Sweyne Coaches starts Goole and Howden Hopper with Mellor pair
Sweyne Coaches has taken delivery of two Mercedes-Benz Sprinters with coachbuilt Mellor Strata bodywork for use on the Goole and Howden Hopper pilot.
They have been supplied by Mellor with facilitation via leasing and rental provider Asset Alliance through its rental fleet. The minibuses will improve connectivity in the area by delivering transport between Goole and Howden railway stations and connecting with employment sites in Goole.
Funding for the Goole and Howden Hopper has come from the Goole Town Deal programme and is supported by East Riding of Yorkshire Council. The initiative is part of the £2.4 million Station Hub Project, which aims to boost the town’s growth and anticipates an increase in visitors to Goole.
The service launched on 7 May and runs from 0600-2300hrs six days per week. A £1 flat fare is offered along with a £5 weekly ticket. Its pilot period is two years, during which time demand will be gauged. If it is sufficient, a determination will be made on whether additional provision is needed in the future.
The two Stratas each seat 22 and will deliver what Mellor says is “class leading fuel economy.” It adds that the model suits rural and urban routes.
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Stephensons of Essex orders five Alexander Dennis Enviro400s
Stephensons of Essex has ordered five Alexander Dennis Enviro400 double-deckers. They represent the first of the type on the manufacturer’s own underframe for the operator and will join other examples of the Enviro400 on Scania chassis in its fleet.
Each of the buses will have 86 seats and be fitted with USB charging points. Alexander Dennis says they are scheduled for delivery later in 2024.
Speaking about the deal, Stephensons Managing Director and ALBUM Chair Bill Hiron says: “This order for five new double-deck buses from Alexander Dennis is great news for customers across our service network, who will benefit from the further upgrade to their journey experience.
“The Enviro400 offers a great combination of seating capacity and operational efficiency, which will help us to keep our costs down.” The buses will sit alongside a large number of Enviro200 single-deckers in the Essex fleet.
Adds Alexander Dennis Retail Sales Director Charlie Miller: “We are delighted to again have been chosen by Stephensons of Essex for investment in its immaculate fleet, and we look forward to supporting theses buses throughout their working lives with our AD24 aftermarket support.”
Barnes Coaches adds its 13th Irizar integral in an i6 tri-axle
Barnes Coaches has continued its relationship with Irizar UK with the purchase of a 14m, tri-axle i6 integral. The coach is PSVAR compliant and seats 61.
It follows 12 other Irizar integral coaches into the Swindon fleet. The newcomer is a super-high variant and provides each passenger with moquette seat trim and synthetic leather inserts. Also part of the seat specification are magazine nets, drop-down tables, and USB charging points.
The driver and courier positions are finished in leather, while a vacuum cleaner is fitted. Entertainment is from the Bosch Smart Series audio-visual system and an Actia DVD player supplied with two monitors. Other comforts include a centre sunken toilet and a drinks machine.
PSVAR compliance comes via a Masats lift above the drive axle along with Hanover destination displays. The distinctive Barnes Coaches livery and associated vinyls were applied by Irizar at the factory in Spain before delivery of the i6 integral.
Power comes from a DAF MX-11 engine developing 449bhp coupled to a ZF EcoLife automatic gearbox. The i6 integral is named after Director Luke Barnes’ daughter Astrid, and its interior was designed by his son Sebastian when visiting Irizar in 2023.
Speaking about the delivery, Mr Barnes says: “We find the Irizar i6 14m coaches to be superb vehicles for undertaking a variety of work throughout Europe due to their large luggage capacity and increased height over other 14m coaches on the market.
“That combined with good customer comfort makes this an ideal vehicle in our fleet.”
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