Optare Esteem
{{short description|Low-floor single-decker bus body}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2023}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2016}}
{{Infobox UK Bus
|name = East Lancs / Darwen / Optare Esteem
|image = PO58 KPV (Route 40) at Churchill Square, Brighton (14973447368).jpg
|caption = The Sussex Bus East Lancs Esteem bodied Volvo B7RLE in Brighton in September 2014
|interiorimage =
|interiorcaption =
|manufacturer = East Lancashire Coachbuilders
Optare
|production = 2006 - 2009
|assembly = Blackburn
|capacity = 33 - 43 seated
|length = 10.7 to 12.2 metres
|width = 2.52 metres
|height = 2.90 metres
|floortype = Low floor
|doors = 1 or 2
|weight =
|chassis = Scania N94UB
Scania N230UB
Volvo B7RLE
MAN 12.240
Alexander Dennis Dart SLF
Alexander Dennis Enviro200 Dart
Alexander Dennis Enviro300
|related = Optare Olympus
Optare Visionaire
|engine =
|powerout =
|transmission =
|predecessor = East Lancs Myllennium
|successor = }}
The Optare Esteem was a low-floor single-decker bus body manufactured by East Lancashire Coachbuilders, Darwen East Lancs and Optare between 2006 and 2009 on Scania N94UB, Scania N230UB, Volvo B7RLE, MAN 12.240, Alexander Dennis Dart SLF, Alexander Dennis Enviro200 Dart and Alexander Dennis Enviro300 chassis.
History
File:Longcross East Lancs Esteem Quality Line.jpg East Lancs Esteem bodied Alexander Dennis Enviro200 Dart. This is one of the early examples having sides of the older Myllennium style]]
The Esteem was launched by East Lancashire Coachbuilders in 2006.[https://web.archive.org/web/20071025023850/http://www.busandcoach.com/newsStory.aspx?id=599 New single-deck from East Lancs] Bus & Coach Professional 7 February 2006[https://web.archive.org/web/20071012180910/http://www.busandcoach.com/newsstory.aspx?id=729 New Esteem single-deck from East Lancs] Bus & Coach Professional 13 April 2006 The first production examples entered service with Preston Bus in September 2006 on Scania N94UB chassis.[https://web.archive.org/web/20070106040010/http://www.prestonbus.co.uk/news.htm New Buses for Gamull Lane Service] Preston Bus September 2006[https://web.archive.org/web/20071030012054/http://www.busandcoach.com/newsStory.aspx?id=987 Esteem goes into service with Preston Bus] Bus & Coach Professional 13 September 2006
After East Lancashire Coachbuilders was placed in administration in August 2007, it was bought by Darwen Group and the Esteem was rebranded as the Darwen Esteem.[https://web.archive.org/web/20071012180623/http://www.busandcoach.com/newsstory.aspx?id=1535 East Lancs acquired from administrators] Bus & Coach Professional 23 August 2007 In 2008, Darwen Group merged its Darwen East Lancs and Optare businesses under the latter name, resulting in the Esteem being rebranded again.[http://www.busandcoach.com/news/articles/archive/optare-plc-formed-as-takeover-complete/ Optare plc formed as takeover complete] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180809122210/http://www.busandcoach.com/news/articles/archive/optare-plc-formed-as-takeover-complete/ |date=9 August 2018 }} Bus & Coach Professional 17 July 2008[http://www.busandcoach.com/news/articles/archive/optare-facing-job-losses/ Optare facing job losses] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180809152747/http://www.busandcoach.com/news/articles/archive/optare-facing-job-losses/ |date=9 August 2018 }} Bus & Coach Professional 31 July 2008
The first few examples of the Esteem only had new front and rear ends, the sides still being of the older Myllennium design. There were also two double-decker variants of this body - the Olympus that was a closed top double-decker and the Visionaire that was an open top double-decker.
Production of the Optare Esteem ceased in 2009, with the last being 40 built on Alexander Dennis Enviro200 Dart chassis for Go-Ahead London.[http://www.busandcoach.com/news/articles/archive/optare-secures-100-plus-go-ahead-order/ Optare secures 100-plus Go-Ahead order] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180809122333/http://www.busandcoach.com/news/articles/archive/optare-secures-100-plus-go-ahead-order/ |date=9 August 2018 }} Bus & Coach Professional 5 August 2008
Panaire
It was also planned for an open top version of the Esteem to be launched alongside, named the Panaire.{{Cite web|date=9 May 2008|title=The Darwen Group - The Darwen Group – Panaire Open Back Tourismo|url=http://www.darwengroup.com/panaire.html|access-date=21 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080509004632/http://www.darwengroup.com/panaire.html|archive-date=9 May 2008}} This version of the bus never attracted any orders and was removed from the product list during the reverse takeover.
Customers
Metrobus had the largest number of the original East Lancs Esteems, some of which were on Scania N94UB, Scania N230UB and MAN 12.240 chassis while 21 on Alexander Dennis Dart SLF chassis were purchased for Transport for London contracted routes.[https://assets.goaheadbus.com/media/cms_page_media/3171/Web%20Fleet%20List%202017-05.pdf Metrobus Fleetlist] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180629210401/https://assets.goaheadbus.com/media/cms_page_media/3171/Web%20Fleet%20List%202017-05.pdf |date=29 June 2018 }} Go-Ahead Group 12 May 2017 The first two Esteems to be built on the Alexander Dennis Enviro300 chassis were delivered to Courtney Coaches in 2006, and were the first Enviro300s with bodywork not built by Alexander Dennis.{{cite journal|date=September 2006|title=Fleet News England and Wales|journal=Buses|issue=618|page=46}}
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References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{commons category-inline}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20070929051751/http://www.elcb.co.uk/brochures/esteem.pdf Esteem brochure] East Lancashire Coachbuilders
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20080817030031/http://www.optare.com/op_esteem.htm Esteem product information] Optare
{{East Lancashire Coachbuilders|state=collapsed}}
{{Optare timeline|state=collapsed}}