Alexander Dash

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.[1]

Alexander Dash
A preserved pre-facelift Bakerbus Alexander Dash-bodied Volvo B6 (V shaped windscreen)
Overview
ManufacturerWalter Alexander Coachbuilders
Production1991–1997
AssemblyFalkirk, Scotland
Body and chassis
Doors1 door
Floor typeStep entrance
ChassisDennis Dart
Volvo B6
RelatedAlexander PS type
Powertrain
Engine(Dart) Cummins 6BT
(B6) Volvo TD63E/TD63ES
Capacity34 to 41 seated
Power output93kW 135hp (Dart)
Transmission(Dart) Allison AT545 4-speed
(B6) ZF 4HP500
Dimensions
Length2.5 m (8 ft 2 in)
Height3.4 m (11 ft)
Chronology
SuccessorAlexander ALX200
Facelift Alexander Dash bodied Dennis Dart with Veolia Transport in 2007
Pre-facelift Western Scottish Alexander Dash bodied Dennis Dart with a V-shaped windscreen in 1993
First Hampshire & Dorset Alexander Dash bodied Dennis Dart rear in Hampshire.

The body was mainly built for the United Kingdom bus market, with Alexander primarily marketing the Dash towards smaller independent bus operators,[2] although one example with a Volvo B6R chassis and air-conditioning was shipped to Hong Kong in January 1995 for use by Citybus as a demonstrator; this was later returned to the United Kingdom, where it entered service with Stagecoach Devon.[3] Early Dashes were delivered with V-shaped windscreens, single headlights and a square vented grille.

In 1995, the Alexander Dash received a frontal facelift. The facelift, aimed at improving accessibility, also featured a longer front grille with badging in the shape of a saltire, twin headlights and foglamps beside the grille, and a horizontal windscreen with an option for a heated windscreen. Yorkshire Rider, under the ownership of the Badgerline Group, took delivery of the first 50 facelifted Dashes on Dennis Dart chassis in early 1995.[4] Other deliveries of the facelifted Dash-bodied Dart to Badgerline's successor FirstBus included six Darts for First Grampian in early 1996,[5][6] and six Darts for First Greater Manchester.

The only London bus operators to take delivery of the Dash were Capital Citybus and Stagecoach Holdings' London subsidiaries, the latter being bodied on the Dennis Dart chassis. The first 27 pre-facelift Dashes were delivered to East London for services in Barking and Romford in November 1995,[7] with another 39 post-facelift examples being delivered to Selkent for services in Bromley, Catford and Plumstead throughout 1996.[8] These had a short service life, being withdrawn between 1998 and 1999 and disposed to other Stagecoach operations.[9]

The Dash was superseded by the low floor Alexander ALX200 in 1996–1997 with a more rounded roof dome and plastic mouldings under the windscreen to make it deeper having made on the Dennis Dart SLF and the Volvo B6LE chassis.

See also

Competitors (bodywork):

References
  1. "Putting on a brave face". Commercial Motor. Temple Press. 24 October 1991. p. 22. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  2. "WA Dashes to off-the-peg midi designs". Commercial Motor. Temple Press. 18 June 1992. p. 16. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  3. Li, Hanhua (18 July 2018). 香港空調巴士漫遊 [Hong Kong air-conditioned bus tour] (in Chinese (Hong Kong)). Zhonghua Book Company (Hong Kong) Limited. pp. 38–39. ISBN 978-988-8513-52-9. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  4. "Restyled Dash - Rider take first deliveries". Bus & Coach Buyer. No. 294. Spalding: Glen-Holland Limited. 17 February 1995. p. 17.
  5. "Fleet Additions". Bus & Coach Buyer. No. 349. Spalding: Glen-Holland Limited. 15 March 1996. p. 25.
  6. "Gold standard Darts". Coach & Bus Week. No. 203. Peterborough: Emap. 3 February 1996. p. 30.
  7. "Dashes start arriving at Stagecoach East London". Coach & Bus Week. Peterborough: Emap. 25 November 1995. p. 26.
  8. Beddall, David (29 December 2022). The London Dennis Dart & Dart SLF. Pen and Sword Transport. pp. 59–61. ISBN 978-1-39909-518-1. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  9. "Ian's BUS STOP: Dennis Dart DAL".

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