The Optare Esteem was a low-floor single-decker bus body manufactured by East Lancashire Coachbuilders, Darwen East Lancs and Optare between 2006 and 2009 on Scania N94UB, Scania N230UB, Volvo B7RLE, MAN 12.240, Alexander Dennis Dart SLF, Alexander Dennis Enviro200 Dart and Alexander Dennis Enviro300 chassis.
History
The Esteem was launched by East Lancashire Coachbuilders in 2006.New single-deck from East Lancs Bus & Coach Professional 7 February 2006New Esteem single-deck from East Lancs Bus & Coach Professional 13 April 2006 The first production examples entered service with Preston Bus in September 2006 on Scania N94UB chassis.New Buses for Gamull Lane Service Preston Bus September 2006Esteem goes into service with Preston Bus Bus & Coach Professional 13 September 2006
After East Lancashire Coachbuilders was placed in administration in August 2007, it was bought by Darwen Group and the Esteem was rebranded as the Darwen Esteem.East Lancs acquired from administrators Bus & Coach Professional 23 August 2007 In 2008, Darwen Group merged its Darwen East Lancs and Optare businesses under the latter name, resulting in the Esteem being rebranded again.Optare plc formed as takeover complete Bus & Coach Professional 17 July 2008Optare facing job losses Bus & Coach Professional 31 July 2008
The first few examples of the Esteem only had new front and rear ends, the sides still being of the older Myllennium design. There were also two double-decker variants of this body - the Olympus that was a closed top double-decker and the Visionaire that was an open top double-decker.
Production of the Optare Esteem ceased in 2009, with the last being 40 built on Alexander Dennis Enviro200 Dart chassis for Go-Ahead London.Optare secures 100-plus Go-Ahead order Bus & Coach Professional 5 August 2008
Panaire It was also planned for an open top version of the Esteem to be launched alongside, named the Panaire. This version of the bus never attracted any orders and was removed from the product list during the reverse takeover.
Customers Metrobus had the largest number of the original East Lancs Esteems, some of which were on Scania N94UB, Scania N230UB and MAN 12.240 chassis while 21 on Alexander Dennis Dart SLF chassis were purchased for Transport for London contracted routes.Metrobus Fleetlist Go-Ahead Group 12 May 2017 The first two Esteems to be built on the Alexander Dennis Enviro300 chassis were delivered to Courtney Coaches in 2006, and were the first Enviro300s with bodywork not built by Alexander Dennis.
References
External links
Esteem brochure East Lancashire Coachbuilders Esteem product information Optare