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  Company News Page

Last Updated: April 27, 2008

Welcome to our news page.  This page is updated regularly to detail all the latest company news, press releases & events.

Woottens Launches Secure On-Line Booking - April 2008   

Woottens have announced the launch of a new on-line booking system for both coach tours and day trips.

Using a bespoke website, www.awaywithwoottens.com, customers can book the trip of their choice, check availability and pay through secure means, all from the comfort of their armchair. 

Michael Wootten, Operations Director said “The launch of our on-line booking system adds a new dimension to our already excellent customer offering and is something our clients have been asking for.  The addition of on-line booking is just one part of an exciting program of developments within the Company.”

Appointment of a Commercial Manager - March 2008

Woottens have appointed Phil Lightowler to the role of Commercial Manager as part of a continuing development strategy.

Phil has over 15 years experience in the transport industry, predominantly in the bus and coach sector. He has enjoyed spells in operational management in both bus depots and the distribution sector. He was for nearly 5 years Bus & Coach Strategy Manager for BAA at Heathrow Airport where he developed a reputation for innovation and delivery. After a spell running his own consultancy business he has spent the past two years managing the Newbury division of Reading Transport.

Michael Wootten, Operations Director, commenting on the new appointment said “Phil is joining the business at an exciting time, with sales increasing year on year and with long term plans to grow the business across the Thames Valley. As Commercial Manager he will be supporting the development of our commercial strategy.”

Phil said “I am looking forward to the challenge of helping Woottens increase its commercial presence in the Thames Valley and build on the excellent work already done by this innovative and dynamic operator.”

Phil took up his role on the 25th March 2008.

Phil Lightowler - New Commercial Manager for Woottens

Leisure Days & Holidays Grow in Popularity – January 2008

Woottens popular leisure days, short breaks and holidays are building a loyal following, with the range of tours increasing every year. In addition to increasing the choice of destinations, pick-up points for 2008 have been extended and our popular leisure web site re-launched.

Click here to view our range of tours or request a copy of the latest brochure.

Celebration of Excellence – October 2007 

The coach industry enjoyed a celebration of excellence at the Route One annual awards. This established event rewards the very best in our industry from individuals to operators.

Woottens were delighted to be shortlisted for the Coach Operator of the Year award.

Another Win at Showbus - September 2007

Showbus 2007 was held at the Imperial War Museum, Duxford on Sunday 16th September. Woottens entered a number of vehicles and were delighted to win an award for Best Modern Plaxton Coach with W100 TEN.

W100 TEN and B7 WTN seen taking part in the Plaxton Gold Run, Showbus 2007

Westways of High Wycombe Handover to Woottens - April 2007

After over 17 years of successful trading, the owners of High Wycombe-based Westways Coaches have decided to retire.

Woottens are delighted to have acquired the business interests of this respected High Wycombe coach operator. This includes the popular day excursions & holiday programme.

Westways customers can rest assured that existing private hire, day excursion and holiday bookings will be honoured. However, all bookings and enquires will now be handled from our Chesham office.

We believe this is an excellent move for all concerned at a time when interest in coach travel is growing. This acquisition will allow us to offer all customers a higher level of service together with the reliability you would expect from an established family business.

Westways customers will now be able to book a much wider range of vehicles from standard to full executive specification. Woottens also supply coaches for continental day trips and tours.

In addition to expanding the private hire business, we have exciting plans to further develop the day excursions & holiday programme. A new day excursions brochure will be published shortly.

We look forward to being of service to customers both old and new.

Woottens Support Car-Free Day In Marlow - February 2007

Woottens were pleased to support car-free day in Marlow on 1^st February. Organised by Change Gear, people were asked to try swapping their car for walking, cycling or public transport for one day in an attempt to solve Marlow's traffic gridlock problems.

The campaign has been launched by producers making a documentary series for Channel 4 about the town's car use outgrowing its roads.

Woottens were delighted to support car-free day by providing one of our latest coaches for free town services during the day.

See www.changegearforaday.com for more details about the documentary and its aims.

Woottens Invest In Four Extra High Capacity Coaches - January 2007

Woottens have invested in two 70 seat coaches, the first vehicles of this type to be operated by the company. The Volvo coaches are fitted with 3+2 Seating and incorporate 3-point seatbelts.

Also joining the fleet are an additional pair of 57 seat Volvo coaches. "The existing 57 seaters in the fleet are extremely popular, especially with youth groups" explained Michael Wootten. "We believe it's important to offer customers a choice of vehicle size and specification. I'm sure these latest high capacity coaches will be well received."

70 Seats with 3-Point Seat Belts

A first for the Woottens fleet

New Coach Holiday Brochure Released - December 2006

Woottens latest selection of Coach Holidays are now on sale. The brand new brochure for 2007 is full of wonderful holidays, which have been carefully selected to ensure we continue to offer our usual high quality and value for money.

Click Here to request your own copy.

Eight New Coaches Take to the Road - April 2006

Woottens latest new coaches took to the road in April for the first time. The vehicles were collected by Woottens own staff from Plaxton's Scarborough factory and have been extremely well received by customers old and new.

The coaches were ordered last July and built to Woottens own detailed specification. The order called for seven Volvo B12B / Plaxton Panthers and was later increased to include a Volvo B7R / Plaxton Profile with 57 seats and air conditioning.

Both the Panthers and Profile have been built to incorporate a number of DDA requirements with the Panthers featuring a new wide entrance door recently introduced by Plaxton. Also included in the specification are 49/53 reclining seats with integral headrests, courier seat, inertia reel seat belts, arm rests, foot rests, WC / washroom, climate controlled air conditioning, double glazed panoramic windows, cruise control, ABS brakes, reversing cameras, stereo radio / PA / CD player, refrigerator, large luggage capacity, DVD / monitor, hot drinks dispenser and carpets.

The Volvo B12Bs are powered by the 420bhp engine with Volvo 12-speed I-Shift transmission - a first for Woottens who previously standardised on the ZF Ecomat automatic gearbox for all new vehicles.

Registered YN06 MXR-Y, these vehicles look set to become a common sight in the local area and beyond!

New Coaches In Build - February 2006

The latest batch of eight new coaches for the growing Woottens fleet are nearing completion. Built to a unique specification, the new coaches should enter service in April.

The photographs below were taken during a factory visit in early February and show the vehicles at various stages of the build process.

Eight New Coaches to Join Woottens - October 2005  

Woottens have invested in seven new Volvo B12B / Plaxton Panthers and one Volvo B7R / Plaxton Profile for delivery in April 2006. The order was confirmed at Birmingham NEC during Coach & Bus Live.

"A number of factors influenced our choice of vehicle" explained Michael Wootten. "The Volvo chassis is well respected throughout the industry and both the B12B and B7R have proved to be very robust and reliable models in a number of small and large fleets. We have specified the 420bhp engine for the B12Bs, which is the most powerful unit in the range. This will be coupled to the 12-speed automated Volvo I-shift transmission, which is gaining an excellent reputation both at home and abroad".

"Having looked at a number of bodywork options, we were particularly impressed by the quality and attention to detail demonstrated by the team at Plaxton. This coupled with the amazing comfort and spacious design of the interior secured our business".

The B12Bs will be 12.5 metres in length with 49 / 53 seats and demountable toilets. All will be built to an identical high specification making them by far the most impressive vehicles in the fleet. The B7R will be a 57 seater with air conditioning.

Credit Cards Welcome at Woottens - September 2005

Customers used their credit and debit cards at Woottens for the first time this month.

"We are up and rolling with most major credit and debit cards," Operations Manager Michael Wootten said. "Getting the system set up didn’t take as long as we thought it would. We’ve had a lot of customers asking for this system, so we put it in place."

Exciting New Short Breaks & Holidays Released - January 2005

Following many months of detailed planning and preparation, Woottens latest selection of short breaks and holidays are now on sale. Our popular programme has been extended for 2005 to include some new and exciting destinations. We are sure you will find something to suit your taste!

Contact us for a copy of our latest colour leaflet.

Woottens latest Short Break & Holiday leaflet - AVAILABLE NOW!

Unique Bus finds New Home - September 2004

The unique Suburban Express demonstration Leyland National, lovingly cared-for by Woottens, has left the fleet for a new home in preservation.

RRM 148M has not been used commercially since its restoration in 1995 and has won many awards for its outstanding condition. Michael Wootten commented "It is regrettable that continued expansion at Woottens has left no time to devote to preserved vehicles. Although it is sad to see this bus leave the fleet, we are delighted to have found it an excellent new home. We wish John & Maureen Royle every success with the continued preservation of this unique vehicle."

Woottens Olympian is a Winner - October 2003

A Leyland Olympian double-decker bus from the Woottens fleet was judged the best ex-National Bus Company vehicle at the Amersham & District Bus Running Day.

Registered BBW 214Y, this Eastern Coach Works bodied bus was new to City of Oxford Motor Services (Oxford South Midland) in 1982 and spent over twenty years serving Oxford and the surrounding areas.

BBW 214Y - Best ex-National Bus Company Vehicle

Woottens Support Anti-Bullying Roadshow - September 2003

Woottens have been taking part in a unique presentation to illustrate to young people that bullying is wrong.

The roadshow, organised by Dave Gauder and Chiltern Vale Police, began with 'Big Dave' pulling a Woottens double-decker bus in front of a school audience.  He then met all the pupils and advised them to talk with school staff and parents about bullying.

Dave's physical strength was a spectacle for the pupils and Woottens are proud to have played a part in making the roadshow such a success.

Strong man 'Big Dave' made light work of moving Woottens double-decker!

Top Performance from Woottens NEW Euroriders - June 2003

Further new coaches for Woottens of Chesham are three Beulas Stergo-bodied Iveco Euroriders. The latest coaches have been purchased for use on Woottens private hire and holiday operations.

The latest Euroriders each include 49/53 reclining seats with integral headrests, courier seat, inertia reel seat belts, arm rests, WC / washroom, climate controlled air conditioning, double glazed panoramic windows, cruise control, Webasto heater with timer, ABS brakes, stereo radio / PA / CD / cassette player, dash-mounted refrigerator, large luggage capacity, video/monitor, hot drinks dispenser and carpets. All three coaches are also fitted with ZF fully automatic transmission, which is Woottens standard choice for new vehicles

Operations Manager, Michael Wootten, is delighted with the new coaches and said: "Following the excellent performance of our previous Beulas-bodied Iveco Euroriders, we had no hesitation in placing a repeat order with Coach Europe. The feedback received from both our staff and passengers has been extremely positive".

The new coaches are registered FG03 JAU, FG03 JBU and FG03 JCU.

FG03 JAU, FG03 JBU and FG03 JCU at Coach Europe PLC prior to entering service.

NEW Coach Joins Woottens - January 2003

Woottens have placed their first Iveco Euromidi / Indcar Maxim 2 into service. Built to seat 29 passengers and registered FE52 HFW, this midi-coach is part of a further fleet upgrade to improve the quality of service the company offers to its clients.

The latest vehicle offers passengers big coach comfort from a 29 seat vehicle. All seats are to standard full-size coach specification in terms of width, recline and leg room. The vehicle is also fully air conditioned and benefits from air suspension.

Operations manager, Michael Wootten commented, "The ability of Indcar to offer a 29 seat coach body with big coach comfort was a major factor in our decision to invest in this product. A recent visit to the Spanish Indcar factory together with our wider experience of products from Iris Bus (Iveco), gives us further confidence in the vehicle."

FE52 HFW parked at our Chesham depot.

Double Win For Woottens at Showbus - September 2002

Woottens have once again enjoyed success at the Showbus bus & coach rally. The company is celebrating after winning two top awards at the event.

Standing out amongst the modern coaches on show was the company’s latest high specification Volvo B12M / Jonckheere Millennium Mistral FE02 FCC, which was judged Best New Millennium Coach. 

Also winning top honours was Michael Wootten’s preserved Leyland National RRM 148M. This vehicle was awarded the prestigious Leyland National Anniversary Award, marking the 30^th anniversary of the popular model.

Held annually for 30 years, Showbus is one of the biggest events of the year in the bus and coach industry.

Winners!  Leyland National RRM 148M and Volvo B12M / Jonckheere FE02 FCC.

Further Modernisation At Woottens As Two NEW Eurorider Coaches Join The Growing Fleet - September 2002

Joining Woottens from 1^st September are two new Beulas bodied Iveco Eurorider coaches.

Supplied by Coach Europe PLC, both coaches have been built to an extremely high specification. Refinements include climate controlled air conditioning, inertia reel seat belts, reclining seats with integral headrests, arm rests, double glazed panoramic windows, ABS brakes with retarder, public address system, stereo radio / CD / cassette player, refrigerator, courier seat, large luggage capacity, video and monitor, hot drinks dispenser, WC and washroom. Both coaches are fitted with ZF fully automatic transmission, which is Woottens standard choice for new vehicles.

Operations Manager, Michael Wootten, is pleased by the amount of praise a previously delivered Iveco Eurorider coach has attracted from customers and went on to say "Our customers deserve and expect the highest of standards.  These new coaches are just part of a continuing phase of investment which will act to further improve the quality of service we provide. Following the excellent performance of our original Iveco Eurorider coach delivered two years ago, we had no hesitation in returning to Coach Europe to place a further order".

The new coaches are registered FN52 GVE and FN52 GVF.

Woottens new Euroriders seen prior to entering service.  Also visible is the original example, which joined the fleet two years ago.

The new coaches were handed over to Michael Wootten by Tony Harvey of Coach Europe PLC.

NEW Generation Of Volvo Coaches Join Woottens  - June 2002

Woottens have once again invested in brand new vehicles to maintain the high standards for which the company has become renowned.

The new coaches are the very latest models on offer from Volvo Bus and were ordered by Woottens earlier this year. The first vehicle to arrive was Volvo B12M / Jonckheere Millennium Mistral FE02 FCC which has been built to an extremely high specification for the executive class. This coach has a claim to fame in being the first new shape Jonckheere bodied Volvo B12M to be registered in the UK.

Joining the Volvo B12M is a Volvo B7R / Jonckheere Modulo C57F FE02 FCA. This vehicle is fully air conditioned and wheelchair accessible - the first coach of its type to be operated by Woottens. The Volvo B7R has attracted much interest in being the first Jonckheere bodied version in the UK to be wheelchair accessible.

Both new coaches are fitted with ZF fully automatic transmission, which the company plans to make standard for all new vehicles.

Volvo B12M / Jonckheere Millennium Mistral FE02 FCC was handed over to Michael Wootten by Nick Haines of Volvo Coach Sales.

NEW Coach Joins Woottens Growing Fleet - August 2000

Woottens first brand new coach has joined the growing fleet in the shape of an Iveco Eurorider with bodywork by Beulas. Built to a high specification for Woottens the new vehicle boasts many comfort and safety features and will be used on a wide range of work throughout the UK and Europe.

Included in the specification is air conditioning with full climate control, hot drinks machine, monitor and video, fridge and Webasto heating.  Operations Manager, Michael Wootten, commented "we have chosen an extremely high specification for this vehicle which we envisage operating premium day hires and tour work.  When selecting the Eurorider chassis we know we are investing in a quality product and the Iveco / Beulas combination is well proven both here in England and throughout Europe".

The new vehicle was delivered in September and won an award for 'Best Vehicle of the New Millennium' at Showbus 2000.

New Industry Leading Computer System Installed - February 2000

A new computer system has been installed at Woottens head office by Distinctive Systems of York. 

The software is used by several leading coach operators and will further improve the level of service offered to customers both old and new.

News Of Woottens New Depot Hits Local Press - November 1999

News of Woottens move to the former depot of Rover Luxury Travel (Chesham, Bucks) was reported by the Bucks Examiner on Friday November 5th, 1999.

Click Here to read the article.

Executive Class Launched - October 1999

Woottens have once again invested heavily in new vehicles to offer customers a new Executive Class.

Following repeated requests from customers the time had come for Woottens to offer a whole host of new facilities to their fleet. 

All Executive Class vehicles feature an amazing level of equipment which includes air conditioning, TV/Video, hot & cold drink facilities and toilet / washrooms to name but few.

Operations Manager Michael Wootten is delighted with the praise the new class of vehicle has attracted from customers both old and new and commented "If customers desire such facilities I believe we have a duty to provide them.  We spent a great deal of time looking at vehicles from different manufacturers which would go beyond our customers expectations and are delighted with the positive response."

In keeping with other recent purchases, Woottens have remained loyal to Volvo for the chassis part but selected Plaxton bodywork for the first time.

New Depot For Woottens  - August 1999

Woottens have announced that following successful negotiations with Mr. J. R. Dell, former proprietor of Chesham based Rover Luxury Travel, they will commence business from the former Rover Luxury Travel coach depot on the 24th August 1999.

Operations Manager, Michael Wootten, commented "Increased facilities at the Chesham premises will allow us to make further improvements to the quality of service we offer our clients.  The retirement of Mr Dell and subsequent closure of Rover Luxury Travel in July, left a gap in the local coach hire market which we hope to fill.  Clearly a market exists in Chesham for a quality coach operation and we shall be taking further steps in the coming months to ensure we are best placed to fill it.   We are extremely fortunate to have built up a large base of loyal customers without whom none of this would be possible."

Rover's Former Yard Now Occupied By Woottens

Woottens Join CPT - June 1999

   Woottens have joined the Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT).

Formed on 20 April 1994, CPT is a recognised voice of the passenger transport industry and is the focus for consultation and negotiation on national and international legislation, local regulations, operational practices and engineering standards.  It is also the industry's main link with the media and is regularly approached for opinions and facts.

Credit & Debit Cards Accepted

Members of the Confederation of Passenger Transport

Route One Awards - Shortlisted for Coach Operator of the Year 2007

Showbus Award Winners

National Express Approved Operator

Copyright © 1999 Woottens Luxury Travel

This Page Was Last modified: May 18, 2008