Archive News 2000
Update: 13 December 2000
More new vehicles arriving soon
We have recently ordered a new 36 seater Executive MAN Berkhof coach for delivery in March 2001. This vehicle will complement our existing standard 35 seater MAN Berkhof (shown in the photo). The new vehicle is slightly longer than the 35 seater, providing the extra space required to accomodate an onboard toilet/washroom and other enhancements.
This brings the total number of newly delivered coaches in 2000/early 2001 to 24, including our Wheelchair accessible coach, due later this month. Altogether, our coach fleet numbers more than 40 vehicles.
Take a look in our Coach Hire section for full details of our coach fleet.
Update: 13 December 2000
The 'Working Links' Initiative
Redwing has joined up with 'Working Links' in Southwark, a new initiative Public/Private partnership set up by the Government to enable long term unemployed persons to train for and remain in sustained employment. Redwing attended a function held on HMS Belfast in London celebrating Working Links' success in getting 500 people back into work within the Southwark Borough and 2000 people nationally since the inception of the project in April 2000. The Minister for the scheme and our local constituency MP Tessa Jowell addressed the meeting with great enthusiasm.
The Redwing participation in this service will train candidates to drive coaches by putting them through their PCV test and offering employment at the end of training to suitable candidates.
For further details call our Sales Manager at Redwing Coaches on 020 7733 1124 or Working Links on 020 7701 2873.
Update: 13 December 2000
Imperial Cancer Research Concert at St Pauls
Redwing recently operated three coaches for The Imperial Cancer Research Christmas Carol Concert at St.Pauls Cathedral, attended by Princess Alexandra and many noted actors. The concert was greatly appreciated by the congregation, and raised over £150,000 to help further the charity's invaluable work. Our coaches are shown outside St.Pauls.
Update: 14 November 2000
Special Wheelchair Accessible Coach arriving soon
Redwing have commissioned a brand new, purpose built luxury coach that is fully wheelchair accessible. Our new coach will give mobility to all our customers and can take up to 12 wheelchairs, with a powered chair lift, a toilet facility, video, 24 additional coach seats and full air conditioning.
The coach will be available for general hire for 80% of the time. One client has already contracted to use it on a regular basis during the winter months. How could you make use of it? What opportunities does it open up for your business?
We are expecting delivery at the end of December. Please contact our Sales Manager on 020 7733 1124 for more details.
Update: 14 November 2000
Did you see us on 'The Big Breakfast'?
On Monday 13th November 2000, Redwing made an appearance on Channel 4 in 'The Big Breakfast', carrying some tourists to High Wycombe. Great shots of our smart red coach and our immaculate driver, who is expecting a call from Hollywood any day now...
Update: 14 November 2000
Christmas Parties
Following an advertising campaign in The Daily Mirror and local newspapers, our Christmas business is very active indeed. We still have some availability, especially for lunchtime parties. We have a major motor racing team on our books for their very big Christmas Party in London and many other corporate clients have also come to us, either by recommendation or via our website.
January is an increasingly popular time for Christmas parties - you miss all the rush and good deals abound. Call our Sales Manager on 020 7733 1124 for details and a quote.
Update: 14 November 2000
Redwing Driver Training School
We are pleased to announce our new PCV Driving School. We can train staff to drive coaches and obtain their PCV driving licence, using our own fully qualified staff on our own dedicated training coach. Call our Sales Manager on 020 7733 1124 for details.
Update: 10 October 2000
NEW Consort Tours web site now online
Our sister company Consort Tours has a brand new web site online following an extensive update. The site includes comprehensive information about all the tours and excursions offered by Consort. As well as browsing through the online brochures you can order free printed colour brochures.
You'll find Consort Tours at www.consort-tours.co.uk (closed in December 2006).
Update: 06 October 2000
Fuel crisis management
During the recent fuel crisis in the UK, we are very proud of the fact that we did not cancel a single journey due to fuel shortages, thanks to careful planning and management of our coaches. We also took the unusual step of driving eleven of our coaches to France, refuelling them especially to enable them to do their next day's work and bringing them back to England. We have a total commitment to provide a first class service for our customers.
The picture shows three of our coaches refueling at an Elf service station in Northern France.
Update: 04 September 2000
A new face in Accounts
We are pleased to welcome Merle Alaras to our staff, who joins us as Assistant Accounts Manager. Coming from an accounts background within the travel industry, we are sure that her experience will be a valuable addition and we wish her every success.
Update: 08 August 2000
New drivers join Redwing
Following our recruitment drive last month we are very pleased to welcome more than half a dozen new drivers to the Redwing team.
We still have vacancies for more drivers, either part-time or full-time. Training is available if required. Find out more in our Recruitment section.
Update: 14 July 2000
Major recruitment drive at Redwing
Business is booming and Redwing is taking steps to supplement our large team of full-time drivers with a pool of equally professional part-time drivers.
We are keen to hear from potential part-time drivers. It is an interesting and enjoyable opportunity, especially for men or women who are unable to make a full-time commitment. We can even offer professional training for suitable candidates at very reasonable cost.
Take a look at our Recruitment section for more details.
Update: 10 July 2000
Investing in the future
Redwing has just taken on Daniel Brenyah as a work experience trainee.
Daniel is fifteen years old and declared an interest in being placed in a quality coach company because he would like to drive coaches. Unfortunately for him (and us) he has another three years to go before he can get his restricted PCV licence at eighteen!
He has been out as a passenger on our coaches to get a feel of the life on the road and has spent time with the management seeing exactly how we operate.
We hope Daniel will ultimately chose to join the industry and undergo Redwing's professional training course before starting a career as a full-time driver.
You'll find details of Redwing's driving vacancies and training courses in our Recruitment section.
Update: 07 July 2000
Consort Tours launch party
Consort Tours's new shop in Forestdale Shopping Centre was officially opened by the Deputy Mayor of Croydon on 4 July. The launch party was a great success, with more than sixty guests meeting the managers and staff of Consort and enjoying the refreshments.
Main picture:The deputy Mayor of Croydon (left) talks with Consort MD Colin Mathews and Client Services Manager Veronica Ash. Inset: The deputy Mayor performs the opening ceremony while Redwing MD Paul Campana looks on.
Consort Tours operates a wide range of excursions, short breaks and holidays, all using Redwing's quality coaches.
Update: 3 July 2000
Redwing Coaches accepts 'Euros'
Redwing have moved closer to European integration by being one of the first coach operators to accept the Euro for payment for work taken in the EEC countries. This will increase our European markets by breaking down the barriers of payment across the countries.
For details contact our Sales Manager on 020 7733 1124.
Update: 5 June 2000
Redwing takes 1000 guests to a party!
Redwing was recently asked to move 1000 people from an exhibition at the London Arena (near Canary Wharf on the Isle of Dogs), to Trinity Buoy Wharf, a party venue located opposite the Millennium Dome on the North side of the Thames.
Although the London Arena and Docklands are well served by public transport, moving 1000 extra people at the same time to the same place is a different ball game. The task was no trouble for Redwing, however, and after safely delivering the guests, the coaches remained on standby at Trinity Buoy Wharf for the return service back to various London hotels. The whole operation ran like clockwork.
If you need large numbers of people moved, consult Redwing as soon as possible and we'll sort out your passenger logistics problems.
Update: 2 June 2000
Consort Tours expands to larger offices
Our sister company Consort Tours has just moved into newer and larger premises. The phone number has changed as well. Here are the new details:
Consort Tours
7, The Forestdale Shopping Centre
Featherbed Lane
Addington
Croydon, Surrey, CR0 9AS
Tel: 020 8657 8800
Consort Tours offers a wide range of exciting day trips, short breaks and longer holidays. The list of destinations includes all areas of the UK, plus France, Germany, Italy, Holland and Spain. If you are not familiar with coach travel, you'll be surprised at how far afield you can tour in one day! Prices represent superb value for money, and the tours use Redwing's fleet of luxury coaches and drivers so you are assured of a comfortable trip.
If you are visiting the Forestdale Shopping Centre make sure you drop in to Consort Tours and pick up a brochure.
Update: 18 April 2000
Redwing wins 'Best Touring Coach 2000'
Redwing has scooped not one, but two top awards at the British Coach Rally, held in Brighton on the 15-16th April. One of our latest Setra S315GT HD coaches won the coveted Best Touring Coach 2000 award, against strong competition from coach operators from all over the UK. We also won Best Midi Coach 2000, fielding our immaculate MAN Berkhof 35 seater midi coach.
The Redwing coaches were placed first after rigorous inspections which tested mechanical, passenger comfort and safety aspects of the vehicles. The coaches and crews were then put through a lengthy road test to assess their performance in a variety of situations.
Prizes for Redwing at the British Coach Rally 2000
These awards confirm Redwing's high standing in the field of executive coach hire. We offer you proven excellence in coach travel, with the newest award-winning fleet in London.
Update: 10 April 2000
Redwing takes delivery of new 35 seat coach
The MAN Berkhof is the very latest addition to our fleet. It is a perfect coach for the smaller group which still wants big-coach comfort. A fine example of German engineering, the Berkhof seats 35 passengers.
Our new MAN Berkhof 35 seat coach
Take a look in our Coach Hire section for more details about our coach fleet.
Update: 03 March 2000
New Redwing coaches for 2000
We've recently taken delivery of twenty of the latest Evobus Setra S315GT HD coaches. These magnificent German coaches, with their outstanding appearance and powerful Mercedes Benz engines, are the epitome of quality coach travel.
We now have the most modern large fleet of luxury executive coaches in the city - over forty coaches in total, with an average age of less than twelve months, and none pre-dating 1998.
Eight of the new coaches are fitted out as luxury, air conditioned 53 seaters - ideal for transfers and short trips within the United Kingdom.
The other twelve new coaches are fitted out as luxury executive, air conditioned 48 seaters, complete with video monitors, hot drinks dispensers, and a convenient WC and washroom. These coaches are perfect for longer journeys, or for extended tours around Britain and Europe.
Update: 20 February 2000
Redwing moves to new, purpose-built depot
After many years operating from our depot at 145 Coldharbour Lane, Camberwell, London SE5, we've just moved to much larger, purpose-built premises at 10 Dylan Road, off Milkwood Road, Herne Hill, London SE24. Although our post code zone has changed, we've actually only moved half a mile. Our phone and fax numbers remain unchanged.
The new depot includes a state-of-the-art maintenance facility fitted with the latest equipment, including a massive 'rolling road' unit for dynamically testing coaches inside the garage. The facility, with our team of expert mechanics, is so advanced that it has been certificated as an official, Ministry-approved testing station for these types of commercial vehicles.
You'll find more details about our services in our Coach Hire section.
