London set to take delivery of 90 Tucana IIs until March 2019
Transport for London (TfL) has placed an order for 90 Mellor Tucana II minibuses.
The “significant” order is set to be deployed at various Dial-a-Ride hub locations around central and suburban London.
The vehicles are all being built to an identical specification which meets the access needs of the service. They are fully accessible with a rear door, boarding ramp and seating for eight passengers.
Dial-a-Ride caters for more than a million journeys a year, has high-customer satisfaction and an exemplary safety record.
TfL says the new vehicles will improve these further by creating an enhanced experience with better heating, air-conditioning and a smoother journey. The vehicles also have automatic braking, to reduce the risk of collisions involving Dial-a-Ride vehicles.
James Mead, General Manager of Dial-a-Ride, says: “Dial-a-Ride is part of the city’s social fabric, making sure vulnerable Londoners are not isolated in the community. These vehicles also contribute to the wider societal benefit of cleaning up the air for future generations.”
The Tucana II is built on the proven Volkswagen T6 chassis and benefits from a fully-flat low-floor passenger saloon and has capacity for up to four wheelchairs, despite its compact size which is essential in congested city environments. Deliveries have just begun and will continue until March 2019.
John Randerson, Mellor MD, adds: “We are delighted to be partnering with TfL on its Dial-a-Ride scheme. It will be great to see the Tucana II in service around London.”
