The Wrightbus StreetDeck is a low-floor two-axle double-decker bus produced by Wrightbus in Northern Ireland, which has been in production since 2014.
Only KMB and Sun Bus have introduced the Wrightbus StreetDeck, with KMB having introduced a demonstrator bus (W6S1) which has since been shipped back to the UK.
Design[]
Wrightbus launched a new all-in-one body-designed bus, StreetDeck, in 2014[1] The body design is the same as that of the Wright Eclipse Gemini 3 (which is also used by Singapore's SBS Transit, NWFB, Citybus, LWB, and some of the Volvo B8Ls in KMB fleet), with a curtain wall connecting the upper and lower windows located next to the staircase.
Unlike traditional UK buses with horizontally-engined double-deckers at the rear (e.g. Enviro400, Volvo B9TL, VDL DB300), the StreetDeck has a longitudinal engine layout, which eliminates the need for a horizontal engine with an angular drive, minimizing power loss and reducing weight to reduce fuel consumption[2]. As for the engine, the UK version is equipped with a 228 hp, 5.1-liter Mercedes-Benz OM934LA Euro 6 four-cylinder engine, but with poor up-slope capability[3]. The Optare Solo SR, the first low-floor minibus in Hong Kong, is also powered by the same engine, but with only 154 horsepower. KMB's StreetDeck demonstrator bus is powered by a 7.7-liter OM936LA Euro 6 six-cylinder engine with 295 hp, which is longer than the British version because of its longer tail span to cope with air-conditioning units and hill-climbing requirements. This is the first Mercedes-Benz-engined bus in the KMB fleet since the complete retirement of the Mercedes-Benz O305 (ME) in 2002.
More than 800 Wright StreetDecks have been sold in the UK[4]. The main users are First Group and Go-Ahead subsidiaries.
KMB fleet[]
Demonstrator bus[]
W6S1[]
Chassis number: SA9DDRSXN17141001
KMB introduced a Wrightbus StreetDeck two-axle double-decker bus in 2018[5] It arrived in Hong Kong on 28 February that year. It is powered by a Mercedes-Benz OM936LA six-cylinder engine with a Voith gearbox[6], is the first two-axle double-deck bus with both interior equipment and body paint of the "Heartbeat of The City" specification, and its glass curtain wall next to the staircase is the first of its kind in Hong Kong[7][8]. In addition, a dynamic passenger information system was installed above the alighting door, replacing the traditional alighting bell light and "Door Closing" light box, and the German-made Eberspacher air-conditioning system[9].
Three months after its arrival in Hong Kong, the bus underwent its first government vehicle inspection on 13 June[10], but failed to complete all inspection procedures successfully, so the inspection continued on 12 September, with alloy wheels being used instead to reduce weight[11]. In November 2018, it was rumored that the two seats at the lower rear near the emergency exit had to be removed due to weight issues after failing the test[12]. The car seat layout was revised again in March 2019[13], on To Kwa Wan Vehicle Inspection Center again on April 11 for Vehicle Inspection[14]; and to Kowloon Bay Vehicle Examination Centre for tilt test on 24 April[15], and was ultimately registered on 12 September with a licence plate of WJ1984 and a fleet number of W6S1, which was then allocated to Kowloon Bay Depot (K)[16] and on the 17 September of same year it made its maiden trip on Routes 81C and 5, and later becoming a scheduled bus of Route 103.
News in mid-October 2019 that Wrightbus' financial situation had become extremely critical led to W6S1 being suspended. [17] There were also rumors that the car's air conditioning system had been unable to run again since the afternoon of 4 October 2019 on Route 88; however Wrightbus does not have an official agent in Hong Kong to follow up on the issue and needs foreign manufacturers to ship the parts on its behalf, which has left W6S1 in a suspended state. [18]
On 9 February 2020, the W6S1, which had its licence plate removed, went to Ma Wan for a road test[19] and subsequently left Hong Kong on February 20 for shipment back to the UK. [20][21]
In May 2021, it was reported online that the W6S1 had been resold to Ensignbus, the UK's largest second-hand bus dealer.[22] Ensignbus took possession of the bus, and in September of the same year began modifications to the bus, removing the centre door and sealing off the location. [23] Eventually the bus was converted in late February 2023, including replacing all the seats, adding a small table to the upper rear, replacing the pax doors, etc., and was later repainted. [24][25] The conversion was completed in July 2023 and was assigned with a British licence plate LX23 BJK and fleet number 160.
Mass-production buses[]
Cancelled order[]
According to Buses Magazine UK, Wrightbus International announced in January 2019 that it had received an order from KMB for 50 Wrightbus StreetDeck 10.65 metre two-axle double-deck buses with the same vehicle configuration as the demonstrator buses, with seat belts for all seats and the same body paint pre-coating as the V6B. [26]
50 new vehicles were intended to replace Volvo Super Olympian 10.6m (ASV1-50) and Dennis Trident 10.6m (ATS51-100). On 29 May 2019, a bus suspected to be on this order overturned in the UK.[27][28]
Wrightbus was rumoured to be in financial trouble, and in late January 2020, rumours surfaced online that KMB had cancelled its order for a second batch of 25 Enviro500 MMC 11.3m (E6M77-101) instead.[29] Some of the completed assembled buses in the order were allegedly sold to Sun Bus instead.
| Fleet summary of KMB Wrightbus StreetDeck | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fleet no. | Body | Engine | Gearbox | Capacity | Year in service |
| W6S1 | Wright (Integrated bodywork) |
Mercedes-Benz OM936LA (Euro 6) |
Voith DIWA 854.6 | U50/L20+S19 89人 |
2019-2020 |
| Fleet list of KMB Wright StreetDeck | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fleet no. | Plate no.[30] | Current depot | Scheduled route | Destination sign | First registration date | Retirement date | Remarks | |
| W6S1 | WJ1984 | - | - | Hanover II Electronic Destination Sign (Orange) | 12-09-2019 | 20-02-2020 | Demonstrator bus | |
Sun Bus fleet[]
In July 2020, it was rumoured on the internet that Sun Bus would be ordering a number of Wrightbus StreetDeck buses to run its resident bus routes and bus hire services, replacing the Dennis Tridents (KU689, KU5428, KU6395).[31]
On 12 September of the same year, a solid red bus with Lazzerini Ethos seats in brown and cream, with the priority seats in cream and red, the same interior colour and equipment as KMB's "Heartbeat of The City" buses, with the upper air-conditioning ducts with side holes, the bottom of the lower air-conditioning ducts with holes, and the final end with a spherical air outlet, arrived on board the MV Morning Linda. The glass panels on both sides of the alighting doors are no longer installed, but are replaced by handrail arrays on the upper and lower halves and wood-like fire-resistant vinyl panels on the lower half of each side, and pitted handrail posts next to the staircases. The white LED lighting system is adopted in the cabin, with tree blocks, and the roof is reserved for the installation of solar panels in the future. The emergency exits are also of traditional push-out design, which is different from the reinforced glass traditionally used by KMB. The vehicle is equipped with Thermo King air-conditioning system, Electronic Stability Program (ESP), Driver Assistance System, Sleep Alert System for Bus Captains and GreenRoad Quality Bus Captains' Monitoring System. The bus was then driven away the Container Terminals and proceed to the petrol station for refuelling by Sun Bus staff.[32]
On 20 December of the same year, the second Sun Bus Wrightbus StreetDeck bus arrived in Hong Kong, but it did not have any reservation for solar panels, unlike the same buses that had arrived previously.[33] On 29 December of the same year, the third Wrightbus StreetDeck bus of Sun Bus arrived in Hong Kong[34] while the fourth and fifth Wrightbus StreetDeck buses arrived in Hong Kong on 28 January[35][36] and 1 March[37] 2021 respectively.
The first Sun Bus Wrightbus StreetDeck was registered on 10 February 2021 with registration number XD8994[38] and made its maiden service on Route NR331S in the afternoon of 24 March of the same year.[39]
In October 2022, one of the Wrightbus StreetDeck (licence plate XS1685) was fitted with the new Sun Bus logo "SUNB" in white lettering, similar in style to that of KMB.[40] This was gradually followed by other buses of the same type.
| Fleet summary of Sun Bus Wrightbus StreetDeck | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Body | Engine | Gearbox | Capacity | Year in service |
| Wright (Integrated bodywork) |
Mercedes-Benz OM936LA (Euro 6) |
Voith DIWA 854.6 | U51/L21+S26 Also with 1 wheelchair space Max. capacity 98 including 1 wheelchair passenger |
2021- |
| Fleet list of Sun Bus Wright StreetDeck | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plate no. | Destination sign | First registration date | Retirement date | Remarks |
| XD8994 | Hanover II Electronic Destination Sign (White) | 10-02-2021 | ||
| XH3328 | 04-05-2021 | |||
| XH7857 | 28-05-2021 | |||
| XS1685 | 04-11-2021 | |||
| XS2022 | 04-11-2021 | |||
Gallery[]
- Vehicle appearance (KMB)
- Vehicle appearance (Sun Bus)
.JPG "XD8994@NR331S(0325).JPG (4.91 MB)")
- Interior layout (Sun Bus)
.jpg "SUNB Wrightbus StreetDeck XD8994 Upper deck 23-04-2022(2).jpg (2.32 MB)")
Notes and References[]
- ↑ KMB Wrightbus StreetDeck arrives in Hong Kong. HKiTalk.net.
- ↑ StreetDeck Euro 6
- ↑ html Wright Streetdeck 集合帖, HKiTalk.net.
- ↑ Bus Lists on the Web
- ↑ 全新方頭Wright車身巴士即將到港 (Brand new square-headed Wright-body buses coming soon in HK), HKiTalk. net.
- ↑ 新巴士使用平治OM936引擎及Voith波箱 (New bus used Mercedes-Benz OM936 engines and Voith gearboxes), HK Bus Channel Facebook page
- ↑ 28/2 是日抵港的九巴新車 (28/2 KMB buses newly-arrived in HK), HKiTalk.net.
- ↑ HKiTalk2/thread-1058390-1-1.html KMB's two-axle square-head Streetdeck, HKiTalk.net.
- ↑ [即日快報] Wright Streetdeck內籠和上層 A 柱設計 (Wright Streetdeck inner cage and upper A-pillar design), hkitalk.net.
- ↑ 【2018-06-13】九巴Wright兩軸Street Deck今日首次到土驗驗車 ([2018-06-13] KMB Wright two-axle Street Deck to get its first vehicle inspection today), "土驗速遞" Facebook page
- ↑ 全新九巴 WRIGHT「StreetDeck」兩軸樣辦巴士再再再度出巡！！是日下午，尚未完成出牌前檢驗程序的 StreetDeck，再次東巡至土驗。
- ↑ 下層被拆去兩個座位的Wrightbus Streetdeck (Wrightbus Streetdeck with two seats removed from the lower deck), HKiTalk.net.
- ↑ 上下層車尾已拆座位的Streetdeck (6 pics) (Streetdeck with seats removed from the upper and lower decks (6 pics)), HKiTalk.net.
- ↑ 抵港超過一年的 Wrightbus Streetdeck 今日再到土驗驗車 (Wrightbus Streetdeck which arrived over a year ago went to vehicle examination at ), HKiTalk.net. HKiTalk.net.
- ↑ &fbclid=IwAR0XXKb4oFk3K6RiK-2nw1yXvKPDrgUHH5RIjPAOKiIrIj6x_a-rtMR5lK0 Wright Streetdeck 進行傾斜測試 (Wright Streetdeck undergoing tilt test), hkitalk.net
- ↑ 九巴Wright Streetdeck 出牌消息 (KMB Wrightbus Streetdeck registered), HKiTalk.net.
- ↑ W6S1 WJ1984 停牌 (W6S1 WJ1984 suspended), hkitalk.net.
- ↑ 【都市傳聞：StreetDeck 停牌背後三大死因 😲😮😧】 (Urban Rumour: The Three Deadly Causes Behind StreetDeck's Licence Suspension 😲😮😧), BusLanes facebook page.
- ↑ 在馬灣進行路面測試 (Wrightbus Streetdeck conducts road test in Ma Wan), HKiTalk.net.
- ↑ 九巴 Wright Streetdeck 樣辦車 今早已離開香港 (KMB Wright Streetdeck demonstrator bus left Hong Kong this morning), HKiTalk.net.
- ↑ hkitalk.net/HKiTalk2/thread-1171596-1-1.html W6S1 前WJ1984 已回到英國 (W6S1 former WJ1984 has returned to the UK), HKiTalk.net.
- ↑ [小道消息] 前九巴Wright Streetdeck巴士(W6S1 WJ1984)已經轉售英國巴士公司 ([Tidbits] Former KMB Wright Streetdeck bus (W6S1 WJ1984) has been resold to British Bus Corporation), hkitalk.net.
- ↑ [UK] 前九巴Wright Streetdeck巴士(W6S1 WJ1984)在英國Ensignbus改裝情況 ([UK] Former KMB Wright Streetdeck bus (W6S1 WJ1984) converted by Ensignbus in the United Kingdom), hkitalk.net.
- ↑ [UK] 前九巴 Streetdeck W6S1在英國 Ensignbus 即將完成改裝 ([UK] Former KMB Streetdeck W6S1 to complete conversion soon at Ensignbus in the UK), hkitalk. net.
- ↑ Test Drive | KMB StreetDeck, Coach & Bus Week YouTube Channel.
- ↑ Wrightbus wins Hong Kong order for 50 StreetDecks, Buses Magazine UK, 14 January 2019.
- ↑ 九巴量產Wrightbus Streetdeck在付運過程中反車 (KMB production-model Wrightbus Streetdeck overturned during delivery), HKiTalk.net。
- ↑ Related post, Skyline Media Hong Kong Facebook page.
- ↑ 九巴所有streetdeck訂單已取消 (All Streetdeck orders for KMB cancelled), HKiTalk.net.
- ↑ Plate numbers in red are with Hearbeat of The City livery.
- ↑ 小道消息 香港有非專利巴士公司引入Streetdeck (Tidbits: A non-franchised bus company in HK will introduce Streetdeck buses), HKiTalk.net
- ↑ 即日快報 第一部量產版 Wrightbus StreetDeck 離開貨櫃碼頭入油及回廠 (First production Wrightbus Streetdeck left Container Terminals for refuelling and returned to depot), HKiTalk.net.
- ↑ 【是日巴士焦點 ☀️🔴📸🎥】☀️Sun Bus 陽光巴士 第2部 Wrightbus StreetDeck 到港多面睇🔴🚍🤩, BusLanes facebook page.
- ↑ [網友供相] 第三部陽光巴士 StreetDeck 抵港 (3rd Sun Bus Wrightbus Streetdeck arrives in HK), HKiTalk.net
- ↑ [即日快報] 第四部陽光巴士 Streetdeck 抵港 (4th Sun Bus Streetdeck arrives in HK), HKiTalk.net.
- ↑ 離港矮躉遇上抵港Streetdeck (When departing Low-Height Trident meets arriving Streetdeck), HKiTalk.net.
- ↑ [即日快報] 陽光巴士第五部StreetDeck抵港 (5th Sun Bus Streetdeck arrives in HK), HKiTalk.net
- ↑ 陽光streetdeck出牌消息 (Sun Bus Streetdeck registered), HKitalk.net
- ↑ 【是日巴士焦點 📸 ——【☀️陽光 首部 StreetDeck 今日首航🔴🚍】 , BusLanes facebook page.
- ↑ 【SUN BUS 新 形象】 (New image for Sun Bus), BusLanes facebook page.
Related Articles[]
- Wrightbus
- Volvo B8L
- Volvo B9TL (Two-axle version)
- VDL DB300
- Mercedes-Benz O305
External Links[]
- KMB Wrightbus StreetDeck
- Wright Streetdeck Photos + Clip
- Wright Streetdeck's engine room
- Wright StreetDeck underbody parts (UK version)
StreetDeck, Wrightbus Streetdeck and Streetdeck