The Volvo B7RLE is a low-entrysingle-deck bus chassis manufactured by Volvo. It was superseded by the Volvo B8RLE in 2013, with production of the B7RLE continuing until 2018.[2]
The Volvo B7RLE is similar to its predecessor, the B10BLE. In essence, the B7RLE is the front section of the B7L chassis mated with the rear section of the B7R chassis. Originally, the B7RLE featured the D7C 6-cylinder, 7.3-litre diesel engine with a turbocharger and intercooler, producing 250 or 275bhp and meeting the Euro III emission standard.[1] This was replaced by the 7.1-litre Volvo D7E engine producing 290bhp, to Euro III/IV/V emission standards.
Unlike the B7L, the B7RLE's engine is mounted at the center of the rear overhang as opposed to the nearside, resolving the issue of engine intrusion into the saloon. The Volvo B7RLE is also equipped with disc brakes and an anti-lock braking system.[1]
Operators
The Volvo B7RLE was launched in mainland Europe and Australia in 2001, and then in the United Kingdom in 2003 to supplement the B7L, which was unsuccessful in both countries.
The B7RLE appealed most to operators in both United Kingdom and Ireland, with whom the B7L proved unpopular due to its longitudinal rear engine arrangmenet. Initially the B7RLE was only available in both markets with Wright Eclipse Urban bodywork, however from 2004, the B7RLE was also offered by Wrightbus as a low-floorsingle-deckercoach, featuring a longer front overhang and a Wright Eclipse Commuter body.[3] From late 2006, the B7RLE in the UK was available with Plaxton Centro bodywork,[4] followed by Alexander Dennis Enviro300 and Optare Esteem bodywork in 2008.[5]
Wright Eclipse Urbans on Volvo B7RLE chassis were the FirstGroup's standard low-floor single-deck bus from the chassis' introduction until 2013, with a total of 820 of the type delivered to the group's subsidiaries in the United Kingdom, most to First Manchester and First Glasgow, with both Urban and Urban 2 bodies.[6][7]
Transperth is the largest operator of Volvo B7RLEs in Australia, taking delivery of 767 Volgren-bodied B7RLEs from 2011 onwards as part of a contract with the Public Transport Authority of the state of Western Australia. The first batches of these buses were delivered with Volgren CR228L bodies, with later models receiving new Volgren's Optimus body, both being locally assembled in the Perth suburb of Malaga.[8][9]
Transport for Brisbane took delivery of a total of 554 Volgren-bodied Volvo B7RLEs with Volgren bodywork from 2009 onwards as part of a 12-year contract between Brisbane City Council, Volvo Buses and Volgren, with the final assembly of these buses taking place at a facility in Eagle Farm as part of the contract. In 2011, Brisbane City Council won Lung Foundation Australia's Green Leaf Award as a result of introducing Volvo B7RLEs into Greater Brisbane's bus fleet.[10][11]
Elsewhere, 400 B7RLEs were purchased by ComfortDelGro Australia.[citation needed] During 2018, 62 B7RLEs with Volgren Optimus bodies were delivered CDC NSW, initially for use on long-term rail replacement services related to the Sydney Metro Northwest rapid transit project from October 2018 onwards.[14]
Belgium
Flemish government-owned De Lijn and its subcontractors took delivery of Volvo B7RLEs with Jonckheere Transit 2000 bodies between 2005 and 2010.[15] The Opérateur de transport de Wallonie took delivery of 125 B7RLEs with Jonckheere Transit bodies, purchased through VDL Bus & Coach, between 2008 and 2010 for use by TEC Namur-Luxembourg and TEC Liège-Verviers, two of the five Transport en Commun companies in Wallonia.[16]
Mainland China
B7RLE in Shanghai, China
The B7RLE is one of the very few foreign bus chassis models in Mainland China, assembled by Shanghai Sunwin Bus, assigned Chinese assembly model numbers SWB6125, SWB6120V4LE, and SWB6120V6LE. Units operated in Shanghai are SWB6120V4LE, with fleet number prefix S2F/S2G (Shanghai Public Transport) & S2B (Pudong Bus) (Euro III); S2D, with fleet number prefix S2D (written off) and SWB6120V6LE, with fleet number prefix S2M (Shanghai Public Transport)(Euro IV w/ adblue). One SWB6120V6LE unit was sent to Nanjing Public Transport as a gift, but never entered service due to a series of reasons. The B7RLE was seen very commonly on Shanghai streets.
The entire fleet of B7RLEs in China mainland are equipped with Volvo D7B260/D7E290EC01/D7E290EC06 Engines paired with ZF EcoMat 6HP554C transmission.
In 2003, Huangbus (Lok Ma Chau - Huanggang shuttle bus service) purchased five B7RLEs with Jit Luen JL-08 bodies and D7E-290 7142cc engines. Kowloon Motor Bus took delivery of 70 B7RLEs with MCV Evolution bodies between 2010 and 2012.[17]
Metropoline purchased Volvo B7RLEs with Merkavim Pioneer bodywork. Some bus companies own Volvo B7RLEs with USB sockets, WiFi and Real time and it is the first country to use 2009 buses with a new ZF EcoLife transmission
Malaysia
In 2006, Rapid Bus ordered 120 Deftech bodied B7RLE buses for operation on RapidKL services. This is the first Rapid Bus fleet to feature wheelchair accessible ramp, and only bus fleet to feature wheelchair accessible ramp at both front and rear doors (later front doors ramp were removed after refurbishment). Later in 2014, MRT Malaysia Corp ordered 150 Gemilang Coachworks bodied B7RLE's for operation on MRT feeder bus.
Volvo B7RLE in the Philippines, body made by Autodelta for Joanna Jesh Transport Inc.
The Philippines has B7RLEs running in Cebu City, operated by Metro Rapid Transport System Inc., the owner of MyBus. Starting July 2016, RRCG Transport launches "P2P (Point-to-Point) Premium Bus Service" for Alabang Town Center to Greenbelt 1, serving 3 units for King Long XMQ6127G with Sunwin SWB6128 front and rear mask, built by the Philippine-based Autodelta Coach Builders, Inc. This model is also used by Cebu Pacific for transporting passengers from NAIA Terminal 3 to their aircraft. The bus company Joanna Jesh Transport and CEM Trans Services Inc also started to use the bus model for its FTI-Navotas and Alabang-Malanday route respectively starting in 2019.[20][bettersourceneeded]
Singapore
A Volvo B7RLE on Sentosa Island featuring Liannex bodies
Singapore has B7RLEs running in Sentosa featuring bodywork by Liannex Corporation, either in a city bus configuration for its internal shuttles, or as open-topdouble-decker buses. These buses were retired by 2019.
A Euro IV demonstrator Volvo B7RLE with Soon Chow bodywork was delivered to SBS Transit in December 2007, initially for a one year trial. It was registered as SBS8030L on 18 December 2007, and based at Soon Lee Depot for operations in Jurong West Town. After the trial concluded, the B7RLE was kept by SBS Transit and deployed on routes 185, 333 and 334 before being redeployed to Ang Mo Kio Depot for use on route 70. The bus was converted into a permanent training bus in 2016, then officially deregistered in December 2024 at the end of its 17-year statutory lifespan. [21]
Sri Lanka
An air-conditioned Volvo B7RLE, nicknamed the 'luxury bus', was delivered for trial service primarily in the business districts of Colombo with the Sri Lanka Transport Board in 2011.[22]
Taiwan
In Taiwan, B7RLEs were first introduced on Chiayi Bus Rapid Transit (Chiayi BRT) in 2007. All B7RLEs in Taiwan that were manufactured between 2007 and 2012 featured Tang Eng Iron Works bodywork, whereas those manufactured after 2013 featured Daji bodywork.
B7RLE, Taiwan
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↑ "Euro Bus Expo '06: New show, new vehicles". Bus & Coach Professional. 24 October 2006. Archived from the original on 30 June 2018. Retrieved 26 July 2018. The first Volvo B7RLE in the UK to be bodied by a builder other than Wrightbus will be a Plaxton Centro-bodied bus on Volvo's stand.
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