The Optare Sigma was a step-entrance single-deck bus body manufactured by
Optare between 1994 and 1996 on the
Dennis Lance chassis.
Design
Launched in April 1994, the full-size Sigma body was produced exclusively on the Dennis Lance chassis, beginning an effort by Optare to produce bodies for a more diverse range of chassis following the collapse of the
United Bus
United Bus was a European bus and coach manufacturing group created by the merger of Dutch manufacturers DAF Bus and Bova in November 1989. The merger was made in response to a joint review of the future European bus and coach industry. DAF too ...
manufacturing group. The Sigma body was constructed using the same
Alusuisse bolted aluminium frame system used on the
Vecta mid-size bus body, and the styling closely resembled the Vecta, albeit in longer form. Options included guide wheels for use on a
guided busway, dual door configuration as well as a centre offside door for use on
airport bus
An airport bus, or airport shuttle bus, alternatively simply airport shuttle or shuttle bus is a bus designed for transport of passengers to and from, or within airports. These vehicles will usually be equipped with larger luggage space, and i ...
services.
The Sigma had a low entrance step height of , with a second step taking passengers into a seating compartment with capacity for up to 51 seated passengers; the Sigma's seats were mounted on tracking floor rails, allowing for seating to configured to the individual needs of operators. Other interior features included options for luggage racks and air conditioning, as well as tinted side and rear windows.
[
]
Operators
Compared to the Vecta, a significantly smaller number of Optare Sigmas were produced. Only three operators bought the Sigma in large batches: the largest was Brighton & Hove
Brighton and Hove ( ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, city and unitary authority area, ceremonially in East Sussex, England. There are multiple villages alongside the seaside resorts of Brighton and Hove in the district. It is administe ...
, who took delivery of 20 Sigmas in 1996, while Trent Buses additionally took delivery of 17 Sigmas in late 1995.[ Gateshead & District took delivery of 14 Sigmas in 1994 for use on services in ]Bishop Auckland
Bishop Auckland ( ) is a market town and civil parishes in England, civil parish at the confluence of the River Wear and the River Gaunless in County Durham, England. It is northwest of Darlington and southwest of Durham, England, Durham.
M ...
competing with local independent OK Motor Services.
Two other operators purchased single a Sigmas each. These were Ipswich Buses, who took delivery of the first production Sigma in 1994,Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne, or simply Newcastle ( , Received Pronunciation, RP: ), is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city and metropolitan borough in Tyne and Wear, England. It is England's northernmost metropolitan borough, located o ...
to Gateshead
Gateshead () is a town in the Gateshead Metropolitan Borough of Tyne and Wear, England. It is on the River Tyne's southern bank. The town's attractions include the twenty metre tall Angel of the North sculpture on the town's southern outskirts, ...
MetroCentre shuttle service.
References
External links
{{Optare timeline
Sigma
Sigma ( ; uppercase Σ, lowercase σ, lowercase in word-final position ς; ) is the eighteenth letter of the Greek alphabet. In the system of Greek numerals, it has a value of 200. In general mathematics, uppercase Σ is used as an operator ...
Vehicles introduced in 1994
Step-entrance buses