MCW Metrorider

Launched at the 1986 British International Motor Show in Birmingham,{{cite magazine |date=22 November 1986 |title=[untitled] |url=https://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/22nd-november-1986/20/-metro-canuneli-weymann-is-playing-its-cards-close |magazine=Commercial Motor |volume=164 |issue=4197 |page=18 |location=Sutton |publisher=Transport Press |access-date=23 December 2023}} the MCW Metrorider was the second purpose-built midibus design for the United Kingdom bus market, following the launch of the Volkswagen LT55-based Optare CityPacer a year prior. MCW used substantial components,{{clarify|date=December 2023}} the Perkins Phaser/ZF manual S5 driveline soon being outsold by the optional 115 bhp six-cylinder 5.9 litre Cummins B series engine driving through an Allison fully automatic gearbox. Some Metroriders also featured the optional turbocharged Cummins engine, increasing their turn of speed. Disc brakes were fitted on the long-wheelbase Metrorider, as opposed to drum brakes on the short vehicles.

The styling was a major advance on the earlier van-based conversions, having a raked front with large windscreen and side windows to give a light interior, as well as shallower steps, a wider entrance and gangway, and improved headroom. Seating configurations ranged from 25 seats in the standard Metrorider to 33 seats in the widened long-wheelbase version of the Metrorider, which measured {{convert|8.4|m}} in length and {{convert|2.375|m}} in width. Like many MCW products,{{citation needed|date=December 2023}} many components were from other manufacturers' stocks, with the dashboard and steering wheel coming from a Ford Cargo lorry and the original rear lights coming from the Mk4 Ford Escort Cabriolet.

When MCW's parent group announced the closure of the company in 1989, MCW's current designs were offered for sale and the rights to the Metrorider, alongside the MCW Metrobus, were bought by Optare.{{cite magazine |date=28 July 1989 |issue=15 |page=12 |title=Optare Metrorider |magazine=Bus & Coach Buyer |location=Spalding}} The Metroliner was relaunched as the Optare MetroRider,{{cite magazine |url=https://archive.org/details/coachmart-issue581/page/n6/mode/1up |date=29 March 1990 |issue=581 |page=4 |title=Midibus is relaunched |magazine=Coachmart |location=Peterborough |publisher=Response Publishing |access-date=20 May 2025}}{{cite magazine |date=23 November 1989 |title=Optare Metrorider |url=https://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/23rd-november-1989/18/-the-last-mcw-metrorider-to-be-built-has-been |magazine=Commercial Motor |volume=170 |issue=4346 |page=18 |location=Sutton |publisher=Reed Business Publishing |access-date=23 December 2023}} and subsequently continued in production until 2000.

{{expand section|with=further MCW Metrorider deliveries|date=December 2023}}

File:Little Gem 1677.jpg 'Little Gem' MCW Metrorider in Piccadilly Gardens, Manchester in August 1987]]

The MCW Metrorider would ultimately suit the United Kingdom's newly deregulated bus industry, receiving £27 million worth of orders before production commenced. The first major order for Metroriders following the launch was from GM Buses, who would take delivery of eighty Metroriders for use on its competitive 'Little Gem' midibus operations.{{cite magazine |date=13 December 1986 |title=[untitled] |url=https://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/13th-december-1986/18/-metro-cammell-weymann-has-received-its-first-two- |magazine=Commercial Motor |volume=164 |issue=4200 |page=18 |location=Sutton |publisher=Transport Press |access-date=23 December 2023 |quote=The first order is for 80 Metro Riders from GM Buses, which wants the vehicles delivered before the end of March. The Metro Riders will join 150 other midibuses in GM Buses' fleet which will face competition from United Transport International's Manchester Minibus operation, due to start in January.}} Many subsequent orders followed from former municipal and National Bus Company operators as well as newly-established independent bus operators, with Metroriders being delivered to companies operating in both urban and rural environments such as London Regional Transport's London Buses operations,{{cite magazine |date=25 June 1987 |title=[untitled] |url=https://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/25th-june-1987/20/-london-buses-is-putting-25-cummins-b-seriespowere |magazine=Commercial Motor |volume=165 |issue=4227 |page=20 |location=Sutton |publisher=Reed Business Publishing |access-date=23 December 2023 |quote=London Buses is putting 25 Cummins 'B' Series-powered MCW Metrorider midibuses into service in the Kingston area this weekend. The buses will operate on the revised Kingston bus network, under contract to London Regional Transport by new London Buses' subsidiary Kingston Buses, and subsidiary Stanwell Bus Company, established for tendered routes in Hounslow, using the Westlink and South West Link fleetnames.}} South Wales Transport,{{cite magazine |date=20 August 1987 |title=MCW wins SWT order |url=https://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/20th-august-1987/21/mcw-wins-swt-order |magazine=Commercial Motor |volume=166 |issue=4235 |page=21 |location=Sutton |publisher=Reed Business Publishing |access-date=23 December 2023}} Wilts & Dorset,{{cite magazine |date=10 September 1987 |title=MCW wins big Wilts order |url=https://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/10th-september-1987/24/mcw-wins-big-wits-order |magazine=Commercial Motor |volume=166 |issue=4238 |page=24 |location=Sutton |publisher=Reed Business Publishing |access-date=23 December 2023}} and East Midland Motor Services.{{cite magazine |date=17 September 1987 |title=E Midland MCW wins at Showbus |url=https://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/17th-september-1987/32/e-midland-mcw-wins-at-showbus |magazine=Commercial Motor |volume=166 |issue=4239 |page=32 |location=Sutton |publisher=Reed Business Publishing |access-date=23 December 2023}} The final MCW Metrorider to be built was constructed by Optare at their Leeds factory in November 1989 for delivery to Kentish Bus, operating it on a London Regional Transport contract service which ran through the Rotherhithe Tunnel.

A substantial export agreement was also achieved by MCW with the Metrorider, with Dutch coachbuilder Bova signing with MCW in 1987 to sell long-wheelbase right-hand drive Metroriders in Continental Europe.{{cite magazine |date=17 September 1987 |title=Bova boosts MCW midi |url=https://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/17th-september-1987/28/bova-boosts-cw-midi |magazine=Commercial Motor |volume=166 |issue=4239 |page=28 |location=Sutton |publisher=Reed Business Publishing |access-date=23 December 2023}} Smaller numbers of left-hand drive Metroriders would also be exported to Ireland for use with Dublin Bus,{{cite magazine |last=Booth |first=Gavin |date=16 August 1990 |title=Irish duo |url=https://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/16th-august-1990/40/it-stil-101i0 |magazine=Commercial Motor |volume=172 |issue=4832 |pages=40–41 |location=Sutton |publisher=Reed Business Publishing |access-date=23 December 2023 |quote=Urban minibuses are rare in Ireland. Dublin Bus uses five MCW Metroriders on Localink services in the suburbs of the city, and Bus Eireann's minibuses are used on school and other rural work.}} as well as to Hong Kong in 1988, where two air-conditioned Metroriders were delivered to China Motor Bus,{{cite web |url=https://www.chinamotorbus.com/cmb/cmb-bustype/cmb-cm/ |title=別號「老鼠」的中巴MCW Metrorider – CM |author= |date= 6 August 2017|website=China Motor Bus Memorial Page |access-date=23 December 2023 |language=zh-hk}} with another also delivered to Kowloon Motor Bus.{{citation needed|date=December 2023}}

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Category:Vehicles introduced in 1986