I don't think this has been mentioned anywhere else on the forum - if it has, I apologise.
Optare have finally announced their long anticipated double decker, called the Metrodecker. Details are at http://www.busandcoach.com/newspage.aspx?id=8445&categoryid=0 (http://www.busandcoach.com/newspage.aspx?id=8445&categoryid=0)
The weight stands out to me, remarkably light.
I wonder what gearbox(es) will be available.
I've found the specification sheet at http://www.slideshare.net/indianautosblog/optare-metrodecker-specification-sheet (http://www.slideshare.net/indianautosblog/optare-metrodecker-specification-sheet)
I mentioned it in the e400 thread...
I think it will struggle. Its ugly and has stupid windows and a poor rear window. It may just about be as good as a current e400 but why would operators buy this with slow to replace windows when Arriva/ McGills/Stagecoach and most London ops were consulted by adl over the e400 mmc? Optare have hardly gained any success to date in London yes there are versas but masses more adl products. They also mentioned in an article I read a while back of building it abroad unless the new Sherbourne plant will build it?
The UK's decker market seems London focussed. Stagecoach and NX are most likely going to buy ADL Arriva buy vdl and adl and first buy adl and volvo. Big groups aren't really buying the versa as much as before streetlite arrived either and even current models have been criticised heavily...
Least its got a merc engine though
@Bob but with ecolife it won't be going anywhere fast. Shame it can't have voith
Quote from: Matt on May 29, 2014, 06:21:04 PM
@Bob but with ecolife it won't be going anywhere fast. Shame it can't have voith
What is this addiction with speed? London buses don't go fast anyway hence why several Green Bus tridents have 38mph limiters fitted. With less than 10t to move I would imagine it can be set to have decent acceleration
Quote from: Tony on May 29, 2014, 06:53:48 PM
Quote from: Matt on May 29, 2014, 06:21:04 PM
@Bob but with ecolife it won't be going anywhere fast. Shame it can't have voith
What is this addiction with speed? London buses don't go fast anyway hence why several Green Bus tridents have 38mph limiters fitted. With less than 10t to move I would imagine it can be set to have decent acceleration
I know!! ZF tridents are incredibly fast compared to say Voith DB250's. I hardly think speed will be the first thing operators look for... ZF must now be the most common anyway...
Quote from: DiamondDart on May 29, 2014, 06:56:00 PM
Quote from: Tony on May 29, 2014, 06:53:48 PM
Quote from: Matt on May 29, 2014, 06:21:04 PM
@Bob but with ecolife it won't be going anywhere fast. Shame it can't have voith
What is this addiction with speed? London buses don't go fast anyway hence why several Green Bus tridents have 38mph limiters fitted. With less than 10t to move I would imagine it can be set to have decent acceleration
I know!! ZF tridents are incredibly fast compared to say Voith DB250's. I hardly think speed will be the first thing operators look for... ZF must now be the most common anyway...
I didn't say it was. I just prefer voith gearboxes in modern vehicles. And no DiamondDart, most ZF Tridents aren't slower than DB250s at all. You're just basing that judgement on NX whose Spectras can hardly move
Quote from: Matt on May 29, 2014, 07:09:53 PM
Quote from: DiamondDart on May 29, 2014, 06:56:00 PM
Quote from: Tony on May 29, 2014, 06:53:48 PM
Quote from: Matt on May 29, 2014, 06:21:04 PM
@Bob but with ecolife it won't be going anywhere fast. Shame it can't have voith
What is this addiction with speed? London buses don't go fast anyway hence why several Green Bus tridents have 38mph limiters fitted. With less than 10t to move I would imagine it can be set to have decent acceleration
I know!! ZF tridents are incredibly fast compared to say Voith DB250's. I hardly think speed will be the first thing operators look for... ZF must now be the most common anyway...
I didn't say it was. I just prefer voith gearboxes in modern vehicles. And no DiamondDart, most ZF Tridents aren't slower than DB250s at all. You're just basing that judgement on NX whose Spectras can hardly move
No I'm not at all actually! Haven't been on a Spectra in ages but I go on db250/alx400's most days, on a route Tridents also run on up a hill. Believe me!
Quote from: DiamondDart on May 29, 2014, 07:28:06 PM
Quote from: Matt on May 29, 2014, 07:09:53 PM
Quote from: DiamondDart on May 29, 2014, 06:56:00 PM
Quote from: Tony on May 29, 2014, 06:53:48 PM
Quote from: Matt on May 29, 2014, 06:21:04 PM
@Bob but with ecolife it won't be going anywhere fast. Shame it can't have voith
What is this addiction with speed? London buses don't go fast anyway hence why several Green Bus tridents have 38mph limiters fitted. With less than 10t to move I would imagine it can be set to have decent acceleration
I know!! ZF tridents are incredibly fast compared to say Voith DB250's. I hardly think speed will be the first thing operators look for... ZF must now be the most common anyway...
I didn't say it was. I just prefer voith gearboxes in modern vehicles. And no DiamondDart, most ZF Tridents aren't slower than DB250s at all. You're just basing that judgement on NX whose Spectras can hardly move
No I'm not at all actually! Haven't been on a Spectra in ages but I go on db250/alx400's most days, on a route Tridents also run on up a hill. Believe me!
Arriva's I'm guessing, they aren't much better, no wonder you'd get that impression. If you look at DB250s all over the country you really won't see much of a difference in performance between them and Tridents. In my experience DB250s are actually faster, but there are too many variables to give a straight answer.
Quote from: Matt on May 29, 2014, 08:23:42 PM
Quote from: DiamondDart on May 29, 2014, 07:28:06 PM
Quote from: Matt on May 29, 2014, 07:09:53 PM
Quote from: DiamondDart on May 29, 2014, 06:56:00 PM
Quote from: Tony on May 29, 2014, 06:53:48 PM
Quote from: Matt on May 29, 2014, 06:21:04 PM
@Bob but with ecolife it won't be going anywhere fast. Shame it can't have voith
What is this addiction with speed? London buses don't go fast anyway hence why several Green Bus tridents have 38mph limiters fitted. With less than 10t to move I would imagine it can be set to have decent acceleration
I know!! ZF tridents are incredibly fast compared to say Voith DB250's. I hardly think speed will be the first thing operators look for... ZF must now be the most common anyway...
I didn't say it was. I just prefer voith gearboxes in modern vehicles. And no DiamondDart, most ZF Tridents aren't slower than DB250s at all. You're just basing that judgement on NX whose Spectras can hardly move
No I'm not at all actually! Haven't been on a Spectra in ages but I go on db250/alx400's most days, on a route Tridents also run on up a hill. Believe me!
Arriva's I'm guessing, they aren't much better, no wonder you'd get that impression. If you look at DB250s all over the country you really won't see much of a difference in performance between them and Tridents. In my experience DB250s are actually faster, but there are too many variables to give a straight answer.
Yeah Arriva's with two different bodywork styles. Just to throw this into the mix: https://www.flickr.com/photos/didbygraham/14292949954/in/photostream/
Photo of the new e400 in single door format-I much prefer this to the Optare!!
Lol, all this arguing over the speed of a 12 ton bus. Even though the operator can influence what acceleration is given through the ECU.................................................................................................
Even de-restricted I doubt the speed will be that much difference.
@Tony, tell them about the 70mph Lynxs! Now that was speed!
Quote from: Liverpool Street on May 29, 2014, 08:45:27 PM
Lol, all this arguing over the speed of a 12 ton bus. Even though the operator can influence what acceleration is given through the ECU.................................................................................................
Even de-restricted I doubt the speed will be that much difference.
@Tony, tell them about the 70mph Lynxs! Now that was speed!
1055-60 were as good if you knew how to drive them. WMPTE specified a top speed of 50mph so Volvo just locked 4th gear out. If you were doing a motorway Private Hire (some of that batch went to London full of Birmingham City fans for the Leyland-DAF trophy) engineers could 'unlock' 4th gear, but if you knew what you were doing you didn't need an engineer, just take it up to maximum revs in third on a downhill, knock it out of gear for a second, then press the select button again at 50mph and it would drop into 4th and accelerate up to 70mph
Quote from: DiamondDart on May 29, 2014, 08:27:12 PM
Quote from: Matt on May 29, 2014, 08:23:42 PM
Quote from: DiamondDart on May 29, 2014, 07:28:06 PM
Quote from: Matt on May 29, 2014, 07:09:53 PM
Quote from: DiamondDart on May 29, 2014, 06:56:00 PM
Quote from: Tony on May 29, 2014, 06:53:48 PM
Quote from: Matt on May 29, 2014, 06:21:04 PM
@Bob but with ecolife it won't be going anywhere fast. Shame it can't have voith
What is this addiction with speed? London buses don't go fast anyway hence why several Green Bus tridents have 38mph limiters fitted. With less than 10t to move I would imagine it can be set to have decent acceleration
I know!! ZF tridents are incredibly fast compared to say Voith DB250's. I hardly think speed will be the first thing operators look for... ZF must now be the most common anyway...
I didn't say it was. I just prefer voith gearboxes in modern vehicles. And no DiamondDart, most ZF Tridents aren't slower than DB250s at all. You're just basing that judgement on NX whose Spectras can hardly move
No I'm not at all actually! Haven't been on a Spectra in ages but I go on db250/alx400's most days, on a route Tridents also run on up a hill. Believe me!
Arriva's I'm guessing, they aren't much better, no wonder you'd get that impression. If you look at DB250s all over the country you really won't see much of a difference in performance between them and Tridents. In my experience DB250s are actually faster, but there are too many variables to give a straight answer.
Yeah Arriva's with two different bodywork styles. Just to throw this into the mix: https://www.flickr.com/photos/didbygraham/14292949954/in/photostream/
Photo of the new e400 in single door format-I much prefer this to the Optare!!
Not to get too off topic, but i'm guessing that that's the Demonstrator?
http://www.busandcoachbuyer.com/optare-metrodecker-launch/
According to this article the metrodecker could also have quick release windows.
Gotta be said voiths sound great in B10ble's, B10L's metrobuses etc but sound rotten in sb200's and streetlites. .maybe they don't combine well with underpowered buses?
What kind of rear excuse is this? They might as well have not have had a rear window at ALL. Also, why is (what i'm assuming is the space for) the destination display so huge???
Quote from: clayderman on June 03, 2014, 10:48:32 PM
What kind of rear excuse is this? They might as well have not have had a rear window at ALL. Also, why is (what i'm assuming is the space for) the destination display so huge???
It's not, the destination display is the box next to the window. No idea what the top part is.
Its almost as ugly as a streetlite lol
Quote from: Andrew on June 03, 2014, 11:04:50 PM
Quote from: clayderman on June 03, 2014, 10:48:32 PM
What kind of rear excuse is this? They might as well have not have had a rear window at ALL. Also, why is (what i'm assuming is the space for) the destination display so huge???
It's not, the destination display is the box next to the window. No idea what the top part is.
Isn't it a grille for the ventilation system /air-con as per NXWM 4768 below?
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5536/12639788324_9f743e4191.jpg
Quote from: Winston on June 03, 2014, 11:19:40 PM
Quote from: Andrew on June 03, 2014, 11:04:50 PM
Quote from: clayderman on June 03, 2014, 10:48:32 PM
What kind of rear excuse is this? They might as well have not have had a rear window at ALL. Also, why is (what i'm assuming is the space for) the destination display so huge???
It's not, the destination display is the box next to the window. No idea what the top part is.
Isn't it a grille for the ventilation system /air-con as per NXWM 4768 below?
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5536/12639788324_9f743e4191.jpg
More than likely now you've said that
Optare has won its first order for the Metrodecker from Reading Buses (Route 702):
http://www.optare.com/news/2018/6/15/first-ever-optare-metrodecker-order-confirmed-for-reading-buses
Wow it's been so long I though Optare had given up on it.
Quote from: Steveminor on June 16, 2018, 09:22:24 AM
Wow it's been so long I though Optare had given up on it.
They're not being delivered for another year (June 2019), I'm wondering whether the current demo's have been development / pre-production vehicles?
According to LOTS (news section), Optare have won a further Metrodecker order from Metroline for 31 x Metrodecker EV's
http://www.lots.org.uk/
You wait ages to sell a bus then 36 turn up all at once lol