Optare MetroRider
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The Optare MetroRider was a midibus sold by Optare between 1989 and 2000. The original design was based on the MCW Metrorider for which Optare bought the rights after MCW decided to end bus production. This model also replaced the less successful StarRider.
It was an integral bus, meaning the chassis and body were constructed as a single structure. It had many options for ordering, and was available in 3 lengths and 2 widths. In addition, the option of a protruding, more substantial destination display (blind-box), as opposed to flat on the body destination display, was offered.
In later years, the MetroRider could be ordered with a one-piece windscreen instead of a standard two-piece. Soon after, the one-piece windscreen was standard.
Amongst the most popular version was the basic model - with short length, standard door and no blind-box.
These buses are scattered among the UK, mainly in villages with independent operators like Emsworth and District and Compass Bus in Worthing, who own and operate the last MetroRider (W426 CWX) ever manufactured - in April 2000. In its prime, the MetroRider was also sold abroad, in countries such as Malaysia.
Now there are a large number of MetroRiders operated by Arriva North East and are operated on long distance services such as the 723 between Durham and Darlington, the 242 between Durham and Hartlepool and the 230 between Sunderland and Hartlepool.
The successor of the MetroRider is the low-floor Optare Solo.
[edit] Electric version
An electric version of the MetroRider was produced in 1993. Four vehicles were placed into service on a city centre circular service in Oxford. They were operated initially by the Oxford Bus Company, but later passed to Stagecoach for a brief period before being withdrawn from service due to cessation of subsidy. They were later put to further use on Jersey and on Islay [1].
[edit] See also
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