McGill’s has put into service the first of 18 more Volvo 9700 coaches to be deployed on new and extended FlixBus routes.
The first vehicles will be used on a new, twice-daily route from Edinburgh-Aberdeen, via Dundee, Dunfermline and Perth. Meanwhile, the existing Glasgow-Aberdeen service will be increased in frequency from four to seven times a day.
The latest additions join seven Volvo 9700 already used on the McGill’s-FlixBus network and the order will be completed between now and the end of June. The next batch will be deployed on further new routes across Scotland.
In July 2021, McGill’s took its initial delivery of what were the first of the latest generation of the 9700 to be sold in the UK.
McGill’s Chief Executive Officer Ralph Roberts says: “We looked at the full package – the product, the specification, and the aftermarket support available from the Volvo dealer network – and there was a genuine commitment from the manufacturer to deliver a first class experience for both us as an operator, and for our passengers too.
“The Volvo dealer network is very strong across the UK, giving us the peace of mind that should we need it, we have experienced support teams who know the product spread nationwide.”
A cooperation agreement signed in May 2022 between FlixBus and VolvoBuses enables the company to supply coaches to FlixBus’s partner networks across Europe.
Domenico Bondi, Managing Director of Volvo Bus UK & Ireland, adds: “FlixBus demands exceptionally high standards from its partners, and it’s this focus on quality which has driven the brand’s rapid growth across Europe.
“McGill’s and FlixBus have first-hand experience running the 9700 on its service from Glasgow to London and the product has been performing brilliantly. It’s this real-world experience which helped to secure the ‘tripartite’ agreement for the supply of these vehicles, and we look forward to seeing continuing positive growth in our relationship.”
