Bus Types

A visual reference of current and historic UK bus types. Browse by category to see what's on the road - and what once was.

Historic Types 20

AEC

AEC Bridgemaster
Historic
Double Deck 1956-1963 Heritage

The AEC Bridgemaster was a front-engined low-height double-decker bus chassis manufactured by AEC from 1956 to 1963 they seated 72-76 passengers

  • Only 179 was made
  • First introduced in 1956
  • 11 Survive in Presivation

AEC

AEC Merlin
Historic
Single Deck 1965-1972 Heritage

The Aec Merlin was a 36 foot long rear engined bus produced in the 1960s for London transport

  • The First 15 XMS class operated on Red Arrow Route 500
  • 650 was made over 7 years
  • Many found there way over to Malta where they survived Longer then in London
  • withdrawn from London by 1981

AEC

AEC Monocoach
Historic
Coach 1953-1955 Heritage

Was a Rare 1950s Chassis-Less Single Decker Bus made with Park Royal bodys and AEC running units

  • 188 Made in 2 years
  • Major Customers was Scottish Omnibuses (Scottish Motor Traction) and Sheffield Corporation
  • While often fitted with Park Royal bodies, some were fitted with Alexander bodies.
  • 2 survive in preservation

AEC

AEC Regal
Historic
Single Deck 1929-1960 Heritage

A Iconic Single decker bus made from the late 1920s to the early 1960s which seated between 30 - 45 passengers

  • Over 2600 was made
  • Over 700 was bought by London Transport (RF Class)
  • Many was exported to Australia
  • 316 was sold Between 1929-1937
  • 4 Different Types of AEC Regal Chassis was manufactured

AEC

AEC Regent
Historic
Double Deck 1929-1968 Heritage

The AEC Regent was a Iconic British built double decker with a 9.6 litre engine and preselective gearbox

  • Over 7900 Made
  • Aec Regent was in production till 1942 when it was replaced by the Regent II
  • AEC Regents also operated in Portugal, South Africa, and Hong Kong

AEC

AEC Regent III
Historic
Double Deck 1947-1956 Heritage

The AEC Regent III was a Iconic British built double decker with a 9.6 litre engine and preselective gearbox

  • 76 AEC Regent with Low height body produced for London Transport (RLH class)
  • 500 RTW Class buses made for London Transport
  • Last Ran in London on 7th April 1979 with Bus RT624 on route 62
  • Many AEC Regents was relaced by the Newer Routemaster
AEC AEC Routemaster

RML2317 which is part of the Brighton & Hove coach fleet used for weddings

AEC

AEC Routemaster
Historic
Double Deck 1954-1968 Heriatge

A iconic London bus manufactured in the late 1950s to Late 1960s which its open platform and between 64 for the RM class and 72 for the RML

  • Total 2876 buses was manufactured between 1959-1968
  • 524 RML class buses was manufactured between 1961-1968
  • 65 BEA class buses was manufactured in late 1966/early 1967
  • 51 RMF Class buses was manufactured for Northern General in 1966 plus RMF1254 joining from London
  • 2123 stranded length Routemaster was manufactured between 1959-1967
  • 2760 purchased by London Transport
  • 12th of December 2005 last day in service on route 159
  • 2 Special heritage routes 9H/15H which used Routemaster until 2019 for route 15H and July 2014 for route 9H
  • Over 1200 Routemaster still exist
  • In 2024 the RM1 Celebrated its 70th Birthday

Dennis

Alexander Dash
Historic
Single Deck 1991-1997 Heritage
  • Facts to Follow

Volvo

Alexander PS
Historic
Single Deck 1988-1998 Heritage

the Alexander PS-type is a step-entrance single-deck bus body produced by Alexander Coachbuilders in Scotland between 1988 and 1998. Primarily built on the Volvo B10M chassis, it was a common sight in the 1990s.

  • Could be Built on the Following Chassis Volvo B10M,Leyland Lynx, Scania N113 and Mercedes Benz O405
  • Most was withdrawn by 2016 due to the low floor regulations
  • Some was still in use until early 2020s as school buses and driver trainers
  • Stagecoach was the largest buyer of these buses
Volvo Alexander Royale

Nu-Venture 418 R418SOY Seen at Detling Bus Rally

Volvo

Alexander Royale
Historic
Double Deck 1993-2000 Heritage

A stylish, high-profile facelift version of the Alexander R-type double-decker body, introduced around 1993 and built primarily on Volvo Olympian chassis. It is notable as one of the last "step-entry" (non-low floor) double-decker buses produced, with final examples entering service in 2000.

  • Yorkshire Coastliner took the last Step Entrance buses made
  • 100 2 axle version was delivered to Singapore in 1994
  • 30 Low height bodys produced
Volvo Alexander Strider

Connexion Buses P177VDM Seen in Harrogate

Volvo

Alexander Strider
Historic
Single Deck 1993-1997 Heritage

A step entrance full length single decker commonly built on the Volvo B10B Chassis

  • 29 Volvo B10B built for Yorkshire Rider
  • 18 Dennis Lance chassis built for Yorkshire Wollen
  • Newport Transport bought 30 Scania N113 Chassis
  • First Leeds Bought the Largest Batch of 55
Scania East Lancs Cityzen

Hunters N760OAP seen in leeds

Scania

East Lancs Cityzen
Historic
Double Deck 1995-2000 Heritage

A Scania N113 Chassis with a East Lancs Cityzen Body manufactured in 1995-2000 for town routes and long distance routes

  • Brighton & Hove was the largest buyer of the Scania Cityzen
  • 86 was produced from 1995-2000
  • it was one of the last step entrance buses made
Dennis East Lancs EL2000

Yellow Buses M455LLJ seen in Woodingdean

Dennis

East Lancs EL2000
Historic
Single Deck 1989-1996 Heritage

The East Lancs EL2000 was produced between 1989 and 1996. It was a popular single-decker bus body with a step entrance, frequently built on chassis such as the Dennis Dart, Volvo B10M, and Leyland Tiger.

  • Facts to follow

Marshall

Marshall Capital
Historic
Single Deck 1996-2003 Modern

The first variant, the step-entrance Marshall C43, was launched in April 1996, while the popular low-floor C39 version (marketed as the Capital) was launched in 1997.

  • Over 800 Built
  • First London was the biggest Customer with over 400 hundred ordered
  • Built on the Dennis Dart chassis
  • Early examples entered service with Chester City Transport in 1996

MCV

MCW Metrobus
Historic
Double Deck 1977-1989 Heritage

The MCW Metrobus was a highly successful, Birmingham-built double-decker bus produced by Metro-Cammell Weymann

  • Over 4000 was manufactured
  • Birmingham was the largest buyer
  • London Transport ordered 1440
  • London Transport M1 entered service in April 1978
  • West Midlands last used them on 24th July 2010

Volvo

Northern Counties Paladin
Historic
Double Deck 1991-1998 Heritage

The Northern Counties Paladin is a step-entrance single-deck bus body manufactured by Northern Counties in Wigan, UK, between 1991 and 1998. Built on various chassis (Volvo, Dennis, Scania, DAF)

  • Facts to Follow
Volvo Northern Counties Palatine

Connexion Buses Buses P168BTV Seen in Harrogate

Volvo

Northern Counties Palatine
Historic
Double Deck 1988-1998 Modern

The Northern Counties Palatine was a prominent British step-entrance double-decker bus body built in Wigan, England, between 1988 and 1999. Primarily mounted on Leyland and Volvo Olympian chassis

  • Built mainly on a Leyland Olympian or Volvo Olympian Chassis
  • Step Entrance
  • East Yorkshire Bought the large batch outside of London
  • London General bought over 150 of these

Volvo

Northern Counties Palatine II
Historic
Double Deck 1993-1998 Heritage

The Northern Counties Palatine II was a prominent British step-entrance double-decker bus body built in Wigan, England, between 1993 and 1999. Primarily mounted on Volvo Olympian chassis

  • First introduced in 1995
  • 334 was made
  • Notable fleets included MTL Trust Holdings in Merseyside and various operators across the UK (e.g., First Bristol, Go Ahead

Optare

Optare Alero
Historic
Minibus 2001-2008 Modern

he Optare Alero (2001–2008) was a 7.2-meter, low-floor integral minibus designed for accessible community transport and rural routes, often featuring a 16-passenger capacity and a kneeling suspension.

  • 300 was built
  • many was used for accessible community transport
  • only produced for 7 years

Optare

Optare Excel
Historic
Single Deck 1995-2004 Modern

one of the first low floor buses made the Optare excel was a full sized single decker seating 27-48 passengers depending on its lenth

  • Launched in October 1995 as Optare's first full-size low-floor single-decker
  • Over 600 made
  • In Production for 9 Years