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Post by londonbuses2018 on Apr 12, 2018 17:04:48 GMT
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Post by John tuthill on Apr 12, 2018 17:41:18 GMT
So why is it made in China? Surely there is a manufacturer overhere? Why the big fanfare, there are tri-axle tour buses?  |
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Post by vjaska on Apr 12, 2018 18:07:48 GMT
So why is it made in China? Surely there is a manufacturer overhere? Why the big fanfare, there are tri-axle tour buses? Does it really matter where it's made? |
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Post by snoggle on Apr 12, 2018 18:43:27 GMT
So why is it made in China? Surely there is a manufacturer overhere? Why the big fanfare, there are tri-axle tour buses? I suspect they've gone for the BCI for a few reasons 1. It's cheap. 2. Ensigns got them a good deal. 3. The Chinese bent over backwards to customise the design / incorporate TfL foibles. 4. There are "links" between Ensigns and former senior TfL people. I suspect this "trial" was put in place a fair number of months ago and certainly before Leon left TfL. ADL probably haven't got a TfL spec Enviro 500 to hand and Wrightbus only body Volvos. Volvo have just changed the chassis design for Far East tri-axles which I doubt would be compliant with London maintenance practices. Where all of this gets interesting is if TfL decide they want to spec tri-axles for some TfL routes and how ADL and Wrightbus respond to that.  |
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Post by planesandtrains on Apr 12, 2018 18:49:10 GMT
So why is it made in China? Surely there is a manufacturer overhere? Why the big fanfare, there are tri-axle tour buses? I suspect they've gone for the BCI for a few reasons 1. It's cheap. 2. Ensigns got them a good deal. 3. The Chinese bent over backwards to customise the design / incorporate TfL foibles. 4. There are "links" between Ensigns and former senior TfL people. I suspect this "trial" was put in place a fair number of months ago and certainly before Leon left TfL. ADL probably haven't got a TfL spec Enviro 500 to hand and Wrightbus only body Volvos. Volvo have just changed the chassis design for Far East tri-axles which I doubt would be compliant with London maintenance practices. Where all of this gets interesting is if TfL decide they want to spec tri-axles for some TfL routes and how ADL and Wrightbus respond to that. From what I have heard is that the BCI is actually more expensive. Even if it looks it bit tacky the ride quality is out of this world. |
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Post by snoggle on Apr 12, 2018 18:56:57 GMT
I suspect they've gone for the BCI for a few reasons 1. It's cheap. 2. Ensigns got them a good deal. 3. The Chinese bent over backwards to customise the design / incorporate TfL foibles. 4. There are "links" between Ensigns and former senior TfL people. I suspect this "trial" was put in place a fair number of months ago and certainly before Leon left TfL. ADL probably haven't got a TfL spec Enviro 500 to hand and Wrightbus only body Volvos. Volvo have just changed the chassis design for Far East tri-axles which I doubt would be compliant with London maintenance practices. Where all of this gets interesting is if TfL decide they want to spec tri-axles for some TfL routes and how ADL and Wrightbus respond to that. From what I have heard is that the BCI is actually more expensive. Even if it looks it bit tacky the ride quality is out of this world. The question, though, is "more expensive that what?" given there are no TfL spec tri-axles in existence. |
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Post by John tuthill on Apr 12, 2018 19:16:14 GMT
So why is it made in China? Surely there is a manufacturer overhere? Why the big fanfare, there are tri-axle tour buses? There are those in the industry who might not agree with you |
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Post by rj131 on Apr 12, 2018 19:30:42 GMT
Does it really matter where it's made? There are those in the industry who might not agree with you From what I’ve seen of it its build quality is actually very good, better than an E400 MMC or G3. Which is very very suprising, given how appalling the K8SRs or whatever they are on the 98. It is an Australian company though so they probably had some say in the manufacturing which is why it’s such a quality product. (aren’t Chinese vehicles normally a bit dodgy? Considering this is a car produced by the Chinese in 2004, courtesy of Top Gear’s Beijing car copying film  goo.gl/images/qkxRk9 ) |
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Post by cl54 on Apr 12, 2018 19:55:05 GMT
A one off vehicle is bound to be expensive.
Then again it is fully air conditioned (not air chilled as current London buses) and has a number of other features like a steerable rear axle. These add to the costs.
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Post by snoggle on Apr 12, 2018 20:59:55 GMT
It is an Australian company though so they probably had some say in the manufacturing which is why it’s such a quality product. (aren’t Chinese vehicles normally a bit dodgy? Considering this is a car produced by the Chinese in 2004, courtesy of Top Gear’s Beijing car copying film goo.gl/images/qkxRk9 ) A lot of domestic Chinese buses leave a lot to be desired by UK standards but as ever the Chinese are very quick learners. They are adapting their designs and slowly winning orders in places like Hong Kong which won't be what UK manufacturers want to hear. I expect BYD's partnership with ADL for UK electric buses is teaching BYD a great deal about how the UK market works although TfL are not typical of the wider environment. I expect others will learn in due course and will push to win orders in HK, Australia and Singapore. UK manufacturers / bodybuilders must know these markets are under severe threat - especially if the Chinese can make a half decent, reliable electric double deck bus. |
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Post by vjaska on Apr 13, 2018 0:32:38 GMT
Does it really matter where it's made? There are those in the industry who might not agree with you Oh don't I know it, I have someone on Facebook post about how supposedly Britain isn't making anymore buses - clearly to them, Alexander Dennis or Wrightbus aren't British  A bit of healthy competition from abroad can only be a good thing in my eyes |
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Post by bn12cny on Apr 13, 2018 9:44:32 GMT
As living in Beijing I use these buses occasionally and when one does turn up, I am so excited like a kid in a sweet shop! These buses are amazing, the ride is superb no rattles or creaks, fast and comfortable, in my opinion they are not the best looking but the bus is a bus and not a rattle run can! This can only be a good thing for London and I can remember a post which I sent that I prefer these buses to the Enviro 500 in Hong Kong! Healthy Competition l!
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Post by ServerKing on Apr 18, 2018 17:16:56 GMT
As living in Beijing I use these buses occasionally and when one does turn up, I am so excited like a kid in a sweet shop! These buses are amazing, the ride is superb no rattles or creaks, fast and comfortable, in my opinion they are not the best looking but the bus is a bus and not a rattle run can! This can only be a good thing for London and I can remember a post which I sent that I prefer these buses to the Enviro 500 in Hong Kong! Healthy Competition l! I think the BCI looks smart, I prefer it to the EvoSeti, and certainly nicer than the Atrocity Metrocity Full air con will be great in weather like this |
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Post by snowman on Oct 24, 2018 10:03:00 GMT
Volvo have announced that they will be offering the B8L tri-axle chassis in partnership with ADL, MCV and Wrightbus to allow 100 seat double deck. A chassis will be displayed at next weeks BusExpo Route One ArticleAlso they are intending to build electric double and single decks with MCV bodies Route One Volvo electric article |
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Post by snoggle on Oct 24, 2018 10:28:45 GMT
Volvo have announced that they will be offering the B8L tri-axle chassis in partnership with ADL, MCV and Wrightbus to allow 100 seat double deck. A chassis will be displayed at next weeks BusExpo Route One ArticleAlso they are intending to build electric double and single decks with MCV bodies Route One Volvo electric article The most telling thing from both of those articles is the rise of MCV as a partner with Volvo and the relative decline of Wrightbus. I wonder if that is a Volvo decision or the result of Wrightbus deciding to do their own thing and not wanting to body separate chassis - esp on single deckers? |
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