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Sleeper Coaches for Britain?
Page 56
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BY DEREK MOSES
WHEN I recorded that sleeper coaches Vi' had gone into production in Germany last year (The Commercial Motor, December 18) I must admit to having been rather sceptical about the whole project. Having since examined one of these vehicles in the flesh, 1 feel rather differently about them.
As I wrote in this journal last week, Intercontinental Sleepcoach Tours, 216 Earls Court Road, London SW5, have been demonstrating one of these vehicles in England to promote a whole new series of ambitious Sleepcoach tours. The vehicle concerned has been designed to carry 40 passengers by day and sleep the same number at night, the seats having been specially made to convert into two tiers of double bunks. In this form, the coach is essentially a vehicle for extended tours of the type planned by the company, and more likely to appeal to the younger generation. Indeed, the company aims at the 16 to 35 age group.
However, I see no reason why suitably adapted coaches of this type could not be introduced on to services such as the London-Glasgow and London-Edinburgh routes. The coach which has been demonstrating in this country was based on a standard MAN vehicle 36 ft. 9f in. long by 8 ft. 21 in. wide. The company operating this vehicle is planning to purchase Bussing coaches because with their increased overall length—they are 12 m. (39 ft. 41 in.) long—it will be possible to accommodate a toilet and servery at the rear of the coach whilst maintaining the passenger capacity at 40.
If coaches of this length were permitted in this country it would be possible to carry 30 passengers by employing single bunks along one side of the coach and thus overcoming a natural reticence of many single people of sleeping beside
strangers (although individual sleeping hags are provided).
I understand that Herr Nickel, who invented these patented convertible seats, has produced a design in which a ridge separates the two sides of a double bunk and it is possible to use a semi-transparent curtain to separate them. By day, the ridge becomes an arm rest. The individual sleeping compartments are already divided by thick curtains and curtaining could also be provided along the outside of the bunks. Each compartment is equipped with a reading light, whilst new models will have individual ventilation.
Passenger resistance to the new coaches might have to be overcome, although once the idea was " sold " I think the public would much prefer travelling overnight in sleepercoaches than in the
present type of coach. However comfortable these latter vehicles are made, the fact remains they are uncomfortable for night travel.
Compared with the 38-seater coaches just ordered for the London-Scottish runs, the sleeper coaches would accommodate 30 passengers if the two and one arrangement were adopted. I am sure that the slightly higher charge required to make them economical would be accepted by the public because of the greatly increased comfort provided.
The MAN coach has been examined by officials of the Ministry of Transport, including Mr. Perring, and I gather that they are confident that any snags concerning operation in this country can he ironed out. Here is a real opportunity for the long-distance coach operators to provide really comfortable vehicles,