Scania OmniTown
Encyclopedia
The Scania OmniTown was a bus body sold in the United Kingdom
. It utilised the Scania N94UB
chassis (not to be confused with the N94UD double-deck chassis), with East Lancashire Coachbuilders
bodywork. It is sometimes mistakenly referred to as the OmniTown chassis or the Dennis Dart
chassis. The confusion concerning the chassis, and indeed the buses, arises due to the complexity of the OmniTown's and other Scania products' histories.
. In 2002, receiving the Myllennium
style of bodywork, as fitted to DAF SB220
and Dennis Dart SLF chassis. These were delivered to London Easylink
, then were transferred to East Thames Buses
as the ELS class, and were, in essence, OmniTowns, but lacked the Scania identity, the Scania badges were added later though.
Mayne of Manchester also bought two Scania N94UBs with East Lancs Myllennium bodies in 2004. After the acquisition of its bus business by Stagecoach
, they were renumbered 28506 (YN53GFJ) and 28507 (YN53PCV).
The first batch of genuine OmniTowns to appear in the United Kingdom were delivered to Nottingham City Transport
in 2004 for use on tram
feeder services. The bodywork, in common with the OmniDekka
, was built by East Lancs but received front and rear panels from Scania, to match the OmniCity
/OmniDekka
. The body only differed from the East Lancs Myllennium
in terms of the front and rear panels.
In 2006, the OmniTown could temporarily be ordered with modified Esteem front and rear panels. This version is currently operating with Metrobus
and Preston Bus
. The central part of the bodywork was the same as the OmniTown.
In 2007 a shortened 10.9m version of the Scania OmniCity
replaced the Scania OmniTown body on the N94UB chassis. Metrobus currently operate 10 of these on the Fastway
route 100.
, there are slight differences between the OmniTown and OmniCity, when comparing them, the East Lancs
OmniTown front (pictured above) is flatter than OmniCity's. The OmniCity also has a lump above the windscreen.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. It utilised the Scania N94UB
Scania N94
The Scania N94 was a transverse-engined low-floor city bus built by Scania AB, which was a direct replacement of Scania N113.It was originally available with rigid version N94UB and articulated version N94UA, but from 2002 a double-deck version known as the N94UD also became available.The N94UD was...
chassis (not to be confused with the N94UD double-deck chassis), with East Lancashire Coachbuilders
East Lancashire Coachbuilders
East Lancashire Coachbuilders Limited was a manufacturer of bus bodies and carriages founded in 1934 in Blackburn, Lancashire, England.In 1994 the company expanded in to new premises and commenced a programme of development that resulted in a range of single and double deck buses which was the...
bodywork. It is sometimes mistakenly referred to as the OmniTown chassis or the Dennis Dart
Dennis Dart
The Dennis Dart is a rear-engined midibus built by Dennis in the United Kingdom. More than 11,000 were built during 18 years of production....
chassis. The confusion concerning the chassis, and indeed the buses, arises due to the complexity of the OmniTown's and other Scania products' histories.
History
A batch of N94UB chassis were bodied by East LancsEast Lancashire Coachbuilders
East Lancashire Coachbuilders Limited was a manufacturer of bus bodies and carriages founded in 1934 in Blackburn, Lancashire, England.In 1994 the company expanded in to new premises and commenced a programme of development that resulted in a range of single and double deck buses which was the...
. In 2002, receiving the Myllennium
East Lancs Myllennium
The East Lancs Myllennium is a type of bus body built on MAN, Volvo, DAF/VDL and Alexander Dennis chassis. It was built as a single and double deck body, with double deck bodies having slightly different names .-Single decker:...
style of bodywork, as fitted to DAF SB220
DAF SB220
The DAF SB220 is a city bus chassis produced by DAF Bus International in the 1980s and 1990s.It has been superseded by the DAF/VDL SB200 and SB250.-United Kingdom :*Optare Delta*Ikarus Citibus...
and Dennis Dart SLF chassis. These were delivered to London Easylink
London Easylink
London Easylink was a short-lived bus operator located in London. Its base was at the Transco Gas station, on Old Kent Road. In late 2002, Easylink went into liquidation. They operated London Buses route 185 with Plaxton President-bodied Volvo B7TLs, and had just won London Buses route 42 with...
, then were transferred to East Thames Buses
East Thames Buses
East Thames Buses was the only government owned bus operator of London Buses. It was sold to London General in 2009.-History:East Thames Buses was formed in 1999 to take over the services operated by the failed Harris Bus Company...
as the ELS class, and were, in essence, OmniTowns, but lacked the Scania identity, the Scania badges were added later though.
Mayne of Manchester also bought two Scania N94UBs with East Lancs Myllennium bodies in 2004. After the acquisition of its bus business by Stagecoach
Stagecoach Group
Stagecoach Group plc is an international transport group operating buses, trains, trams, express coaches and ferries. The group was founded in 1980 by the current chairman, Sir Brian Souter, his sister, Ann Gloag, and her former husband Robin...
, they were renumbered 28506 (YN53GFJ) and 28507 (YN53PCV).
The first batch of genuine OmniTowns to appear in the United Kingdom were delivered to Nottingham City Transport
Nottingham City Transport
Nottingham City Transport is the major bus operator of the English city of Nottingham, running a comprehensive network of services in the Greater Nottingham area, with some services continuing to Southwell, Loughborough, and East Midlands Airport. There are over 80 routes across the City, giving...
in 2004 for use on tram
Tram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
feeder services. The bodywork, in common with the OmniDekka
Scania OmniDekka
The Scania OmniDekka is a double-decker bus built for sale in the UK...
, was built by East Lancs but received front and rear panels from Scania, to match the OmniCity
Scania OmniCity
The Scania OmniCity is an integrally-constructed transverse-engined low floor citybus available on the European market. The OmniCity is a complete product built in Poland by Scania AB, a company based in Sweden....
/OmniDekka
Scania OmniDekka
The Scania OmniDekka is a double-decker bus built for sale in the UK...
. The body only differed from the East Lancs Myllennium
East Lancs Myllennium
The East Lancs Myllennium is a type of bus body built on MAN, Volvo, DAF/VDL and Alexander Dennis chassis. It was built as a single and double deck body, with double deck bodies having slightly different names .-Single decker:...
in terms of the front and rear panels.
In 2006, the OmniTown could temporarily be ordered with modified Esteem front and rear panels. This version is currently operating with Metrobus
Metrobus (Go-Ahead Group)
Metrobus is a bus operator with routes in south and south-east London, and parts of Surrey, Kent, West and East Sussex. The company operates many routes on tender from Transport for London. Formed through a management buyout of Tillingbourne Ltd...
and Preston Bus
Preston Bus
Preston Bus is a bus operator running within the city of Preston, England and into the surrounding area. In 2009, it was acquired by the Stagecoach Group and was rebranded Stagecoach in Preston, before they were subsequently ordered to sell the company as a result of competition concerns...
. The central part of the bodywork was the same as the OmniTown.
In 2007 a shortened 10.9m version of the Scania OmniCity
Scania OmniCity
The Scania OmniCity is an integrally-constructed transverse-engined low floor citybus available on the European market. The OmniCity is a complete product built in Poland by Scania AB, a company based in Sweden....
replaced the Scania OmniTown body on the N94UB chassis. Metrobus currently operate 10 of these on the Fastway
Crawley Fastway
Fastway is a bus rapid transit network linking Crawley with Gatwick Airport and Horley, the first to be constructed outside a major city. It uses specially adapted buses that can either be steered by the driver or operate as "self steering" guided buses along a specially constructed track...
route 100.
Styling
Although its front and rear were based on the Scania OmniCityScania OmniCity
The Scania OmniCity is an integrally-constructed transverse-engined low floor citybus available on the European market. The OmniCity is a complete product built in Poland by Scania AB, a company based in Sweden....
, there are slight differences between the OmniTown and OmniCity, when comparing them, the East Lancs
East Lancashire Coachbuilders
East Lancashire Coachbuilders Limited was a manufacturer of bus bodies and carriages founded in 1934 in Blackburn, Lancashire, England.In 1994 the company expanded in to new premises and commenced a programme of development that resulted in a range of single and double deck buses which was the...
OmniTown front (pictured above) is flatter than OmniCity's. The OmniCity also has a lump above the windscreen.
See also
Other Scania buses sold in the UK:- L94Scania L94The Scania L94 is a longitudinal inclined-engined bus built by Scania AB, which was a direct replacement of Scania L113. It is used widely in Scandinavia, the United Kingdom, Brazil and Australia...
(single decker) - OmniCityScania OmniCityThe Scania OmniCity is an integrally-constructed transverse-engined low floor citybus available on the European market. The OmniCity is a complete product built in Poland by Scania AB, a company based in Sweden....
(single and double decker) - OmniDekkaScania OmniDekkaThe Scania OmniDekka is a double-decker bus built for sale in the UK...
(double decker)