Wikipedia

Dennis Dart

bus manufactured by Dennis in Guildford, England

The Dennis Dart is a single-decker chassis of a bus. It was built from 1989 to 2008 by Dennis[a].

Dennis Dart
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)

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The Dennis Dart is a chassis of a bus, It has a step-entrance. It was made by Dennis from 1988 to 1996.

It could be built on Duple Dartline bodywork,[1] Wadham Stringer bodywork,[2][3] UVG Urbanstar bodywork,[4] Wright Handybus bodywork,[5] East Lancs EL2000 bodywork[6] and Alexander Dash bodywork.[7]

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Second generation (Dart SLF)

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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[b] (Super Low Floor) is a chassis of a bus, It has a low-floor.[8][9][10] It was made from 1996 to 2001 by Dennis[c].

It could only be built on Plaxton Pointer 1 bodywork.[11]

In 1997, Dennis made an improved chassis of the Dennis Dart SLF for the Plaxton Pointer 2.

The improved chassis could be built on Plaxton Pointer 2 bodywork,[12] East Lancs Spryte bodywork,[13] UVG Urbanstar bodywork,[14] Wright Crusader bodywork,[15][16] Alexander ALX200 bodywork,[17][18] Marshall Capital bodywork,[19] Caetano Nimbus bodywork[20] and MCV Evolution bodywork.[21]

Dart SPD

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

It could be built on Plaxton Pointer 2 bodywork,[12] and East Lancs Myllennium bodywork,[23]

Dart MPD

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

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

It could be built on Plaxton Pointer 2 bodywork,[24] Alexander ALX200 bodywork,[25] Alexander Dennis Enviro200 bodywork,[26] East Lancs Esteem bodywork[27] and East Lancs Myllennium bodywork.[28]

Narrow width Dart SLF

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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

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In 1998, Dennis and Thomas Built Buses made a chassis called the Thomas SLF 200 for the North American market, It was built on Alexander ALX200 bodywork. It was then made by Dennis and Daimler Truck North America and sold as the DaimlerChrysler SLF 200.[32][33][34]

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Exports

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

Australia

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In 1997; ACTION of Canberra ordered 25 Dart SLFs with Wright Crusader bodywork,[35][36][37]

Brisbane Bus Lines ordered 3 Dart SLFs,[38]

Invicta Bus Services ordered 27 Dart SLFs,[39][40]

TransAdelaide ordered 2 Dart SLFs[41]

Transperth ordered 2 Dart SLFs.[42]

Canada

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In British Columbia, BC Transit ordered 90 Dart SLFs with Plaxton Pointer 2 bodies.[32]

Hong Kong & Macau

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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 England Stagecoach Group for use at Devon and Hampshire.[43][44]

In Macau, Transmac ordered air-conditioned Dart SLFs with Plaxton Pointer 2 bodies in January 1996.[45]

Malta

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In 1997, Paramount Garage of Malta ordered 4 Dennis Dart SLFs, the first two were with East Lancs Spryte bodies and the last 2 were with Plaxton Pointer bodies.[46][47]

Netherlands

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Arriva Netherlands Dennis Dart Dart SLF with Alexander ALX200 bodywork

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

Portugal

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In Portugal, Stagecoach Group ordered 10 Dart SLFs.[48]

Singapore

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

Notes

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

References

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  1. ↑ Major Show 88 Commercial Motor 27 October 1988
  2. ↑ Batten, Malcolm (30 April 2024). Buses in the Border Towns of London Country 1969-2019 (South of the Thames). Pen and Sword Transport. ISBN 978-1-3990-9622-5.
  3. ↑ "Wadham low-floor midi". Commercial Motor. Temple Press. 19 April 1990. p. 19. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
  4. ↑ Solenteer (8 June 2007), 810 - N810 PDL, retrieved 26 July 2024
  5. ↑ "Wright midi boosts jobs". Commercial Motor. Temple Press. 1 November 1990. p. 20. 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 (29 December 2022). The London Dennis Dart & Dart SLF. 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 (6 ed.). Key Publishing. 2021. pp. 17, 90, 108. ISBN 978-1-802820-096.
  10. ↑ The History of Alexander Dennis Alexander Dennis
  11. ↑ Batten, Malcolm (30 April 2024). Border Towns Buses of London Country Transport (North of the Thames) 1969-2019. Pen and Sword Transport. ISBN 978-1-3990-9612-6.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Ackers, Simon (2024). Arriva Merseyside Buses. Amberley Publishing Limited. ISBN 978-1-3981-2108-9.
  13. ↑ Stubbings, Richard (15 February 2024). Buses of Wiltshire and Dorset: Past and Present. Amberley Publishing Limited. ISBN 978-1-3981-1737-2.
  14. ↑ Cooper, Matt (15 May 2024). Northampton Buses and Coaches: The 1990s and 2000s. Amberley Publishing Limited. ISBN 978-1-3981-1587-3.
  15. ↑ Cooper, Matt (15 August 2022). Oxford and South Midland Buses. Amberley Publishing Limited. ISBN 978-1-3981-1119-6.
  16. ↑ Jenkinson, Keith A. (15 March 2020). Wrightbus: From 1946 to New Horizons. Amberley Publishing Limited. ISBN 978-1-3981-0389-4.
  17. ↑ Devoy, David (15 February 2018). McGill's Buses. Amberley Publishing Limited. ISBN 978-1-4456-7453-7.
  18. ↑ Cooper, Matt (15 August 2022). Oxford and South Midland Buses. Amberley Publishing Limited. ISBN 978-1-3981-1119-6.
  19. ↑ Devoy, David (15 April 2019). The McKindless Group. Amberley Publishing Limited. ISBN 978-1-4456-9116-9.
  20. ↑ Jenkinson, Keith A. (15 February 2023). Sheffield Buses. Amberley Publishing Limited. ISBN 978-1-3981-0955-1.
  21. ↑ Ackers, Simon (15 April 2022). Merseyside Buses 2010-2020. Amberley Publishing Limited. ISBN 978-1-3981-0941-4.
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 22.3 "Pointer". Alexander Dennis. Archived from the original on 5 February 2007.
  23. ↑ John (23 March 2017), Halton Transport Dennis Dart SLF/East Lancs Myllennium 44 (DK04 MKG), retrieved 27 July 2024
  24. ↑ Efan Thomas Transport Photography (19 August 2017), Arriva Buses Wales Dennis Dart MPD LJ51 DDF 921 - Bangor, retrieved 26 July 2024
  25. ↑ Beddall, David; Seamarks, Gary (15 June 2018). United Counties Omnibus. Amberley Publishing Limited. ISBN 978-1-4456-8034-7.
  26. ↑ Llewelyn, Hugh (28 October 2022), 2011 Alexander Dennis Enviro 200 Dart, retrieved 26 July 2024
  27. ↑ Taylor, Matt (15 June 2014), PN06 UYL, Addiscobe Road, Croydon, June 15th 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 (7 April 2008). "Guernsey". 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" (PDF). States of Jersey. 2 July 2010. p. 39. Retrieved 28 July 2024.
  32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 Goundry, Andy (23 March 2020). Dennis Buses and Other Vehicles. London: Crowood Press. pp. 134, 146. ISBN 978-1-78500-708-8. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  33. ↑ Thomas SLF 200 Thomas Built Buses
  34. ↑ DaimlerChrysler SLF 200 Thomas Built Buses
  35. ↑ Low-Floor Buses Fleetline issue 247 July 1997 page 132
  36. ↑ "Crusaders for Australia". Bus & Coach Buyer. No. 402. Spalding: Glen-Holland Limited. 28 March 1997.
  37. ↑ "Wright Buses for Canberra". Bus & Coach Buyer. No. 403. Spalding: Glen-Holland Limited. 4 April 1997. p. 2. 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.
  38. ↑ A Friendly Dart Truck & Bus Transportation July 1997 page 150
  39. ↑ Invicta Sells to Grenda Australian Bus Panorama issue 24/5 March 2009 page 12
  40. ↑ Melbourne's TeleBus: a pioneer of on-demand services Australian Bus issue 98 March 2020 page 20
  41. ↑ Dennis Buses in Adelaide Transit Australia June 1997 page 138
  42. ↑ Transperth News Rattler issue 399 January 2006 page 6
  43. ↑ Dart regains its Hong Kong look Buses issue 775 October 2019 page 67
  44. ↑ Far East Pointer Darts Buses issue 784 July 2020 pages 44/45
  45. ↑ "On target for Macao". Coach & Bus Week. No. 215. Peterborough: Emap. 27 April 1996. p. 32.
  46. ↑ "First manual Darts for Malta". Bus & Coach Buyer. No. 394. Spalding: Glen-Holland Limited. 31 January 1997. p. 9.
  47. ↑ Jones, Stuart (7 March 1997). "UK built low floor buses for overseas markets". Bus & Coach Buyer. No. 399. Spalding: Glen-Holland Limited. p. 17.
  48. ↑ Darting around Lancashire Buses issue 793 April 2021

Other websites

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  Media related to Dennis Dart at Wikimedia Commons

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