The new Enviro400 offers 85 seats fitted with three-point belts alongside a fixed wheelchair space easily accessed via a ramp at the main passenger door. It is the third of the type for the Kent company, joining one bought new two years ago alongside a similar vehicle acquired from a previous operator.
Alongside its stablemates, it will be used on private hire and school contracts as well as on free “Reach the Beach” summer service 51, which links Folkestone’s railway stations with the seaside during the school holidays to provide a car-free alternative for beachgoers. Crosskeys provides this service in partnership with Kent County Council with funding from the government’s Bus Service Improvement Plan.
Crosskeys Managing Director Alan Johnson said: “Our Enviro400 have proven themselves to be versatile buses over the last two years, allowing us to accommodate large groups easily while keeping our costs to a minimum thanks to their reliable design and great fuel economy.”
Mark Taylor, Regional Sales Manager for Alexander Dennis, said: “We’re delighted to have been chosen by Alan and his team at Crosskeys Coaches for this investment in another high-capacity bus. Its use on the beach service in Folkestone will be a great advert of modern and sustainable transport for the local community as they enjoy their summer.”