Vlerseyside buys Metro-Scanias
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Two significant orders for Metro:ania integral single-deckers were inounced last week_ Merseyside Passenger Transport Execure has ordered 20 10-metre models, to come the second PTE specifying this nglo-Swcdish model (SELNEC has 12 etro-Scanias on order), while Merthyr rdfil Corporation Transport has ordered .o 10-metre models. In both cases single mit entrance /exits will be employed, and sting provided for 47 passengers.
For some years, writes Derek Moses, erthyr Tydfil has been standardizing on :yland Leopard mid-underfloor-engined ses for o-m o duties, and the adoption of rear-cngined model is therefore a nsidcrable development in the undertak;'s policy.
With regard to the Merseyside PTE
order, the draft Transport Plan for Merseyside (CM last week) states that the 9.5-metre rear-engined double-decker with a single front entrance/exit and forward ascending staircase has been chosen as the standard bus for the PTE.
However, the plan also states: "Outside the programme for replacement of normal high capacity double-deck buses it is recognized that there may be a need for small numbers of vehicles for special purposes."
Turning to the subject of private hire work, the plan speaks of the limitation factor of the standard bus for such work, and announces: "It is therefore proposed to obtain 20 dual-purpose vehicles during 1972 for purposes of evaluation." With further confirmation by a spokesman for Metro-Cammell Weymann Ltd, which
builds about 70 per cent of the Anglo-Swedish bus, that the design of a double-decker model with similar running units is going ahead, MPTE's evaluation could be two-fold.
Not to be overlooked at the moment is the imminent delivery of another two Metro-Scanias to London Country Bus Services Ltd for SuperBus service in Stevenage.
Meanwhile, production of 3MS-type split-entrance standee single-deckers for London Transport has been completed with the delivery by MCW of SMS838, and the first Londoner double-deckers on Daimler Fleetline chassis to have MCW bodies — part of an order for 720 for LT — are now painted and will be delivered in the immediate future.