The Switch Metrocity (formerly known as the Optare MetroCity) is an integral

midibus A midibus is a classification of single-decker minibuses which are generally larger than a traditional minibus but smaller than a full-size single decker and can be anywhere between and long. While used in many parts of the world, the mi ...

manufactured by

Switch Mobility Switch Mobility (Optare until 2020) is a British bus manufacturer based in Sherburn-in-Elmet, North Yorkshire. It is a subsidiary of Indian company Ashok Leyland. The company is responsible for the EV operations of the group with Ashok Leyland ...

since 2013. Originally aimed at the London market, the Metrocity is based on the

Optare Versa The Optare Versa is a Low-floor bus, low-floor midibus that was manufactured by Optare at its Sherburn-in-Elmet factory. In total 883 were produced between 2007 and 2018.Optare Tempo SR. As at August 2018, over 250 had been built.Optare MetroCity
Bus Lists on the Web

Variants

Diesel

The first prototype Optare MetroCity was delivered to London United. The MetroCity is available in five lengths, with the V990MC, V1010MC, V1060MC, V1080MC and V1152MC models measuring , , , , and , long respectively. The shorter models were designed to replace the

Optare Solo SR The Switch Solo (formerly sold as the Optare Solo) is a low-floor minibus/midibus with one or two doors manufactured by Switch Mobility in the United Kingdom since 1998. The Solo name is a play on its low-floor status, the manufacturer marketin ...

in London, while the longer models were to replace the

Optare Versa The Optare Versa is a Low-floor bus, low-floor midibus that was manufactured by Optare at its Sherburn-in-Elmet factory. In total 883 were produced between 2007 and 2018.Optare Tempo SR in the London market. Although the Solo SR and Versa remain in production, the Tempo SR has now been entirely discontinued in the UK market with the introduction of the MetroCity due to poor sales.

Metrocity EV

An electric version is available, named the Metrocity EV, using a 150 kW Magtec motor. In London, four entered service with London United in July 2014 on route H98, while nine entered service with

Arriva London Arriva London is a bus operator operating primarily in Greater London and partially in Essex, Hertfordshire, Kent and Surrey. It is a subsidiary of Arriva UK Bus and operates services for London Buses under contract to Transport for London. Oper ...

on route 312 in September 2015. Twelve entered service in August 2023 with

Stagecoach London Stagecoach London is a major bus operator in Greater London. It is a subsidiary of Stagecoach and operates services under contract to Transport for London mostly in East and South East London, as well as some services running into Central Londo ...

on route 339. A Switch Metrodecker EV equipped with Fusion Processing CAVstar autonomous technology entered service with

First Berkshire & The Thames Valley First Beeline Buses Limited, trading as First Beeline, is a bus operator providing services in and around Slough. It is a subsidiary of FirstGroup. History In January 1986 Alder Valley North Limited, later renamed, The Berks Bucks Bus Compan ...

on a month-long trial on a service operating between

Didcot Parkway railway station Didcot Parkway is a railway station serving Didcot, a town in Oxfordshire, England. The station was opened as Didcot on 12 June 1844 and was renamed ''Didcot Parkway'' on 29 July 1985 by British Rail, to reflect its role as a park and ride rail ...

and the

Milton Park Milton Park is the UK’s largest single ownership innovation community, situated in Vale of the White Horse in South Oxfordshire, England. The Park is located between Didcot and Abingdon in Science Vale UK, a cluster of significant growth, i ...

business and technology park in September 2023.

Operators

United Kingdom

London United were the launch customer for the MetroCity, taking delivery of four examples in April 2014. These were followed in May 2014 by twelve for

Quality Line Quality Line was a bus company based in Epsom, England. A subsidiary of the RATP Group, Quality Line operated bus services throughout the South West London and Surrey area, with many under contract to Transport for London. It ceased operations ...

, who was the largest operator of the type in London until their closure in 2021. Two MetroCity EVs were delivered to

in November 2014, followed by a further seven in August 2015. Other large orders have been made by

New Adventure Travel Adventure Travel (stylised as Adventuretravel; formerly NAT Group and New Adventure Travel) is a bus and coach company in South Wales. It is a subsidiary of ComfortDelGro. History Established in 2008 with four buses, Adventure Travel has now ...

, who received thirty diesel MetroCities, and

West Coast Motors West Coast Motors (legally incorporated as Craig of Campbeltown Limited) is a bus, coach and ferry operator, based in Campbeltown, Scotland. The company also operates under the name '' Borders Buses'' in the Scottish Borders and formerly under ...

, who purchased eleven between 2016 and 2017.

New Zealand

In September 2017,

Tranzit Group The Tranzit Group is a New Zealand, family owned transport and tourism company that operates buses nationally. It was founded by Albert Snelgrove in Wairarapa as Grey Bus Service. It became Blue Bus Service (with a livery change) in the early 1 ...

ordered 114 for use in

Wellington Wellington is the capital city of New Zealand. It is located at the south-western tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Remutaka Range. Wellington is the third-largest city in New Zealand (second largest in the North Island ...

.Optare wins £21m order to supply 114 buses to New Zealand operator
''

Yorkshire Evening Post The ''Yorkshire Evening Post'' (''YEP'') is a regional daily newspaper covering the City of Leeds. Founded in 1890 it is published by Yorkshire Post Newspapers, National World. Despite being having coverage and being sold across West Yorkshire ...

'' 21 September 2017

References

External links

{{Optare timeline Electric buses Low-floor buses Midibuses Metrocity Vehicles introduced in 2013