m with the Ireland's National Transport Authority because of its administration.
Scottish bus manufacturer Alexander Dennis instead won the competition to provide up to 600 hybrid buses to the Republic's National Transport Authority (NTA) - at a cost of around €450,000 (£379,000) per vehicle.
Wrightbus and Alexander Dennis, the two main manufacturers of double-decker buses, had been seen as likely top bidders when the NTA announced the procurement competition in July.
But Wrightbus fell into administration in September. The firm faced potential collapse before November's rescue by its new owners, the Bamford Bus Company. Amid that period of crisis, it is understood that the NTA received no formal Wrightbus bid. In a trial run of hybrid technology in May 2019, Dublin Bus took possession of three Wrightbus StreetDeck buses that use diesel-electric hybrid power systems similar to those found in the Alexander Dennis models.
Alexander Dennis said it plans to deliver the first 100 buses to the NTA in the autumn.
The model ordered is the Enviro400ER, which has diesel engines and electric batteries able to cover between 2.5-5 kilometres without recharging. More than 1,400 are already in operation in the UK.
The agreement includes options to buy a further 500 buses over the coming five years as the Republic seeks to slash the carbon emissions of public transport by shifting to electric-powered vehicles and systems.
The firm said the Enviro400Er bus "switches off its diesel engine at low speeds during approach to and departure from stops and when stationary".
The NTA said the first 100 buses were being provided at a cost of approximately £38m. If all 600 buses were ultimately delivered, this would cost £230m. The buses will be provided both to Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann.
Jo Bamford, the executive chairman of Wrightbus, visited Belfast this week to launch a pilot scheme for the use of fuel cell electric double-decker buses powered by hydrogen.
Isn't the issue for most operators that with TfL reducing frequencies AND a number of routes gaining electric double deckers, there isn't at the moment a great need to buy many diesel double deckers now. Indeed very few routes seem to be tendered requiring new diesel buses full stop. How many non electric E400s have entered service recently?
They are beginning to become popular with TrawsCymru operators
Another blow for Wrightbus,
15 ADL Enviro400 MMCs for GoNorth Easts X1.
https://mobile.twitter.com/jeffh2067/status/1223614837684609024
Yes it clearly does. What I clearly mean is that this would have clearly been a order for WrightAnd have you read the rest of the twitter page? It clearly states that the Streetdecks are still due.
TfL have a policy of zero emission for all single decks from Autumn 2020, most single deck deliveries are already electric (but there are a few 9m single door diesel buses on order which will probably be last pure diesel buses for London).
Virtually all double decks now being delivered are smart hybrid or electric. Full hybrid went out of fashion last summer. There are also 20 hydrogen double decks which Wrightbus were supposed to deliver this Spring (not sure if it will happen, or be delayed).
Plenty of E400s (Stagecoach is just starting delivery of 59), but these are smart hybrid, not pure diesel. Don’t think any Volvo chassis deckers have entered service since summer 2019. TfL haven’t yet announced a date for zero emission for new double decks.
Optare have won order from Tower Transit for Metrodecker EVs for London routes 23 and C3
https://www.route-one.net/business-deals/tower-transit-orders-37-optare-metrodecker-evs/
And the chances of them actually being built and delivered in a reasonable time is about equivalent to the chances of FirstGroup buying out Stagecoach...
Well they were already delayed before Wrights went under and now have issues with parts that have delayed them even further. Now Wrights are up and running, it will be okI was thinking that. 1 1/2 years in and still no sign of the Reading Buses Metrodeckers either - I bet they're wishing they'd just put the order ADLs way now.
Well they were already delayed before Wrights went under and now have issues with parts that have delayed them even further. Now Wrights are up and running, it will be ok
It'd be remarkably remiss of Optare if there's any significant delay to this order, as it's their possible entree to the London scene for the foreseeable future, and their success might well ensure the survival of the firm in the long term.And the chances of them actually being built and delivered in a reasonable time is about equivalent to the chances of FirstGroup buying out Stagecoach...
They both ordered from the same parts company who reduced their output when Wright went underAnd why would Wrights being in trouble have anything to do with Optare?! They are two completely separate companies with no relation whatsoever.
The buses were ordered in June 2018, long before Wrights went under! They keep claiming dates that they'll be delivered by and each time the date comes and goes. The current rumoured date is now some point in March, but it'll probably have changed to April by this time next week...
They both ordered from the same parts company who reduced their output when Wright went under
No, they reduced their entire output. It's already been discussed in detailThey would only reduce the output of parts being supplied to Wrights, not both companies.
No, they reduced their entire output. It's already been discussed in detail
Discussed where? Links? Sources? Evidence? Quotes? No manufacturing company in their right mind would reduce supply to one customer because another has got into difficulty.
There has been a further delay following the collapse of Wrightbus and the knock-on impact upon its suppliers, some of which also provide parts for Optare. Delivery is now expected in February, with frames already on the production line at the Sheburn-in-Elmet factory.
I was thinking that. 1 1/2 years in and still no sign of the Reading Buses Metrodeckers either - I bet they're wishing they'd just put the order ADLs way now.
Nice to see something different,but a brave choice by TT to order Optares
Agree it is good that someone else has ordered the Metrodecker, but why a brave choice? I thought that the bus was lighter than the E400EV and had better range, and am surprised that it wasn't selling better.
The Metro City electrics currently in service with Arriva in London have a far lower range than the single deck BYDs. Add to that Optare's reputation for unreliability and late delivery I'm surprised they actually have any orders.Agree it is good that someone else has ordered the Metrodecker, but why a brave choice? I thought that the bus was lighter than the E400EV and had better range, and am surprised that it wasn't selling better.