Three Fiat Ducato-based Orion full low-floor minibuses have joined the Gateshead Central Taxis fleet, supplied by Mellor Coachcraft (01706 860610).
They have been configured especially for stagecarriage work and they can carry 23 passengers. CCTV systems are fitted along with destination displays, a driver partition and a cash tray.
Says Transport Manager Graham Mulvaney: “We have had nine Orions in the past, and both drivers and maintenance staff think that the new model is an improvement over earlier versions.
“They are more robust with a better feel for the road and they are a much more pleasant drive. The interior looks bigger and more airy. It feels like it was designed as a big bus.
“We were a little worried about the drop in engine size but the new power units have been as good as, if not better than, the old models in terms of acceleration and performance when fully loaded. There has been a big improvement in both looks and performance.”
