We mustn’t kid ourselves that tomorrow and Thursday’s Bus & Coach Live at the NEC will be anything like as big or as important as its biennial sister show, Euro Bus Expo. Even so, what’s new at the show?
If you hold a PCV licence and can prove it, there’s the opportunity of test driving some of the latest tackle – presumably we’ll need to form an orderly bus queue. Inside, some of the new tackle on offer is expected to inlcude:
BMC Nifty – the first 7.5m 27 seat midi-coach from the Turkish builder.
Beulas – the new MAN 24.440/Beulas Aura, at 13m. Plus possibly the first Beulas Cyngus with a front lift.
Darwin Group – their first show under the new name (formerly East Lancs). Expect one of Cardiff Bus’ Scania/Olympuses.
Plaxton Centro – in a new combination, there will be a Centro on a MAN 14.240 chassis.
MCV – there’s apparently a slightly redesigned Evolution to be on display.
Esker – will launch at the show the Riada GT minicoach on a Mercedes chassis. Production will start next year. There’ll be the first midicoach Indcar Wing again on a Mercedes, plus two other Indcar midis, in LHD configuration. Then there’s the new mid-range Unvi-bodied 11.5m Touring XL coach on a Mercedes Benz Axor.
Wrightbus – first views of the Meridian bodied MAN NL233 12m SLF.
Optare – Versa, launched at Euro Bus Expo last year, will be back, in Stagecoach livery. Another rarity will be a Soroco coach for easyBus’ London-Stanstead service. It’s not clear whether the revised Solo will be on display.
Solbus – Polish manufacturer launches at the show. Expect a RHD coach up to 11m and a SLF.
Hummerzine – will show a 16-seat PSV-certified Hummer limo.
Tuesday, 9 October 2007
What’s New at the Show?
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9 comments:
How does a Hummer Limo count as a bus? The NORMAL hummer is slower, less efficient and less nimble than a clapped out 8 year old Trident and its huge clouds of smoke and stupidly high revs when reversing at about 1.5 mph! I think the Versa would look good in Stagecoach livery, despite it being just an overgrown Solo. That Polish bodybuilder might have been the one I heard of last year with a wheelchair accessible bus with a gangway narrower then the average persons foot! They even included a wheelchair ramp although how this was supposed to help I do not know. I hope that new MCV Evolution looks nice, they are built in my hometown, I liked the older Marshall Darts Cambus used, but Stageocoach got rid of them for some underpowered and ugly Optare Metroriders and Solos.
Well, if the Hummer is certificed as a PSV, then it's a PSV. There will be those who buy one because of its earning potential. Nice to have a legal stretch limo for a change. And I wouldn't call an 8 year old Trident 'Clapped Out'. Not quite.
The Polish product you refer to last year I think was a Libero. That was the vehicle with an incredibly restricted entrance.
I think I read somewhere else that the redesigned Solo will be at the show, Cinderella
anonymous, if you had to ride on these buses every day to work you would understand how clapped out these Tridents are. They struggle up hills, rattle and crash over small bumps, cannot reverse easily as I mentioned before. The old Volvo Olympians are less clapped out, and three quarters of them were second hand from London, some still with the London Style blinds!
The Versa looks rubbish in Stagecoach livery, the lines of the bus mean there is nowhere to apply the livery, and the front blue swooplooks ridiculous:
http://david371.fotopic.net/p45671468.html
http://david371.fotopic.net/p45671459.html (Note clash of red on back and side)
The Versa isn't the only vehicle without the front blue swoop. The Enviro200darts in Cambridge and Winchester don't have them either
Yeah but the E200's have a special light blue grille for the "Citi" branding to go on.
Interesting story. My first impression when I came to London was how ancient and at the same time modern this city is.
Your pictures made me remember all my fascinating moments which I had in London. I also saw this cute Pink Limo London, which my girlfriend cold not keep in her feelings, oh these girls!!
My lovely place in London was the London Eye. I was surprised that it took seven years and the skills of hundreds of people from five countries to make the London Eye a reality, you can see around 40KM (25 miles) from the top as far as Windsor Castle on a clear day.
Thanks for the great blog!
Shopping the cheap battery,you can see from here.
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