LDN: Recent problems with East Lancs Scanias

it is not a secret that when East Lancs Scanias were delivered to London- Transdev and Metroline- they did not pass the tilt test.

The main reason for that was the wieght of the buses:
The 'provincial' model- single door and no cooling system upstairs- is lighter and passed the test.

in an earlier post, I showed the Reading model and the Transdev model- nearside.

Now I show a comparison between the Transdev and Metroline model.
The difference is that both compaies specified a different ventilation system.  you can see the extra 2 'blobs' above the upper window on the Transdev model.
The seats on the Transdev models are heavier as well.

Externally, the rear arrangement has to be different due to the cooling systems.

and finally: the number blinds fitted to the buses are too large for the blindbox. So, if you photo the '148' offside, it looks like '48' instead. We suspect that the same would apply to the Metroline examples [the company ordered 33 of those: 26 for route 7, the rest for route 205]

regards

Yoram.

and..
here is a comparison of the rear of the buses. Note the external apperance of the grills for the different ventilation/cooling systems specified...

if they did not pass the tilt test, how come they are running on the streets now?

When they were delivered to London, the buses were not certified for service because they did not pass the various test [tilt in particular].
the problem was, as I understand it, the weight distribution which was caused by the extra modifications ordered by the operators- taller bodies, ventilation systems and the exit door. it shifted the centre of gravitation upwards and towards the rear.

So, the first of those buses- the 9 buses ordered by Transdev were delivered to Fulwell garage, and stayed there for over a month till the problem was fixed by changing the seating arrangement upstairs, and reduce the number of standing passengers.

Once the modifications were carried out [on the Transdev and Metroline buses], they were certified for service , and some of them are running now  [6 out of the 9 delivered for Transdev and about 10 out of the 33 initial order for Metroline].

A longer term solution would be applied later- by increasing the weight of the lower axle- so the buses have to be modified again.

regards

Yoram