| Plaxton Centro | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Plaxton |
| Production | 2006–2009 |
| Assembly | Scarborough, North Yorkshire, England |
| Designer | Capoco Design Trailertech Services |
| Body and chassis | |
| Doors | 1 |
| Floor type | Low floor Low entry |
| Chassis | VDL SB120 VDL SB200 MAN 12.240 MAN 14.220 MAN 14.240 Volvo B7RLE |
| Related | Plaxton Primo |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | Cummins ISBe (VDL) MAN (MAN) Volvo (Volvo B7RLE) |
| Capacity | 51 seated, 21 standing |
| Dimensions | |
| Length | 8.9 to 12.0 m (29 ft 2 in to 39 ft 4 in) |
| Width | 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in) |
| Height | 3.0 m (9 ft 10 in) |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | Plaxton Pointer 2 |
| Successor | Alexander Dennis Enviro300 |
The Plaxton Centro was a low entry single-decker bus bodywork designed by Bluebird Vehicles and manufactured by Plaxton.12
Design
First announced in June 2005 and launched on the VDL SB120 chassis in February 2006, much of the Centro's design was influenced by the 'Concept 2000', a new body developed by Plaxton's then-owner Henlys for the Volvo B6BLE chassis which was cancelled upon the formation of Transbus International. Plaxton acquired the intellectual rights to the 'Concept 2000' upon Transbus' collapse and Plaxton's subsequent sale to Alexander Dennis, developing it with the assistance of Capoco Design into the Centro.342
The new body, alongside the Primo minibus, were the first bus bodies built at Plaxton's Scarborough factory since Transbus moved production of the Pointer to Falkirk in 2001.34 After launching on the VDL SB120, the Centro was later made available on the VDL SB200 chassis, the MAN 14.220, MAN 14.240 and Volvo B7RLE chassis.564
The Centro was assembled with an aluminium frame, with the front and rear portions of the bus assembled with Cromweld stainless steel panels and a galvanised steel underframe, the latter able to be specified for either a ramped floor for single set of doors or a fully-flat floor for dual-door specification; the interior dashboard panel and cab floor was a single glass fibre moulding. Bonded or gasket window glazing were also able to be specified, with side windows tinted as standard, and cantilevered or pedestal-mounted seats, able to be fitted with seatbelts, could be fitted in the interior.43
By 2010, the Centro was no longer available from Plaxton after parent company Alexander Dennis phased it out in favour of the own Enviro200 and Enviro300. The last deliveries were in late 2010 and were 2009 season-built bodies.
Operators
Among the first operators to take delivery of the Centro was TM Travel, who took delivery of a further eleven on VDL SB120 and MAN 12.220 chassis.4 Arriva North West & Wales was the first major customer, with 12 on VDL SB120 chassis delivered in late 2006;7 a further five were delivered to Arriva Scotland West and two were delivered to Arriva Midlands, and six on VDL SB200 chassis were delivered to Arriva The Shires, another six delivered to Arriva North West and two delivered to Arriva Northumbria.
Other large purchasers included Diamond Bus (25) , Centrebus (10) and Dunn-Line (10). The first Volvo B7RLE was purchased by Wessex Bus for the Bristol park & ride service.8
References
References
- "Centro" (PDF). Scarborough: Plaxton. November 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 21 August 2007.
- Britain's Buses (6 ed.). Stamford: Key Publishing. 2021. p. 7. ISBN 978 1 802820 096.
- "Plaxton is back building buses". Buses. Vol. 58, no. 604. Hersham: Ian Allan Publishing. July 2005. p. 10. Retrieved 3 June 2026.
- "Serious about buses". Bus & Coach Professional. No. 123. Telford: Plum Publishing. 14 February 2006. Archived from the original on 25 October 2007. Retrieved 2 September 2007.
- "Euro Bus Expo '06: New show, new vehicles". Bus & Coach Professional. No. 141. Telford: Plum Publishing. 24 October 2006. Archived from the original on 30 June 2018. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
- "Neoman update - Meridian boosts MAN". Bus & Coach Professional. No. 166. Telford: Plum Publishing. 9 October 2007. Archived from the original on 3 August 2018.
The first Plaxton Centro midibus on MAN chassis, part of an order for Dawson Rentals, was also launched at the NEC show this week.
- "Arriva places first fleet order for Centro". Bus & Coach Professional. No. 127. Telford: Plum Publishing. 10 April 2006. Archived from the original on 23 July 2018. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
- "Wessex Connect Adds Plaxton Centros" (Press release). Scarborough: Plaxton. July 2007. Archived from the original on 18 November 2007. Retrieved 12 November 2012.