30 Super Flat Floor Sprinters for The London Borough of Redbridge

Over the past few months, multiple SCW build teams have been working hard to convert 30 Super Flat Floor Mercedes Sprinters for The London Borough of Redbridge.

The Super Flat Floor minibuses are based on L4H3 Mercedes Sprinters.

Redbridge council contacted us last Summer needing to upgrade their fleet of 2016 accessible Stanford’s minibuses to comply with new regulations regarding emissions in and around London. The 30 new vehicles will be used as part of Redbridge’s Passenger Transport Service and Mobility Service (similar to ‘Dial a Ride’). Formed in 1988, the service operates 365 days a year for Redbridge residents and undertakes in excess of 25,000 passenger movements each week.

Our 21-year long relationship with Redbridge council has seen us convert over 100 vehicles for them. All of which have been converted to their tailored specification and completed in a white paint finish with personalised livery. We were thrilled to see them return once again.

Each vehicle is based on a Mercedes Sprinter 514 L4H3 chassis with an automatic gearbox and features our exclusive Super Flat Floor design. The Super Flat Floor is designed to maximise space in the rear saloon. This additional space is achieved by eliminating all wheel arch intrusions and installing an underfloor tail lift between the original vehicle floor and the SCW Super Flat Floor. This also means that the tail lift is protected from speed calming measures, bad weather and poor road conditions therefore reducing maintenance costs.

A tail lift is housed in between the original vehicle floor and the SCW Super Flat Floor.

Entrance to the vehicle is achieved via a specially designed cut-in step, illuminated by a coloured LED lighting strip. Inside of the vehicle we have installed 15 passenger seats, 9 tip-up bases and 6 fixed-base, with NMI removable seat fixings. Each seat has been upholstered in Redbridge’s chosen patterned moquette with matching wipe clean bases and lower back curves. We have also reupholstered the driver’s seat to ensure that everything matches. All of the passenger seats have been fitted with twin seat belts.

The bespoke cut-in step is illuminated with LED strip lights.

In total the minibuses can facilitate up to 6 wheelchairs with seats removed. To help secure the wheelchairs into a safe position, we have installed high level cant rail tracking along either side of the passenger saloon. In order to conceal the tracking, we have fashioned some matching red wipe clean covers with Velcro fastenings.

The interior of Redbridge’s Mercedes Sprinters.

Keeping passengers comfortable is a necessity, so to do this we have fitted each vehicle with Eberspacher heating and air conditioning systems. For the driver, a cooling fan has been fitted in the front cab. 

Passenger safety is a number one priority for Redbridge Council therefore each Sprinter has been fitted with a 6-camera CCTV system and a two-way radio system.  At Stanford Coachworks we also prioritise safety so we have added audible reversing alarms and high-level LED marker lights to each vehicle. All 30 vehicles have also been built and tested to National Small Series Type Approval Regulations. 

We are incredibly appreciative to have been given the opportunity to convert more minibuses for The London Borough of Redbridge and we would like to thank them for their 21 years of returning custom. Being an authority local to Stanford Coachworks, we look forward to hopefully spotting the vehicles on the road. 

The London Borough of Redbridge collecting a brand-new Mercedes Sprinter in 2004.