Seven new coaches from two manufacturers have been delivered to a pair of operators for use on Scottish Citylink services. They represent a cumulative investment of around £2 million.
West Coast Motors has received six 14m Irizar i6S Efficient integral models. They are the first standard-height tri-axles that dealership Irizar UK has supplied. Four are working between Glasgow and Skye, with two used on a route between Glasgow and Campbelltown.
PSVAR compliance is provided as mandated by their scheduled service use and the Irizars are also the first coaches in Scottish Citylink livery to be equipped with rear-view cameras. The service provider adds that they have delivered a capacity uplift on routes serving Skye.
Meanwhile, D&E Coaches of Inverness has taken delivery of a 61-seat Mercedes-Benz Tourismo tri-axle for use between its home city and Ullapool, from where ferry connections to the Western Isles can be made. Like the Irizars, it comes with drop-down tables and USB charging points and is PSVAR compliant.
Scottish Citylink Operations Director Simone Smith (pictured top, left) says that the seven new coaches have been deployed on “well-used and important connecting routes.”
The two services in question operated by West Coast Motors have seen strong passenger growth and Ms Smith notes that the Irizars are “state of the art coaches which are at the cutting edge of coach design.”
“We are also delighted to introduce a new, modern coach with more comfort and customer features than before between Inverness and Ullapool in partnership with D&E Coaches, which we have worked with for many years.”
