Belgian Coach Shown in London
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TO persuade their agents to accept bookings for coach travel on the Continent rather than turn over such inquiries to travel agencies, London Coastal Coaches, Ltd., brought a Belgian coach to London last week and displayed it for two days at Victoria Coach Station. The coach, which belongs to Epervier Autocar, a member of the European Railways Europabus Group, was a good example of the comfortable vehicles now being used for long-distance passenger transport on Continental roads.
The initial indication that the vehicle provided more than ordinary comfort was that only 34 passenger seats were fitted within an overall length of 38 ft., giving a reasonable pitch between the aircrafttype units used. Bodywork was produced by Van Hool and Fils. Koningshooikt. Belgium. and was of two-level design with the rear half raised to give a better view for the rear passengers and permit a large luggage locker and extra fuel tanks to be fitted beneath the rear floor.
The tanks hold 176 gal., allowing the coach to complete the Brussels-NiceBrussels run without refuelling.
At the rear of the body a lavatory is fitted on the near side. and a curved upholstered bench following the contour of the body is placed on the other quarter.
Decoration of the interior is to luxury standards with matching trim for the seats and body panels. Ventilation is by two hinged windows at the extreme rear, and three-way glazed ventilators in the roofs of the upper and lower saloons. An airconditioning system is incorporated which blows air at atmospheric temperature in hot weather and, by means of an oil-fired heater, hot air when required.
The chassis on which the coach is based is a Scania-Vabis product of 20-ft. 6-in. wheelbase powered by a 10.26-litre oil engine which develops 165 b.h.p. at 2,200 r.p.m. A five-speed gearbox with an overdrive top-gear ratio is employed to give the coach, which weighs approximately 9+ tons unladen, a top speed of 65 m.p.h.