Volvo Buses
UNITED KINGDOM & IRELAND
Shiel Buses selected the Volvo Bus Euro 6 chassis for its outstanding fuel economy to help reduce their operating costs. The power output of the Volvo 11 litre engine and the promised uptime of the coaches were also key considerations for the operator.
The precise steering and smooth gear changes combined with the high engine torque, the responsiveness and the outstanding driveability make the Volvo B11R ideal for journeys such as those undertaken by Shiel Buses new coaches.
Managing Director Donald MacGillivray explained: “The 430hp B11Rs are operating daily on contract to Scottish Citylink, running between Glasgow, Loch Lomond, Fort William and the Isle of Skye. This is one of the most arduous Citylink contracts, but the new B11Rs are performing extremely well.
“We are delighted with the fuel consumption results and our drivers certainly like the driveability and extra power. We can operate these new coaches on our service route secure in the knowledge that we are backed by Volvo Action Service’s fantastic 24 hour assistance,” added Donald MacGillivray.
Shiel Buses were also impressed with Volvo’s ability to meet tight delivery deadlines. To ensure the vehicles were ready for the commencement of the scheduled service, Volvo Bus contacted their in-house team at the Loughborough Body and Paint Shop to carry out important DDA (Disability Discrimination Act) compliance conversions, as specified by Shiel Buses.
“All of our dealings with Volvo Bus have been excellent from start to finish,” continued Donald MacGillivray. “Volvo’s Loughborough Body and Paint Shop converted two Volvo Jonckheere JHV126’s to our exact specifications within the time frame.”
Shiel Buses new coaches are fitted with 53 reclining seats, or 49 when allowing for a wheelchair. They feature an onboard toilet, servery, two TV monitors and a CD/DVD entertainment system.
Key features and benefits of the B11R chassis include excellent fuel efficiency, the renowned Volvo I-Shift transmission, automatic function check and trouble-free maintenance. The coaches also benefit from a range of Volvo’s well known and renowned safety features, such as the powerful EBS controlled disc brakes and a multiplexed electronics system.
Volvo Bus Regional Sales Manager, Jim Newman, who handled the sale of the vehicles commented: “These are highly significant vehicles and they are the first Euro 6 B11Rs to enter into a scheduled service operation. Reliability, uptime, torque and fuel economy were all crucial factors in the decision making process. In addition, we were able to meet important deadlines with the DDA conversion process. It’s very important that we are flexible in our approach to new vehicle sales because it obviously places us at an advantage with operators.”
ENDS
8 October 2014
Caption for image:
Two coaches belonging to Shiel Buses are the first Volvo B11R Euro 6 vehicles to enter into a scheduled service.