Custom Denning Element in Burton-upon-Trent
Perhaps the first Australian-built buses for the UK are a batch of Custom Denning Element battery-electric examples delivered to Rotala Group. They are relatively well spread around its operations, with some in Burton-upon-Trent at the Diamond Bus East Midlands business, which was formerly Midland Classic.
More are due, and indeed Custom Denning has big plans for its products in the wider UK market. Premises in the East Midlands have been secured, a regional Managing Director appointed, and talk now is of a battery-electric coach to come in 2027. Manufacture in the UK is a longer-term aspiration, but it is on the agenda.
Custom Denning and Rotala are closely linked, which is no doubt the reason for the group's decision to import from Australia. Both are part of the Dunn family, which came to prominence some decades ago with Dunn-Line of Nottingham. Bob and son Simon own Rotala; other son Scott owns Custom Denning after emigrating to Australia, and before that owned Your Bus of Heanor.
The Elements at Burton were part-funded by the government's Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas scheme, hence the sticker above the signalling window. Here 39005 (BX25 GNU) pauses outside the town's railway station.
Custom Denning Element in Burton-upon-Trent
Perhaps the first Australian-built buses for the UK are a batch of Custom Denning Element battery-electric examples delivered to Rotala Group. They are relatively well spread around its operations, with some in Burton-upon-Trent at the Diamond Bus East Midlands business, which was formerly Midland Classic.
More are due, and indeed Custom Denning has big plans for its products in the wider UK market. Premises in the East Midlands have been secured, a regional Managing Director appointed, and talk now is of a battery-electric coach to come in 2027. Manufacture in the UK is a longer-term aspiration, but it is on the agenda.
Custom Denning and Rotala are closely linked, which is no doubt the reason for the group's decision to import from Australia. Both are part of the Dunn family, which came to prominence some decades ago with Dunn-Line of Nottingham. Bob and son Simon own Rotala; other son Scott owns Custom Denning after emigrating to Australia, and before that owned Your Bus of Heanor.
The Elements at Burton were part-funded by the government's Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas scheme, hence the sticker above the signalling window. Here 39005 (BX25 GNU) pauses outside the town's railway station.