British bus maker Alexander Dennis Limited (ADL) has conducted a five-day demonstration programme in Saudi Arabia.
In conjunction with its local dealer, Manahil International, the manufacturer’s senior management team held talks with a number of KSA stakeholders in a bid to bring double-deck buses to the Kingdom.
The demonstration initiative came just a month after ADL’s appearance at the MENA Transport Exhibition and Congress in Dubai, UAE.
“I am really optimistic about the long-term possibilities in the Middle East,” commented Robert Davey, ADL’s business development manager.
“Our recent presence at the MENA Transport Congress and Exhibition generated a huge amount of interest, and we have subsequently had a whole series of follow-up discussions with operators, transport authorities, influencers, and decision makers,” he added.
Indeed, it would seem that Davey’s optimism is not misplaced. ADL has had significant previous success in transferring the double-deck concept to unexplored territories. Following the Dubai trade show, the firm reported orders worth a total of almost $300mn in Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, and North America.
“Our double deck, in particular, has caught the imagination,” said Davey. “More and more people are realising that it offers a unique transport solution. It has the same ‘footprint’ as a single deck, carries twice as many people, is highly manoeuvrable, and wins back space in congested cities. On top of all that, it is a real revenue earner because people simply like travelling on double decks.”
ADL’s Enviro500 double-deck model boasts 89 seats and can carry up to 139 passengers at any one time. Moreover, with a turning circle of just 11.1m, Davey and his colleagues are confident that the vehicle will appeal to urban transport authorities in Saudi Arabia and beyond.