Double-decker fleet is updated; accessible Mercedes-Benz Tourismo also joins Manchester operator
Manchester operator Belle Vue has upgraded its high-capacity and accessible coach fleets as it gears up for growth in 2019, the operator says.
With finance provided by Lombard, a Mercedes-Benz Tourismo that can carry wheelchair users has been complemented by additions to the double-decker coach fleet in the form of an 85-seat Van Hool Astromega and an 83-seat VDL Synergy.
The latter coaches will be used for educational tours of Europe and for private hire work in the UK. The fleet’s third double-decker, a Jonckheere-bodied Volvo, has been upgraded.
Says MD Phil Hitchen: “Good quality double-decker coaches are generally in short supply across the industry, but they have the advantage of enabling larger groups to reduce costs as they need only to book one vehicle instead of two.
“These coaches greatly benefit our strategic partnerships with educational tour operators that take students to Europe, and they are also proving popular with key clients in the UK.”
The accessible Tourismo allows Belle Vue to better cater for elderly and disabled groups that book social outings. “Its lift means that passengers who use a wheelchair or find it difficult to board on foot have easy access. We regularly run day trips for such groups, and this addition to the fleet was made with them in mind,” adds Mr Hitchen.
“We constantly invest to provide the best possible service to clients and to ensure that our fleet is the most modern around. We are now well-placed to expand the business in 2019.”
