Alabama Company Purchases a Van Hool Coach from ABC Companies
Thrasher Brothers Trailways of Birmingham, AL, will celebrate its 45th year in business this year. The company is known for re-setting the benchmark over the years by bringing new and innovative motorcoaches for the central Alabama market. For spring of 2016, Thrasher decided to go big, as in purchasing a big Van Hool double deck coach.
Alan Thrasher and Alyce T. Davidson, brother/sister owners of the family company founded by their father, had debated the idea for some time.
“We had been half-jokingly discussing adding a double deck with ABC Companies for over a year,” said Davidson. The renovated UMA show coach rolled out at just the right time, featuring a Cummins engine, Allison transmission, new upholstery by Sardo Interiors, REI video system, an updated 110V plug system at every seat, and was finished in a beautiful silver paint.
According to Thrasher, “I had been encouraged to talk to other charter owners that had made that leap of faith. I learned that with aggressive marketing, the larger coach could produce a better margin for the investment.” Since driver availability is an issue, Thrasher also saw that this could help alleviate the shortage. “Quite often we send two buses with 35-40 people on each 56 passenger coach. We actually save the client money while reducing our own cost with the 81 passenger TD925.” The coach will initially serve on the Casino Line run. “We’ve seen quite a decrease in traffic during the economic downturn, and running two coaches on a schedule was eroding profits. That will now be alleviated by the 81 passenger coach. One driver, one fuel bill, one set of tires, one cleanup.”
The finished product was presented to the Thrashers at the 80th Annual Trailways Meeting in Ft. Myers, FL. After Roman Cornell presented the coach at the outdoor luncheon, Thrasher told the gathered crowd that it was apparent the double deck coaches were here to stay. “Double-deck coaches are standard in Europe, and Van Hool has developed a good product for service in the United States. The used ones are not going away, and the ABC renovation plan helps provide a cost effective way to re-purpose these coaches in the private charter market.” While many of these coaches become open top sightseeing buses, Thrasher believes the large capacity coach has a place in the growing charter market. “We are very proud to be the first in the Trailways network to offer the double deck service for charter.”
Jim Morrison, vice president, ABC Companies stated, “We are excited that Thrasher has the foresight to see the application of the TD925 in their market. Thrashers are known throughout the motorcoach industry for being visionaries. We are excited to watch their success with the Van Hool double deck coach.
