Innovation and investment

The Wright Group was founded in 1946 and today is one of Europe’s leading independently-owned bus manufacturers. With headquarters based in N Ireland the company has an annual turnover in excess of £100m and employs more than 950 people.

A twenty-first century solution for passenger transport

StreetCar (as featured in Intelligent Transport Industry Focus 2007) is an excellent example of just what can be achieved when a major bus operator works in close partnership with both a major bus bodybuilder and chassis manufacturer to develop a new and exciting concept in urban public transport.

Officially launched in 2005, StreetCar successfully answers all the key questions in the search for an innovative approach to encourage the greater use of public transport in urban areas. It is a radical yet practical mode of transport, providing an effective use of road space in a highly environmentally friendly way.

Sharing many of the features of a modern tram, but liberated from the need for rails in the road, StreetCar is an operationally practical solution with an equally sound economic justification. Combining the style and technology of the best in light rail vehicle design, with the flexibility and affordability of a city bus, StreetCar has stood public service vehicle design on its head.

Volvo has been a key partner in the process, developing bespoke chassis modules and components for StreetCar. Significant investments have been made -– most notably in a new cooling pack, improved ride and suspension and a modified turntable – which have all contributed to unparalleled improvements in vehicle performance and have defined StreetCar as a new category of rapid transit vehicle.

With proven and operationally reliable technology, it can be implemented without the need for major infrastructure investments and with minimum disruption to existing operations.

It has already proved its ability to be introduced as part of an innovative and integrated transport system with the UK’s largest bus operator, First, where modern and attractive high capacity vehicles with rapid boarding, dedicated bus lanes with traffic signal priority at intersections, and real time passenger information have combined to deliver a new level of public transport provision – called ftr.

In hybrid form, StreetCar will also shortly entering service in the US, where 50 StreetCar RTVs, will operate on two new rapid transit corridors in the Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) of Southern Nevada’s Metropolitan Area Express (MAX) system, further demonstrating the massive potential for this Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) concept.

StreetCar RTV will incorporate a Diesel Hybrid Drive System developed in conjunction with the ISE Corporation of California and Siemens Energy & Automation in Georgia and is based on a Cummins ISL engine. Internally, StreetCar RTV will be similar to those already in service in the UK, but with a specification to reflect local preferences including a three door configuration.

The first StreetCar RTV is scheduled for trials in the summer, with production starting in earnest in the autumn to meet the delivery programme specified by the RTC of Southern Nevada.

Transport history is littered with exciting and exotic designs which looked great on a drawing board or under the spotlights of an exhibition, but never had a chance of actually becoming reality. This is where StreetCar is different from anything that has gone before it.

It has the futuristic looks and is packed with a host of exciting design innovations and features which gives it that all important ‘kerb appeal’ which will make passengers want to travel on board – even in preference to the car. Crucially, it is a mode of transport which is based on a tried and tested platform – the citybus – with the durability and proven product lifecycle that goes with it.

BRT is now a widely accepted way of delivering a new public transportation system at a fraction of the cost of tram or light rail. Using the citybus as a base and incorporating a new level of technology that can transform the experience for those who both use it and operate it, StreetCar truly is a viable solution.

Product and support innovations

Soon to enter operation in London will be the Wrightbus Gemini HEV, the first high capacity vehicle fitted with hybrid technology to go into operation in the capital.

Powered by a Hybrid Drivetrain developed in conjunction with Siemens and built on a VDL Bus DB250 ‘glider chassis’, the double deck Wrightbus Eclipse HEV will imminently enter service with Arriva in London on route 141 and is the first of a new generation of Wrightbus Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs) that will be progressively made available across the existing model range.

More conventional but equally stylish Wrightbus offer the Pulsar. Based on the Euro 4 VDLBus SB200 chassis and featuring the 6.7 litre in-line Cummins engine with SCR, this 11.9m low entry vehicle incorporates the Floline concept to offer a lightweight, yet highly durable full size single deck bus.

The Eclipse Gemini also stars in the company’s latest developments. This vehicle is based on Euro 4 Volvo B9TL chassis with its new 9 litre common rail engine incorporating SCR.

With an overall length of 10.4m, the Eclipse Gemini has 74 seats and a 20 standee capacity, and features new rear end styling and a composite ramp. Inside, the new driver’s area is featured, as is new high durability flooring and fully sealed interior lights. The body electrics have been relocated to the upper deck staircase partition and the vehicle also incorporates a new, electronically controlled heating system.

The traditional core of the Wrightbus range is of course the Eclipse on Volvo B7RLE chassis, 12.15m long full size, heavy duty single deck bus is powered by Volvo’s Euro 4 common rail 7.1 litre diesel engine with SCR.

With 45 seats and room for 38 standees, the vehicle shares many of the enhancements introduced across the Wrightbus product range – new driver’s area, high durability flooring, fully sealed interior lights, a composite ramp as well as a fully galvanised underframe, including nickel bolts.

As well as product innovations, the Wright Group is also highlighting a number of other facets to its business, including a further strengthening of its Customcare customer support organisation, as well as latest developments in its Expotech division, which continues to lead developments in North America.

The Wright Group’s latest developments clearly demonstrate that the company continues to go from strength to strength, without compromising its key values of ethics and integrity. Our manufacturing facility in Ballymena is equipped with state of the art technology which is operated by a highly trained, extremely experienced and exceptionally dedicated workforce. The Wright Group is in an excellent position to capitalise on the many and varied opportunities in the passenger transport sector, both today and tomorrow.