10 Years of the Alexander Dennis Enviro400 City: A Double-Deck Body Design Inspired by the New Routemaster

It’s been 10 years since bus manufacturer Alexander Dennis (ADL) unveiled the stylish double-deck bus known as the Enviro400 City. It’s amazing how quickly time flies! This article also serves as a follow-up to the 5 Years of the Enviro400 City article.

To recap from my previous article published in 2020, I shared my research on how the former Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, encouraged bus manufacturers to incorporate the DNA of the New Routemaster into their double-deck bus designs.

London Bus Tender Awards: Arriva Loses Route 78 To Go-Ahead London And New Routemasters To Continue On Route 189

The recent London Bus Tender Awards have announced route 78 have been awarded to Go-Ahead London with existing hybrid buses.

LBSL intends to enter into new contracts for the following routes with the operators listed below:

Alexander Dennis Reveals Double-Deck Hydrogen Bus Project, and New Shorter Enviro400EV Variant - Wrightbus Teams up with Voith for Electrical Drive System

This week has been a busy week for bus manufacturing in the UK, so here’s a brief roundup of articles from UK bus manufacturers.

From Alexander Dennis

Larbert, Scotland, UK – 25th February 2021: (TSX: NFI) Alexander Dennis Limited (“ADL”), a subsidiary of NFI Group Inc. (“NFI”), one of the world’s leading independent global bus manufacturers, today announced that its next generation double deck hydrogen bus will deliver a zero-emission range of up to 300 miles. It will be powered by a Ballard fuel cell power module through the efficient Voith Electrical Drive System (VEDS).

Ireland’s National Transport Authority unveils eye-catching ADL’s Enviro400ER City buses as they order 180 more

More news from Ireland this month; the Republic of Ireland’s governing body National Transport Authority has unveiled the Enviro400ER City vehicles manufacturered by Alexander Dennis and announced an order of 180 more buses.

This follows on from last week when the Northern Irish Department for Infrastructure announced a £66 million order for 100 zero and 45 low emission buses manufactured by Wrightbus - you can read more in my previous article here.

5 years of the Enviro400 City!

It's been five years since bus manufacturer Alexander Dennis Limited (ADL) unveiled their eye-catching double deck variant, the Enviro400 City!

The body design of the Enviro400 City is based on the New Routemaster (NRM), designed by Heatherwick Studio and manufactured by Wrightbus. Thomas Heatherwick, the founder of Heatherwick Studio, praised the Enviro400 City as a "back-to-front compliment".

TfL resume New Routemaster conversion to front door only boarding and the launch of Enviro400EV City for West Midlands

The fares for London buses have now been fully restored and TfL mentioned in their press release that they are finishing off converting the three-door, two-staircase hybrid New Routemasters to front-door only boarding.

10 year anniversary of the New Routemaster design – How it has improved bus designs over the years

It has been 10 years since TfL, the London Mayor (now currently Prime Minister) Boris Johnson and Heatherwick Studios unveiled the final design of the most controversial three-door, two-staircase hybrid bus known as the New Routemaster,back in 2010.

We take a look at the press release from TfL when they unveiled the final design of the New Routemaster on 17^th May 2010.

From TfL press release

The final design of the New Bus for London, based on the much-loved Routemaster, was today unveiled by the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, and London's Transport Commissioner, Peter Hendy.

Pioneering design

The bus will use the latest green technology. It will be 15 per cent more fuel efficient than existing hybrid buses, and 40 per cent more efficient than conventional diesel double decks and much quieter on the streets.

Arriva orders ADL-BYD Enviro400EV City for route 319. Stagecoach Manchester unveils Enviro400EV Citys - Plus COVID-19 update

Today I have more news regarding the new double deck electric buses for London.

The unofficial London Bus Routes website has announced that bus operator Arriva London have placed an order for 19 Alexander Dennis-BYD Enviro400EV City vehicles for their route 319 contract which is expected to enter service this September 2020. (subject to delay due to COVID-19)

Transport news roundup for February 2020 – Electric buses for Los Angeles & stylish biogas buses for Bristol

This is a selection of various transport news which occured during the month of February 2020.

First of all, my prediction turned out to be correct in a article I wrote back in November 2019 when Tower Transit won routes 23 and C3; I expected them to use Optare Metrodecker EVs for their new route contracts.

Double-Deck Hydrogens and “New Routemaster spin-off” plug-in hybrid buses for Ireland!

Good news for Wrightbus as they are a few months in to the new ownership from Jo Bamford; the Northern Irish transport authority Translink is set to roll out double deck hydrogen buses for Belfast.

Electrifying win for Stagecoach as London Bus routes 173 and 174 will be served using zero-emission double-deck electric buses!

Two routes serving Beckton, Dagenham, Chadwell Heath, King George’s Hospital, Romford and Harold Hill will be served with new zero-emission double-deck electric buses!

Notification of Tender Results
16th January 2020

LBSL intends to enter into new contracts for the following routes with the operators listed below:

Comparing the two double-deck EV’s for London: BYD/ADL Enviro400EV and Optare Metrodecker EV

Enviro400EV City

There are two double-deck electric buses currently operating on routes 43 and 134 operated by Metroline for London Buses.

Upcoming new London electric bus routes for 2020

It has been revealed that London will be getting more electric buses during 2020.

Taking a look at a recent Freedom of information (FOI) request submitted to Tfl; they have released some interesting information regarding the electric bus project for London. TfL stated under a Freedom of Information request:

We are currently converting routes 43 and 134 to double deck electric buses – and all buses will be in service by the end of the year. These double decks are made by two manufacturers – Optare and a partnership with BYD/ADL.

Why the Wrightbus SRM failed and Alexander Dennis’ Enviro400 City is gaining success

This is my essay about the failure of the Wrightbus SRM bodywork and the success of Alexander Dennis’ City bodywork. The purpose of this essay is not to discredit Wrightbus and their SRM design.

Wrightbus and Alexander Dennis developed and manufactured their own New Routemaster spin-offs as part of TfL's challenge to succeed the New Routemaster bus designed by Heatherwick Studios.

The SRM has only been sold in two drivelines which are the Volvo B5LH and B5LHC. Yet other bus operators (in London and elsewhere) haven’t shown much interest using the SRM for their services.

Opinion: Design criticisms of Wrightbus Gemini 3 and SRM

This is more of an 'essay' type article because I have some criticisms with the design of the Wrightbus double deck products such as the Gemini 3 and SRM. I have criticised the Wrightbus double deck products in my previous articles and therefore I will lay out my ideas which could possibly inspire the manufacturer to make changes.

Electric bus types revealed for London bus routes 94, C10 & P5

Hot off the press is the news that RATP-Dev placed an order for 29 of the Alexander Dennis BYD Enviro400EV for use on their London Buses Route 94 contract.

Extracts from Alexander Dennis

Alexander Dennis Limited (ADL) and BYD Europe jointly announced today that the companies’ electric vehicle partnership, which delivers the leading UK electric bus, has already topped 100 double deck bus sales. ADL is a subsidiary of NFI Group Inc. (NFI), one of the world’s largest independent global bus manufacturers and BYD is a global leader in batteries and electric buses.

The zero emission 'New Routemaster spin-off' Enviro400EV City finally entered service on London Buses Route 43

Finally, after a very long wait, the spin-off of the New Routemaster, the pure electric Enviro400EV City which is jointly manufactured by Alexander Dennis and BYD has entered in to service on London Bus route 43 as of 1st July 2019.

Bus designs have evolved to reflect similarity to the New Routemaster bus and I’d like to say a new chapter has started with the iconic Enviro400 City which has gone pure electric.

According to London Vehicle Finder, the first five of the BYD Alexander Dennis Enviro400EV City entered service on route 43 on 1st July 2019 - here's the mini fleet list.

Should London Buses use a standard interior colour scheme?

As the new battery-electric Enviro400EV City (jointly manufactured by BYD and Alexander Dennis) is set to serve London Buses Route 43 anytime soon, it has been revealed that Metroline has chosen to use their own interior livery instead of the burgundy (dark red) and brass (gold coloured railings) with the TfL/LT Roundel seating moquette. The interior colour design is based on the New Routemaster bus (including their own seating moquette) which reflects similarity with the classic AEC Routemaster bus.

Upcoming New London buses for year 2019

Using the information from the 'London Bus Routes' services changes page. I've compiled a list of routes that will be getting new buses during the year 2019.

The increase of the Enviro400 City, and also the London bus tender awards

Two bus operators in Britain launch the Enviro400 City manufactured by Alexander Dennis. First, Glasgow operates the new Euro 6 diesel spec and secondly, Nottingham City Transport increases the bio-gas spec of the Enviro400 City.