|
 Dudley
Metropolitan Borough Council has begun to take
delivery of the first of 19 Optare buses which
will form the backbone of its welfare transport
fleet.
The vehicles – four ‘accessible’ Solo
midibuses and 15 Alero minibuses – represent
the latest developments in welfare bus design,
layout and environmental standards. Dudley
Council will be using the vehicles to provide
transport to day centres and care homes
throughout the Borough.
The Aleros are the first to be delivered that
meet the Euro 4 emissions standard. They are
powered by the Iveco/FPT (Fiat Power Train)
SOFIM, 3.0 litre, 4-cylinder engine. This
electronically controlled, direct injection,
turbocharged unit uses EGR technology and
delivers 107 kW (146 bhp).
The specification for the buses has been
developed by Optare in close co-operation with
the council to meet the needs of passengers with
varying degrees of mobility. Features include:
• exceptionally low loading heights with the
ability for the bus to ‘kneel’;
• wheelchair access by means of a simple and
safe-to-use fold-out ramp;
• a variable internal layout to accommodate
different combinations of passengers either
seated or in wheelchairs;
• Unwin tracking both on the floor to secure
wheelchairs and along the cant rail to secure
the seat belt of a passenger in a wheelchair;
and,
• the use of bright internal colours to aid
visually impaired passengers.
The four Solos are 8.1 metre Slimline models of
just 2.33 metres width and can carry up to 27
seated passengers. Unwin tracking fitted in the
lower saloon area allows the seating to be
quickly removed to carry up to three
wheelchairs, leaving seating for 15 people.
The Aleros are 16-seaters of 7.2 metres overall
length. Their narrow width of only 2.08 metres
makes it easy for these to serve locations where
access is restricted. All except the back row of
three seats can be removed to provide space for
up to five wheelchairs.
All the buses have Rescroft Defender 3 seats
incorporating a brightly coloured headrest with
the colour being matched in the piping to the
seat trim. This is designed to make it easier
for passengers who are visually impaired to find
their way to and from their seat. For added
safety, the headrest also serves as a grab
handle.
Each of the buses is fitted with a full public
address system. A reversing camera helps
increase pedestrian safety as well as reducing
the risk of accident damage.
All the vehicles comply with the Euro 4
emissions standard. The Solos are powered by the
Mercedes-Benz 904 La engine and have Allison
automatic transmissions and the Aleros are Iveco
powered with ZF transmissions.
The first vehicles were formally handed over to
the Council’s lead member for Adult Social
Care Services, Councillor Peter Miller, at a
recent event at Himley Hall, the former home of
the Earls of Dudley.
Speaking at the event, Councillor Miller said:
“I am delighted to see these fine new buses
going into service in Dudley. They will provide
a more reliable and comfortable service with
easy access for our elderly and disabled service
users including those who use a wheelchair.”
For further information please contact:
David Rowlands, Communications Advisor, +44
(0)20 7494 8050
|
