Optare Sigma | |
---|---|
Overview | |
Manufacturer | Optare |
Production | 1994 - 1996 |
Assembly | Cross Gates, Leeds, England |
Body and chassis | |
Doors | 1-2 |
Floor type | Step entrance |
Chassis | Dennis Lance |
Related | Optare Vecta Optare Spectra |
Powertrain | |
Engine | Cummins C6T |
Capacity | 47-51 seated, 24 standing |
Transmission | ZF Ecomat 4HP500 ZF Ecomat 5HP500 [1] |
Dimensions | |
Length | 11.8 metres (39 ft) |
Width | 2.5 metres (8 ft 2 in) |
Height | 3.2 metres (10 ft) |
Curb weight | 16,800 kilograms (37,000 lb) |
Chronology | |
Successor | Optare Excel Optare Prisma |
The Optare Sigma was a step-entrance single-deck bus body manufactured by Optare between 1994 and 1996 on the Dennis Lance chassis.
Launched in April 1994, the full-size Sigma body was produced exclusively on the Dennis Lance chassis, beginning an effort by Optare to produce bodies for a more diverse range of chassis following the collapse of the United Bus manufacturing group. The Sigma body was constructed using the same Alusuisse bolted aluminium frame system used on the Vecta mid-size bus body, and the styling closely resembled the Vecta, albeit in longer form. Options included guide wheels for use on a guided busway, dual door configuration as well as a centre offside door for use on airport bus services. [1] [2] [3]
The Sigma had a low entrance step height of 314 millimetres (12.4 in), with a second step taking passengers into a seating compartment with capacity for up to 51 seated passengers; the Sigma's seats were mounted on tracking floor rails, allowing for seating to configured to the individual needs of operators. Other interior features included options for luggage racks and air conditioning, as well as tinted side and rear windows. [2]
Compared to the Vecta, a significantly smaller number of Optare Sigmas were produced. Only three operators bought the Sigma in large batches: the largest was Brighton & Hove, who took delivery of 20 Sigmas in 1996, while Trent Buses additionally took delivery of 17 Sigmas in late 1995. [4] [5] [ page needed ] [2] Gateshead & District took delivery of 14 Sigmas in 1994 for use on services in Bishop Auckland competing with local independent OK Motor Services. [6]
Two other operators purchased single a Sigmas each. These were Ipswich Buses, who took delivery of the first production Sigma in 1994, [7] the only Sigma built to dual-door configuration, and Busways Travel Services, who took delivery of a Sigma later in 1994 for use on a Newcastle upon Tyne to Gateshead MetroCentre shuttle service.[ citation needed ]
The Plaxton President was a low floor double-decker bus body built by Plaxton at the former Northern Counties factory in Wigan, England. It was first unveiled in 1997 on the longitudinal Volvo B7L chassis and later built between 1998 and 2005 following a body redesign. When it became part of TransBus International, the body was sold under the TransBus name. The President was built on the Dennis/TransBus Trident, the DAF DB250 and the Volvo B7TL chassis.
The Alexander Dennis Enviro400 is a twin-axle low-floor double-decker bus that was built by the British bus manufacturer Alexander Dennis between 2005 and 2018. It replaced the Alexander ALX400, Dennis Trident and Plaxton President. In 2014, the Enviro400 was succeeded by the updated Alexander Dennis Enviro400 MMC and production of the classic Enviro400 ceased in 2018.
The VDL DB250 was a twin-axle double-decker bus chassis manufactured by VDL Bus & Coach.
The Optare Spectra was a double-decker bus body built on both the step entrance DAF DB250 and low-floor DB250LF chassis between 1991 and 2006.
The Optare Excel was a low-floor full-size single-decker bus manufactured by Optare. Manufactured as an integral bus, the Excel was launched in 1995 as one of the first low floor single-deck vehicles, replacing the step-entrance Optare Sigma. The styling of the body was in keeping with existing Optare products. At the front, a simple flat panel with the Optare name was set between two pairs of twin headlamps, below a very large front windscreen. Approximately 600 were built.
The Dennis Lance was a single-decker bus chassis manufactured by Dennis between 1991 and 2000, replacing the Dennis Falcon. Its low floor variant, the Dennis Lance SLF was built between 1993 and 1996. Between 1995 and 1998, Dennis also built its double-deck variant, the Dennis Arrow, as the replacement of the Dennis Dominator.
The Optare Delta was a single-deck bus body manufactured by Optare between 1990 and 1999 on the DAF SB220 chassis. The Delta was Optare's first full-size transit bus body, with the company having previously built minibus bodies on Volkwagen LT55 and Mercedes-Benz 811D chassis. The Delta was succeeded by the Optare Excel from 1995 onwards, with production of the Delta body ceasing in 1999.
The Optare Prisma was a single-decker bus body that was fitted to the Mercedes-Benz O405 chassis, produced between 1995 to 1998, when it was discontinued in favour of the integral Optare Excel low-floor bus.
The Optare Vecta was a step-entrance single-deck bus body manufactured by Optare between 1991 and 1997 on the MAN 11.190 chassis.
The East Lancs Cityzen is a double-decker bus body that was built on the Scania N113DRB chassis by East Lancashire Coachbuilders between 1995 and 2000. The name started East Lancs' tradition of using 'misspelt' product names.
The Plaxton Verde was a step-entrance full-size single-decker bus body built by Plaxton between 1991 and 1997. It was built on a rear-engined chassis, the most popular of which was the Dennis Lance which accounted for over half of the Verdes built. The rest were on Volvo B10B, DAF SB220 and Scania N113 chassis.
The Northern Counties Paladin, also badged as the Plaxton Paladin towards the end of production, is a step-entrance single-decker bus body built by Northern Counties of Wigan, UK, between 1991 and 1998. The replacements for the Paladin are the Prestige and the Pointer as low-floor models for the Paladin LF.
The Northern Counties Palatine was a step-entrance 2-axle and 3-axle double-decker bus body built by Northern Counties from 1988 to 1999 in Wigan, England.
The Wright Endurance was a step-entrance single-decker bus body on Scania N113 and on Volvo B10B chassis by Wrightbus between 1992 and 1997.
The Alexander PS-type was a step-floor single-decker bus body built by Walter Alexander Coachbuilders in Falkirk, Scotland and was produced from 1988 to the late 1990s predominantly on the Dennis Lance, Mercedes-Benz O405, Scania N113, Volvo B10M chassis.
The Plaxton Pointer is a single-deck midibus body that was manufactured between 1991 and 2006, predominantly on the Dennis Dart chassis, by Reeve Burgess, Plaxton and latterly Alexander Dennis.
The Alexander Strider was a single-decker bus body produced by Walter Alexander Coachbuilders between 1993 and 1997. The body was available on Dennis Lance, Scania L113, Scania N113, Volvo B10B and Volvo B10M chassis. A common feature of the Strider body is that it has either a single-curvature windscreen or a double-curvature windscreen with a rounded roof dome and a separately mounted destination display.
The Alexander Dash is a step-entrance midibus body built by Walter Alexander Coachbuilders of Scotland from 1991 to 1997. Unveiled by Alexander at the 1991 Coach and Bus exhibition in Birmingham, it was one of the variants of Alexander's AM-type body, also using components from the Alexander PS type, and was usually combined with the Dennis Dart and Volvo B6 step-entrance single-decker bus chassis.
The Alexander Dennis Enviro400 MMC is a low-floor double-decker bus produced by the British bus manufacturer Alexander Dennis since 2014, replacing the Alexander Dennis Enviro400. The Enviro400 MMC is produced at Alexander Dennis' Falkirk and Scarborough factories in the United Kingdom.
The Alexander Ultra was a low floor single-deck bus body built on the Volvo B10L chassis by Walter Alexander Coachbuilders from 1995 to 1998. It was the right-hand drive equivalent of the Volvo 5000 and was built on license from Volvo Buses.
Among recent deliveries have been seven Deltas to Reading Buses, eight Vectas to Westlink, Prismas to Grampian and Rhondda, and Sigmas to Trent and the Brighton & Hove subsidiary of the Go Ahead group which is in the process of taking a batch of 20.
Media related to Optare Sigma at Wikimedia Commons