An operator I spoke to not so long ago has mixed feelings about running midicoaches. On the one hand, he said, they are popular and fill a niche. On the other, they’re not much cheaper to run than a full-sized coach. When you think about it, how do you explain to a hirer that the […]
Based in the pretty town of Midsomer Norton, nestled next to the Mendips, Centurion Travel is a traditional coach operation in almost every sense. Its one-acre depot sits alongside a church, surrounded by residential property, and has been developed gradually to meet modern standards. It is a world away from the image of many of […]
Posed under atmospheric winter skies are Swans Travel’s latest additions to its fleet, a pair of Plaxton Elitei coaches. Managing Director of the Manchester-based operator, Kieran Swindells, is passionate about continuous investment in what he describes as modern, pace-setting vehicles designed to feature the latest in safety, luxury and low emission technology. He sees these new additions […]
HCT Group is spreading the social enterprise model in the bus and coach sector. It has made its first ever acquisitions of commercial operations this year and is converting them to its own social enterprise business model. It has also runs a successful programme to get ex-offenders into bus driving. Despite this success, the company […]
There was considerable surprise in the industry late last year when it was announced that the Woodall Nicolson Group, owners of Mellor Coachcraft, were to buy long-time competitor Treka Bus and that the Brighouse-based company would come under the overall control of Woodall Nicolson’s MD, John Randerson. Both companies specialise in producing coachbuilt minibuses, with […]
John Dunn’s had an eventful life so far. It has included spells with what was at the time possibly the strongest coach sales team ever assembled, running the dealership that brought the TAZ Dubrava to the UK. He was involved with bringing the Marcopolo brand to these shores, saw tough times following the collapse of […]
Tomorrow’s World was the theme of this year’s CPT Coaching Conference. It saw a format shift compared to its previous incarnations, with this year’s event being a two-day affair. The first day included the CoachMarque Meeting, followed by the Coach Commission Meeting. After this, delegates had the chance to explore the One Stop Shop trade-stand […]
The success story that is the Yutong TC9 has seen Pelican Engineering emerge into the coach industry from a background in trucks. If, four years ago, Sales Manager Bob Elliott had been set a target of 100 units a year, he’d probably have broken into a cold sweat, wondering if the Chinese midicoach would be […]