Long Distance Express Coaches - Stranraer

Tender description

The Cross Channel Express service is administered from the Travel Centre at Europa Buscentre, Belfast. Operations are run from the Stranraer depot in south west Scotland, and offers direct connections to destinations in England, which cover Birmingham and London daily, with one departure operating overnight. A return route to Glasgow and Edinburgh operates three times each day. The nature of the operation is such that the vehicles based at Stranraer are heavily utilised, and each vehicle can cover up to 130,000 miles in one year. The expected operating life of these vehicles on these services is anticipated to be c. 10 years. The business has been growing through the recession, enjoying growth of 65% since 2007/08. The route is operated in conjunction with National Express, consequently vehicle requirements are based on compliance with their express coach specification. An outline specification is attached. As the vehicles essentially operate remotely from a home depot, it is important that in-service support and response times offered as part of tenders recognises this fact. The immediate requirement is for three (3) vehicles which are fully DDA compliant, c. 12 mtrs. long with 48 seats, appropriate luggage capacity and on-board facilities for such journeys. The vehicles are to be available for service from June 1, 2016 with an option for a further three vehicles to be ordered at a point up to December 2018, dependent on the funding and operational situation.