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+--- Thread: Diamond Bus North West (/showthread.php?tid=95)
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RE: Diamond Bus North West - djb - 11/04/2019 15:42
(11/04/2019 15:15)Brickmill Wrote: Are they fully DDA compliant and how many seats do they have?
I think the standard seating capacity is 21 or 22. The LF version is fully dda compliant.
RE: Diamond Bus North West - Brickmill - 11/04/2019 15:59
(11/04/2019 15:42)djb Wrote: I think the standard seating capacity is 21 or 22. The LF version is fully dda compliant.
I thought they were typically 15-17 seaters. Presumably, these are indeed LF version s then.
RE: Diamond Bus North West - djb - 11/04/2019 18:45
(11/04/2019 15:59)Brickmill Wrote: I thought they were typically 15-17 seaters. Presumably, these are indeed LF version s then.
They are on the Mercedes sprinter chassis but coach built, hence the larger size. There is a longer 27 seater in production but I’m not sure if it’s been released yet.
They don’t look too bad - I’ve passed them on the 130 occasionally, however how they ride might be a different matter. I believe the projected lifespan is less than 10 years on stage carriage.
RE: Diamond Bus North West - gilesbus1 - 11/04/2019 20:11
(11/04/2019 18:45)djb Wrote: They are on the Mercedes sprinter chassis but coach built, hence the larger size. There is a longer 27 seater in production but I’m not sure if it’s been released yet.
They don’t look too bad - I’ve passed them on the 130 occasionally, however how they ride might be a different matter. I believe the projected lifespan is less than 10 years on stage carriage.
That may be so but they will end up having to last longer than 10 years in reality. Can't see an operator throwing something away after 9 years and sending it to the scrap yard. After all many of those mini's in the deregulation era were only suppose to last 7 years but many went on for more than double that.
RE: Diamond Bus North West - Winston - 12/04/2019 03:29
(11/04/2019 20:11)gilesbus1 Wrote: That may be so but they will end up having to last longer than 10 years in reality. Can't see an operator throwing something away after 9 years and sending it to the scrap yard. After all many of those mini's in the deregulation era were only suppose to last 7 years but many went on for more than double that.
They're taking them on 7 year operating leases, so it won't be Rotala's concern.
RE: Diamond Bus North West - Winston - 12/04/2019 03:32
(11/04/2019 15:59)Brickmill Wrote: I thought they were typically 15-17 seaters. Presumably, these are indeed LF version s then.
They are 21 seaters. Same as those already at Diamond WM
RE: Diamond Bus North West - Solo40336 - 12/04/2019 15:09
There's only two due for Eccles at the moment, the second should have arrived today.
RE: Diamond Bus North West - DEM777Y - 12/04/2019 21:55
They are 21 seaters and of course they are DDA compliant. They wouldn’t be allowed in service otherwise. They are perfectly capable of carrying a passenger in a wheelchair.
However, I seriously doubt that they will last the seven years of the lease term. Preston have 5 and it’s not very often that all 5 have been on the road at the same time. At least four have had to go back to Mercedes and/or Mellor for warranty/rectification work.
RE: Diamond Bus North West - Y458 KNF - 13/04/2019 20:46
What routes are run by Eccles?
RE: Diamond Bus North West - Winston - 14/04/2019 01:09
(12/04/2019 21:55)DEM777Y Wrote: They are 21 seaters and of course they are DDA compliant. They wouldn’t be allowed in service otherwise. They are perfectly capable of carrying a passenger in a wheelchair.
However, I seriously doubt that they will last the seven years of the lease term. Preston have 5 and it’s not very often that all 5 have been on the road at the same time. At least four have had to go back to Mercedes and/or Mellor for warranty/rectification work.
The Mercedes minibuses of the 1990's lasted longer than 7 years, I don't see why these should be any different.
Can't comment on Preston Bus Mellors & the issues you mention, but Diamond Bus love theirs for the fuel economy / reliability / simplicity & ease of maintenance. They have 15 in service now all 68 plates, with another 5 due imminently. It's likely the Mellor will become the vehicle of choice for Rotala's small bus requirements for tendered work etc.