Wrightbus

[Wright Eclipse]

RE: Wrightbus

(06/12/2012 15:04)gilesbus1 Wrote:  One of the things though that I note with ADL is that older Enviro400's where not well finished and tended to rattle badly, therefore maybe putting off customers (operators that is, not bus travellers of course), but when i've recently been on brand new E400H's there has been no rattles at all and the build quality has been a hell of a lot better along with the ride quality as well, by comparison teh Wrightbus products have appeared to have more rattles than earlier ones did, but however they are not major unlike the early ADL Enviro400 deckers where I thought the upper deck front screen was coming in on me it rattled that much and you could also literally see the vibration.

I also suspect perhaps that the lack of a Scania option certainly on deckers for Wrightbus isn't helping - that I suspecvt might encourage more orders from Hong Kong and GoAhead and maybe even FirstGroup although when previously FirstGRoup approached them to ask could they body N94UD's the weight distribution between the chassis and body wasn;t right and thus the order was cancelled in 2005 I believe. It would have been rumoured, though not confirmed 50 to First Manchester and a further 50 for First Edinburgh, the problem was to do it the lower deck seating capacity would have been as low as about 17 seats, far too low to recoup the value required and far too few seats on the lower deck, but presumably the new chassius that ADL are bodying might allow that option on Wrightbus as well.

The other question would be why have Wrightbus only offered its low floor Gemini to Arriva so far on semi VDL/Wrightbus integral chassis, and why have these really not sold outside Arriva??? except for a few full height Hybrids?

The other question would be why not offrer the Volvo as a low height as well, then maybe rural orders might sweep in?

I Dont think there is a low-Height B9TL

I Dont think Wright are in danger,one operater that hasnt been mentioned is National Express,that is currently buying Eclipse`s in Big Numbers,the Pulser 2 Is selling in big numbers to Arriva.Plus more & more smaller operaters are buying dealerstock Eclipse 2 (Mainly for Rurel Work).The Gemini 2 Is selling big in london (Go Ahead,Firstbus,Metroline & Arriva) Plus Rotala seems to have started buying New Geminis & Eclipses.The only thing that i can see hitting Wright is if the MCV Bodied Volvo B7RLE & VDL SB200 Sell in big numbers but we dont know that untill 2013