KidzSearch Wiki

Dennis Dart

The Dennis Dart is a single-decker chassis of a bus. It was made from 1989 to 2008 by Dennis, and then TransBus International and then Alexander Dennis.

Dennis Dart
Thames Travel KU52 RXF front (Cropped).jpg
Thames Travel Dennis Dart MPD with Plaxton Pointer 2 bodywork
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)
Width2.3 m (7 ft 7 in), 2.4 m (7 ft 10 in) or 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in)
Chronology
Predecessor
SuccessorAlexander Dennis Enviro200

First generation (step-entrance)

The Dennis Dart is a chassis of a bus, It has a step-entrance. It was made from 1989 to 1996 by Dennis.

The Dart chassis could be built on the following bodies:

Gallery

±

Second generation (Dart SLF)

Arriva Guildford & West Surrey Dennis Dart SLF with Plaxton Pointer 1 bodywork (before improvements)
Hedingham & Chambers Alexander Dennis Dart SPD with Plaxton Pointer 2 bodywork (after improvements)

The Dennis Dart SLF[a] (Super Low Floor) is a chassis of a bus, It has a low-floor.[8][9][10] It was made from 1996 to 2008 by Dennis.[b]

From 1996 to 1997, Dennis made a chassis of the Dart SLF for the Plaxton Pointer 1 bodywork.[11]

Improvements

From 1997 to 2008, Dennis made an improved chassis of the Dart SLF for the Plaxton Pointer 2 bodywork.

The improved Dart SLF chassis was built on the following bodies:

Dart SPD

In 1997, Dennis made a longer chassis of the Dart SLF called the Dart SPD (Super Pointer Dart),[22] Its length was 11.3 m (37 ft) long.[22]

The Dart SPD chassis could be built on the Plaxton Pointer 2 bodywork[12] and the East Lancs Myllennium bodywork,[23]

Dart MPD

Bluebird Bus & Coach Alexander Dennis Dart MPD with Plaxton Pointer 2 bodywork (after improvements)

In 1998, Dennis made a smaller chassis of the Dart SLF called the Dart MPD (Mini Pointer Dart),[22] Its length was 8.8 m (29 ft) long.[22]

The Dart MPD chassis could be built on the following bodies:

Narrow width Dart SLF

Narrow width Dart SLF with Caetano Slimbus bodywork

In 2002, TransBus made a narrower chassis of the Dart SLF[29] called the Narrow width Dart SLF, These were made because Guernsey and Jersey's roads are narrow.[30][31]

Thomas SLF 200

In 1998, Dennis and Thomas Built Buses made a chassis of the Dart SLF called the Thomas SLF 200.[32][33] It was made for the North American market,[33] It was built on Alexander ALX200 bodywork.[33]

In the 2000s, Thomas Built Buses stopped making the Thomas SLF 200.

From 2000 to 2003, It was made by Dennis and Daimler Truck North America and called the DaimlerChrysler SLF 200.[34][35]

Exports

ACTION Dennis Dart SLF with Wright Crusader bodywork in Canberra in 2009

Australia

In 1997; ACTION of Canberra ordered 25 Dart SLFs with Wright Crusader bodywork,[36][37][38]

Brisbane Bus Lines ordered 3 Dart SLFs,[39]

Invicta Bus Services ordered 27 Dart SLFs,[40][41]

TransAdelaide ordered 2 Dart SLFs[42]

Transperth ordered 2 Dart SLFs.[43]

Canada

In British Columbia, BC Transit ordered 90 Dart SLFs with Plaxton Pointer 2 bodies.[34]

Hong Kong & Macau

Park Island Transport TransBus Dart SLF with Plaxton Pointer 2 bodywork in Kwai Fong in 2015

In Hong Kong, Citybus, Kowloon Motor Bus, New Lantao Bus, New World First Bus and Park Island Transport ordered Dart SLFs.

Some of Citybus buses were sent back to Stagecoach Group in England for use in Devon and Hampshire.[44][45]

In Macau, Transmac ordered air-conditioned Dart SLFs with Plaxton Pointer 2 bodies in January 1996.[46]

Malta

In 1997, Paramount Garage of Malta ordered 4 Dart SLFs, the first two were with East Lancs Spryte bodies and the last 2 were with Plaxton Pointer bodies.[47][48]

Netherlands

Arriva Netherlands Dennis Dart Dart SLF with Alexander ALX200 bodywork

In the Netherlands. Arriva Netherlands ordered 50 Darts with Alexander ALX200 bodies.[9]

Portugal

In Portugal, Stagecoach Group ordered 10 Dart SLFs.[49]

Singapore

In 1994, Singapore Bus Service ordered 10 Darts with Duple Metsec bodies.[source?]

Dennis Dart Media

  • Dennis Dart 9SDL Carlyle Ecobus

Notes

  1. ↑ Also called the TransBus Dennis Dart SLF and the Alexander Dennis Dart SLF
  2. ↑ It was built by Dennis and then TransBus International and then Alexander Dennis.

±

References

  1. ↑ Major Show 88 Commercial Motor 27 October 1988
  2. ↑ Batten, Malcolm. Buses in the Border Towns of London Country 1969-2019 (South of the Thames) (in en) (30 April 2024)Pen and Sword Transport. ISBN 978-1-3990-9622-5.
  3. ↑ "Wadham low-floor midi". Commercial Motor (Temple Press): 19. 19 April 1990. https://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/19th-april-1990/19/wadham-low-floor-midi. Retrieved 28 May 2023. 
  4. ↑ Solenteer. 810 - N810 PDL (8 June 2007). Retrieved 26 July 2024.
  5. ↑ "Wright midi boosts jobs". Commercial Motor (Temple Press): 20. 1 November 1990. https://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/1st-november-1990/20/wright-midi-boosts-jobs. Retrieved 28 May 2023. 
  6. ↑ East Lams to build two on Dad chassis | 16 May 1991 | The Commercial Motor Archive. archive.commercialmotor.com. Retrieved 26 July 2024.
  7. ↑ Beddall, David. The London Dennis Dart & Dart SLF (in en) (29 December 2022)Pen and Sword Transport. ISBN 978-1-3990-9519-8.
  8. ↑ 25 Years Ago: The birth of the Dennis Dart Buses issue 714 September 2014 page 22
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Britain's Buses (2021)Key Publishing. p. 17, 90, 108. ISBN 978-1-802820-096.
  10. ↑ The History of Alexander Dennis Alexander Dennis
  11. ↑ Batten, Malcolm. Border Towns Buses of London Country Transport (North of the Thames) 1969-2019 (in en) (30 April 2024)Pen and Sword Transport. ISBN 978-1-3990-9612-6.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Ackers, Simon. Arriva Merseyside Buses (in en) (2024)Amberley Publishing Limited. ISBN 978-1-3981-2108-9.
  13. ↑ Stubbings, Richard. Buses of Wiltshire and Dorset: Past and Present (in en) (15 February 2024)Amberley Publishing Limited. ISBN 978-1-3981-1737-2.
  14. ↑ Cooper, Matt. Northampton Buses and Coaches: The 1990s and 2000s (in en) (15 May 2024)Amberley Publishing Limited. ISBN 978-1-3981-1587-3.
  15. ↑ Cooper, Matt. Oxford and South Midland Buses (in en) (15 August 2022)Amberley Publishing Limited. ISBN 978-1-3981-1119-6.
  16. ↑ Jenkinson, Keith A.. Wrightbus: From 1946 to New Horizons (in en) (15 March 2020)Amberley Publishing Limited. ISBN 978-1-3981-0389-4.
  17. ↑ Devoy, David. McGill's Buses (in en) (15 February 2018)Amberley Publishing Limited. ISBN 978-1-4456-7453-7.
  18. ↑ Cooper, Matt. Oxford and South Midland Buses (in en) (15 August 2022)Amberley Publishing Limited. ISBN 978-1-3981-1119-6.
  19. ↑ Devoy, David. The McKindless Group (in en) (15 April 2019)Amberley Publishing Limited. ISBN 978-1-4456-9116-9.
  20. ↑ Jenkinson, Keith A.. Sheffield Buses (in en) (15 February 2023)Amberley Publishing Limited. ISBN 978-1-3981-0955-1.
  21. ↑ Ackers, Simon. Merseyside Buses 2010-2020 (in en) (15 April 2022)Amberley Publishing Limited. ISBN 978-1-3981-0941-4.
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 22.3 Pointer. Alexander Dennis.
  23. ↑ John. Halton Transport Dennis Dart SLF/East Lancs Myllennium 44 (DK04 MKG) (23 March 2017). Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  24. ↑ Efan Thomas Transport Photography. Arriva Buses Wales Dennis Dart MPD LJ51 DDF 921 - Bangor (19 August 2017). Retrieved 26 July 2024.
  25. ↑ Beddall, David. United Counties Omnibus (in en) (15 June 2018)Amberley Publishing Limited. ISBN 978-1-4456-8034-7.
  26. ↑ Llewelyn, Hugh. 2011 Alexander Dennis Enviro 200 Dart (28 October 2022). Retrieved 26 July 2024.
  27. ↑ Taylor, Matt. PN06 UYL, Addiscobe Road, Croydon, June 15th 2014 (15 June 2014). Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  28. ↑ Ship-Ahoy: Trustybus (ex Bluestar 3351) Dennis Dart SLF/East Lancs Myllennium PE55WPP Stansted Road Elsenham 12/11/19 (12 November 2019). Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  29. ↑ Kirwin, Dave. Guernsey (7 April 2008). Retrieved 27 July 2024.
  30. ↑ Guernsey firm's trim operation | 2 February 1985 | The Commercial Motor Archive. archive.commercialmotor.com. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
  31. ↑ JERSEY'S SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORT POLICY. States of Jersey (2 July 2010). p. 39. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
  32. ↑ Thomas SLF 200 Thomas Built Buses
  33. ↑ 33.0 33.1 33.2 Goundry, Andy. Dennis Buses and Other Vehicles (in en) (23 March 2020)The Crowood Press. ISBN 978-1-78500-708-8.
  34. ↑ 34.0 34.1 Goundry, Andy. Dennis Buses and Other Vehicles (23 March 2020). London: Crowood Press. p. 134, 146. ISBN 978-1-78500-708-8. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  35. ↑ DaimlerChrysler SLF 200 Thomas Built Buses
  36. ↑ Low-Floor Buses Fleetline issue 247 July 1997 page 132
  37. ↑ "Crusaders for Australia". Bus & Coach Buyer (Spalding: Glen-Holland Limited) (402). 28 March 1997. 
  38. ↑ "Wright Buses for Canberra". Bus & Coach Buyer (Spalding: Glen-Holland Limited) (403): 2. 4 April 1997. "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.". 
  39. ↑ A Friendly Dart Truck & Bus Transportation July 1997 page 150
  40. ↑ Invicta Sells to Grenda Australian Bus Panorama issue 24/5 March 2009 page 12
  41. ↑ Melbourne's TeleBus: a pioneer of on-demand services Australian Bus issue 98 March 2020 page 20
  42. ↑ Dennis Buses in Adelaide Transit Australia June 1997 page 138
  43. ↑ Transperth News Rattler issue 399 January 2006 page 6
  44. ↑ Dart regains its Hong Kong look Buses issue 775 October 2019 page 67
  45. ↑ Far East Pointer Darts Buses issue 784 July 2020 pages 44/45
  46. ↑ "On target for Macao". Coach & Bus Week (Peterborough: Emap) (215): 32. 27 April 1996. 
  47. ↑ "First manual Darts for Malta". Bus & Coach Buyer (Spalding: Glen-Holland Limited) (394): 9. 31 January 1997. 
  48. ↑ Jones, Stuart (7 March 1997). "UK built low floor buses for overseas markets". Bus & Coach Buyer (Spalding: Glen-Holland Limited) (399): 17. 
  49. ↑ Darting around Lancashire Buses issue 793 April 2021

Other websites

Media related to Dennis Dart at Wikimedia Commons

Retrieved from "https://wiki.kidzsearch.com/w/index.php?title=Dennis_Dart&oldid=6873569"