Paper 6: A Single-Deck Bus for Future Urban Transport

Abstract

This paper discusses the design and manufacturing philosophy of a bus to be produced by British Leyland and the manner in which it is intended to meet the future requirements of urban transport. Changes that have been taking place in the bus industry over recent years have seriously affected both the manufacturer and the operator of public service vehicles. In the former case, bus manufacture has virtually ceased to be a profitable business, and it was obvious that a completely new approach to design and manufacture was going to be necessary if manufacturing companies were to remain in this business. In the case of the operator, there has been a steady decline in the number of passengers carried, increasing difficulties have arisen due to labour shortages in both the operation and maintenance of vehicles, and as a result it has been difficult to maintain adequate services and to remain viable financially. From the manufacturer's point of view, the need to produce a standard bus has become imperative, and all the variations introduced in the past to satisfy individual transport undertakings can no longer be justified. The large labour content in manufacture has to be reduced to make the cost of the product acceptable, and the division of responsibility between chassis and body manufacturers has to be eliminated. From the passenger point of view, bus transport has to be more attractive and must offer the same environment as that of a high-class motor car. Similarly the driver, who is frequently also a car driver, must have a working environment at least as good as that to which he has become accustomed in his private motor car. The operator has to have improved reliability and freedom from excessive maintenance so that a reduction in the demand for skilled labour can be achieved. He must also have a vehicle which can be operated satisfactorily and safely by one man. The paper discusses the requirements of passengers, drivers, operators, and manufacturers, and describes the way in which a new vehicle has been evolved in order to achieve these. It is expected that this vehicle will meet the needs, for single-deck buses for the next generation, of the majority of urban transport undertakings in the U.K. and in other countries with similar urban transportation problems, and thus make a major contribution to more rapid transit.