A Noone Turas 900s with a rear low-floor section behind the drive axle to suit some bus applications will shortly complement the type’s core midicoach application, supplier Brian Noone has revealed.
The variant represents a significant evolution for the otherwise high-floor model. The low-floor space is accessed via a pair of wide plug doors and has space for a wheelchair user, including a fold-out ramp and nine tip-up seats. Five of those are forward-facing with four looking rearwards.
Two have been ordered by an operator for use on Local Link contracts for Transport for Ireland. Brian Noone director Mark Noone says that the vehicle could be supplied into the UK if required, including via North Wales-based partner Jones Coach and Bus Sales.
He notes that the rear low-floor arrangement is common on front-engined smaller buses in mainland Europe, where it is “a tried and tested solution.”
As with the Turas 900s midicoach, the new variant is built on the DAF XB chassis. Gross weight is 12,000kg and it comes with a ZF eight-speed torque converter automatic gearbox to suit stop-start work.
Wheelbases of 4.8m and 5.1m are available with the new configuration. Including tip-ups, that allows 33 or 37 seats, respectively. Mr Noone says that the recently introduced XB chassis has proved popular with buyers of the Noone Turas 900s in midicoach form.
In the first example, shown by builder Erduman at Busworld, fixed positions are from Sege in a high-backed layout that while not quite to the specification used in midicoach builds is nevertheless comfortable, with recline, and all-age three-point belts.
Luggage racks and passenger service units, saloon air-conditioning and double-glazed side windows are maintained in the new variant of the Turas 900s, which will come at a modest price premium over those built to conventional layout, Mr Noone advises.
The vehicle gains four upright stanchions within the main saloon to suit its bus application, with a pair at the front platform and two more at the descent into the low-floor area.
Otherwise, changes are largely limited to the area behind the drive axle and thus the Turas 900s retains its side lockers in the new configuration.
Notably, Mr Noone says that a kit to return the product to fully high-floor later in life is being explored. While any such conversion would not be a simple task, he believes it would help to maximise economics of the product.
Mr Noone adds that for the Local Link market in Ireland, the vehicle “will be a great alternative” to existing front-engined offerings.
