Express bus competition warming up
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by Derek Moses
• A trend of psv operation which is rapidly growing is that of the express or "dual-purpose" bus, and the unveiling of two new vehicles in this category at the Moseley Gfoup's annual coach exhibition at the weekend could he of considerable significance. The two models are the Willowbrook Express bus (CM October 15) and the taloseley Continental Porto, both mounted ori Bedford YRQ chassis.
Both models qualify for standard bus grants, and the Department of the Environment's announcement that the Government intends to double the amount of Exchequer grant to 50 per cent, and to extend the scheme to 1980 could not have come at a more fortuitious time for the builders concerned.
The Porto is a 45-seat dual-purpose bus based on the standard Salvador Caetano coach shell, but with a much simplified finish. Thus it incorporates very deep windows (32in. below the bar of the sliding window in bays fitted with sliders), striking appearance, and two-tone external livery.
The basic body price of the Porto is £5265 for a 10-metre vehicle, and includes 45 coach seats trimmed with Anabla, alternate 'top sliding windows, laminate finish to roof interior, four fluorescent lights incorporating tinted nightlights, and two five-way Weathershield lift-up roof ventilators. Full length meshbased parcel racks are fitted, laminate side casing panels with , grained wood finish, and 3.2mm lino floor covering; two saloon heaters, one with a fresh air intake, and high performance front end ducted heating system are included.
A full height partition is fitted behind the driver's compartment, which features a coach– type driver's seat with spring suspension. The twin-leaf jack-knife entrance doors are electropneumatically controlled and electric windscreen washers form part of the standard specification. A large luggage locker at the rear is a convenient feature for operators who are likely to employ the vehicle on express coach services.
Most of the exterior bright work is of anodized aluminium, including heavy-duty front and rear bumpers with rubber inserts. The exterior is finished with a spray nitro-synthetic dual colour paint finish. A useful addition is the fitting of steps above the bumpers to facilitate cleaning the windows.
Interesting comparisons with the competitively priced Willowbrook Express Bedford at the show are a 13in. gangway width at seat cushion height (17in. on the Willowbrook model), seat width 181n. per passenger (I 7n.), and unladen weight of 6 tons 19cwt (6 tons 2cwt). Two full-height emergency exits are fitted on the offside of the Porto, one behind the driver's partition and one at the rear.
The top sliders are perhaps a little high, and a passenger would have to stand up to open or close the window, while the parcel racks have an effective depth of only 5.4in. owing to a 1.25in. deep flange_ The seating is comfortable and adequately spaced.
Also to be seen at the Moseley Group show is a wide range of Plaxton, Duple and Moseley Continental coaches, including a Caetano-bodied Seddon Pennine IV, and a Caetano-bodied AEC equipped with an effective new heating and ventilation system by KL Automotive Products Ltd. The show closes at 6.30 pm on Sunday.