View source for Dennis Dart

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox automobile
|name         = Dennis Dart
|image        = Thames Travel KU52 RXF front (Cropped).jpg
|caption      = [[Thames Travel]] Dennis Dart MPD with [[Plaxton Pointer|Plaxton Pointer 2]] bodywork
|manufacturer = {{ubl|[[Dennis Specialist Vehicles|Dennis]] (1989–2001)|TransBus International (2001–2004)|[[Alexander Dennis]] (2004–2008)|[[Thomas Built Buses]]}}
|factory      = [[Guildford]], England
|production   = 1989–2008
|predecessor  = {{ubl|[[Dennis Domino]]|[[Dennis Lance]]}}
|successor    = [[Alexander Dennis Enviro200]]
|capacity     = 23−44 seated
|length       = {{ubl|'''Dart:''' {{cvt|8.5|m}}, {{cvt|9.0|m}}, {{cvt|9.8|m}}|'''Dart SLF:'''{{cvt|8.8|m}},{{cvt|9.2|m}}, {{cvt|9.3|m}}, {{cvt|10.0|m}}, {{cvt|10.1|m}}, {{cvt|10.6|m}}, {{cvt|10.7|m}}, {{cvt|11.3|m}}}}
|width        = {{cvt|2.3|m}}, {{cvt|2.4|m}} or {{cvt|2.5|m}}
|floortype    = {{ubl|[[High-floor|Step-entrance]] (Dart)|[[Low-floor bus|Low-floor]] (Dart SLF)}}
|doors        = 1 or 2
|engine       = {{ubl|[[Cummins B Series engine|Cummins B Series]]|[[Cummins B Series engine|Cummins ISBe]]}}
|powerout     =
|transmission = {{ubl|[[Allison Transmission|Allison]]|[[Eaton Corporation|Eaton]]|[[Voith]]}}
|options      =
}}

The '''Dennis Dart''' is a [[single-decker bus|single-decker]] [[chassis]] of a [[bus]]. It was built from 1989 to 2008 by [[Dennis Specialist Vehicles|Dennis]]{{Efn|It was built by Dennis and then TransBus International and then Alexander Dennis.}}.

== First generation (step-entrance) ==
The '''Dennis Dart''' is a [[chassis]] of a bus, It has a [[Step entrance bus|step-entrance]]. It was made by [[Dennis Specialist Vehicles|Dennis]] from 1988 to 1996.

It could be built on [[Duple Dartline]] [[Bus body|bodywork]],<ref>[https://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/27th-october-1988/37/motor-show-88-report Major Show 88] ''[[Commercial Motor]]'' 27 October 1988</ref> [[Wadham Stringer]] bodywork,<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/Buses_in_the_Border_Towns_of_London_Coun/98TrEAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Dennis+Dart+Wadham+Stringer&pg=RA1-PA1977&printsec=frontcover|title=Buses in the Border Towns of London Country 1969-2019 (South of the Thames)|last=Batten|first=Malcolm|date=30 April 2024|publisher=Pen and Sword Transport|isbn=978-1-3990-9622-5|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|date=19 April 1990|title=Wadham low-floor midi|url=https://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/19th-april-1990/19/wadham-low-floor-midi|magazine=Commercial Motor|publisher=Temple Press|page=19|access-date=28 May 2023}}</ref> [[UVG Urbanstar]] bodywork,<ref>{{Citation|last=Solenteer|title=810 - N810 PDL|date=8 June 2007|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/solenteer/24191520840/|access-date=26 July 2024}}</ref> [[Wright Handybus]] bodywork,<ref>{{cite magazine|date=1 November 1990|title=Wright midi boosts jobs|url=https://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/1st-november-1990/20/wright-midi-boosts-jobs|magazine=Commercial Motor|publisher=Temple Press|page=20|access-date=28 May 2023}}</ref> [[East Lancs EL2000]] bodywork<ref>{{Cite web|title=East Lams to build two on Dad chassis {{!}} 16 May 1991 {{!}} The Commercial Motor Archive|url=https://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/16th-may-1991/20/east-lams-to-build-two-on-dad-chassis|access-date=26 July 2024|website=archive.commercialmotor.com}}</ref> and [[Alexander Dash]] bodywork.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/The_London_Dennis_Dart_Dart_SLF/2sSAEAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=dennis+dart+alexander+dash&pg=PT111&printsec=frontcover|title=The London Dennis Dart & Dart SLF|last=Beddall|first=David|date=29 December 2022|publisher=Pen and Sword Transport|isbn=978-1-3990-9519-8|language=en}}</ref>

=== Gallery ===
<gallery widths="190" heights="130">
File:DennisDartDupleDartlineBusG123RGT (cropped).jpg|[[Arriva North West & Wales]] early (1989) Dennis Dart with [[Duple Dartline]] bodywork in [[Crewe]]
File:Avon Buses Dennis Dart 962.JPG|Dennis Dart with [[Plaxton Pointer|Plaxton Pointer (step entrance)]] bodywork at [[Birkenhead bus station]]
File:Arriva Southern Counties 3132.JPG|Dennis Dart with [[Northern Counties Paladin]] bodywork at the 2007 [[Cobham bus museum]]
</gallery>
{{-}}

==Second generation (Dart SLF)==
[[File:Arriva Guildford & West Surrey 3091 P291 FPK.JPG|thumb|[[Arriva Guildford & West Surrey]] Dennis Dart SLF with [[Plaxton Pointer|Plaxton Pointer 1]] bodywork (before improvements)]]
[[File:Hedingham Omnibuses bus L351 Dennis Dart Plaxton Pointer EU56 FLM (1).jpg|thumb|[[Hedingham & Chambers]] Alexander Dennis Dart '''SPD''' with [[Plaxton Pointer 2]] bodywork (after improvements)]]

The '''Dennis Dart''' '''SLF'''{{Efn|Also called the '''TransBus Dennis Dart SLF''' and the '''Alexander Dennis Dart SLF'''}} (Super Low Floor) is a chassis of a bus, It has a [[Low floor bus|low-floor]].<ref name="Buses714">25 Years Ago: The birth of the Dennis Dart ''[[Buses (magazine)|Buses]]'' issue 714 September 2014 page 22</ref><ref name=BritainsBuses>{{cite book|title=Britain's Buses|date=2021|publisher=[[Key Publishing]]|isbn=978-1-802820-096|pages=17, 90, 108|edition=6}}</ref><ref name="History">[https://web.archive.org/web/20221229175419/https://www.alexander-dennis.com/about-us/our-history/ The History of Alexander Dennis] [[Alexander Dennis]]</ref> It was made from 1996 to 2001 by Dennis{{Efn|It was built by Dennis and then TransBus International and then Alexander Dennis.}}.

It could only be built on [[Plaxton Pointer 1]] [[Bus body|bodywork]].<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/Border_Towns_Buses_of_London_Country_Tra/hBv0EAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Dennis+Dart+SLF++Plaxton+Pointer&pg=PA28&printsec=frontcover|title=Border Towns Buses of London Country Transport (North of the Thames) 1969-2019|last=Batten|first=Malcolm|date=30 April 2024|publisher=Pen and Sword Transport|isbn=978-1-3990-9612-6|language=en}}</ref>

In 1997, Dennis made an improved chassis of the '''Dennis Dart SLF''' for the [[Plaxton Pointer 2]].

The improved chassis could be built on [[Plaxton Pointer 2]] [[Bus body|bodywork]],<ref name="Arriva Merseyside Buses - Simon Ackers - Google Books">{{cite book |last1=Ackers |first1=Simon |title=Arriva Merseyside Buses |date=2024 |publisher=Amberley Publishing Limited |isbn=978-1-3981-2108-9 |url=https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/Arriva_Merseyside_Buses/dJ_6EAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=dennis%20dart%20plaxton%20pointer&pg=PT42&printsec=frontcover |language=en}}</ref> [[East Lancs Spryte]] bodywork,<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/Buses_of_Wiltshire_and_Dorset/oibyEAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Dennis+Dart+SLF+East+Lancs+Spryte&pg=RA1-PT116&printsec=frontcover|title=Buses of Wiltshire and Dorset: Past and Present|last=Stubbings|first=Richard|date=15 February 2024|publisher=Amberley Publishing Limited|isbn=978-1-3981-1737-2|language=en}}</ref> [[UVG Urbanstar]] bodywork,<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/Northampton_Buses_and_Coaches/mSkFEQAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Dennis+Dart+SLF+UVG+Urbanstar&pg=PT74&printsec=frontcover|title=Northampton Buses and Coaches: The 1990s and 2000s|last=Cooper|first=Matt|date=15 May 2024|publisher=Amberley Publishing Limited|isbn=978-1-3981-1587-3|language=en}}</ref> [[Wright Crusader]] bodywork,<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/Oxford_and_South_Midland_Buses/F9r-EAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Dennis+Dart+SLF+Wright+Crusader&pg=PT28&printsec=frontcover|title=Oxford and South Midland Buses|last=Cooper|first=Matt|date=15 August 2022|publisher=Amberley Publishing Limited|isbn=978-1-3981-1119-6|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/Wrightbus/dF4uEAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Dennis+Dart+SLF+Wright+Crusader&pg=PT49&printsec=frontcover|title=Wrightbus: From 1946 to New Horizons|last=Jenkinson|first=Keith A.|date=15 March 2020|publisher=Amberley Publishing Limited|isbn=978-1-3981-0389-4|language=en}}</ref> [[Alexander ALX200]] bodywork,<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/McGill_s_Buses/8KyIDwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Dennis+Dart+SLF+Alexander+ALX200&pg=PT117&printsec=frontcover|title=McGill's Buses|last=Devoy|first=David|date=15 February 2018|publisher=Amberley Publishing Limited|isbn=978-1-4456-7453-7|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/Oxford_and_South_Midland_Buses/F9r-EAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Dennis+Dart+SLF+Alexander+ALX200&pg=PT27&printsec=frontcover|title=Oxford and South Midland Buses|last=Cooper|first=Matt|date=15 August 2022|publisher=Amberley Publishing Limited|isbn=978-1-3981-1119-6|language=en}}</ref> [[Marshall Capital]] bodywork,<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/The_McKindless_Group/t5OSDwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Dennis%20Dart%20SLF%20Marshall%20Capital&pg=RA1-PA1993&printsec=frontcover|title=The McKindless Group|last=Devoy|first=David|date=15 April 2019|publisher=Amberley Publishing Limited|isbn=978-1-4456-9116-9|language=en}}</ref> Caetano Nimbus bodywork<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/Sheffield_Buses/cgqtEAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Dennis+Dart+SLF+Caetano+Nimbus&pg=PT144&printsec=frontcover|title=Sheffield Buses|last=Jenkinson|first=Keith A.|date=15 February 2023|publisher=Amberley Publishing Limited|isbn=978-1-3981-0955-1|language=en}}</ref> and [[MCV Evolution]] bodywork.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/Merseyside_Buses_2010_2020/ONVzEAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Dennis+Dart+MCV+Evolution&pg=PT137&printsec=frontcover|title=Merseyside Buses 2010-2020|last=Ackers|first=Simon|date=15 April 2022|publisher=Amberley Publishing Limited|isbn=978-1-3981-0941-4|language=en}}</ref>

===Dart SPD===
In 1997, Dennis made a longer chassis of the Dennis Dart SLF called the '''Dart SPD''' (Super Pointer Dart),<ref name="Pointer, MPD, SPD">{{cite web |title=Pointer |url=http://www.alexander-dennis.com/single_deck/pointer.htm |website=Alexander Dennis |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070205104451/http://www.alexander-dennis.com/single_deck/pointer.htm |archivedate=5 February 2007}}</ref> Its length was{{nbsp}}{{cvt|11.3|m}} long.<ref name="Pointer, MPD, SPD" />

It could be built on [[Plaxton Pointer|Plaxton Pointer 2]] bodywork,<ref name="Arriva Merseyside Buses - Simon Ackers - Google Books" /> and [[East Lancs Myllennium]] bodywork,<ref>{{Citation|last=John|title=Halton Transport Dennis Dart SLF/East Lancs Myllennium 44 (DK04 MKG)|date=23 March 2017|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/john-s-91/32798874003/|access-date=27 July 2024}}</ref>

===Dart MPD===
[[File:Bluebird Bus & Coach bus 21 (MX56 HYR), 25 July 2008 (cropped).jpg|thumb|[[Bluebird Bus & Coach]] Alexander Dennis Dart MPD with [[Plaxton Pointer|Plaxton Pointer 2]] bodywork (after improvements)]]
In 1998, Dennis made a smaller chassis of the Dennis Dart SLF called the '''Dart MPD''' (Mini Pointer Dart),<ref name="Pointer, MPD, SPD" /> Its length was {{cvt|8.8|m}} long.<ref name="Pointer, MPD, SPD" />

It could be built on [[Plaxton Pointer|Plaxton Pointer 2]] bodywork,<ref>{{Citation|last=Efan Thomas Transport Photography|title=Arriva Buses Wales Dennis Dart MPD LJ51 DDF 921 - Bangor|date=19 August 2017|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/135097870@N02/46050031121/|access-date=26 July 2024}}</ref> [[Alexander ALX200]] bodywork,<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/United_Counties_Omnibus/WK6IDwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Dennis%20Dart%20SLF%20Alexander%20ALX200&pg=PT147&printsec=frontcover|title=United Counties Omnibus|last=Beddall|first=David|last2=Seamarks|first2=Gary|date=15 June 2018|publisher=Amberley Publishing Limited|isbn=978-1-4456-8034-7|language=en}}</ref> [[Alexander Dennis Enviro200]] bodywork,<ref>{{Citation|last=Llewelyn|first=Hugh|title=2011 Alexander Dennis Enviro 200 Dart|date=28 October 2022|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/camperdown/52468283771/|access-date=26 July 2024}}</ref> East Lancs Esteem bodywork<ref>{{Citation|last=Taylor|first=Matt|title=PN06 UYL, Addiscobe Road, Croydon, June 15th 2014|date=15 June 2014|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/40172673@N03/15060955393/|access-date=27 July 2024}}</ref> and [[East Lancs Myllennium]] bodywork.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ship-Ahoy: Trustybus (ex Bluestar 3351) Dennis Dart SLF/East Lancs Myllennium PE55WPP Stansted Road Elsenham 12/11/19 |url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/stanstedtransportphotos/49055102002/in/ |accessdate=27 July 2024 |date=12 November 2019}}</ref>

===Narrow width Dart SLF===
[[File:20180309-M-travel-AE54HYU (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|Narrow width Dart SLF with [[Caetano Nimbus|Caetano Slimbus]] bodywork]]
In 2002, TransBus made a narrower chassis of the Dart SLF<ref>{{cite web|last1=Kirwin|first1=Dave|date=7 April 2008|title=Guernsey|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/davekirwin/5417468051/in/|accessdate=27 July 2024}}</ref> called the '''Narrow width Dart SLF''', These were made because [[Guernsey]] and [[Jersey]]'s roads are narrow.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Guernsey firm's trim operation {{!}} 2 February 1985 {{!}} The Commercial Motor Archive|url=https://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/2nd-february-1985/66/guernsey-firms-trim-operation|access-date=28 July 2024|website=archive.commercialmotor.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=JERSEY’S SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORT POLICY |url=https://www.gov.je/sitecollectiondocuments/government%20and%20administration/r%20jerseyssustainabletransportpolicy%20100702%20dstg%20vfinal.pdf |website=States of Jersey |accessdate=28 July 2024 |page=39 |date=2 July 2010}}</ref>

=== Thomas SLF 200 ===
In 1998, Dennis and [[Thomas Built Buses]] made a chassis called the '''Thomas SLF 200''' for the [[North American]] market, It was built on Alexander ALX200 bodywork. It was then made by Dennis and [[Daimler Truck North America]] and sold as the DaimlerChrysler SLF 200.<ref name=Goundry>{{cite book|last=Goundry|first=Andy|title=Dennis Buses and Other Vehicles|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=O53SDwAAQBAJ|accessdate=3 January 2023|date=23 March 2020|publisher=[[Crowood Press]] |location=London |isbn=978-1-78500-708-8|pages=134, 146}}</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20010223203157/http://www.thomasbus.com/products/commercial/slf200.asp Thomas SLF 200] [[Thomas Built Buses]]</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20030603180532/http://www.thomasbuiltbuses.com/transitshuttle.asp?busid=tslf DaimlerChrysler SLF 200] Thomas Built Buses</ref>

=== Gallery ===
<gallery widths="190" heights="130">
File:S824 WYD 42824 East Lancs Spryte- Dennis Dart (8528234001).jpg|[[First Somerset & Avon]] [[East Lancs Spryte]] with Dennis Dart SLF bodywork in [[Bath, Somerset|Bath]]
File:Arriva NWW Dart ALX200 1.jpg|[[Arriva North West and Wales]] Dennis Dart SLF with [[Alexander ALX200]] bodywork in [[Liverpool]]
File:CHASE BUS SERVICES Chasetown, Staffs - Flickr - secret coach park.jpg|[[Chase Coaches]] Dennis Dart SLF with [[UVG Urbanstar]] bodywork
</gallery>
{{-}}

==Exports==
[[File:ACTION - BUS 138 - Wright 'Crusader' bodied Dennis Dart SLF.jpg|thumb|right|[[ACTION]] Dennis Dart SLF with [[Wright Crusader]] bodywork in [[Canberra]] in 2009]]

===Australia===
In 1997; [[ACTION]] of [[Canberra]] ordered 25 Dart SLFs with [[Wright Crusader]] [[bodywork]],<ref>Low-Floor Buses ''[[Fleetline (periodical)|Fleetline]]'' issue 247 July 1997 page 132</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |date=28 March 1997 |issue=402 |title=Crusaders for Australia |magazine=Bus & Coach Buyer |location=Spalding |publisher=Glen-Holland Limited}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |date=4 April 1997 |issue=403 |page=2 |title=Wright Buses for Canberra |magazine=Bus & Coach Buyer |location=Spalding |publisher=Glen-Holland Limited|quote=Further to last week's story about the order from Action Bus of Canberra, Australia for Wright Crusader low floor midibuses on Dennis Dart SLF chassis, Wright's has informed us that the current order is for 25 buses worth £1.5 million.}}</ref>

[[Brisbane Bus Lines]] ordered 3 Dart SLFs,<ref>A Friendly Dart ''[[Truck & Bus Transportation]]'' July 1997 page 150</ref>

[[Invicta Bus Services]] ordered 27 Dart SLFs,<ref>Invicta Sells to Grenda ''[[Australian Bus Panorama]]'' issue 24/5 March 2009 page 12</ref><ref>Melbourne's TeleBus: a pioneer of on-demand services ''[[Australian Bus]]'' issue 98 March 2020 page 20</ref>

[[TransAdelaide]] ordered 2 Dart SLFs<ref>Dennis Buses in Adelaide ''[[Transit Australia]]'' June 1997 page 138</ref>

[[Transperth]] ordered 2 Dart SLFs.<ref>Transperth News ''[[Rattler (periodical)|Rattler]]'' issue 399 January 2006 page 6</ref>

===Canada===
In [[British Columbia]], [[BC Transit]] ordered 90 Dart SLFs with [[Plaxton Pointer 2]] bodies.<ref name=Goundry/>

===Hong Kong & Macau===
[[File:LL3004 PITCL NR332 16-09-2015.jpg|thumb|[[Park Island Transport]] TransBus Dart SLF with Plaxton Pointer 2 bodywork in [[Kwai Fong]] in 2015]]
In Hong Kong, [[Citybus (Hong Kong)|Citybus]], [[Kowloon Motor Bus]], [[New Lantao Bus]], [[New World First Bus]] and [[Park Island Transport]] ordered Dart SLFs.

Some of Citybus buses were sent back to England [[Stagecoach Group]] for use at [[Stagecoach South West|Devon]] and [[Stagecoach South|Hampshire]].<ref>Dart regains its Hong Kong look ''Buses'' issue 775 October 2019 page 67</ref><ref>Far East Pointer Darts ''Buses'' issue 784 July 2020 pages 44/45</ref>

In Macau, [[Transmac]] ordered [[Air conditioner|air-conditioned]] Dart SLFs with [[Plaxton Pointer 2]] bodies in January 1996.<ref>{{cite magazine |date=27 April 1996 |issue=215 |page=32 |title=On target for Macao |magazine=Coach & Bus Week |location=Peterborough |publisher=Emap}}</ref>

===Malta===
In 1997, Paramount Garage of Malta ordered 4 Dennis Dart SLFs, the first two were with [[East Lancs Spryte]] bodies and the last 2 were with Plaxton Pointer bodies.<ref>{{cite magazine |date=31 January 1997 |issue=394 |page=9 |title=First manual Darts for Malta |magazine=Bus & Coach Buyer |location=Spalding |publisher=Glen-Holland Limited}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last=Jones |first=Stuart |date=7 March 1997 |issue=399 |page=17 |title=UK built low floor buses for overseas markets |magazine=Bus & Coach Buyer |location=Spalding |publisher=Glen-Holland Limited}}</ref>

===Netherlands===
[[File:Arriva 5855.JPG|thumb|[[Arriva Netherlands]] Dennis Dart Dart SLF with [[Alexander ALX200]] bodywork]]
In the Netherlands. [[Arriva Netherlands]] ordered 50 Darts with Alexander ALX200 bodies.<ref name=BritainsBuses/>

===Portugal===
In Portugal, Stagecoach Group ordered 10 Dart SLFs.<ref name="Buses793">Darting around Lancashire ''Buses'' issue 793 April 2021</ref>

===Singapore===
In 1994, [[SBS Transit|Singapore Bus Service]] ordered 10 Darts with [[Duple Metsec]] bodies.{{citation needed|date=May 2023}}

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Other websites==
{{commons category-inline|Dennis Dart}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070927015255/http://www.alexander-dennis.com/single_deck/dart.htm Dennis Dart SLF] [[Alexander Dennis]]
{{Dennis}}
{{Alexander Dennis}}

[[Category:Buses]]