Leyland Lynx
Encyclopedia
The Leyland Lynx is a single-decker bus
built by Leyland
between 1984 and 1992. It was designed to replace the ageing Leyland National
.
Production vehicles began to enter service in 1986. From 1990 to 1992 the updated Lynx II version was produced. It could be recognised easily by its protruding front dash/grille panel, which on the original design was flat.
Although the large majority of Lynxes carried the Leyland body, seven underframes were bodied by Alexander
with N-type bodywork for Citybus (Belfast), including the first prototype. A small number of other underframes for export were bodied by other coachbuilders, including an Alexander PS type
for Singapore Bus Service
and 2 PMC Metro 90 (Galvastress MKV) bodied ones for Sydney
, Australia
.
The type saw service all over the UK
, with the largest fleet being based in the West Midlands
, owned by West Midlands Travel (now National Express West Midlands
), with a total of 255 operated; however, the final three were withdrawn from normal passenger use in March 2009, although 10 remained in the driver training fleet until March 2010.
The last two Lynxes to roll off the production line entered service with Halton Transport
in Widnes
in 1992. The latter is registered K853 MTJ, 57. Halton Transport operated a small number of Lynxes on school contracts and the occasional regular service. However in early October 2010, all of Halton's remaining Lynxes were sold, the last Lynx ever made went into preservation, with the second to last Lynx ever produced used to donate spares.
Following the takeover of Leyland by Volvo
, the Lynx was superseded by the Volvo B10B
. Total production of Lynxes was approximately 1060 vehicles, including six prototypes (one of which was not bodied) and several development vehicles. About 140 of the total were Lynx II.
Single-decker bus
A single-decker bus or single-decker is a bus that has a single deck for passengers. Normally the use of the term single-decker refers to a standard two-axled rigid bus, in direct contrast to the use of the term double-decker bus, which is essentially a single decked bus with an extra deck and...
built by Leyland
Leyland Bus
Leyland Bus was a British bus manufacturer. It emerged from the Rover Group as a management buyout of the bus business...
between 1984 and 1992. It was designed to replace the ageing Leyland National
Leyland National
The Leyland National is a British single-deck bus built in large quantities between 1972 and 1985. It was developed as a joint project between two UK nationalised industries - the National Bus Company and British Leyland. Buses were constructed at a specially built factory at the Lillyhall...
.
Production vehicles began to enter service in 1986. From 1990 to 1992 the updated Lynx II version was produced. It could be recognised easily by its protruding front dash/grille panel, which on the original design was flat.
Although the large majority of Lynxes carried the Leyland body, seven underframes were bodied by Alexander
Walter Alexander Coachbuilders
Walter Alexander Coachbuilders was a Scottish bus coachbuilder and operater based in Falkirk.-History:Walter Alexander, notice a lack expasion by the Falkirk and District Tramways Company's especially in to Grangemouth which never hdd a tram line. In 1913 Alexander's Motor Service was created to...
with N-type bodywork for Citybus (Belfast), including the first prototype. A small number of other underframes for export were bodied by other coachbuilders, including an Alexander PS type
Alexander PS type
The Alexander PS is a type of bus body built by Walter Alexander Coachbuilders, and was produced between the late 1980s and 1990s on Dennis Lance, Mercedes-Benz O405, Scania and Volvo B10M chassis...
for Singapore Bus Service
Singapore Bus Service
Singapore Bus Services was a public bus operator in Singapore formed in 1973 with the merger of three private bus companies, namely the Amalgamated Bus Company Limited, the Associated Bus Services Limited and the United Bus Limited...
and 2 PMC Metro 90 (Galvastress MKV) bodied ones for Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
The type saw service all over the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, with the largest fleet being based in the West Midlands
West Midlands (county)
The West Midlands is a metropolitan county in western central England with a 2009 estimated population of 2,638,700. It came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972, formed from parts of Staffordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire. The...
, owned by West Midlands Travel (now National Express West Midlands
National Express West Midlands
National Express West Midlands , formerly known as Travel West Midlands , is the trade name of West Midlands Travel Ltd , a company which operates bus services from depots in the cities of Birmingham, and Wolverhampton, as well as the boroughs of Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull and Walsall in the West...
), with a total of 255 operated; however, the final three were withdrawn from normal passenger use in March 2009, although 10 remained in the driver training fleet until March 2010.
The last two Lynxes to roll off the production line entered service with Halton Transport
Halton Transport
Halton Transport is a bus operator running within the Borough of Halton and into the surrounding area, including Warrington, St Helens, Prescot, Liverpool and Chester...
in Widnes
Widnes
Widnes is an industrial town within the borough of Halton, in Cheshire, England, with an urban area population of 57,663 in 2004. It is located on the northern bank of the River Mersey where the estuary narrows to form the Runcorn Gap. Directly to the south across the Mersey is the town of Runcorn...
in 1992. The latter is registered K853 MTJ, 57. Halton Transport operated a small number of Lynxes on school contracts and the occasional regular service. However in early October 2010, all of Halton's remaining Lynxes were sold, the last Lynx ever made went into preservation, with the second to last Lynx ever produced used to donate spares.
Following the takeover of Leyland by Volvo
Volvo
AB Volvo is a Swedish builder of commercial vehicles, including trucks, buses and construction equipment. Volvo also supplies marine and industrial drive systems, aerospace components and financial services...
, the Lynx was superseded by the Volvo B10B
Volvo B10B
The Volvo B10B was a rear-engined high-floor bus chassis manufactured by Volvo Buses from 1990 to 2002. It superseded the Volvo B10R and its successor was the Volvo B12B....
. Total production of Lynxes was approximately 1060 vehicles, including six prototypes (one of which was not bodied) and several development vehicles. About 140 of the total were Lynx II.