New Volvos for Safeguard

Tuesday 6th December 2022

Safeguard Coaches managing director, Andrew Halliday contacted me last week suggesting I might like to sample the company’s two recently delivered new Volvo B8R/MCV Evoras (spelt eVoRas – just to be different I guess). It sounded a good idea and one not to miss out on so yesterday morning found me in Guildford’s rather tired looking Friary bus station ready to give them the once over.

The buses certainly look smart with Safeguard Coaches’ traditional red and cream livery suiting the box type shape of the Evoras, although I noticed the red and cream have swapped places with the former now along the lower skirt panels which probably makes sense with so much road dirt especially in winter although it’s noticeable how clean Safeguard’s fleet always looks. Reference to the company’s 90th anniversary in 2014 has also been removed, which is just as well as it won’t be long until the 100th, which is something to look forward to.

Both buses were out on Safeguard’s circular routes 4 and 5 serving the Royal Surrey County Hospital and the Park Barn residential area during my visit yesterday morning so although they’re both exactly the same, I went 80% round the circuit on one bus before alighting and crossing over the road to retrace my journey on the other.

It was interesting to compare driver techniques in handling the buses and many thanks to Graham who gave a superb ride and was very helpful and friendly showing me over the bus before departing from the bus station.

He was already a fan of them pointing out one had a registration KOD…

… and the other DUV, with the former sporting an image of a happy cod fish in the cab so drivers know which they’re in. I understand there’s a dove on order for the other bus.

I very much appreciated a quiet rattle free, smooth ride thanks not only to driving technique but the Euro 6 engine. The bus gave the impression of being a solidly built vehicle compared to its main competitor the ADL Enviro200.

These two buses have been specified by Andrew with 38 seats including three tip-ups in the nearside wheelchair bay.

Opposite this bay on the offside are a pair of double seats.

This configuration looks to suit the passenger profile on Safeguard’s three local city routes and has the advantage of offering 11 completely step free seats (including the tip-ups).

It was noticeable on the journey on route 5 from the bus station how nine of the 14 passengers who boarded in the town centre chose to occupy these step free seats with two taking the single seats either side of the gangway at the very front and only three sitting towards the back of the bus.

As you can see the buses have come with a smart new moquette for Safeguard which I thought looked very nice.

The seats are very comfortable and come with seat belts, and my first impression was the leg room was good, but I noticed the passenger sitting in front of me seemed less comfortable, and then I noticed my knees were almost touching the seat in front, but not quite, so there is just about enough room.

Any more leg room and it would mean less seats, and passengers maybe having to stand, so these things are always a compromise. Safeguard are currently running routes 4 and 5 each every 15 minutes in the morning peak, 12 minutes in the afternoon peak and 20 minutes during the daytime with a half hourly service in the evenings. Interestingly Sundays have a 15 minute frequency during shopping hours. Route 3 operates every 20 minutes.

The buses don’t have next stop announcements or displays but do come with USB ports in the sides of the bus rather than the backs of the seats in front, so only of use to passengers sitting next to the window.

However, journeys on Safeguard’s routes are relatively short, and I doubt they’ll get much use.

Towards the back, there are three steps as seats get progressively higher.

The rear five seats, often an afterthought for comfort, were not bad at all to sit in.

Graham showed me the three lighting arrangements including a daytime all white light …

… a night time blue tint…

…. and a mix of the two.

The drivers’ cab looked spacious and well laid out and the seat looked comfortable.

The moulding around the cab door doesn’t really allow for any welcoming notices to be affixed which is a shame.

All in all two very comfortable buses which were lovely to ride in and I overheard a mum telling her young son as she boarded what a lovely new bus this is.

It is.

Roger French

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