Two new deliveries for Phillips International
Bewdley-based Phillips International Travel has cause for celebration on two counts.
Firstly, Director Julian Phillips’ wife Gemma has given birth to a son.
Secondly, the operator has replaced its ’17-plate Plaxton Elite with a new Volvo B8R Plaxton Panther.
“So we have had two new arrivals in the space of 48 hours,” Julian told B&CB.
The operator has named the new coach ‘Coronation Sovereign’ in honour of HM King Charles III.
Like the Elite, the Panther has 49 seats, albeit with a slightly different layout. Every seat has extra leg-room, is reclinable and has individual ventilation, reading lights, arm rests, foot rests and fold-down tables. A new feature for the company is USB charging sockets at each seat.
Julian said the decision to take the Panther was based on the comfort level it provides passengers, being just as luxurious as the Elite.
The new coach, built to order, continues the operator’s 43-year tradition of only buying Plaxton of Scarborough. On why the operator keeps returning to the brand, Julian said: “First and foremost it’s the aftercare. All operators have problems, a driver might sustain damage on it somehow, and Plaxton can usually get parts out within 24 hours.”
“The past three years of Covid lockdowns and rocketing fuel prices have been tough to navigate, so we are extremely proud to have steadied the proverbial ship and finally be able to invest in renewing our small fleet once again” – Phillips International Travel
A statement from the company said: “The interior has been designed to our company’s specifications to ensure maximum comfort for our customers.
“We would like to thank our loyal customers. Without the frequent custom of so many people, our family business would not be in a position to renew our vehicles. The past three years of Covid lockdowns and rocketing fuel prices have been tough to navigate, so we are extremely proud to have steadied the proverbial ship and finally be able to invest in renewing our small fleet once again. No mean feat for a small operator such as us.”
The coach is due to go straight to work tomorrow morning (20 October 2023), bringing a tour group back from Harrogate. This should be a surprise to these customers, as the operator has kept the new coach under its hat. It will be on our tour to Derbyshire on Saturday (21 October) as well as Moreton-in-Marsh Market on Tuesday (24 October).
Julian reports Phillips International Travel has had a good year in terms of workload. He said: “Our recovery from Covid has been strong. We are pleased with how things are going.”
[L to R] Julian Phillips of Phillips International with Simon Woods, New and Used Sales Manager at Plaxton