For the milestone, it produced a 78-seat executive model for the company’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, skylight roof panels and next-stop audio and visual announcement systems.
Colin Robertson, ADL’s chief executive, commented: “There is a trend towards high quality buses that combine capacity and comfort. They raise the bar and are helping operators win business, particularly in terms of private hires, special events, corporate work and even school contracts.”
He added: “This trend is a far cry from two decades ago when buses were fairly down-to-earth, no frills vehicles.”
The sum 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. It, along with the Dart SLF (Super Low Floor) midi bus, made public transport available to wheelchair users and passengers with reduced mobility, but also vastly improved accessibility for parents travelling with children in pushchairs.
In 2005 ADL launched the Enviro400, an integrally designed complete vehicle providing a one-stop solution for operators. Subsequently, it has been the UK’s best-selling bus for more than a decade.
Adds Robinson: “While it was designed as an integral vehicle – and has enjoyed the vast majority of its success as such – we have also bodied it on Volvo and Scania chassis. In addition, although it was mainly intended for the UK market, we have had significant business wins with the Enviro400 in Hong Kong and New York.”
The chief executive concludes: “The overriding fact is that the success of vehicles like this help us support apprenticeships, career development opportunities, 2,500 jobs across ADL, 1,500 more in our various collaborative ventures, and a further 5,000 in our supply chain network.”