Engineering:Mellor Strata
| Mellor Strata | |
|---|---|
 A Mellor Strata LF, operated by Arriva North West | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Mellor Coachcraft |
| Production | 2016–Present |
| Body and chassis | |
| Doors | 1 |
| Floor type | Low-floor (Strata LF) Step entrance (Strata HF 16) |
| Chassis | Mercedes-Benz Sprinter |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | Mercedes-Benz |
| Power output | 140 bhp (514 CDI) 163 bhp (516 CDI) |
| Transmission | 7-speed automatic or manual |
| Dimensions | |
| Length | 7.76 – 8.78 metres |
| Width | 2.3 metres |
| Height | 2.67 metres (Strata LF) 2.76 metres (Strata HF 16) |
| |uk|Kerb|Curb}} weight | 5500 kg |
| Chronology | |
The Mellor Strata is a minibus body manufactured by Mellor Coachcraft since 2016 on Mercedes-Benz Sprinter chassis. It is available as the Mellor Strata HF 16, a step-entrance version aimed at the access bus market, so named for its maximum seated passenger capacity of sixteen;[1] or as the Mellor Strata LF, a low-floor variant targeting the service bus market, with a capacity of up to 21 seated passengers.[2]
The light and economical van-based Strata was launched to compete with the more traditional, but heavier and less economical, bus-based short wheelbase Alexander Dennis Enviro200 MMC and Optare Solo SR, as well as other van-based minibus designs, as the United Kingdom bus market was starting to go through the 'second minibus revolution' of the mid to late 2010s.
The Strata LF is built on the long-wheelbase Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 516 CDI chassis, while the Strata HF 16 is available on both the 514 CDI (with a less powerful engine) and 516 CDI variants of the Sprinter.[1][2]
Since 2018, Mellor have offered two longer versions of the Strata,[3] the 8.1m Strata Plus and the 8.7m Strata Ultra.[4] The first Strata Ultra was delivered in 2019.[5]
Operators
Strata HF 16
The first two Strata HF 16s were delivered to Melksham Community Transport in early 2017.[6] East Riding of Yorkshire Council have placed the largest order for Strata HF 16s to date, taking delivery of nine examples in July 2017.[7]
Strata LF
The first two Strata LFs entered service with McGill's Bus Services in late 2016 on their Inverclyde network.[8]
The Strata LF has seen strong sales with local councils for community transport operations, with deliveries going to Dumfries & Galloway Council's SWestrans operation (three examples, leased to Houston's Coaches of Lockerbie);[9] Nottinghamshire County Council (two examples);[10] and Redcar and Cleveland Council (three examples).[11] Additionally, a single Strata LF has been delivered to Cheshire West and Chester Council and leased to Stagecoach Merseyside & South Lancashire for operation on the Blacon Greyhound community bus service between Blacon and the Greyhound Retail Park in Chester.[12]
The first order from a major group came in 2017, with Arriva North West taking delivery of nine Stratas for services in Macclesfield and Winsford in Cheshire.[13][14][15][16] Rotala Group operations Preston Bus and Diamond Bus have also ordered a number of these model for their Ribble Valley operations and Transport for West Midlands tendered contracts.
See also
Competitors:
- Alexander Dennis Enviro200 MMC
- Optare Solo SR
- Wright Streetlite
Other contemporary Mellor products:
- Mellor Maxima
- Mellor Orion
- Mellor Tucana II
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Strata HF 16". https://www.mellor-coachcraft.co.uk/vehicles/strata-hf-16/.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Strata". https://www.mellor-coachcraft.co.uk/vehicles/strata/.
- ↑ "Two all-new versions of successful Strata bus released". https://www.mellor-coachcraft.co.uk/latest-news/two-new-versions-successful-strata-bus-released/.
- ↑ "Mellor Strata Ultra: Watershed minibus moment?". Route One. 26 November 2018. https://www.route-one.net/news/mellor_strata_ultra__watershed_minibus_moment_/.
- ↑ "Stringers places first order for Strata Ultra". Buses. 23 April 2019. https://busesmag.keypublishing.com/2019/04/23/stringers-places-first-order-for-strata-ultra/.
- ↑ "Melksham Community Transport is on the move with Mellor thanks to Department for Transport funding boost". https://www.mellor-coachcraft.co.uk/latest-news/melksham-community-transport-move-mellor-thanks-department-transport-funding-boost/.
- ↑ "Repeat order of 9 Mellor Sprinters for East Riding of Yorkshire Council". https://www.mellor-coachcraft.co.uk/latest-news/repeat-order-9-mellor-sprinters-east-riding-yorkshire-council/.
- ↑ "Mellor deliver first Strata to McGill's". https://www.mellor-coachcraft.co.uk/latest-news/mellor-deliver-first-strata-mcgills/.
- ↑ "SWestrans goes further with Mellor". https://www.mellor-coachcraft.co.uk/latest-news/swestrans-goes-mellor/.
- ↑ "Nottingham County Council invest in Mellor Orion Plus and Strata fleet". https://www.mellor-coachcraft.co.uk/latest-news/nottingham-county-council-invest-mellor-orion-plus-strata-fleet/.
- ↑ "Redcar And Cleveland Council Keeps The Community Moving With Strata". https://www.mellor-coachcraft.co.uk/latest-news/redcar-cleveland-council-keeps-community-moving-strata/.
- ↑ Carmella de Lucia. "Council introduce new bus route from Blacon to Greyhound Park – but some residents aren't happy". http://www.chesterchronicle.co.uk/news/chester-cheshire-news/council-introduce-new-bus-route-13516864.
- ↑ "Mellor's Strata proves that 'less gives more' with Arriva North West". https://www.mellor-coachcraft.co.uk/latest-news/mellors-strata-proves-less-gives-arriva-north-west/.
- ↑ "Arriva North West gets the measure of Mellor's Strata". http://www.transportengineer.org.uk/transport-engineer-news/arriva-north-west-gets-the-measure-of-mellors-strata/158193/.
- ↑ "Arriva North West purchases new low floor buses from Mellor". https://www.eurotransportmagazine.com/24546/news/industry-news/arriva-north-west-low-floor-buses/.
- ↑ "Got something to say? Send us your news, views and comments.". http://www.route-one.net/articles/Manufacturers/Arriva_orders_nine_Mellor_Strata_minibuses_for_north_west_routes.
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