Volvo B5TL

Volvo B5TL
London General Wright Eclipse Gemini 3 bodied B5TL in Friern Road, Dulwich in August 2014
Overview
Manufacturer Volvo
Body and chassis
Doors 1 or 2 door
Floor type Low floor
Related Volvo B8L
Powertrain
Engine Volvo D5K-240 5.1 litre diesel
Power output 240hp
Transmission ZF EcoLife Type 6AP1003B
Dimensions
Length 10.5m or 11.2m
Width 2.55m
Chronology
Predecessor Volvo B9TL (2-Axle)

The Volvo B5TL is a 2-axle low-floor double decker built by Volvo.[1] It replaced the B9TL as Volvo's Euro 6 2-axle double decker product for the UK and Irish markets.

Design

The B5TL is powered by Volvo's new 5.1 litre D5K-240 engine, which is rated at 240 bhp/177 kW. The move to a smaller engine is one of the weight-reduction measures implemented to the new bus.[1] Along with its bodybuilding partner Wrightbus, the whole bus achieves a reduction of 1,000 kg comparing to its predecessor. Volvo stated that, with the smaller engine and weight reduction, the B5TL will achieve 10% improvement on fuel economy.[2]

Wrightbus currently offers the lightened Gemini 3 bodywork for the B5TL, which contributes 70% of the weight reduction. MCV is also offering their body as an alternative to the Wrighbus design.

History

Rear view

The first example appeared in London in autumn 2013, entering service with Go-Ahead London in October 2013 for evaluation. It remained until late February 2014 before being returned to Volvo.

Four further B5TL demonstrators have appeared in early 2014. One was trialed by Lothian Buses, before moving to Go North East.[3] Another was trialled by operators such as Transdev on service 36. Both of these have now been purchased by East Yorkshire and operate on the company's 66 route between Hessle and Hull. The other two were delivered to London General and Metroline and placed in service on routes 12 and 297 respectively.

In March 2014, Translink of Northern Ireland, placed an order for 42 buses with the new Wright Gemini 3 bodywork, with the last of them carrying the further redesigned version.[4] In May 2014, Lothian Buses had ordered for 25 buses, all of them were Wright Gemini 3 bodied.[5] Translink placed a second order in 2017 for 32 B5TLs, 10 of which being long wheelbase models for use on its Airport 300 service, with the remainder for use in Belfast. All of these have the new style front.

Outside the UK, a B5TL demonstrator was delivered to Dublin Bus in early 2014 for evaluation. A batch of 70 (SG-class) were subsequently ordered by Dublin Bus with deliveries commencing in August 2014.[6] In 2015 Bus Éireann took delivery of 25 B5TLs, while Dublin Bus ordered a further 90 examples. Dublin Bus have continued to place orders, and by the end of 2017 will have a total of 370 in service. Further orders have been placed for 2018-2019 deliveries.[7] Bus Éireann similarly by the end of 2017 will have a total of 85 B5TLs in service across Ireland, operating in Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Galway.

References

  1. 1 2 Deakin, Tim. "First drive of Euro 6 Wrightbus Gemini 3-bodied Volvo B5TL". route-one.net. Route One Magazine. Retrieved 23 December 2014.
  2. ↑ Extensive development paves way for Volvo’s new Euro 6 B5TL double deck bus Volvo Buses 2 October 2013
  3. ↑ Volvo B5TL Wright Eclipse Gemini 3 Demonstrator Bus Lothian Buses 19 March 2014
  4. ↑ 42 new Volvo B5TL double deck buses for Translink Northern Ireland Volvo Buses 31 March 2014
  5. ↑ Lothian Buses place order for 25 new buses Archived 7 November 2014 at the Wayback Machine. Lothian Buses 22 May 2014
  6. ↑ Dublin Bus Fleet Dublin Bus
  7. ↑ Dublin Buses .com
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