Stockport-based Belle Vue has taken its investment in new vehicles to more than £1m over the past 12 months to meet what it says is a surging demand for travel, as it heads for a record year. The operator has taken delivery of a 76-seat Mercedes-Benz Tourismo coach and will shortly add a 53-seat MAN Neoplan Tourliner to its fleet for UK and European travel, following the arrival of two 61-seater Tourliners in April.
Since last July, the company has also added a 34-seater Yutong TC9 midi-coach, a 19-seat Mercedes-Benz Sprinter executive minibus and a 1966 London Routemaster vintage double-decker, which is used for weddings, corporate hospitality and other special events. In September, it will take delivery of a 55-seat Tourliner and two new double-deck school buses, with six more Neoplans on order for delivery next March.
Belle Vue Managing Director Phil Hitchen said: “The additions to our modern fleet feature the latest technology for enhanced driver and passenger comfort, and they have strong green credentials with lower emissions meeting Euro VI standards and an improved miles-per-gallon performance.
“They represent a significant investment which reflects the strong growth we are seeing across the business. This results from a number of new contracts, including educational and corporate ones, as well as several new Manchester City supporters’ clubs wishing to utilise our varied fleet for travel to and from matches. Demand has also grown considerably for corporate outings to race meetings and other events, day trips throughout the UK and airport transfers, as overseas travel has recovered from the pandemic and the private hire and hospitality markets have rebounded.
“The investment in our fleet alongside driver training to enhance the customer experience enables us to meet this surge in demand for our services, and we are looking forward to further growth in the coming months and years amid a buoyant market for coach and bus travel.”
