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Orders arrive for new Plaxton coach
052123e. Folder 24. 24/05/05. Pic Kevin Allen. Plaxton feature. Vehicles under construction in the factory. Photo taken 2005
PRODUCTION at a Scarborough coach manufacturer is stepping up a gear after the firm secured an order from a national transport group.
Plaxton has won a contract to supply its new model to Stagecoach for use on its megabus.com network across the country.
Engineers in Scarborough have been working on developing the new Interdeck Elite, following a £1 million investment from Plaxton’s parent company Alexander Dennis.
The new model will be the first through-deck coach to be built in Britain, and was designed in a bid to offer easier wheelchair access while maximising capacity.
Stagecoach is the first customer after ordering 11 vehicles from Plaxton to be built on Volvo chassis for delivery in late 2012, early 2013.
Kevin Wood, sales and marketing director at Plaxton, said: “This is an exciting addition to our market-leading range.
“We initially launched the Elite as a high-specification, tri-axle 14 metre coach in 2008, but always intended that it would develop into a range of top-quality models.
“First was the 12.6 metre two-axle model followed by the maximum length 15 metre in 2009, and now comes the Interdeck Elite, which will be available both as an express coach and as a touring model.”
Mr Wood said two features on the model stand out. Firstly he says there is no need to fit a wheelchair lift, while the coach still has the ability to offer up to 72 seats in a range of seating layouts.
Mr Wood added: “As well as building coaches for megabus.com we will be in a position to take orders for delivery to other customers in time for the 2013 season.”
The new coach will be based on Plaxton’s proven stainless steel technology, used in its Panther and Elite productions. However it will also introduce a new structure to accommodate the 3.9 metre high vehicle, which offers the potential for additional models in the future.
The Interdeck Elite order has been placed as part of Stagecoach’s £600 million investment in almost 400 ‘greener’ vehicles for its fleet. Stagecoach carries around 2.5 million passengers on its 8.000 buses every day on major bus operations in London, Liverpool, Newcastle, Hull, Manchester, Oxford, and Sheffield.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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Comments
There are 12 comments to this article
Page 1 of 1
geoff49
Friday, February 24, 2012 at 09:19 AMBrilliant news. Rather surprised the enterprise gang haven't hijacked the achievement and claimed it.
conzy2
Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 11:30 AMWell done, I always bragged to folks whenever I saw a Bus with the PLAXTONS sign on it. conzy boswell
spy
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 09:02 PMNot that I think this is relevant to this story but I was reading an article in the FT about manufacturing in the West Mids. One company was saying - and I have no reason to dis-believe them - that the cost advantage of China has fallen from 50% (half the price) to 5% in the last few years. Who'd have thought - wages go up in China and pound sterling falls. Bet those genius MBAs did no see that coming eh?
fifey
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 07:10 PMI read about this in a Stagecoach investment story a couple of days ago - great news they're spending it all with Plaxton and Alexander Dennis.
spy
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 03:00 PM#6 And Pindar
heavensentmum
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 02:25 PMIt’s wonderful to see the spirit come back to life in the youngsters who have been taken on over the last few months. Great news lets hope it is onwards and upwards for a long time to come.
Zuperacko
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 01:38 PMCongratulations - fantastic news, I was at Dales for 17 years, it was always Placky's, Dales and Wards; top class local Companies providing jobs for local people and money into the local economy - here's to more similar orders in the forthcoming years.....
markdrum
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 12:56 PM#4, Yes, I have family who are closely connected. My dad was at Dale's when I was 8, he used to take me in to look at 26 wheeler trailer mounted generating sets, so exciting, I wonder if dad's can still bring their kids in to look at stuff, health and safety and all that.
spy
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 12:44 PMYep MarkD. My dad worked there til 1981(ish). My first experience of a factory was going to visit when I was about 8ish.
markdrum
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 11:17 AMGreat news, this is what we need more of in this town. Money from outside the town flowing in to pay wages. We all know someone who works at Plaxtons.
Renshaw Woods
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 11:09 AM72 seats. Friendly or wot??
Sue Donim
Wednesday, February 22, 2012 at 10:20 AMPhoto taken 2005 ? Thats 7 years ago! Presumably the interview was over the phone too! Again lazy SEN.
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