The Lothian Motorcoaches brand has been launched by Edinburgh operator Lothian Buses as the municipal makes its first foray into coach work for well over a decade.
Five 14m, 61-seat Plaxton Panther-bodied Volvo B11R tri-axles have been delivered to launch the venture and it is understood that a handful of second-hand coaches have been purchased to join them. Both private hire and tour work are set to form the bulk of their duties.
The Panthers carry a restrained grey livery, and while they are equipped with front, side and rear destination displays and a floor-level rear toilet, they are not wheelchair accessible. Offside emergency doors are fitted to maximise seating capacity.
Unusually, Plaxton has fitted a five-step moulded GRP entry with a further two steps rising from the platform to the flat gangway.
The five-step option was not developed specifically for Lothian but it formed part of the extensive discussions between the two parties, which Plaxton says has delivered a finished product that meets the operator’s needs exactly.
The new coaches are based at Longstone garage in the west of Edinburgh. Three were delivered following the UK Coach Rally last weekend and the other two have followed this week. Prior to the arrival of the Panthers, Lothian’s most recent coach purchase was in 1999, when it took delivery of a single Dennis Javelin.
