Coach hire firm puts £650k into growing fleet
BUS and coach hire firm Belle Vue Manchester has invested £650,000 to expand its fleet as it gears up for growth in 2019.
The Stockport-based operator has acquired two double-decker executive coaches and a wheelchairaccessible coach.
Managing director Phil Hitchen said the 85-seater Van Hool Astromega and 83-seater VDL Bova Synergy enable Belle Vue to meet increased demand from larger groups.
The coaches are air-conditioned and have reclining seats, mood lighting, a drinks servery, washroom facilities and a DVD system.
They are being used for educational tours of Europe and for private groups booking trips in the UK.
Belle Vue has also upgraded its other doubledecker executive coach, a Volvo B12B Jonckheere.
Managing director Phil Hitchen said: “Good quality double-decker coaches are generally in short supply across the industry but they have the advantage of enabling larger groups to save on cost, as they only need to book one vehicle instead of two. Our new coaches greatly benefit our strategic partnerships with educational tour operators taking students to Europe, and are proving popular with key clients for UK trips.”
Phil said the wheelchairaccessible Mercedes-Benz Tourismo enables Belle Vue to better cater for elderly and disabled groups booking social outings.
“The lift means that passengers who use a wheelchair or find it difficult to board on foot have easy access to the coach. We regularly run day trips for such groups, and this addition to the fleet was made with them in mind,” he said.
“We are constantly investing to provide the best possible service to our clients and to ensure our fleet is the most modern around. We are now well-placed to expand the business in 2019.”
Funding for the new vehicles was provided by Lombard, the asset finance arm of NatWest.