Dennis Trident 2

For the 3-axle, longitudinal-engine Dennis Trident built for export, see Dennis Trident 3.
Dennis Trident 2
Stagecoach London Alexander Dennis ALX400 bodied Trident 2 at Queen's Hospital on route 498 in 2015
Overview
ManufacturerDennis
TransBus International
Alexander Dennis
Production1997–2006
Body and chassis
Doors1 or 2
Floor typeLow floor
Powertrain
EngineCummins C Series/ISBe/ISCe/ISLe
Power outputC Series: 220hp, 245hp
ISCe: 225hp, 260hp
ISBe: 250hp
ISLe: 320hp
TransmissionVoith DIWA D854.3E
ZF Ecomat 4HP502/5HP502[1]
Dimensions
Length9.9 metres (32 ft)
10.5 metres (34 ft)
10.6 metres (35 ft)
11.4 metres (37 ft)
Width2.55 metres (8 ft 4 in)
Height4.1–4.4 metres (13–14 ft)
Curb weight17,800 kilograms (39,200 lb)
Chronology
PredecessorDennis Arrow
SuccessorAlexander Dennis Enviro400

The Dennis Trident 2 (the 2 standing for 2-axle) is a 2-axle low-floor double-decker bus chassis originally manufactured by Dennis, which was unveiled in 1997 and replaced the Dennis Arrow. It was built by TransBus after Dennis was incorporated into the group in 2001, then from 2004, it was built by Alexander Dennis following the collapse of TransBus.

Design

[edit]
Maghull Coaches East Lancs Lolyne bodied Trident 2 in 2013
Blackpool Transport East Lancs Myllennium Lolyne bodied Trident 2 in 2013
First Kernow Plaxton President bodied Trident 2 in 2018

Developed from the air-conditioned 3-axle Dennis Trident 3 for the United Kingdom bus market, upon its launch in 1998, the Trident 2 was offered with the option of being built to either 9.9 metres (32 ft) or 10.5 metres (34 ft) width and was fitted with a Euro II Cummins C Series engine coupled to a Voith DIWA D854.3E or ZF Ecomat 4HP500/5HP500 automatic transmission, each fitted with a 80-degree dropped angle drive.[2] Later Trident 2s could be fitted with Cummins ISBe, ISCe and ISLe engines, which were compliant with Euro III emissions standards, and could be built to 10.6 metres (35 ft) and 11.4 metres (37 ft) in length.[1] Engines were rear-mounted transversely on the right side of the chassis with the radiator mounted on the left side. This was marketed by Dennis as the 'T-drive configuration', which shortened the rear overhang and overall length of the chassis.[2]

The Trident 2 was first bodied with the Alexander ALX400 body, following on from the Alexander ALX500 on the Trident 3 chassis. Plaxton and East Lancashire Coachbuilders followed shortly after with the President and Lolyne bodies respectively. Trident 2s were intended to be compliant with statutory public service vehicle accessibility regulations introduced in the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, with an entrance step height of 325 millimetres (12.8 in) capable of being lowered to 250 millimetres (9.8 in) through a kneeling front suspension, and the 'T-drive' longitudinal system allowed for a flat floor throughout the majority of the lower deck.[2]

Operators

[edit]

The first Dennis Trident 2s were delivered to Stagecoach London and Metroline in 1999, all being built with Alexander ALX400 bodies;[3][4] in 2014, London's first Trident 2, numbered TA1 and operated by Stagecoach East London, would be donated to the London Bus Museum at Brooklands.[5] A total of 2,255 Dennis Tridents would be built for London bus operators, 998 of these for Stagecoach London exclusively with Alexander ALX400 bodywork, and another 425 being built for First London with both Alexander ALX400 and Plaxton President bodywork.[6]

The Trident 2 was also initially very popular with large bus operators outside London, with a large number sold to the Stagecoach Group, the FirstGroup, Travel West Midlands and Lothian Buses. Stagecoach's first two Dennis Trident 2s for the group's operations outside London entered service with Stagecoach Manchester in May 1999, with the first from this pair being donated to and restored by the Museum of Transport, Greater Manchester.[7][8] Ten Trident 2s with Alexander ALX400 bodies were exported to Ireland for Dublin Bus,[9] with larger numbers with open-top East Lancs Lolyne bodies exported to Spain sightseeing operations in Barcelona and Madrid.[10] Due to increased competition after the launch of the Scania OmniDekka and TransBus being put into administration, sales of Trident 2 dropped significantly, leaving Stagecoach as its major buyer.[citation needed]

In 2005, Alexander Dennis developed the new version of the Trident 2 chassis for its Enviro400 double-decker. Marketed as the Enviro400 chassis, the name "Trident 2" continued to appear on the manufacturer's plate, and it retained the Cummins ISCe Euro III engine (soon replaced by Cummins ISBe 6-cylinder Euro IV) and Voith/ZF gearbox. The Enviro400 chassis also received a number of modifications such as a longer front overhang, with a different shape of fuel tank became available. Production of the older version of Trident 2 chassis continued until 2006, with the last example being delivered to Isle of Man Transport.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Trident two-axle double deck chassis". Alexander Dennis. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
  2. ^ a b c Jones, Stuart (23 January 1998). "Vehicle launch: Dennis Trident". Bus & Coach Buyer. No. 443. Spalding: Glen-Holland Limited. pp. 8–10. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
  3. ^ "Stagecoach order for 98". Bus & Coach Buyer. No. 431. Spalding: Glen-Holland Limited. 17 October 1997. p. 2.
  4. ^ Blackwell, David (3 October 1997). "Trinity ahead 13% with record orders". Financial Times. London. p. 24. ProQuest 248469336.
  5. ^ "Stagecoach donates London Tridents to two museums". Buses. No. 715. Stamford: Key Publishing. October 2014. p. 65.
  6. ^ Wharmby, Matthew (31 July 2021). The London Dennis Trident. Pen and Sword Transport. p. 280. ISBN 978-1-5267-8694-4. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
  7. ^ Larkin, Nick (2 February 2021). "Low-floor pioneer donated to museum". Coach & Bus Week. Peterborough. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
  8. ^ Larkin, Nick (March 2024). "Trident Triumph!". Bus & Coach Preservation. Vol. 26, no. 10. Meteor Books. pp. 46–49.
  9. ^ "New buses" (Press release). Dublin Bus. 18 September 2003. Archived from the original on 19 November 2007. Retrieved 7 September 2008.
  10. ^ Turner, Anna (2 August 2001). "First two-axle Tridents for export run in Madrid". Coach & Bus Week. No. 485. Peterborough: Emap. p. 8. Retrieved 14 July 2024.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Dennis_Trident_2&oldid=1234427657"