AZ Bus Tours Toronto

AZ Bus Tours has expanded its 35-coach, all-Prevost fleet with the addition of five new H3-45s.
Company general manager Bill Eliopoulos said AZ Bus Tours wants Prevosts for its medium-sized luxury coach operation because "we have big expectations of our fleet. We offer premium service and we want something that won't let us down. The bottom line, we need premium equipment."
Established seven years ago, AZ Bus Tours is a charter operator offering a broad range of services, including sightseeing tours in Canada, full-service tours in the United States, airport transfers and shuttle services. It is a major casino transportation company, with daily line-runs that send a steady stream of coaches to and from Casino Rama, which is about 90 minutes from Toronto.
Because its coaches make daily runs, Eliopoulos said the company "simply can't have downtime. We need to get the coaches on the road, which we can do with the quick-and-easy servicing of Prevost coaches."

AZ Bus Tours' new Prevosts are equipped with Detroit Diesel Series 60 engines, Allison B500 transmissions, Jake Brakes, Prevost Tourismo passenger seats, Isringhausen driver seats, Firestone tires, REI A/V system with three monitors and DVD/VCR players, and Xenon front headlights.

Endeavor Bus Miami, Fla.

Endeavor Bus Lines, which also operates under the name South Florida Trailways, has taken delivery of its second 2005 Van Hool C2045 this year.
The new coach displays Endeavor's signature graphics, as well as the Trailways logo and name.
Based in Miami, Endeavor is a regional provider of ground transportation for airlines, cruise lines, major tour operators and professional sports teams. In addition, the company offers long-distance sightseeing tour and charter services.
Company president Mike Amador said that "working with the ABC family has been great and Jim Morrison has been awesome to deal with. I choose the Van Hool coach because of Van Hool's integrity in building the coach, as well as its European styling. Overall it's a very comfortable coach for my passengers and user friendly for my drivers and maintenance personnel."
The new C2045 is equipped with the Caterpillar C13 engine with ACERT technology and Allison B500 transmission with retarder. Other equipment includes Amaya Brasil seats, Alcoa wheels, Goodyear tires, Monogram flush-type recirculating toilet with supplemental restroom tank, REI A/V system with DVD player, radio, PA system with cordless microphone and four CRT monitors.
A C2045 delivered to Endeavor in March was equipped with a Detroit Diesel Series 60 engine.

Express Transportation, Orlando, FL

Express Transportation has taken delivery of the last of five Van Hool C2045 coaches that it ordered in the fall.
The newest 2005 model C2045 is equipped with a Caterpillar C13 engine, ZF AS-tronic transmission and Jake Brake. Other specified equipment includes Amaya Guadi passenger seats, Alcoa wheels, Firestone tires, Monogram flush-type recirculating toilet with supplemental restroom tank, REI A/V system with monitors, DVD player and radio, and Isringhausen driver seat.
The first four C2045s, delivered in December, were equipped with Cummins ISM engines and Allison B500 transmissions.
"The Van Hool is a dependable motorcoach and projects the kind of image we want to present to our customers," said C.W. Newman, a partner in the company. "The C2000 is simple to operate and maintain and has been a workhorse for us," Newman added.
Express Transportation offers both local and national charters, shuttle services for conventions, airport transfers and school activity trips.
"You are as likely to see our coaches in Quebec or Los Angeles as you are in Orlando - even though we are ranked as the No. 1 provider of over-the-road service in the Orlando area," said Newman. Fox Network chose Express to provide its corporate transportation during Super Bowl XXXIX earlier this in Jacksonville.
Company partners, Marcello Machado and Newman, began the business 12 years ago. Five years ago, they made a decision to grow the company and have done just that.
Their modern fleet now totals 28 late-model coaches. About half the fleet is Van Hools but the goal is to be three-quarters Van Hool within a short time. "We have a long-standing relationship with Claude Payne, our ABC account manager. We trust him and I think we've purchased almost every coach in our fleet through him," Newman noted.

Kewl Tours, Walkersville, MD

Kewl Tours and Charters has taken delivery of a new Prevost H3-45 coach. Three of the company's five full-size motorcoaches are Prevosts, and the family-owned and -operated company is moving to an all-Prevost fleet.

"Prevost is without a doubt the best touring coach on the market. Nothing compares to it," says David Burke, general manager of Kewl Tours and Charters. "We've looked at other coaches but the quality at Prevost is far superior. It has curb appeal, comfort and visibility for the customer, and a very high level of proven technology. The H3-45 fits the bill."

The entire Burke family is involved in their motorcoach tour-and-charter company and airport transportation service. They add their own special touches to their tours, like scheduling stops in places off the beaten path.

Celebrating its fifth anniversary this year, Kewl offers day trips to New York City and Atlantic City, as well as two- to five-day trips to New England, the East Coast, and the Midwest, and longer cross-country excursions. The company also organizes student transportation to popular destinations.

"We have a pretty loyal following," says Burke. "There are some people who have not missed a single one of our western trips."

Besides its motorcoaches, the company also operates a midsize bus, vans and sedans.

Kewl Tours' newest Prevost is equipped with a Detroit Diesel Series 60 engine, ZF AS-tronic transmission, Jake Brake, Alcoa wheels, Michelin tires, REI A/V system with four monitors, National Model 4210 passenger seats, Isringhausen driver seat, Taraflex flooring, and Ricon wheelchair lift.

For more information go to www.kewlinc.com.

Lone Star Coaches, Grand Prairie, TX

Lone Star Coaches has taken delivery of two MCI J4500 motorcoaches.

The new coaches are the first J models for Lone Star, which operates a fleet of 16 buses.

"The MCI J4500 was attractive to us," said company president Mark Steelman. He is the second generation of his family to lead the company. "We like its design, spiral entryway, luggage capacity and overall appeal."

Lone Star's new J4500 coaches are each equipped with Caterpillar C13 engines, ZF AS-tronic transmissions, Amaya passenger seats, REI flat-screen monitors and DVD entertainment systems. They also have Ricon wheelchair lifts.

The coaches will primarily be used for Lone Star's contract service with Amtrak, transporting passengers from Amtrak's Longview and Houston stations. They also will supplement Lone Star's tour-and-charter operations, which account for nearly 85 percent of the company business.

Founded in 1979, Lone Star provides contract bus services for schools, universities and airport transport, and it operates throughout the continental U.S. with its tour-and-charter operations. Lone Star has its own service facility, and none of the coaches in its fleet are older than 1998.

"With a newer fleet, we have fewer road failures, reducing our need for mechanical personnel and providing our customers with the very best. We like to put all the bells and whistles on our coaches," said Steelman. "We look for reliable equipment that doesn't need much repair, and that's why went with the J4500."

For more information, go to www.lonestarcoaches.com