Arriva North West - Southport Depot

[B10B6514]

RE: Arriva North West - Southport Depot
Another era coming to an end.

Former MTL CNG powered Dennis Dart /Plaxton Super Pointer 2s 2291 to 2294 (ex-6248-6251) S248-251UVR are due to leave out of the fleet imminently. They are to be temporarily replaced by 4 Darts from Bootle in the next week.

When new these buses were amongst the most expensive Dennis Darts ever built at a cost of £145,000 each. Their original compressed natural gas (CNG) engines were mooted to have been £75k each. They were funded by MTL,Merseytravel, Sefton Council and the EEC to evaluate alternative fuels. The CNG was drawn directly from the mains and compressed through a special plant which has long since been demolished. As you are probably aware they were for operation on park and ride services.

Between 2003 and 2005 they were re-engined with conventional diesel Cummins 6BT engines and their distinctive roof pod fuel tanks removed. They have a fairly high specification body for a Plaxton Pointer with bonded glazing, individual seating etc.

Although not the most successful of experiments in its day they are forerunners to today's hybrid, hydrogen fuel cell and other alternative fuel experiments throughout the country.