Van Hool is firmly back in the coach market under VDL ownership with the T range. Available in two- or three-axle configuration, around 15 have been delivered here, and a good pipeline exists beyond that.

All are built in North Macedonia, with scope for customisation coming through third-parties after arrival in the UK. The sports team application is well met by super-high variants, but the coach is equally at home as a flagship or servicing clients that demand the highest standards.

Longstanding Van Hool buyer Weardale Motor Services took delivery of its T16 Astron in late-March. It is striking in the County Durham operator’s distinctive livery and carries discreet decals to mark the family firm’s centenary in 2026. The coach is part of wider fleet investment this year.

Is a Van Hool built outside Belgium worthy of the storied name? Yes, is the early verdict of Weardale director Ian Gibson. He is not the first buyer to say such, although when asked, the coach had only been with its owner for a few days. Initial impressions were good; that starts from seeing the T16, which has a commanding presence from any angle.

The Weardale example is 13.4m long and has been specified around the cruise market. Transfers between North East England and Southampton are an important part of the operator’s business.

Customers in that field can be discerning, and a major consideration is the luggage they bring. Both are reflected in the T16 Astron. Ian and fellow director Anthony Gibson kindly made the new arrival available for a routeone test drive.

Van Hool offers ‘cruise-friendly’ coach in T16 Astron, says operator

Reflecting what Anthony calls a “cruise-friendly” layout, the T16 Astron has a floor-level freshwater toilet to maximise underfloor space. It comes with 53 Kiel Avance 1030 seats. A continental door is amidships, while ahead of the toilet module is a small servery.

Other elements leverage luggage capacity. Within the bay is removable shelving at around two-thirds height. Hard-wearing carpet is throughout the storage area, which is accessed via manually-operated doors.

The coach is PSVAR compliant. On both the T16 and the longer T17 Astron models, Van Hool mounts a 500kg Dhollandia passenger lift above the front axle and installs a large one-piece door there, although it can be susceptible to wind when open. The main entrance door is 900mm wide.

Reflecting the super-high nature of the coach and its flat saloon floor, there are three steps to the platform and three more to the aisle. The thin courier seat does not intrude, and within the steps to the saloon is a lockable, twin-level compartment. The courier has control of the powered péage window, and flooring is wood-effect.

Seats are in a red and grey scheme, with headrests that are adjustable for height. Lap belts are the standard, but some positions – including those in the front row and behind the continental door – have three-point securement. USB charging points are largely within seat frames, but lateral adjustment has not been specified.

The frontmost four pairs on the nearside have tip-up squabs. They can thus be ‘shuffled’ out of the way to accommodate one wheelchair user, although more tracking can be installed if required. USBs for the movable positions are overhead.

Hanover silver LED destination displays are part of the PSVAR package. That on the nearside is within the stretch panel. The window line in relation to seats is low, giving an excellent side view.

Luggage stowage is further aided by very deep overhead racks. Weardale has not taken doors on those, but they can be fitted. Despite their size, there is no intrusion into the seating area; the T16 Astron’s 3.80m overall height means plenty of space across the board. The curtains and luggage rack undersides continue a dark red trend. Within the latter are passenger service units with a chromed element.

Crew sleeper compartment ahead of front axle is retained

Climate control is straightforward. The driver ‘sets and forgets’ a saloon temperature, although the cab area has more individual control. A roof-mounted air-conditioning unit feeds to four separate outlets within the luggage racks to ensure equal coverage. An Eberspächer coolant pre-heater is provided.

Immediately ahead of the front axle is a sleeper unit, accessible from both sides and with an intercom. At the rear sits the DAF MX-13 engine. It is coupled to an Allison T525R six-speed automatic gearbox with an integral retarder.

A small ‘upright’ storage compartment is behind the offside rear wheel. The radiator is on the nearside. Unlike some other coaches it is forward facing, with air flowing out via large grilles in the bonnet.

Twin lockers are over the rear bogie. That above the drive axle holds the 700-litre diesel tank with fillers on each side, although it is necessary to open the locker doors to reach those. On the offside over the tag axle is a 75-litre Ad-Blue tank while opposite are batteries.

Although the T16 Astron for Weardale has cavernous luggage capacity, more can be added. A heavy-duty towbar and associated electrical connector are already installed, while fitting points for a ski box are built in. Dealership VDL Bus and Coach UK can supply such a box if required. Marked unladen weight of the coach 17,560kg, and it has a gross figure of 26,000kg.

Van Hool T16 Astron cab area is tech-heavy

The T range is a major development from its predecessors. That continues in the cab. While unmistakeably Van Hool, and with some positive aspects from previous models carried through, there are many changes.

Obvious among those are a digital binnacle and an electric handbrake. Gears are selected via a rotary switch on the offside stalk; the brake releases when the accelerator is pressed.

Drivers are spoilt for choice on where to look when manoeuvring. The large windscreen gives a fine view, and a reversing camera feeds to a Bosch multimedia unit in the dash.

A Brigade 360-degree bird’s eye unit has its monitor on the A-pillar, where it sits below a display for the camera monitoring system (CMS). Conventional mirrors can still be specified. Safety in poor visibility is assisted by downlighting at the roofline.

An Isringhausen seat is fitted with an inbuilt microphone, while cruise controls are on the steering wheel. Dash buttons are all to a robust rocker design, while the driver gets a pair of USB-A and USB-C charging points. The signalling window is powered, as is the one-piece windscreen sunblind.

A major positive for the crew is storage. The cab has numerous areas of varying sizes, a covered tray is in the dash next to the fridge, and lockable compartments are at the front of both overhead racks.

DAF MX-13 engine and Allison gearbox shine on hills

Opportunity was taken to put the T16 Astron through its paces on a rural route centred on Crook. With 483bhp in hand, power is in no short supply regardless of terrain, while the three-stage retarder is impressive. Albeit unladen, it easily slowed the coach on a 1:8 descent.

Allison gearboxes are something of a USP for Van Hool in the UK coach market. Those units have a reputation for durability in testing applications, but that does not come at the expense of smoothness. Coupled to the extensive sound insulation, the only way to identify a shift is via the tachometer.

Under encouragement from Ian, the coach was pushed through bends leading to a climb on the A689. It handled the former well, but the manner in which it held speed on the ascent was equally impressive. The T525R generally keeps revolutions below 1,300rpm, and in doing so nevertheless easily maintained 50mph uphill.

On flat roads, speed piles on relentlessly, while the CMS gives an excellent view. Rear steering coupled to a moderate 6.16m core wheelbase assures manoeuvrability, although 4.33m sits behind the pivot point, meaning that care with tail swing is needed.

That aside, the driving experience is first class. A wraparound element to the dash is pleasing, going and stopping power is beyond criticism, and CMS units being tight to the side of the coach removes concern of tree damage to expensive equipment in rural areas.

Van Hool coaching legacy continues with T16 Astron

Coaches from the T range are top-end models. That is reflected in both the overall package, and some of the smaller, not immediately noticeable elements that are typical of Van Hool and which have been retained under a change of owner. Storage around the cab, branded chrome wheel nut covers and others exemplify that.

Also maintained is the striking presence of a large Van Hool, and the ease with how such a coach puts an operator’s identity across. The Weardale example, helped by a distinctive livery, illustrates that. All paint and vinyl was applied in North Macedonia.

Weardale’s first Van Hool was a T917 Altano in 2011. Anthony and Ian agree that the marque still represents a strong choice for requirements at the top of the market, although they are not tied to the brand. Anthony adds that the Allison gearbox is a positive, noting that the operator’s first vehicle with such a fitment many years ago proved highly reliable.

VDL Bus and Coach UK sales representative Robert White advises that around 15 T range coaches have been delivered here, with more to follow. Lead times are into 2027; accessibility is well considered, and a solution for the PSV Accessible Information Regulations is in hand.

A Van Hool is never a budget coach, but the Weardale example proves that the marque still hits the spot for its long-established place in the market.

Facts and figures – Van Hool T16 Astron

Engine: 12.9-litre, six-cylinder DAF MX-13
Power: 355kW (483bhp) @1,600rpm
Torque: 2,500Nm (1,844 lb ft) @900-1,125rpm
Emissions: Euro VI using EGR and SCR
Gearbox: Allison T525R six-speed automatic
Tyres: 315/80 R22.5
Length: 13.44m
Height: 3.80m
Width: 2.55m
Wheelbase (axles 1-2): 6.16m
Gross weight: 26,000kg
Unladen weight: 17,560kg.