Lochs Motor Transport has recently acquired two new Alexander Dennis Plaxton Leopard coaches and a service bus in the shape of a Volvo B8RLE MCV Evora.
With the new deliveries joining a 25-strong fleet, the Isle of Lewis-based operator is adding to its flexibility for serving remote locations via coach hire and scheduled services on the Western Isles of Scotland.
The Plaxton Leopards are both built on the Volvo B8R chassis. One is a 59-seater with I-Shift transmission and the other is a 79-seater with a ZF automatic gearbox. Both come with destination displays and a PSVAR-compliant wheelchair lift.
Lochs Motor Transport Director Roddy MacDonald says: “Coach operation in the Western Isles is very varied, so it is great to have this new pair of Plaxton Leopard coaches.
“They add operational flexibility to our fleet while retaining technical commonality with our other large vehicles, all of which are built on Volvo chassis and which include several other Plaxton coaches.”
Charlie Miller, Retail Sales Director at Alexander Dennis, adds: “This delivery is a great example of the Plaxton Leopard’s ability to meet different operational requirements with its wide range of specifications on a common platform.
“We’re delighted that Roddy and his team have chosen our Plaxton coaches and look forward to seeing them add value to Lochs Motor Transport’s bottom line for many years to come.”
The bus is Loch Motor Transport’s second Volvo B8RLE MCV Evora, the 12.1-metre variant adding to the shorter example. It is already covering more than 800 miles per week on the W8 service from Stornoway-Ranish six days a week.
The 46-seater is powered by Volvo’s D8K Euro VI engine with six-speed ZF automatic gearbox.
Mr MacDonald says: “Every year we replace some of our older vehicles with new Volvos. They really are brilliant assets and the customer service we enjoy, from the dealer technicians to the sales managers is second to none.”
He adds: “Running 18 different routes, the most important aspects when considering a new purchase for me is that the vehicle is capable of the job of navigating the unique terrain and meeting the expectations of our motto, ‘safety first’.”
