Alexander Dennis, a subsidiary of NFI Group Inc., one of the world’s leading independent global bus manufacturers, today announced that it has delivered two Plaxton Leopard coaches to Guildford operator Safeguard Coaches.
Alexander Dennis Regional Sales Manager Mark Taylor handed over the new vehicles to Safeguard Coaches Managing Director Andrew Halliday during the operator’s 100th birthday bash, celebrated with an afternoon of family-friendly fun for the young and not-so-young at Guildford Cathedral on 16th March.
Safeguard Coaches was established in 1924 and remains under the ownership of its founding family. It employs 70 people and provides private hire, school services and public bus routes across Surrey.
The new Plaxton Leopard coaches are painted in a bespoke anniversary livery. They each have 70 seats in a high-capacity arrangement, making them particularly well suited to school contracts. A wheelchair lift and destination displays ensure they meet PSV Accessibility Requirements.
They join three vehicles of the same type as well as two Plaxton Panther coaches delivered in 2021 in the 36-strong Safeguard Coaches fleet. They are built on the reliable and fuel-efficient Volvo B8R chassis, with power transmitted by a ZF EcoLife automatic gearbox.
Andrew Halliday, Managing Director of Safeguard Coaches, said: “We’re all so proud to have reached this incredible milestone. Plaxton coaches have long played an important role in our fleet and it’s a particular pleasure to be welcoming our latest additions at this event. The capacity of these Plaxton Leopard coaches will be especially welcome on services and hires we provide for schools.”
Mark Taylor, Regional Sales Manager for Alexander Dennis, added: “It’s a great honour for us to be part of a respected family business’s 100th anniversary and to be adding two further Plaxton coaches to Safeguard Coaches’ immaculate fleet. Congratulations to the Newman family, Andrew and his team. We wish them all the best and every success for the next century!”
If using, please credit the image on the right to Steve Foster.