The midi coach: the in-between size
Too many for a minibus, not enough to fill a full-size coach? A midi coach seats around thirty, keeps your luggage underneath and is happier on Ireland's country roads.
Seats and suitcases
Expect 29 to 35 seats in most midi coaches. One compact touring example, the Setra S 511 HD, measures 10.47 m with up to 37 seats. Bags go into underfloor bays, smaller than a full-size coach's but usually workable for weekend bags. For long-haul arrivals with large cases, compare the bay space with your luggage list, and mention any bulky items such as golf bags, prams or musical instruments so nothing has to travel on a seat.
Made for smaller roads
Narrow rural roads and tight town centres are where a midi coach earns its keep over a 12 to 14 m coach. You'll feel the difference on a coastal route, a tree-lined avenue to a wedding venue or a medieval street. Ennis offers 14 free coach spaces at Friar's Walk, beside glór, and Muckross House near Killarney has its own coach parking.
Typical features
- Tachograph fitted; category D licence required
- Easier than a 12-14 m coach on narrow rural roads and in town centres
- Compact touring coach; Setra S 511 HD is 10.47 m with up to 37 seats
Same rules as a big coach
A shorter vehicle doesn't mean lighter rules. The driver still holds a category D licence, and a tachograph is fitted as on any coach. There's a small bonus in Dublin: buses with more than 25 seats go through the Port Tunnel free of toll, which covers most midi coaches.
Wedding guests, golf societies, company shuttles and day tours for about thirty people all suit this size. For that number, it beats paying for rows of empty seats on a full-size coach.
Questions
How many seats does a midi coach have?
Usually 29 to 35. Some models, such as the Setra S 511 HD, go up to 37.
Does the driver need a special licence?
Yes, a category D licence, the same one needed for a full-size coach.
Is a midi coach a good choice for wedding guests?
Very often. It handles narrow avenues to country venues well, and around thirty seats suits many guest shuttles.
Other trips we arrange
- Getting your colleagues there and home again
- A school tour parents can relax about
- Travelling to the match as one team
- Getting everyone to the wedding, and home after the party
- Golf trips without the driving
- Your own day out, at your own pace
- Travelling together on pilgrimage
- Travel where everyone in the group comes along
Ask about a midi coach
Send the date, the route and your numbers. A licensed partner operator offers a midi coach with a driver in a written quote for you to consider.
Request a quote or call 35312659159