Wright StreetDeck

The Wright StreetDeck is an integral double-decker bus that was manufactured by Wrightbus from 2014, built as standard with a Daimler OM934 diesel engine. Hybrid-electric, full-electric and hydrogen-powered variants were also produced before production was briefly suspended due to Wrightbus entering administration in September 2019.[2]

Wright StreetDeck
Brighton & Hove Wright StreetDeck
in Eastbourne in May 2015
Overview
ManufacturerWrightbus
Production2014–Present
AssemblyBallymena, Northern Ireland
Body and chassis
ClassDouble-decker bus
Doors1 or 2
Floor typeLow floor
ChassisIntegral
Powertrain
EngineDaimler OM934 5.1 litre 4-cylinder Euro 6[1]
Capacity73–100[1]
Power output231 horsepower (172 kW)[1]
TransmissionVoith DIWA D854.6 four-speed
ZF EcoLife 6AP1000B six-speed[1]
Dimensions
Length10.57 metres (34.7 ft)[1]
Width2.52 metres (8.27 ft)[1]
Height4.40 metres (14.4 ft)[1]
Curb weight10.7 tonnes[1]
Chronology
PredecessorWright Gemini 2

Demonstrators and prototypes were placed in service by Arriva Derby, Arriva London, First Greater Manchester, First South Yorkshire, London Central and Transdev in Harrogate in 2014 and 2015.[3] The first production examples entered service with Brighton & Hove in 2015.[3][4][5][6]

As of June 2018, 400 StreetDecks have been built, primarily for FirstGroup and Go-Ahead Group subsidiaries in the United Kingdom.[3]

Variants

Standard StreetDeck
First South Yorkshire's demonstrator Wright StreetDeck in October 2015, showing the original-style front end fitted to the prototype vehicles

The majority of StreetDecks produced have been the standard diesel variant, fitted with a Daimler OM934 5.1 litre, 4-cylinder Euro 6 diesel engine competing mainly with the Volvo B5TL and Alexander Dennis Enviro400 MMC. The first five prototype demonstrators to be produced were fitted with a front end similar in appearance to the outgoing Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 double-decker, before Wrightbus' new standard Stealth front end styling was fitted to production examples.

The first prototype StreetDeck entered service with Arriva Derby, built to Sapphire specification for route 38, in November 2014.[3][7] This was followed by further examples with First South Yorkshire, First Greater Manchester, Arriva London and Go North East in January 2015 and London Central in February 2015.[3]

The first order for StreetDecks was made by Brighton & Hove for 24 that entered service on the Coaster service between Brighton and Eastbourne in March and April 2015; as of June 2018, Brighton & Hove have taken delivery of 82 examples.[3][4][8]

FirstGroup have been the largest customer for the StreetDeck, taking delivery of 194 examples as of June 2018.[3] Twenty-two entered service on First South Yorkshire's new flagship X1 Steel Link service in September 2016, having entered service on route X78 from Sheffield to Doncaster in November 2015 due to delays in the opening of the Bus Rapid Transit North.[9][10]

Go-Ahead Group have been the second largest customer, with the Oxford Bus Company taking delivery of 41 StreetDecks[3] between 2015 and 2017 for its city 3 (yellow), city 5 (pink), city 8&9 (orange) and Oxford park & ride services. Go North East purchased 26 StreetDecks[3] for its Castles Express X21 and the Angel 21 services between 2016 and 2018.[11] In June 2019, Go North East announced a further order of 31 StreetDecks for its new X-Lines network of express routes. The buses are expected to enter service from Spring 2020.[12] The order includes the first StreetDeck in the UK to feature Daimler's 6-Cylinder engine, originally thought to be the first in the world, but that title went to a StreetDeck in Hong Kong.

The first production examples for a Transport for London contractor entered service with Arriva London in July 2016 on route 340.[3][13]

StreetDeck Micro Hybrid

The StreetDeck is also available with the same Wrightbus Micro Hybrid technology as was first provided in the StreetLite single-decker. The Micro Hybrid package consists of a flywheel and regenerative braking in the bus, which provides electricity used to power the interior lights and compressed air systems, saving up to 10% in fuel costs compared to the standard diesel StreetDeck.

StreetDeck Hybrid
First South Yorkshire Wright StreetDeck Hybrid on its first day in service in May 2018

The hybrid-electric variant of the StreetDeck was launched in 2018 alongside the Wright StreetLite Max Hybrid, with the first examples of each (including 13 StreetDeck Hybrids) entering service with First South Yorkshire at the Olive Grove Depot in May 2018.[3] Later that month, eight StreetDeck Hybrids also entered service on First West Yorkshire's Elland Road park & ride service in Leeds.[3][14] Oxford Bus Company took delivery of 6 Streetdeck Hybrids for Brookesbus services U1 and U5.

Exports

In 2018 a demonstrator equipped with Daimler OM936LA 295hp engine was exported to Hong Kong and placed in service with Kowloon Motor Bus in 2019. However, the demonstrator was sent back to UK in February 2020.[15] Five entered service in Monterrey, Mexico. Although Mexico drives on the right, they were built as right-hand drive vehicles operating on a busway with left-hand boarding.[16][17] A 63 seat demonstrator will also operate in Santiago, Chile.[18][19]

References
  1. Wright Streetdeck Wrightbus
  2. Campbell, John (25 September 2019). "Wrightbus administrators confirm 1,200 job losses". BBC News NI. Retrieved 28 September 2019.
  3. Wright Streetdeck BusLists on the Web
  4. New look for Wrightbus Bus & Coach Buyer 30 October 2014
  5. 34 new buses to hit the streets of Brighton & Hove as company announces £6m deal The Argus 20 January 2015
  6. Debut StreetDecks enter service Route One 15 April 2015
  7. First StreetDeck enters service Coach & Bus Week 2 February 2015
  8. "StreetDecks in Sussex" Buses issue 724 July 2015 pages 38-41
  9. First launches 22 StreetDecks for Rotherham upgrade Bus & Coach Professional 22 January 2016
  10. "First redeploys fleet for South Yorkshire first BRT" Buses issue 739 October 2016 page 9
  11. Angel reborn for prestigious route 21 with Go North East Route One 24 January 2018
  12. Go North East celebrates Clean Air Day with announcement of £12m investment in environmentally friendly buses to make buses even better and help tackle rising congestion Go North East 20 June 2019
  13. Ten new buses for Arriva London's recently retained route 340 Arriva London 4 August 2016, they are commonly found on route 329. They have been stood down since the COVID-19 Lockdown towards the end of March 2020.
  14. Leeds Park & Ride receives new Wrightbus hybrids Coach & Bus Magazine 19 June 2018
  15. "World News" Buses Worldwide issue 209 April 2018 page 45
  16. Breakthrough Mexican Order for Wrightbus International Wrightbus 21 May 2018
  17. "Wrightbus confirms first deliveries to Mexico" Buses issue 760 July 2018 page 20
  18. "Chile: Vule tests Wrightbus StreetDeck model in Santiago". Esmerk Latin American News. 26 February 2019. Factiva ESMKLA0020190227ef2q0002i.
  19. "Meet the new double-decker bus that will circulate in Santiago!". CE Noticias Financieras. 26 February 2019. Factiva NFINCE0020190226ef2q0063l.

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