The first Enviro500 tri-axle double-deckers for Spokane Transit Authority in the United States have been delivered by Alexander Dennis.
They are part of an order for seven from the Washington state operator and are the first Alexander Dennis buses to be completed by the manufacturer’s assembly partner Big Rig Manufacturing in Las Vegas. An 80,000 square feet plant there is dedicated to production of diesel and zero-emission double-deckers.
Each Enviro500 for Spokane Transit is 12.9m in length and seats 82 passengers from a total capacity of 106. Space for two wheelchair users is included, with a powered ramp at the front door.
The customer will now carry out testing and driver training on the buses before deployment. When they are in service, the Enviro500s will be used on routes 6 and 66 between Spokane and Cheney.
Speaking about the first deliveries, Spokane Transit Authority Interim Co-CEO Brandon Rapez-Betty says: “The contemporary design and greater capacity of these buses will not just enhance but literally elevate the transit experience for our riders and establish a new standard for public transportation in our region.”
Alexander Dennis Vice-President and General Manager for North America Stephen Walsh describes completion and delivery of the buses as “a milestone” for Alexander Dennis on that continent.
He adds: “It adds another transit agency to the growing roster of double-deck users and marks a key moment in our partnership with Big Rig Manufacturing.
“With the state-of-the-art assembly line in Las Vegas now fully operational, we are on track to fulfil our growing order book and further add to the 1,400 double-deck buses we have sold in North America to date.”
