Optare Prisma

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title: "Optare Prisma" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["full-size-buses", "switch-mobility-buses", "single-deck-buses", "step-entrance-buses", "vehicles-introduced-in-1995", "vehicles-discontinued-in-1998"] description: "Single-deck bus body on Mercedes-Benz O405 chassis" topic_path: "general/full-size-buses" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optare_Prisma" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Single-deck bus body on Mercedes-Benz O405 chassis ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox automobile"]

Field	Value
name	Optare Prisma
image	Optare Prisma 1.jpg
caption	First Manchester Optare Prisma bodied Mercedes-Benz O405 at Eccles Interchange in December 2007
manufacturer	Optare
assembly	Cross Gates, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England
production	1995–1998
capacity	49–54 seated, 23 standing
length	11.6 m
width	2.5 m
height	3.1 m
floortype	Step entrance
doors	1
chassis	Mercedes-Benz O405
::

|name = Optare Prisma |image = Optare Prisma 1.jpg |caption = First Manchester Optare Prisma bodied Mercedes-Benz O405 at Eccles Interchange in December 2007 |manufacturer = Optare |assembly = Cross Gates, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England |production = 1995–1998 |capacity = 49–54 seated, 23 standing |length = 11.6 m |width = 2.5 m |height = 3.1 m |floortype = Step entrance |doors = 1 |weight = |chassis = Mercedes-Benz O405}} The Optare Prisma was a single-decker bus body that was fitted to the Mercedes-Benz O405 chassis, produced between 1995 and 1998, when it was discontinued in favour of the integral Optare Excel low-floor bus.

Design

The Optare Prisma body was constructed on the O405 chassis with an OM447H 157 kW engine, and was built with Alusuisse aluminium framework, retaining a Mercedes-Benz built front cowl and destination display as standard. The sides and back end of the body, however, followed the styling of other Optare products at that time, such as the Delta and Vecta. The Prisma was also designed with the ability to have equipment for use on a guided busway fitted, with a demonstrator operated by Stagecoach Busways in 1996 being fitted with an AEG electronic guidance system.

Capable of seating up to 54 passengers, to meet Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee (DiPTAC) accessibility recommendations, the Prisma has a 320 mm step at the entrance door, capable of being reduced to 240 mm with a kneeling front air suspension. The passenger compartment could be optioned with three further low steps towards the rear of the bus or a ramped floor towards the rear. Gasket-glazed tinted side windows were fitted as standard.

Operators

The most popular operator of Optare Prismas was the GRT Group, who took delivery of a total of 35 Prismas for its main Grampian Regional Transport subsidiary between 1995 and 1997, the first ten of which were equipped with double-glazed windows and air conditioning, as well as ten for its SMT "Diamond" services in Edinburgh, and ten for the Leicester Citybus subsidiary. After the company had rebranded to FirstBus, subsidiaries First Midland Bluebird and Lowland took further deliveries of Prismas.

Another large operator was North East Bus subsidiary Tees & District, who took delivery of 25 Prismas in late 1995, followed by East Yorkshire Motor Services, who took delivery of 16 Prismas between 1996 and 1998; three delivered to the operator from stock in 1998 were the last Optare Primsas produced. Smaller operators of Prismas included Sargeants of Kingston upon Thames, the first new full-size bus delivered to the company since World War II, Black Prince Buses of Morley, the Tillingbourne Bus Company of Cranleigh, MacEwan of Dumfries, and Rhondda Buses.

References

References

1. Millier, Noel. (30 March 1995). "Merc underframed Prisma". Reed Business Publishing.
2. Jones, Stuart. (17 March 1995). "Prisma: New joint venture city bus from Optare and Mercedes Benz".
3. Morgan, Mike. (17 June 1995). "Drive by wire". Emap.
4. Williams, Mark. (13 January 1996). "End of the line for FirstBus' air-con". Emap.
5. (16 December 1995). "SMT running 10 Prismas". Emap.
6. (15 February 1997). "New engine in O405". Emap.
7. (27 July 1996). "First single deckers of '96". Emap.
8. Brown, Stewart J.. (Winter 2001–2002). "EYMS Group - Traditional values". Ian Allan Publishing.
9. Aldrige, John. (February 1999). "Buses Profile: East Yorkshire Motor Services". Ian Allan Publishing.
10. (1 July 1995). "First new full-size vehicles since war". Emap.
11. (30 March 1996). "Black Prince goes for quality". Emap.
12. (7 November 1997). "Tillingbourne Prismas". Glen-Holland Ltd.

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::