However, Trident is not simply a 3-axle Arrow. Trident is quite different from the Arrow model, especially for the lower-deck floor. There is still one step for both the entrance and exit for Arrow, but Trident is a low-floor double-decker with no step in front of the second axle.

The first built Trident, which received an Alexander R body, is for manufacturer's experimental use only and is kept by Dennis. The second built Trident subsequently arrived Hong Kong on 28 May 1997. The bus is also the first one that uses the Alexander ALX-series body. In early 1997, Alexander announced to replace all its existing models by the new series - ALX, from ALX100 to 500. ALX400 is for 2-axle double-deckers while ALX500 is for 3-axle ones. Another body builder that provides bodies for Tridents in Hong Kon is Duple Metsec.

When the Trident arrived in Hong Kong, the body was painted in standard KMB colour, however it was repainted in gold with some special graphics, to demonstrate that this bus is suitable for everybody including those who are disabled.

Before starting passenger service, the bus was officially demonstrated to the public for the first time in the event of "Public Transport Cares for You" organized by Home Affairs Department and various public transport operators on 6 July 1997.

The bus was then registered as HJ 2127 on 22 September 1997, and KMB allocated ATR1 as the fleet number. After a series of route trials, ATR1 started passenger service on Route 1A on 17 November 1997.

You can view the photographs of various Dennis Tridents by following the hyperlinks at the top and at the bottom of the page. Photographs of ATR1 are available on the page of "ATR1 (2)".