Wright Eclipse Gemini

Wright Eclipse Gemini
London General Volvo B5LH with Wright Gemini 3 bodywork at Marble Arch in September 2022
Overview
ManufacturerWrightbus
Production2001–present
AssemblyBallymena, Northern Ireland
Body and chassis
Doors1-2
Floor typeLow floor
ChassisVolvo B8L
Volvo B5TL
Volvo B5LH
Volvo B9TL
Volvo B7TL
Volvo Super Olympian (Explorer)
Scania K410EB
RelatedWright Eclipse
Wright Pulsar Gemini
Wright StreetDeck (Chassis)
Powertrain
EngineVolvo D8K (Volvo B8L)
Volvo D5K (Volvo B5TL)
Volvo D5E/D5F/D5K (Volvo B5LH)
Volvo D9A/D9B (Volvo B9TL)
Volvo D7C (Volvo B7TL)
Volvo D10A (Volvo Super Olympian)
Scania DC13 (Scania K410)
TransmissionVolvo I-Shift
Voith DIWA
ZF Ecomat
ZF EcoLife
Dimensions
Length
2-axle
10.0 m (32 ft 10 in) to 11.5 m (37 ft 9 in)
3-axle
11.3 m (37 ft 1 in)
12.0 m (39 ft 4 in)
12.8 m (42 ft 0 in)
Width2.52 m (8 ft 3 in)
Height4.23 m (13 ft 11 in) or 4.4 m (14 ft 5 in)

The Wright Eclipse Gemini is a double-decker body of a bus. It has a low-floor. It has been made from 2001 to the present day by Wrightbus.

First generation (2001–2009)

Transdev in Burnley & Pendle Volvo B7TL with first generation Wright Eclipse Gemini body
Rears of First Bristol Volvo B7TL (right) and facelifted Volvo B9TL (left) Wright Eclipse Geminis at Cribbs Causeway bus station

From 2001 to 2009, Wrightbus made a double-decker body of a bus called the Wright Eclipse Gemini.

From 2001 to 2006, the Eclipse Gemini was built on the Volvo B7TL chassis.

In 2007, the Volvo B7TL chassis was replaced with the Volvo B9TL chassis because the B7TL chassis had lots of noise complaints.

In 2007, Wrightbus improved the Wright Eclipse Gemini to fit the new Volvo B9TL chassis. the rear destination number was moved to the right, the registration plate was moved to the top of the bus and the rear bottom window was made smaller.

From 2007 to 2009, the Eclipse Gemini was built on the Volvo B9TL chassis.

Operators

United Kingdom

Volvo B7TL

Arriva London ordered 179 Volvo B7TLs with Eclipse Gemini 1 bodywork.

London Central and London General ordered 273 Volvo B7TL Gemini 1s.

From 2004 to 2007, First Glasgow, First West, First South Yorkshire, and First Leicester ordered Volvo B7TLs with Eclipse Gemini 1 bodywork.

Volvo B9TL

From 2007 to 2010, First Greater Manchester ordered over 200 Volvo B9TL Gemini 1s.

In 2008, Yorkshire Coastliner ordered 10 Volvo B9TL Gemini 1s.

In 2007, Wessex Bus ordered seven Volvo B9TL Gemini 1s.

Volvo B5LH

From 2001 to 2009, Wrightbus made a double-decker body of a bus for the hybrid Volvo B5LH chassis.

Operators

In 2009, Arriva London ordered 6 Volvo B5LHs Gemini 1s.: 136 

Hong Kong

Wright Explorer
Kowloon Motor Bus Volvo Super Olympian with Wright Explorer bodywork

From 2003 to 2005, Wrightbus made a double-decker body of a bus called the Wright Explorer (previously called The Wright Bus). It had three-axles and it had low-floor. It was made for the Hong Kong market.

The Wright Explorer body was built on the Volvo Super Olympian chassis.

Operators

In 2003, Kowloon Motor Bus ordered Volvo Super Olympians with Wright Explorer bodywork.

In 2006, the Super Olympian chassis was replaced with the three-axle Volvo B9TL chassis.

In 2006, Wrightbus made an improved bus body but didn't give it a name.

In 2006, Kowloon ordered 64 Volvo B9TLs with the unnamed Wright bodywork.

Second generation (2008–2018)

Lothian Buses Volvo B9TL with standard-height Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 body in June 2010

From 2008 to 2018, Wrightbus made a double-decker body of a bus called the Wright Eclipse Gemini 2. It had a low-floor.

The Eclipse Gemini 2 body was built on the Volvo B9TL chassis and the hybrid B5LH chassis.

Operators

United Kingdom

Volvo B9TL

In 2012, First West Yorkshire ordered 47 Volvo B9TLs with Eclipse Gemini 2 bodywork.: 184–185 

From 2011 to 2013, First Berkshire ordered six Volvo B9TL Gemini 2s for use on their Green Line 702 service.: 178–179 

From 2009 to 2011, Lothian Buses ordered 145 Volvo B9TL Gemini 2s.

In 2009, East Yorkshire Motor Services ordered 20 Volvo B9TL Gemini 2s. From 2014 to 2015, they ordered 9 more Volvo B9TL Gemini 2s.

Volvo B5LH
Arriva North West Volvo B5LH with low-roof version of the Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 body

From 2012 to 2013, Arriva UK bus ordered 77 Volvo B5LHs with Eclipse Gemini 2 bodywork.

In 2013, Oxford Bus Company ordered 19 Volvo B5LH Gemini 2s.

In 2011, First West Yorkshire ordered 22 Volvo B5LH Gemini 2s for use on the Leeds guided busway.

In 2013, Preston Bus ordered 8 Volvo B5LH Gemini 2s.

Hong Kong

Volvo B9TL
SBS Transit Volvo B9TL Wright Eclipse Gemini 2

In 2014, Citybus, Kowloon Motor Bus, MTR Bus and New World First Bus ordered Volvo B9TL Gemini 2s.

From 2010 to 2017, SBS Transit and Land Transport Authority ordered 1,606 Volvo B9TL Gemini 2s, They were sent as knock-down kits and locally made by ComfortDelGro Engineering.

Third generation (2013–present)

Dublin Bus Volvo B5TL with Wright Gemini 3 bodywork near Parnell Square in May 2019

From 2013 to the present day, Wrightbus make a double-decker body of a bus called the Wright Gemini 3. It has a low-floor.

The Gemini 3 body is built on the Volvo B5TL chassis and the hybrid Volvo B5LH chassis.

Operators

United Kingdom

Volvo B5TL

In 2014, Lothian Buses ordered 25 Volvo B5TL Gemini 3s,

In 2015, Yellow Buses ordered 8 Volvo B5TL Gemini 3s,.

From 2015 to 2017, Delaine Buses ordered 3 Volvo B5TL Gemini 3s.

B5LH
Metroline Volvo B5LH with Gemini 3 bodywork in June 2015

In 2014, Stagecoach London ordered 32 Volvo B5LH Gemini 3s for use on route 53;: 162–163  In 2018, these were sold to Arriva London.

In 2014, Metroline ordered 95 Volvo B5LH Gemini 3s.: 109–112 

In 2015, Tower Transit ordered 11 Volvo B5LH Gemini 3s.: 68, 90 

2014 improvements

Translink Metro Volvo B5TL with Wright Gemini 3 bodywork in Belfast

In 2014, the Gemini 3 body was improved, it had new front headlamps, new grille, new front and rear bumpers, new rear lights and a new interior.

Operators

United Kingdom
Volvo B5TL
Lothian Buses open-top Volvo B5TL with Wright Gemini 3 bodywork in Edinburgh in June 2018

From 2015 to 2019, Lothian Buses ordered Volvo B5TL and B5LH Gemini 3s.

In 2019, Lothian Buses ordered 30 open top Volvo B5TL Gemini 3s for use on City Sightseeing, Edinburgh Tour and Majestic Tour services.

In 2017, Stagecoach Cumbria & North Lancashire ordered 7 open-top Volvo B5TL Gemini 3s for use on the Lakesider sightseeing service in the Lake District.

In 2017, Translink ordered 10 Volvo B5TL Gemini 3s for Airport Express services, these served Belfast International Airport.

B5LH

In 2015, First Greater Manchester ordered 20 Volvo B5LH Gemini 3s for use on Vantage services. In 2016, they ordered five more Volvo B5LH Gemini 3s.

Hong Kong

In 2017, Kowloon Motor Bus ordered 200 Volvo B8Ls with Gemini 3 bodywork.

In 2017, Long Win Bus ordered 10 Volvo B8L Gemini 3s.

In 2017, Citybus ordered 46 Volvo B8L Gemini 3s.

In 2017, New World First Bus ordered 7 Volvo B8L Gemini 3s.

Japan

In 2018, Hato Bus ordered 5 Scania K410EB Gemini 3 sightseeing buses.

References

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Other websites

Media related to Wright Eclipse Gemini at Wikimedia Commons