# Alexander Ultra

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Low-floor bus body on Volvo B10L chassis

Motor vehicle

Alexander Ultra Translink Metro Alexander Ultra bodied Volvo B10L in Belfast, June 2010 Overview Manufacturer Walter Alexander (Belfast) Production 1994–1998 Assembly Mallusk, County Antrim, Northern Ireland Designer Säffle Karosserifabrik AB [sv] Body and chassis Doors 1 or 2 doors Floor type Low floor Chassis Volvo B10L Related Volvo 5000 [sv] Powertrain Engine Volvo THD103 Capacity 40–44 seated, 25–29 standing Transmission Voith or ZF Dimensions Length 12,000 mm (472.4 in) Kerb weight 10,980 kg (24,207 lb)[1] Chronology Successor Alexander ALX300

The **Alexander Ultra** was a [low floor](/source/Low-floor_bus) [single-deck bus](/source/Single-deck_bus) body built on the [Volvo B10L](/source/Volvo_B10L) chassis by [Walter Alexander (Belfast)](/source/Walter_Alexander_(Belfast)) from 1995 to 1998. It was the [right-hand drive](/source/Right-hand_drive) equivalent of the [Volvo 5000](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Volvo_5000&action=edit&redlink=1) [[sv](https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volvo_5000)] and was built on license from [Volvo Buses](/source/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 [Säffle's](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=S%C3%A4ffle%27s&action=edit&redlink=1) [[sv](https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/S%C3%A4ffle_Karosserifabrik)] 'System 2000' frame, using a combination of [aluminium](/source/Aluminium) and [extrusions](/source/Extrusion) secured with positively [bolted joints](/source/Bolted_joint).[2] The Säffle frame differs from other Alexander products of the time, such as the [Alexander PS type](/source/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](/source/Body-on-frame) construction.[3]

Internally, the Ultra had a 950 mm (37.4 in) 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.[3]

Four pre-production demonstrators were produced, the first of which was bodied by Säffle and delivered to [Mainline Buses](/source/Mainline_Buses) in April 1994.[4] Subsequent Ultras were built on license to Alexander at their [Mallusk](/source/Mallusk) plant in [County Antrim](/source/County_Antrim), Northern Ireland.[3][5]

## Operators

A [Travel West Midlands](/source/Travel_West_Midlands) [CNG](/source/CNG)-powered Ultra in [Walsall](/source/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](/source/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](/source/Citybus_(Belfast)) and the remaining 10 delivered to [Ulsterbus](/source/Ulsterbus) for services in [Derry](/source/Derry). Two pre-production demonstrator examples were also acquired.[6]

[Travel West Midlands](/source/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](/source/Walsall) and [Wolverhampton](/source/Wolverhampton) via [Willenhall](/source/Willenhall). These Ultras were fuelled by [compressed natural gas](/source/Compressed_natural_gas) in a partnership supported by the [Energy Saving Trust](/source/Energy_Saving_Trust) between TWM, Volvo Bus and [British Gas](/source/British_Gas), who constructed CNG refuelling points at TWM's Walsall garage for the buses.[7][8]

The other operators of the Alexander Ultra were [First Northampton](/source/First_Northampton), who took delivery of nine Ultras, six of which were CNG-powered,[7][9] Timeline of [Wigan](/source/Wigan), who purchased 6 Ultras with grant funding from [Greater Manchester PTE](/source/Greater_Manchester_Passenger_Transport_Executive),[10] and [Dublin Bus](/source/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.[7]

Production of the Ultra ceased in 1998, with Alexander moving on to develop the [Alexander ALX300](/source/Alexander_ALX300) body, which was available on the [Volvo B10BLE](/source/Volvo_B10BLE) chassis.

## See also

- [Wright Liberator](/source/Wright_Liberator), a competitor to the Ultra developed by [Wrightbus](/source/Wrightbus) on the B10L chassis with an [Alusuisse](/source/Alusuisse) frame

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Sys2000_1-0)** ["Alexander uses Volvo firm's System 2000"](https://archive.org/details/cbw-issue172/page/n5/mode/2up). *[Coach & Bus Week](/source/Coach_%26_Bus_Week)*. No. 172. Peterborough: Emap. 17 June 1995. p. 7. Retrieved 24 March 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["WA bodies B10L"](https://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/7th-july-1994/18/wa-bodies-b101). *[Commercial Motor](/source/Commercial_Motor)*. Vol. 181, no. 4571. Sutton: Reed Business Publishing. 7 July 1994. p. 18. Retrieved 2 January 2023.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Jones_Ultras_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Jones_Ultras_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Jones_Ultras_3-2) Jones, Stuart (1 July 1994). ["Alexander Ultra"](https://archive.org/details/buscoachbuyer-issue262/page/n4/mode/1up). *Bus & Coach Buyer*. No. 262. Spalding. pp. 5–7. Retrieved 28 March 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Jones, Stuart (15 April 1994). ["Volvo low-floor Concept Bus enters service"](https://archive.org/details/buscoachbuyer-issue251/page/39/mode/1up). *Bus & Coach Buyer*. No. 251. Spalding. p. 39. Retrieved 28 March 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Morgan, Mike (17 June 1995). ["Plans for expansion"](https://archive.org/details/cbw-issue172/page/n5/mode/2up). *Coach & Bus Week*. No. 172. Peterborough: Emap. p. 7. Retrieved 24 March 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Morgan, Mike (17 June 1995). ["Alexander looks Ultra successful"](https://archive.org/details/cbw-issue172/page/n5/mode/2up). *Coach & Bus Week*. No. 172. Peterborough: Emap. p. 6. Retrieved 24 March 2024.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-CNG_Ultras_7-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-CNG_Ultras_7-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-CNG_Ultras_7-2) Jones, Stuart (July 1997). "Travel West Midlands goes gas powered". *Bus & Coach Buyer*. Spalding: Glen-Holland Limited. pp. 19–22.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Morgan, Mike (17 July 1997). ["Revamped 529 'proving a success'"](https://archive.org/details/cbw-issue278/page/12/mode/1up). *Coach & Bus Week*. No. 278. Peterborough: Emap. p. 12. Retrieved 17 April 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["The development of a lowfloor bus - Volvo B10L"](https://archive.org/details/buscoachbuyer-issue295/page/19/mode/1up). *Bus & Coach Buyer*. No. 295. Spalding. 24 February 1995. pp. 19–22. Retrieved 28 March 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Morgan, Mike (2 December 1995). ["Timeline's low-floor Ultras a 'first'"](https://archive.org/details/cbw-issue196/page/n27/mode/2up). *Coach & Bus Week*. No. 196. Peterborough: Emap. pp. 28–29. Retrieved 24 November 2024.

## External links

Media related to [Alexander (Belfast) Ultra](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Alexander_(Belfast)_Ultra) at Wikimedia Commons

v t e Vehicle bodies built by Walter Alexander Buses ALX100 ALX200 ALX300 ALX400 ALX500 Dash N Type PS Type Q Type R Type Setana Strider Sprint Ultra X Type Y Type Trains British Rail Class 143 British Rail Class 144

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Alexander Ultra](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Ultra) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Ultra?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.