The Wright Eclipse was a low-floor single-deck bus body built by Wrightbus between 2000 and 2019. It was designed around Volvo chassis and became one of the most familiar single-deck bodies on British roads, passing through three generations. The name was shared with the related Solar and with the double-deck Eclipse Gemini.
Wright Eclipse at a glance
| Maker | Wrightbus, Ballymena, Northern Ireland |
|---|---|
| Production | 2000–2019 |
| Type | low-floor single-deck bus body |
| Generations | Eclipse (2000), Eclipse 2 (2008), Eclipse 3 (2015) |
| Chassis at launch | Volvo B7L |
| Chassis from 2003 | Volvo B7RLE |
| Chassis from 2015 | Volvo B8RLE |
| Name | after the solar eclipse visible in the UK in 1999 |
| Coach versions | Eclipse Commuter, Eclipse SchoolRun |
| Related designs | Eclipse Gemini (double-deck), Eclipse Fusion (articulated) |
| Largest export order | 48 Eclipse Urbans for Bus Éireann, 2007 |
Based on one source, the English Wikipedia article on the Wright Eclipse.
History of the Wright Eclipse
First generation (2000–2010)
The first-generation Eclipse was launched in 2000 on the Volvo B7L chassis as the replacement for the Wright Renown body, which had been built on the older Volvo B10BLE. Both bi-axle and tri-axle versions were offered, but only the bi-axle was ever built. Sales of the B7L were lower than expected in Britain because of its unusual engine layout, and in 2003 Wrightbus made the body available on the more popular Volvo B7RLE chassis. The original B7L version was then renamed the Eclipse Metro, while the new one became the Eclipse Urban.
Eclipse Urban in service
The Eclipse Urban was ordered in large numbers. FirstGroup was the biggest operator: 253 were ordered for First Greater Manchester between 2004 and 2006, with further deliveries to First Glasgow, First West Yorkshire, First West of England and the group’s airside shuttle at Belfast City Airport. Lothian Buses began taking the type in 2004 and used five on Edinburgh’s guided busway until it was replaced by the tram. Travel West Midlands received 38 in 2006, and Arriva UK Bus was another large purchaser, including 22 for the Fastrack rapid transit scheme in Kent, fitted with next-stop announcements, air conditioning and CCTV. Smaller fleets went to East Yorkshire Motor Services, Lincolnshire RoadCar, Go North East and several independent operators. The only export customer was the Irish state operator Bus Éireann, which took 48 Eclipse Urbans in 2007.
Commuter and SchoolRun
Wrightbus also offered a longer-distance version, the Eclipse Commuter, built on a B7RLE chassis whose higher floor section was extended forward to the front axle. It had coach features such as under-floor luggage storage and a high seating position, while keeping a small low-floor area for wheelchair users. The first entered service with Ulsterbus in April 2004; Yorkshire Coastliner ordered six that never entered service, and Stagecoach West Scotland took two with funding from Dumfries and Galloway Council. In 2006 came the Eclipse SchoolRun, effectively an entirely high-floor version of the Commuter on a Volvo B7R coach chassis, aimed at school work. Ulsterbus was the only customer, taking 160 between 2007 and 2008 and a further 61 between 2009 and 2010. The first 110 had 66 seats in a 2+3 layout with removable front seats for wheelchairs; the later buses had 62 seats and a permanent wheelchair area.
Second and third generations (2008–2019)
In November 2008 Wrightbus unveiled the Eclipse 2 at the Euro Bus Expo, with front and rear ends facelifted to match the Wright StreetCar. The third generation, the Eclipse 3, followed in 2015 on the Volvo B8RLE chassis, the successor to the B7RLE. The body remained in production until 2019. A double-decker version of the design was sold as the Wright Eclipse Gemini, and an articulated version as the Wright Eclipse Fusion.
Design and features
- Low-floor single-deck body: designed for easy boarding on urban routes.
- Volvo chassis: B7L at launch, B7RLE from 2003 and B8RLE from 2015.
- Facelifted second generation: the Eclipse 2 of 2008 took its front and rear styling from the Wright StreetCar.
- Coach derivatives: the Commuter and the high-floor SchoolRun extended the range beyond town work.
Wright Eclipse versions
- Eclipse Metro (2000–2003): the original body on the Volvo B7L, renamed when the B7RLE version arrived.
- Eclipse Urban (2003–): the version on the Volvo B7RLE, bought in the largest numbers.
- Eclipse Commuter: longer-distance version with under-floor storage and a raised floor forward of the axle.
- Eclipse SchoolRun (2006–): high-floor school bus on the Volvo B7R chassis.
- Eclipse 2 (2008–): facelifted second generation shown at the Euro Bus Expo.
- Eclipse 3 (2015–2019): third generation on the Volvo B8RLE.
The Eclipse was one of several Wrightbus bodies; more buses from the same maker are in the Wright collection.
Video: Service 21: Lothian Buses Volvo B7RLE Wright Eclipse Urban II 184 (SN13 BFJ)
Video on YouTube.
Sources
- Wright Eclipse, English Wikipedia: history, generations, operators, variants