Switch Metrodecker

Last updated

Switch Metrodecker
Optare Metrodecker - New Adventure Travel (26642374933) (cropped).jpg
NAT Group MetroDecker in Cardiff in 2016
Overview
Manufacturer Switch Mobility
Production2014–present
Body and chassis
Doors1-2
Floor type Low floor
Related Switch Metrocity
Powertrain
Engine Mercedes-Benz OM934LA
250kW Full Electric
Capacity63 - 84 seated
Transmission ZF EcoLife 6AP 1000B 6-speed
ZF AVE 130 hub motor axle
Dimensions
Length10.5 m (34 ft 5 in) & 11.1 m (36 ft 5 in)
Width2.5 m (8 ft 2 in)
Height4.31 m (14 ft 2 in)
Curb weight 9.98 tonnes (9.82 long tons; 11.00 short tons)
Chronology
Predecessor Optare OmniDekka
Optare Olympus

The Switch Metrodecker (formerly known as the Optare MetroDecker) is an integral twin-axle double-decker bus produced by British bus manufacturer Switch Mobility since 2014. The bus bears resemblance to the Switch Metrocity, sharing similar interior and exterior features. The MetroDecker was designed as the successor to the Optare Olympus and Optare OmniDekka double-deckers, which were both discontinued in 2011, however unlike these, the MetroDecker is only available in integral form.

Contents

Switch Mobility, then known as Optare, initially aimed to have MetroDeckers in service in London by the end of 2014 and sales of over 100 MetroDeckers within eighteen months of launch; this did not occur, with no orders placed until June 2018. [1] [2] [3]

Variants

Metrodecker

The Metrodecker was launched by Optare in 2014 initially with the 4 cylinder Euro VI Mercedes-Benz OM934LA engine with a 6-speed ZF EcoLife transmission fitted. The bus is built on an integral Optare chassis, making the bus lighter than its body-on-chassis predecessors. [2]

In June 2018, Reading Buses placed the first order for five diesel Metrodeckers with high specification interiors for use on Green Line route 702, following a period of demonstration. [4] [5] Due to the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Reading Buses cancelled the order in July 2020. [6]

Three pre-production demonstrators were built by Optare for bus operators to trial around the United Kingdom. Two of these entered service with First South Yorkshire, [7] Go North East and the NAT Group, [8] and a demonstrator built to Transport for London specification commenced trials with Go-Ahead London in August 2016. [9] None of these demonstration periods resulted in orders for the diesel Metrodecker.

Metrodecker EV

London Transit Optare MetroDecker EV on route 23 at Marble Arch in September 2022 YJ70EVY RATP Group OME46018 Optare Metrodecker EV (52445811676).jpg
London Transit Optare MetroDecker EV on route 23 at Marble Arch in September 2022

The Switch Metrodecker EV battery electric bus was launched in late 2015, complementing Optare's single decker range which already had battery electric variants. The battery supports 250 kW of power with an electric ZF AxTrax AVE powertrain, resulting in an electric range of 160 miles (260 km). [10] [2] A hybrid electric variant was announced by Optare during the initial launch of the MetroDecker in 2015, however no orders materialised. [2]

The first Metrodecker order for a Transport for London operator came in 2019 when 31 Metrodecker EVs were delivered to Metroline for operation on route 134. [11] [12] 37 Metrodecker EVs were later delivered to Tower Transit in November 2020 for operation on routes 23 and C3, [13] [14] [15] and Go-Ahead London ordered 17 Metrodecker EVs for delivery in May 2021 for operation on route 200. [16]

In March 2019, First York ordered 21 Metrodecker EVs for the city's rebranded York Park & Ride operations. The first of these buses entered service from July 2020. [17] [18]

MetroDecker H2

The Optare MetroDecker H2 fuel cell bus was announced by Optare in partnership with Arcola Energy in April 2020. The MetroDecker H2 is based on existing EV platform, utilising Arcola's A-Drive hydrogen fuel cell electric powertrain with a claimed range of up to 250 miles (400 km). Optare aims to establish an export market aimed at countries within a humid subtropical climate requiring use of air conditioning for the MetroDecker H2, however orders are yet to be placed by potential operators. [19] [20] [21]

Incidents

A major fire in May 2022 that destroyed six buses at Metroline's Potters Bar garage, two of which were Metrodecker EVs, caused Switch Mobility to order all Metrodecker EVs to be taken out of service for safety precautions. [22] An investigation into the Potters Bar fire found that a conductive coolant had inadvertently been added to the battery system of a Metrodecker EV instead of a non-conductive one, and the buses returned to service later that month. [23] [24]

A Metrodecker EV operated by Go-Ahead London caught fire on 11 January 2024 while operating route 200 in Wimbledon, with the cause for the fire under investigation by the operator. [25]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Switch Mobility</span> British bus manufacturer

Switch Mobility is a British bus manufacturer based in Sherburn-in-Elmet, North Yorkshire. It is a subsidiary of Indian company Ashok Leyland. The company is responsible for the EV operations of the group with Ashok Leyland focusing on its core business of diesel-powered vehicles as well as work on alternative fuels like compressed natural gas (CNG), liquefied natural gas (LNG) and hydrogen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Metroline</span> London bus operator

Metroline is a bus operator which operates bus services in Greater London and Hertfordshire. It is a subsidiary of ComfortDelGro and primarily operates bus services under contract to Transport for London and also to Hertfordshire County Council. Operations are split between two registered companies, Metroline Travel Limited and Metroline West Limited.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alexander Dennis Enviro400</span> Low-floor double-decker bus chassis and bodywork

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. In 2014, the Enviro400 was succeeded by the updated Alexander Dennis Enviro400 MMC and production of the classic Enviro400 ceased in 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VDL DB250</span> Twin-axle double-decker bus chassis

The VDL DB250 is a twin-axle double-decker bus chassis manufactured by VDL Bus & Coach.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Optare Solo</span> Low floor minibus/midibus, built since 1998

The Switch Solo is a low-floor minibus/midibus with one or two doors manufactured by Switch Mobility in the United Kingdom since 1998. The Solo name is a play on its low-floor status, the manufacturer marketing its vehicle as having an entrance that is "so low" from the floor, namely 200 mm (8 in) with kneeling suspension. In January 2012, Optare announced the end of production for the original Solo design with a modified Solo SR taking over.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Optare Spectra</span> Double-decker bus bodywork on DAF DB250 chassis

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Optare Excel</span> Low-floor integral single-deck bus

The Optare Excel is 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 fully low-floor single-deck buses in the United Kingdom, replacing the step-entrance Optare Sigma on Dennis Lance chassis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">First York</span> Bus operator in York, England

First York operates local bus services, with a network centring around the cathedral city of York, North Yorkshire, England. It is a subsidiary of FirstGroup, which operates bus, rail and tram services across the United Kingdom and Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Optare Versa</span> Low-floor midibus manufactured by Optare

The Optare Versa is a low-floor midibus that was manufactured by Optare at its Sherburn-in-Elmet factory. In total 883 were produced between 2007 and 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dennis Lance</span> Step-entrance and low-floor single-deck bus chassis

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">London Buses route 134</span> London bus route

London Buses route 134 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England. Running between University College Hospital and Tally Ho Corner, it is operated by Metroline.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Optare Olympus</span> Double-decker bus

The Optare Olympus is a double-decker bus built by Optare, East Lancs and Darwen. It could be built as a body available on Alexander Dennis Enviro400, Volvo B9TL or Scania N230UD/N270UD chassis with the 2-axle and 3-axle variants. It is the double-decker equivalent of the Optare Esteem. Some 3-axle Olympus buses were built.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Low emission buses in London</span>

There are 3,826 hybrid buses, 1,397 battery electric buses, and 20 hydrogen fuel cell buses operating in London, as of March 2024, out of a total bus fleet of 8,776 – this is around 60% of the bus fleet.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Switch Metrocity</span> Integral midibus manufactured by Switch Mobility since 2013

The Switch Metrocity is an integral midibus manufactured by Switch Mobility since 2013. Originally aimed at the London market, the Metrocity is based on the Optare Versa which was introduced in 2009. In the UK market, longer variants of the Metrocity have replaced the Optare Tempo SR. As at August 2018, over 250 had been built.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wright StreetDeck</span> Low-floor double-decker bus on integral chassis

The Wright StreetDeck is an integral double-decker bus manufactured by Wrightbus since 2014, originally delivered as standard with a Daimler OM934 diesel engine. Hybrid-electric, full-electric and hydrogen-powered variants have subsequently been produced. Production of the StreetDeck range was briefly suspended when Wrightbus entered administration in September 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alexander Dennis Enviro400 MMC</span> Low-floor double-decker bus

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wright GB Kite</span> Zero emissions single-decker bus range

The Wright GB Kite is a range of full-size zero-emission single-deck buses manufactured by Wrightbus since 2022. Similar in body style to the diesel powered Wright GB Hawk, the GB Kite is an integral design that can be built as a battery electric vehicle, the Electroliner BEV, and as a fuel cell electric vehicle, the Hydroliner FCEV.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Volvo BZL</span> Zero emissions electric bus chassis

The Volvo BZL is a full-size zero tailpipe emissions battery electric bus chassis for both single-deck buses and double-deck buses, manufactured by Volvo AB since 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alexander Dennis Enviro400EV</span> Battery electric double-decker bus

The Alexander Dennis Enviro400EV is a battery electric double-decker bus produced by the British bus manufacturer Alexander Dennis in partnership with Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer BYD Auto since 2018. Based on its Alexander Dennis Enviro400 City body, which was launched in 2015 to compete with the hybrid electric New Routemaster, the Enviro400EV is produced at Alexander Dennis' Falkirk and Scarborough factories in the United Kingdom, with production of the type at the company's Larbert headquarters set to also commence in mid-2023. The Enviro400EV is available both as a complete integral battery electric bus and as a battery electric bus body on a BYD K series chassis, as well the integral Enviro400FCEV fuel cell bus.

Equipmake is a British manufacturer of electric motors for cars and buses based in Snetterton, Norfolk, England.

References

  1. ↑ Clancy, Rebecca (21 May 2014). "Metrodecker: the new London bus". The Telegraph. London. Retrieved 13 January 2022.(subscription required)
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Optare MetroDecker launch". Bus & Coach Buyer. 30 May 2014. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  3. ↑ Deakin, Tim (9 October 2014). "Driving the Optare MetroDecker". RouteOne. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  4. ↑ "Optare confirms first ever Metrodecker order". Coach & Bus Week. No. 1347. Peterborough: Emap. 19 June 2018. p. 6. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  5. ↑ "First ever order for Optare Metrodecker". Bus & Coach Buyer. Peterborough. 17 June 2018. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  6. ↑ "Reading Buses announce 33 job losses and cancels Optare double-decker order". ITThub News. 28 July 2020. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  7. ↑ "Optare MetroDecker trial gets underway with First Bus". Bus & Coach Professional. 17 June 2016. Archived from the original on 4 February 2017. Retrieved 11 July 2016.
  8. ↑ "Once upon a time". RouteOne. 15 June 2016. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  9. ↑ "TfL spec Metrodecker starts operation with Go-Ahead London". Bus & Coach Professional. 19 August 2016. Archived from the original on 4 February 2017. Retrieved 11 July 2016.
  10. ↑ Dalrymple, Will (4 June 2019). "Electric double deckers". Transport Engineer. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  11. ↑ Crawford, Alex (21 August 2019). "Metroline is first to deploy Optare Metrodecker EV". RouteOne. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  12. ↑ "Electric Metrodeckers enter service with Metroline". Coach & Bus Week. Peterborough: Emap. 20 August 2019. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  13. ↑ Deakin, Tim (8 February 2020). "Tower Transit orders 37 Optare Metrodecker EVs". RouteOne. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  14. ↑ Peat, Chris (18 December 2020). "Tower Transit's Metrodecker EVs hit London's roads". Bus & Coach Buyer. Peterborough. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  15. ↑ "Tower Transit's Optare Metrodecker EVs hit the road". Buses. Stamford: Key Publishing. 17 December 2020. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  16. ↑ "Go-Ahead London places Metrodecker EV order". RouteOne. 18 November 2020. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  17. ↑ Lewis, Haydn (30 July 2020). "Biggest zero emissions bus fleet in UK launched in York". The Press. York. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  18. ↑ "Optare Metrodecker EV fleet makes debut with First York". RouteOne. 30 July 2020. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  19. ↑ "Optare and Arcola announce fuel cell Metrodecker H2". RouteOne. 28 April 2020. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  20. ↑ "Arcola A-Drive fuel cell platform to power Metrodecker H2". RouteOne. 27 November 2020. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  21. ↑ Hampel, Carrie (29 April 2020). "Optare launches H2 fuel cell double-decker bus". electrive. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  22. ↑ Peat, Chris (23 May 2022). "Electric Metrodeckers grounded following fire". Bus & Coach Buyer. Peterborough. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
  23. ↑ "22 May Fire at Metroline's Potters Bar Bus Depot (3)". www.london.gov.uk. London City Hall. 23 June 2022. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  24. ↑ "Bus Fires (1)". www.london.gov.uk. London City Hall. 23 June 2022. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  25. ↑ Peat, Chris (11 January 2024). "Go-Ahead London urgently investigating electric bus fire". Bus & Coach Buyer. Peterborough. Retrieved 11 January 2024.

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