Disabled Travel with Eavesway
Many of our clients are now aware of our ability to offer the facility of executive class coaches with disabled access / wheelchair lifts. We are therefore pleased to confirm the following current information which we hope will provide most of the information passengers currently require from us
We started looking at the area of disabled access on to our coaches during the latter part of 2005 following a request from one of our major private hire clients. Working closely with them, and talking to their disabled passengers for their views, advice and requirements we formulated an idea for a new design of coach which would hopefully meet these requirements whilst retaining the ability to operate and offer the same levels of passenger comfort as the rest of the vehicles in our fleet.
Working closely with both Arriva Bus and Coach and Van Hool, our coach suppliers, we have arrived at two new designs of vehicle that can accommodate, and operate, as normal 48 or 57 seat executive class coaches or when required as a wheelchair accessible vehicle.
The Van Hool T915 Alicron seats 48 passengers or in full disability mode 4 passengers in wheelchairs, plus 4 transfer passengers and a further 32 passenger seats. Access into the coach is by a PLS lift mounted under a second entrance door ahead of the front axle. These coaches have full facilities of air conditioning,rear saloon toilet and washroom, refrigerator and hot drinks facilities and whilst they are used on our Cruiselink services they are also ideal for private hire groups.
The Van Hool T921 Altano seats up to 57 passengers or 1 wheelchair passenger plus a further 55 passengers. Access from the pavement is by a demountable ramp through a second entrance door ahead of the front axle and the wheelchair is accommodated in a lower seating area by the driver. Also in this lower seating area are a further 3 passenger seats to enable a carer, or family members, to sit with the wheelchair passenger.
As this area is reserved primarily for wheelchair bound passengers and their travelling companions please note that we are therefore unable to take requests from passengers for seats in this area on the Cruiselink services.
The main seating area, which is no higher than that on the remainder of our T917 Astron coaches, is accessed by six shallow steps in a stairway somewhat wider than normal which assists access. It accommodates 52 passengers and again air conditioning, extensive legroom, rear saloon toilet and washroom, two refrigerators and two hot drinks facilities are available (can only be used when stationary). In addition a hearing aid induction loop is fitted as are isofix fittings for child seats if required. These coaches operate extensively on our Cruiselink services but are also available for private hire.
Both types of coach are powered by extremely low emission, environmentally friendly, Euro 5 DAF engines and all our drivers have been fully trained in the use of the passenger lifts and wheelchair anchorage systems prior to using the coaches.
For more details, photographs and specification of these coaches please visit the fleet section of our website. Cruiselink reservations including a wheelchair bound passenger cannot be made on-line, please contact our specialist reservations department on 01942 727985.