The new order revealed as Scania-Caetano deckers take the road

     
It all begins with training and here on October 25th we see drivers being put through their paces ready for launch day on the 31st.
Pictures by Gavin Francis.

The coaches entered service on Monday, October 31st and departures are interspersed with Volvo-Caetano tri-axles. The previous fleet has moved on to pastures new as seen below in a report from Charles King of National Express, Luton.

The coaches are somewhat like a double deck Caetano with styling similarities. The interiors are tastefully finished with the two nearside front seats removable to accept a wheelchair user.

On double deck coaches luggage often presents a loading problem and here Caetano with National Express, have evolved an interesting solution. They have enabled baggage to be loaded through the rear of the lower saloon adjacent to the rear entrance door, using a roller system to send bags to the stowage area. I am told that they will have baggage loaders at London and Luton who will supervise and carry out the baggage handling.

I am including many pictures provided by various photographers, these I hope will enable readers to have a better idea of the new coaches.

Whilst there are six of these coaches allocated to Luton, one is presently on evaluation with Edwards Coaches based in Llantwit Fardre, near Pontypridd. This is CD06 - BV66WPO and is included in the pictures below.

I understand that these six coaches are to be evaluated before anymore coaches of this type are ordered.

Several contributors have provided photographs and I will present these in date order by contributor.

by Gavin Francis

   
First day in service, Monday October 31st, and here CD01 is seen in various pictures at VCS.

     
Coaches 2, 4 and 5 seen in VCS in the first week of service.

   
The drivers cab in CD05 - the lower deck viewed to the rear and the wheelchair location.

   
The upper deck including how it looks with the blue night lights on.

   
The baggage hold with a clear view of the roller for handling.

by Charles King

   
Picture one shows the view forward and the passenger coach reference NL19, the second shows the baggage area closed off
and the third the upper deck staircase area. The coach is CD01 at Luton Airport. 

by Gavin Francis

 
CD06 is presently operating the 0800 from London to Cardiff.

Further developments with these fine coaches will be waited with interest.

Details of the new fleet at Luton advised by Charles King as follows:

Double decks

CD01 BV66WPJ Scania 1899246 Caetano F163045001

CD02 BV66WPK Scania 1899249 Caetano F163045002

CD03 BV66WPL Scania 1899245 Caetano F163045003

CD04 BV66WPM Scania 1899235 Caetano F163045004

CD05 BV66WPN Scania 1899254 Caetano F163045005

CD06 BV66WPO Scania 1899260 Caetano F163045006 on loan to Edwards.

Tri-Axle Single decks at Luton

LA214 BV66WOM Volvo 179351 Caetano F163043075

LA215 BV66WOR Volvo 179542 Caetano F163043076

LA216 BV66WOU Volvo 179545 Caetano F163043077

LA214 runs round to departures at VCS on November 3rd seen by Gavin Francis.

LA215 waits time in Bulleid Way on November 7th seen by Gavin Francis.

The following fleet are now with Chalfonts Northampton:

FJ13EBM
FJ13EBO
FJ13EBP
FJ13EBU
FJ13EBV
FJ13ECA
FJ13EBK
FJ13EBL

We understand they will go into service from 7th November. (Chalfonts have been awarded the 230 East Midlands to Gatwick route)

More new coaches are entering service as follows:

Go South Coast 7819 BW16LCN on the 032 near VCS on November 1st by Gavin Francis
The further new coaches mentioned above are to operate services taken over from Excelsior, Bournemouth.  see under Oxford (Go Ahead Group).

Heathrow Hoppa

Gavin took the chance to get some pictures of this service during his recent trip to the USA.

 
Heathrow on Gavin's return and an interesting service covering all the major hotels in the area.
Taken on October 23rd.