East Lancs Vyking

Last updated

East Lancs Vyking
YELLOW BUSES Bournemouth - Flickr - secret coach park.jpg
Yellow Buses Vyking bodied Volvo B7TL in Bournemouth in 2013
Overview
Manufacturer East Lancashire Coachbuilders
Production1999–2003 (Original)
2001-2006 (Myllenium Vyking)
Body and chassis
Doors1 or 2
Floor type Low floor
Chassis Volvo B7L
Volvo B7TL
Related East Lancs Lolyne
East Lancs Nordic
Powertrain
Capacity63 to 80 seated
Dimensions
Length10.2–10.932 m (33 ft 5.6 in – 35 ft 10.4 in)
Width2.535 m (8 ft 3.8 in)
Height4.2–4.3 m (13 ft 9 in – 14 ft 1 in)
Chronology
Predecessor East Lancs Pyoneer
Successor East Lancs Olympus

The East Lancs Vyking is a double-decker bus body built on the Volvo B7L and Volvo B7TL chassis by East Lancashire Coachbuilders. It is the double-deck version of the Spryte, continuing the long line of 'misspelt' names which continued until the Scania OmniDekka; the name "Vyking" derived from the chassis being built by a company from Sweden.[ citation needed ]

Contents

Design

Options included air conditioning, additional CCTV, bonded glazing, double glazing, driver protection, electronic destination displays, powered wheelchair ramp. [1] The Vyking could additionally be built either as a closed-top or a purpose-built open-top bus, the latter being made available with a detachable top-deck roof.

In 2001, East Lancs launched the facelifted East Lancs Myllennium Vyking, replacing the original Vyking and featuring a redesigned front fascia in line with East Lancs' other 'Myllennium' bodies. The Myllennium Vyking was built between 2001 and 2006.

Operators

Vyking

The launch customer for the first generation East Lancs Vyking was the FirstGroup, whose First CentreWest subsidiary took the first Vyking produced for use on London Buses route 207 in October 2000; originally fitted with air conditioning and sealed window panes, this bus was later retrofitted with openable windows after the air conditioning system was found to be underperforming. [2] This Vyking was later converted to a mobile classroom for use by mechanics and technicians training with the FirstGroup in late 2010. [3]

The largest operator of East Lancs Vykings were Yellow Buses of Bournemouth, who as part of an order for 25 Vykings, took delivery of 19 Vykings between 2001 and 2003, some of which were delivered as convertible open-toppers. [4]

The first generation Vyking was also highly popular with members of the Traction Group throughout the body's production. Strathtay Scottish took delivery of sixteen Vykings between 2001 and 2005, [5] while Lincolnshire RoadCar took delivery of 20 Vykings between 2001 and 2005, primarily for use on rural Lincolnshire InterConnect services. [6] [7]

Independent purchasers of the East Lancs Vyking included Delaine Buses of Bourne, who took delivery of five between 2001 and 2005. [8]

Myllennium Vyking

Wilts & Dorset East Lancs Myllennium Vyking in Boscombe in May 2006 Wilts & Dorset 405.jpg
Wilts & Dorset East Lancs Myllennium Vyking in Boscombe in May 2006

The first eight production Myllennium Vykings were delivered to Solent Blue Line in late 2001. [9] Thirteen Myllennium Vykings were delivered as convertible open-toppers to neighbouring Wilts & Dorset in 2005, [10] with six closed top models additionally delivered to Yellow Buses of Bournemouth between 2004 and 2005. [4]

52 Myllennium Vykings were delivered to London General in 2002, [9] with a further 49 delivered to London United between 2003 and 2004; [11] [12] nineteen of London United's Myllennium Vykings had originally been ordered as TransBus Presidents before being swapped to East Lancs bodies due to TransBus International falling into administration during 2004. [13]

Exports

Twenty Myllennium Vykings were delivered to Irish state-owned bus and coach operator Bus Éireann between 2002 and 2004 for use on commuter bus services to Dublin. [9] [14]

Bodies closely resembling the Vyking were produced on left-hand drive Volvo chassis for open-top sightseeing bus operators in Continental Europe. Open-top left-hand drive Vykings on Volvo B7L chassis were first supplied to Big Bus Tours operation in Paris, France,[ citation needed ] while Vykings on Volvo B7TL chassis were supplied to Car Rouges in Cannes, France and another sightseeing operator in Luxembourg in 2004. Vykings were also supplied to sightseeing operators Rome, Italy on both Volvo B7TL and an unknown Iveco chassis. [11]

See also

References

  1. "Vyking body specification". East Lancashire Coachbuilders. Archived from the original on 20 January 2002. Retrieved 6 September 2007.
  2. Wharmby, Matthew (11 November 2021). The London Volvo B7TL. Pen and Sword Transport. p. 224. ISBN   978-1-52678-695-1 . Retrieved 9 September 2025.
  3. Challen, John (7 June 2013). "Mobile technician training bus is big hit for First Group". Transport Engineer. Institute of Road Transport Engineers. Retrieved 9 September 2025.
  4. 1 2 "Bournemouth to invest £3.6m". Bus & Coach Buyer. No. 579. Spalding: Glen-Holland Ltd. 22 September 2000. p. 4. Retrieved 9 September 2025.
  5. "More choose East Lancs". routeone. No. 66. Peterborough: Expo Publishing. 24 February 2005. p. 6. Retrieved 9 September 2025.
  6. "Lincolnshire RoadCar continues upgrade". Coach & Bus Week . No. 684. Peterborough: Emap. 23 June 2005. p. 25. Retrieved 9 September 2025.
  7. "Who buys what". Bus and Coach Professional. No. 94. Telford: Plum Publishing. 10 December 2004. p. 42. Retrieved 9 September 2025.
  8. Moore, Peter (2010). The Delaine: celebrating 120 years of service (PDF). Glossop: Venture Publications. p. 13. ISBN   978 1905 304 387 . Retrieved 9 September 2025.
  9. 1 2 3 "Vyking" (Press release). Blackburn: East Lancashire Coachbuilders. 2002. Archived from the original on 10 June 2002. Retrieved 9 September 2025.
  10. "£10m bus order joy". Lancashire Telegraph . Blackburn. 26 April 2005. Retrieved 9 September 2025. Recent deliveries include 13 double deckers with removable roofs for Poole-based Wilts & Dorset Bus Company. They can be used on the popular sea front services in the summer and then have their roofs refitted for the winter.
  11. 1 2 "First East Lancs buses for London United". Bus & Coach Professional. Telford: Partnership Publishing Ltd. 2003. Archived from the original on 24 October 2004. Retrieved 9 September 2025.
  12. "First bus in £4.5m order handed over". Lancashire Telegraph . Blackburn. 28 June 2004. Retrieved 9 September 2025.
  13. "East Lancs: looking good after 70 years". Bus & Coach Buyer. No. 776. Spalding: Glen-Holland Ltd. 6 August 2004. pp. 10–13. Retrieved 9 September 2025.
  14. "Our Friends over the Irish Sea" (Press release). Blackburn: East Lancashire Coachbuilders. 2004. Archived from the original on 1 April 2004. Retrieved 9 September 2025.

Commons-logo.svg Media related to East Lancs Vyking at Wikimedia Commons