In late 2006/Early 2007 Metro-The Belfast City bus services arm of Translink,took an Alexander Dennis Enviro 400 on demonstrator trail from Newtonabbey depot.The Veichle operates on the Route 1 and Route 2 group of Routes,mostly on a Monday to Friday basis,and prior to taking up service with Metro had visited the Bus and Coach Show in the RDS,Dublin in September 2006.
On January 6th 2007 Bus-Arena/Irish Terminus.com paid the Demonstrator a visit.
Offside views of the Enviro,numbered 2033 in the Metro Fleet.The Veichle rentains it's ADL Livery,with Metro stickers on the sides,front and rear.
Side view of the Enviro 400.Though the design is refined it's front slope is slightly reminicent of the Plaxton President,which for a time was also manufactured under ADL's predicessor,Transbus.
The Front and Rear designs look well,particiuarly the Enviro 400 mark outs on the panels.The Enviro 500 shares some of these design features.
Upstairs and Downstairs of 2033.Although again elements of the ALX400 creep in,the design seems somewhat tighter,a flaw with the Dublin Bus ALX400's.
2033 is expected to remain at Newtonabbey Depot until the end of January,when it it expected to return toAlexander Dennis's Falkirk plant.being a demonstrator,the chances are it will go on trial with a UK operator shortly afterwards.
As for Enviros in Ireland,time will tell wherether Translink will go for them,CIE's Dublin Bus on the Otherhand has ordered 50 of them (EV1-50),on the Volvo Chassis.This follows their own evaluation with several,alibet none in service,such as E1 below.
Irish Terminus.com thanks the staff at Newtonabbey Depot for their assistance with this feature.Photos may NOT be reproduced.
