Scania OmniCity
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Scania OmniCity is an integrally-constructed transverse-engined low floor citybus available on the European market. The OmniCity is a complete product built in Poland by Scania AB, a company based in Sweden.
In 2006 the Scania OmniCity received a face lift (for the Euro IV version), with the large front headlamps being replaced by smaller, round items, and further tweaks carried out to the rear styling.
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[edit] Single decker
The single-deck OmniCity was first introduced in 1996 in left-hand drive form and in 2002 in right-hand drive for the UK market.
The earlier version of the single-deck OmniCity used the CN94UB chassis. But the Euro IV version used the CN230UB or CN270UB chassis, the 230 and 270 indicate the maximum power (in hp) of the engine.
Unlike both the L94 and OmniLink models from Scania, the OmniCity features a full low floor without the need to use steps or ramps in order to reach the rear seats, similar to the Volvo B7L.
The OmniCity is popular in several European cities, most notably with SL in Stockholm, Sweden. The first right-hand drive bus entered service in Nottingham in January 2002. The bus was converted from a left-hand drive bus by Nottingham City Transport.
In February-March 2008 Metrobus took delivery of the first 10.9m OmniCities in the UK for the new Fastway route 100. They featured part-leather seating and only one doorway (unlike most other Fastway buses which have two doorways). They will enter service on 10 May 2008.
[edit] Double decker
In 2005 Scania announced the introduction of the OmniCity double decker in order to complement its OmniDekka citybus sold in the UK. It has a full low floor and is a complete Scania product, unlike the OmniDekka which features a body by East Lancashire Coachbuilders. The early double-deck OmniCity uses the N94UD chassis, as same as the OmniDekka.
A demonstrator has been delivered to Travel West Midlands (now National Express West Midlands) and entered service in November 2005. The first order is 5 buses for Lothian Buses of Edinburgh, Scotland which entered service during August/September 2006 and are in the Airlink livery. Later Lothian Buses ordered a further 10 buses to replace the Tridents on the route, these buses entered service in late 2007. There are also 15 for Transdev London (formerly London United) which entered service in late 2006.
At first, it was in limited production, until the Euro IV version was launched. The reason for this is because the new Euro IV Scania engine is a 5-cylinder 9-litre EGR engine as opposed to its Euro III predecessor, which is a 6-cylinder 9-litre engine. The chassis designation has also changed to N230UD or N270UD.
Further orders were announced in late 2007, with many Go-Ahead companies buying them, such as Solent Blue Line, Southern Vectis and Wilts and Dorset. Metrobus also cancelled an order for two Scania/Darwen Olympus, for two OmniCities, following the very long delays in production of the Olympus.
Transdev London have also ordered 22 more OmniCities. 9 for new route 482 which goes from Southall to Heathrow Airport terminal 5 which started on 22 March 2008, and the rest to upgrade routes 148 and 267. Also National Express West Midlands have taken five more '57' registered OmniCities.
In May 2008, Reading Buses took delivery of 14 ethanol-fulled OmniCities. These have the new Euro IV styling.
[edit] Articulated vehicle
The single-deck articulated (or "bendy bus") version of the OmniCity was first introduced in 1996. The articulated OmniCity built by 2006 used the CN94UA chassis.
In the UK, a demonstrator toured London in 2004, but failed to win any orders in place of the Mercedes-Benz Citaro. After other trials around the country, this bus was bought by Lothian Buses in April 2008. However, in 2005, Travel West Midlands ordered a batch, and in 2006, a group of high-specification artics entered service with Cardiff Bus on high profile routes, which received lots of publicity. Also in late 2005 First placed 25 in service in Manchester on overground routes.
[edit] See also
- Competitors
Single-deck:
- Alexander Dennis Enviro 300
- DAF SB220
- Irisbus Agora
- MAN 18.220/MAN 18.240
- Mercedes-Benz Citaro
- VDL SB200
- VDL SB250
- Volvo B7L
- Volvo B7RLE
Double-deck:
- Other Scania buses sold in the UK
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