The courier speaks
Page 62
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FEW COULD LOOK at the range of coaches on show at Birmingham without being impressed. But how practical will they prove in the cruel light of day rather than the calculated illuminations of the National Exhibition Centre?
One aspect of the coaches that we can examine now, though, is their interiors, and as most of the coaches are fitted with public address systems and many have courier seats, what better person could there be to consult on the interior facilities offered than a professional courier?
I therefore walked around the coach exhibits with Verite Baker, head of Ambassadors of Britain which provides guides and couriers for coach and tour operators. Verite has strong views on the coaches she and her staff work in and has been active in campaigning for safe and legal courier seats as well as championing the cause of the tourist coach in London. Verite was frank with her criticism and found plenty to complain of though also much to praise.
The first coach we looked at was the MCW Metroliner coach for National Holidays. Verite liked the fully trimmed interior and particularly the parcel bins used in place of interior luggage racks. She was disappointed, however, that head-rest covers were not on the seats.
She was unenthusiastic about the interior of the three-star Plaxton Paramount 3500, which she felt had rather too many dirt traps. She also noted some protrusions on the reclining seat backs which could cause problems.
The Duple Laser and Caribbean drew a more favourable reaction although she noted that there were still a number of potential dirt traps, particularly around the luggage racks.
The Van Hool Astromega double-decker elicited her approval, though the absence of footrests and a number of sharp edges on the seat backs, particularly behind the rather hard arm rests, could catch passengers' clothing.
On the Jonckheere stand, Verite was a little worried by the sloping floor of the P90 doubledeck coach; she was concerned that passengers moving about could fall to the front in an emergency. She did like the view and that the video monitor is tucked well out of the way; and she also liked the idea of the "poker school" area in the lower deck cabin.
Verite felt that the seats on the Bova Futura were rather hard, and might cause problems if passengers sitting next to each other were not good friends. She generally approved of the Bova 2 coaches and particularly the positioning of the video screen, which allowed front seat passengers to still enjoy their view of the road.
Although she suggested that the Ayats Diana on the D'Cotta stand had a general air of opulence, she was unsure about the size of the windscreen and felt that the interior still had too many dirt traps. She approved of the fact that the seats had headrest covers although she said that the frilly ones looked rather like knickers.
The lower deck poker school area on the double-deck Neoplan Skyliner and the sliding roof vents upstairs were liked; but the depth of the interior parcel racks and uncomfortable seat arm rests were not.
Verite thought the seats on the Setra S 215HD the most comfortable of any and commented on "the obvious quality of the Setra." She particularly praised the courier seat which was well placed and comfortable. Her only criticism of the Setra range from the passenger point of view seemed to be that the s( arm-rests were a little on t hard side.
In general, Verite's critici was of small points of cleti though, of course, many of tilt could have major repurci. sions; if, for example, a lady h ders her tights on a sharp ed on a seat she might decide noi travel by coach again.
Verite was most impressed the two MCW Metroliners the Setra coaches on t Kassbohrer stand. She rai highly the interior of the M, SR280 Highliner for its qua and finish.
I was interested to hear I criticisms of the traili microphones fitted through hole in the facia mouldings many coaches. She favoun side-mounted microphone pc which her experience has tau' her is more practical.
In conclusion, then, head-r covers, foot rests and si mounted microphones are and hard arm-rests, jagc edges and fussy interior styl is out.