Alexander Dennis Limited (ADL), Britain’s biggest bus and coach manufacturer, confirmed today that it is to establish a new manufacturing facility in Ontario, Canada.

The move follows a deal with Metrolinx — the Government of Ontario’s transportation authority for Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area — to supply over 250 new, low-height double-deck buses over the next five years. The agreement also includes an option for an additional 150 vehicles should they be required.

ADL already has almost 125 double decks operating in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area where they have proved hugely popular with passengers, drivers and operators, according to the company. The new, ultra-low buses will be able to access four major terminals that cannot be served by double decks at present due to height restrictions, thereby opening up virtually all of the transport authority’s routes to potential double deck services.

Colin Robertson, Chief Executive of ADL, commented: “This initiative is the result of a seven-year business relationship with Metrolinx that has gone from strength-to-strength. It involves a multi-year, exclusive agreement for the supply of double deck buses and marks a milestone for ADL. It also reinforces the reputation and performance credentials of our Enviro500 high capacity, three-axle double deck range, which is now proving to be a winner in continents around the world.  

“We look forward to becoming a fully-fledged contributor to the local economy, creating jobs and extending our supplier network," Robertson says. "The first part of that process will be the introduction of an ADL chassis assembly facility in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area. This will create up to 30 jobs and construction will begin in the middle of next year with the first of the new 250 low-height double decks being delivered in early 2016.”    

ADL has tripled its turnover to £500m in recent years with 50% of its earning now coming from export markets. Behind its success lies a string of business wins, build partnerships, alliances and joint ventures that have seen it strengthen and extend its global footprint in Hong Kong, China, Singapore, Malaysia and North America where ADL fleets now operate in cities such as Toronto, New York, Washington D.C., Las Vegas, San Francisco, Seattle, Vancouver and Ottawa.