Leeds company unveils greener red London bus
A LEEDS bus builder yesterday unveiled what it hopes will be the next double-decker bus to drive on London’s streets.
Optare said its MetroDecker model weighs less than 10 tonnes, compared to over 12 tonnes for the newest Routemaster – making it “extremely fuel-efficient”.
“We have worked hard to assess and evaluate every part of the vehicle to ensure it is as efficient as possible,” chief executive Enrico Vassallo said as a blue version of the greener bus was unveiled in London yesterday. It will also come in red.
The firm said it has designed the bus to Transport for London standards and Mayor Boris Johnson described the project as “an important development in the bus manufacturing industry”.
Optare hopes to take its first orders for the MetroDecker in the third quarter of 2014.
Its other model designed for London, the single-decker MetroCity bus, is set to run on routes in south west London following an order for 12 vehicles from Epsom Coaches last year.
Optare has been majority-owned by the Hinduja Group conglomerate since 2012.