Wright StreetLite

Wright StreetLite

Arriva Medway Towns Door Forward StreetLite
Overview
Manufacturer Wrightbus
Production 2010-present
Body and chassis
Class Integral bus
Doors 1-2
Floor type Low floor
Powertrain
Engine Cummins 4-cylinder ISBe
Cummins 6-cylinder ISBe
Capacity 33-45 (seated)
Power output 160-250 bhp
Transmission Voith
Chronology
Successor Wright StreetAir EV WF (for StreetLite EV)

The Wright StreetLite is a low-floor midibus introduced by Wrightbus in 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.

Versions

Bakers Dolphin Wheel Forward StreetLite in Weston-super-Mare in August 2012
Arriva Guildford & West Surrey Door Forward StreetLite in Woking in August 2015
First South Yorkshire Door Forward StreetLite Max in August 2013
Tower Transit Door Forward StreetLite
Stagecoach South West StreetLite on the 2012 Summer Olympics torch relay in Walsall in June 2012

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]

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.[2]

The first example entered service with Anglian Bus in October 2010.[3]

Door Forward StreetLite

The Door Forward StreetLite variant, also known as the StreetLite DF, was launched in 2011.[4] 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 example was trialed by First 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.[5][6] 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.[7] 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.

In January 2014, Arriva Shires & Essex placed eight EVs into service in Milton Keynes receiving coverage on national news services due to their trial of inductive charging, the first buses of their kind to do so in the UK.[8][9]

An updated version of the StreetLite EV, the StreetAir EV WF, was launched in August 2016, replacing the standard StreetLite EV.

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.[10]

Citea MLE

In October 2013, VDL Bus & Coach introduced the Citea MLE midibus which was a rebadged Wright StreetLite.[11]

Operators

As at April 2016, over 1,300 had been delivered. The first StreetLites entered service in October 2010 with Anglian Bus.[3] Arrva, FirstGroup, Go-Ahead Group, Rotala and Stagecoach Group have all been purchasers.[12]

It has been operated by Transport for London operators Blue Triangle, First London, London General and Tower Transit.[12][13] As at May 2015, StreetLite WFs were operating routes 192 and 462 while Wright DFs were operating routes 219, 488 and 491.[14]

Bus Vannin on the Isle of Man were the first company to order the StreetLite. They ordered twelve vehicles [15] - 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 on Anglesey.[16] whilst Maytree Travel six 9.5 metre vehicles. Reading Buses have also taken six 9.5 metre variants.[17] The first large order for 46 was placed by FirstGroup in April 2011.[18]

In February 2013, FirstGroup 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.[19] In January 2014, a further 301 were ordered, with 274 of them featuring 'Micro Hybrid' technology.[20][21] As at March 2016, FirstGroup operated 570.

In April 2014, Arriva ordered 97 'Micro Hybrid' StreetLites, 70 of which are the Max (11.5m) variant with 27 others of an unspecified length.[22] In March 2015, it ordered a further 50.[23][24]

Mistral

Wrightbus secured an exclusivity deal with Mistral, a bus sales and rental company. Mistral were the sole selling agents for the StreetLite and pitchd the vehicle as 'Wrightbus+Mistral - the perfect equation'.[25] 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.[26]

The StreetLite played an integral part in the Torch Relay for the 2012 London Olympic Games. Ten Stagecoach South Wales StreetLites 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.[27]

References

  1. ↑ Wright StreetLite - Range and Options Wrightbus
  2. ↑ Wrightbus' cheeky midi Bus & Coach Professional 8 July 2010
  3. 1 2 First Wrightbus StreetLite enters services Bus & Coach Professional 21 October 2010
  4. ↑ Door forward for StreetLite Bus & Coach Professional 8 July 2011
  5. ↑ "11.5m StreetLite Vehicle Specification" (PDF). Wrightbus. Retrieved 7 June 2012.
  6. ↑ Wrightbus unveils bigger StreetLite Bus & Coach Professional 7 June 2012
  7. ↑ "The Wright Group". Wrightbus. Retrieved 7 June 2012.
  8. ↑ Wirelessly charged electric buses set for Milton Keynes BBC News 9 January 2014
  9. ↑ Putting electric buses to the test Bus & Coach Professional 17 January 2014
  10. ↑ Product Range Wrightbus
  11. ↑ Wrightbus eyes Europe with VDL Bus & Coach Professional 12 September 2013
  12. 1 2 Wright StreetLite Bus Lists on the Web
  13. ↑ Tower Transit otders first Euro 6 Streetlines Bus & Coach Buyer 22 January 2015
  14. ↑ Carr, Ken (May 2015). The London Bus Guide (5 ed.). Boreham: Visions International Entertainment. pp. 80–82. ISBN 978-0-9931735-3-0.
  15. ↑ New buses on their way Isle of Man Newspapers 10 August 2010
  16. ↑ Blakemore, Tim (February 2011). "Reading the signals". Buses Magazine (671): 24–26.
  17. ↑ "Wrightbus secure new order for StreetLite from Reading Buses". Transport Weekly. 7 July 2011. Retrieved 28 November 2011.
  18. ↑ StreetLite wins first big order Bus & Coach Professional 5 April 2011
  19. ↑ ADL and Wrightbus win lightweight orders Bus & Coach Professional 15 February 2013
  20. ↑ FirstGroup announces £70m Bus Order FirstGroup 17 January 2014
  21. ↑ Wright wins lion's share of First order Bus & Coach Professional 17 January 2014
  22. ↑ Arriva's £40m fleet upgrade Bus & Coach Buyer 10 April 2014
  23. ↑ Arriva's 2015 orders Bus & Coach Buyer 4 March 2015
  24. ↑ Arriva order 50 new Wrightbus StreetLite and StreetLite Max buses Euro Transport Magazine 16 March 2015
  25. ↑ Mistral to sell new Wrighbus midi Bus & Coach Professional 5 May 2010
  26. ↑ Mistral and Wrightbus launch StreetLite Mistral Group
  27. ↑ "Stagecoach StreetLites accompany Olympic torch" Buses Magazine July 2012
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