Optare Vecta

Optare Vecta
Reading Buses Optare Vecta bodied MAN 11.190 at Reading railway station
Overview
ManufacturerOptare
Production1991 - 1997
AssemblyCross Gates, Leeds, England
Body and chassis
Doors1
Floor typeStep entrance
ChassisMAN 11.190
RelatedOptare Spectra
Optare Sigma
Powertrain
EngineMAN D0826 TOH[1]
Capacity42-45 seated, 19 standing
Dimensions
Length10.2 metres (33 ft)
Width2.50 metres (8 ft 2 in)
Height3.00 metres (9.84 ft)
Curb weight11,500 kilograms (25,400 lb)
Chronology
SuccessorOptare Excel

The Optare Vecta was a step-entrance single-deck bus body manufactured by Optare between 1991 and 1997 on the MAN 11.190 chassis.

Design

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Launched in 1991, the medium-length Vecta was designed by Optare to fill a gap in its product lineup between the Delta full-size city bus body on the DAF SB220 chassis and the integral MetroRider minibus. Based exclusively on the MAN 11.190 chassis, the first time this chassis had been built with a bus body for the UK market,[2] the Vecta body was constructed with an Alusuisse bolted aluminium frame and shared design elements from the Delta body, including rounded windows, rear panels and a separately mounted destination display. However, the Vecta featured a straight front end that was later reused for Optare's Spectra double-decker bus.[3][1]

As a result of smaller-than-average wheels being fitted to the MAN chassis, the Vecta had a low entrance step height of 295 millimetres (11.6 in). Two 195 millimetres (7.7 in) gangway steps led to the first five rows of interior seats, followed by another step that took passengers to the next four rows of seats. Options for the interior included carpet trim on the roof and walls, luggage racks and high-backed seats.[1]

Operators

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The largest operator of Optare Vectas were North East Bus companies Teesside Motor Services, Tees & District and United, taking delivery of a total of 51 between 1992 and 1994.[4] The first two production Vectas were delivered to Teesside Motor Services in early 1992,[5][6] with Teesside later taking a further six in late 1993, while Tees & District took delivery of 25 Vectas and United took delivery of 18.[7][8]

Trent Buses were another large operator of the Vecta, taking delivery of 15 in late 1994.[9][page needed] while Reading Buses initially purchased five in 1993,[10][11] following with orders for nine more between 1994 and 1996.[12] London United subsidiary Westlink, meanwhile, were the only major London bus operator that purchased the Optare Vecta, taking delivery of eight of the type in mid-1995.[13]

The remaining majority of the Optare Vecta's customers were small independent bus and coach operators across the United Kingdom. The most notable of these was Hutchison's of Overtown, who purchased seven Vectas new as well as two former demonstrators between 1993 and 1996.[14][15] An early adopter, meanwhile, of the Vecta was West Coast Motors, taking delivery of a single example in 1992 for use on town services.[16] Other operators included Black Prince Buses of Morley, who purchased four in 1995 as the company's first brand new buses,[17] R&I Buses of Park Royal, who took delivery of five in 1995,[18] British Bus subsidiary Crosville Cymru, who took delivery of four in 1995,[19] and the Tillingbourne Bus Company, who took delivery of the final four Vectas produced in 1997.[20]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Millier, Noel (10 October 1991). "Vecta victorious?". Commercial Motor. Temple Press. pp. 32–36. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  2. ^ "Optare Vecta citybus unveiled". Commercial Motor. Temple Press. 14 March 1991. p. 22. Retrieved 6 July 2019.
  3. ^ "Daughters of Delta". Buses. No. 690. Stamford: Key Publishing. September 2012. p. 38-40.
  4. ^ "Optare captures £4.5m Vecta order". Commercial Motor. Temple Press. 1 October 1992. p. 16. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  5. ^ "Optare Vectas for Teesside". Commercial Motor. Temple Press. 10 October 1991. p. 22. Retrieved 16 July 2019.
  6. ^ "TMS Vectas". Coach & Bus Week. No. 4. Peterborough: Emap. 14 March 1992. p. 12.
  7. ^ "First of Westcourt's new vehicles go into service". Coach & Bus Week. No. 70. Peterborough: Emap. 19 June 1993. p. 10. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  8. ^ "Optare in brief". Coach & Bus Week. No. 109. Peterborough: Emap. 26 March 1994. p. 11. Retrieved 27 July 2024. The Westcourt Group, which owns United Automobile of Darlington, Teeside [sic] Motor Services of Stockton on Tees and District of Middlesbrough, is taking delivery of a further eight OPTARE Vectas in 1994 taking its total to 51.
  9. ^ Jenkison, Keith (2020). The History of Optare. Stroud: Amberley Publishing. ISBN 978-1445696942.
  10. ^ Simpson, Richard (22 January 1994). "Coach and bus registrations up". Coach & Bus Week. No. 100. Peterborough: Emap. p. 32. Retrieved 27 July 2024. The MAN-chassis Optare Vecta made good progress in the British market during 1993. Five were delivered to Reading Transport
  11. ^ "Reading order Optare Vectas". Bus & Coach Buyer. No. 180. Spalding. 6 November 1992. p. 5.
  12. ^ Jarosz, Andrew (8 June 1996). "Deltas 'transform rural services'". Coach & Bus Week. No. 221. Peterborough: Emap. p. 8. Retrieved 17 August 2024. Since then [Reading] has taken delivery of a total of 87 Optare buses, including nine Spectra deckers and 14 Vecta 10-metre Citybuses.
  13. ^ "Fleet Additions". Bus & Coach Buyer. No. 328. Spalding. 13 October 1995. p. 24. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  14. ^ "Vectas in Hutchison fleet now total nine". Coach & Bus Week. No. 218. Peterborough: Emap. 18 May 1996. p. 32. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  15. ^ "Hutchisons select another pair of Vectas". Bus & Coach Buyer. No. 361. Spalding: Glen-Holland Ltd. 7 June 1996. p. 20. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  16. ^ "West Coast Vecta". Bus & Coach Buyer. No. 157. Spalding. 29 May 1992. p. 10.
  17. ^ "Crossgates Connection, Optare for Morley". Black Prince Buses. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  18. ^ "R & I take Vectas". Bus & Coach Buyer. No. 329. Spalding. 20 October 1995. p. 26. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  19. ^ "Optare boost at Crosville Cymru". Coach & Bus Week. No. 153. Peterborough: Emap. 4 February 1995. p. 11. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  20. ^ "Tillingbourne Prismas". Bus & Coach Buyer. No. 434. Spalding: Glen-Holland Ltd. 7 November 1997. p. 26. Retrieved 27 July 2024. Tillingbourne also operates five 'P' registered Optare Vectas and four Optare MetroRiders in the 68 strong fleet.
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