Edinburgh-based coach tour operator Timberbush Tours is spending £2m on 16 new vehicles, ranging in size from a 10-seater to two offering 53-seat capacity, which will be delivered before the summer season.
The order will see the company’s fleet size increase to 34 coaches for its existing Edinburgh and Glasgow operations and its new service from Inverness, which is scheduled to begin in the next few months’ time.
The new vehicles include 12 from Mercedes-Benz – four 19-seaters, seven 16-seat coaches and one 10-seater, which have been purchased through West Lothian-based Coachtraders.
In addition, two 32-seater MAN TGL MOBIpeople midicoaches have been bought through BASE Coach Sales, and two 53-seat Neoplan Tourlines have been acquired directly through the manufacturer, MAN.
Timberbush Tours says the fleet additions are in line with its regular stock replacement strategy for disposing of coaches reaching three years of age and replacing them with the very latest models available.
“With competition in the local market intensifying, this planned investment is significant for us,” says Steve Spalding, Chief Executive Officer of Timberbush Tours.
“These coaches will be delivered to us kitted out to our specification and reflect our commitment to continually re-fleet and replace our coaches with the most environmentally friendly and fuel-efficient vehicles available.”
In addition to 18 additional guides being employed this year by the company, further recruitment is underway for administrative support staff. This is part of an operational expansion programme which will see Timberbush Tours upgrade its Edinburgh headquarters.
A unit adjacent to its current depot has been bought and will be used to expand the operator’s fleet parking, maintenance and training facilities.
