Lockerbie-based luxury coach and bus operator Houston’s Coaches has begun taking delivery of four new Volvo B8RLE-MCV eVoRas, for use on the 240-mile round-trip between Dumfries and Edinburgh.
The new order consists of three 10.8m B8RLE-MCV eVoRas and one larger 12.1m model.
They are part of an expansion to Houston’s current fleet to accommodate its new 101/2 Dumfries to Edinburgh service.
The buses run from Dumfries to Edinburgh and back daily, covering about 240 miles, and taking in multiple stops through rural areas of Scotland.
Volvo says its B8RLE-MCV eVoRa delivers excellent fuel efficiency thanks to the D8K Euro-6 engine, specified for Houston’s with a ZF automatic gearbox.
The three 10.8m variants can comfortably carry 39 seated passengers, while the larger 12.1m model has passenger seating for 47.
Family-run Houston’s initially started as a small taxi company in 1975, but has evolved into a thriving, multi-depot operation with a fleet of 40 service buses, minibuses, and coaches operating for a variety of clients.
William Houston, Owner of Houston’s Coaches, said: “The important thing for us when choosing our new buses is reliability.
“When you consider the length of the route we’re operating, and the varied terrain it covers, the last thing we want to be managing is unexpected downtime.
“The comfort of our customers is also of paramount importance, as some will be completing the full three-hour trip in each direction. Our drivers have been really impressed as well; the climate-controlled cabs were a big bonus for them.”
