Optare Tempo

The Optare Tempo is a low-floor, full-size rigid single-deck bus manufactured by Optare and was launched in late 2004. It is marketed and sold as the replacement for the Optare Excel. It is designed as a lightweight bus, to use less fuel than traditional heavy duty integral rigids. As of July 2017, 233 had been built, including 27 Tempo SRs.[1] The Tempo SR has now been replaced in the UK market by longer variants of the Optare MetroCity, although production of the Tempo SR continues for the Australian market.

Optare Tempo
Transdev Yellow Buses Optare Tempo in
Christchurch in May 2009
Overview
ManufacturerOptare
Production2005–2013 (Tempo)
2012–2017 (Tempo SR UK)
2014-present(Tempo SR Overseas)
Body and chassis
Doors1, 2 or 3
Floor typeLow floor
ChassisIntegral
Powertrain
EngineMercedes-Benz OM906LA
MAN D0836
Allison EP40/Cummins ISBe hybrid
Capacity26–47 seated
TransmissionAllison
ZF
Dimensions
Length10.6, 11.3, 12.0, 12.2, 12.6 & 12.7 metres
Width2.50 metres
Height3.03 metres
Curb weight9720 KG (unladen)
Chronology
PredecessorOptare Excel
SuccessorOptare MetroCity
(UK market only)

Tempo
Rear of a Tempo, operated by Transdev Yellow Buses in Bournemouth.

The Optare Tempo was launched in October 2004 after the building of two pre-production prototypes (both of which saw use as demonstrators and still exist[1]), one an example of the longest available (12.6 meters), the other an example of the shortest (10.6 meters), with the first production example (12.0 metres) delivered to Trentbarton in February 2005. It came in four different lengths: 10.6, 11.3, 12.0 and 12.6 metres and it has a raised roofline in the middle continuously to the rear roof spoiler instead of an arched top.[2]

Optare constructed the Tempo as an all welded heavy-duty box section integral from stainless and carbon steel dressed in a mix of GFRP (fibreglass) and aluminium modular exterior panels, integrating easy maintenance features like swing out headlamp clusters and multiple LED lamps. Key mechanical services are installed on a demountable frame, complete with "no-loss" couplings.[3] [4] The bus underwent testing at the Millbrook Proving Ground.[2]

It was originally powered by a Euro 4 Mercedes-Benz OM906LA SCR engine,[3] with a Euro 4 MAN D0836 EGR engine option later introduced,[5] coupled to an ZF automatic transmission as standard or optionally an Allison Transmission.[3][4] In 2007,[6] a hybrid version was introduced for London operators, utilising a "fully proven" and "fully reliable" Allison EP40 Parallel Hybrid drive system powered by removable NiMH batteries combined with a Cummins 250hp ISBE Euro 5 SCR engine.[7][8] This technology was integrated into ten 10.6 metre variants, which also featured TfL spec double doors, leaving space for 28 seats.[1]

The Optare Tempo has stopped production and was replaced with the Optare Tempo SR.

Tempo SR
Tempo SR Demonstrator

In October 2011, a restyled version was launched as the Tempo SR,[9] borrowing from the Solo's naming convention. The Tempo SR came in three different lengths: 10.6, 11.3 and 12.0 metres and incorporated a Mercedes-Benz OM906L six-cylinder 210 kW (282 bhp) SCR engine, which continued to be housed on a removable cradle alongside the transmission[9] (the MAN engine option being dropped). A notable reversal on the original design,[9][10] ZF's 6HP500* six-speed transmission could be specified as an alternative to the now standard Allison T310R gearbox – both of which feature integral retarders.

Trentbarton, then having a long and close relationship with Optare, sparked the facelift of the Tempo to be "fundamentally different to anything else on the market".[11] Between Trentbarton, transport design and branding agency Best Impressions (led by Ray Stenning) and Optare, featuring suggestions and ideas from Nottingham-area bus users, the Tempo SR was born.[12]

The finalised bus was unveiled at Coach & Bus Live 2011, and marketed as "the new bus for Nottingham".[11] Indeed, the vehicle exhibited wasn't a prototype or demonstrator but a to-spec, fully liveried fleet member for Trent Barton.[13] Stenning reflected that the design "has a natural flow and every line [had] a purpose" and it wasn't "tarting it up for the sake of it".[11] The design reportedly drew on inspiration from Stenning's 'design heroes' Raymond Loewy and Pininfarina, with close attention paid to details.[11] Trentbarton would take delivery of thirteen examples between May and July 2012.[14]

Despite Trentbarton proclaiming their redesign was "taking the transport industry by storm",[12] the vehicle proved divisive. For instance, although the same framework underneath,[11] and constructed using the same methods,[10] operators contracted by the Welsh government continued to order the original Tempo even though the SR facelift had been out for over a year (albeit an order for a discontinued size, 12.60 meters).[1] Following poor sales, the Tempo SR has now been replaced in the UK market by longer variants of the Optare MetroCity. However, Manchester Airport took delivery of a further four Tempo SRs in May 2017 for use on airport car park shuttle bus operations; these buses came from an order intended for an Australian operator, which was cancelled. As of October 2018, Trent Barton has replaced all Tempo SR's with Alexander Dennis Enviro200 MMC's, which is now operating the i4 service.

As of Early 2019, municipal bus operator Ipswich Buses have purchased all 13 ex Trent Barton Optare Tempo SR's.

Operators

United Kingdom

Arriva UK Bus, First Cymru, RATP Group, Stagecoach Group, Transdev, Veolia Transport and Wellglade Group all have all been purchasers of the original Tempo, not to mention several independent operators.[1] It has been operated by Lynx, King's Lynn[15] and Transport for London operators East London, London United and Metroline.[1] Trentbarton and Manchester Airport have both purchased a number of Tempo SRs, though Ipswich Buses are now their biggest UK operator, having taken on Trent Barton's fleet.[16]

Additionally, Lynx are now the largest operators of the Tempo in the world, having purchased large numbers of vehicles second-hand.[17]

Europe
Arriva Netherlands Optare Tempo in July 2009

One left hand drive Optare Tempo was exported to Kiel, Germany in 2007,[18] but it was taken out of service shortly afterwards.

Australia

In Australia, Tempos have been purchased by Ventura Carbridge and Park Ridge Transit.[19][20][21]

References
  1. Optare Tempo Bus Lists on the Web
  2. Optare's Tempo single-deck unveiled Bus & Coach Professional 30 September 2004
  3. "Optare Tempo product page (archived)". Optare.com (archived). Internet Archive/Optare. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  4. "Optare Tempo Brochure (archived)" (PDF). Optare.com (archived). Internet Archive/Optare. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  5. "Optare Tempo product page (2007) (archived)". Optare.com (archived). Internet Archive/Optare. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  6. "Hybrid Tempo confirmed for 2007". Bus & Coach Professional (archived). Internet Archive/Plum Publishing Ltd. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  7. "UK Bus Maker Selects GM Allison Hybrid System". Green Car Congress. BioAge Group LLC. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  8. "Optare Shows Hybrid and Electric Buses". Green Car Congress. BioAge Group LLC. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  9. Optare's new Tempo SR sets the standard for style, weight and fuel efficiency Optare 5 October 2011
  10. "Optare Tempo SR Brochure (archived)" (PDF). Optare. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  11. "Optare's Tempo gets the Stenning treatment". Passenger Transport. Passenger Transport. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  12. "trent barton customers shape design of brand new bus". Trentbarton. TrentBarton. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  13. "Fleet News (November 2011)". Derby Bus Depot. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  14. "Optare at Coach & Bus Live 2011 - new Tempo SR model strengthens range and adds to choice". Optare.com. Optare. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  15. Stuart, Jones. "Lynx". Bus & Coach Buyer. Bus & Coach Buyer. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  16. "Ipswich Buses fleetlist September 2020" (PDF). Ipswich Buses (archived). Ipswich Buses. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  17. "All change in King's Lynn as Stagecoach vacates the town". Coach & Bus Week. Coach & Bus Week Ltd. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
  18. Optate Tempo Left Hand Drive Bus Lists on the Web
  19. Three-door Optare Tempo Australasian Bus & Coach 11 September 2014
  20. Carbridge Australian Bus Fleet Lists
  21. Park Ridge Transit Australian Bus Fleet Lists
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