Hollinshead Coaches has long been a Volvo buyer, basing its loyalty on good service from a local dealer. It was also one of the first operators to sign on the line for a 9900 when taking a 13.1m, 53-seat model
Volvo set tongues wagging when it unveiled its all-new 9900 in 2018. Its styling quickly generated comment, but the manufacturer’s faith in launching a new model in right-hand drive form was rapidly repaid by the number of orders it soon received from UK and Irish customers.
Among those operators was established Volvo buyer Hollinshead Coaches of Biddulph. It took a number of the 9900’s predecessor in the UK market, the 9700, and it was among the first to sign up for the new model.
At 13.1m, Hollinsheads’ 9900 is to the shorter of the two lengths available. It has 53 seats and a centre toilet, a layout that the operator has standardised on to allow coaches to be used interchangeably on various work.
Custom paint scheme
Hollinsheads takes pride in its fleet’s appearance. To suit the 9900’s undulating window line, the operator reconfigured its red and cream livery to match. That job that was carried out by a driver who was formerly a teacher.
Getting it right took some time, but ensuring that the 9900 looked the part was key, says Director Stephen Haydon. “The tri-axle 9700 remains the best coach I have operated. That figured in my decision regarding the 9900, but it is also imperative to show that we are moving forward as an operator.
“As a small company, it is important to demonstrate to customers that we invest in our business. Our holidays are not the cheapest, and spending money on our fleet demonstrates that we’re not just about taking bookings and banking the funds.”
The 9900 follows a Yutong TC9 delivered late in 2018, and a 9700 tri-axle that came in 2017. Its arrival represents an advancement of Hollinsheads’ usual fleet replacement schedule, but strong business over the past two years led it to invest sooner.
Coaches are for working
As a fleet flagship, holidays will form the core of the 9900’s workload. When routeone viewed the coach, it was during its first downtime since collection from Volvo’s Coventry sales centre. In the meantime, it had made a trip to Ireland and was about to set off for Suffolk. Other than Ireland, overseas jaunts will be rare, although at least one trip to Belgium is in the works. The current climate has impacted the popularity of foreign tours, but sales of domestic holidays are strong, Stephen says.
The 9900 has cinema-style seating that rises from front to back, making the model ideal for tour work. Although some operators questioned the window line, as shown during an earlier drive of Volvo’s demonstrator the spacing is perfect and the pillars do not intrude into passengers’ side views.
The coach has the D11K engine rated at 460bhp coupled to an I-Shift gearbox, the 9900’s standard driveline. It has proven to be fuel efficient, with a round trip to London that involved mainly motorway miles returning an indicated 13.5mpg.
“Coaches have to be out working. I have never been interested in going over the top in how we specify them, but they must look smart and present the right impression to passengers,” adds Stephen.
To that end, Hollinsheads chose a red and black interior scheme on the 9900. The seats are luxury models and they come with lateral movement and Volvo’s unusual yet logical recline mechanism, which involves slight forward movement of the squab.
A well-equipped yet compact servery is mounted at the continental door. It has a coffee percolator as well as a water boiler. Wood-effect flooring has been specified, along with luggage rack doors, something that is standard for Hollinsheads.
USB charging points are mounted within the seat backs, but the operator would have added them were they not a standard fit.
Routine maintenance of the 9900 will be carried out in-house by Hollinsheads, but one of the reasons that Stephen sticks with Volvo for full-size coaches is the operator’s relationship with dealer Hartshorne in Newcastle-under-Lyme.
“We have a good understanding with Hartshorne. There is the occasional issue, but by calling and speaking to someone there I can resolve it. It is only six miles away and parts availability is good. I did look at other coaches, but our relationship with Hartshorne and Volvo Bus sealed the deal.”
What comes next?
When Hollinsheads is in need of another touring coach the 9900 is likely to be turned to first. However, the next new arrival in the fleet will be a two-axle vehicle that ticks the workhorse box. “There is always work for those coaches,” says Stephen; while he does not favour the use of 3+2 seating, if pushed towards it by contract requirements he cannot rule out adding such a vehicle in the longer-term.
Regardless of what materialises as the next new addition to the immaculately-presented Biddulph fleet, it will no doubt form further evidence of an operator that is always moving forwards.
