AEC Swift
Encyclopedia
The AEC Swift was a rear-engined single-deck bus chassis built by AEC between 1964 and 1974. The chassis design was closely related to the Leyland Panther
. It was available in 33' and 36' lengths, with an AEC AH505 or AH691 engine.
The design was suitable for driver-only operation which helped bus operators to relieve the problems of labour shortages and costs, and became one of the alternatives to the traditional British double-deck buses (operated by a driver and conductor, such as the London Routemaster
or Bristol Lodekka
), as British legislation prevented driver-only operation of double-deck buses until the late 1960s.
and London Country, with over 1500 in total delivered between 1966 and 1972. Bodywork was supplied by Park Royal Vehicles
, Metro Cammell Weymann
and Marshall of Cambridge, to basically the same design.
The fleet was made up of a number of variations. The Longer 36' versions were referred to as Merlins, and divided into MB (single or dual door), MBS (dual door), and MBA (dual door with turnstile payment for use on Red Arrow
services) classes.
The shorter 33' versions were known as Swifts. There were three variants of this model upon delivery. In the central area SM (single door saloon) and SMS (dual door with automatic fare collection) classes were painted red. London Country operated green SM-class dual door, fully seated saloons that had been ordered by London Transport. Subsequently, London Transport converted a number of SMS vehicles to conventional one-man operated saloons by adding more seats and locking the centre exit out of use. These were renamed the SMD class, but retained their original fleet number.
Neither LT nor LCBS considered either design to be a success and the first examples were withdrawn and sold, many for scrap, in 1972, after just 4 years service. Most had been replaced by 1981 mainly by Leyland National
s and MCW Metrobus
es.
and Sunderland Corporation took smaller numbers of Swifts.
Great Yarmouth Transport bought eight Swifts new in 1973; these continued in service until the late 1990s, and were the last Swifts to run in service with their original operator. Other customers included Blackpool Transport
and St Helens Corporation. Three Swifts delivered to Morecambe Corporation in 1970 carried rare Northern Counties
bodywork.
Following withdrawal from service with their initial operators, many Swifts were sold on for further use. Staffordshire-based independent Knotty Bus ran a fleet of four Swifts between 1988 and 1995. A small number of former London Transport Swifts ran for a time with Hants & Sussex (now Emsworth & District) on services in south east Hampshire.
British Airways
once owned an AEC Swift, with a special body that had an open platform at the front, which was designed for airside duties.
177 Swifts and Merlins were bought by Northern Irish operator Citybus
between 1977 and 1980 to replace buses destroyed during the Troubles
, although most were withdrawn after 1981. In early 1981 ten Swifts recently withdrawn by London Transport were exported to Italy to act as emergency control centres and shelters in the aftermath of the 1980 Irpinia earthquake
.
Leyland Panther
The Leyland Panther was a rear-engined single-deck bus chassis built by Leyland between 1964 and 1972. It gained a reputation for unreliability, which to some extent was common to many of the first generation of rear-engined single-deckers....
. It was available in 33' and 36' lengths, with an AEC AH505 or AH691 engine.
The design was suitable for driver-only operation which helped bus operators to relieve the problems of labour shortages and costs, and became one of the alternatives to the traditional British double-deck buses (operated by a driver and conductor, such as the London Routemaster
Routemaster
The AEC Routemaster is a model of double-decker bus that was built by Associated Equipment Company in 1954 and produced until 1968. Primarily front-engined, rear open-platform buses, a small number of variants were produced with doors and/or front entrances...
or Bristol Lodekka
Bristol Lodekka
The Bristol Lodekka was a low-height double-decker bus built by Bristol Commercial Vehicles in England.Bristol manufactured over 5,200 Lodekkas from 1949 to 1968, as a standard double-deck vehicle for the UK state-owned bus sector. With all examples bodied by Eastern Coach Works in Lowestoft, they...
), as British legislation prevented driver-only operation of double-deck buses until the late 1960s.
London
The largest fleet was operated by London TransportLondon Transport Board
The London Transport Board was the organisation responsible for public transport in London, UK, and its environs from 1963-1969. In common with all London transport authorities from 1933 to 2000, the public name and operational brand of the organisation was London Transport.-History:The...
and London Country, with over 1500 in total delivered between 1966 and 1972. Bodywork was supplied by Park Royal Vehicles
Park Royal Vehicles
Dating its origins back to 1889, Park Royal Vehicles along with its Leeds-based subsidiary Charles H. Roe was one of Britain's leading coachbuilders and bus manufacturers based at Park Royal, west London, UK.-Associated Commercial Vehicles:...
, Metro Cammell Weymann
Metro Cammell Weymann
Metro Cammell Weymann was once a major player in transportation manufacturing in the UK and Europe. It was formed in 1932 by Weymann Motor Bodies Ltd and Metro Cammell's bus bodybuilding division to produce bus bodies....
and Marshall of Cambridge, to basically the same design.
The fleet was made up of a number of variations. The Longer 36' versions were referred to as Merlins, and divided into MB (single or dual door), MBS (dual door), and MBA (dual door with turnstile payment for use on Red Arrow
Red Arrow (bus)
Red Arrow was branding given to two current and several former London bus limited stop routes used as high frequency commuter services in central London...
services) classes.
The shorter 33' versions were known as Swifts. There were three variants of this model upon delivery. In the central area SM (single door saloon) and SMS (dual door with automatic fare collection) classes were painted red. London Country operated green SM-class dual door, fully seated saloons that had been ordered by London Transport. Subsequently, London Transport converted a number of SMS vehicles to conventional one-man operated saloons by adding more seats and locking the centre exit out of use. These were renamed the SMD class, but retained their original fleet number.
Neither LT nor LCBS considered either design to be a success and the first examples were withdrawn and sold, many for scrap, in 1972, after just 4 years service. Most had been replaced by 1981 mainly by Leyland National
Leyland National
The Leyland National is a British single-deck bus built in large quantities between 1972 and 1985. It was developed as a joint project between two UK nationalised industries - the National Bus Company and British Leyland. Buses were constructed at a specially built factory at the Lillyhall...
s and MCW Metrobus
MCW Metrobus
The MCW Metrobus is a double decker bus model manufactured by MCW from 1977 until 1989, with over 4,000 examples built. The original MkI model was superseded by the MkII model in 1981/1982, although production of the original MkI continued for London Transport until 1985...
es.
Other operators in the UK
AEC Swifts were also sold to several other operators. Over 100 were sold to Leeds City Transport, transferring to West Yorkshire PTE on its formation in 1974. Birmingham City TransportBirmingham City Transport
Birmingham City Transport was a municipal organisation that operated the passenger transport network in Birmingham between 1937 and 1969.-History:Birmingham City Transport was created out of Birmingham Corporation Tramways...
and Sunderland Corporation took smaller numbers of Swifts.
Great Yarmouth Transport bought eight Swifts new in 1973; these continued in service until the late 1990s, and were the last Swifts to run in service with their original operator. Other customers included Blackpool Transport
Blackpool Transport
Blackpool Transport Services is a bus and tram operator running within the boroughs of Blackpool and Fylde and into the surrounding area, including Fleetwood, Lytham St Annes, Poulton le Fylde and Kirkham, Preston...
and St Helens Corporation. Three Swifts delivered to Morecambe Corporation in 1970 carried rare Northern Counties
Northern Counties
Northern Counties Motor and Engineering Company was a manufacturer of bus bodywork located in Wigan Lane, Wigan, in North West England.-Overview:...
bodywork.
Following withdrawal from service with their initial operators, many Swifts were sold on for further use. Staffordshire-based independent Knotty Bus ran a fleet of four Swifts between 1988 and 1995. A small number of former London Transport Swifts ran for a time with Hants & Sussex (now Emsworth & District) on services in south east Hampshire.
British Airways
British Airways
British Airways is the flag carrier airline of the United Kingdom, based in Waterside, near its main hub at London Heathrow Airport. British Airways is the largest airline in the UK based on fleet size, international flights and international destinations...
once owned an AEC Swift, with a special body that had an open platform at the front, which was designed for airside duties.
Sale abroad
AEC Swifts were also sold for the export market, and many were sold abroad after withdrawal. 65 Swifts with bodywork by local builder Bus Bodies were sold to South African operator Durban Transport in 1974. A number of AEC Swifts have been exported for use in Australia. Several former London Transport vehicles were sold to Maltese operators following withdrawal.177 Swifts and Merlins were bought by Northern Irish operator Citybus
Metro (Belfast)
Metro is the trading name for bus company Citybus in Belfast, Northern Ireland. It is a subsidiary of the Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company, within the common management structure of Translink, along with Ulsterbus and Northern Ireland Railways....
between 1977 and 1980 to replace buses destroyed during the Troubles
The Troubles
The Troubles was a period of ethno-political conflict in Northern Ireland which spilled over at various times into England, the Republic of Ireland, and mainland Europe. The duration of the Troubles is conventionally dated from the late 1960s and considered by many to have ended with the Belfast...
, although most were withdrawn after 1981. In early 1981 ten Swifts recently withdrawn by London Transport were exported to Italy to act as emergency control centres and shelters in the aftermath of the 1980 Irpinia earthquake
1980 Irpinia earthquake
The 1980 Irpinia earthquake took place in the Irpinia region in Southern Italy on Sunday, November 23, 1980. Measuring 6.89 on the Richter Scale, the quake, centered on the village of Conza, killed 2,914 people, injured more than 10,000 and left 300,000 homeless. It is known in Italy as Terremoto...
.