Plaxton 425s for the UK
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• Plaxton has built a batch of 12 right-hand-drive 425 integral coaches at its Lorraine plant in France. They will be marketed in the UK by Plaxton Group subsidiary Kirkby Bus & Coach to gauge market reaction.
The 425 was launched by Duple in 1984; Plaxton acquired the design and jigs in 1989 and since then it has built in a number of modifications.
Upgraded insulation will reduce noise from the Cummins L10-290 engine, which drives via a ZF 8S190 manual box. A Duple cable-operated gear shift has been replaced by rodsPlaxton says this gives "a far more positive" change.
Brake performance is also said to be improved, with modified linings, larger reservoirs, Category 1 ABS and a Telma 191 retarder fitted as standard.
A revised dash layout is claimed to offer enhanced accuracy and reliability; drivers will also find revisions to the fuel filler system which are designed to reduce filling times.
Passenger comfort is catered for by 53 Plaxton reclining coach seats, racking, velour trim and central blowers in the cant rail to improve heating and demisting. There is also provision for a sunken toilet.
A Bode plug entrance door has been fitted with three parallel-lift aluminium locker doors.
Luggage capacity is 10m3 and Plaxton has managed to reduce the 425's unladen weight to 11.3 tonnes.
There are about 130 Duple 425s in the UK. Plaxton's coach sales director Clive Hodgson hopes that the new 425 "will establish itself in its own UK market niche and, in the longer term, back up our European sales drive".