Strathclyde has first of WA order
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• Scottish coachbuilder Walter Alexander has handed over the first six of a £7.5 million order for 95 double-deckers to Strathclyde Buses.
The order is one of the largest for new buses to be placed by a Scottish operator for some years. The Volvo DIM with Alexander 84-seat bodies will be used on services in and around Glasgow. Ian Murray, sales and marketing manager for Walter Alexander, says the rest of the consignment will be delivered over the next nine months.
"A complete line will be dedicated to Strathclyde Buses until next spring," says Murray. "The buses have the Rtype body which has become increasingly popular as operators start to re-stock their fleets after the mid-1980s slump in orders." Walter Alexander's Falkirk works is now producing 12 double-deck bodies a week on Olympian, Volvo and Scania chassis.
Murray says the order book is full for nine months with room for 50 double-deckers before the end of March 1990.
The workforce is now up to 850, and Falkirk can produce up to 550 double-deckers a year with about 300 kits for export.
In 1988/89 Walter Alexander's coachbuilding division increased its turnover from £26.2 million to £28.4 million, but profits fell from £1.94 million to £1.35 million.
Coras lompair Eireann (CIE) subsidiary Dublin Bus has placed an order with Walter Alexander for 18 Leyland Olympian 74-seat doubledeckers. Dublin Bus provides all bus services in the Irish capital.