CANADA
Alexander Dennis has received an order for 29 Enviro500 double-deck buses from Canadian operator BC Transit in the province of British Columbia.
The operator is a provincial government corporation that provides planning, marketing, fleet and funding support for all public transport services in British Columbia outside of the Metro Vancouver region. It works in partnership with 59 local governments and operates 57 transit systems.
The new Enviro500s will be built as part of the partnership between Alexander Dennis and local partner Big Rig Manufacturing. They will be supported in operation by the manufacturer’s own staff as well as through parent company NFI’s wider NFI Parts organisation.
Scheduled for delivery next year, the new buses will mark the 25th anniversary since BC Transit became an industry innovator by placing the first double deck buses into transit service in North America as part of its Victoria Regional Transit System. The operator has now bought over 110 double-deck buses.
The new vehicles will replace earlier double-deckers that have reached the end of their operating lives as part of a process that began in 2021 which has already seen the very first Alexander Dennis double decker in North America retired from service and repatriated to the United Kingdom, where it will be preserved as part of the manufacturer’s heritage fleet.
BC Transit President & CEO Erinn Pinkerton said: “BC Transit is proud of our continued partnership with Alexander Dennis. This new order of 29 Alexander Dennis Enviro500 buses will help ensure we are able to keep our essential transit services running efficiently for our valued customers. Transit ridership continues to grow in British Columbia, and we look forward to these buses going into service next year.”
Stephen Walsh, Vice-President for North America at Alexander Dennis, added: “BC Transit made history in 2000 when it introduced the first double deck buses into transit service in North America. We are extremely proud to have been part of this journey from day one and to continue to work in partnership with BC Transit with this latest order for more Enviro500 double deckers.”
Including the BC Transit order, Alexander Dennis has now confirmed orders from operators in Canada and the United States for more than 110 Enviro500 and Enviro500EV double deck buses since the restart of production was announced.