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Walter Alexander (Belfast)

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Walter Alexander (Belfast) Ltd
Company typeManufacturing
IndustryBus manufacturing
Fire engine bodywork
PredecessorPotters of Belfast
FoundedMay 1969; 56 years ago (1969-05)
DefunctMay 2004 (2004-05)
FateFactory closed amid TransBus bankruptcy rescue
Headquarters
Mallusk, County Antrim
,
Northern Ireland
OwnerMayflower Corporation (1996-2004)
Number of employees
260 (1996)
ParentWalter Alexander Coachbuilders

Walter Alexander (Belfast) Ltd was a subsidiary of Falkirk based bus and coach manufacturer Walter Alexander Coachbuilders which produced bus, coach and fire engine bodies mainly for Irish operating markets in Mallusk, County Antrim in Northern Ireland between 1969 and 2004.

History

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Walter Alexander (Belfast) was formed in May 1969 with Walter Alexander's takeover of coachbuilder Potters of Belfast, based at a factory on Alexandra Park Avenue in Dunmore and formerly known as MH Coachworks Ltd. Among first orders for the new company included the manufacture of 50 double decker bus bodies on Daimler Fleetline chassis for Belfast Corporation Transport,[1] and 260 single-deck bus bodies on Leyland Leopard chassis as well as 40 double decker bodies on Leyland Atlantean chassis for the newly-formed Ulsterbus.[2] The company moved to Mallusk, on the outskirts of Belfast, in 1972 following two bomb attacks on 25 March that destroyed the Dunmore factory.[3]

Double-decker bus production returned to Mallusk in 1990 with an order for 63 Alexander RH bodied Leyland Olympians for Dublin Bus.[4] The first new double-deckers to enter service in Northern Ireland since 1975, 20 low-floor Alexander ALX400s on Volvo B7TL chassis, were also manufactured by Alexander (Belfast) for delivery to Translink in 2001.[5]

In 1995, parent company Walter Alexander was sold to the Mayflower Corporation. Following the purchase, significant restructuring of the company and declining orders saw Mayflower propose to close Alexander (Belfast) in 1997, with up to 230 jobs set to be lost at the Mallusk factory. However, the factory's closure was abandoned following negotiations between Mayflower and Alexander (Belfast)'s suppliers and customers, with only 50 jobs lost as the company restructured toward the export bus market.[6]

In 2000, Walter Alexander Coachbuilders and Guildford chassis manufacturer Dennis Specialist Vehicles, the latter of which had recently been purchased by Mayflower, merged with Scarborough bus body manufacturer and Henlys Group company Plaxton to form the TransBus International joint venture.[7] However, TransBus entered administration in July 2004 after the Mayflower Corporation collapsed with £196 million (equivalent to £380,087,000 in 2023) in unpaid debts.[8] Though TransBus International was successfully purchased by a consortium of buyers and restructured into Alexander Dennis, the Mallusk factory was not included in the sale and was closed with the loss of over 90 jobs.[9][10]

Products

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Buses

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Dublin Bus Alexander (Belfast) RH bodied Volvo Olympian in Dún Laoghaire in May 2005

The main business of Alexander (Belfast) was the assembly of single-deck bus bodies on various chassis, most of which were delivered to Ulsterbus and Citybus, both of which were part of the Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company (later rebranded Translink).

Alexander (Belfast) also assembled some conventional Walter Alexander bodies, such as the Y-Type, when the Falkirk factory was at overcapacity, and built their own minibus bodies on van chassis such as the Iveco TurboDaily and various Mercedes-Benz chassis, most of which were delivered as school buses for the five Education and Library Boards of Northern Ireland;[11] a large demand for Mercedes-Benz minibus bodies following bus deregulation in Great Britain saw Walter Alexander transfer minibus body production from Falkirk to Alexander (Belfast) during 1992, with first orders for these minibuses taken by major mainland British bus operator Stagecoach Holdings.[12]

Double-decker bus production returned to Mallusk in 1990 when Alexander (Belfast) was contracted to assemble 63 Alexander RH bodies on Leyland Olympian chassis for Dublin Bus.[4] Alexander (Belfast) continued to produce RH double-decker bodies for Dublin Bus' entire run of 640 Leyland and Volvo Olympians between 1990 and 1999, differing from their mainland counterparts with a restyled facia incorporating an enlarged front grille and four headlights as opposeed to the standard two.[13][14]

X-Type

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Preserved Citybus Alexander (Belfast) bodied Bristol RELL in Donegall Square in Belfast in May 2016

Referred to unofficially[by whom?] as the 'X-Type', Alexander (Belfast) produced single-deck bodies on both the Bristol RELL and Leyland Leopard chassis for Ulsterbus and Citybus. Early models were an adaptation of a previous Potters design for Ulsterbus,[2][15] however Bristol RELLs delivered to Ulsterbus between 1975 and 1976 introduced a new body design, capable of a capacity of 74 passengers and featuring a forced-air ventilation system distributing fresh air, flowing from a front grille, through the passenger area via openable vents above each window.[16]

Ulsterbus were the main purchasers of the 'X-Type', and eventually took both the last Bristol RELLs and Leyland Leopards to be built by both manufacturers,[17] as well as the rarer export-oriented Leyland B21 chassis, which used both Leyland and Bristol running gear.[18] These buses were often hijacked and destroyed in unrest during The Troubles, and as a result, adaptations were gradually made to the design: interiors were left mostly unpainted to restrict the spread of fire in the passenger area, strengthened front and rear bumpers with twin tow eyes for quicker vehicle recovery, toughened glass windows and occasional rebodies of destroyed buses when the chassis was salvageable.[19] The final Bristol RELLs were withdrawn by Citybus in January 2004,[20] while the final Leyland Leopards were withdrawn by Ulsterbus in 2006.[21]

N-Type

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Ulsterbus Alexander N-Type bodied Leyland Tiger at Enniskillen bus garage in June 1990

In 1984, Alexander (Belfast) began producing the N-Type body on Leyland Tiger chassis for Ulsterbus as a successor to the 'X-Type', able to be specified as either a luxury coach or dual-purpose bus. The N-Type was a more angular and aerodynamic body compared to its predecessor, developed in cooperation with Ulster Polytechnic to improve fuel consumption and reduce road spray, and had interchangeable windows with its predecessor for ease of repairs.[22] A small number of N-Type bodies were also produced on Leyland Lynx chassis as Ulsterbus and Citybus explored alternatives to the discontinued Bristol RELL.[23]

With the new body and chassis combination seeing major success in its home market,[24] Alexander (Belfast) began to offer the body for operators outside of Northern Ireland, with Mecca Leisure Group subsidiary Shearings taking delivery of 40 Alexander N-Types bodied Leyland Tigers between 1989 and 1990 for its public bus operations in Greater Manchester and Staffordshire.[25]

Q-Type

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Translink Ulsterbus Alexander Q-Type bodied Volvo B10M in Drumbo, County Down in March 2010

The N-Type body was eventually replaced by the Q-Type in 1990, and was made available on both the Leyland Tiger and Volvo B10M chassis. Designed by Dawson Sellar Design with the intention to be 'aesthetically pleasing', it is a redesign of the N-Type with a deeper single-curvature windscreen, which could be specified as a one or two-piece windscreen, a revised front fascia including rounder glass fibre bumpers, deeper side windows secured by rubber gaskets, a 'kneeling' function which lowers the suspension to aid accessibility, and a redesigned interior featuring brightly painted handrails and a raised roofline. The body was constructed with aluminium alloy and composite framework and was riveted together using 'Avdelok' rivets.[26]

As with previous bodies, the Q-Type was most popular with Ulsterbus and Citybus on both Leyland Tiger and Volvo B10M chassis.[26] The last Leyland Tiger produced was delivered to Ulsterbus with an Alexander Q-Type body in September 1993, ending an long-running association with Leyland Motors that saw 600 Tigers enter service with Ulsterbus and Citybus.[27] Immediately following the end of Leyland Tiger production, Alexander (Belfast) began assembling the first 50 Q-Type bodies on the Volvo B10M chassis for Ulsterbus and Citybus.[28][29]

Outside of Northern Ireland, the Q-Type was marketed for export to mainland British operators,[30] with plans to add a parallel Q-Type production line at Walter Alexander's Falkirk factory if demand for the body proved high enough.[26] Two were delivered to United Automobile Services on Leyland Tiger chassis in 1990,[31][32] while Shearings' bus operations took delivery of 16 on Volvo B10M chassis in early 1991, these being the first Alexander Q-Type bodied B10Ms produced.[33] A modified Q-Type body was fitted to an imported Iveco TurboCity chassis for demonstration, featuring the standard TurboCity front fascia as opposed to the Q-Type fascia,[34] however no orders resulted for this variant.

Setanta

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Dublin Bus Alexander Setanta bodied Volvo B10B in May 1996

Alexander (Belfast) produced the Setanta single-deck bus body on DAF SB220 and Volvo B10B chassis for the Irish urban bus operating market between 1993 and 1997. Built to Dublin Bus specification, the Setanta featured a sloped gangway towards the rear seats, stainless steel handrails as opposed to painted handrails, a luggage rack and a two-piece single-curvature windscreen. Following the reception of major orders from Dublin Bus and the state-owned Bus Éireann during the design process, Alexander named the body 'Setanta', the birth name of the Irish mythological figure Cú Chulainn, on suggestion of a member of staff to help market the body for potential customers.[35]

The first ten production Setantas were delivered to Bus Éireann in 1993 for Cork city bus services, with eighty later delivered to Dublin Bus between 1993 and 1995,[35] with all but ten being built on DAF SB220 chassis; the remaining ten were built on Volvo B10B chassis.[36] Alexander (Belfast) also achieved an export order for the delivery of 50 Setantas on DAF SB220 chassis to Trans-Island Bus Services (TIBS) of Singapore between 1995 and 1997.[37]

Ultra

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Main article: Alexander Ultra
Translink Metro Alexander Ultra bodied Volvo B10L in June 2010

The Alexander Ultra was a low floor single-deck bus body built by Alexander (Belfast) on license from Volvo Buses on Volvo B10L chassis from 1995 to 1998. The right-hand drive equivalent of the Volvo 5000 [sv], the Ultra was developed with the aim to be the first low-floor Volvo bus to be sold in the United Kingdom and was assembled with Säffle's [sv] aluminium 'System 2000' frame;[38] this body differed from other Alexander (Belfast) products as the low-floor B10L chassis required the body of the bus to be an integral part of the vehicle, in contrast to older chassis supporting body-on-frame construction.[39]

The first and largest operator of these were Ulsterbus and Citybus,[40] however further examples, some powered by compressed natural gas, were delivered to Travel West Midlands,[41] First Northampton, Timeline of Wigan and Dublin Bus.

Fire engines

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As well as bus bodies, Alexander (Belfast) also manufactured bodies for fire engines operated by the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service and its predecessors, as well as some fire services in Scotland. Bodies were assembled on Volvo FL and Volvo FS7 light truck chassis, as well as for the purpose-built Dennis SS series fire engine chassis.[28][42]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "O-m-o buses for Belfast". Commercial Motor. Vol. 130, no. 3333. London: Temple Press. 1 August 1969. p. 20. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
  2. ^ a b "Ulsterbus plans £2.5m expansion". Commercial Motor. Vol. 129, no. 3328. London: Temple Press. 27 June 1969. p. 34. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
  3. ^ "Troops find dead man after Whitelaw visit". The Northern Echo. Darlington. 27 March 1972. p. 2. Retrieved 22 July 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ a b "Nap hand for Dublin Bus". Coachmart. No. 589. Peterborough: Emap. 24 May 1990. p. 63. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
  5. ^ "Double-deckers go back on city streets". Belfast Telegraph. 26 March 2001. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
  6. ^ Cowan, Rosie (30 May 1997). "Reprieve for 180 bus jobs". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
  7. ^ "Alexanders faces merger". The Herald. Glasgow. 2 August 2000. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
  8. ^ Tilson, Nigel; Harrison, Michael (1 April 2004). "Jobs at bus maker are in the balance". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
  9. ^ "Job losses with factory closure". BBC News. 21 May 2004. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
  10. ^ "Transbus Ulster operation to close". Belfast Telegraph. 24 May 2004. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
  11. ^ "Ulster's new WA Turbo Daily bus". Commercial Motor. Vol. 166, no. 4239. Sutton: Reed Business Publishing. 17 September 1987. p. 28. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  12. ^ "Great deal for Alexander". Commercial Motor. Vol. 176, no. 4486. Sutton: Reed Business Publishing. 20 August 1992. p. 16. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
  13. ^ Hall, Darren (March 2013). "The Dublin Olympian". Buses. No. 696. Stamford: Key Publishing. pp. 52–55.
  14. ^ "Biggest single order for Dublin bus op". Coach & Bus Week. No. 190. Peterborough: Emap. 21 October 1995. p. 36. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  15. ^ "Bristols for Ulsterbus". Commercial Motor. Vol. 127, no. 3261. London: Temple Press. 15 March 1968. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
  16. ^ "New single decker for Ulster". Commercial Motor. Vol. 141, no. 3598. London: IPC Transport Press. 9 May 1975. p. 29. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
  17. ^ Millier, Noel (13 November 1982). "Tight fleets in Ulster". Commercial Motor. Vol. 156, no. 3990. London: IPC Transport Press. pp. 20–21. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
  18. ^ "Belgium, Ulster to get B21". Commercial Motor. Vol. 148, no. 3784. London: IPC Transport Press. 1 December 1978. p. 25. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  19. ^ Millier, Noel (6 July 1979). "Troubled tale of Ulster's buses". Commercial Motor. Vol. 150, no. 3815. London: IPC Transport Press. pp. 35–37. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
  20. ^ Savage, Paul (19 April 2023). "Through The Troubles to today". Buses. No. 818. Stamford: Key Publishing. pp. 50–55. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
  21. ^ "End of era as leopard becomes extinct". BBC News. 28 June 2006. Retrieved 21 July 2025.
  22. ^ "New bodies for Ulsterbus". Commercial Motor. Vol. 160, no. 4061. Sutton: Transport Press. 24 March 1984. p. 18. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  23. ^ "Leyland Lynx in the frame". Commercial Motor. Vol. 172, no. 4368. Sutton: Reed Business Publishing. 10 May 1990. p. 28. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  24. ^ "£8 million Celtic order boost for Leyland Bus". Commercial Motor. Vol. 165, no. 4209. Sutton: Transport Press. 21 February 1987. p. 24. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  25. ^ "Shearings' PSV update". Commercial Motor. Vol. 170, no. 4304. Sutton: Reed Business Publishing. 2 February 1989. p. 16. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  26. ^ a b c "Q-type comes to the mainland". Commercial Motor. Vol. 173, no. 4411. Sutton: Reed Business Publishing. 14 March 1991. p. 22. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  27. ^ Morgan, Mike (18 September 1993). "Handover marks the end of an era". Coach & Bus Week. No. 83. Peterborough: Emap. p. 7. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  28. ^ a b "Substantial orders for Mallusk". Coach & Bus Week. No. 83. Peterborough: Emap. 18 September 1993. p. 7. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  29. ^ "Ulsterbus orders 102 new B10Ms". Coach & Bus Week. No. 70. Peterborough: Emap. 19 June 1993. p. 5. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  30. ^ "Alexander looks to mainland with Q-type". Coachmart. No. 630. Peterborough: Emap. 14 March 1991. p. 6. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  31. ^ "Alexander delivery pips Iveco". Coachmart. No. 612. Peterborough: Emap. 1 November 1990. p. 7. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  32. ^ "Q-firsts for United fleet". Commercial Motor. Vol. 172, no. 4391. Sutton: Reed Business Publishing. 18 October 1990. p. 18. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  33. ^ "Shearings' order represents a first". Coachmart. No. 626. Peterborough: Emap. 14 February 1991. p. 15. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  34. ^ "Iveco buses go 'green'". Coachmart. No. 620. Peterborough: Emap. 3 January 1991. p. 6. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  35. ^ a b Morgan, Mike (18 September 1993). "Irish legend gives name to citybus". Coach & Bus Week. No. 83. Peterborough: Emap. p. 6. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  36. ^ "Setanta shines in original glory". Buses. No. 784. Stamford: Key Publishing. 18 June 2020. p. 64. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  37. ^ "First major export order now in build". Coach & Bus Week. No. 172. Peterborough: Emap. 17 June 1995. p. 7. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  38. ^ "WA bodies B10L". Commercial Motor. Vol. 181, no. 4571. Sutton: Reed Business Publishing. 7 July 1994. p. 18. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  39. ^ Jones, Stuart (1 July 1994). "Alexander Ultra". Bus & Coach Buyer. No. 262. Spalding. pp. 5–7. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  40. ^ Morgan, Mike (17 June 1995). "Alexander looks Ultra successful". Coach & Bus Week. No. 172. Peterborough: Emap. p. 6. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  41. ^ Morgan, Mike (17 July 1997). "Revamped 529 'proving a success'". Coach & Bus Week. No. 278. Peterborough: Emap. p. 12. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  42. ^ "Volvo fires up FL4". Commercial Motor. Vol. 166, no. 4241. Sutton: Reed Business Publishing. 1 October 1987. p. 32. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
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