Higer buses have been in the Australian market since 2008, and can now be seen serving schools across the country, from the most prestigious schools in Sydney and Melbourne, to smaller schools in regional centres.
For a bus operator, there is no cargo more precious than a group of school children, so when Norwest Coaches was allocating buses for its private school run, they selected their largest and most luxurious vehicle, the Higer H9250 Midi Boss.
Norwest Coaches is a charter business in the north-west of Sydney, primarily operating club and pub courtesy runs and specialised school runs. Fleet Manager Steve Trlin says the company bought its first Higer about eight months ago and it is used for transporting students to two different schools in Sydney’s Hills District.
“We know that parents want their children to get to and from school in safety and comfort, and we felt the Higer could offer both,” he said. “The bus uses very well regarded component brands, so we knew it was going to be reliable, and the quality of the finishes is very high.”
The Midi Boss is powered by a Cummins ISB e5 6.7 litre power plant, which is mated to an Allison automatic transmission for easy-starting and efficient operation. The model also features Wabco ABS disc brakes and Firestone airbag suspension, and like all Higer buses, the 41 seat Midi Boss is equipped with seatbelts.
“The Higer Midi Boss is used on our Hills Grammar and William Clark school runs,” Trlin said. “There are children on this route travelling more than 30 kilometres per day, so it’s essential we can transport them not only in comfort, but on a bus that is extremely reliable and very safe.
“One of our requirements when choosing a new bus is that the brand be well-supported in Australia with ready access to parts and servicing. Higer really fits the bill on that front. We need the Midi Boss to be available for the school runs, so the Cummins workshop were able to service the bus at 6pm on a Friday. This kind of flexibility really makes a difference to us, allowing us to keep the bus on the road and generating revenue when we need it to.”
According to Trlin, the Higer Midi Boss was very well received by Norwest Coaches’ young passengers. “They really have been overwhelmed by the quality and luxury of the coach that takes them to school every day.”
‘Two for Three’ offers vale for money
Passenger safety has always been a priority of the Higer brand – Higer has the way in Australia in providing lap-sash seatbelts across its range. Higer now also offers “2 for 3” seating, which allows two adults, or three primary school students to share a seat, all with the safety of lap-sash seatbelts.
CEO of WMC Group, importer of Higer buses to Australia, Neil Bamford says that the “2 for 3” seating gives a new level of flexibility to the Higer range.
“We understand that schools need to get the most out of their buses, and 2-3 seating allows schools to safely carry up 35 students in our popular H7170 Munro.
“Adding the extra capacity without adding significantly to the cost takes the already competitive H7170 Munro to another level in terms of value for money,” he added. “The seats are ADR approved, factory-fitted, and are now available as an option for all buses in the Higer range.”
Higer buses are sold and serviced from dealers across Australia, and can be seen at www.higer.com.au