Alexander Dennis to establish a chassis assembly plant in Ontario to facilitate delivery of order
Metrolinx in Toronto, Canada has signed an agreement with Alexander Dennis (ADL) to purchase 253 fully accessible low-height double-deckers. Metrolinx has three divisions – Go Transit, Presto and Union Pearson Express.
With a lower height, the buses will facilitate higher capacity service on all of Go Transit’s bus routes since they will be to access the major bus terminals at Hamilton, Yorkdale, York Mills and Union Station. Those can’t currently be served by existing double-deckers due to height restrictions.
“We believe everyone should have access to fast, convenient and integrated transit,” said Metrolinx President and CEO Bruce McCuaig.
“These buses represent the future of our bus fleet and set a new standard for the service we provide. Their lower floors will allow passengers with limited mobility to board with ease, and their lower height will allow us to bring double-decker service to all of our routes.”
Under the agreement, ADL will establish a bus chassis assembly facility in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area that will create up to 30 full-time jobs. Construction of the facility is expected to begin in mid-2015 and the first order of buses is expected to be delivered by 2016. If needed, there’s an option for Metrolinx to purchase an additional 150 buses over the five-year contract, up to 30 per annum.
ADL has almost 125 double-deckers already operating in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area where they have proved popular with passengers, drivers and operators. Chief Executive Colin Robertson said: “This initiative is the result of a seven-year business relationship with Metrolinx that has gone from strength-to-strength. It involves a multi-year, exclusive agreement for the supply of double-deck buses and marks a milestone for ADL. It also reinforces the reputation and performance credentials of our Enviro500 high capacity, three-axle double-deck range, which is now proving to be a winner in continents around the world. We look forward to becoming a fully-fledged contributor to the local economy, creating jobs and extending our supplier network.”
ADL has tripled its turnover to £500m in recent years with 50% of its earning now coming from export markets. Behind its success lies a string of business wins, partnerships, alliances and joint ventures that have seen it strengthen and extend its global footprint in Hong Kong, China, Singapore, Malaysia and North America where ADL fleets now operate in cities such as Toronto, New York, Washington DC, Las Vegas, San Francisco, Seattle, Vancouver and Ottawa.
Robert Davey, ADL’s Group Commercial and Business Development Director, added: “Progress is invariably built on partnerships and achievements and this project is the living proof of that statement. Working with Metrolinx we have demonstrated that the introduction of double-decks makes sense. They make a unique contribution to a sophisticated, integrated transport system, carrying large numbers of people within a limited road space, particularly when compared to longer, articulated vehicles. Our Enviro500 also delivers class-leading performance in terms of passenger costs per kilometre and greater manoeuvrability, factors that have been the mainstay of its success internationally.
“This latest order will see the double-deck establish itself as the backbone of the bus fleet in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area and provide the springboard for ADL to expand further in Canada and the USA. It is a welcome extension to our growing global footprint and has been achieved with formidable support from UK Export Finance, HSBC and Lloyds Banking Group.”
