Alexander Dennis Pointer

Alexander Dennis Pointer
Years of manufacture	1991 to 2006
Length	8.8 to 11.3 m
Width	2300 or 2400 mm

The Alexander Dennis Pointer was a midibus body built almost exclusively on the Dennis Dart and Dart SLF chassis. The Pointer body has also been fitted on the Volvo B6RLE chassis.

The Pointer was launched by Plaxton in 1991. The formation of TransBus International saw the pointer continue production and remain with Alexander Dennis until it was replaced by the Enviro200Dart.

Design history

The Pointer's frame was constructed from aluminum and attached to the chassis using 3CR12 stainless steel joints.

The original Pointer body was launched on the high floor Dennis Dart chassis in early 1991. It was produced by Reeve Burgess (a Plaxton subsidiary) at their facility for a short time before being transferred to Plaxton's facility in Scarborough. The bus was 8.5 to 9.5 metres long and 2.3 metres wide.

A low floor version of the Pointer was developed after the introduction of the Dart SLF in 1995. Using a deep drop beam front axle allowed for step-free access to the front half of the bus. The width of the body was increased to 2.4 metres to accommodate wider seats. The bus was available in lengths of 9 to 10.5 metres. In 1997, Dennis introduced an 11.3 metre chassis exclusive to the Pointer body. The following year, an 8.8 metre length was introduced.

The lower front fascia of the Pointer was redesigned in 1997 with new headlights and softer lines. This model was known as the Pointer 2. Flush-mounted windows also became an option.

At the end of the 1990s, BC Transit was interested in lighter and more compact buses to operate on routes in lower density areas. The left hand drive Dennis Dart SLF best met their specifications. Dennis partnered with Plaxton to supply the buses, which were were built with the Pointer 2 body. Soon after, the Mayflower Corporation, which owned Dennis, entered into a joint venture with Freightliner, which owned Thomas Built Buses, to sell the Dart SLF in North America. Known as the Thomas Dennis SLF, the bus used the Alexander ALX200 body. Alexander, like Dennis, was part of the Mayflower Corporation at the time.

• 
  Pointer on standard floor Dart chassis.
• 
  Pointer on Dart SLF chassis.
• 
  Pointer 2 on Dart SLF chassis.
• 
  Pointer 2 on left-hand driver Dart SLF chassis.

Specifications

Dimensions

• Length:
  • 8.5, 9.0, 9.8 metre (high floor)
  • 9.3, 10.1, 10.7 metre (low floor)
  • 11.3 metre (Super Pointer Dart)
  • 8.8 metre (Mini Pointer Dart, 2001-2006)
• Width:
  • 2300 mm (high floor)
  • 2400 mm (low floor)

HVAC

• Sutrak

Glazing

• Gasket
• Tinted bonded double
• Tinted bonded single

Operators

Canada

• Chilliwack/Agassiz-Harrison Transit System BC
• Comox Valley Transit System - Comox Valley, BC
• Cranbrook Transit System - Cranbrook, BC
• Dawson Creek Transit System - Dawson Creek, BC
• Fort St. John Transit System - Fort St. John, BC
• Kamloops Transit System - Kamloops, BC
• Kelowna Regional Transit System - Kelowna, BC
• Kitimat Transit System - Kitimat, BC
• Victoria Regional Transit System - Victoria, BC
• Whistler Transit System - Whistler, BC

United Kingdom

• First London
• Lothian Buses - Edinburgh
• Metrobus
• Stagecoach London

References

• Alexander Dennis Pointer Page, alexander-dennis.co.uk, retrieved on 08-12-09
• Personal notes & sightings