Higer V-Series debuts as Harris Bus and Coach builds plans for UK
Initial Higer V-Series coaches have been unveiled by dealership Harris Bus and Coach as it prepares to receive 37 vehicles from that range at three lengths as part of a 45-unit order from the Chinese marque for delivery to the UK in March 2026.
Alongside those coaches will be eight Azure battery-electric buses. The V-Series will be at nominal 10m, 12m and 14m lengths in diesel form as the V10, V12 and now the V14 as a tri-axle. The dealer says it is already committed to bringing the latter here in battery-electric form as the V14E under future range expansion.
Two V10s for the Irish market are currently in the UK for operator and dealer familiarisation. One of those is accessible; the passenger lift has been fitted in China, but UK coaches that comply with PSVAR will have such equipment from PLS or Dhollandia, with Hanover to fit destination displays.
On the bus side, a residual number of wheel-forward Steed battery-electric models are in Harris Bus and Coach stock. Once they are sold, needs in the mid-sized field will be covered by a shorter variant of the door-forward Azure to sit alongside the 12m type that is already established in Ireland.
For staffing, former MAN coach sales figure Chris Hunt has been named Head of Coach Sales by Harris in the UK. He parallels James Hooker as Head of Bus Sales and brings extensive experience in that field. The further developments follow previous news in August about the Higer brand's relaunch and early direction in the UK.
Higer V-Series will lead coach line for UK dealership
The V-Series coach platform is a development of previous models offered by Harris in the Super 9 midi and the 12m Pegasus. Cummins power is fitted across diesel examples, with the radical V-Series frontal styling already seen in left-hand drive format at Busworld Brussels.
Although the V10 is lower than its sisters, there remains significant commonality across the three coaches. As shown, the pair of Irish market V10s have Higer’s own seat finished in a synthetic black leather with diamond stitching and a range of comforts including drop-down tables, footrests, and lateral adjustment.
Harris Truck and Bus UK Managing Director Bill Laidlaw advises that stock coach builds will include a selection of trim configurations. Customer orders will also be taken with an estimated lead time of six months.
The pair of V10s already here display a tablet-based dash binnacle, with a separate tablet for other functions to the left. Cabin ambience is inviting, although Mr Laidlaw notes how UK coaches will have some relatively minor changes to those destined for Ireland, with work on final specifications to be confirmed shortly.
Stock models on order are 10 examples of the V10; 15 of the V12 to a mix of configurations; and 12 of the V14, with two of those to a more basic layout and 10 to suit touring work. A separate order for 25 vehicles for Ireland is also in hand.
Beyond diesel in coach, the V14E battery-electric is being worked up. Like buses from Higer, it will come with energy storage from CATL, with around 480kWh to be installed. Warranty coverage will be finalised shortly, but 15-year coverage is expected across electric products. Other V14E specification elements, including maximum charging power, are still to be agreed.
Around 30 UK coach operators will be shown the V10 pair during November. A roadshow will come later. Mr Laidlaw says that Harris Bus and Coach UK has been surprised by the level of interest already seen from potential buyers in both the coach and bus fields.
Azure battery-electric bus generating big group interest
Interest in the Azure bus is similarly building, with Mr Laidlaw noting how early discussions have been had with more than one of the large groups. Higer battery-electrics have already gained traction among private operators in Ireland, which is where the residual Steed models are expected to find homes.
As part of a five-year plan and in advancement of its position in August, Harris now expects to bring a diesel single-deck bus to the UK along with battery-electric and diesel double-decks. Such growth, and introduction of the V14E electric coach, is pencilled in to start in 2027.
Next year’s priority is to get dealers in place. Those will be drawn from the Maxus light commercial vehicle network, a marque that is also supplied by Harris Group, although Mr Laidlaw adds that some other parties have thrown their hats into the ring to support Higer vehicles.
Previously the Dublin-based business planned to have 10 Higer specialist outlets here, all offering aftersales support and eight of them also selling new vehicles. However, interest from such potential parties has been stronger than predicted and Mr Laidlaw expects those projected numbers to increase.
Complementing them will be a central Harris Bus and Coach base for the UK with showroom facilities, as premises already owned by Harris in Liverpool are expected to be outgrown. Cheshire is currently the favourite for that development. “It is all looking good for us in the coach and bus world,” Mr Laidlaw believes.
Further detail on the Harris Bus and Coach strategy for the UK and vehicle positioning will follow in the December issue of routeone.
CEN Group base in North Wales set to support customers there
Safety and surveillance solutions specialist for fleet operators CEN Group, which includes the Centrad brand, has purchased premises in Llanfair as part of its work to continue supporting customers in North Wales.
The Old Llanfair Stores is currently empty but Managing Director Geoff Cross (pictured) says it “is the perfect site to establish a dynamic local hub that will serve both the community and our growing customer base” in the region.
Mr Cross adds that CEN Group plans a comprehensive refurbishment and fit out for the premises to create a modern and flexible workspace while respecting the unique character and heritage of the area. “The project reflects our long-term commitment to investing in North Wales and driving sustainable economic growth,” he continues.
The supplier adds that the Gwynedd site will strengthen its ability to provide high-quality services and rapid response times to users of its products in North Wales while also creating new jobs.
Purchase of the Llanfair building is part of CEN Group’s ambitious growth plans that see it on track to double revenues to £10 million within the next 18 months. The North Wales site will be supported by CEN’s head office in Staffordshire along with its international bases in Dubai and the Philippines.
The supplier’s solutions are focused on CCTV, video telematics and artificial intelligence driver monitoring technology. It has a number of customers in North Wales, including coach operator Llew Jones, which won the Best Use of Technology – Coach Operator category at the 2025 routeone Awards.
Reading Buses selects TransMach as ticket machine provider
Reading Buses and its subsidiaries will roll out TransMach ticket machines across 285 buses from mid-November after what the operator describes as an extensive, year-long tendering process.
That exercise considered the type of technology deployed, payment speeds, software flexibility, integration with other suppliers’ platforms, acceptance of contactless, tap-on, tap-off capping, barcodes and ITSO smartcards, delivery of Bus Open Data Service (BODS) compliant punctuality data and reporting, the municipal operator says.
It adds that key from launch of the first units on 16 November is integration with Freeway Fleet Systems software for direct electronic recording of defects.
Data will also flow from the machines to the Velociti Systems suite and the CitySwift platform for analysis, Passenger for app and website use, Littlepay for payment processing, r2p for next stop announcements, multiple SIRI feeds for real-time systems, and BODS.
An agreement with Reading Buses represents TransMach’s largest order to data. The processing of smartcards will use new fourth-generation Indexed Sequential Access Methods. The new machines and platform come with various other features, including:
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- Improved defect checks and messaging system
- Faster payment processing
- A panic button
- Separate readers for smartcards/contactless payment and for QR codes
- An Android tablet with eight-inch landscape screen and 5G compatibility
- A supervisor mobile app with live tracking and messaging.
On the separate readers for smartcards/contactless payment cards and QR codes, Reading Buses says that will remove an issue that can be created when cards are kept behind mobile phones and interfere with the scanner. It will also allow future development for acceptance of electronic PlusBus tickets.
Speaking about the agreement, Reading Buses CEO Robert Williams says: “We were really impressed by the way that TransMach was able to quickly develop and adapt to meet our requirements.
“The ticket machine has become so central to so many aspects of our operation that making a change is not a simple task. All credit goes to our team, who have been working really hard behind the scenes to ensure that our customers and employees will see a seamless transition.”
Adds TransMach Director Minesh Vandra: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with Reading Buses on this major ticketing upgrade project.
“TransMach’s latest generation 5G electronic ticket machines and cloud-based management support will provide the operator and its subsidiary companies with a range of enhancements, including faster payment processing and boarding times, increased passenger convenience, and more seamless automated administration.
“We are very proud to welcome Reading Buses into the TransMach family and look forward to developing this relationship in 2026 and beyond.” Rollout of the new machines will be complete by Christmas, the operator says.