Alexander ALX500
The Alexander ALX500 (later known as the TransBus ALX500) was a low-floor double-decker bus body built by Alexander in Falkirk, Scotland between 1997 and 2002.
| Alexander ALX500 | |
|---|---|
 New World First Bus Alexander ALX500 bodied Dennis Trident 3 | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Walter Alexander Coachbuilders TransBus |
| Production | 1997 - 2002 |
| Assembly | Falkirk, Scotland |
| Body and chassis | |
| Doors | 2 |
| Floor type | Low floor |
| Chassis | Dennis Trident 3 Volvo Super Olympian |
| Related | ALX100, ALX200, ALX300, ALX400 |
| Powertrain | |
| Capacity | 61 to 93 seated |
| Dimensions | |
| Length | 10.6, 11.3 & 12.0 metres |
| Width | 2.5 metres |
| Height | 4.4 metres |
| Chronology | |
| Successor | TransBus Enviro500 |
The ALX500 came in lengths of 10.6, 11.3 and 12 meters (35, 37, and 40 foot). It was fitted to Dennis Trident 3 and Volvo Super Olympian chassis (they could be distinguished by the rear indicators outside the engine compartment: round indicators for Dennis and square indicators for Volvo). This longer version of the ALX500 was popular with Citybus, Kowloon Motor Bus, Long Win Bus and New World First Bus in Hong Kong. Due to the climate, all of these ALX500s were fitted with air conditioning systems, and as a result lacked a rear window on the lower deck. The extra length of the buses meant the seating capacities were near the 100 mark for the 12.0 meters variant.
Alexander built three prototype ALX500 bodies for prototype Trident 3 chassis in 1997, with the first finished in February 1997. Production of the ALX500 body was started later in the same year, but there were some minor changes in appearance; for example, the exit door was moved rearward (for 12.0m variant only). In 1999, a modified version of the ALX500, which more resembled the ALX400 in appearance was introduced.
When Transbus International was formed in 2001, the ALX500 body replaced the standard height, right hand drive version of the Duple Metsec DM5000 body (built for the Dennis Trident 3) which was duplicated with the ALX500 design. In late 2002, the ALX500 body was superseded by the TransBus Enviro500.
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