MCW Metroliner | |
---|---|
A double deck Metroliner 400GT with Yorkshire Traction, with a Megabus vehicle behind it
|
|
Overview | |
Manufacturer | Metro Cammell Weymann |
Body and chassis | |
Doors | 1 door |
Floor type | Step entrance |
Powertrain | |
Engine | Cummins L10/Gardner 6LYT |
The MCW Metroliner was a coach built by Metro Cammell Weymann (MCW) in the 1980s. The Metroliner was available as a standard single-deck coach, or the more numerous and striking tri-axle double-deck coach.
The Metroliner saw service in the UK with nationalised operators National Bus Company (NBC) and Scottish Bus Group (SBG) for their long distance coach National Express and Scottish Citylink express services, as well as with competing operators such as Tyne & Wear PTE's Armstrong Galley Clipper service and the London Buses/West Midland Travel London Liner joint operation. Others saw operation with NBC subsidiaries' commuter coach operations, such as the short-lived Kentish Express of Kentish Bus,Alder Valley and the Oxford Bus Company's Oxford Citylink.
Few Metroliners were purchased for touring or private hire work, although many were used for such duties after retiring from express duties. Due to the limited demand for older double deck coaches and the high seating capacity on the upper deck, many double-deck Metroliner DR130s were converted to open-top buses by Ensignbus, for use on their London Pride Sightseeing operation, latterly passing to The Original Tour.
A total of 172 Metroliners were built, in four different variants.
Only 21 of the original style of single deck Metroliner were built in 1983-84, 15 for NBC (East Kent and Eastern National), 4 for SBG (Eastern Scottish and Northern Scottish) and 2 for Strathclyde PTE. The final ten had a revised front with less angular styling.