Work on retrofitting existing Scania Irizar i6 coaches at the bodybuilder’s factory in Spain to achieve PSVAR compliance is proceeding well, with Scania Great Britain having delivered the first two to Hitchin operator Britannia Coaches and revealing that around a further 20 examples are being treated.
The latter coaches are a mix of two- and three-axle vehicles. Scania Used Bus and Coach Sales Executive James Morgan says that the programme with Irizar to retrofit existing coaches to PSVAR will see a stock of those vehicles built up. That will allow customers to “see, touch and feel what they will be buying before committing.”
Mr Morgan adds that having the work carried out by Irizar guarantees the quality of the conversion. All equipment supplied is fully warranted. It includes a Masats lift, a wheelchair user tracking and restraint system and Hanover destination displays.
Britannia Coaches Managing Director Richard Howells says the quality of the retrofit work carried out is “exceptional and to the high standard you would expect of Scania and Irizar.”
Mr Howells adds: “Operationally speaking, the industry certainly needs all the assistance it can get at this time. These vehicles will make a real difference to us as we will be able to use them on rail replacement services, a condition of which is that we use PSVAR-compliant coaches.”
Irizar announced in November 2020 that it would offer factory PSVAR retrofit on members of its i6 and i6S range.
