A-League team the Newcastle Jets will hit the road in a new coach that rivals those of European and South American teams, with promiment NSW operator Sid Fogg’s taking delivery of a new i6 Scania-powered IRIZAR.
The new coach will be used to transport Newcastle Jets players and management throughout the season and is the first of three Scania-powered IRIZAR i6s to be delivered in 2017, complementing recent acquisition of a K 310 school charter and corporate 13.5m coach, and the a unique 14.5m steerable tag axle 64-seater due in April.
Sid Fogg’s has served the Newcastle and Hunter region for more than 40 years and operates the coach used by NRL team the Knights.
According to owner Graham Habgood, the Jets’ i6 Scania will stand out in his fleet.
“We’re proud to have had a Knights coach for many years, and now we have a Jets coach. We have two professional football teams in the city and we support both of them,” he said.
The Jets’ coach is built on a Scania K 400 IB 6×2*4 chassis meaning it has a steerable tag axle, shod with super single tyres, allowing greater manoeuvrability in tight city streets, and also provides exceptional tyre wear for the rear-most axle.
The Euro 5 spec 13-litre six-cylinder engine drives through a Scania Opticruise automated transmission and performance can be reined in using the retarder, which provides efficient braking while preserving the service brakes. In addition, the operator specified electronically controlled disc brakes all round.
The IRIZAR i6 body offers 54 belted and reclining seats and there is a bathroom at the rear of the saloon along with a hot water service and an onboard refrigerator.
Coach and Bus issue 27 will have a full feature on the Jets’ new ride.
