A new city bus from Dennis?
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BRITISH operators who mourn the passing of the Bristol RELL Gardner-engined single-deck city bus may gain a substitute if Hestair Dennis plans see the light of day.
The company has been cheered by 32 orders for single-deck versions of its Dominator double-decker — about 18 per cent of the total orders for the type — from Barrow, Hartlepool, Darlington and Merthyr Tydfil borough councils.
It recognises that the Dominator is over-engineered for single-deck work and is looking at various options for an alternative vehicle.
A major objective is to lower the fioorline towards the rear of the vehicle, and one way to do it would be to use an RE-style horizontal engine. This would meet the needs of Ulsterbus, which is the only remaining customer for the RELL.
Although Dennis says it is not interested in competing in the coach market, a rearengined model could be adapted for coach work, as European operators are very interested in sophisticated rear-engined luxury vehicles.
The double-deck Dominator is continuing to meet demand for a new generation vehicle with a separate chassis, and the first example with air suspension will be built early next year.