Stagecoach is to introduce wheelchair accessible coaches to some of its interurban express services. The company has placed an order with Plaxton for 25 Profiles which provide easy access for wheelchair passengers through the main passenger entrance.

“It is the best solution around to providing wheelchair access on coaches,” says Les Warneford, managing director Stagecoach UK Bus. “That’s why we have ordered them.”

The Profiles, based on Volvo B7R chassis, incorporate a wheelchair lift in the entrance which folds out of the way when not in use. It is designed to be easily operated by the driver, and gives access to a space alongside the entrance where there are secure fixings to hold the wheelchair and its user safely in position.

“In developing this innovative solution to carrying wheelchair passengers we were mindful of the need to make boarding and alighting as easy as possible, and to provide a vehicle which could be used with existing roadside and bus station infrastructure,” explains Kevin Wood, Plaxton sales director.

“This is our second substantial order for our new accessible Profile, and I’m delighted to be supplying 25 to Stagecoach.”

The new accessible Profiles, due to be delivered later this year, follow a batch of conventional B7R Profiles which joined the Stagecoach fleet at the start of the year and were used to upgrade services in north-east Scotland.

ENDS

August 2005