Wright Eclipse

Wright Eclipse
East Coast Buses Volvo B8RLE with Wright Eclipse 3 bodywork in September 2018
Overview
ManufacturerWrightbus
Production2000–2019
AssemblyBallymena, Northern Ireland
Body and chassis
Doors1 or 2
Floor typeLow floor/low entry
Step-entrance (Eclipse SchoolRun)
ChassisVolvo B7L
Volvo B7RLE
Volvo B7R
Volvo B8RLE
RelatedWright Eclipse Fusion
Wright Eclipse Gemini
Powertrain
EngineB7L: D7C
B7R: D7C
B7RLE: D7C/D7E
B8RLE: D8K
TransmissionVoith
ZF Friedrichshafen
Dimensions
Length11.8 m (38 ft 9 in)
12.2 m (40 ft 0 in)
12.4 m (40 ft 8 in)
13.2 m (43 ft 4 in)
Width2.5 m (8 ft 2 in)
Height3 m (9 ft 10 in)
Chronology
PredecessorWright Renown
SuccessorWright GB Hawk

The Wright Eclipse is a single-decker body of a bus. It has a low-floor. It was made from 2000 and 2019 by Wrightbus.

A double-decker model of the Eclipse was also made, It was called the Wright Eclipse Gemini.

A articulated model of the Eclipse was also made, It was called the Wright Eclipse Fusion.

First generation (2000–2010)

From 2000 to 2010, Wrightbus made a body of a bus called the Wright Eclipse. It had a low-floor.

In 2003, Wrightbus changed the name of the bus from Eclipse to Eclipse Metro. the interior and exterior was the same.

The Eclipse body and Eclipse Metro body was built on the Volvo B7L chassis.

Operators

From 2000 to 2010, FirstGroup ordered Eclipses.

Eclipse Urban

First Calderdale & Huddersfield Volvo B7RLE with Wright Eclipse Urban bodywork in July 2007
Arriva Shires & Essex Volvo B7L with a different Wright Eclipse Metro bodywork in July 2009. This bus was called "Bus of the Future" by Arriva
Ulsterbus Volvo B7R with Wright Eclipse SchoolRun bodywork in Derry in September 2007

From 2003 to 2009, Wrightbus made a body of a bus called the Eclipse Urban. It had a low-floor.

The Eclipse Urban was built on the Volvo B7RLE chassis.

The Eclipse Urban was made because sales of the Volvo B7L chassis were low because of the engine layout.

Eclipse Commuter

From 2004 to 2005, Wrightbus made a body of a bus called the Eclipse Commuter. It had a low-floor.

The Eclipse Commuter was built on the Volvo B7RLE chassis.

The Eclipse Commuter was made for longer distance and intercity services. It was similar to a coach; it had storage under the floor and it had a small low floor area for passengers in wheelchairs.

Operators

In 2004, Ulsterbus ordered Eclipse Commuters.

In 2005, Stagecoach West Scotland ordered two Eclipse Commuters.

Eclipse SchoolRun

From 2006 to 2010, Wrightbus made a body of a bus called the Eclipse SchoolRun. It had a step-entrance.

The Eclipse SchoolRun body was built on the Volvo B7R coach chassis.

The Eclipse SchoolRun was made for school bus services.

Operators

From 2007 and 2008, Ulsterbus ordered 160 Eclipse SchoolRuns, From 2009 to 2010, they ordered another 61 Eclipse SchoolRuns.

Second generation (2008–2015)

Plymouth Citybus Volvo B7RLE with Wright Eclipse Urban 2 bodywork in December 2012

From 2008 to 2015, Wrightbus made a body of a bus called the Wright Eclipse (known as the Eclipse Urban 2). It had a low-floor.

The Eclipse 2 body was built on the Volvo B7RLE chassis.

Operators

In 2009, The Burnley Bus Company ordered 19 Eclipse Urban 2s.

In 2014, Eclipse Urban 2s with air conditioning were sent to Malta for Malta Public Transport.

Third generation (2015–2019)

East Coast Buses Volvo B8RLE with Wright Eclipse 3 bodywork in July 2018

From 2015 to 2019, Wrightbus made a body of a bus called the Wright Eclipse (known as the Eclipse 3). It had a low-floor.

The Eclipse 3 body was built on the Volvo B8RLE chassis.

In 2017, the Eclipse 3 was improved, it had new front headlamps and rear lights, new grille, new front and rear bumpers and a new interior.

Operators

In 2017, East Coast Buses ordered improved Eclipse 3s.

In 2018, Delaine Buses ordered ordered improved Eclipse 3s.

References

  1. ↑ "Eclipse Urban – A Compliment to the Wrightbus Eclipse" (Press release). Wrightbus. April 2003. Archived from the original on 9 November 2006. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
  2. ↑ Cooper, Matt (2021). The Final Years of First Northampton. Amberley Publishing Limited. ISBN 978-1-3981-0783-0. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
  3. ↑ Cooper, Matt (2024). Northampton Buses and Coaches: The 1990s and 2000s. Amberley Publishing Limited. ISBN 978-1-3981-1587-3. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
  4. ↑ Poole, Scott (2024). First West Yorkshire Buses. Amberley Publishing Limited. ISBN 978-1-4456-9727-7. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
  5. ↑ Ackers, Simon (2024). Arriva Merseyside Buses. Amberley Publishing Limited. ISBN 978-1-3981-2108-9. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
  6. ↑ Jenkinson, Keith A. (2022). York Buses Since Deregulation. Amberley Publishing Limited. ISBN 978-1-4456-9705-5. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Millar, Allan (1998). Bus and Coach Recognition. Ian Allan Publishing. p. 108. ISBN 978-0-7110-3136-4.
  8. ↑ Jenkinson, Keith A. (2023). Leeds Buses Since 2000. Amberley Publishing Limited. ISBN 978-1-3981-0222-4. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
  9. ↑ Walter, Richard (2019). Lothian Buses: 100 Years and Beyond. Amberley Publishing Limited. ISBN 978-1-4456-9190-9. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
  10. ↑ Jenkinson, Keith A. (2022). York Buses Since Deregulation. Amberley Publishing Limited. ISBN 978-1-4456-9705-5. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
  11. ↑ Moth, David (2025). Arriva in Essex and Kent. Amberley Publishing Limited. ISBN 978-1-3981-1995-6. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
  12. ↑ "Wheelchair access: a Wright solution". Coach & Bus Week. No. 561. Peterborough: Emap. 30 January 2003. Archived from the original on 13 March 2003. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
  13. ↑ "Blazefield orders six Eclipse Commuters". Bus & Coach Professional. 28 May 2004. Archived from the original on 29 April 2018. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
  14. ↑ "Eclipse Commuters to enter service". Bus & Coach Professional. 9 December 2005. Archived from the original on 29 April 2018. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
  15. 1 2 "Translink places school bus order". Bus & Coach Professional. 15 November 2006. Archived from the original on 29 April 2018. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
  16. 1 2 "New SchoolRun unveiled by Wrightbus". Bus & Coach Professional. 23 May 2007. Archived from the original on 7 October 2007. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
  17. ↑ Beddall, David (2022). Luton's Transport: A Journey Through Time. Pen and Sword Transport. ISBN 978-1-5267-5559-9. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
  18. ↑ Moth, David (2019). Buses in Northern England. Amberley Publishing Limited. ISBN 978-1-4456-8779-7. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
  19. ↑ Stubbings, Richard (2023). Buses of Bristol and Somerset: Past and Present. Amberley Publishing Limited. ISBN 978-1-3981-0597-3. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
  20. ↑ Walter, Richard (2022). Route Branding and Special Liveries on British Buses. Amberley Publishing Limited. ISBN 978-1-4456-9644-7. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
  21. ↑ "Raising the bar for bus refurbishment". Bus & Coach Professional. No. 266. 10 December 2012. Archived from the original on 16 September 2012. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
  22. ↑ "Nineteen new Volvos for Transdev Burnley and Pendle" (Press release). Volvo Buses United Kingdom and Ireland. 18 February 2009. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
  23. ↑ "Malta's new contractor starts". Coach & Bus Week. Peterborough. 12 January 2015. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
  24. ↑ "Wrightbus launches Eclipse 3". Buses. No. 727. Stamford: Key Publishing. October 2015. p. 8.
  25. ↑ Walter, Richard (2022). The Bus and Coach Today. Amberley Publishing Limited. ISBN 978-1-3981-0463-1. Retrieved 13 February 2025.
  26. ↑ Champan, Jessamy (19 April 2017). "15 single-decks for East Lothian". routeone. Archived from the original on 29 April 2018. Retrieved 5 August 2018.
  27. ↑ "Delaine upgrades fleet and goes contactless". routeone. 19 September 2018. Retrieved 23 September 2018.

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