The Wright Eclipse is a low-floor single-deck bus body that was built by
Wrightbus
Wrightbus is a Northern Ireland based bus manufacturer and a pioneer of the low-floor bus. The company was established in 1946 by Robert Wright and was later run by his son William Wright, until it was acquired in 2019 by British businessman ...
between 1999 and 2019. The second-generation Eclipse 2 was launched in 2008, followed by the third-generation Eclipse 3 in 2015. The Eclipse, and its sister design the
Solar, were named for a
solar eclipse which was
visible in the UK in 1999, the year of its introduction.
The Eclipse was launched in 1999 on
Volvo B7L
The Volvo B7L is a fully low floor single-decker bus, double-decker bus and articulated bus chassis with a rear engine mounted vertically on the left of the rear overhang. It was built as a replacement for the Volvo B10L, and the Volvo Olympi ...
chassis and, in 2003, the body was made available on the more popular
Volvo B7RLE
The Volvo B7RLE is a low-entry single-deck bus chassis manufactured by Volvo. It was superseded by the Volvo B8RLE in 2013.
Specifications
The Volvo B7RLE is similar to its predecessor, the B10BLE. In essence the B7RLE is the front section of t ...
chassis. A coach version, the Eclipse SchoolRun, was later launched on high floor
Volvo B7R
The Volvo B7R is a coach chassis available with a range of bodies. It is promoted as a rear engined lightweight coach chassis. It is primarily intended for tourist and long-distance duties. B7R is also manufactured in China, Brazil, Hungary, India ...
chassis. In November 2008, Wright unveiled the Eclipse 2 at that year's Euro Bus Expo, with front and rear ends facelifted to match the
Wright StreetCar
The Wright StreetCar is an articulated bus developed by Wrightbus and Volvo for FirstGroup. It was built on the Volvo B7LA chassis, featuring a separate driver compartment at the front, resembling to some extent similar designs in Europe.
It ...
. In 2015, the Eclipse 3 was launched on
Volvo B8RLE
The Volvo B8RLE is a 7.7-litre-engined low-entry bus chassis manufactured by Volvo since 2013 for Euro VI markets. It was designed as a replacement for the B7RLE and the B9RLE. The right-hand drive version was launched in November 2014. chassis, the successor to the B7RLE. Production of the Eclipse has been suspended as Wrightbus entered
administration
Administration may refer to:
Management of organizations
* Management, the act of directing people towards accomplishing a goal
** Administrative Assistant, traditionally known as a Secretary, or also known as an administrative officer, admini ...
in September 2019.
Over 2,100 Eclipses were built, with
FirstGroup
FirstGroup plc is a British multi-national transport group, based in Aberdeen, Scotland.[Wright Eclipse Gemini
The Wright Eclipse Gemini is a Low-floor bus, low-floor double-decker bus body that was built by Wrightbus since 2001, based on the single-deck Wright Eclipse design. The second-generation Eclipse Gemini 2 was launched in 2009, followed by the ...]
, and formerly also an articulated version, the
Wright Eclipse Fusion.
First generation (1999–2011)
The first generation Wright Eclipse was launched in 1999 by
Wrightbus
Wrightbus is a Northern Ireland based bus manufacturer and a pioneer of the low-floor bus. The company was established in 1946 by Robert Wright and was later run by his son William Wright, until it was acquired in 2019 by British businessman ...
on
Volvo B7L
The Volvo B7L is a fully low floor single-decker bus, double-decker bus and articulated bus chassis with a rear engine mounted vertically on the left of the rear overhang. It was built as a replacement for the Volvo B10L, and the Volvo Olympi ...
chassis as the replacement for the
Wright Renown
The Wright Renown was a low entry single-decker bus body built on Volvo B10BLE chassis by Wrightbus in Ballymena, Northern Ireland.
Over 800 Renowns were built between 1997 and 2002, making it somewhat more successful than the B10L-based Lib ...
bodywork on the older
Volvo B10BLE
The Volvo B10BLE was a rear-engined low-entry single-decker bus chassis manufactured by Volvo in Sweden between 1993 and 2004. The first prototypes were built in 1992, but mass production started in 1993, only a year after the high-floor B10B. I ...
chassis. Of the 259 built, 196 were purchased by
FirstGroup
FirstGroup plc is a British multi-national transport group, based in Aberdeen, Scotland.[Volvo B7RLE
The Volvo B7RLE is a low-entry single-deck bus chassis manufactured by Volvo. It was superseded by the Volvo B8RLE in 2013.
Specifications
The Volvo B7RLE is similar to its predecessor, the B10BLE. In essence the B7RLE is the front section of t ...]
chassis in 2003, at which time the original B7L bodywork was renamed to the Eclipse Metro. The Eclipse Urban proved to be far more successful in terms of sales and remained in production until 2011, while the Eclipse Metro was withdrawn from sale several years after introduction of the Eclipse Urban.
The bodywork of the Wright Eclipse and other Wrightbus products during the 2000s has become iconic, and has been used in publicity by both bus companies and local authorities.
File:Arriva The Shires 3890 LF02 PVA 3.JPG, alt=, Arriva Shires & Essex Wright Eclipse Metro bodied Volvo B7L
The Volvo B7L is a fully low floor single-decker bus, double-decker bus and articulated bus chassis with a rear engine mounted vertically on the left of the rear overhang. It was built as a replacement for the Volvo B10L, and the Volvo Olympi ...
in July 2009
File:First Wright Eclipse 01.jpg, alt=, First Calderdale & Huddersfield
First West Yorkshire operates both local and regional bus services in West Yorkshire, England. It is a subsidiary of the FirstGroup, and is made up of three sub-division brands: First Bradford, First Halifax, Calder Valley & Huddersfield and Firs ...
Wright Eclipse Urban bodied Volvo B7RLE
The Volvo B7RLE is a low-entry single-deck bus chassis manufactured by Volvo. It was superseded by the Volvo B8RLE in 2013.
Specifications
The Volvo B7RLE is similar to its predecessor, the B10BLE. In essence the B7RLE is the front section of t ...
in July 2007
Eclipse Commuter
Wrightbus also offered the Eclipse Commuter for a time, which was built on a version of the B7RLE chassis with the higher floor section extended to the front axle of the bus. It was intended for longer distance and intercity work. The design included all of the features of a standard coach, such as under-floor storage and a high seating position, while maintaining a small low floor section for passengers in wheelchairs. The first entered service with
Ulsterbus in April 2004 while
Yorkshire Coastliner
Transdev York & Country (also known as Yorkshire Coastliner) operates both local and regional bus services in North Yorkshire and West Yorkshire, England. It is a subsidiary of Transdev Blazefield, which operates bus services across Greater Man ...
ordered six (which never entered service) and
Stagecoach West Scotland, two.
Eclipse SchoolRun
![Ulsterbus bus 247 (NEZ 9247) 2007 Volvo B7R Wright Eclipse SchoolRun, 4 September 2007](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fe/Ulsterbus_bus_247_%28NEZ_9247%29_2007_Volvo_B7R_Wright_Eclipse_SchoolRun%2C_4_September_2007.jpg)
In 2006, Wrightbus launched the Eclipse SchoolRun; effectively an entirely high floor version of the Eclipse Commuter, bodied on
Volvo B7R
The Volvo B7R is a coach chassis available with a range of bodies. It is promoted as a rear engined lightweight coach chassis. It is primarily intended for tourist and long-distance duties. B7R is also manufactured in China, Brazil, Hungary, India ...
coach chassis. The Eclipse SchoolRun was mainly intended for school bus work. Northern Ireland bus operator
Ulsterbus were the only customer to order the Eclipse SchoolRun, ordering 160 of the type in 2006. The first 110 were delivered with 66 seats in a high density 2+3 layout, including several removable seats at the front of the bus, which can be removed to allow the provision of wheelchair space; the final 50 buses were delivered with 62 seats and a permanent wheelchair area to save time in taking out and putting back the removable seats. The final Eclipse SchoolRun was completed in 2008.
Second generation (2008–2015)
![Plymouth Citybus 106 WA12ACZ (9592343891)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/31/Plymouth_Citybus_106_WA12ACZ_%289592343891%29.jpg)
The second generation Wright Eclipse, known as the Eclipse Urban 2, was launched at the 2008 Euro Bus Expo as the successor to the Eclipse Urban, although the two designs were produced concurrently until 2011. The Eclipse 2 features front and rear ends facelifted to match the
Wright StreetCar
The Wright StreetCar is an articulated bus developed by Wrightbus and Volvo for FirstGroup. It was built on the Volvo B7LA chassis, featuring a separate driver compartment at the front, resembling to some extent similar designs in Europe.
It ...
, and is now only available on
Volvo B7RLE
The Volvo B7RLE is a low-entry single-deck bus chassis manufactured by Volvo. It was superseded by the Volvo B8RLE in 2013.
Specifications
The Volvo B7RLE is similar to its predecessor, the B10BLE. In essence the B7RLE is the front section of t ...
chassis.
With the launch of the Eclipse 2, the three other first generation Eclipse models – the Eclipse Commuter, Eclipse Metro and Eclipse SchoolRun – were withdrawn from the market, with no official successors.
Third generation (2015–2019)
The third generation Eclipse, known as the Eclipse 3, was launched in 2015. The Eclipse 3 was only available on
Volvo B8RLE
The Volvo B8RLE is a 7.7-litre-engined low-entry bus chassis manufactured by Volvo since 2013 for Euro VI markets. It was designed as a replacement for the B7RLE and the B9RLE. The right-hand drive version was launched in November 2014. chassis, the successor to the B7RLE. As well as the difference in chassis, the front and rear ends initially underwent a minor facelift, incorporating design features from the
Wright StreetLite
The Wright StreetLite is a low-floor midibus introduced by Wrightbus in 2010. It was originally available in only one body style (wheel forward) before the door forward and StreetLite Max variants were introduced in 2011 and 2012 respectively. ...
integral design. The first Eclipse 3s entered service with
Trentbarton
Trentbarton operates both local and regional bus services in Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire and Staffordshire, England. It is a subsidiary of the Wellglade Group.
History
In October 1913, Trent Motor Traction Company was foun ...
in November 2015 and the second batch by
Stagecoach in the Fens for the
Cambridgeshire Busway. The front design was revised further in spring 2017 with the first (and only) 13.2m examples being purchased by
East Coast Buses
Lothian Buses is a major bus operator based in Edinburgh, Scotland. It is the largest municipal bus company in the United Kingdom: the City of Edinburgh Council (through Transport for Edinburgh) owns 91%, Midlothian Council 5%, East Lothi ...
.
The first 11.8m variant with the revised bodywork has since entered service with
.
References
* Millar, Alan (2007) ''Bus & Coach Recognition'': Ian Allan Ltd.,
External links
Wright Eclipse Commuter at Wrightbus websiteWright Eclipse SchoolRun at Wrightbus website
{{Wrightbus, state=collapsed
Low-floor buses
Vehicles introduced in 1999
Eclipse