Scania OmniDekka

Scania OmniDekka
File:Reading Transport bus 807 (YN54 AEY) 2004 Scania N94UD OmniDekka, Reading, 2 April 2011.jpg Reading Transport Scania OmniDekka in Reading
Overview
Manufacturer	East Lancashire Coachbuilders/Optare (based on Scania chassis)
Production	2003–2011
Body and chassis
Doors	1 or 2
Floor type	Low floor
Powertrain
Capacity	68–100 seated
Dimensions
Length	10.2–11.9 m
Width	2,535 mm
Height	4.2–4.3 m
Chronology
Successor	Optare MetroDecker

The Scania OmniDekka (introduced in 2003 as the East Lancs OmniDekka, sold as the Darwen OmniDekka between 2007 and 2008, and then sold as the Optare OmniDekka between 2009 and 2011) is a double-decker bus built for sale in the UK from 2003 to 2011. The model is based on Scania N94UD (with newer examples based on Scania N230UD/N270UD) chassis, with a body by East Lancashire Coachbuilders, based on similar bodies mounted on Alexander Dennis, VDL and Volvo chassis but with a modified front, similar to the OmniCity which instantly makes the bus recognisable as a Scania product.

File:Bluestar 1031.JPG

Uni-link Scania N94UD OmniDekka double-decker rear in Southampton in September 2008

Scania came late to the low floor double-decker bus market, having for many years offered only the single deck L94UB on a Wrightbus body to UK operators. Despite this, the OmniDekka has sold well, especially with those who had previously operated Scania double deckers but had since ordered other products. Large operators include Go-Ahead Group companies Brighton and Hove, Metrobus as well as council owned Reading Buses, and Nottingham City Transport. High profile uses of the OmniDekka include use by FirstGroup on service X53 in Devon and Dorset which previously operated a long distance service along the Jurassic Coast between Exeter and Bournemouth and by Stagecoach on Corby Star services in Corby, Northamptonshire which have helped Stagecoach battle against taxis in the area.

In 2007, the bodywork was replaced by the East Lancs Olympus (later known as the Optare Olympus), the new East Lancs body, and was available on the newer Euro IV Scania N UD chassis. But from 2008 - 2011, there were still new examples entering service with Nottingham City Transport, who subsequently received the final batch ever to be made, in November 2011. This is due to Optare's Blackburn plant closing and Optare refusing to build them at Leeds.

See also

Competitors:

• Alexander Dennis Enviro400
• Dennis Trident 2
• MAN ND283F
• Optare MetroDecker
• VDL DB250
• Volvo B7TL

Other Scania buses sold in the UK:

• L94UB (single decker chassis)
• OmniCity
• OmniTown (single-deck midibus)