Alexander PS type
{{Short description|Step-entrance single-deck bus bodywork}}
{{Missing information|PS-types in Singapore|date=September 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2018}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2018}}
{{Infobox UK Bus
| name = Alexander PS-type
| image = Stagecoach B10M Alexander PS 20901.jpg
| caption = Alexander PS-type bodied Volvo B10M operated by Stagecoach Merseyside
| manufacturer = Walter Alexander
| production = 1988–1998
| successor = Alexander ALX200
Alexander ALX300
| assembly = Falkirk, Scotland
| length = 11.9m
| width = 2.5m
| height = 3.0m{{citation needed|date=September 2021}}
| floortype = Step entrance
| doors = 1 or 2 doors
| chassis = Volvo B10M
Leyland Lynx
Mercedes-Benz O405
Dennis Lance
Iveco Turbocity
Scania N113
| transmission = ZF or Voith
}}
The Alexander PS-type was a step-entrance single-deck bus body built by Walter Alexander Coachbuilders in Falkirk, Scotland and was produced from 1988 to the late 1990s on the Dennis Lance, Mercedes-Benz O405, Scania N113 and Volvo B10M chassis.
The Alexander PS-type was developed from the Alexander's single-deck export body for Singapore Bus Services, and was based on the domestic P-type with a revised front end. It was initially launched in the United Kingdom on the Scania N113CR chassis in 1988.{{cite magazine |date=16 June 1988 |title=New Series 3 PSV at NEC |url=http://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/16th-june-1988/14/new-series-3-psv-at-nec |magazine=Commercial Motor |volume=171 |issue=4274 |location=Sutton |publisher=Reed Business Publishing |access-date=8 September 2021}}
The Alexander PS-type was ultimately succeeded by the Alexander ALX200 and Alexander ALX300 low-floor bus bodies.
Operators
File:Stagecoach bus 20552 (P552 ESA), 2009 Metrocentre bus rally (3).jpg
The Alexander PS-type on the Volvo B10M chassis was the primary single decker for the Stagecoach Group through the 1990s, with 100 delivered to Stagecoach Cumberland from late 1992 following production delays with the Volvo B6 midibus chassis,{{cite magazine |url=https://archive.org/details/cbw-issue38/page/9/mode/1up |date=7 November 1992 |title=Stagecoach's 49-seat Volvo B10Ms on way |magazine=Coach & Bus Week |issue=38 |page=9 |location=Peterborough |publisher=Emap |access-date=20 April 2024}} while Stagecoach Manchester also took on comparatively large numbers of PS types-bodied B10Ms.{{cite web |url=https://www.mistral-bus.com/stagecoach-bid-farewell-b10m-november-14/ |title=StageCoach to bid 'Farewell to the B10M' on November 14 |author= |date=2014 |website=mistral-bus.com |publisher=Mistral Bus and Coach |access-date=10 September 2021}} Most were withdrawn by 2016 due to regulations mandating low-floor buses, but some were retained as late as 2020 as school buses by Stagecoach Cumbria & North Lancashire.{{cite news |author= |date=17 August 2017 |title=Schoolbuses placed in class of their own |url= https://www.keybuses.com/article/schoolbuses-placed-class-their-own |work=Buses |location=Peterborough |access-date=10 September 2021}}
File:MBO405-WA-Ext-SBST.JPG Alexander PS bodied Mercedes-Benz O405 in January 2009]]
The second-biggest operator of the Alexander PS-type were Mainline Buses, who ordered a total of 180 Alexander PS-types on Volvo B10M chassis from 1990 to 1996.{{cite magazine |date=20 January 1996 |issue=201 |page=28 |title=PS-bodied B10Ms preferred |magazine=Coach & Bus Week |location=Peterborough |publisher=Emap}}{{cite magazine |date=17 May 1990 |title=Switching to single-decks |url=http://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/17th-may-1990/18/switching-to-single-decks |magazine=Commercial Motor |volume=172 |issue=4369 |location=Sutton |publisher=Reed Business Publishing |access-date=8 September 2021}} Mainline's first Alexander PS-types were the first to be bodied on a Volvo chassis. Kelvin Central Buses also purchased 60 PS-types between 1995 and 1997.{{cite magazine |url=https://archive.org/details/cbw-issue221/page/n7/mode/1up |date=8 June 1996 |title=First of 120 'green' Alexander/Volvos for SBH |magazine=Coach & Bus Week |issue=221 |page=8 |location=Peterborough |publisher=Emap |access-date=16 August 2024}} Following the purchase of Mainline and SB Holdings by the FirstGroup, these buses were dispersed around First's other operations.
On the Scania N113CRB chassis, Busways Travel Services took an order of 20 Scanias with PS-type bodies, while Nottingham City Transport took an order of eight.{{cite magazine |date=20 April 1989 |title=BT takes transverse Scania |url=http://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/20th-april-1989/18/bt-takes-transverse-scanias |magazine=Commercial Motor |volume=170 |issue=4315 |location=Sutton |publisher=Reed Business Publishing |access-date=8 September 2021}}{{cite magazine |date=26 July 1990 |title=Notts adds 20 |url=http://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/26th-july-1990/19/notts-adds-20 |magazine=Commercial Motor |volume=172 |issue=4379 |location=Sutton |publisher=Reed Business Publishing |access-date=8 September 2021}} Yorkshire Traction purchased five Scania PS-types in 1992 as their first new full-size buses since deregulation.{{cite magazine |date=11 April 1991 |issue=634 |page=13 |title=Yorkshire Traction picks-up five new buses |magazine=Coachmart |location=Peterborough}}
Sixteen Dennis Lances with dual door Alexander PS-type bodies were built for London Buses subsidiary Selkent, while in Hong Kong, Kowloon Motor Bus took on 24 Lances with PS-type bodywork.{{cite magazine |url=https://archive.org/details/cbw-issue11/page/14/mode/1up |date=2 May 1992 |title=Selkent - new look |magazine=Coach & Bus Week |issue=11 |page=14 |location=Peterborough |publisher=Emap |access-date=20 April 2024}}{{cite magazine |date=9 July 1992 |title=Kneeling tests for Lance |url=http://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/9th-july-1992/14/kneeling-tests-for-lance |magazine=Commercial Motor |volume=176 |issue=4480 |location=Sutton |publisher=Reed Business Publishing |access-date=8 September 2021}}
Two examples on the Mercedes-Benz O405 chassis was built with Alexander PS-type bodies in 1992, one being a rigid Mercedes demonstrator and a sole articulated example being bodied for Grampian Regional Transport. These were branded as the Cityranger.{{cite magazine |date=22 October 1992 |title=Merc Alexander citybus launch |url=http://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/22nd-october-1992/16/melt-alexander-citybus-aunch |magazine=Commercial Motor |volume=176 |issue=4495 |location=Sutton |publisher=Reed Business Publishing |access-date=10 September 2021}}{{cite magazine |last=Simpson |first=Richard |date=14 November 1992 |title=Merc artic makes its debut |url=https://archive.org/details/cbw-issue39/page/7/mode/1up |magazine=Coach & Bus Week |issue=39 |page=7 |location=Peterborough |publisher=Emap |access-date=20 April 2024}}
{{Clear}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{commons category-inline}}
{{Walter Alexander bodies}}