National Express has unveiled the first of what is now confirmed to be 25 Van Hool TDX21 Altano overdeckers that will enter service with partner operators Edwards Coaches (10) and Selwyn’s of Runcorn (15).
They represent the first Van Hool products built for the National Express scheduled network for many years. 63 Kiel seats and a floor-level toilet are on the upper deck, with three seats and space for a wheelchair user adjacent to the driver.
The Altano has been customised by the Belgian manufacturer to suit both National Express’s first life needs and use beyond that. The initial 25 will be deployed by Edwards on route 040 between Bristol and London, and by Selwyn’s on service 540 between Manchester and the capital.
In the former case, they will displace Caetano Boa Vista double-deckers. In the latter, they will increase capacity on what National Express Network Director Ed Rickard says is a rapidly growing axis. For both instances, luggage space is key, he adds; while the Boa Vistas on the Bristol route have worked well enough, accommodating bags has been tricky.
Mr Rickard notes that National Express has spent some time searching for a suitable high-capacity successor to the Boa Vista, and that it has evaluated products from multiple manufacturers in that quest. “When capacity, reputation, longevity, aftersales support and cost were considered, we decided that Van Hool was the best option,” he adds.
Further Van Hool coaches for National Express expected
The Altano will be used on a targeted basis. While none are confirmed beyond the first 25, the business expects more to follow. When combined with the recent debut of a Yutong GTe14 battery-electric demonstrator, questions may be asked about National Express’s previously unshakeable relationship with Caetano. Mr Rickard says it is strong.
“120 Levante 3A coaches will join our network this year for a combination of natural fleet replacement and growth,” he continues.
Notably, that work will see the first Levante 3A bodies on Volvo chassis. Caetano is currently working to match its product to the B13R underframe, which succeeded the B11R in 2023. Scania will also be prominent in the Levante 3A order, Mr Rickard adds.
The first-in-series TDX21 Altano for National Express work has been built by Van Hool in Belgium. In line with the manufacturer’s recently announced realignment, the rest will be assembled in North Macedonia. The seed coach has already visited Skopje for training purposes. Service entry of the 10 for Edwards is expected “over the coming months.”
Mr Rickard believes that scheduled coaching is in a strong place presently, with competition driving down fares and industrial relations difficulties in the rail industry further contributing to modal shift.
“During rail strikes, a lot of people used a scheduled coach for the first time. We believe that they found quality to be above their expectations. 10% of the customers who used our services for the first time during rail strikes have come back to us since then.”
Altano adoption sees change to wheelchair user approach
A major change for National Express on the Altano is how wheelchair users are boarded and alighted. A ramp stored within the luggage bay is affixed at the door opening via two lugs, and the wheelchair passenger has a dedicated area immediately in front of the dashboard.
The wide door means that the front leaf can be left shut, shielding the wheelchair user from being bumped by other passengers as they move towards the nearside staircase. A pair of seats could be mounted where the wheelchair user is carried, but National Express will not do so.
Because there is no need for a lift, Van Hool Sales Representative Dave Porter estimates that total boarding or alighting time for a wheelchair user is around three minutes, and with no safety implications of needing to raise those passengers to saloon height.
Van Hool confident on coach after National Express deal
Despite news during week commencing 11 March about its turnaround plan, Van Hool says that demand for new coaches is at levels unseen for a long time. It currently has around a one-year lead time, and expects the first T model for a UK buyer to arrive shortly.
On work with National Express, Area Sales Manager RHD and Northern Europe Erik Olijslagers explains that a significant part of the changes made to the Altano relate to optimising luggage space, including making loading and unloading as easy as possible. Including internal racks, 16.5 cubic metres of storage space is claimed.
To that end, the centre passenger door is on the offside. The nearside part of the underfloor area thus has unencumbered access between the steer and drive axles. Inclusion of a true continental door is a factor in second life considerations; in furtherance of that end, the rear toilet is demountable.
Power is from the DAF MX-13 engine coupled to an Allison six-speed automatic gearbox. A brief drive of the seed vehicle showed that the pickup of such a combination is as sharp as one would expect, and that the steered rear axle means that the coach turns nicely.
Also fitted is a rear-view digital camera monitoring system. It is optional on all Van Hool coaches, but over 50% of those built by the OEM now have it, and that the figure is higher in the UK. Although the cab displays will take a little getting used to for drivers who have not seen them, clarity is good.
While showing of the first TDX21 in National Express livery came in a difficult week for Van Hool, the project looks set to deliver a significant uplift in volume for its coach products in the UK. The product is strong, and its development delivers further confidence in the health of the domestic scheduled market.
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