Now ifs BRS Overland
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NEXT week BRS Overland — a new company based at Northampton with Mr David Holler as general manager — will start a regular weekly service to Iran using 10 special Leyland Marathons.
The company is guaranteeing a three-week UK to Tehran delivery and is emphasising that regularity and reliability are the key features of its service.
There will be two vehicles leaving in each direction each week and one of the conditions for BRS buying Marathons for the run was that Bri tish Leyland would set up special emergency repair stations along the whole length of the route.
BRS has contacted police forces in all of the transit countries as well as consulates and other authorities to ensure as smooth a passage as possible for its vehicles.
Two vehicles will leave Northampton each Thursday and will cross to Europe on the Felixstowe-Zeebrugge route. They will he carried by German Federal Railway trains to Ludwigsburg before following a route through Austria, Eastern Europe and Turkey.
Sixteen experienced BRS volunteer drivers have been recruited and in each convoy of two vehicles at least one driver will also be a fitter.
Mr D. White, md of Eastern BRS, announcing the new service said: "I think the cowboy operators have had their day."
The company has spent more than £175,000 on tractive units and trailers for the service. The Marathons cost £15,000 each and have been specially built for the Middle East run.
They have grilles over the lights, radiator guards, 100 gallon fuel tanks, capable of giving 650 miles non-stop, three 31gal stainless steel water tanks, air conditioning, night heaters, Sundym glass, food stowage compartments, a refrigerator, sinks with drain and running water and have also been fitted with single bunks. They have a double burner, grill cooker, wardrobe, document security case and security door locks.
The round trip is scheduled to take 28-35 days, but one of seven test runs was completed in 26 days.