Dennis Dart

Last updated

Dennis Dart
Thames Travel KU52 RXF front (Cropped).jpg
Thames Travel Plaxton Pointer 2 bodied Dennis Dart MPD
Overview
Manufacturer
Production1989–2008
Body and chassis
Doors1 or 2
Floor type
Powertrain
Engine
Capacity23−44 seated
Transmission
Dimensions
Length
  • Dart:
  • 8.5 m (28 ft)
  • 9.0 m (29.5 ft)
  • 9.8 m (32 ft)
  • Dart SLF:
  • 8.8 m (29 ft)
  • 9.2 m (30 ft)
  • 9.3 m (31 ft)
  • 10.0 m (32.8 ft)
  • 10.1 m (33 ft)
  • 10.6 m (35 ft)
  • 10.7 m (35 ft)
  • 11.3 m (37 ft)
Width
  • 2.3 m (7 ft 7 in)
  • 2.4 m (7 ft 10 in)
  • 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in)
Height2.7 m (8 ft 10 in)
Chronology
Predecessor
Successor Alexander Dennis Enviro200

The Dennis Dart is a rear-engined single-decker midibus chassis that was introduced by Dennis of Guildford, England, in 1989, replacing the Dennis Domino. Initially built as a high-floor design, in 1996 the low-floor second generation Dennis Dart SLF was launched. In 2001, production of the Dart SLF passed to TransBus International, during which time it was sold as the TransBus Dart SLF; Alexander Dennis took over production in 2004, renaming the product as the Alexander Dennis Dart SLF.

Contents

More than 12,600 Darts were produced in total during a 19-year production run. Most were purchased by United Kingdom operators, although examples were sold in Europe, North America, Australia and Hong Kong. In the United States, the Dart SLF, with Alexander ALX200 bodywork, was built and sold by Thomas Built Buses as the Thomas SLF 200.

The first generation Dart ceased production in 1998. Production of the Dart SLF continued until 2008, when it was replaced by the Alexander Dennis Enviro200.

First generation (high-floor)

Arriva North West & Wales early (1989) Duple Dartline bodied Dennis Dart in Crewe DennisDartDupleDartlineBusG123RGT (cropped).jpg
Arriva North West & Wales early (1989) Duple Dartline bodied Dennis Dart in Crewe

The Dennis Dart was conceived when Hestair Group (owner of Dennis and Duple) decided to produce a bus between a minibus and a full-sized single-decker.

It was launched in October 1988 at the British International Motor Show and was originally only available with Duple Dartline bodywork. [1] It was 2.3 m (7 ft 7 in) wide and was initially available in the length of 9.0 m (29.5 ft), but later available in lengths of 8.5 m (28 ft) and 9.8 m (32 ft). It was powered by a Cummins 6BT engine and coupled to the Allison AT545 gearbox. [2] [3] [4]

In 1989, the Dart chassis was made available for bodying by other manufacturers. [5] In 1990, Wadham Stringer became the next builder to body the Dart with a body called the Portsdown, but it was sold in small numbers and replaced by the UVG Urbanstar in 1995. [6] In the same year, Wright bodied the Dart with the Handybus. [7] In early 1991, Plaxton launched the Pointer (which was initially designated as Reeve Burgess Pointer as it was built at Reeve Burgess's plant, until later in the same year when it was transferred to Plaxton's Scarborough plant). [8] Later in 1991, East Lancs bodied the Dart with its EL2000. [9] In the latter half of 1991, Alexander launched the Dash.

As the low-floor single-decker buses became more popular in late 1990s, orders for standard-floor Dart dropped heavily and production ceased in 1998. Over 3,400 first generation Darts were produced. [4] [10]

Alternative fuels

Dennis Dart 9SDL Carlyle Ecobus Ecobus.jpg
Dennis Dart 9SDL Carlyle Ecobus

In 1993, Southampton Citybus adapted six Dart 9SDL Carlyle bodied buses to use compressed natural gas, the cylinders being mounted in a pod on the roof. In 1996 a further 10 adapted vehicles were ordered. [11] At the time of the delivery of the Darts, Southampton Citybus were the largest operator of gas-powered vehicles in the United Kingdom. [12] They were fitted with an engine developed in the United States by Cummins and Westport. [13]

First Cityline in Bristol trialled a pair of Plaxton Pointer bodied Dart MPDs in 1996, which were powered by six CNG canisters mounted on their roofs. These buses were branded by First as 'GasBus'. [14]

Second generation (Dart SLF)

Arriva Guildford & West Surrey Plaxton Pointer 1 bodied Dennis Dart SLF in 2009 Arriva Guildford & West Surrey 3091 P291 FPK.JPG
Arriva Guildford & West Surrey Plaxton Pointer 1 bodied Dennis Dart SLF in 2009

In 1996, Dennis launched a low-floor version of the Dart known as the Dart SLF, with the letters SLF standing for Super Low Floor in reference to the new low-floor design. [4] [10] [15] It was 2.4 m (7 ft 10 in) wide and initially offered in lengths of 10 m (33 ft) and 10.6 m (35 ft), with air suspension introduced in place of the taper leaf used in the original design.

First Somerset & Avon East Lancs Spryte bodied Dennis Dart SLF in Bath in 2013 S824 WYD 42824 East Lancs Spryte- Dennis Dart (8528234001).jpg
First Somerset & Avon East Lancs Spryte bodied Dennis Dart SLF in Bath in 2013

It was initially offered with the low floor version of the Pointer bodywork (which was notable for being wider), replaced by the updated Pointer 2 in 1997. It was also offered with a wide variety of bodies, namely the East Lancs Spryte, UVG Urbanstar (later renamed as the Caetano Compass; replaced by the Nimbus in 1999), the Wright Crusader, Alexander ALX200 (discontinued in 2001 with the formation of TransBus International and being replaced by the Pointer 2), Marshall Capital (developed from the C37; later built by MCV), Caetano Nimbus and MCV Evolution (since 2005 - a further evolution of the Marshall bodywork).

With the move to Euro III emissions in October 2001, the new Cummins ISBe engine was launched, with the four-cylinder 3.9-litre (240-cubic-inch)-litre model being used in all lengths except the 11.3 m (37 ft) version, which uses the more powerful six-cylinder, 5.9 L (360 cu in) version. The Cummins ISBe Euro IV engine became available on the Dart SLF chassis since late 2006. In 2007, the Dennis Dart SLF was superseded by the Alexander Dennis Enviro200. [16] Over 9,100 low floor Darts were built, the last entering service with Park Island Transport in March 2008. [17]

Dart SPD

Hedingham & Chambers Plaxton Pointer 2 bodied Alexander Dennis Dart SPD in 2016 Hedingham Omnibuses bus L351 Dennis Dart Plaxton Pointer EU56 FLM (1).jpg
Hedingham & Chambers Plaxton Pointer 2 bodied Alexander Dennis Dart SPD in 2016

In 1997, the Dart SPD (short for Super Pointer Dart) was launched with a length of 11.3 m (about the same length as a long Leyland National), typically seating 40 to 44 passengers. [15] The Dart SPD was launched to compete with full-size buses such as the Volvo B10BLE and Scania L94UB, while retaining the more lightweight construction of the basic Dart SLF. The Dart SPD has a more powerful engine and a more heavy duty Allison World Series B300R gearbox than the Dart SLF, but also with an option of a Voith gearbox. Originally offered only with Plaxton Pointer 2 bodywork (hence the 'P' in the name), this larger bus was later offered with other bodywork such as the East Lancs Myllennium, the Alexander ALX200 with a few bodied by Marshall.

Dart MPD

Bluebird Bus & Coach Plaxton Pointer 2 bodied Alexander Dennis Dart MPD in 2008 Bluebird Bus & Coach bus 21 (MX56 HYR), 25 July 2008 (cropped).jpg
Bluebird Bus & Coach Plaxton Pointer 2 bodied Alexander Dennis Dart MPD in 2008

In 1998, the Dart MPD (short for Mini Pointer Dart) was launched. At 8.8 m (29 ft) long, the Dart MPD was a model reminiscent of the original 8.5 m (28 ft) Darts; it was launched to compete with newly emerging shorter midibuses such as the Optare Solo. The Dart MPD typically seated 23 to 29 passengers, and was available in both provincial and London specifications. As with the Dart SPD, the MPD was launched initially with only the Plaxton Pointer 2 bodywork, although other bodies became available later on.

Narrow width Dart SLF

Caetano Slimbus bodied narrow width Dart SLF in 2018 20180309-M-travel-AE54HYU (cropped).jpg
Caetano Slimbus bodied narrow width Dart SLF in 2018

In 2002, TransBus launched a narrower-width variant of the Dart SLF at the request of bus operators in the Channel Islands of Guernsey and then Jersey, who replaced the majority of their fleets with slightly narrower Darts designed to comply with the islands' vehicle size restrictions, sporting adapted versions of existing East Lancs Myllennium and Caetano Nimbus bodies respectively. Further examples have since joined them and small numbers of similar buses have entered service with other operators around the UK. Gibraltar also has a fleet of these narrower buses. The last ones entered service in summer 2007 in Gibraltar.

Thomas SLF 200

In 1998, a joint venture was formed between Dennis and Thomas Built Buses to build the Dennis Dart SLF with Alexander ALX200 bodywork for the North American market. Initially sold as the Thomas SLF 200, following a restructure by parent company Daimler Truck North America, it was sold as the DaimlerChrysler SLF 200. [13] [18] [19]

It was launched at the American Public Transportation Association Expo 1999. Initially built with a Cummins engine, it was later sold with a Mercedes-Benz engine. After sales failed to line up to expectations, the joint venture was dissolved in 2003. [13]

Exports

ACTION Wright Crusader bodied Dennis Dart SLF in Canberra in 2009 ACTION - BUS 138 - Wright 'Crusader' bodied Dennis Dart SLF.jpg
ACTION Wright Crusader bodied Dennis Dart SLF in Canberra in 2009

Although primarily sold in the United Kingdom, some were sold overseas:

Australia

In Australia, ACTION of Canberra took delivery of 25 Wright Crusader bodied Dennis Dart SLFs in 1997, [20] [21] [22] Brisbane Bus Lines (3), [23] Invicta Bus Services (27), [24] [25] TransAdelaide (2) [26] and Transperth (2) [27] purchased Darts.

Canada

In British Columbia, BC Transit took delivery of 90 Dart SLFs with Plaxton Pointer 2 bodies from 1999 to 2001 for services in the resort municipality of Whistler and its other transit system companies in the province. [13]

Hong Kong & Macau

Park Island Transport Plaxton Pointer 2 bodied TransBus Dart SLF in Kwai Fong in 2015 LL3004 PITCL NR332 16-09-2015.jpg
Park Island Transport Plaxton Pointer 2 bodied TransBus Dart SLF in Kwai Fong in 2015

In Hong Kong, Citybus, Kowloon Motor Bus, New Lantao Bus, New World First Bus and Park Island Transport purchased Darts. Some of Citybus vehicles were repatriated back to England by parent Stagecoach Group for use at its Devon and Hampshire subsidiaries. [28] [29]

In Macau, Transmac took delivery of ten dual-door and air-conditioned Pointer-bodied Darts in January 1996. [30]

Malta

Four Dennis Dart SLFs with Eaton six-speed manual transmissions were delivered to Paramount Garage of Malta in 1997. The first two Darts were delivered with a 10.6 metres (35 ft) East Lancs Spryte body equipped with large hopper windows and electronically-operated sun visors, while the remaining two were later delivered with Plaxton Pointer bodies. [31] [32]

A Transbus Dart SLF built with Neobus bodywork was delivered to Malta in 2002 by Gasan Transport Systems Ltd and presented to members of the Maltese Public Transport Association. [33] A second demonstrator was built by Transbus but was not exported to Malta, later entering service in the United Kingdom with Flimwell independent operator Hams Travel.

Netherlands

Arriva Netherlands purchased 50 Darts with Alexander ALX200 bodies. [10]

Portugal

Stagecoach Group had 10 Dart SLFs bodied locally in 1999 for its Portuguese subsidiary in Lisbon. [17]

Singapore

In Singapore, Singapore Bus Service purchased 10 Duple Metsec bodied Darts in 1994 for smaller routes (M1, M2, M4 and 183).[ citation needed ]

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dennis Specialist Vehicles</span> Manufacturer

Dennis Specialist Vehicles was an English manufacturer of commercial vehicles based in Guildford, building buses, fire engines, lorries (trucks) and municipal vehicles such as dustcarts. All vehicles were made to order to the customer's requirements and more strongly built than mass production equivalents. For most of the 20th century the Dennis company was Guildford's main employer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alexander ALX200</span> Single-decker bus body

The Alexander ALX200 was a single-decker bus body built by Alexander of the United Kingdom. It was created for low-floor bus chassis produced from the late 1990s and was launched in spring 1996 as a low-floor replacement of the Alexander Dash. It was marketed in Alexander's 'ALX' series to fill in the gap between the ALX100 minibus and the ALX300 full-size single-decker.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Volvo B7TL</span> Low-floor longitudinal double-decker bus chassis

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dennis Trident 3</span> Low floor tri-axle double-decker bus

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alexander Dennis Enviro200</span> British single-deck midibus

The Alexander Dennis Enviro200 is a midibus that was manufactured by TransBus International and later Alexander Dennis between 2003 and 2018. The original TransBus Enviro200 design was innovative but ultimately unsuccessful, with few being sold before the introduction of the second generation Enviro200 revived sales for the product from 2006. It was supposed to be positioned in between a minibus and a rigid single-decker bus.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dennis Trident 2</span> 2-axle low-floor double-decker bus

The Dennis Trident 2 is a 2-axle low-floor double-decker bus chassis originally manufactured by Dennis, which was unveiled in 1997 and replaced the Dennis Arrow. It was built by TransBus after Dennis was incorporated into the group in 2001, then from 2004, it was built by Alexander Dennis following the collapse of TransBus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">East Lancs OmniTown</span> Motor vehicle

The East Lancs OmniTown was a low-floor midibus body sold in the United Kingdom by East Lancs and Scania. It used the Scania N94UB chassis, which is the single-decker version of the N94UD double-decker chassis, with East Lancashire Coachbuilders bodywork. It is sometimes mistakenly referred to as the OmniTown chassis. The confusion concerning the chassis, and indeed the buses, arises due to the complexity of the OmniTown's and other Scania products' histories.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Volvo B6</span> Motor vehicle

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dennis Lance</span> Step-entrance and low-floor single-deck bus chassis

The Dennis Lance was a single-decker bus chassis manufactured by Dennis between 1991 and 2000, replacing the Dennis Falcon. Its low floor variant, the Dennis Lance SLF was built between 1993 and 1996. Between 1995 and 1998, Dennis also built its double-deck variant, the Dennis Arrow, as the replacement of the Dennis Dominator.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">East Lancs Spryte</span> Low floor bus body on Dennis Dart SLF and Volvo chassis

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northern Counties Paladin</span> Single-decker bus body

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Optare Esteem</span> Low-floor single-decker bus body

The Optare Esteem was a low-floor single-decker bus body manufactured by East Lancashire Coachbuilders, Darwen East Lancs and Optare between 2006 and 2009 on Scania N94UB, Scania N230UB, Volvo B7RLE, MAN 12.240, Alexander Dennis Dart SLF, Alexander Dennis Enviro200 Dart and Alexander Dennis Enviro300 chassis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Plaxton Pointer</span> Single-deck midibus body on Dennis and Volvo chassis

The Plaxton Pointer is a single-deck midibus body that was manufactured between 1991 and 2006, predominantly on the Dennis Dart chassis, by Reeve Burgess, Plaxton and latterly Alexander Dennis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alexander Dash</span> Step-entrance midibus body on Dennis Dart and Volvo B6 chassis

The Alexander Dash is a step-entrance midibus body built by Walter Alexander Coachbuilders of Scotland from 1991 to 1997. Unveiled by Alexander at the 1991 Coach and Bus exhibition in Birmingham, it was one of the variants of Alexander's AM-type body, also using components from the Alexander PS type, and was usually combined with the Dennis Dart and Volvo B6 step-entrance single-decker bus chassis.

References

  1. ↑ "Plenty to see at NEC". Commercial Motor . Temple Press. 27 October 1988. pp. 30–38. Retrieved 3 June 2023.
  2. ↑ "Hestair Duple and Dennis Specialist Vehicles have released more information on their new midibus, the Dart". Commercial Motor. Temple Press. 22 September 1988. p. 5. Retrieved 3 June 2023.
  3. ↑ "Dennis launches darts". Commercial Motor. 13 July 1989. p. 20. Retrieved 3 June 2023.
  4. 1 2 3 "25 Years Ago: The birth of the Dennis Dart". Buses . No. 714. Stamford: Key Publishing. September 2014. p. 22.
  5. ↑ "Dart dialogue". Commercial Motor. Temple Press. 14 December 1989. p. 18. Retrieved 3 June 2023.
  6. ↑ "Wadham low-floor midi". Commercial Motor. Temple Press. 19 April 1990. p. 19. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  7. ↑ "Wright midi boosts jobs". Commercial Motor. Temple Press. 1 November 1990. p. 20. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  8. ↑ "RB Dart body on target". Commercial Motor. Temple Press. 16 August 1990. p. 19. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  9. ↑ "East Lancs set to build on Dart chassis". Commercial Motor. Temple Press. 16 May 1991. p. 20. Retrieved 3 June 2023.
  10. 1 2 3 Britain's Buses (6 ed.). Key Publishing. 2021. pp. 17, 90, 108. ISBN   978-1-802820-096.
  11. ↑ Jenkins, David (18 January 2023). "A long slow battle" . Buses. No. 815. Stamford: Key Publishing. pp. 30–34. Retrieved 18 June 2023. Citybus became a pioneer of gas bus operation, in an EU-funded joint project with local councils. Branded as Ecobus, it launched in 1994 with the conversion of six existing Dennis Darts in the fleet. Joined by 10 new ones delivered in 1996, it made Citybus the largest operator of gas buses at that time. They lasted for around 10 years.
  12. ↑ Harrison, Michael (29 January 1997). "Southampton busmen set to cash in" . The Independent . London. Retrieved 3 June 2023.
  13. 1 2 3 4 Goundry, Andy (23 March 2020). Dennis Buses and Other Vehicles. London: Crowood Press. pp. 134, 146. ISBN   978-1-78500-708-8 . Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  14. ↑ Morgan, Mike (13 January 1996). "UK gets first purpose-built gas bus". Coach & Bus Week . No. 200. Peterborough: Emap. p. 8.
  15. 1 2 "The History of Alexander Dennis". Larbert: Alexander Dennis. Archived from the original on 29 December 2022. Retrieved 3 June 2023.
  16. ↑ "Alexander Dennis reveals Enviro200 Dart". Bus & Coach Professional. 20 March 2006. Archived from the original on 24 March 2006. Retrieved 3 June 2023.
  17. 1 2 Newton, Chris (10 March 2021). "Darting around Lancashire" . Buses. No. 793. Stamford: Key Publishing. pp. 40–41. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
  18. ↑ "Thomas SLF 200". High Point: Thomas Built Buses. Archived from the original on 23 February 2001. Retrieved 3 June 2023.
  19. ↑ "DaimlerChrysler SLF 200". High Point: Thomas Built Buses. Archived from the original on 3 June 2003. Retrieved 3 June 2023.
  20. ↑ "Low-Floor Buses". Fleetline . No. 247. Sydney. July 1997. p. 132.
  21. ↑ "Crusaders for Australia". Bus & Coach Buyer. No. 402. Spalding: Glen-Holland Limited. 28 March 1997.
  22. ↑ "Wright Buses for Canberra". Bus & Coach Buyer. No. 403. Spalding: Glen-Holland Limited. 4 April 1997. p. 2. Further to last week's story about the order from Action Bus of Canberra, Australia for Wright Crusader low floor midibuses on Dennis Dart SLF chassis, Wright's has informed us that the current order is for 25 buses worth £1.5 million.
  23. ↑ "A Friendly Dart". Truck & Bus Transportation . Sydney. July 1997. p. 150.
  24. ↑ "Invicta Sells to Grenda". Australian Bus Panorama . Vol. 24, no. 5. Sydney. March 2009. p. 12.
  25. ↑ "Melbourne's TeleBus: a pioneer of on-demand services". Australian Bus . No. 98. Melbourne. March 2020. p. 20.
  26. ↑ "Dennis Buses in Adelaide". Transit Australia . Sydney. June 1997. p. 138.
  27. ↑ "Transperth News". Rattler . No. 399. Whiteman Park. January 2006. p. 6.
  28. ↑ "Dart regains its Hong Kong look" . Buses. No. 775. Stamford: Key Publishing. 19 September 2019. p. 67. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
  29. ↑ "Far East Pointer Darts" . Buses. No. 784. Stamford: Key Publishing. 18 June 2020. pp. 44–45. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
  30. ↑ "On target for Macao". Coach & Bus Week. No. 215. Peterborough: Emap. 27 April 1996. p. 32.
  31. ↑ "First manual Darts for Malta". Bus & Coach Buyer. No. 394. Spalding: Glen-Holland Limited. 31 January 1997. p. 9.
  32. ↑ Jones, Stuart (7 March 1997). "UK built low floor buses for overseas markets". Bus & Coach Buyer. No. 399. Spalding: Glen-Holland Limited. p. 17.
  33. ↑ "Bus made for Malta launched". Times of Malta. 9 August 2002. Retrieved 12 September 2023.

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