The In-Between Size: A Midi Coach
Too many people for a minibus, too few to fill a full-size coach? A midi coach, typically seating 29 to 35, is often the tidy answer.
Why the shorter body helps
At about 35 ft (10.7 m), a midi is roughly ten feet shorter than a touring coach. That makes it easier to manoeuvre in old town centres, hotel forecourts and small venues such as a country inn or a vineyard. It still has underfloor bays: one common 35 ft model offers about 6 cubic metres of luggage space.
It suits wedding guests moving between ceremony and reception, corporate shuttles, and day tours where a minibus would feel cramped.
Typical models
The photos show typical models in this size. Which vehicle runs depends on the licensed operator that takes the booking.
Midi coach (29 to 35 seats)
Iveco Daily Wing
29+1 passengers · 29 bags
Setra S 511 HD
35+1 passengers · 35+1 bags
The driver and the rules
Because a midi carries more than 24 passengers, its driver needs a full bus licence: Ontario class C, or class 2 in Québec, Alberta or BC. If the route leaves the province, the federal hours-of-service regime applies and driving time is logged on an electronic logging device.
On board
- Federal hours of service and electronic logging devices apply on trips that cross provincial borders
- More than 24 passengers: Ontario class C, BC, Alberta and Québec class 2 licence
- Easier than a 45 ft coach in old town centres and at small venues
- 35 ft (about 10.7 m) coach
Is a midi right for you?
Count people first, then bags. Thirty-two travellers with day packs fit easily; the same group with two suitcases each may be happier in a full-size coach. And if half the party wants to leave early, two minibuses give you two departure times.
Ask about the venue too. A midi can often reach a door that a 45 ft coach cannot, but it is still a bus, so check where it can pull in.
Your questions
Does a midi coach have seat belts?
Ask when you request a quote. Seat belts are compulsory on new highway coaches from 1 September 2020 onward, and Ontario passengers must buckle up wherever a belt is fitted.
Can a midi coach meet us at the airport?
Yes. Each airport has its own charter arrangements; at Toronto Pearson, for instance, the group gives the charter details to the Groundside Traffic Officer at the Arrivals curb, who calls the bus forward.
Will I get exactly 35 seats?
Layouts vary from about 29 to 35 seats. The quote states what you are booking.