Alexander ALX100
Encyclopedia
The Alexander ALX100 was a minibus
body built by Alexander
of the United Kingdom
. Over 150 bodies were built between 1997 and 1999, exclusively on the Mercedes-Benz O814D Vario
and O810D van chassis, and was fitted with seating capacities between 25 and 31 passengers.
The ALX100 was a replacement for the AM-Type 'Sprint' body, fitted to the previous Mercedes 709D chassis. With the retention of the Mercedes front end grille, bonnet and headlights, the ALX100 was extremely visually similar to the Plaxton Beaver 2, which was also bodied on the Vario. The Mercedes front end also meant that the ALX100 did not fit in with the visual features of the rest of the ALX product family, which had a distinctive common design for the front and rear, which was launched by Alexander to highlight its emerging low-floor bus
products.
The O814D/ALX100 combination was bought in large numbers by Thames Transit
, Stagecoach North West
, Devon General
, Arriva Northumbria
, Arriva Fox County
(and their predecessor Midland Fox), Midland Red North and Travel West Midlands
. There are few variants of the body, some have higher windows and different door styles as well as two different lengths depending on the wheelbase model, similar to the Plaxton Beaver 2.
Minibus
A minibus or minicoach is a passenger carrying motor vehicle that is designed to carry more people than a multi-purpose vehicle or minivan, but fewer people than a full-size bus. In the United Kingdom, the word "minibus" is used to describe any full-sized passenger carrying van. Minibuses have a...
body built by Alexander
Walter Alexander Coachbuilders
Walter Alexander Coachbuilders was a Scottish bus coachbuilder and operater based in Falkirk.-History:Walter Alexander, notice a lack expasion by the Falkirk and District Tramways Company's especially in to Grangemouth which never hdd a tram line. In 1913 Alexander's Motor Service was created to...
of the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. Over 150 bodies were built between 1997 and 1999, exclusively on the Mercedes-Benz O814D Vario
Mercedes-Benz Vario
The Mercedes-Benz Vario is a heavy van manufactured by Mercedes-Benz. Originally launched as the T2 in 1986, the Vario gained its current name when it was facelifted in 1996. The T2 van itself succeeded the Mercedes-Benz L van series.The bodyshell remained relatively unchanged since production...
and O810D van chassis, and was fitted with seating capacities between 25 and 31 passengers.
The ALX100 was a replacement for the AM-Type 'Sprint' body, fitted to the previous Mercedes 709D chassis. With the retention of the Mercedes front end grille, bonnet and headlights, the ALX100 was extremely visually similar to the Plaxton Beaver 2, which was also bodied on the Vario. The Mercedes front end also meant that the ALX100 did not fit in with the visual features of the rest of the ALX product family, which had a distinctive common design for the front and rear, which was launched by Alexander to highlight its emerging low-floor bus
Low-floor bus
A low-floor bus is a bus that has no steps between one or more entrances and part or all of the passenger cabin. Being low floor improves the accessibility of the bus for the public, particularly the elderly or infirm, or those with push chairs, and increasingly, those in wheelchairs.In the modern...
products.
The O814D/ALX100 combination was bought in large numbers by Thames Transit
Thames Transit
Thames Transit was a bus and coach company which operated in the Oxford area. As well as running a number of local services it also ran a regular service to London called the Oxford Tube. It now carries about fifteen million passengers a year using just under 200 vehicles...
, Stagecoach North West
Stagecoach North West
Stagecoach North West is a major operator of bus services in North West England. It is a subsidiary of the Stagecoach Group, and has its origins in the purchase of Cumberland in 1987 and Ribble in 1988 from the National Bus Company. The head office of Stagecoach North West is in Carlisle...
, Devon General
Devon General
Devon General was the brand name for the principal bus operator in south Devon from 1919. The name was first used by the Devon General Omnibus and Touring Company which was created in 1919. In 1922 it was purchased by the National Electric Construction Company which merged with British Electric...
, Arriva Northumbria
Arriva Northumbria
Arriva Northumbria operates in Northumbria, using the "Arriva serving Northumbria" name. They are considered now to have merged with Arriva North East,-Brief history:*1986: United Automobile Services split into two parts, ready for privatisation....
, Arriva Fox County
Arriva Fox County
Arriva Leicester is a bus company operating in Leicester and Leicestershire. It is part of Arriva Midlands.-History:Arriva Leicester was formed in 1981, as Midland Red East with the breakup of the old Midland Red bus company, and then became known as Midland Fox in 1984.In September 1996 the...
(and their predecessor Midland Fox), Midland Red North and Travel West Midlands
National Express West Midlands
National Express West Midlands , formerly known as Travel West Midlands , is the trade name of West Midlands Travel Ltd , a company which operates bus services from depots in the cities of Birmingham, and Wolverhampton, as well as the boroughs of Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull and Walsall in the West...
. There are few variants of the body, some have higher windows and different door styles as well as two different lengths depending on the wheelbase model, similar to the Plaxton Beaver 2.
See also
- Alexander ALX200Alexander ALX200The Alexander ALX200 was a midibus body built by Alexander of the United Kingdom. It was one of the ALX-series, which accounted for 5 different models , built for new generation bus chassis produced since late 1990s.It was designed by John Worker, and was launched in summer...
- Alexander ALX300Alexander ALX300The Alexander ALX300 is a full size single-decker bus body built by Alexander at Falkirk, Scotland, United Kingdom, which was first built in 1997...
- Alexander ALX400Alexander ALX400The Alexander ALX400 is a 2-axle double-decker bus body built by Walter Alexander Coachbuilders...
- Alexander ALX500Alexander ALX500The Alexander ALX500 is a 3-axle double-decker bus body built by Alexander of the United Kingdom. It was one of the ALX-series, which accounted for 5 different models , all of the models except the ALX100 featured the same designs on the front and rear panels that were originally designed for the...