Shearings goes with Van Hool
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• Van Hool has beaten Plaxton to win Shearing's 1993 order for new coaches.
Rank-owned Shearings — the country's largest coach tour operator — has shared its recent orders between the two bodybuilders and has dual sourced its chassis too, latterly buying from Volvo and Scania. It bought 85 coaches this year, 30 Plaxtonbodied Scanias and 55 BIOMs, 10 with Plaxton bodies and 45 Van Hools.
But for next year, following a 16% reduction in its fleet to just under 400 coaches, it has decided to place its entire contract with just two suppliers. All 45 coaches for next year will be Volvo BlOMs with 3.4 metre high Van Hoot Alizee H bodies.
Tours manager Jimmy King says this suits the needs of 1993. "We don't put all our eggs in one basket. We will continue to dual source, including buying from Scania." A further marginal fleet reduction is planned before next year's holiday season.
The Shearings order is a blow to Plaxton, which hoped its parent Henlys Group's successful defence against a hostile takeover bid from Cowies would end the uncertainties about its future.