The vehicles operate on a range of routes from four locations in Belfast, Coleraine, Londonderry and Newry, including return services to Dublin airport. The vehicles were also in service for the Open golf championship, at Royal Portrush in July.
Each tri-axle vehicle is specified with the B11R chassis with a 424bhp engine. The 63-seaters are 14.3m long and have USB ports, wifi and a ten-camera CCTV system.
A sidemounted wheelchair lift and space for one wheelchair is also included as part of the Translink spec.
Will Campbell, project manager for fleet enhancements for Translink, said: “We needed a premium coach with added comfort for longer journeys that would also provide the high passenger capacity we needed, which was why we went for the 14.3m SC5 with 63 seats. Wheelchair access and capacity was also important for the services we offer.”
Fuel economy was another deciding factor, he adds, as was support offered by the dealer Dennisons.
The latest order follows the arrival of two integral Volvo B11R 9700s and two B11R JHV2 coaches late last year.
