JH Coaches repeats order while North Star Travel commits to its first double-decker on Scania chassis
North Star Travel, of Needingworth, Cambridgeshire, used Coach & Bus UK (CBUK) to confirm an order for an Ayats Eclipse-bodied Scania K 450 EB chassis, its first double-decker coach.
It joins JH Coaches in having committed to the Scania/Ayats combination. The Birtley, Tyne and Wear operator ordered its second example at CBUK; its first was on display.
“Ayats gives exceptional value for money and the support and assistance that we have received from both Ayats UK Coach Sales and the factory in Spain has been excellent.” says North Star Travel MD Tony Meldrum.
Mr Meldrum is yet to finalise the internal specification but the coach will be built to a bespoke layout, he says. It will be used predominantly on tour work to Europe.
North Star Travel was established a decade ago. “The Ayats is like a 10th birthday present and it will take our fleet to five,” says Mr Meldrum. Its other coaches are all Euro 6 models and an early move to the latest emission standard was done for a reason, he adds.
“It’s about trying to be ahead of the game. Having an all-Euro 6 fleet means that we can go anywhere, here or in Europe, without having to worry about additional charges.”
The Eclipse will be configured to accommodate both a trailer and a ski box, but neither has been ordered. Instead, its high luggage capacity is expected to be adequate, even on tour work.
