METRO Magazine Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Optare Rolls Out Alero, Small Bus Targeted at Growing U.K. Disabilities, Smaller City Markets

The Optare Group unveiled its new Alero small bus.

September 14, 2000
3 min to read


The Optare Group unveiled its new Alero small bus at a special launch ceremony held at the NEC in Birmingham, U.K. last month. The bus was specifically designed for rural and community market segments, particularly for dial-a-ride services, which are expected to grow rapidly in the wake of Britain’s new disability rights legislation. Principal features of the Alero include:

  • 16-passenger capability, in any combination of seats and wheelchairs, plus driver and courier

  • Ultra-low floor height, with an entry step height when kneeling of just 180 mm (7 in.)

  • Roll-on wheelchair access via on-board ramps

  • Fully programmed air-conditioned, electronic climate control

  • Excellent ride and handling

  • Safety features including rollover protection, ABS brakes and seat belts

  • One-piece color-impregnated composite body for long life and more attractive, “MPV-like” styling

  • Heavy-duty drivetrain including 122 hp, 2.8 liter Iveco 4-cylinder turbo diesel engine meeting Euro 3 emissions standards; ZF 6-speed manual gearbox (with automatic available as an option); Albion/RVI rear-drive axle; Meritor beam front axle with medium-duty independent front suspension; front and rear disc brakes; and full air suspension. “The Alero truly is a revolutionary product; revolutionary in its choice of components and materials and in its packaging of them to offer an ultra low floor bus at an affordable price,” said Russell Richardson, managing director of the Optare Group, at the launch ceremony. “It will revolutionize transport and mobility for some of the most disadvantaged passengers in our society, and it will carry the Optare Group a significant step further along the road to producing 1,000 vehicles a year.” Optare is now owned by North American Bus Industries Inc., of Anniston, Ala. Richardson said he began looking at a new model targeted at these markets as soon as it became apparent that the U.K. government would enact the Disability Discrimination Act. This law will accelerate the replacement rates for buses and coaches in the U.K. and in particular create a demand for low-floor midibuses that can accommodate wheelchairs, he added. Although other manufacturers are said to be developing smaller buses targeted at these segments, Alero appears to be the first such model. Optare will offer Alero in four different model variants, ranging from a simple seat layout in Model 1, to longer-distance local/rural service configuration (Model 2), dial-a-ride configuration (Model 3) to higher-ended product aimed at the transfer coach market (Model 4). Price has been set at between £50,000 and £55,000 (US $85,000-$94,000), depending upon customer specifications. The 7.2m (24 ft) long Alero has a gross vehicle weight of 6.1 tons. Following completion of a comprehensive prototype test program at the Millbrook (U.K.) proving ground, Optare says that pilot production should begin this winter, with full production out of the company’s Rotherham plant in the first half of 2001.

Topics:Management

More Management

A New Flyer 60-foot articulated bus
Busby StaffMay 29, 2026

WMATA Debuts 'Fares Pay for Service' Awareness Campaign

The campaign was highlighted during a media event at the Paul S. Sarbanes Transit Center in Silver Spring, where WMATA’s GM/CEO Randy Clarke joined Metro Transit Police officers, WMATA management team, board members, and staff to expand fare enforcement and customer education efforts on Metro Bus routes throughout the region.

Read More →
ManagementMay 29, 2026

Managing Complexity: HDR’s Brian Buchanan on Delivering Major Transit Programs

HDR’s transit program management lead discusses the challenges of overseeing large capital projects, adapting to cost and supply chain pressures, and the capabilities agencies need to build for the future.

Read More →
Managementby StaffMay 29, 2026

Seattle’s Sound Transit Adopts Updated ST3 System Plan

The updated system plan incorporates cost savings across the agency, including new revenue sources and financial policies, to set the agency on a sustainable path for the future.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Managementby StaffMay 29, 2026

Audit Finds Regional Coordination Across California's East Bay Transit Agencies

The State Auditor further concluded that while collaboration among transit agencies is functioning, the Bay Area’s public transportation systems face mounting structural fiscal pressures that threaten future service levels if sustainable funding solutions are not secured.

Read More →
Biz Briefs for May 29, 2026

Biz Briefs: Foothill Gold Line Award, Matawan Contract, and More

From strategic partnerships to acquisitions and service expansions, the industry continues to evolve at a rapid pace. Find out all the latest here.

Read More →
An EMBARK bus going down the street.
Managementby Alex RomanMay 28, 2026

Inside Look: EMBARK Expands Fare-Free Transit Program Through New Public-Private Partnership

The OKC transit agency says sponsorship helps subsidize the Third Friday Free initiative while reducing barriers for first-time riders and boosting ridership across buses, streetcars, and river cruises.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A green TriMet FX bus at a bus stop.

Oregon's TriMet Adopts Major Budget Cuts to Address Financial Shortfall

The board adopted the agency’s fiscal year 2027 budget, approving approximately $64.5 million in spending reductions, including about $53 million in administrative cuts and roughly $11 million in service reductions.

Read More →
A blue OCTA transit bus at a bus stop.
Technologyby StaffMay 28, 2026

OCTA Sees Growing Adoption of Wave Fare Payment System

Since launching in October 2025, the Wave system has steadily replaced previous fare media with faster, more flexible payment options designed to streamline boarding, improve reliability, and help riders more easily access fare discounts and cost-saving benefits, said OCTA

Read More →
Managementby StaffMay 27, 2026

North Carolina's Metropolitan Transit Commission Concludes Decades of Leadership

To commemorate the occasion, current members of the MTC were presented with a custom painting of the Charlotte Transportation Center in Uptown.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
CTAA award presented to Mountain Line
Managementby StaffMay 27, 2026

Montana's Mountain Line Named Nation’s Best Transit System by CTAA

The award was presented to Mountain Line representatives at the CTAA Expo in mid-May, with bus operator Bryan Ursery, who has worked at Mountain Line for more than two decades, accepting the award on the agency's behalf.

Read More →