Produced: 1996 to date
Once Renault and Heuliez had placed the GX317 in production, Renault Véhicules Industriels could concentrate on producing an all-Renault version based on the same underframe. This emerged in 1996 and was named the Agora. The general shape of the Agora is rather similar to that of the GX317 and the R312 before it, although Renault did seize the opportunity to make the front of its new low floor bus look a bit more stylish than its predecessors. The front of the Agora is a little less upright than that of the GX317, which manages to make the bus look less boxy. The angles of the roof are also rather less severe than on the GX317.
CTAC, Caen
no. 452 (5662 WK 14) - September 1998
The Agora was launched in 1996 and was immediately successful. Caen 452 was
a 1997 delivery. Like many Agora operators, CTAC swapped over from the GX317 as
soon as the all-Renault product became available. Caen had been a pioneer of
low-floor bus operation in France, claiming the first low-floor buses in the
country. These were Setra S300NCs, a type which quickly became unpopular and
were swept away by French-built machinery.
CTRB,
Belfort no. G31 (2217 GJ 90) - September 2001
A typical three-door Agora from the nearside, Belfort G31 was photographed
at its home depot. CTRB now operate thirteen Agoras, alongside older Renault
products such as PR100.2s, R312s and PR112s.
Like the GX317, the Agora is available as a two- or three-door bus. The two-door version is available with two distinct layouts - the central exit may be situated in the third window bay (this is referred to as version V0) or half a bay farther back (version V2). RATP runs examples of both types.
As soon as the Agora went into production, Renault stopped selling their rebadged version of the Heuliez
GX317 (the Renault Heuliez Citybus), and shortly afterwards the R312 was also withdrawn from the range as low-floor buses gained more acceptance. The Agora has rapidly become a familiar sight in larger French towns. Interestingly, a number of operators which initially bought GX317s quickly switched to the all-Renault version once it became available.
TRAM,
Mulhouse no. 530 (1759 WK 68) - September 2001
An Agora from the back - again the Renault R312 influence is very clear.
Mulhouse 530 was a 1997 delivery.
TAM,
Montpellier no. 605 (8895 VY 34) - September 2000
Montpellier invested heavily in CNG-powered Agoras in early 2000 to coincide
with the opening of the city's new tramway and a major change in the route
network. While many of the Agoras entered service in TAM's new blue and silver
livery, others received a very smart red version of the same livery for use on a
new circular service around the city. This did not prove to be a success and
many of the red buses have now been repainted blue. 605 was one of the red
buses.
Cars Giraux,
Génicourt no. 190 (364 CHT 78) - October 2002
New Agoras are now entering service with Irisbus' dolphin emblem on the
front rather than the Renault diamond. For the moment, the buses are still
marketed as Irisbus Renault, however it seems likely that in time the Renault
name will disappear completely. This smart two-door Agora was photographed when
nearly new on a rather dull day in the Parisian suburb of Pontoise. It belongs
to Giraux, one of three operators contributing to the STiVO network of services
in the new town area of Cergy-Pontoise. All three operators (Giraux, Connex
Ecquevilly and Lacroix, Beauchamp) use this pale blue livery.