Why were so few of the 11.3m version of the Alexander Dennis Enviro 200 buses built?

[temsaavenue]

Why is it that the SPD (the 11.3m version of the Dennis Dart SLF Plaxton Pointer) was extremely popular with a large amount ordered yet it's successor which is the 11.3m version of the Alexander Dennis Enviro 200 has hardly received any orders at all. I have always found this to be rather odd. Note i am only talking about the original Alexander Dennis Enviro 200 and not the new MMC version.

Only a total of 41 were actually built:

• YX17 NRL - Lochs Motor Transport
• OY16 JVK - Go Ahead Thamesdown [216]
• OY16 JVL - Go Ahead Thamesdown [217]
• OY16 JVZ - Go Ahead Thamesdown [219]
• OY16 JWA - Go Ahead Thamesdown [218]
• YX65 RFY - Centrebus [525]
• YX65 RFZ - Centrebus [526]
• YX65 RGO - Centrebus [527]
• YX65 RGU - Centrebus [528]
• YX65 RGY - RATP Bournemouth Yellow Buses [DE29]
• YX65 RGZ - RATP Bournemouth Yellow Buses [DE30]
• YX65 RHV - Centrebus [520]
• YX64 VLU - Reading Buses [651]
• YX64 VLV - Reading Buses [652]
• YX64 VLW - Reading Buses [653]
• YX64 VLY - Reading Buses [654]
• YX64 VPG - Lochs Motor Transport
• YY64 GWE - Centrebus [530]
• YY64 GWF - Centrebus [531]
• YY64 GWG - Centrebus [532]
• YY64 GWJ - Centrebus [591]
• YY64 GWK - Centrebus [592]
• YY64 GWL - Centrebus [593]
• YY64 GWM - Centrebus [594]
• YX63 GXS - Nottingham City Transport [388]
• YX63 GXT - Nottingham City Transport [389]
• YX63 GXU - Nottingham City Transport [390]
• YX63 GXV - Nottingham City Transport [391]
• YX63 GXW - Nottingham City Transport [392]
• YX63 GXY - Nottingham City Transport [398]
• YX63 KFG - Nottingham City Transport [393]
• YX63 KFJ - Nottingham City Transport [394]
• YX63 KFK - Nottingham City Transport [395]
• YX63 LHT - Nottingham City Transport [396]
• YX63 LHU - Nottingham City Transport [397]
• AH11 SUL - Sullivan Buses [AE5]
• NH11 SUL - Sullivan Buses [AE4]
• DK60 AHL - Halton Transport [13]
• DK60 AHN - Halton Transport [14]
• DK60 AHO - Halton Transport [15]
• DK60 AHP - Halton Transport [16]

However hundreds of the 8.9m and 9.3m and 10.2m and 10.8m versions have been built. All four of these lengths have seen hundreds and hundreds of orders. So it is really odd how the 11.3m attracted such few orders.

Does anyone know exactly why the 11.3m version of the Alexander Dennis Enviro 200 was not popular at all? I imagine there must be a reason for this? If all four of the other lengths sold so many than why did this length sell so few? Does anyone know about this?

 

[Jordan Adam]

Because the Enviro300 was in production and very popular at that time. There was no real demand for a 11.3M stretched Midi from ADL. Keep in mind when the SPD first came about the Enviro300 wasn't in production yet, and even once it was it didn't really take off until the mk2 variant came about.

There isn't even a 11.3M model now. It's 10.8M and then 11.5M, with the 6 cylinder variant's being 11.1M and 11.8M - albeit no 10.8m 6 Cylinder (11.1M) examples have been built for the UK.