A double-decker bus is being tested in Chanhassen, Chaska and Eden Prairie this week.
In Vegas, they call them “The Deuce,” said Len Simich, CEO of SouthWest Transit. In London, double-decker buses are a symbol of the city.

In the southwest suburbs, they haven’t been purchased yet.

It’s just a test drive, Simich pointed out, and it was scheduled to end today (Nov. 20). He saw the vehicle at a transit expo and the manufacturer, Alexander Dennis, (“the world’s leading manufacturer of double deck buses,” according to its Web site) offered to do the demonstration.
Simich said the double-decker bus could allow the transit system to add capacity without additional operating costs. SouthWest Transit’s standard vehicles seat from 40 to 57 riders. “This bus gives us the opportunity to increase that to 80 seats – [with] another 20 ‘standies’ very comfortably.”
The bus also gets slightly better gas mileage.

Upper level

The upper level has the feel of the interior of an airplane, said Len Simich of SouthWest Transit.

“This vehicle is the same vehicle you may have seen out in New York or Washington, D.C., or San Francisco,” he said, mainly for tour operations.

The buses originated in Great Britain and were built there, so they didn’t qualify for the “buy America” provision for transit systems that receive federal funds.

However, now the company is building buses in California, “and you’re going to start seeing them throughout the United States.”

Double decker stairs

Stairs leading to the second level

The vehicle is more expensive, costing about $200,000 more than a standard coach, Simich said. A standard coach costs about $550,000, he said. The double-decker costs $750,000.

So SouthWest Transit is doing a test drive, asking customers to fill out comment cards. Over the next two years, Simich expects that SouthWest Transit will be buying approximately 15 vehicles.
“We’re trying to get a good sense, does it make any sense to bring any of these in?” Simich said.
Driver Mike Cuff, who pulled the bus out of the garage for a photo, said it has a low center of gravity and driving it is similar to driving SouthWest Transit’s largest bus, which is actually wider. Cuff said the 14-foot-high bus doesn’t generally have problems with overpasses, though they’ll stay off Highway 100.

“They really like what they see,” he said of customers on the double-decker. He said they like the warmth and light of the upper level. He pointed out that there are four sections where riders can sit facing each other, which is convenient for families, he said. In addition, the bus offers easy access for people with disabilities, and two areas for wheelchairs.

Simich said it’s quiet on the upper level “and you get quite a view.
“When you’re sitting down it’s very nice, like an airline,” he said.

However, Simich said, “As you’re approaching underpasses and you’re on that upper level, you do flinch a little bit.”

The view

SouthWest Transit provides public transit service for Chanhassen, Chaska and Eden Prairie. For more information, visit www.swtransit.org.

There are two wheelchair areas on the bus.