ADL celebrates rollout of 10K two-axle, double-deck bus

Alexander Dennis Ltd. (ADL) celebrated a major milestone with the rollout of its 10,000th two-axle, low-floor double-deck bus. The landmark Enviro400 is emblematic of how ADL has influenced the progressive shift by the UK bus industry to high quality, low floor, easy access buses over the last two decades.

The 78-seat executive Enviro400 will join ADL’s demonstration fleet as the company continues to promote high specification double decks as an attractive option for premium services. It comes complete with leather seats, wood effect flooring, seat belts, Wi-Fi, USB charging points, mobile phone holders, and skylight roof panels, as well as next-stop audio and visual announcement systems.

The high specification options of the Enviro400, which have a proven track record of driving patronage growth on scheduled services, have broadened the type’s appeal beyond traditional bus work.

“This trend is a far cry from two decades ago when buses were fairly down-to-earth, no frills vehicles and it is fitting that we celebrate this 10,000 landmark with a double deck that demonstrates the huge strides we have made in taking product options to a whole new level,” said ADL’s Chief Executive Colin Robertson.

The milestone number of 10,000 two-axle, low-floor double-deck buses not only includes the current and previous Enviro400 models but also their trendsetting predecessor, which brought low-floor technology to the mainstream of UK bus operation.

The Dennis Trident 2 chassis was launched in 1997 and, along with the Dart SLF (Super Low Floor) midi bus, sparked a revolution in the UK bus industry. Their focus on easy access not only made public transport available to wheelchair users and passengers with reduced mobility who had previously found high-step entrances prohibitive but vastly improved accessibility for parents travelling with children in pushchairs.

In 2005 ADL took double-deck technology to another new level, launching the Enviro400, an integrally designed complete vehicle providing a one-stop solution for operators. It was an immediate success and has subsequently been the UK’s best-selling bus for more than a decade.

“This 10,000th low floor double deck bus is a milestone for everyone at ADL,” said Robertson. “The extraordinary success of our Enviro400 is a reflection of the ingenuity, commitment and dedication of teams drawn from right across our business. No one ‘wins the league’ this consistently without having the right people and the right approach to delight customers.”