Double-decker bus

For the 1970s children's series, see Here Come the Double Deckers. For the chocolate bar from Cadbury UK, see Double Decker (chocolate bar).

Double deckers specially designed for Skopje public transport

A London AEC Routemaster, RML 2473 on route 7 approaching Ladbroke Grove tube station in April 2002.

Double-decker bus of the Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (Type MAN A 39 since 2005)

A double-decker bus is a bus that has two storeys or 'decks'. Global usage of this type of bus is more common in outer touring than in its intra-urban transportion role. Double-decker buses are also commonly found in certain parts of Europe, Asia, and former British colonies and protectorates (Hong Kong, Singapore etc.). Some double-deckers specialise in sight-seeing tours; as William Ewart Gladstone observed, "...the way to see London is from the top of a 'bus". (Gladstone was referring to London's once ubiquitous double-deck horse drawn omnibuses, rather than a motor bus).^[1]

Usage locations

Cities listed here use double-decker buses as part of their regular mass transit fleet. Cities with only tourist and sightseeing double-decker buses are excluded.

Europe

United Kingdom

Double-decker buses are in common use throughout the United Kingdom, and have been favoured over articulated buses by many operators because of the shorter length of double-deckers, and less need to have standing capacity. The majority of double decker buses in the UK are between 9.5 metres (31 ft 2 in) and 11.0 metres (36 ft 1 in) long, the latter being more common since the mid-1990s, though there are three-axle 12 metres (40 foot) models in service with some operators. Double-decker coaches in the UK have traditionally been 12.0 metres in length, though many newer models are about 13.75 metres (45 ft 1 in). The maximum permissible length of a rigid double-decker bus and coach in the UK is 15.0 metres (49 ft 3 in), and although there are no theoretical restrictions on height, coaches are normally built to 4.38 metres (14 ft 4 in) high, while 'highbridge' buses are normally about 20 centimetres (8 in) taller. Articulated double-deckers are also allowed at a maximum length of 18.75 metres (61 ft 6 in).

In 1941, Miss Phyllis Thompson became the first woman licensed to drive a double-deck vehicle in England. She drove for the bus company Messrs. Felix Motors Ltd, then at Hatfield near Doncaster.^[2][3]

The red double-decker buses in London have become a national symbol of Britain, and the majority of buses in London are double-deckers. A particularly iconic example was the Routemaster bus, which had been a staple of the public transport network in London for nearly half a century following its introduction in 1956. Because of cited difficulties accommodating disabled passengers, the last remaining examples in use finally retired in 2005, although Transport for London has established two "heritage routes", which will continue using Routemasters on selected parts of routes 9 and 15.^[4] A new Routemaster is under development and is expected to enter service in early 2012^{[citation needed]}.

In 2007, a hybrid-powered double-decker entered service on London Buses route 141. From late 2008, more hybrid double-deckers from three manufacturers entered service in London.

Republic of Ireland

Various Dublin Bus Alexander ALX400s

In the Republic of Ireland, the majority of buses operated in and around Greater Dublin by Dublin Bus are double-deckers. There are 1,125 double-decker buses (second after London) in the fleet of 1,199.

Germany

NEOMAN A39 in Berlin

In Germany, double-decker buses in Berlin are operated by Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (BVG). The fleet of double-decker buses in Berlin fell from 1,000 in 1992 to 450 in 2002. The models in operation in 2002 were 13.5 metres (44 ft 3 in) long and held around 95 passengers. The replacements, which are supplied by Neoman Bus, are 1.8 metres (5 ft 11 in) longer. The new buses are able to hold 128 passengers.^[5]

Turkey

In Turkey, the Istanbul public transit system (IETT) runs 89 double-decker buses on longer-distance routes, most notably commuter buses crossing the Bosphorus Bridge linking the European and the Asian sides of the city. Double-decker buses are also used on routes to and from Taksim Square to far-flung western suburbs such as Büyükçekmece and Bahcesehir.

France

Left, double-decker bus Schneider Brillié P2; Center, double decker horse-drawn omnibus.

The first double-decker bus was invented in Paris in 1853, it was an horse-drawn omnibus. The upper floor was cheaper and often uncovered.

The first double-decker motor bus in Paris, Schneider Brillié P2, appeared in 1906. It was designed to allow more passengers and to replace the horse-drawn double-decker omnibus. Like trams and omnibuses, double-decker motor buses include several classes: the first, inside the car and the second class on the deck outdoors. But this type of vehicle disappeared in 1911 because one of these buses overturned at place de l'Étoile, following this incident the P2 lost their imperial^{[clarification needed]} and were renamed P3.

It's not until 1966 that the RATP retried the experience of double-decker bus on two lines in Paris. A prototype built by Berliet (type E-PCMR), was put in service in 1966. An order was placed for 25 vehicles. The commissioning of the first production car was effective on June 19, 1968 on line 94, Gare Montparnasse - Levallois. The February 17, 1969, line 53, Opera - Porte d'Asnieres, in turn, was equipped with this model. But the traffic problems make it definitively abandon this vehicle in 1977, because this type of bus is poorly suited to the structure of the Paris network, the stops being too close to each other which prevented people from going upstairs. Since, there are no more Parisian line using double-decker buses to transit mass people.

Asia

Sri Lanka

A double-decker bus at Godagama, on the 122 route from Maharagama to Avissawella, Sri Lanka (2009).

In the 1950s, double-decker buses of the South Western Bus Company plied on the Galle Road in Colombo, Sri Lanka. These were taken over by the Ceylon Transport Board (CTB) when all bus services were nationalised in 1958. Beginning around 1959, large numbers of second-hand double-decker buses of the RT, RTL and RTW classes were imported by the CTB from London Transport, and ran in their original red livery with the oval CTB logo painted on the sides. These buses were phased out beginning in the mid-1970s, and none remain in service. Later, around 1985, 40 ex-London Routemaster entered service. One Routemaster bus is run by the Sirasa TV and radio station.

In 2005, a new batch of double-decker buses^{[citation needed]} (MCW Metrobuses) were imported by the Sri Lanka Transport Board, as the reconstituted CTB is known, which run mainly on the Galle Road in Colombo. Addition to Routemasters, there are two Leyland Atlantean buses owned by CTB still in service which run regularly daily basis on the Galle Road in Colombo as of January 2009. Today's buses in Sri Lanka include Routemaster, MCW Metrobus (including 12m parts), Leyland Atlantean, and Dennis Trident 2 (Plaxton President body 1999 series, more recently it was different).

Singapore

A Dennis Trident with Duple Metsec DM5000 bodywork, part of the newer fleet of low-floor buses, in Singapore.

In October 1953, a single AEC Regent III double-decker from the fleet of General Transport Company, Kuala Lumpur (KL), was sent to Singapore for demonstration. It was used on service by the Singapore Traction Company for two weeks. After that, it was inspected by two other bus companies, and then sent back to KL. However, no orders for double-deckers immediately followed.

Singapore Bus Service (SBS, now known as SBS Transit), the operator of double-decker buses in Singapore, launched their first double-decker bus service on 13 June 1977 with 20 Leyland Atlanteans. The fleet grew steadily, with the further introduction of the Mercedes-Benz O305 and the Leyland Olympian. The Leyland Olympian, the first air-conditioned double-decker bus, named the "Superbus" in recognition of its record-breaking 12 metres (40 foot) length, was launched in 1993. The Volvo B10TL, the first stepless, ultra low floor "Superbus" was launched in 1999. Volvo B9TL wheelchair accessible buses began to be introduced in 2006. SBS Transit has a fleet of over 900 double-decker buses, most of which are air-conditioned.

Japan

A Mitsubishi Fuso Aero King arrived at Tokyo station as "Dream-go"

A Neoplan Megaliner arrived at Osaka station as "Seishun Mega Dream"

By Japanese law, vehicles are confined to maximum 3.8 metres (12 ft 6 in) height and 12.0 metres (39 ft 4 in) length. Japanese double-decker buses are mainly used for inter-city highway buses (i.e., motor coaches), city tours, and charter buses. In 1960, Kinki Sharyo and Hino Motors manufactured the first original double-decker bus "Vista Coach" for Kinki Nippon Railway (Kintetsu).

In 1979, Chuo Kotsu, a chartered bus operator in Osaka, imported the Neoplan Skyliner. Skyliner, and the other imported buses: Van Hool Astromega TD824, Drögmöller E440 Meteor, and a few MAN coaches inspired Japanese bus manufactures, who developed three domestic models in the mid 1980s: "Nissan Diesel Space Dream", "Hino Grand View" and "Mitsubishi Fuso Aero King". They did not, however, sell very well as the ceiling was only 1.7 metres (5 ft 7 in) high. Nevertheless, Aero King was sold for 22 years, but, being unable to meet exhaust gas emission and safety levels, production stopped in 2005.

In 1982, Toei Bus operated Skyliners in Tokyo, between Asakusa and Ueno to 2001. Joban Kotsu operated Skyliners in a trans-Fukushima route: between Iwaki and Aizu-Wakamatsu via Koriyama from 1983 to 1996.

Since the 1990s, JR Buses started to use Aero King for an overnight inter-city highway bus service named "Dream-go". The first Aero King in Dream-go, operated to "Fuku Fuku Tokyo" between Tokyo and Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi with Sanden Kotsu, which was replaced with a "super high-decker" coach in middle of the 1990s, "Fuku Fuku Tokyo," and finally stopped in 2006.

Japanese overnight highway buses are mainly equipped with a three-line, two-aisle (1+1+1) seat configuration with reclining seats. When this configuration is used on an ordinary coach, it has 28, 29 or 31 seats. When this configuration is used on a double-decker bus, it has 36 or 40 seats: the vehicle's price and capacity increase while operating cost decreases.^{[citation needed]}

JR Bus group mainly uses Aero King, Skyliner, and a few Jonckheere Monaco (equipped with Nissan Diesel engine) for inter-city highway bus operations between Kanto (near Tokyo) and Kansai (near Osaka), which is named "Dream-go" (overnight express) and "Hiru-tokkyu" (Daytime Express). The other bus operators, inspired by "Dream-go", increased use of the Aero King for overnight inter-city bus service.

JR Bus Kanto imported four Neoplan Megaliner N128/4, leasing two to an operating partner (from 2003 to 2006, Kanto Railway, since 2006 Nishinihon JR Bus). The Megaliner is 15.0 metres (49 ft 3 in) long, and has 84 seats (with 2+2 configuration), and is operated on an inter-city highway route between Tokyo and Tsukuba, Ibaraki from 2002 to 2005. The Megaliner has also been converted for a low-price overnight highway bus service between Tokyo and Osaka called "Seishun Mega Dream-go," with special authorisation.

Hong Kong

Double-decker buses in Hong Kong, owned by Kowloon Motor Bus

Double-decker buses were first introduced in Hong Kong in 1949 by Kowloon Motor Bus. They have become very popular since then, and they are found in large numbers among the fleets of the territory's major bus operators (see below). By law, double-decker buses in Hong Kong are limited to a length of 12 metres (40 feet). Today, the majority of buses running in Hong Kong are double-decker buses, and most of them are air-conditioned. Also, Hong Kong has a double-deck trams system, currently one of three only and most famous in the world.

Macau

Transmac of Macau used double-deckers widely from early 1970s until late 1980s. [1]

Mainland China

Several cities in continental China have double-deckers in regular use on certain crowded lines, while some have a few double-deck buses in use on lines which also use single-deck vehicles, e.g. Nanning on line #704 in peak hours. Besides Nanning, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Tianjin, Hangzhou, Dalian, and Kunming also have those buses in service, particularly on routes during rush hours. Larger towns in the developed coastal provinces, including Shaoxing, Zhejiang province, use double-decker buses.

India

A modern Ashok Leyland BEST double decker bus

In India, Madras's Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) has a small fleet of double-decker buses mostly in the high-density, longer distance routes. Mumbai has operated double-decker buses since 1937. They are operated by the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport undertaking. Kochi , Thiruvananthapuram, Kolkata and Hyderabad also have double-decker buses. They are modelled on the London buses.

Indonesia

In Indonesia, double-decker buses currently operating only in Surakarta^[6][7] However it isn't targeted for public but tourists^[8][9]

Russia

A MAN SD200 double-decker bus on route #17 in Barnaul, Russia

A MAN SD200 double-decker bus on route #150 in Saint-Petersburg, Russia

Double-decker buses in Russia are currently operated in Asian city of Barnaul, capital of Altai. The fleet of double-decker buses in Barnaul consist of MAN SD200 and MAN SD 202 buses imported from Berlin. Those buses are in use on routes 3, 10 and 17. Some cities in Russia, including Moscow and Saint-Petersburg, plan to begin operating of double-decker buses; in the mid-1990s, some double-deckers have been used in St. Petersburg for a short time.

North America

Canada

An Alexander Dennis Enviro500 equipped with bike rack, servicing Victoria, British Columbia.

In 2000, Victoria and Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada became the first cities in North America to use modern double-decker buses in their public transit systems. These buses were imported from the United Kingdom and operated by BC Transit, Victoria Regional Transit System and Kelowna Regional Transit System;^[10] they have proven to be very popular amongst both locals and tourists. In Victoria, the buses are mainly used on routes that go from downtown to the suburbs, and to the BC Ferries terminal near Sidney, B.C. They can also be found on routes that head to the University of Victoria and the Western Communities. In December 2007, Chairman of the Victoria Regional Transit Commission, Don Amos, announced the purchase of 16 new double-decker buses for the region, worth an estimated $12.8 million CDN. The buses entered service in the summer of 2008.^[11]

In July 2006 and February 2007, double-decker buses similar to those in Victoria were being tested in Ottawa, Ontario. OC Transpo, the transit system that operates in Ottawa, has purchased three of these buses. They were delivered in November 2008. Since March 2009, they have been in service across the city of Ottawa.

GO Transit in Toronto, Ontario started operating 12 Alexander Dennis Enviro500 double-decker buses in 2008, with 10 more entering service in 2009.

Strathcona County started a year-long double-decker pilot project^[12] in September 2010. Strathcona County Transit is exploring different high-capacity bus types to carry more passengers on the high-demand commuter routes, which are between Strathcona County and Edmonton; an articulated bus is also being evaluated as an alternative. The single double-decker bus used for the evaluation is a fully accessible, low-floor transit bus featuring high-backed seats; it can seat 66 passengers, with capacity for a further 18 passengers to stand (on only the lower level, due to the lack of headroom on the upper level). It is an Alexander Dennis Enviro500 and is on a one-year lease from the manufacturer. It is the first double-decker to be used for regular transit service in Alberta.^[13]

United States

A Van Hool US-specification double-decker bus demonstrating in New York City

In Davis, California, Unitrans, the student-run bus company of University of California, Davis, operates six double-decker buses imported from London. One of these buses has been converted to run on compressed natural gas (CNG) . There was also the prototype GX-1 Scenicruiser of Greyhound Lines, which enters from the first floor: the second floor contains the driver's compartment and more seats.

Citizens Area Transit, the transit authority in the Las Vegas, Nevada area, introduced a fleet of double-deckers to serve the Las Vegas Strip route in October 2005. The route is branded as "The Deuce". As of 2009 it serviced eight lines.

In Snohomish County, Washington, Community Transit operates one Alexander Dennis Enviro500 double-decker bus as a demonstrator, which rotates among commuter routes between Snohomish County and Seattle. A fleet of 23 such buses have been purchased for service beginning 2010.^[14]

In San Luis Obispo, California, SLO Transit tested a double-decker bus in late 2008 to see if it would alleviate the over-crowdedness of Route 4. The borrowed bus has been returned, and SLO Transit has purchased one double-decker bus of its own using a combination of Federal, State and local funding. The bus went into operation on September 8, 2010.^[15][16]

In Los Angeles County, California, the Antelope Valley Transit Authority uses double-decker buses as part of its commuter service to the Los Angeles area.^[17]

In San Francisco, California, the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency operated one Alexander Dennis double decker bus as a demonstrator between December 12, 2007 and January 8, 2008.^[18] The bus was running on some high capacity routes as trial.^[19]

Also, in the United States, a private operator, Megabus, run by Coach USA, employs double-decker buses on its busier intercity routes.

South America

Argentina

In Argentina, double-decker buses are a common sight in Buenos Aires.

Chile

In Chile, double-decker buses are a common sight in Santiago, Cochrane, Valparaiso, Port Williams, Port Montt, and Concepción.

Safety

Double decker buses have occasionally been involved in accidents caused by collisions with low bridges (such as the fatal September 2010 Megabus accident), often caused by the driver being used to driving single decker buses and forgetting to allow for the extra height when driving a double decker.^[20]

In popular culture

In the UK, double-decker buses (9.5 to 10.9 metres (31 ft 2 in to 35 ft 9 in)) are a common reference item for describing very large objects; for example, a blue whale is about as long as 'three double-decker buses'. "That monarch of the road", the London bus, even has its very own song, "A Transport of Delight" (1956) by the comic duo Flanders and Swann.

• A Transport of Delight sung by Ian Wallace. You Tube

Types of double-decker buses

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

• AEC K-type
• AEC Q-type
• AEC Regent II
• AEC Regent III RT
• AEC Regent III
• Routemaster
• Dennis Dragon
• Leyland Olympian
• Volvo Olympian
• Volvo B7TL
• Volvo B9TL
• Scania OmniDekka
• Alexander Dennis Enviro400
• Alexander Dennis Enviro500

See also

Buses portal

• List of operators of double decker buses
• List of buses

Footnotes

1. ^ Elbert Hubbard Little Journeys to the Homes of Good Men and Great (1894–1918) William E. Gladstone The full quote is:

   Then he asked if we were going to London. On being told that we were, he spoke for five minutes about the things we should see in the Metropolis. His style was not conversational, but after the manner of a man who was much used to speaking in public or to receiving delegations. The sentences were stately, the voice rather loud and declamatory. His closing words were: "Yes, gentlemen, the way to see London is from the top of a 'bus—from the top of a 'bus, gentlemen."

2. ^ Felix Motors Limited 1921-1976 Accessed 2010-08-11
3. ^ Contribution to victory. The Associated Equipment Co. Ltd. Page 85. Accessed 2010-08-11
4. ^ Routemaster "heritage routes"
5. ^ Berlin's Double-Deckers to Get Hydrogen Infusion
6. ^ Double-decker bus makes a comeback on Indonesia’s roads
7. ^ Solo Doubledecker Tour Bus Start Operation on April
8. ^ Solo to operate rail bus and double decker
9. ^ Werkudoro Come to Solo
10. ^ http://www.busonline.ca/2030/bctransittoday.cfm
11. ^ Bus fleet getting 16 more double-deckers
12. ^ http://strathcona.ab.ca/departments/Transit/Double-Decker-Pilot-Project.aspx
13. ^ http://strathcona.ab.ca/departments/Transit/6563.aspx
14. ^ http://www.commtrans.org/Projects/DoubleTall.cfm
15. ^ San Luis Obispo Deputy Director of Public Works, Tim Bochum, 9-7-2010
16. ^ http://www.sanluisobispo.com/2010/09/07/1279309/double-decker-bus-makes-its-debut.html
17. ^ http://www.avta.com/about/about_fleet.htm
18. ^ http://www.sfmta.com/cms/apress/DoubleDeckerBusTrialSFMTAFactSheet.htm
19. ^ http://www.sfmta.com/cms/malerts/SFMTAandTEPtestingdouble-deckerbuses.htm
20. ^ TS1 & TS2 Middlesbrough bloggers

External links

• Davis Wiki page on double-decker buses (Davis, California, USA)
• Image of a Berlin double-decker bus
• Photos of Leyland double-decker Bus