The Volvo B7TL is a low-floordouble-decker bus chassis which was launched in 1999 and replaced the 2-axle version of the Volvo Olympian (its 3-axle version was replaced by the Volvo Super Olympian). It was built as the British bus operators seemed hesitant to purchase the B7L double decker with a long rear overhang (although some have since entered service in Glasgow, Scotland as 12 m long double deckers).
The B7TL chassis was designed by the Leyland Product Developments consultancy based at the Leyland Technical Centre. It was initially built in Irvine, North Ayrshire, Scotland. In 2000, production was gradually transferred to Sweden. In mid-2004, production of the MkII version of the B7TL was started.
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The Volvo B7TL was highly popular in the United Kingdom, with a large number being purchased by most of the major bus groups such as FirstGroup and Arriva. Travel West Midlands, Travel Coventry and Travel Dundee, part of the National Express Group, purchased over 320 B7TLs from 2000 to 2006, a majority of these being built with Alexander ALX400 bodies, while 112 with Wright Eclipse Gemini bodies and 102 with Plaxton President bodies were also delivered.[1][2]Translink of Northern Ireland also purchased over 150 B7TLs with Alexander ALX400 bodies for its Ulsterbus and Citybus operations between 2001 and 2006, with the first batch of 20 B7TLs delivered in 2001 marking the return of double-decker buses to Belfast for the first time since 1989.[3][4][5]
Smaller orders from operators outside London include Lothian Buses, who ordered a total of 132 B7TLs, the first seven being delivered with Plaxton President bodywork in 2000, followed by 125 more being delivered with Wright bodies between 2005 and 2006.[7][8][9]Arriva UK Bus also ordered small quantities of B7TLs for its operations outside London, including 20 with Alexander ALX400 bodywork and 20 with Plaxton President bodywork for Arriva Yorkshire delivered between 2000 and 2001,[10][11] 49 ALX400s for Arriva Medway Towns in 2004 as part of Operation Overdrive,[12] and 30 ALX400s for Arriva Merseyside in 2006.[13]
150 Volvo B7TLs with Marcopolo Viale bodywork were delivered to Metrobus of Johannesburg, South Africa in 2002, alongside an order for 50 Marcopolo bodied Volvo B7R single deck buses. These were the first low-floor buses to enter service in South Africa as part of a major company modernisation scheme.[17]
^"Arriva hits the road with bus investment". The Northern Echo. Darlington. 27 May 1999. p. 10. ProQuest328831312. Arriva is investing a further £8m on 70 buses in the Yorkshire area of its operations, including 20 low-floor double deck ALX 400 buses, destined for the Leeds guided bus way project.
^Rowlands, P. (3 September 2004). "Medway Medley". Bus & Coach Professional. No. 87. Retrieved 14 July 2022 – via TRID.
^Brown, Stewart (24 March 2006). "Investing in Merseyside". Bus & Coach Professional. Archived from the original on 24 March 2006. Retrieved 14 July 2022.