Dennis Lance
Encyclopedia
The Dennis Lance is a single-decker bus
built by Dennis
between 1991 and 2000, replacing the Dennis Falcon
. Its low-floor variant, the Dennis Lance SLF, was built between 1993 and 1996. Between 1995 and 1998, Dennis also built its double-deck variant, the Dennis Arrow (initially marketed as double-deck Dennis Lance), as the replacement of the Dennis Dominator
.
The Dennis Lance was available with a number of bodies, most commonly Alexander PS
and Plaxton Verde
. It was sold to a number of bus operators in the United Kingdom
, and it was also exported to Hong Kong
and Singapore
. UMW-Dennis of Malaysia also built a number of Lance chassis (known as the UMW-Dennis Lance) for the Southeast Asia
n market.
The Dennis Arrow was available with Northern Counties Palatine
and East Lancs E Type
/Pyoneer
bodywork. Less popular than the Lance, it was sold to just five PCV operators in the United Kingdom, including Capital Citybus
who bought 54 of the 73 built (the total number also included two purpose-built playbuses), London & Country who took 10 and Nottingham City Transport
who took 4. The Dennis Arrow was superseded by the low-floor Dennis Trident 2
.
Of around 105 Dennis Lance SLF built, the majority had Wright Pathfinder
bodywork, including 38 for London Buses
(type LLW) for use on the first London routes to go low floor including London United
(now Transdev London
) Hounslow route 120 and Centrewest (now First London
) Uxbridge route 222, being 2 of 5 routes to introduce the type to the capital. The Berkhof Excellence 1000 NL bodywork was fitted to 30 dual purpose specialist vehicles for the British Airports Authority for use on staff shuttle duties at Heathrow Airport, delivered in 1994/5, and also five each for Stagecoach East Kent and Stagecoach Ribble.
Single-decker bus
A single-decker bus or single-decker is a bus that has a single deck for passengers. Normally the use of the term single-decker refers to a standard two-axled rigid bus, in direct contrast to the use of the term double-decker bus, which is essentially a single decked bus with an extra deck and...
built by Dennis
Dennis Specialist Vehicles
Dennis Specialist Vehicles is a major British coachbuilder and manufacturer of specialised commercial vehicles based in Guildford, England...
between 1991 and 2000, replacing the Dennis Falcon
Dennis Falcon
The Dennis Falcon was a rear-engined bus chassis built by Dennis Specialist Vehicles between 1981 and 1993. It was mostly built as a single-deck bus, although some express coaches and a small number of double-deckers were also produced...
. Its low-floor variant, the Dennis Lance SLF, was built between 1993 and 1996. Between 1995 and 1998, Dennis also built its double-deck variant, the Dennis Arrow (initially marketed as double-deck Dennis Lance), as the replacement of the Dennis Dominator
Dennis Dominator
The Dennis Dominator was Dennis's first rear-engined double-decker bus chassis, it was launched in 1977. Dennis had been absent from the bus manufacturing market since the last Lolines were produced in 1967. The Dominator was described as bespoke, with numerous options...
.
The Dennis Lance was available with a number of bodies, most commonly Alexander PS
Alexander PS type
The Alexander PS is a type of bus body built by Walter Alexander Coachbuilders, and was produced between the late 1980s and 1990s on Dennis Lance, Mercedes-Benz O405, Scania and Volvo B10M chassis...
and Plaxton Verde
Plaxton Verde
The Plaxton Verde was a single-decker bus body built by Plaxton between 1991 and 1997. It was built on rear-engined chassis, the most popular of which was the Dennis Lance which accounted for over half of the Verdes built. The rest were on Volvo B10B, DAF SB220 and Scania N113 chassis.The Verde has...
. It was sold to a number of bus operators in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, and it was also exported to Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
and Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
. UMW-Dennis of Malaysia also built a number of Lance chassis (known as the UMW-Dennis Lance) for the Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
n market.
The Dennis Arrow was available with Northern Counties Palatine
Northern Counties Palatine
The Northern Counties Palatine is a step-entrance double-decker bus body built by Northern Counties of Wigan, UK. It was built mainly on Leyland Olympian and Volvo Olympian chassis, although some were also built on DAF, Volvo B10M Citybus and Scania chassis...
and East Lancs E Type
East Lancs E Type
The East Lancs E Type is a type of double-deck bus body built on different chassis by East Lancashire Coachbuilders.-Chassis:Types bodied include the following:* Dennis Dominator* Dennis Arrow* Leyland Olympian* Scania N113DRB* Volvo B10M...
/Pyoneer
East Lancs Pyoneer
The East Lancs Pyoneer is a type of double-decker bus body built on the Volvo Olympian, Dennis Arrow and Volvo B10M by East Lancashire Coachbuilders. The name continues the pattern of using 'misspelt' product names, started by the Cityzen.-History:...
bodywork. Less popular than the Lance, it was sold to just five PCV operators in the United Kingdom, including Capital Citybus
First London
.First London is one of many operators of London Buses and owned by First Group. They did also run the Tramlink network, in a partnership with Tramtrack Croydon before June 2008. Their registered office is at Paddington station in London...
who bought 54 of the 73 built (the total number also included two purpose-built playbuses), London & Country who took 10 and Nottingham City Transport
Nottingham City Transport
Nottingham City Transport is the major bus operator of the English city of Nottingham, running a comprehensive network of services in the Greater Nottingham area, with some services continuing to Southwell, Loughborough, and East Midlands Airport. There are over 80 routes across the City, giving...
who took 4. The Dennis Arrow was superseded by the low-floor Dennis Trident 2
Dennis Trident 2
Dennis Trident 2 is a 2-axle low-floor double-decker bus chassis originally built by Dennis in the United Kingdom, which was unveiled in 1997 and replaced the Dennis Arrow...
.
Of around 105 Dennis Lance SLF built, the majority had Wright Pathfinder
Wright Pathfinder
The Wright Pathfinder, or Pathfinder 320, is a low-floor single-decker bus body built by Wright of Ballymena on Dennis Lance SLF and Scania N113CRL chassis. It was introduced in 1993....
bodywork, including 38 for London Buses
London Buses
London Buses is the subsidiary of Transport for London that manages bus services within Greater London, UK. Buses are required to carry similar red colour schemes and conform to the same fare scheme...
(type LLW) for use on the first London routes to go low floor including London United
London United
London United is basketball team from London, England, currently competing in English Basketball League Division 2. In 2006 they were elected into the professional British Basketball League to replace the London Towers as the sole representatives for the capital city...
(now Transdev London
Transdev London
London United is one of many operators of London Buses and is owned by the RATP Group, an international public transport operator owned by the government of France...
) Hounslow route 120 and Centrewest (now First London
First London
.First London is one of many operators of London Buses and owned by First Group. They did also run the Tramlink network, in a partnership with Tramtrack Croydon before June 2008. Their registered office is at Paddington station in London...
) Uxbridge route 222, being 2 of 5 routes to introduce the type to the capital. The Berkhof Excellence 1000 NL bodywork was fitted to 30 dual purpose specialist vehicles for the British Airports Authority for use on staff shuttle duties at Heathrow Airport, delivered in 1994/5, and also five each for Stagecoach East Kent and Stagecoach Ribble.