Jones Coach and Bus Sales invests in sales and support
Jones Coach and Bus Sales and the associated Llew Jones Coaches business have continued to open parts, sales and service units at their base in Llanrwst. The work forms part of ongoing expansion at the England and Wales dealership for products from the Noone Turas range of small coaches and the Rosero Connect low-floor midibus.
The dealer says it has also grown its sales team and service engineer provision, and appointed a parts department manager to support the Noone vehicles, since agreeing the partnership with Brian Noone. Expansion has seen a considerable increase in yard space, while also now owned is an adjacent building that Jones plans to convert into a showroom in the future.
Work with Brian Noone sits alongside the continuing sale of used coaches, the carrying out of PSVAR conversions, and valuations. The dealership will exhibit jointly with Brian Noone at the Euro Bus Expo trade show, where a range of vehicles will be shown on a shared stand.
Says Jones Coach and Bus Sales Managing Director Steve Jones: “As an operator, I know better than anyone that the coach or bus you buy is only as good as the aftersales support and the availability of parts.
“When I first visited Brian Noone with my operator’s hat on, looking to add to the Llew Jones Coaches fleet, we were so impressed that it set in motion Jones Coach and Bus Sales becoming an approved dealer, where we are today.
“Feedback on the Turas range has been excellent. Those vehicles are in a class of their own, both aesthetically and in how reliable and comfortable they are to drive.”
Euro Bus Expo will be held between 1-3 November at the NEC Birmingham. Register for free tickets here. Brian Noone and Jones Coach and Bus Sales will be on stand J60.
Plaxton and Volvo launch 60-unit stock coach build
Continued recovery in the demand for new coaches has seen Alexander Dennis and Volvo commit to an initial 60-strong stock batch of Plaxton Leopard and Plaxton Panther models. They will be available for delivery from Q1 2023 and all will be mounted on B8R chassis.
Further stock builds may follow later in 2023, the businesses involved say. Interest in versatile coaches that suit a variety of operations is particularly high, according to Alexander Dennis, and all those that form part of the initial build programme will be completed to PSVAR compliant specification.
A choice of I-Shift automated manual or ZF EcoLife automatic gearboxes will be offered in the Volvo B8R chassis, while all 2023 Plaxton stock will have upgraded interiors with next-generation Brusa seats as standard.
Stock Panthers will be available with either 53 or 57 seats and a centre sunken toilet, or 61 seats with no toilet. Leopards that form part of the initial build will come with either 59 seats in a 2+2 layout or 72 to 3+2 configuration.
Alexander Dennis General Manager New and Used Coach Sales Simon Wood adds that demand is also strong for used vehicles, and particularly for the Leopard. What he describes as attractive trade-ins on late-model coaches are thus available.
Adds Mr Wood: We are delighted to confirm our initial stock programme for next year, with no fewer than 60 Plaxton Panther and Plaxton Leopard coaches that will give operators a wide range of options to best suit their requirements. These will be fantastic additions to any fleet that will be prepared for long working lives while also offering great residual values if operating requirements change.
Volvo Bus UK Sales Director Phil Owen has underlined Mr Woods comments, noting that the B8R is a tried and tested platform that is safe and fuel efficient. Bodied by Plaxton, it provides the industry with a vehicle that offers a great level of versatility and value for money.
Nottingham City Transport orders 12 Yutong E12s
Nottingham City Transport (NCT) has placed its first order for battery-electric buses in the form of 12 Yutong E12s. They are expected to enter service from Trent Bridge depot in late 2023.
Ordering the Yutong fleet forms the first vehicular procurement in a £34m project that was awarded £15.2m from the Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA) mechanism and which will facilitate 78 battery-electric single-deckers for Nottingham City Transport.
In addition to the E12s from Pelican Bus and Coach, NCT has appointed Zenobe Energy as charging infrastructure provider. Zenobe will manage necessary construction, the delivery and implementation of charging software, and optimise use of the vehicles. The current infrastructure will allow NCT’s battery-electric fleet to grow in the future.
NCT Head of Engineering Liam O’Brien says that deals have been struck with Pelican and Zenobe after “a rigorous procurement process and operational trials of several electric buses.” Mr O’Brien adds that the Yutong and Zenobe combination was “a clear winner” of that. The E12s will perform a full day’s work on one overnight charge, he says.
The business case for ZEBRA funding submitted by Nottingham City Council in January notes that when all 78 battery-electric buses are delivered, NCT’s single-deck fleet will be entirely zero-emission. That forms part of an aim to have a 100% zero-emission and biogas-powered operation across the board by 2028.
The Nottingham ZEBRA bid is focused only on single-decker buses because the diesel examples in the NCT fleet are currently “nearing the end of their operational life” in the city. Investment in new battery-electric buses is thus “only brought forward slightly” from usual practice. Existing diesel single-deckers – all of which are Euro VI compliant – will be disposed of for continued use elsewhere.
While the 12 battery-electric buses ordered so far are full-length examples, the business case calls for the outstanding 68 to be 33-seaters. An NCT spokesperson says that those vehicles will be tendered for in two batches in 2023.