Almost before our very eyes yet without really noticing, the MCW & Optare Metrorider minibus is disappearing—fast.
There won’t be too many admirers who might call for a last running day but, nevertheless, it’s worth remembering the role this little warrior has played in the deregulated environment.
Conceived by MCW as its antidote to a sharply declining double deck bus market, the original integral 25 seat Metrorider first appeared in August 1987, offering something that the Gen 1 Transit and 608d minibuses did not: a modern design, large passenger windows, decent accommodation with good headroom and a wide entrance with shallower steps. And, let’s face it, some real guts under the bonnet.
For, unlike its contemporaries, the Metrorider was a busman’s minibus, designed and conceived as such, without having to undergo a conversion. Because it followed the likes of the Transit, 608 and Sherpa, MCW anticipated what operators wanted: more than just 16-20 seats. Its stretched 33 seater 8.4m form was somewhat less robust and suffered from rot at the rear end, though this did not afflict later models so much.
Metrorider was popular among operators large and small. The list taking it reads like a hall of fame of bygone, memorable companies. Oh, and Wilts & Dorset bought a few, too.
W&D skipped Gen 1 minibuses in favour of a Badger Vectis-busting 75 Metroriders under MCW and a further 47 under Optares, Optare buying the rights as MCW fizzled out in 1989. W&D used them on the full spread of urban, inter-urban and rural routes. It even bought in second hand examples.
If you want to admire the last of a bygone generation of minibuses that served the last 20 years well, you’ll need to be quick. W&D Salisbury have but a handful left. There are penny numbers with Go South Coast’s lower cost operations.
These are all 1990s models and expect them all to have vanished by the turn of the year, probably much sooner, especially as Salisbury’s now trialling one of four surplus ex-Southern Vectis MPDs which, if successful, will wipe out what were once known as W&D’s Skippers.
The Metrorider’s successor was, of course, the Optare Solo.
Photos: Preston, Blackburn & Warrington c/o Omnibuses' Northern Correspodent
Thursday, 13 August 2009
A Real Busman’s Minibus
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4 comments:
The original Metroriders were, I think, awful. All of the glass at the front led to hasty introduction of fans to move the hot air about. The driving position had an air traffic control feel to it.
Whilst the idea was good, MCW combined the expense of a full size bus with the relability of a 1st generation minibus. This was a shame as it was the vehicle that operators had been asking for.
Metrobus wasn't the only early minibus requiring a fan. Remember the 608 and how hot that got? There were no ventilators or hoppers on the 608 or indeed on the Transit either.
As for reliability, true, it didn't beet the 608 but IIRC it wasn't as bad as Metroman makes out at least not down South.
I never drove a City Pacer, but imagine that they were worse. I am sure that reliability improved, but my experience was with early MCW examples.
It is always advisable to plan the trip about three months ahead and so charter the bus as early as three months in advance.
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