The four buses, allocated to Bath, Cambridge, Stratford-upon-Avon and Purfleet are part of an order for 18 with the others covering new tours in Naples, Palermo, Padua and expansion in Florence for City Sightseeing Italy, 25% owned by City Sightseeing in the UK.
Ayats-bodied Volvo open toppers were introduced to Spain last year with eight in Palma and Granada. These, like the Italian vehicles were 12 metre, dual-staircase, dual-doored buses, but the UK ones are 10.9 m long to make them more manoeuvarable.
Total seating capacity is 79 with 55 on the top deck. As well as a PA system there are headphone sockets for each seat so that multi-lingual commentary can be delivered.
The staircase has a retractable hood for rainy days and the driver’s cab is air conditioned.
City Sightseeing Managing Director Steve Newman told route one he is planning further investment next year. A new tour has been launched in Liverpool using Metrobuses, while in the United States a St Louis tour will start with five former Guide Friday Atlantean open toppers on 4 July. City Sightseeing has just under 70 operations globally that are franchised, part or wholly owned. Mr Newman adds that the second stage of Ensignbus’s move to new premises at Purfleet is underway. The secure 4.8 acre site can accommodate 350 vehicles of which between 250 and 270 will be undercover. When the move is complete, it will close the former Guide Friday storage site at Long Marston, Warwickshire.