[GB] First Glasgow Enviro 500 (13 pics)

Probably one of the most anticipated type to enter service in the country this year, as some of you have reported already, are the 25 Enviro 500 with First Glasgow. These massive buses are, of course, not the first double deckers ofthis size to see service in the fleet - the company currently stilloperates a fleet of 10 tri-axle B7LTs bought back in 2002. These E500sthough, are of course the first of the type in the country - Althoughin the British Isles there has been a more substantial fleet - on adifferent chassis of course - in service for at least 3 years with Dublin Bus, which I featured a couple of months ago.



Numbered nationally as 38201-25, the whole batch are allocated to Larkfield depot. Keeping to First Glasgow's tradition as well, they were also allocated (but not carried) with local fleet numbers DE1-25. 38225, aka DE25, is numerically the last of the batch:



Very unusually, these E500s feature full air-cond system like those in HK. The additional weight makes them rather heavy buses, 15,200kg in fact unladen. Mechanically they are the same as the Euro 4 ones in HK.



Another feature of these E500s are they are fitted with straight staircase - But unlike those with KMB and the early ones with Citybus/NWFB, the staircase are fitted to a more forward location, in line with what we normally see on low floor double deckers in Britain. They are have normal aluminium panels at the offside bodywork, rather than the glazing as seen on HK examples.



Just to illustrate the difference with Citybus' 8103:



For a bus of its size, it seems a bit odd that these E500s are only fitted with a single door only:



But the single door and better staircase layout provides a better seating figure. These E500s have a H53/29+27F layout, giving a capacity of 82 seats. Seating-wise, this compares favourably to, say, the KMB example which only manage 74 seats. However, taking into account the standing capacity, which these buses are only certified to carry 27 (vs 44 for the HK ones). The end result is these E500s have a capacity of just 109 passengers, fairly low for a bus of this size.



Another view of the lower deck cabin, looking forward:



The upper deck, which doesn't look much different from the HK ones. In fact the seating figure is exactly the same, at 53.



Another view upstairs. A lot of design element nicked from Wright's Gemini bodywork is very evident:



These E500s feature the new cab design first seen in some of the E400s shown in Coach & Bus Live 2009 last year. Does the new ones with Citybus, NWFB and KMB feature the new cab as well?



Another view of the cab, featuring something that HK buses don't have - anti-assault screen:



So far, because of their size and height, they are only seen on a handful of services. Because of these, and being are larger fleet as well, these things are much easier to find that the tri-axle Volvos:



[ 本帖最後由 NV58 於 2009-8-18 21:01 編輯 ]

The ones of CTB, NWFB and KMB are also using this new dash board

原帖由 NV58 於 2009-8-19 04:42 發表
But the single door and better staircase layout provides a betterseating figure. These E500s have a H53/29+27F layout, giving a capacityof 82 seats. Seating-wise, this compares favourably to, say, the KMBexample which only manage 74 seats. However, taking into account thestanding capacity, which these buses are only certified to carry 27 (vs44 for the HK ones). The end result is these E500s have a capacity ofjust 109 passengers, fairly low for a bus of this size.

Sorry, I would like to point out:

Those E500s in KMB are having a H53/27+44 layout, making a total capaciaty of 124.
Actually from your picture, we can see the lower deck seating is in fact 33 seats.
Hence, is the total capacity H53/33+27=113 instead?

From my point of view, the seat pitch should be almost same as those E500s in HK.
The extra 6 seats in the lower deck are coming from:
2 bacause of staircase being moved forward by 1 row,
4 from exit door being cancelled.

Thanks for the great pictures!

原帖由 peterpan 於 2009-8-19 12:11 發表


Sorry, I would like to point out:

Those E500s in KMB are having a H53/27+44 layout, making a total capaciaty of 124.
Actually from your picture, we can see the lower deck seating is in fact 33 seat ...

SInce the seating configuration of the lower deck in UK is a bit different from those in HK,
those seats facing backward above the rear axle in Enviro500s of HK would not be found
in those of UK, that's why only 29 seats provided in the lower deck.

To NV58:
Thanks for the great photos
There are "SFD159", supposed to be the prefix of the VIN, stated on the photos,
do you get the full VIN of the buses?

原帖由 hjhj 於 2009-8-19 12:19 發表
There are "SFD159", supposed to be the prefix of the VIN, stated on the photos,
do you get the full VIN of the buses?

No I haven't got the list (or looked at that), but since these have a ZF transmission and the Euro 4 engine, the SFD159 type should be correct.

peterpan: The layout of these E500s are definitely H53/29+27F, as hjhj explained for me. In fact you can see the seating capacity (overall though) in one of the picture. But I stand corrected about the layout of the HK E500s - I was looking at the wrong number.

[ 本帖最後由 NV58 於 2009-8-19 17:43 編輯 ]

thx NV58 for sharing these wonderful ENVIRO500s(last time with dublin E500s)
I really appreciate the "more forward" staircase design
the cabin layout of the upper deck looks more orderly and systematic
also more windows could be installed on the lower deck
i wonder why HK companies do not adopt this layout...

原帖由 hjhj 於 2009-8-19 20:19 發表


SInce the seating configuration of the lower deck in UK is a bit different from those in HK,
those seats facing backward above the rear axle in Enviro500s of HK would not be found
in those of UK, th ...

Thanks, understand and appreciate that...

So that means, by judging very carefully from the pictures---
Rear facing seats only exist over the MID-AXLE but not the LAST axle.
It is quite interesting that the whole bus have only four seats facing the rear.
As 4 seats are already lost, I would rather prefer having no rear facing seats.
Just like those MAN 24.310 in KMB...


rudolflau :
Actually this design is somehow close to the spiral staircase E500s in CTB.
As you can see there are only 2 row of seats in front of the staircase on the upper deck.
But for KMB, they want the end of the stair case directly opposite to the exit door.
So they keep the staircase one row further, cutting down the capacity by 2 seats.

If CTB is going to replace those single door 22xx, a similar design can certainly be adopted.
With the exception of the straight staircase.

原帖由 peterpan 於 2009-8-20 11:55 發表



Thanks, understand and appreciate that...

So that means, by judging very carefully from the pictures---
Rear facing seats only exist over the MID-AXLE but not the LAST axle.
It is quite interestin ...

ya... these E500s remind me single door 22XX
CTB should consider these as one of the replacement

原帖由 peterpan 於 2009-8-20 11:55 發表
But for KMB, they want the end of the stair case directly opposite to the exit door.
So they keep the staircase one row further, cutting down the capacity by 2 seats.

But in fact KMB can put the rear door just after the 1st axle so that the stair case is on the front. The wheelchair area can be put after the rear door. Now the design is wasting spaces...