Alexander Dennis Enviro200Dart

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The Alexander Dennis Enviro200Dart is a midibus manufactured by Alexander Dennis for the UK market as a successor to the Dart chassis and Pointer body.

1 Enviro 200/200H
2 A new product
3 External links
4 See also

[edit] Enviro 200/200H

An Enviro 200 on trial with London General

Originally unveiled at Coach & Bus 2003 as the Enviro 200 by Alexander Dennis' predecessor Transbus International, the vehicle was unique in that it had a door both at the front and at the rear of the bus, as such a layout is rare in the UK (most dual-door buses in the UK have a door at the front and another door around the centre of the bus). This was achieved by placing the engine vertically at the rear offside together with other driveline components, which also created a full low floor layout, common in buses on mainland Europe.

The innovative design meant that the Enviro 200 could hold up to 25% more passengers than a vehicle of equivalent dimensions (10.4m long, 2.4m wide), with a capacity of 77, both seated and standing.

The vehicle also incorporated an "Enviro Pack", intended to vent exhaust emissions, noise and heat away from ground level and thus alighting passengers.

Despite a demonstrator operating long term trials in London, no orders were received for the bus. The unconventional two-door layout and the collapse of Transbus International in 2004, and the subsequent restructuring of the company into Alexander Dennis, did little to help the marketing of such an unusual vehicle.

A diesel-electric hybrid was also offered in the form of the Enviro 200H with battery packs stored in the roof and looked certain to enter TfL trials, though the collapse of Transbus paved the way for the competing Wright Electrocity to win the order.

[edit] A new product

On 20 March 2006 Alexander Dennis announced the replacement for its best selling Pointer Dart range, to be known as the Enviro200Dart, with the vehicle being launched at a media event at the ADL factory in Guildford in August of that year. The bus is available in five lengths, ranging from 8.9m to 11.4m, and is offered with a choice of four or six-cylinder Cummins ISBe engines (including an option to meet Euro 4 environmental criteria) with a range of transmission options, and features new front and rear axles.

The vehicle retains the conventional rear-engined layout of the Dart and offers the same seating capacity of the Pointer, but with more 'fixed' seats rather than 'tip up' for each length. The vehicle features integrated chassis and body multiplexing, and seats will be cantilevered.

Externally, the bus features the same front panel as the double deck Enviro 400, projecting a 'family look' onto the two models. The Enviro200Dart chassis is also available with East Lancs and MCV bodywork.

60 confirmed vehicles were ordered at the vehicle's launch, with options for up to 50 more being declared. The first Enviro200Dart entered service in August 2006 with Leigh based Jim Stones Coaches, and is a single 10.7m version of the model. The first in the London area were two 8.9m variants, operated by Sunray Travel on the 516 route from September 2006, Chart Downs - Dorking - Box Hill - Letherhead - Woodbridge - Epsom, newly won from Surrey Connect.