Optare Excel

Optare Excel
NABI 700SE
Blackpool Transport Optare Excel in Blackpool in May 2013
Overview
ManufacturerOptare
Production1995-2004
AssemblyCross Gates, Leeds, West Yorkshire
DesignerCapoco Design
Body and chassis
Doors1 or 2
Floor typeLow floor
Step-entrance (NABI 700SE)
Powertrain
EngineCummins 6BT
Mercedes-Benz OM906LA
Capacity27-48 seated, 16-22 standing
Power output160 bhp (120 kW)[1]
TransmissionAllison 'World Series' B300R
Dimensions
Length
  • 9.6 m (31 ft)
  • 10 m (33 ft)
  • 10.7 m (35 ft)
  • 11.5 m (38 ft)
  • 11.8 m (39 ft)
Width2.5 m (8 ft 2 in)
Height3 m (9.8 ft)
Curb weight8,560 kg (18,870 lb)
Chronology
PredecessorOptare Delta
Optare Sigma
SuccessorOptare Tempo

The Optare Excel is a low-floor full-size single-decker bus manufactured by Optare. Manufactured as an integral bus, the Excel was launched in 1995 as one of the first fully low-floor single-deck buses in the United Kingdom, replacing the step-entrance Optare Sigma on Dennis Lance chassis.

Design

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Launched in October 1995, the Optare Excel was the manufacturer's first full-size low-floor city bus, built with aluminium and fibreglass panels over a steel frame as opposed to previous Optare products using the Alusuisse system, and featured distinctive Capoco Design styling. Most notably, early Excels included a simple flat panel with embossed Optare lettering set between two pairs of twin headlamps, which was situated below a very large one-piece curved windscreen. Power came from a Cummins 6BT 6-cylinder turbo-diesel engine capable of producing 160 brake horsepower (120 kW), which was mated with a Allison 'World Series' B300R automatic transmission.[2]

The Excel featured a 320 millimetres (13 in) low step at the entrance door, capable of being lowered to 240 millimetres (9.4 in) at the kerbside via the 'kneeling' function of the integrally-built chassis, and the Excel's interior featured a fully-flat floor up to the rear axle, where two steps led to raised rear seats. Built to 9.6 metres (31 ft), 10 metres (33 ft), 10.7 metres (35 ft), 11.5 metres (38 ft) and 11.8 metres (39 ft) lengths, passenger-carrying capacity ranged from between 36 seated and 16 standing to 48 seated and 22 standing.[2]

Excel 2

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Stagecoach in Chesterfield Optare Excel 2 in Clay Cross in March 2009

The Excel was updated in 1999, with the front similar to that of the Optare Solo and with round headlights, two less rear lights, and a repositioned fuel-filler cap. A Mercedes-Benz OM906LA engine was also made available as an option alongside the standard Cummins 6BT.[citation needed]

This updated Excel was known as the Excel 2, which replaced the Delta which by then had finished production. The original Excel was still sold alongside the Excel 2 until it was discontinued by Optare in late 2000. Excel 2s were only built in 10.7 m (35 ft), 11.5 m (38 ft) and 11.8 m (39 ft) configurations.

The Excel 2 was itself replaced by the Optare Tempo upon its launch in October 2004.

Operators

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Trentbarton Skyline branded Optare Excel in Stockport in December 2004

The first eight production Excels began to be delivered to Blackpool Transport in May 1996,[3] with orders following from Nottingham City Transport and Reading Buses.[4][5] Trent Buses were the overall largest operator of Excels and Excel 2s, ordering a total of 112 of the type from 1998 to 2001.[6][better source needed][7]

Another major operator of Excels were Reading Buses, who after taking delivery of their first seven in 1997, purchased a further 45 Excels and Excel 2s between 1997 and 2002. Thirty-five Excels were also delivered to Travel West Midlands for use in Wolverhampton in early 1999,[8] while East Yorkshire Motor Services purchased a total of 24 Excels between 1996 and 1999 for services in Kingston upon Hull and Scarborough.[9][10]

Sixteen Excel 2s were purchased by the Stagecoach Group in 2001 for operation in Worksop with their East Midlands subsidiary,[11] Fifteen Excels were delivered to Cardiff Bus between October and November 1997,[12] ten were delivered to First Leicester in 1997,[13] while Go North East also purchased numerous examples.[14]

In London, Metrobus took delivery of ten Excels during 1996.[15] with London United also purchasing six Excels in 1997, initially branded for use on route 371.[16][page needed] Other London operators included Travel London and Thorpes, the latter purchasing four Excels for operation on the wheelchair-friendly Stationlink network,[5] while smaller operators included Springfield Coaches of Wigan, who took delivery of three for use on Greater Manchester PTE-contracted 'Easylink' service 603, running between Billinge Higher End and Platt Bridge, in 1997,[17] and Swanbrook Transport, who took delivery of three between October 1997 and February 1998 for use on the 'Cheltenham Flyer' park and ride service.[18]

Exports

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Kapos Volán NABI 700SE right-hand drive Excel 2 in Hungary

Optare also built a small export market for the Excel in both Malta and Hungary. A single 10.6 metres (35 ft) Excel was exported to Malta for use by the Supreme Travel Company as a low-floor demonstrator, with features for the Maltese bus market including the removal of the internal heating system, larger sliding windows, an uprated Cummins engine producing 215 brake horsepower (160 kW) and an overall 45-seat capacity.[19][20]

In 2002, the Optare Excel 2 was rebadged by NABI, Optare's parent company at the time, and launched as the NABI 700SE for the Hungarian market. The NABI 700SE was built to right-hand drive step-entrance configuration, with options for either two or three entrance and exit doors, and capable of carrying up to 85 passengers. The first four 700SEs entered service in Kaposvar with the Kaposvar Transit Company in August 2002.[21]

References

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  1. ^ Morgan, Mike (4 May 1996). "Driving is believing". Coach & Bus Week. No. 216. Peterborough: Emap. pp. 26–28. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
  2. ^ a b Williams, Mark (14 October 1995). "Orders come in for Optare's first integral lowfloor citybus". Coach & Bus Week. No. 189. Peterborough: Emap. pp. 12–13. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
  3. ^ Morgan, Mike (4 May 1996). "Going low-floor beside the sea". Coach & Bus Week. No. 216. Peterborough: Emap. p. 11. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
  4. ^ "First Excels for Nottingham". Bus & Coach Buyer. No. 281. Spalding: Glen-Holland Limited. 25 October 1996. p. 4.
  5. ^ a b Jones, Stuart (3 May 1996). "Excel - Optare's low floor takes to the road". Bus & Coach Buyer. No. 356. Spalding: Glen-Holland Limited. pp. 9–13.
  6. ^ Jenkinson, Keith A. (15 August 2020). The History of Optare. Stroud: Amberley Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4456-9695-9. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  7. ^ "Trent dual sourcing". Coach & Bus Week. No. 213. Peterborough: Emap. 13 April 1996. p. 4.
  8. ^ Jarosz, Andrew (8 January 1998). "TWM orders 100 more lowfloors". Coach & Bus Week. No. 302. Peterborough: Emap. pp. 4–5. Retrieved 17 November 2024. The company will also be purchasing its first Optare Excels for Black Country operations, with an initial 35 being introduced into Wolverhampton, where they will replace some double deckers.
  9. ^ Jones, Stuart (3 January 1997). "Excels for East Yorkshire". Bus & Coach Buyer. No. 390. Spalding: Glen-Holland Ltd. p. 13. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
  10. ^ Jarosz, Andrew (11 December 1997). "EYMS backs Yorkshire to tune of £2m". Coach & Bus Week. No. 299. Peterborough: Emap. p. 8. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
  11. ^ "Stagecoach orders Optare buses". Mass Transit. No. 27. University of Michigan: PTN Publishing Company. 2001. p. 56. Retrieved 26 December 2021.
  12. ^ "Excel represents quality". Coach & Bus Week. No. 294. Peterborough: Emap. 6 November 1997. p. 29. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
  13. ^ Cole, Martin (15 August 1997). "Public reaction to the new FirstBus standard". Bus & Coach Buyer. No. 422. Spalding: Glen-Holland Limited. pp. 18–19. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
  14. ^ Lyons, Mark (30 June 2022). "Go-Ahead Northern becomes Go-Ahead Group". The Go-Ahead Group: The First 25 Years. Stamford: Key Publishing. p. 19. ISBN 978-1-80282-082-9. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
  15. ^ "Metrobus lowfloor Excels in 1996 vehicle orders". Bus & Coach Buyer. No. 345. Spalding: Glen-Holland Limited. 16 February 1996. p. 9. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
  16. ^ Beddall, David (15 November 2020). London's Low-floor Buses. Stroud: Amberley Publishing. ISBN 978-1-3981-0120-3. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  17. ^ "Access contract is won by Springfield". Coach & Bus Week. No. 278. Peterborough: Emap. 19 July 1997. p. 5. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
  18. ^ "Swanbrook's park and ride". Coach & Bus Week. No. 294. Peterborough: Emap. 6 November 1997. p. 5. Retrieved 17 November 2024.
  19. ^ "Optare in Maltese joint venture". Bus & Coach Buyer. No. 377. Spalding: Glen-Holland Limited. 27 September 1996. p. 4.
  20. ^ Jones, Stuart (7 March 1997). "UK built low floor buses for overseas markets". Bus & Coach Buyer. No. 399. Spalding: Glen-Holland Limited. p. 17.
  21. ^ "Excel goes to Budapest". Coach & Bus Week. No. 530. Peterborough: Emap. 20 June 2002. Archived from the original on 18 September 2002. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
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