Wheelers Travel adds a pair of Mercedes-Benz Tourismo coaches
Wheelers Travel of Southampton has continued its fleet investment programme with the arrival of a pair of Mercedes-Benz Tourismo coaches, supplied by Daimler Buses UK.
They seat 53 in Travel Star Eco fabric upholstery. Armrests, drop-down tables and USB charging are present at each position, while both vehicles have a centre sunken toilet.
PSVAR compliance has been specified, a package that uses a factory-fitted passenger lift and white LED destination displays. The driver benefits from a heated seat and a leather-trimmed steering wheel.
Safety items include a rear-view camera, Active Brake Assist 6, Sideguard Assist 2 and Traffic Sign Assist. Polished alloy wheels and cherished registration marks complete the visual element of the new Tourismo pair.
Under the bonnet, they are both powered by a 7.7-litre OM 936 engine developing 350bhp coupled to the eight-speed PowerShift automated manual gearbox.
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Mainline Coaches continues fleet investment with more Yutongs
Mainline Coaches has added a further pair of Yutong vehicles to its fleet in the form of a GT12 full-size model and a latest-generation TC9 midi, supplied by Pelican Bus and Coach.
Both will deliver tours and private hire services. The GT12 is a 53-seat example with a camera monitoring system, while the TC9 is a 34-seater. They are to a high specification, giving what the Gilfach Goch operator says is versatility and a quality travel experience.
Arrival of the two newcomers follows previous Yutong deliveries to Mainline Coaches, the first of which was a TC9 in 2020. It now has five each of the smaller model and of the larger variant within a total fleet of 42 vehicles.
General Manager Colin Lloyd Jones notes how customer and driver feedback has been “consistently excellent, reflecting the quality and reliability of the vehicles.”
Both of the latest coaches entered service immediately. The TC9 operated a tour of Cornwall for a German group, while the GT12 was deployed to northern England with a Canadian party.
Director Chris Mainwaring adds that the most recent investment reflects a continued commitment to fleet modernisation and service quality from the South Wales business, “ensuring that the company remains competitive in the growing UK coach tourism and private hire sector.”
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Latest Ballard fuel cell for Wrightbus StreetDeck Hydroliner Gen 3.0
Wrightbus will use the latest-generation Ballard FCmove-SC hydrogen fuel cell in its third-generation StreetDeck Hydroliner Gen 3.0 platform, with series production of the vehicle to start in 2027.
That will continue a long reliance on Ballard fuel cells in Wrightbus hydrogen-powered buses. Ballard says that the FCmove-SC unit delivers enhanced efficiency, extended durability and a simplified system architecture to reduce total cost of ownership (TCO).
In addition, it delivers greater sustained power and improved in-service performance, Ballard notes. That will target a peak power capacity of at least 75kW, optimised for consistent in-service output, and higher thermal margins for an efficiency uplift.
The latest fuel cell is optimised for public transport applications and has been designed to improve power density, simplify integration into the vehicle, and reduce lifecycle cost, the supplier continues.
Speaking about the Gen 3.0 hydrogen bus platform, Wrightbus Chief Procurement Officer Paul King says it has been in development “for some time” ahead of launch next year.
“We are looking for partners that can help to generate greater efficiency, improved lifecycle economics, and robust performance for demanding transit operations,” he adds.
“Our next-generation hydrogen bus is all about creating a TCO that is comparable to battery-electric… [There] are plenty of examples where electric does not provide the range needed for efficient daily operation or where the cost of infrastructure is prohibitive.
“We are delighted to be able to extend our partnership with Ballard, using its next-generation fuel cells, as we accelerate the rollout of hydrogen mobility across our key markets.”
The FCmove-SC is the ninth-generation hydrogen fuel cell from Ballard. It says the product will have an operational lifetime of above 25,000 hours, with remote diagnostics to monitor performance data to anticipate preventative maintenance. A peak fuel efficiency of 57% is given by the manufacturer.
Ballard Vice-President, Sales and Marketing, Oben Uluc describes the choice by Wrightbus to use the FCmove-SC in the StreetDeck Hydroliner Gen 3.0 as “a major milestone” for the fuel cell.
“This decision reflects out decades-long collaboration and Wrightbus’s confidence in Ballard’s availability to deliver performance, reliability, and lifecycle economics at scale,” he adds. “The FCmove-SC was made for the mature bus market, and OEM nominations like this validate the value proposition for customers.”