Vertas took delivery of seven Plaxton-bodied Volvo B8R coaches earlier in 2022, supplied by Alexander Dennis. The batch is made up of six Leopards and one Panther, and all are PSVAR compliant.
The Leopards seat 72 in a 3+2 layout and the Panther carries 61. Vertas works on behalf of Suffolk County Council, carrying over 1,250 mainstream students and those with special education needs and disabilities each school day.
Speaking about the new coaches, Vertas Operations Manager Sam Makalandawa (pictured, right) says: “We pride ourselves on acting with sustainability, consistency, integrity, partnership and agility – and our relationship with Alexander Dennis perfectly fits out ethos, giving us a reliable partner that responds to our requirements.
“We [also] pride ourselves by providing over half a million seats’ capacity per academic year, transporting the most precious thing in the world – children – where we maintain zero tolerance on compromising safety.
“These new coaches have been an excellent addition to our fleet, further enhancing our standards.”
Adds Alexander Dennis Regional Sales Manager Martin Dunleavy (pictured, left): “Students in Suffolk now enjoy better school transport than ever thanks to Vertas’s landmark investment in seven new coaches. All of them have been built in Britain, ensuring that money is reinvested in our communities to benefit future generations.”
