Optare Metrodecker

[Roy]

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

[nitromatt1]

The weight stands out to me, remarkably light.

I wonder what gearbox(es) will be available.

[Roy]

I've found the specification sheet at http://www.slideshare.net/indianautosblog/optare-metrodecker-specification-sheet

[PM]

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...

[Bob]

Least its got a merc engine though

[nitromatt1]

@Bob but with ecolife it won't be going anywhere fast. Shame it can't have voith

[Tony]

@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

[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...

[nitromatt1]

@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

[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!

[nitromatt1]

@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.

[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!!

[Liverpool Street]

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!

[Tony]

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

[CL]

@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?