Barnes Coaches adds its 13th Irizar integral in an i6 tri-axle
Barnes Coaches has continued its relationship with Irizar UK with the purchase of a 14m, tri-axle i6 integral. The coach is PSVAR compliant and seats 61.
It follows 12 other Irizar integral coaches into the Swindon fleet. The newcomer is a super-high variant and provides each passenger with moquette seat trim and synthetic leather inserts. Also part of the seat specification are magazine nets, drop-down tables, and USB charging points.
The driver and courier positions are finished in leather, while a vacuum cleaner is fitted. Entertainment is from the Bosch Smart Series audio-visual system and an Actia DVD player supplied with two monitors. Other comforts include a centre sunken toilet and a drinks machine.
PSVAR compliance comes via a Masats lift above the drive axle along with Hanover destination displays. The distinctive Barnes Coaches livery and associated vinyls were applied by Irizar at the factory in Spain before delivery of the i6 integral.
Power comes from a DAF MX-11 engine developing 449bhp coupled to a ZF EcoLife automatic gearbox. The i6 integral is named after Director Luke Barnes’ daughter Astrid, and its interior was designed by his son Sebastian when visiting Irizar in 2023.
Speaking about the delivery, Mr Barnes says: “We find the Irizar i6 14m coaches to be superb vehicles for undertaking a variety of work throughout Europe due to their large luggage capacity and increased height over other 14m coaches on the market.
“That combined with good customer comfort makes this an ideal vehicle in our fleet.”
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Temsa plots 100 UK deliveries in 2024 as improvements continue
Temsa Sales UK expects to register 100 new coaches from the Turkish brand this year and says that it continues to develop and introduce “small but noticeable improvements” to the MD9, HD12 and HD13 models sold here.
Of that total, around half will be the 13m, two-axle HD13. 35 are due to be the slightly shorter HD12, and approximately 15 will be the MD9 midicoach, says Temsa Area Sales Manager Paul Gardner.
Mr Gardner adds that with expansion of the Temsa Sales UK team, he can devote more time to working directly with the factory in Turkey on developing those three products. “Temsa is willing to listen to what we are feeding back from customers, and we are seeing a constant stream of small but noticeable improvements,” he continues.
“Those changes could be seen as ‘1% benefits’ as they are not the work of wholesale redesign, but when they are combined, they bring significant advancement,” Mr Gardner adds.
Among those introduced recently on the HD12 and HD13 are removal of the lower offside mirror following customer feedback, while a smaller front destination display is now used to improve the forward view while retaining compliance with PSVAR where required.
From an accessibility standpoint, the interior panel of the additional door via which lift access is gained has been improved, while seat cushions are now deeper.
Panels above the signalling window and passenger door are now glazed, while later this year the digital dash binnacle fitted to the HD12 and HD13 will start to display the reversing camera feed, enabling the removal of a separate screen on the A-pillar.
Already-introduced changes have been showcased on a HD12 for Simpson’s Coaches of Rosehearty, with Mr Gardner noting that there are around 15 such uplifts on that coach.
As many as possible have been introduced to the MD9 platform “as far as that product will allow,” he continues, noting that a digital dash binnacle will be added to the midi during 2025.
Amport and District adds a further Irizar i6S Efficient integral
Amport and District Coaches of Andover has taken delivery of a further Irizar i6S Efficient integral, supplied by Irizar UK. It is a 12.9m, two-axle 53-seater and follows an earlier similar example delivered in 2023.
The newcomer has magazine nets, footrests, drop-down tables and USB charging points in the seating area along with three-point belts.
A Bosch Smart Series audio-visual entertainment system is fitted, including dual monitors, and the coach comes with a drinks machine and a toilet. It also has wood effect flooring, while the driver and courier seats are finished in leather. A rear-view camera monitoring system is installed in lieu of conventional mirrors.
Vinyls have been fitted at the factory and the coach is powered by a DAF MX-11 engine developing 408bhp coupled to a ZF EcoLife automatic gearbox.
It joins a mixed fleet in Amport and District, with Transport Manager Nigel Tedd paying tribute to the Irizar UK aftersales service level as a reason for the repeat business.
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