Devon operator TW Coaches has introduced an Optare Toro into its 17-vehicle fleet because at 32 seats it’s the optimum size to meet a wide range of work.

Based in South Molton on the edge of Exmoor, the company will be using the Toro for private hires, including day hires and ‘pamper’ weekends, and for short tours. It will also do some Continental work and will be used on school bus contracts.

“Having 32 seats and a high level of comfort, yet being quite compact in size, makes Toro a very versatile vehicle,” says TW Coaches director Chris Tearall. “Party sizes tend to be smaller these days and don’t justify a full-size touring coach. This size is just right for small parties like school groups on exchange visits to France or day trips for local women’s clubs. It’s also good for doing school bus runs, where the compact size suits the narrow Devon roads.

“The fact that it’s based on a Mercedes-Benz chassis was also a strong point for us. The majority of our fleet is Mercedes based or powered, including two Optare Nouvelle coaches and a pair of Solo buses we put on the road last year. So we’re very familiar with the Mercedes running units, which we find reliable and for which parts are readily available. Our local dealer, County Commercials at St Austell, offers a daily parts delivery service and we get good support from Optare’s Unitec operation when needed.”

Power is provided by a 4.25 litre engine rated at 150 bhp to give plenty of power right up to the full plated weight of 8.2 tonnes. This is well matched to the five-speed ZF synchromesh gearbox. All round air over hydraulic disc brakes with ABS, an integral retarder and an exhaust brake ensure that Toro stops smoothly and safely in all conditions.

TW Coaches’ new Toro is fully coachbuilt by Optare’s Spanish partner Ferqui on the Mercedes-Benz Vario 0.815D 4.8 metre wheelbase chassis. The body shell is constructed around a corrosion-protected, jig-built steel frame to which glass fibre panels are bonded. This results in a very strong structure that fully meets the R66 rollover standard. Overall dimensions are 8.74 metres long, 2.44 metres wide and 2.9 metres high.

Seats are Esteban Irati high-back coach seats, each with a seat belt and the outer seats with a gangway armrest. The Toro was painted in metallic blue to match the two Nouvelle’s already in service.

For further information please contact:
Martin Hayes, Communications Advisor, +44 (0) 207 494 8050