Edwards Coaches has continued the celebration of its centenary in 2025 by highlighting the number of vehicles from the Caetano Levante series it has operated.
Commercial Manager Simon Ingham says that the Llantrisant firm has taken delivery of 198 new examples for National Express services over a period of around 14 years, with a handful of loaned or leased examples taking the total to pass through the fleet to over 200.
Many remain with the Llantrisant firm, including examples from the first, second and third generation of Levantes. Some of those have been cascaded down from scheduled service work for use as home-to-school and private hire vehicles while many more serve as front-line scheduled coaches on the National Express network.
Recently a small number of Levante 2 coaches have gained Edwards’ blue livery after use on National Express work. Upseating to 75 has been carried out on some for school use, although others remain in as-new configuration for private hire.
Mr Ingham describes those coaches as “great people movers,” with PSVAR compliance adding to their utility. “They do high mileage National Express work, but meticulous maintenance and care allows for a rewarding second life ‘off-network’,” he continues.
Edwards says that its intake of Levantes across the range’s life is the highest of any National Express partner operator. It has taken delivery of examples built on both Scania and Volvo chassis, while the double-deck Caetano Boa Vista has also been operated by Edwards.
It posed a coach from each iteration of the type to highlight the product’s development since its introduction. The Levante 1 on the left is a 2012 example, and the Levante 2 in the middle is from 2017.
The Levante 3A on the right was new in August 2024 and is one of 77 Levante 3 or 3A models used by Edwards Coaches for National Express from depots in South Wales and Bristol.
