Alexander Dennis Order

[Tog]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-s ... s-12163081

'The Falkirk bus maker Alexander Dennis has won a £25m order to supply 120 vehicles to New Zealand. The buses will be built in Falkirk and sent in kit form to New Zealand where they will be assembled by a partner company. Alexander Dennis described the contract as a "major breakthrough" and said the order could well treble in size. The order is for the company's best-selling single-deck Enviro200 midi buses. The first will be delivered next summer, while the rest will be progressively introduced over the following 12 months. Alexander Dennis which employs 2,000 people in the UK, 1,000 of them in Falkirk, beat competition from nearly 30 other manufacturers to win the order. Colin Robertson, chief executive of Alexander Dennis said: "In truth, this is much more than just an important contract. "It is the start of a significant business relationship that has the potential to see us deliver a further 200 - 300 buses into New Zealand in the next three to four years - and to use the location as a springboard into other territories, notably Australia."'

Who is the 'partner company'? Kiwi? And who is ordering them? NZ Bus?

[Vitalstatistix]

Thank you for posting this link. The coming year will look very interesting indeed.

[The King]

It could possibly be NZ Bus

NZ Bus is preparing to undertake a major fleet upgrade once it has the certainty of business continuity the contracts will afford.

From http://www.infratil.com/media/Email/inf ... er2010.htm

[Tog]

http://www.busandcoach.com/newspage.asp ... tegoryid=0

'Alexander Dennis has won a major export order to New Zealand for its Enviro200 midibus with 120 vehicles to be delivered over the next 15 months to NZ Bus. The £25million order is a significant win for the UK’s largest bus builder and gives it a platform for further growth in the region.
The 120 buses will be assembled by North Island-based Kiwi Bus Builders from kits suppled by ADL. Kiwi is preparing a new manufacturing facility to handle the order and ADL says that it will aim to progressively increase the proportion of parts sourced locally.
The 120 Enviro200s will be two-door, air-conditioned 11.3m buses capable of carrying 55 passengers (37 seated and 18 standees). They will be powered by Euro 5 Cummins ISBe six-cylinder engines with Allison T280R transmissions.
ADL chief executive Colin Robertson says: “This is much more than just an important contract. It is the start of a significant business relationship that has the potential to see us deliver a further 200 - 300 buses into New Zealand in the next three to four years – and to use the location as a spring-board into other territories, notably Australia.
“Our aim is not simply to supply buses to New Zealand but to become an active player in the country’s manufacturing sector. Just as we have done in North America and Hong Kong, we intend to form local alliances that will create jobs and stimulate the economy.”
ADL won the contract against competition from manufacturers in New Zealand, Australia, China, Brazil and Europe. Bruce Emson, CEO of NZ Bus says that 38 different product options were evaluated during the tender process.
“This is the single biggest investment made by our business since it was acquired by Infratil in 2005,” says Emson. “It also forms part of our long-range vision to create an unrivalled bus transport system that can be the envy of the world.”
NZ Bus is the country’s largest public transport operator and runs more than 1,000 buses in the Auckland and Wellington regions, employing around 2,000 people. The company was formerly owned by Stagecoach until its sale to Intraftil in November 2005 for £100million.'

[stadt80]

Article from Stuff.co.nz -

http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industr ... t-UK-buses

[ka9102]

they will be replcing the nissans? why midibuses?

[Volvo Super Olympian]

http://www.heraldscotland.com/business/ ... -1.1079396

[Vitalstatistix]

they will be replcing the nissans? why midibuses?

I think it would be an ideal replacement considering the Enviro 200 carries 55 passengers.

[Ribble]

Those

[CB80]

Enjoy your 120 Dennis Darts.

[Vitalstatistix]

Enjoy your 120 Dennis Darts.

I know I will . Unlike BCI or any of those other integral buses from China these will be assembled in New Zealand, supporting local business

[ka9102]

They will be powered by Euro 5 Cummins ISBe six-cylinder engines with Allison T280R transmissions

British made BCI then...

[flyer682]

Enjoy your 120 Dennis Darts.

I know I will .

Have you ever driven one??

[Vitalstatistix]

Have you?

I would like to see how passenger friendly these new buses will be.

[CB80]

They will be powered by Euro 5 Cummins ISBe six-cylinder engines with Allison T280R transmissions

British made BCI then...

Dennis Darts were using a similar drivetrain long before BCI existed.

[flyer682]

Have you?

Yes, I have.
These new ones seems as though they may have a new set up, so might be a bit better.

[Mr OC Benz]

Judging by how they go in UK they might be alright here providing they get the support...

[Vitalstatistix]

Judging by how they go in UK they might be alright here providing they get the support...

After market support would be logical when ordering something like 120 new buses

[PushOnce]

They noisiest buses I've ever seen on the road are those big Dennis coaches (with the possible occasional exception of a screeching, high-rev Nissan and a clattery old SL202!). I hope they've made some advances in recent years?

[Vitalstatistix]

They noisiest buses I've ever seen on the road are those big Dennis coaches (with the possible occasional exception of a screeching, high-rev Nissan and a clattery old SL202!). I hope they've made some advances in recent years?

Are you refering to the Dennis Javelins with Ritchies on InterCity services?

[PushOnce]

Are you refering to the Dennis Javelins with Ritchies on InterCity services?

I'm no expert on coaches, I'm afraid! But I've often been struck, when noticing a noisy coach, that it's usually a Dennis. Sorry I can't be more specific!

[Ribble]

There

[wyth]

Is it possible to see a bus in the livery the new Enviro 200's are destined for?? Hong Kongs KMB have some new ones, Bus Eireann in the Republic of Ireland has 19 short and 4 long enviro 200's, Im a big fan of them, they are light, great fuel consumption, nippy, fantastic turning circle (did any readers ever get caught out trying to turn a minibus), Im sure you will love your new Enviro's. Looking forward to seeing them.

[Petenz]

First one won't be ready until the end of May by all reports - possibly be in a variety of NZBus liveries.

[wyth]

Thanks for that, meant to say, the drivers seat in Bus Eireanns are lovely!! We have that solid seat sitting on a pole, very bad for your back. But new buses as and from 2007 onwards are fitted with the suspension seat, drivers spend 7 to 8 or more hours in the seat so it makes sense to have a decent seat. Passengers are only on buses for short periods of time but drivers are on it for a full day.