Category:MCW-Scania buses

English: In 1969 the Swedish company Scania-Vabis and the British company Metro-Cammell Weymann entered into a joint venture to build a new range of technically advanced buses. It involved engines and mechanical units being manufactured in Sweden, then transported to Britain to be incorporated with the vehicle's structural components and bodywork at MCW's Birmingham plant. The buses were to be for both the UK and certain overseas markets, but were specifically designed to qualify for the UK government subsidy for new buses of the time. The venture also gave MCW exclusivity for Scania buses in the UK. The venture only produced two models - the Metro-Scania (or MetroScania) single-decker, and the Metropolitan double-decker, both developed from the 110/111 series chassis. The single-decker came first, with demonstrators appearing in 1969 and the first production buses completed by 1970. Production of the single-decker only lasted until 1973 (plus 1 in 1974), designated BR111M/CR111M and BR111MH/CR111MH (the majority being BR111MH). The Metropolitan double-decker was developed from the single-decker, with a demonstrator appearing in 1973 and production beginning in 1974. Production of the Metropolitan ceased in 1978, and with no other buses developed the joint venture ended. It had produced around 800 buses, the majority (about 650) being the Metropolitan. Both companies continued in the UK market however, with MCW having launched its own integral double-decker, the MCW Metrobus, as a demonstrator by the end of 1977, and with Scania launching its next chassis range, the 112 series, in 1980, which was built upon by various UK bodybuilders in both single and double-deck versions. The Metropolitans were later to suffer from corrosion and not live up to their designed 13 year life span, with for example the Tyne & Wear PTE withdrawing its entire fleet of 105 Metropolitans delivered between 1975 and 1977, slated to be scrapped from 1985, although this was partly blamed by the PTE on the exceptionally high mileage achieved by the fleet - 50,000 miles each year compared to a national average of 32,000 miles.