Mercedes-Benz Sprinter-based minibuses are rapidly gaining traction in the stage carriage market. Two coachbuilt Mellor Stratas are in Nottinghamshire – and we ride along with one for its day’s work
Small buses are continuing their resurgence, and one of several areas where Mercedes-Benz Sprinter-based examples have been introduced is the East Midlands.
Nottinghamshire County Council (NCC) has taken two 21-seat Mellor Stratas for use on low-demand routes, and they are doing well.
Like its competitors, Mellor has said lots about the Strata’s fuel efficiency, its ability to penetrate housing estates, and its desirability from passengers’ point of view, but how does it perform under real-life conditions?
miniplus was recently able to find out by riding along with one of NCC’s Stratas for a morning in Nottingham.
Working hard
The two Stratas are used mainly on service 510 and the associated 511 route, which run in an arc in the Stapleford, Attenborough and Beeston areas.
Frequency is largely hourly six days a week and the first bus is in service before 0700hrs; both are finished for the day at around 1830hrs, although there is additional dead mileage to and from NCC’s depot. One is also used on a school service twice a day.
NCC’s PCV fleet numbers 65, 63 of which have been bodied or converted by Mellor. The Stratas are proving popular with drivers so far, says Fleet Operations Manager Andy Frogg, who adds that if given a choice, they will always take a Strata.
“We have found that the Stratas are quiet and comfortable, although that is to be expected of a new bus,” he explains.
“Passengers have also taken to them well and we receive good feedback. The heaters have proved very good and that is a positive on services that carry a high proportion of older passengers.
“Mechanically they are doing well, but again, I would expect that of any new bus.”
Scores on the doors
The 510 and 511 are typical urban bus routes. Parked cars are numerous, as are traffic lights, and stops are made frequently. Additionally, two housing estates near Stapleford are tricky to negotiate and there is little layover time; buses are worked hard.
Andy reports that on this urban work, fuel returns are in the region of around 19.5mpg, which compares well with the larger buses used previously. They turned in around 10mpg, and so the potential for savings are obvious. Each Strata covers around 160 miles per day.
“We have also used them on rural routes elsewhere in the county and there, where stops are fewer and speeds are higher, they are returning up to 23mpg,” says Andy.
The day began for miniplus at Beeston bus and tram interchange, where the 510 route connects with the Nottingham Express Transit tram network.
There were just a handful of passengers aboard on departure, but even so, the Strata did not take on the rather forlorn look of an under-utilised full-sized bus.
It proceeded via Attenborough to Toton, and on arrival all seats were taken. While many passengers were using concessionary passes, a respectable number of fare payers – both adults and children – were carried. Also boarding was one pushchair, which was placed in the offside area easily and quickly.
The Happy Bus
Like the other Sprinter-based buses on the market, one of the Strata’s positives is the degree of interaction that it permits between the driver and users.
The driver sits at a comfortable level, and because the cab is well behind the front axle he or she can face passengers in the same manner as on a larger, rear-engined bus.
Additionally, the 2.2-litre engine is very quiet at idle, and it does not intrude into conversation.
NCC’s Stratas are equipped with the optional cab door, cash tray and ticket machine mounting point, and Mellor can also fit an anti-assault screen.
Passengers appreciate the service that the Stratas provide, and drivers know many by name. While the saloon is a little narrower than that of a purpose-built bus, the deep windows and glazed roof hatch make up for it.
Also to be considered are the economics of the Sprinter. Where passenger numbers are modest, its fuel efficiency may make the difference between services operating or not in the current climate of austerity. It could prove to be the tool that enables continued mobility for some people.
The operator’s view
Andy shares the opinion that the Strata and similar types may prove to be the difference between a route being sustainable or otherwise. “The buses are ideal for the work that we are using them on,” he says.
“In the long-term I would like to see the fleet move away from high-floor buses, so we also ordered four Orions from Mellor at the same time as the Stratas. The ability to negotiate housing estates, the accessibility and the excellent fuel consumption all make a case for more.”
Drivers like the Strata, although one pointed out that visibility of the door step can be difficult, and there was a trace of damage where this area had made contact with the kerb. He added that care was needed on speed humps to avoid unsettling passengers on the all-steel suspension.
What’s the likelihood of seeing more Stratas around the country soon? High, says Mellor Area Sales Manager Stephen Haywood.
“We receive a lot of interest from the large bus groups to community transport organisations,” he explains. “It’s capturing their imagination for bus work, which we expected, and when in service it is proving that it can make a real difference.”
