Wright StreetLite

Wright StreetLite

Door forward StreetLite operated by Arriva Medway Towns
Overview
Manufacturer Wrightbus
Body and chassis
Doors 1 or 2
Floor type Low-floor
Chassis Integral
Powertrain
Engine Cummins 4-cylinder ISBe
Cummins 6-cylinder ISBe
Capacity 33–45 (seated)
70–71 (total)
Power output 160/185PS (4cyl)
220/250PS (6cyl)
Transmission Voith
Dimensions
Length 8.8m-11.5m
Width 2.4m
Height 2.9m
Chronology
A 9.5m wheel forward StreetLite operated by Stagecoach for London 2012
A 10.8m door forward StreetLite operated by Thamesdown
A StreetLite Max operated by First South Yorkshire
A door forward StreetLite rear operated by Arriva Medway Towns

The Wright StreetLite is a low-floor midibus introduced by Wrightbus of Ballymena, Northern Ireland during the summer of 2010. It was originally available in only one body style (wheel forward) before the door forward and StreetLite Max variants were introduced in 2011 and 2012 respectively.

In October 2013, VDL Bus & Coach introduced the Citea MLE midibus which was a rebadged Wright StreetLite.

Versions

The StreetLite is available in two differing body styles and five lengths between 8.8 metres and 11.5 metres with seating ranging from 33 to 45 passengers. All variants are of the same width and height, except for the StreetVibe. Wrightbus claims that in each length, the StreetLite offers more seats than the equivalent competitors.[1]

As of October 2011 it is possible to order a fully seatbelted StreetLite.

Wheel-forward StreetLite

The wheel-forward StreetLite variant, also known as the StreetLite WF, was launched in 2010. It is available in two lengths of 8.8 metres (29 ft) and 9.5 metres (31 ft) with seating for up to 33 and 37 passengers respectively. To save space in these variants the axle is positioned ahead of the door which is similar to the Optare Solo midibus.

The first examples of this type entered service with Padarn Bus and Bus Vannin. A large number of this variant have also entered service with independent operators.

Door-forward StreetLite

The door-forward StreetLite variant, also known as the StreetLite DF, was launched in 2011. It is available in two lengths of 10.2 metres (33 ft) and 10.8 metres (35 ft) with seating for up to 37 and 41 passengers respectively. In this variant the axle is positioned behind the door and there is an option for dual door configuration for Transport for London specifications. The first examples of this type entered service with First in London.

StreetLite Max

The StreetLite Max was launched in 2012. It is 11.5 metres (38 ft) long with capacity for up to 45 passengers seated.[2] In this variant like the "door forward" the axle is positioned behind the door and also has the same Cummins 4-cylinder powerplant with a Euro VI-compliant version of this engine becoming available in Autumn 2013.

The StreetLite Max competes against heavyweight buses such as the Alexander Dennis Enviro300 and Optare Tempo SR as well as other lightweight vehicles such as the Alexander Dennis Enviro200 and Optare Versa.[3] Deliveries of the StreetLite Max commenced in Autumn 2012.

StreetLite Micro Hybrid

The StreetLite Micro Hybrid was launched in 2013. It is available in all of the standard StreetLite lengths and capacities. While not a "hybrid" in the usual sense, the StreetLite Micro Hybrid recovers energy lost from braking to power the vehicle electrics and compressed air systems, saving up to 10% in fuel costs. The bus itself runs from a conventional StreetLite drivetrain, as opposed to a small diesel engine and electric motor in normal hybrids.

StreetLite EV

The StreetLite EV was launched in 2014. Like the Micro Hybrid, it is available in all of the standard StreetLite lengths and capacities. The StreetLite EV is a battery electric bus with no diesel engine.

StreetVibe

The StreetVibe was launched in 2014 following Wrightbus' purchase of Nu-Track. It is a development of their Nu-Vibe StreetLite-based concept vehicle, modified to Wrightbus specifications. The StreetVibe is based on the StreetLite WF, measuring 9 metres (30 ft) long. However, the StreetVibe is 290 mm shorter and 167 mm narrower than a standard StreetLite. As such, the StreetVibe is designed to compete directly with the Optare Solo SR Slimline, another narrow midibus.[4]

Operators

Operators of the StreetLite include Bus Vannin, Arriva, FirstGroup and Yourbus. Many other companies have ordered the StreetLite.

Bus Vannin on the Isle of Man were the first company to order the StreetLite. They ordered twelve vehicles [5] - six 9.5m variants and six 10.8m variants. Whilst the 9.5m variants entered service in December 2010 the 10.8m variants which were due in early 2011 were never delivered.

Padarn Bus took three 9.5 metre StreetLites for services in Anglesey [6] whilst Maytree Travel six 9.5 metre vehicles. Reading Buses have also taken six 9.5 metre variants.[7]

Arriva ordered five 10.2m vehicles in 2011 which entered service in 2012 in their Southern Counties division on route X116 in Gillingham. Further examples have entered service with Arriva since. However the first big order for the StreetLite came from FirstGroup who ordered forty six dual door variants for services in London. Other operators in London to operate the StreetLite are Go-Ahead London (nine 8.8m vehicles for Blue Triangle, operating route 462[8]).

First Group ordered 179 new StreetLites (mostly the 11.5m Max variant with some 10.8m models ordered) to work alongside the four prototype vehicles already at the company. These were delivered between summer and winter 2013. January 2014 saw First order a further 301 StreetLites, with 274 of them featuring 'Micro Hybrid' technology. First Midland Red (Worcester) along with other select areas of England received the first batch of this large orders

In April 2014, Arriva announced they have ordered 97 'Micro Hybrid' StreetLites, 70 of which are the Max (11.5m) variant with 27 others of an unspecified length. [9]

Many other independent companies have ordered the StreetLite in all variations.

Mistral

Wrightbus secured an exclusivity deal with Mistral, a bus sales and rental company. Mistral are the sole selling agents for the StreetLite and are pitching the vehicle as 'Wrightbus+Mistral - the perfect equation'. This exclusivity deal ended in 2012 with the introduction of the Streetlite MAX. This was so Wrightbus could introduce a micro hybrid version of the Streetlite.[10]

In popular culture

The StreetLite played an integral part in the Torch Relay for the 2012 London Olympic Games. 10 examples owned by Stagecoach were used to shuttle relay runners and event staff between relay starting points. The buses were decorated in a special amber vinyl wrap with lettering for the games.[11]

In early 2014 the Streetlite EVs for Arriva Milton Keynes were covered on UK national news due to their trial of inductive charging - the first buses of their kind to do so in the UK. [12]

See also

Competitors:

References

  1. ↑ Wright StreetLite - Range and Options
  2. ↑ "11.5m StreetLite Vehicle Specification" (PDF). Wrightbus. Retrieved 7 June 2012.
  3. ↑ "The Wright Group". Wrightbus. Retrieved 7 June 2012.
  4. ↑ http://www.wrightsgroup.com/datasheets/euro6productrange.pdf
  5. ↑ New buses on their way - Isle of Man News - iomtoday
  6. ↑ Blakemore, Tim (February 2011). "Reading the signals". Buses Magazine (671): 24–26.
  7. ↑ Article "Wrightbus secure new order for StreetLite from Reading Buses". Transport Weekly. July 7, 2011. Retrieved November 28, 2011.
  8. ↑ Service changes
  9. ↑ http://northeastbuses.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?tid=940
  10. ↑ Mistral and Wrightbus launch StreetLite >> Mistral Group >> News
  11. ↑ Olympic Torch 2 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
  12. ↑ BBC News - Wirelessly charged electric buses set for Milton Keynes

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Wright StreetLite.