Cut-price coaching conversions
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• Grey-Green Coaches has saved £500,000 by converting 16 surplus Volvo BlOM coaches to buses.
The London-based operator hopes to get another 12 years' use out of the eight-year-old chassis which have been rebodied by Blackburn-based East Lancashire Coachbuilders. Chassis modifications include the introduction of low-profile wheels and tyres, altering the speed limiters and adjusting the computer panel controlling the gearbox to lock out top gear.
The nine double and seven single-deck bodies are up to 1.7m shorter than the 12m coaches and according to garage manager John Card, the "rear looks peculiar" because there is virtually no overhang.
He says that Grey-Green is considering re-bodying other vehicles in its 170-strong fleet: "In order to win London Transport tenders we have to look at ways of keeping down prices, but still run a nice looking fleet," he says.