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Leyland answers Swedish challenge with B15

13th April 1973, Page 27
13th April 1973
Page 27
Page 27, 13th April 1973 — Leyland answers Swedish challenge with B15
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

by Martin Hayes

• The most important insight yet into the future of passenger transport vehicles produced by British Leyland was gained by visitors to last week's Transport and Road Research Laboratory exhibition (report and further pictures: p.38). Not only did the Corporation show its plans for a completely new double-decker — the B15 — but also two significant developments on the National single-deck theme.

Meanwhile the two Scandinavian contenders for the double-deck market are almost level-pegging in the race to get the first wheel turning. Two Metro-Scania double-deckers are now understood to be in build and orders have topped the 150 mark. The Volvo-Alexander front-engined model is also nearly at completion stage. A mock-up has been shown to operators, who report that the inherent problems of a front-engine, front-entrance design for one-man operation appear to have been overcome satisfactorily. Parallel with the technical developments is a massive sales effort by the Ailsa Bus team. I understand that efforts are being made to sell the first batch of 10 vehicles to the Edinburgh and Glasgow municipal fleets. The second batch of 10 vehicles are expected to be low-bridge models destined for the Scottish Bus Group which has extensively backed the project.

The Volvo double-decker will almost certainly make its public debut at the Scottish Show in November_ I understand that many of the components will be purpose-built by suppliers not normally associated with the bus industry.

However, despite the likelihoOd of the foreigners being first to turn a wheel it will be the Leyland B15 which will inevitably attract most orders. Leyland men are being

notably reluctant to be tied down on detail specification but the bus will be integrally constructed, have a not-less-than200bhp turbocharged engine mounted at the rear and be capable of carrying either 89 or 95 passengers, 20 of them standees. It will be 9.5m long and feature an as yet unspecified system of self-levelling air suspension.

The initial concept was based on work carried out by Leyland's human factors engineering department, the largest of its type in the world. This showed that a high priority must be to make the vehicle as easy to use as physically possible. Accordingly the first step height is only 12Ain. and the second step is 8.5in.

Gearbox choice Drive will be through a fully or semi-automatic gearbox and a new control• system to "ensure smooth upwards or downwards changes". Power steering will be standard and is designed to give a 55ft turning circle.

There is no indication as yet as to where the B15 may be built. However, it is unlikely to be at the highly automated Workington factory, where Leyland Nationals are built, because volume would be insufficient. Last week's announcement that Mr Marcus Smith, the man who got the LN factory working, is to take charge of all Leyland's bus plants — including the Park Royal double-decker oriented plant —could be significant, however.

Leyland took last week's exhibition as an opportunity to further develop the LN concept. Not only did a coach version — for Crosville — make its first appearance but a futuristic businessman's executive commuter bus was also shown. The 11.4m coach has 48 luxury seats together with full-length luggage racks, specially designed so that they do not impede the air movement within the vehicle. Seventy similar vehicles have been ordered by NBC.

The business commuter bus — at present not a running vehicle — is designed to provide maximum comfort for 20 executives. It would be staffed by two secretaries and a driver. Eight of the passengers have fully reclining seats, each with its own console containing the controls of a tape recorder, Dictaphone, headset, three-channel radio, intercom to the secretary, outside radio telephone and reading lamp. Other passengers sit on facing seats around a coffee serving area. A price of about £20,000 for the vehicle compares well with many executive coach designs. It is understood that several firm orders for the vehicle were placed at Crowthorne and the first may see trial service with the National Bus Company after some modifications have been made.

Still more titillating glimpses of Leyland's future thinking are provided in a booklet circulated at Crowthome. As well as illustrating two new versions of the LN — a 6.7m, 24 passenger mini and a 12.8m multi-door version for airport use — the brochure provides a first look at a possible gas-turbine-engined . coach. No details are provided for this vehicle but it would appear to be rear-engined and have, to say the least, a futuristic body. The brochure coyly says that it is "waiting in the wings".

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Locations: Crosville, Glasgow, Edinburgh

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