The 69th UK Coach Rally for 2025 got underway with a period of fine sunshine before clouds set in across Blackpool during the weekend of 12 and 13 April, with a solid field of operators’ entries complemented by good support from vehicle manufacturers and dealerships.
Saturday opened with the customary road run, followed by the driving heats. 2025 has seen minor change to how those tests are undertaken. While occasional punishment was handed out to some of the plastic barriers, drivers otherwise did well.
Illustrating how technology is ever more ingrained in new coaches, a significant number of those entered to the UK Coach Rally in 2025 have a camera monitoring system (CMS) in lieu of conventional mirrors.
Among them were two Yutong GT12 models, which are among the first delivered with such equipment. It was also represented at the Rally on various other coaches. Debuting CMS on the Mercedes-Benz Tourismo in the UK was a tri-axle example for Grange Travel, while the Neoplan Tourliner and Irizar i6S Efficient also showed the cameras.
Two other coaches with them are members of the Van Hool T range. Bibbys of Ingleton showed its T15 Alicron, while debuting a day after collection from dealership VDL Bus and Coach UK was the first of six T17 Astron models for Parrys International of Cheslyn Hay.
At the opposite end of the age scale, Portsmouth City Coaches entered a 1971 Leyland Leopard with Plaxton Panorama Elite bodywork.
Now in The Southdown Diplomat livery and branding, the coach was long liveried as the Brighton Belle. As a forerunner of the highest-specification coaches of today, it has 2+1 seating around tables and was driven by Managing Director Mike Elkin.
A further hint of the past was given by Go Goodwins. Its 2022 Neoplan Tourliner carries a striking livery used by the company in years past, as depicted at a recent UK Coach Rally by a Jonckheere-bodied Volvo B10M.
Perhaps best represented among entries were Temsa coaches. Examples from operators in England, Scotland and Wales formed part of the field, indicative of the growing volumes seen by dealership Temsa Sales UK.
Also notable was the number of coaches carrying decals marking anniversaries for their owners. Both Centurion Travel with an Irizar i6S Efficient integral and Edwards Coaches with a Mercedes-Benz Tourismo used their entries to mark respective centenaries in 2025.
Multiple marques were represented in the trade area. The UK Coach Operators Association brought a coach of its own: A Volvo B12BT with Van Hool Alizee T9 bodywork. Part of the Falcon Coaches heritage fleet, it was new to Tellings Golden Miller in 2005 and won Coach of the Year at the UK Coach Rally in Brighton then. It remains to team coach layout.
After a subsequent career with other operators, the vehicle was repurchased by Falcon Coaches and restored to as-new appearance, including its original cherished registration mark.
Judging, driving finals and the Directors Challenge were set to take place on Sunday 13 April, with trophy presentations completing the weekend’s events.
Below is a gallery of selected images from the first day of the 2025 UK Coach Rally. Click on any to enlarge:
