Prospect Coaches continues Irizar deliveries as more in build
Irizar UK has delivered a significant number of new vehicles from its DAF powered integral range to Prospect Coaches over the past year, with more in build as part of ongoing fleet investment by the West Midlands operator.
Of those supplied so far, 19 are i6S Efficient integrals for Prospect’s growing work on behalf of FlixBus. They are built to the scheduled service provider’s specification and are in its green livery. Seating capacity ranges from 53 to 59, with various lengths to accommodate differing luggage space requirements.
Each coach for FlixBus work has a Masats passenger lift and Hanover destination displays along with amenities including wi-fi, USB charging points, and a mix of centre or rear-mounted toilets. Investment in the green coaches sits alongside the opening of Prospect’s new Birmingham depot, which is dedicated to FlixBus work.
Two other coaches are part of the deliveries thus far. One is an i4 integral and the other is an i8 integral. The i4 is a 12.9m example that is PSVAR compliant via a lift at its centre door. It has 70 seats in a 3+2 layout and is used on local and regional school transport.
The i8 integral has taken its place as Prospect’s fleet flagship. It is to sports transport layout and carries the West Bromwich Albion FC team. At 14m, the i8 integral has 34 seats. AD Coach Systems carried out conversion work, transforming the coach into what Irizar UK says is “a mobile base for players and staff.”
Specification items include multiple tables and TVs, fridges, enhanced audio, charging facilities, and more. The i8 integral holds particular significance for Prospect Coaches as it is named Ros, in honour of the operator’s late Managing Director Ros Hadley.
Her vision played a pivotal role in the operator’s success, and the team coach stands as a lasting memory of that contribution. Irizar UK Area Sales Manager Stuart Smithson describes the i8 integral as “a remarkable vehicle and a fitting tribute to Ros.”
He continues: “It showcases what can be achieved when manufacturer, operator and conversion specialist work closely together to create something truly exceptional.”
The i4 and i6S Efficient integrals each have a DAF MX-11 engine coupled to the six-speed ZF EcoLife automatic gearbox. The i8 integral has the MX-13 at 530bhp driving through the 12-speed Traxon automated manual.
The dealership adds that investment across multiple platforms depicts not only Prospect’s ambition, “but also the versatility of the Irizar product.” The fleet procurement programme is one of the most important such processes in the operator’s history and further strengthens its established collaboration with Irizar UK.
Adds Mr Smithson: “Prospect Coaches is a valued long-term partner for Irizar UK, and this multi-vehicle handover is a powerful demonstration of the trust it places in our products.
“From high capacity PSVAR compliant vehicles through to bespoke flagship coaches, this order reflects the breadth of the Irizar range and our ability to support operators at every level of their business.”
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Dews Coaches Volvo MCV tri-axle is among three-bus delivery
Dews Coaches of Somersham has maintained its fleet investment programme with the arrival of three Volvo buses with MCV bodywork to support its local service and private hire provision in Cambridgeshire.
Two of the deliveries are B8RLE chassis with Evora single-deck bodywork that are employed on stage carriage work. The third is a B8L tri-axle with EvoSeti double-deck body (pictured) that has bolstered local private hire provision.
All three buses are backed by Volvo Truck and Bus Centre Cambridge. The Evora pair are in a grey livery and are 12.1m long with 46 seats and scope to carry a maximum of 95 passengers with standees included. They sit alongside multiple existing examples with Dews Coaches.
The EvoSeti is in the operator’s green coach scheme. It is a 12.8m example with 98 seats and air-conditioning along with a public address system and compliance with the PSV Accessible Information Regulations.
Speaking about the purchase, Managing Director Simon Dew says: “We have been operating Evora buses for more than seven years, and they have proven themselves within our fleet. We know the quality and reliability that MCV brings, so when we were looking to add a high-capacity option for private hire, the EvoSeti was a natural choice.”
Mr Dew adds that the operator’s relationship with its local dealer point “is exceptional” and that Volvo Truck and Bus Centre Cambridge has a strong understanding of the operator’s business what it requires from vehicles. “Its support throughout the process ensured that we selected the vehicles best suited to our fleet and operational needs.”
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Nexus automated coach empty leg filler for DTE and ECM is go
Users of the Don’t Travel Empty and eCoachManager platforms have received access to Nexus, which is described as the coach industry’s first automated intelligence engine that will generate additional revenue by filling the otherwise empty leg of a round trip.
Called “the automated profit engine” for coach by Don't Travel Empty, it is said to be “a sophisticated intelligence bridge designed to eliminate manual searching for empty leg matches.”
Nexus functions as an automated, 24/7 background matchmaking system. It scans single-leg journey data from the commonly-owned Don’t Travel Empty and eCoachManager platforms simultaneously, and when a profitable match is found that creates a round trip, the product triggers a smartphone and email notification to both operators involved.
Arrival of Nexus continues a relaunch of Don’t Travel Empty, and it will be provided free of charge to all customers of that platform and eCoachManager.
It utilises what Don’t Travel Empty says is a privacy-first protocol that masks data to ensure company identities and specific addresses are hidden until a match is confirmed. Origin and destination, date and approximate timing and vehicle type are shared at that point.
The number of passengers is also part of the information provided to both operators involved in placement of a job, but a party’s pricing is never shared. Don’t Travel Empty notes how cutting empty miles contributes to the coach industry’s sustainability and its targets for reducing carbon emissions.
The supplier adds that as momentum is gained via both brands, “Nexus will build and build, offering more job matches, enabling increased coach usage and profitability.”
Speaking about the new offer, Don’t Travel Empty Business Development Director Adrian Smith says: “Nexus is not just a new feature; it is a shift in how the industry operates. The slogan ‘Stop searching, start receiving’ reflects our goal: to let technology do the heavy lifting so operators can focus on growth, not spreadsheets.”