Recognising the needs of all passengers requiring coach transport is of paramount importance and one private coach hire provider has ensured its fleet is now accessible for those with limited mobility.
Salmond’s Coaches, a family firm based close to Edinburgh, provides coaches ranging from 8 to 87 seaters for hire for all occasions and made the decision to equip several of its vehicles with lifts from Faiveley Vapor Ricon to facilitate its desire to make its coaches more accessible. Setting themselves aside from many competitors they are now able to support disabled customers and wheelchair users so they too can benefit from the coach travel offered by Salmond’s.
“It has been a privilege to support the Salmond’s team with its approach to ensuring its fleet is equipped to allow everyone to enjoy private hire vehicles and the trips, occasions and visits that such transport solutions are hired for,” said Michael Dickinson sales manager Faiveley Vapor Ricon. “Working with a provider that has so many different vehicles demonstrates the flexibility of our products and also our ability to support a diverse range of requirements to unlock vehicle access across a wide range of transport methods.”
Lifts from the S Series – a range of split platform lifts that are fully automatic – were installed in a variety of different size vehicles. The lifts offer many innovative design features which include easy operation and maintenance, offer a non-intrusive space-saving footprint and are suitable for most small and large vehicle requirements. An in-board roll stop, hand operated controls and other features give passengers and third parties complete peace of mind regarding passenger safety both whilst using the lift and during transit.
Stacey Salmond, Operations Manager at Salmond’s Coaches commented; “It was important to us that our vehicles were able to support the growing number of wheelchair users in the region and as we are situated on the fringes of rural Scotland, coach transport is essential for schools, hobby groups and also day trippers and holidays to not only access day to day needs but also enjoy the spectacular scenery and all that our beautiful region has to offer. We position ourselves in the marketplace as a high quality transport provider, and therefore we required a high quality product. The S Series lifts easily meets this criteria. For example, lifts of this kind have to undergo regular tests and they have passed every one.
“The Faiveley Vapor Ricon team were incredibly supportive and we were delighted with every part of the process. Now, after installation, we are proud to be a pioneer for offering accessible coach travel in Scotland.”
Alan Reid, a regular customer of Salmond’s, added: “The accessible transport offered by Salmond’s is brilliant. The lifts allow me to get on the vehicle quickly and I can sit alongside other passengers, rather than sitting at the back or sitting alone in a vehicle as would often be the case with other modes of transport. Salmond’s approach to accessible transport has ensured I can continue to have an active social life- attending concerts, shows and parties without having to worry about how I’m getting there.”