Leyland Lynx

This article is about the passenger vehicle. For the goods vehicle, see Leyland Lynx (lorry).

A Leyland Lynx, G209 EOG, new to West Midlands Travel but pictured as Tanat Valley fleetnumber 269.

Ulsterbus Leyland Lynx 3011 with Alexander (Belfast) N-Type bodywork.

A Leyland Lynx II operated by Cardiff Bus having undergone an extensive rebuild, reflooring and repanelling in 2002.

The Leyland Lynx is a single-decker bus built by Leyland between 1984 and 1992. It was designed to replace the aging Leyland National.

The type saw service all over the UK, with the largest fleet being based in the West Midlands, owned by West Midlands Travel (now National Express West Midlands), however the final three were withdrawn from normal passenger use in March 2009, with 10 now remaining in the driver training fleet.

Production vehicles began to enter service in 1986. From 1990 to 1992 the updated Lynx II version was produced. It could be recognised easily by its protruding front dash/grille panel, which on the original design was flat. The last two Lynxes entered service with Halton Transport (Widnes) in 1992 and are still going strong mainly used on services to halebank such as the 12, 38 and 40. it can also be seen in route 27 to farnworth.

Although the large majority of Lynxes carried the Leyland body, seven underframes were bodied by Alexander with N-type bodywork for Citybus (Belfast), including the first prototype. A small number of other underframes for export were bodied by other coachbuilders, including an Alexander PS type for Singapore Bus Service and 2 PMC Metro 90 (Galvastress MKV) bodied ones for Sydney, Australia.

Following the takeover of Leyland by Volvo, the Lynx was superseded by the Volvo B10B. Total production of Lynxes was approximately 1060 vehicles, including six prototypes (one of which was not bodied) and several development vehicles. About 140 of the total were Lynx II.

The last production Leyland Lynx is owned by Halton Transport in Widnes. It is registered K853 MTJ, 57, this is the last ever Leyland Lynx to roll off the production line. Halton Transport also still operate a small number of Lynx's although all used on school contracts. Pictures of this bus can be found here www.geocities.com/haltontransportphotos/lastlynx

Preservation

Several Mk1 and Mk2 Lynxes have now gone into preservation, with some requiring extensive rebuilds to bring them back to original condition due to body corrosion, as well as reversing modifications made by companies during their history. One such example is the removal of all of the patterned body skirts, combined with the replacement of the square wheel arches with non-patterned round ones. Both of these modifications were made to make it easier to replace such parts in the event of an accident.