{{Short description|Low-floor bus body on Volvo B10L chassis}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2023}} {{Use British English|date=January 2023}} {{Infobox automobile | name = Alexander Ultra | image = File:Metro (Belfast) bus 2740 (LAZ 2740) 1997 Volvo B10L Alexander (Belfast) Ultra, 21 June 2010.jpg | caption = [[Translink (Northern Ireland)|Translink]] [[Metro (Belfast)|Metro]] Alexander Ultra bodied [[Volvo B10L]] in [[Belfast]], June 2010 | manufacturer = [[Walter Alexander (Belfast)]] | production = 1994–1998 | assembly = [[Mallusk]], [[County Antrim]], Northern Ireland | designer = {{interlanguage link|Säffle Karosserifabrik AB|sv|Säffle Karosserifabrik}} | floortype = [[Low-floor bus|Low floor]] | doors = 1 or 2 doors | capacity = 40–44 seated, 25–29 standing | chassis = [[Volvo B10L]] | engine = Volvo THD103 | transmission = [[Voith]] or [[ZF Friedrichshafen|ZF]] | related = {{interlanguage link|Volvo 5000|sv}} | wheelbase = {{cvt|NNNN|m|in|1}} | length = {{cvt|12000|mm|in|1}} | width = {{cvt|NNNN|mm|in|1}} | height = {{cvt|NNNN|mm|in|1}} | weight = {{cvt|10980|kg|lb|0}}<ref name="Sys2000">{{cite magazine |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |url=https://archive.org/details/cbw-issue172/page/n5/mode/2up |date=17 June 1995 |issue=172 |page=7 |title=Alexander uses Volvo firm's System 2000 |magazine=[[Coach & Bus Week]] |location=Peterborough |publisher=Emap |access-date=24 March 2024}}</ref> | predecessor = | successor = [[Alexander ALX300]] | sp = uk }} The '''Alexander Ultra''' was a [[low-floor bus|low floor]] [[single-deck bus]] body built on the [[Volvo B10L]] chassis by [[Walter Alexander (Belfast)]] from 1995 to 1998. It was the [[right-hand drive]] equivalent of the {{interlanguage link|Volvo 5000|sv}} and was built on license from [[Volvo Buses]].
==Development== Developed in conjunction with Volvo Buses, the Alexander Ultra was developed on the B10L chassis with the aim to be the first low-floor Volvo bus to be sold in the United Kingdom. Alexander employed the use of Volvo subsidiary {{interlanguage link|Säffle's|sv|Säffle Karosserifabrik}} 'System 2000' frame, using a combination of [[aluminium]] and [[extrusion]]s secured with positively [[bolted joint]]s.<ref>{{cite magazine |date=7 July 1994 |title=WA bodies B10L |url=https://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/7th-july-1994/18/wa-bodies-b101 |magazine=[[Commercial Motor]] |volume=181 |issue=4571 |page=18 |location=Sutton |publisher=Reed Business Publishing |access-date=2 January 2023}}</ref> The Säffle frame differs from other Alexander products of the time, such as the [[Alexander PS type]], with the low-floor B10L chassis requiring the body of the bus to be an integral part of the vehicle, in contrast to older chassis supporting [[body-on-frame]] construction.<ref name="Jones Ultras">{{cite magazine |last=Jones |first=Stuart |url=https://archive.org/details/buscoachbuyer-issue262/page/n4/mode/1up |date=1 July 1994 |issue=262 |pages=5–7 |title=Alexander Ultra |magazine=Bus & Coach Buyer |location=Spalding |access-date=28 March 2024}}</ref>
Internally, the Ultra had a {{cvt|950|mm|in|1}} gangway between the front wheels and a flat floor throughout most of the bus, with seats in the passenger compartment suspended from the ceiling via the grab handles. Double-glazed windows were also offered.<ref name="Jones Ultras" />
Four pre-production demonstrators were produced, the first of which was bodied by Säffle and delivered to [[Mainline Buses]] in April 1994.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Jones |first=Stuart |url=https://archive.org/details/buscoachbuyer-issue251/page/39/mode/1up |date=15 April 1994 |issue=251 |page=39 |title=Volvo low-floor Concept Bus enters service |magazine=Bus & Coach Buyer |location=Spalding |access-date=28 March 2024}}</ref> Subsequent Ultras were built on license to Alexander at their [[Mallusk]] plant in [[County Antrim]], Northern Ireland.<ref name="Jones Ultras" /><ref>{{cite magazine |last=Morgan |first=Mike |url=https://archive.org/details/cbw-issue172/page/n5/mode/2up |date=17 June 1995 |issue=172 |page=7 |title=Plans for expansion |magazine=Coach & Bus Week |location=Peterborough |publisher=Emap |access-date=24 March 2024}}</ref>
==Operators== [[File:Travel West Midlands 1509.jpg|thumb|left|A [[Travel West Midlands]] [[CNG]]-powered Ultra in [[Walsall]], June 2006]] The Alexander Ultra ultimately did not sell well, however it received significant orders from a handful of operators in the UK and Ireland. The biggest customer of the Ultra were the [[Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company]], who in what was the UK's biggest low floor bus order at the time, ordered 60 Ultras in July 1995, 50 of which were delivered to [[Citybus (Belfast)|Citybus]] and the remaining 10 delivered to [[Ulsterbus]] for services in [[Derry]]. Two pre-production demonstrator examples were also acquired.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Morgan |first=Mike |url=https://archive.org/details/cbw-issue172/page/n5/mode/2up |date=17 June 1995 |issue=172 |page=6 |title=Alexander looks Ultra successful |magazine=Coach & Bus Week |location=Peterborough |publisher=Emap |access-date=24 March 2024}}</ref>
[[Travel West Midlands]] was the second biggest customer for the Ultra, taking delivery of 14 of the type in 1997 for use on route 529 serving [[Walsall]] and [[Wolverhampton]] via [[Willenhall]]. These Ultras were fuelled by [[compressed natural gas]] in a partnership supported by the [[Energy Saving Trust]] between TWM, Volvo Bus and [[British Gas]], who constructed CNG refuelling points at TWM's Walsall garage for the buses.<ref name="CNG Ultras">{{cite magazine |last=Jones |first=Stuart |date=<!--Not recorded--> July 1997 |issue=<!--Not recorded--> |pages=19–22 |title=Travel West Midlands goes gas powered |magazine=Bus & Coach Buyer |location=Spalding |publisher=Glen-Holland Limited}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last=Morgan |first=Mike |url=https://archive.org/details/cbw-issue278/page/12/mode/1up |date=17 July 1997 |issue=278 |page=12 |title=Revamped 529 'proving a success' |magazine=Coach & Bus Week |location=Peterborough |publisher=Emap |access-date=17 April 2024}}</ref>
The other operators of the Alexander Ultra were [[First Northampton]], who took delivery of nine Ultras, six of which were CNG-powered,<ref name="CNG Ultras" /><ref>{{cite magazine |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=24 February 1995 |url=https://archive.org/details/buscoachbuyer-issue295/page/19/mode/1up |issue=295 |pages=19–22 |title=The development of a lowfloor bus - Volvo B10L |magazine=Bus & Coach Buyer |location=Spalding |access-date=28 March 2024}}</ref> Timeline of [[Wigan]], who purchased 6 Ultras with grant funding from [[Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive|Greater Manchester PTE]],<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Morgan |first=Mike |url=https://archive.org/details/cbw-issue196/page/n27/mode/2up |date=2 December 1995 |issue=196 |pages=28–29 |title=Timeline's low-floor Ultras a 'first' |magazine=Coach & Bus Week |location=Peterborough |publisher=Emap |access-date=24 November 2024}}</ref> and [[Dublin Bus]], who took delivery of five diesel Ultras as well as one dual-door CNG Ultra, the latter of which was quickly disposed of by the operator.<ref name="CNG Ultras" />
Production of the Ultra ceased in 1998, with Alexander moving on to develop the [[Alexander ALX300]] body, which was available on the [[Volvo B10BLE]] chassis.
==See also== *[[Wright Liberator]], a competitor to the Ultra developed by [[Wrightbus]] on the B10L chassis with an [[Alusuisse]] frame
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == {{Commons category-inline}}
{{Walter Alexander bodies}}
[[Category:Alexander Dennis buses|Ultra]] [[Category:Volvo buses|Alexander Ultra]] [[Category:Single-deck buses]] [[Category:Low-floor buses]] [[Category:Vehicles introduced in 1994]] [[Category:Vehicles discontinued in 1998]]