Bluebird Vehicles - Making Transport Accessible

Bluebird manufacture a range of low floor accessible minibuses with various configurations. Vehicles are based on the VW T5 transporter, or the Fiat Ducato. Both are Euro 5 engines and are available with manual or automated transmission.

Low Floor
The Bluebird Tucana, Compact, and Orion minibuses all have a full length low flat floor and kneeling suspension. Ramps at the rear and/or front side entrances not only make wheelchair entry and exit easier, quicker, and far more dignified than tail lift vehicles, they enable many more foot passengers to board unaided than other types of accessible vehicle.

Quality build
The monocoque structure of the chassis and body, and the high quality finish both inside and out make Bluebird Low Floor buses more “luxury coach” and less “Van with windows” than many other conversions. Internal layouts are fully customisable to client needs.

New vehicles in 2010
The new Bluebird Orion replaces the tri-axle Auriga, and sets the new standard in Low Floor coach built minibuses. The stylish Orion has a wide passenger entrance with a side sliding door, fold out ramp to kerb, and seats up to 16 passengers. The Orion has either a coach back and off side rear emergency exit, or rear doors and a shallow angle fold out ramp to the rear. Full air suspension is standard, with tilting, kneeling, and extra ride height functions. Up to 5 full sized wheelhairs can be accommodated. Suitable for both demand responsive and stage operations.

Suspension
Both the front and rear axles are independent and kneeling air suspension is fitted as standard on the rear axle, optional on the front (except Orion, which has full air suspension as standard). When lowered the road to floor height is less than 250mm, and can be less than 200mm, depending on vehicle configuration and model.

The suspension is lowered from the drivers control switch and is interlocked to the handbrake so that it is not possible to drive the vehicle with the suspension lowered. 

The ride quality is exceptional due to the independent rear and front air suspension, on the rear trailing arm the shock and air bag are mounted behind the wheel which improves ride and handling immensely.

Body Frame
The body and chassis are constructed solely from high quality Cromweld, stainless steel, for longevity and welded on jigged frame tools for saloon sides, roof and floor structure, allowing for the highest levels of precision and consistency throughout the welding process. 

Wheels and Tyres
The Tucana and Compact have steel wheels and tubeless radial tyres as standard. Alloy wheels are fitted to the Orion as standard.

Doors
Single or Double electric front plug door (Compact and Tucana) or side sliding electric door (Orion).

The door is positioned at the very front of the vehicle on the Tucana and Compact, and slightly further back on the Orion, allowing the driver to assist passengers. Doors are operated from both the driver’s switch panel and also the exterior nearside front.

In cases of emergency evacuation a hand pull lever is mounted to the door frame. When operated these disengage the electric motors allowing the doors to be individually open under push pressure. 

All vehicles are fitted with a handbrake interlock, which closes the front doors and raises the kneeling suspension system when the handbrake is released, therefore protecting the vehicle against being driven whilst in a boarding operation. A door closing warning buzzer is also fitted.

The double door and side sliding door have an aperture width of 1000mm, providing ease of access for wheelchair users via a fold out kerb ramp. Handrails are fitted to door posts, aiding access. There is a spotlight fitted above the entrance door, which will illuminate when the doors are opened when side, dip or main beam is selected. 

Seating
All seats are forward facing with generous seat pitches and aisle widths all above dimensions stated in regulations. All seats incorporate 3-point integral lap and diagonal seat belts. There is an extensive choice of seat trim material and colours available with practically no constraints on choice.

The seat manufacture is customers choice, Richards & Shaw or Phoenix seating are standard although we can offer alternatives if preferred.
Passenger seats are 425 mm or 450 mm (option) width and all are removable being mounted upon quick release Unwin or NMI fixings. Where seats are not required to be removed they are fixed via T Bolts within tracking. The back row of seats on closed back variants are fixed, not removable.

Tip/fold seats are used over the rear wheel arches.

Tracking at 330mm centre are provided for wheelchair anchorages

Wheelchair Passenger Provision
Each vehicle is fully low floor and flat with no stages for rear mounted seats, all seats are track mounted and can utilise quick release fixings, alternatively, tip and fold seats can be utilised that enable wheelchairs to be positioned without the need to remove seats.

Each vehicle normally operates with a manually deployed side ramp. Floor mounted tracking enables the fitting of wheelchair restraints to secure wheelchair, upper cant rail is also included which allows for 3 point wheelchair belt system to be used.

Wheelchair and Luggage Space
There is limited storage space to the front of the nearside doors on the Tucana and Compact due to the forward position of the entrance doors, the Auriga being more mid cabin enjoys a reasonable sized luggage pen forward of the door.

Storage above the wheel intrusions towards the rear of the saloon is available on each vehicle. A demountable luggage pen can also be provided and positioned to the right of the side doors on the near side, in place of a seat.

Also waist high tracking can be fixed to both sides of the vehicles to allow securing of trolleys and wheelchairs.

Glazing and Windows
All vehicles enjoy automotive green tinted 70% light transmission, toughened, saloon windows are with a top hopper unit mounted in every full width window per side giving the saloon an airy, spacious feel.  A 1000mm four position centre roof hatch and driver’s sliding signalling window are supplied as standard.

Drivers Cab
The original ergonomics of the original VW T5 or Fiat Ducato drivers cab have been retained allowing the full range of seat and steering wheel movement

An external, flush-mounted, reversing camera is mounted to the rear body panel with a reversing monitor mounted on the driver’s switch panel. The screen is mounted in such a way as not to interfere with the driver’s line of sight, whilst allowing forward and rearward peripheral vision (via the side mirror) when the screen is being used.

Incorporated within the drivers cab, on the driver’s bulkhead are high visibility hand poles in yellow RAL 1023 The lower portion of the driver’s privacy screen is constructed from solid composite material with glass upper section and supplied with driver’s night blind. 

Included in the standard specification is a driver’s front roller blind to reduce glare.

Two fire extinguishers are include to conform with COIF requirements as is a first aid box, Included as standard is a reversing camera with reversing alarm and night switch. Proximity sensors can also be offered as an option.

Heating, Ventilation and Demisting System
VW/Fiat convection cab heater / demister, with pollen filter, is supplied as standard and the vents include four fully adjustable / closable positions to the front of the driver’s area.  An Eberspacher climate control system can be offered which provides both cooling and heating dependant upon the parameters set on the controller.

Air is distributed into the saloon and also to the drivers seating position.

Exterior Fittings
Supplied as standard equipment on all vehicles are large rear view Ashtree mirror mechanically mounted central to the windscreen. The Compact and Tucana have exterior manually operated rear view mirrors to the offside and nearside of the vehicle. The Orion has electrically operated and heated split field mirrors to nearside and offside. Also supplied as standard equipment is a colour reversing camera and monitor with the camera flush mounted centrally above the rear doors and the monitor mounted to the driver’s RHS.

Mud flaps to front wheels are included as are Perspex reflective registration plates the front being recessed into the bumper section and the rear mounted centrally within the bumper area and illuminated.

Interior Trim
Saloon panels are covered in material to the customer requirements.  Upper cant rail sections are manufactured in Melamine Aberesco with the centre roof panel covered in either moquette or wipe clean material to customer’s requirements. A slim courtesy panel is positioned to the front nearside, with a hand pole in yellow RAL 1023.

One piece Altro non slip floor material to customer choice is supplied all colour options available.

Rear scope is provided in accordance with COIF regulations.

Electrical System and Equipment
Supplied with this vehicle is full-length fluorescent interior lighting with blue nightlights. Mounted above the front and rear entrance doors are halogen spotlights illuminated upon door operation when vehicle exterior lights are in operation. Also supplied is a drivers cab light.  All interior lighting is operated from the driver’s switch panel located to the RHS of the drivers cab.

Externally mounted high level repeater lights are supplied and consist of two turn indicators, one centrally mounted LED brake light and two LED red marker lights. All upper lighting is mounted on the rear face of the rear body panel so as not to increase the height on the vehicle; fog lights and reversing lights are also included. 

A Radio / CD player is also fitted as standard, with four saloon speakers.

Exterior Colour Scheme
Any solid single colour included in basic price. Multiple solid colours, metallic paint, and other special finishes can be offered as extra price options. Fitting of livery vinyls is not included in basic price.

Special Equipment
Drivers airbag is included and the drivers seat has full pre-tensioner seat belt, passenger seats have integral all age inertia seat belts.

Anti – Corrosion TreatmentEven though our vehicles are manufactured from a stainless steel, Cromweld, we fully under seal the chassis in the following manner

• De-grease all under floor areas and structural components
• Back seal Chassis frame to floor structure using moisture cure polyurethane sealant.
• Mask out all moving parts, braking components and exhaust system.
• Apply BPC Budget Coat HC via high pressure spray to all chassis areas to a thickness of approx 1.5mm.
• De-mask hollow Sections.
• Apply BPC Cavity Wax HC via high pressure lance to all rear suspension hollow sections.
• Apply BPC Cavity Wax HC via high pressure lance to all hollow sections at the interface of the Bluebird Body and chassis

Further Protection
Dependant on local road conditions and the amount of road salt used by the local authority we would recommend periodic inspection and spot re-application as required, otherwise a full steam clean and re-application may be desired every three to four years