Brussels visit for British easy access bus

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 18th Apr 2006

Barry Gill (left), design engineer with coachbuilders Plaxton’s, shows off the new disability coach lift to MEP Graham Watson and Joy Williams of National Express.

Europe's most accessible coach has paid a visit to the European Parliament in Brussels to fly the flag for British design.

The vehicle's conventional-looking steps hide a lift that can be used by wheelchair users or the infirm to gain access to the coach.

South West Lib Dem MEP Graham Watson praised the work of Scarborough coach builder Plaxton's in finding a solution to meet EU demands that future public transport vehicles meet the needs of the disabled.

He said:

"It's a neat piece of engineering. The coach looks the same as every other but at a push of a button the steps fold away to reveal the lift."

The coach will first be used on Glasgow-London direct services but National Express intends to ensure that its whole network uses coaches capable of carrying at least one wheelchair by 2012, four years before the legal requirement.

The lifting device adds £7,000 to the cost of the new Levante easy access coach, which sells at £210,000.