Produced: 1985 - 1994
The restylé versions of the PR100 range were produced for less than two years before the mark 2 version was introduced in September 1985.
Transpole,
Lille no. 4914 (2538 PG 59) - May 2000
Smartly painted in Transpole's understated colour scheme, this 1985-built
bus was caught taking on passengers in Roubaix in 2000. Having served Lille and
its surroundings faithfully for some seventeen years, Transpole now retain only
a few PR100.2s in service, most having been ousted by a large batch of new Agora
GNVs.
CFC, Cambrai
no. 74 (2184 YE 59) - May 2000
PR100.2s still make sound second-hand buys for small fleets looking for
uncomplicated buses for urban and suburban work. This 1987-built bus began life
in Grenoble, but joined the small SITAC Bus fleet for services in Cambrai in 1997. Note the full
length glass panels in the doors - the most reliable way of telling a PR100.2
from a PR100R.
The PR100.2 and PR180.2 had revised engines to meet new emissions regulations. The opportunity was also taken to make a few more cosmetic changes to the bus, over and above what had been done back in 1983. The glass panels in the doors were enlarged so that they now extended right down to floor level. Also, the plastic rubbing strip on the side of the bus was replaced by a deeper one, and the rear bumper now had plastic sections at either end to protect the rear light clusters. The new buses also carried PR100.2 or PR180.2 transfers on the bodyside, where the restyled buses had carried the old-style PR100 or PR180 logos. Otherwise the buses looked much the same as their PR100R / PR180R predecessors.
TRAM,
Mulhouse no. 431 (92 TN 68) - September 2001
From the back, mk. IIs look much the same as previous members of the PR100
series, apart from the rear bumper which was modified to include plastic
surrounds to protect the rear light clusters. TRAM 431 was new in 1989, part of
a 55 strong fleet of PR100.2s delivered between 1987 and 1990.
The mark 2 PR100 range was extremely successful, remaining in production for around nine years. Despite the introduction of the R312 in 1987, the PR100.2 and PR180.2 remained in production and continued to sell well. The lack of an articulated version of the R312 secured the PR180.2's place in the Renault range, and in any case the simpler mechanics of the trusty PR100 series made it cheaper to buy, operate and maintain.
Almost 2700 PR100.2s were produced between 1985 and 1994, along with around 1200 PR180.2s. They are still a common sight across France, working for large and small operators alike on bus services. However, as low-floor buses sweep the country, the bigger, more affluent city fleets are withdrawing PR100-series buses in favour of newer, more accessible machines. Like earlier members of the PR100 family, mark 2s are prime candidates for refurbishment with Safra front ends to make them resemble the later PR112 and PR118 machines.
SEMTAO, Orléans no. 264
(9427 TB 45) - August 2000
Orléans had some of the earliest PR180s when the type was first introduced
in 1981,and followed these with a fleet of PR180.2s. 264 was new in 1988 and was
photographed laying over at the Les Aubrais end of the busy route to La Source.
This route has since been replaced by a tramway.
CGFTE, Nancy no. 448 (8606
XR 54) - August 2000
The Nancy fleet contains a wide variety of types of bus, and also includes a
good few judicious second-hand buys. 448 is one of them. New in 1990 to RATP, it
left the capital at the age of just eight years for a new life to the east.