Optare Sigma

The Optare Sigma was a step-entrance single-deck bus body that Optare built between 1994 and 1996 exclusively on the Dennis Lance chassis. It was launched in April 1994 as part of an effort to build bodies for a wider range of chassis after the collapse of the United Bus manufacturing group. The body used the same Alusuisse bolted aluminium frame as the Vecta midibus body and looked like a longer version of it. Far fewer Sigmas were made than Vectas, and only three operators bought them in large batches: Brighton and Hove took 20 in 1996, Trent Buses 17 in 1995 and Gateshead and District 14 in 1994. It was replaced by the low-floor Optare Excel.