Wright Eclipse

The Wright Eclipse is a single-decker body of a bus. It has a low-floor. It was made from 2000 and 2019 by Wrightbus.

Wright Eclipse
East Coast Buses Volvo B8RLE with Wright Eclipse 3 bodywork in September 2018
Overview
Manufacturer	Wrightbus
Production	2000–2019
Assembly	Ballymena, Northern Ireland
Body and chassis
Doors	1 or 2
Floor type	Low floor/low entry Step-entrance (Eclipse SchoolRun)
Chassis	Volvo B7L Volvo B7RLE Volvo B7R Volvo B8RLE
Related	Wright Eclipse Fusion Wright Eclipse Gemini
Powertrain
Engine	B7L: D7C B7R: D7C B7RLE: D7C/D7E B8RLE: D8K
Transmission	Voith ZF Friedrichshafen
Dimensions
Length	11.8 m (38 ft 9 in) 12.2 m (40 ft 0 in) 12.4 m (40 ft 8 in) 13.2 m (43 ft 4 in)
Width	2.5 m (8 ft 2 in)
Height	3 m (9 ft 10 in)
Chronology
Predecessor	Wright Renown
Successor	Wright GB Hawk

A double-decker model of the Eclipse was also made, It was called the Wright Eclipse Gemini.

A articulated model of the Eclipse was also made, It was called the Wright Eclipse Fusion.

First generation (2000–2010)

From 2000 to 2010, Wrightbus made a body of a bus called the Wright Eclipse. It had a low-floor.

In 2003, Wrightbus changed the name of the bus from Eclipse to Eclipse Metro.^[1] the interior and exterior was the same.

The Eclipse body and Eclipse Metro body was built on the Volvo B7L chassis.^{[2][3][4][5][6][7]}

Operators

From 2000 to 2010, FirstGroup ordered Eclipses.

Eclipse Urban

First Calderdale & Huddersfield Volvo B7RLE with Wright Eclipse Urban bodywork in July 2007

Arriva Shires & Essex Volvo B7L with a different Wright Eclipse Metro bodywork in July 2009. This bus was called "Bus of the Future" by Arriva

Ulsterbus Volvo B7R with Wright Eclipse SchoolRun bodywork in Derry in September 2007

From 2003 to 2009, Wrightbus made a body of a bus called the Eclipse Urban. It had a low-floor.

The Eclipse Urban was built on the Volvo B7RLE chassis.^{[8][9][10][11]}

The Eclipse Urban was made because sales of the Volvo B7L chassis were low because of the engine layout.

Eclipse Commuter

From 2004 to 2005, Wrightbus made a body of a bus called the Eclipse Commuter. It had a low-floor.

The Eclipse Commuter was built on the Volvo B7RLE chassis.^[12][7]

The Eclipse Commuter was made for longer distance and intercity services. It was similar to a coach; it had storage under the floor and it had a small low floor area for passengers in wheelchairs.^[7][7]

Operators

In 2004, Ulsterbus ordered Eclipse Commuters.

In 2005, Stagecoach West Scotland ordered two Eclipse Commuters.^[13][14]

Eclipse SchoolRun

From 2006 to 2010, Wrightbus made a body of a bus called the Eclipse SchoolRun. It had a step-entrance.

The Eclipse SchoolRun body was built on the Volvo B7R coach chassis.^[15][16]

The Eclipse SchoolRun was made for school bus services.

Operators

From 2007 and 2008, Ulsterbus ordered 160 Eclipse SchoolRuns,^[15][16] From 2009 to 2010, they ordered another 61 Eclipse SchoolRuns.

Second generation (2008–2015)

See also: Wright Pulsar 2

Plymouth Citybus Volvo B7RLE with Wright Eclipse Urban 2 bodywork in December 2012

From 2008 to 2015, Wrightbus made a body of a bus called the Wright Eclipse (known as the Eclipse Urban 2). It had a low-floor.

The Eclipse 2 body was built on the Volvo B7RLE chassis.^{[17][18][19][20]}

Operators

In 2009, The Burnley Bus Company ordered 19 Eclipse Urban 2s.^[21][22]

In 2014, Eclipse Urban 2s with air conditioning were sent to Malta for Malta Public Transport.^[23]

Third generation (2015–2019)

East Coast Buses Volvo B8RLE with Wright Eclipse 3 bodywork in July 2018

From 2015 to 2019, Wrightbus made a body of a bus called the Wright Eclipse (known as the Eclipse 3). It had a low-floor.

The Eclipse 3 body was built on the Volvo B8RLE chassis.^[24][25]

In 2017, the Eclipse 3 was improved, it had new front headlamps and rear lights, new grille, new front and rear bumpers and a new interior.

Operators

In 2017, East Coast Buses ordered improved Eclipse 3s.^[26]

In 2018, Delaine Buses ordered ordered improved Eclipse 3s.^[27]