Stagecoach Midlands is upgrading its driver training fleet of life-expired Volvo B10M coaches with three MAN/Alexander ALX300 buses.
The buses are going through the workshops of Stagecoach Yorkshire in Chesterfield where they are being modified for their new role and being painted in a blue and gold livery with driver training branding.
A work area with tables is at the rear along with locking cabinets to allow the instructors to use the vehicle as their office.
At the front a pedestal instructor’s seat is installed with a handbrake. High-level indicator and brake light repeaters are fitted on the front bulkhead.
The first two conversions are now in use at Nuneaton and Northampton with the third due to be allocated to Leamington Spa.
The training school also uses a Volvo B10M with Alexander PS bodywork for DCPC training and additional training vehicles are also in the fleet for use by the Megabus unit based at Rugby.