Canadian public transport agency BC Transit has ordered a further 29 Enviro500 tri-axle double-deckers from Alexander Dennis.
The deal represents a continuation of longstanding collaboration between BC Transit and Alexander Dennis and its predecessors, with the corporation having purchased its first double-deckers in 2000.
The new Enviro500s will continue a replacement programme for older double-deckers with BC Transit, a process that began in 2021. The first of those life-expired buses has already been returned to the UK to join the manufacturer’s heritage fleet.
Delivery of the latest batch is expected in 2025. The buses will be produced by the partnership between Alexander Dennis and Big Rig Manufacturing in North America and they will be supported by the bus manufacturer’s own staff, as well as through the wider NFI Parts organisation.
BC Transit provides planning, marketing, fleet and funding support for all transit services in British Columbia outside the Vancouver region. It works with 59 local governments and operates 57 transit systems, and has bought over 110 double-decker buses since 2000.
Including the latest 29 for BC Transit, Alexander Dennis has now taken confirmed orders in Canada and the United States for more than 110 examples of its Enviro500 and battery-electric Enviro500EV range since a restart of production for the model in North American format was announced.
Speaking about the most recent deal, BC Transit President and CEO Erinn Pinkerton says: “BC Transit is proud of our continued partnership with Alexander Dennis. This new order for 29 Enviro500 buses will help to ensure we are able to keep our essential transit services running efficiently for our customers.
“Transit ridership continues to grow in British Columbia, and we look forward to these buses going into service next year.”