Alexander Dennis Enviro300
{{Short description|Full-size single-deck bus body and chassis}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2023}}
{{Infobox UK Bus
| name = Alexander Dennis Enviro300
| image = Taunton Parade - First 67705 (SN60EAG) route 30.JPG
| imagesize =
| caption = Buses of Somerset second generation Alexander Dennis Enviro300 in Taunton in May 2020
| manufacturer = TransBus International/ Alexander Dennis
| production = 2001–2008 (1st generation)
2007–2015 (2nd generation)
| assembly = Falkirk, Scotland
| class =
| capacity = 43 to 80 seated
| length = {{convert|11.8–12.8|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
| width = {{convert|2.54|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
| height =
| floortype = Low floor
Low entry
| doors = 1
| weight = {{convert|14.4–18|t|abbr=on}}
| chassis = Alexander Dennis Enviro300
MAN 18.240 and 18.250
Volvo B7RLE
Scania K230UB
| related = Enviro200, Enviro350H, Enviro400, Enviro500
| engine = Cummins ISBe (Enviro 300/MAN 18.240 retrofits)
MAN D0836 (MAN 18.240)
Volvo D7E (Volvo B7RLE)
Scania DC9/OC9 (Scania K230UB)
| powerout = {{convert|185–250|hp-metric|kW|abbr=on}}
| transmission = ZF Ecomat/EcoLife
Voith DIWA
Allison
| predecessor = Body: Alexander ALX300
Chassis: Dennis Lance
| successor = Alexander Dennis Enviro200 MMC
}}
The Alexander Dennis Enviro300 (previously known as the TransBus Enviro300) is a light-weight full-size single-decker bus that was built by Alexander Dennis and its predecessor TransBus International between 2001 and 2015. The design was the first of the new Enviro range of buses from TransBus and also the first bus to be built as an integral bus by TransBus.
The Enviro300 was introduced in order to fill a gap in the manufacturer's product range. At the beginning the Cummins ISBe220 {{Convert|5.9|l|gal|adj=on}} Euro III engine was provided as standard, but for Euro IV and V, the engine was the {{Convert|6.7|l|gal|adj=on}} ISBe with {{Convert|225|hp|abbr=on}} for Euro IV and {{Convert|225 or 250|hp|abbr=on}} for Euro V. There was a choice of 3 gearboxes: ZF Ecomat (originally 5HP502C, then 6HP504C), Allison T280R and Voith DIWA 854.5 (originally DIWA854.3E). The second generation Enviro300, with front end redesigned to match the Enviro200 and Enviro400, was launched in 2007.
Production of the Enviro300 ceased in 2015 with the introduction of a long-wheelbase Enviro200 MMC.
First generation (2001–2008)
{{multiple image
|caption_align=center
| align = left
| direction = vertical
| width = 180
| image1 = First Midland Red 67658.jpg
| caption1 = First Midland Red first generation ADL Enviro300 in September 2005
| image2 = Travel Surrey 8754 rear.JPG
| caption2 = Travel Surrey first generation TransBus Enviro300 rear in October 2008}}
Developed from the Alexander ALX300 body, the TransBus Enviro300 was launched in 2001 by TransBus International, becoming the first member of the Enviro range;{{cite news |author= |title=New medium-weight models attack big-bus market |url=http://www.busandcoach.com/october2001/main.html#news1 |url-status=dead |work=Bus & Coach Professional |date=October 2001 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020809005338/http://www.busandcoach.com/october2001/main.html#news1 |archive-date=9 August 2002 |access-date=7 December 2023}} with the collapse of TransBus in 2004, successors Alexander Dennis took over production and rebranded the Enviro300 as the Alexander Dennis Enviro300.{{cite web |url=https://www.alexander-dennis.com/about-us/our-history/ |title=Our History |publisher=Alexander Dennis |access-date=29 July 2018 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180729171336/https://www.alexander-dennis.com/about-us/our-history/ |archive-date=29 July 2018}}{{cite news |url=http://www.busandcoach.com/news/articles/archive/news-from-coach-and-bus-2003/ |title=News from Coach and Bus 2003 |work=Bus & Coach Professional |date=10 October 2003 |access-date=29 July 2018 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180729172726/http://www.busandcoach.com/news/articles/archive/news-from-coach-and-bus-2003/ |archive-date=29 July 2018}} In early 2005, Alexander Dennis launched a {{convert|12.5|m}} school bus variant, branded as the 'sCOOLbus', capable of seating 60 seatbelted passengers or 54 with the addition of a wheelchair bay in a three-plus-two seating configuration.{{cite magazine |last=Roden |first=Andy |url=https://archive.org/details/cbw-issue664/page/10/mode/2up |date=3 February 2005 |title=Lowfloor school bus launched |magazine=Coach & Bus Week |issue=664 |pages=10–11 |location=Peterborough |publisher=Emap |access-date=4 December 2024}}{{cite news |url=http://www.busandcoach.com/news/articles/archive/adl-schoolbus-on-tour/ |title=ADL schoolbus on tour |work=Bus & Coach Professional |date=27 May 2005 |access-date=29 July 2018 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180729174232/http://www.busandcoach.com/news/articles/archive/adl-schoolbus-on-tour/ |archive-date=29 July 2018}}
A common design was used primarily that the bus has a single-curvature windscreen with a peaked roof dome and a separately mounted destination sign. The bus was developed to compete with the European-built heavy-weight single-decker buses sold in the United Kingdom, the most notable being Volvo. Many full-size ({{Convert|12|m|abbr=on}} or more) single-decker buses are primarily designed for use on the continent and to carry a large number of standing passengers which is commonplace on the continent, but the Enviro300 was designed solely for the UK market where large numbers of standing passengers are not often carried. TransBus therefore believed that operators could make significant fuel savings by operating light-weight buses and produced a vehicle which is claimed to be lighter than its continental rivals but offer more seating capacity.
The Enviro300 had not sold as well as the manufacturer had hoped, though sales were not helped by the collapse of TransBus International in 2004. The first seven Enviro300s were delivered to Truronian for use on Eden Project shuttle services in 2002.{{cite magazine |url=http://www.cbwnet.co.uk/editorial/psvnews.asp?s=ed&ss=psvn&article_id=4904 |date=12 September 2002 |title=First new-generation Enviro 300s enter service |magazine=Coach & Bus Week |issue=542 |page= |location=Peterborough |publisher=Emap |access-date=14 July 2024 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021104230916/http://www.cbwnet.co.uk/editorial/psvnews.asp?s=ed&ss=psvn&article_id=4904 |archive-date=4 November 2002}} First Midland Red were among the biggest customers for the original Enviro300, purchasing 25 new between 2003 and 2005.{{cite web |url=http://midlandred.net/vehicles/fleetinfo.php?type=enviro300&operator=mrw&page=overview |title=Midland Red West (First Midland Red) Alexander Dennis Enviro300 - Overview |work=MidlandRed.net |access-date=29 July 2018}} A smaller number of original Enviro300s were also sold to the Stagecoach Group, Cardiff Bus and Bus Éireann.
The Enviro300 chassis was also able to be fitted with bodywork by other manufacturers, with Courtney Coaches purchasing East Lancs Esteem bodied examples in 2006. This was the first time the Enviro300 chassis was constructed with bodywork by another manufacturer.{{cite magazine |last=Lidstone |first=John G. |title=Fleet News England & Wales |magazine=Buses |location=Hersham |publisher=Ian Allan Publishing |issue=618 |page=46 |date=September 2006}}
Second generation (2007–2015)
{{multiple image
|caption_align=center
| align = right
| direction = vertical
| width = 180
| image1 = Stagecoach Swindon 22626.JPG
| image2 = Stagecoach Swindon 22626 rear.JPG
| caption2 = Stagecoach West second generation Enviro300-bodied MAN 18.240 in October 2008}}
In late 2007 Alexander Dennis introduced a second generation version of Enviro300 which featured styling cues similar to the Enviro200 Dart and the Enviro400. It had a single-piece windscreen covering the destination display (no longer a peaked roof dome similar to the Marshall Capital and the MCV Stirling). In addition to being available as an integral bus, it was also available on MAN 18.240/18.250, Volvo B7RLE and Scania K230UB chassis.{{cite news |url=http://www.busandcoach.com/news/articles/archive/adl-makes-new-links-with-man-and-scania/ |title=ADL makes new links with MAN and Scania |work=Bus & Coach Professional |date=30 January 2007 |access-date=29 July 2018 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180729171320/http://www.busandcoach.com/news/articles/archive/adl-makes-new-links-with-man-and-scania/ |archive-date=29 July 2018}}{{cite news|url=https://www.busworld.org/articles/detail/78 |title=Alexander Dennis Enviro 300 on ADL, MAN or Volvo Chassis |work=Busworld |location=Roeselare |date=7 January 2008 |access-date=29 July 2018 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180726234026/https://www.busworld.org/articles/detail/78 |archive-date=26 July 2018}} The second generation Enviro300 was far more successful sales wise than its predecessor, with Arriva,{{cite news |url=http://www.busandcoach.com/news/articles/archive/adl-wins-big-share-of-63million-arriva-order/ |title=ADL wins big share of £63 million Arriva order |work=Bus & Coach Professional |date=19 June 2008 |access-date=29 July 2018}}{{Dead link|date=July 2024 |fix-attempted=yes }}{{cite news |url=http://www.busandcoach.com/news/articles/archive/arriva-places-70million-order/ |title=Arriva places £70 million order |work=Bus & Coach Professional |date=20 November 2008 |access-date=29 July 2018}}{{Dead link|date=May 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} the FirstGroup and Stagecoach purchasing examples.
The Stagecoach Group standardised on the Enviro300 as its standard full-size single-decker from 2007 until the end of production in 2015, when it was replaced within the group by the full-size Enviro200 MMC.{{cite news |url=https://cbwmagazine.com/stagecoach-makes-80m-new-coach-and-bus-order/ |title=Stagecoach makes £80m new coach and bus order |work=Coach & Bus Week |location=Peterborough |date=16 March 2015 |access-date=16 July 2024}} The group first ordered 100 Enviro300 bodied MAN 18.240s in 2007,{{cite news |url=http://www.busandcoach.com/news/articles/archive/stagecoach-orders-444-new-buses/ |title=Stagecoach orders 444 new buses |work=Bus & Coach Professional |date=28 February 2007 |access-date=29 July 2018 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180729172722/http://www.busandcoach.com/news/articles/archive/stagecoach-orders-444-new-buses/ |archive-date=29 July 2018}} with the first eight production Enviro300s entering service with Stagecoach in Perth to launch the Stagecoach Goldline bus service in October 2007.{{cite news |date=31 October 2007 |title=New-look Enviro for Stagecoach Goldline route |url=http://www.busandcoach.com/newsstory.aspx?id=1653 |url-status=dead |work=Bus & Coach Professional |location= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071105172900/http://www.busandcoach.com/newsstory.aspx?id=1653 |archive-date=5 November 2007 |access-date=7 April 2023}} Further orders boosted the total number of MAN-chassised Enviro300s operated by Stagecoach Group companies to over 350. Integrally-constructed Enviro300s were distributed across all UK bus operating subsidiaries of Stagecoach, with examples including large numbers delivered to Stagecoach North East for services in Stockton-on-Tees,{{cite news |url=https://cbwmagazine.com/stagecoach-north-east-launches-zone-branded-envrio300s/ |title=Stagecoach North East launches 'Zone' branded Envrio300s |work=Coach & Bus Week |location=Peterborough |date=10 November 2014 |access-date=17 July 2024}}{{cite news |url=https://cbwmagazine.com/stagecoach-north-east-unveils-first-of-17-new-adl-enviro300s/ |title=Stagecoach North East unveils first of 17 new ADL Enviro300s |work=Coach & Bus Week |location=Peterborough |date=21 September 2015 |access-date=17 July 2024}} Stagecoach East Scotland for services in Glenrothes, Kirkcaldy and Perth,{{cite news |url=https://cbwmagazine.com/10-new-enviro300s-for-stagecoach-perth/ |title=10 new Enviro300s for Stagecoach Perth |work=Coach & Bus Week |location=Peterborough |date=18 August 2014 |access-date=17 July 2024}}{{cite news |url=https://www.busandcoachbuyer.com/enviro300s-stagecoach-east-scotland/ |title=Enviro300s for Stagecoach East Scotland |work=Bus & Coach Buyer |date=11 September 2014 |access-date=17 July 2024}} and 18 built to revised Stagecoach Gold specification for Stagecoach Merseyside & South Lancashire.{{cite news |url=https://cbwmagazine.com/new-gold-fleet-for-stagecoach-merseyside-and-south-lancashire/ |title=New Gold fleet for Stagecoach Merseyside and South Lancashire |work=Coach & Bus Week |location=Peterborough |date=23 November 2015 |access-date=17 July 2024}}{{cite news |url=https://www.busandcoachbuyer.com/stagecoach-gold-cheshire/ |title=Stagecoach Gold in Cheshire |work=Bus & Coach Buyer |date=18 November 2015 |access-date=17 July 2024}}
File:SM 52 27953.jpg Alexander Dennis Enviro300 in June 2025]]
File:SYRK28677.jpg Alexander Dennis Enviro300 bodied Scania K230UB in September 2024]]
In January 2011, Stagecoach placed an order for 50 Scania K230UBs with Enviro300 bodies. These were followed by further 28 examples between 2012 and 2013,{{cite news |url=http://www.busandcoach.com/newspage.aspx?id=6491&categoryid=0 |title=£60million Stagecoach order |work=Bus & Coach Professional |date=20 February 2012 |access-date=6 October 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141010034513/http://www.busandcoach.com/newspage.aspx?id=6491&categoryid=0 |archive-date=10 October 2014}} and 28 between 2014 and 2015,{{cite news |url=https://cbwmagazine.com/stagecoach-makes-record-breaking-100m-coach-and-bus-fleet-order/ |title=Stagecoach makes record-breaking £100m coach and bus fleet order |work=Coach & Bus Week |location=Peterborough |date=6 March 2014 |access-date=16 July 2024}} including two built to Gold specification for Stagecoach Cumbria & North Lancashire's X4/X5 service.{{cite news |url=https://www.busandcoachbuyer.com/stagecoach-goes-gold-cumbria/ |title=Stagecoach goes Gold in Cumbria |work=Bus & Coach Buyer |date=30 September 2015 |access-date=17 July 2024}}
The FirstGroup were also another customer for the integral second generation Enviro300, albeit in comparatively smaller numbers to Stagecoach. Having ordered 142 integral Enviro300s in 2013,{{cite news |url=https://cbwmagazine.com/significant-new-bus-order-from-first/ |title=Significant new bus order from First |work=Coach & Bus Week |location=Peterborough |date=20 February 2013 |access-date=16 July 2024}} 89 of these were delivered to First Glasgow,{{cite news |last=Challen |first=John |url=http://www.transportengineer.org.uk/transport-engineer-news/multi-million-pound-enviro-300-bus-order-from-first-glasgow/50449 |title=Multi-million pound Enviro 300 bus order from First Glasgow |work=Transport Engineer |date=16 May 2013 |access-date=29 July 2018}}{{cite news |url=https://www.busandcoachbuyer.com/first-invests-5m-lanarkshire/ |title=First invests £5m in Lanarkshire |work=Bus & Coach Buyer |date=12 March 2014 |access-date=17 July 2024}} 41 were delivered to First Greater Manchester for services in Oldham and Bolton,{{cite news |url=https://www.busandcoachbuyer.com/enviro300s-for-bolton/ |title=Enviro300s for Bolton |work=Bus & Coach Buyer |date=11 July 2013 |access-date=17 July 2024}} 23 were delivered to First Aberdeen,{{cite news |last=Challen |first=John |url=https://www.transportengineer.org.uk/content/news/first-aberdeen-adds-23-more-adl-hybrid-buses |title=First Aberdeen adds 23 more ADL hybrid buses |work=Transport Engineer |date=1 July 2013 |access-date=16 July 2024}} and ten were delivered to First Scotland East for a cross-border express service to Carlisle.{{cite news |url=https://www.busandcoachbuyer.com/enviro300s-for-bolton/ |title=First rolls out more Wi-Fi |work=Bus & Coach Buyer |date=11 July 2013 |access-date=17 July 2024}}
In mid-2008, Translink ordered 45 Enviro300 bodied Volvo B7RLEs for its Ulsterbus operation, these being the only Enviro300s to be bodied on this chassis. These were built to a rural specification featuring unique modifications such as narrower entrance doors, a separate wheelchair access door on the nearside, and 55 seatbelted seats arranged in a 2+3 layout.{{cite press release |title=Latest orders maintain Volvo's market leading position in city buses |url=https://www.volvobuses.com/gb/news/2008/nov/news-53572.html |publisher=Volvo Buses United Kingdom & Ireland |access-date=17 July 2024 |date=4 November 2008 |quote=A second Volvo B7RLE is displayed on the stand, this time Euro 5 compliant and featuring the ADL Enviro 300 bodywork, which forms part of an order for 45 vehicles for Translink, It has 55 seats with 3&2 seating in the rear section.}}
=Alternative fuels=
{{see also|Alexander Dennis Enviro350H}}
A fleet of ten Enviro300s on MAN 18.240 chassis, which were converted to run on biodiesel produced from tallow and used cooking oil, were delivered to Stagecoach West Scotland for use in Kilmarnock in 2010, replacing older single-deck buses also fuelled by biodiesel.{{Cite news |last=West |first=Karl |url=https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A246059794/AONE |title=All aboard the chip fat bus |date=9 January 2011 |work=Sunday Times |location=London |page=11 |access-date=17 July 2024 |url-access=subscription |via=General OneFile}}
In April 2013, Reading Buses took delivery of 20 natural gas-powered Enviro300SG buses based on the Scania K270UB chassis.{{cite news |url=https://www.intelligenttransport.com/transport-news/8469/reading-buses-places-major-order-for-19-adl-enviro300-scania-gas-powered-buses/ |title=Reading Buses places major order for 19 ADL Enviro300 Scania gas-powered buses |work=Intelligent Transport |date=29 August 2012 |access-date=29 July 2018}}{{cite news |url=http://www.busandcoach.com/news/articles/archive/scaniaadl-gas-buses-arrive-in-reading/ |title=Scania/ADL gas buses arrive in Reading |work=Bus & Coach Professional |date=26 April 2013 |access-date=29 July 2018 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180729171325/http://www.busandcoach.com/news/articles/archive/scaniaadl-gas-buses-arrive-in-reading/ |archive-date=29 July 2018}} These buses were jointly developed by Alexander Dennis and Scania, who had a demonstrator on loan to other operators from March 2013.{{cite news |url=https://cbwmagazine.com/scania-adl-set-to-launch-gas-powered-demonstrator-vehicle/ |title=Scania-ADL set to launch gas-powered demonstrator vehicle |work=Coach & Bus Week |location=Peterborough |date=6 March 2013 |access-date=29 July 2018}} Stagecoach North East purchased 40 Enviro300SG bodied Scania K270UBs in 2014 for use on services in Sunderland.{{cite news |url=https://www.busandcoachbuyer.com/stagecoach-launches-gas-fleet-sunderland/ |title=Stagecoach launches gas fleet in Sunderland |work=Bus & Coach Buyer |date=26 February 2014 |access-date=29 July 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140309031338/https://www.busandcoachbuyer.com/stagecoach-launches-gas-fleet-sunderland/ |archive-date=9 March 2014}}
One Enviro300SG was converted by Alexander Dennis to run on biofuel produced from human waste in 2014. Capable of a range of {{convert|300|km}} at maximum capacity, the 'Bio-Bus' was initially loaned to the Bath Bus Company, requiring the installation of a temporary fuelling station at the Bristol Sewage Treatment Works in Avonmouth, before commencing on demonstration duties across the United Kingdom.{{cite news |url=https://cbwmagazine.com/poo-bus-goes-on-the-road/ |title=Poo bus goes on the road |work=Coach & Bus Week |location=Peterborough |date=24 November 2014 |access-date=16 July 2024}}
A hybrid electric derivative of the integral Enviro300 named the Enviro350H, equipped with BAE Systems hybrid technology used in the Alexander Dennis Enviro400H, was launched by Alexander Dennis in 2010, initially available with Tata Hispano bodywork exclusively for the Continental Europe export market.{{cite news |url=http://www.busandcoach.com/newspage.aspx?id=4755&categoryid=0 |title=ADL aims for Europe with 19 tonne hybrid |work=Bus & Coach Professional |date=17 November 2010 |access-date=17 July 2024 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130118132324/http://www.busandcoach.com/newspage.aspx?id=4755&categoryid=0 |archive-date=18 January 2013}}
2019 recall
On 10 May 2019, the UK Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) issued an instruction to all operators of both the Enviro200 and the Enviro300 to carry out additional safety checks of front and rear suspension components, following several safety concerns raised by the DVSA. A recall of Enviro200s and Enviro300s was announced by Alexander Dennis shortly after the announcement.{{cite news |url=https://cbwmagazine.com/dvsa-issues-guidance-over-enviro200-and-300-safety-concerns/ |title=DVSA issues guidance over Enviro200 and 300 safety concerns |work=Coach & Bus Week |location=Peterborough |date=14 May 2019 |access-date=17 July 2024}}
Alexander Dennis issued a service kit to operators of affected Enviro300s. Suspension modifications that came with the kit included the fitment of a polyurethane ring to the front suspension's catcher bracket, restricting movement of the front axle if front springs failed in service, while a bolt migration catcher bracket was fitted for the rear suspension to prevent the suspension's anchor bolt from migrating from the joint in the event of failure of the rear suspension.{{cite web|author= |url=https://www.route-one.net/news/adl_moves_quickly_to_address_e200__e300_suspension_issues/ |title=ADL address E200, E300 suspension difficulties |work=routeone |date=14 May 2019 |access-date=17 July 2024}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{commons category-inline}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20110616210351/http://www.alexander-dennis.com/product-details.php?s=82&subs=43&tableID=220&itemID=1 Alexander Dennis product description]
{{Alexander Dennis}}