Alexander PS type

Last updated

Alexander PS-type
Stagecoach B10M Alexander PS 20901.jpg
Alexander PS-type bodied Volvo B10M operated by Stagecoach Merseyside
Overview
Manufacturer Walter Alexander
Production1988–1998
Assembly Falkirk, Scotland
Body and chassis
Doors1 or 2 doors
Floor type Step entrance
Chassis Volvo B10M
Leyland Lynx
Mercedes-Benz O405
Dennis Lance
Iveco Turbocity
Scania N113
Powertrain
Transmission ZF or Voith
Dimensions
Length11.9m
Width2.5m
Height3.0m[ citation needed ]
Chronology
Successor Alexander ALX200
Alexander ALX300

The Alexander PS-type was a step-floor single-decker bus body built by Walter Alexander Coachbuilders in Falkirk, Scotland and was produced from 1988 to the late 1990s predominantly on the Dennis Lance, Mercedes-Benz O405, Scania N113, Volvo B10M chassis.

Contents

The Alexander PS-type was developed from the Alexander's single-deck export body for Singapore Bus Services, and was based on the domestic P-type with a revised front end. It was initially launched in the United Kingdom on the Scania N113CR chassis in 1988. [1]

The Alexander PS-type was ultimately succeeded by the Alexander ALX200 and Alexander ALX300 low-floor bus bodies.

Operators

Alexander PS rear in May 2009 Stagecoach bus 20552 (P552 ESA), 2009 Metrocentre bus rally (3).jpg
Alexander PS rear in May 2009

The Alexander PS-type on the Volvo B10M chassis was the primary single decker for the Stagecoach Group through the 1990s, with 100 delivered to Stagecoach Cumberland from late 1992 following production delays with the Volvo B6 midibus chassis, [2] while Stagecoach Manchester also took on comparatively large numbers of PS types-bodied B10Ms. [3] Most were withdrawn by 2016 due to regulations mandating low-floor buses, but some were retained as late as 2020 as school buses by Stagecoach Cumbria & North Lancashire. [4]

SBS Transit Alexander PS bodied Mercedes-Benz O405 in January 2009 MBO405-WA-Ext-SBST.JPG
SBS Transit Alexander PS bodied Mercedes-Benz O405 in January 2009

The second-biggest operator of the Alexander PS-type were Mainline Buses, who ordered a total of 180 Alexander PS-types on Volvo B10M chassis from 1990 to 1996. [5] [6] Mainline's first Alexander PS-types were the first to be bodied on a Volvo chassis. Kelvin Central Buses also purchased 60 PS-types from 1995 to 1997. [7] Following the purchase of Mainline and SB Holdings by the FirstGroup, these buses were dispersed around First's other operations.

On the Scania N113CRB chassis, Busways Travel Services took an order of 20 Scanias with PS-type bodies, while Nottingham City Transport took an order of eight. [8] [9] Yorkshire Traction purchased five Scania PS-types in 1992 as their first new full-size buses since deregulation. [10]

Sixteen Dennis Lances with dual door Alexander PS-type bodies were built for London Buses subsidiary Selkent, while in Hong Kong, Kowloon Motor Bus took on 24 Lances with PS-type bodywork. [11] [12]

Two examples on the Mercedes-Benz O405 chassis was built with Alexander PS-type bodies in 1992, one being a rigid Mercedes demonstrator and a sole articulated example being bodied for Grampian Regional Transport. These were branded as the Cityranger. [13] [14]

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stagecoach East</span> Bus operator in the East of England

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Single-deck bus</span> Bus with a single deck for passengers

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Articulated buses in the United Kingdom</span> Type of single-deck bus used in the United Kingdom

Articulated buses, colloquially known as "bendy buses", were rarely used in the United Kingdom compared to other countries, until the turn of the millennium. This was due to a preference for the double-decker bus for use on high capacity routes. In June 2006, there were over 500 articulated buses in the United Kingdom, although they were still heavily outnumbered by double deckers. The majority of this fleet was used in London, although these buses would be withdrawn by end of 2011.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alexander Strider</span> Motor vehicle

The Alexander Strider was a single-decker bus body produced in Scotland by Walter Alexander Coachbuilders between 1993 and 1997. The body was available on Dennis Lance, Volvo B10B, Volvo B10M and Scania L113 chassis. In 1993, the body was modified briefly to fit the Mercedes-Benz O405/O405G chassis and was marketed as the Alexander Cityrider. Only two were built on this chassis configuration.

<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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Volvo B10B</span> Motor vehicle

The Volvo B10B was a rear-engined step deck single-decker bus chassis manufactured by Volvo between 1992 and 2001. The first prototype were built in 1990, but the B10B wasn't launched until the 1992 Geneva Motor Show. It superseded the Leyland Lynx and Volvo B10R. For stage use it was gradually succeeded by the low-entry B10BLE, which was introduced only a year later, though not in all markets. For interurban use the B7R came as a gradual replacement in 1998, and ultimately for coach work, the B12B took over in 2001.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alexander Ultra</span> Low-floor bus body on Volvo B10L chassis

The Alexander Ultra was a low floor single-deck bus body built on the Volvo B10L chassis by Walter Alexander Coachbuilders from 1995 to 1998. It was the right-hand drive equivalent of the Volvo 5000 and was built on license from Volvo Buses.

References

  1. "New Series 3 PSV at NEC". Commercial Motor . Temple Press. 16 June 1988. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  2. "Stagecoach's 49-seat Volvo B10Ms on way". Coach & Bus Week . No. 38. Peterborough: Emap. 7 November 1992. p. 9. Retrieved 20 April 2024.
  3. "StageCoach to bid 'Farewell to the B10M' on November 14". mistral-bus.com. Mistral Bus and Coach. 2014. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  4. "Schoolbuses placed in class of their own". Buses . Peterborough. 17 August 2017. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  5. "PS-bodied B10Ms preferred". Coach & Bus Week. No. 201. Peterborough: Emap. 20 January 1996. p. 28.
  6. "Switching to single-decks". Commercial Motor. Temple Press. 17 May 1990. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  7. "First of 120 'green' Alexander/Volvos for SBH". Coach & Bus Week. No. 221. Peterborough: Emap. 8 June 1996. p. 8.
  8. "BT takes transverse Scania". Commercial Motor. Temple Press. 20 April 1989. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  9. "Notts adds 20". Commercial Motor. Temple Press. 26 July 1990. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  10. "Yorkshire Traction picks-up five new buses". Coachmart. No. 634. Peterborough. 11 April 1991. p. 13.
  11. "Selkent - new look". Coach & Bus Week. No. 11. Peterborough: Emap. 2 May 1992. p. 14. Retrieved 20 April 2024.
  12. "Kneeling tests for Lance". Commercial Motor. Temple Press. 9 July 1992. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  13. "Merc Alexander citybus launch". Commercial Motor. Temple Press. 22 October 1992. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  14. Simpson, Richard (14 November 1992). "Merc artic makes its debut". Coach & Bus Week. No. 39. Peterborough: Emap. p. 7. Retrieved 20 April 2024.