35 Front Entry Mercedes Sprinters for Essex
Our first fleet of front entry New Generation Mercedes Sprinters for SHB hire on behalf of our local county council, Essex, are currently in build!
514 Mercedes Sprinter front entry Stanford Coachworks conversion for Essex County Council.
The Ugobus Scheme
Essex County Council run a scheme called ‘Ugobus‘ which provides tailored transport throughout Essex using their newly updated in-house fleet of Stanford Coachworks bespoke accessible minibuses. The fleet undertakes a range of contracted work from local community transports, schools and colleges. Non-profit organisations and registered charities can also hire the vehicles with a fully licenced driver.
The SCW Conversion
The brand-new wheelchair accessible SCW minibuses are all based on New Generation Mercedes Sprinters and feature our front entry flat floor design. All 35 metallic silver vehicles are 514 long wheelbase models and include automatic transmission, 100kph speed limiter and tachograph and a Euro 6.2 engine to ensure that they are compliant with any ULEZ regulations in and around London.
Access to the Rear Saloon
Our SCW cut in front entry step, situated at the cab passenger door, provides entrance into the rear saloon. For assisted entry and exit, grab rails have been installed. The rearmost of which forms into an upholstered modesty screen. For wheelchair passengers, entrance is via the PLS Access cassette tail lift located underneath the rear of the vehicle.
Front entry cut in step (left). PLS Access cassette underfloor tail lift (right).
Front Cab Area
For the comfort and safety of the driver, we have installed a driver’s screen with a night blind. To form an emergency exit and meet NSSTA regulations, the foot well has been modified. In order to match the rear saloon colour scheme, the driver’s seat has been reupholstered.
Rear Saloon
In the rear saloon we have installed our specially designed flat floor system that eliminates any wheel arch intrusions. This then allows space for up to 6 wheelchairs with seats removed or 15 M2 tested Phoenix Blenheim passenger seats. All of the seats include both NMI seat fixings and carriage wheels for easy removal.
Upholstered in brand new 2019 grey and blue patterned Camira moquette, all seats also include wipe clean Ambla breathable bases and lower back curve. Fitted to the seats are yellow all age high visibility seatbelts and metro headrests. Our metro headrests double as grab handles for passengers.
6 of the 15 rear saloon passenger seats are Phoenix Blenheim Shuffle seats which allow for wheelchairs to be fitted without having to remove any additional seats. All seats and wheelchairs can be fitted to the 8 lengths of tracking in the flat floor using either the NMI removable seat fixings or Koller Fast wheelchair restraints provided. To ensure the safety of everyone on-board we have overlaid the flat floor in grey non-slip lino, this also gives the vehicle a more luxurious finish!
Phoenix Blenheim standard and shuffle seats inside the Sprinter.
The whole vehicle has been fully lined and insulated. Lower panels have been trimmed in a grey wipe clean material and all upper panels have been trimmed in contrasting soft feel silver material that compliments the patterned moquette passenger seats. An emergency escape roof hatch has two matching moquette recessed panels positioned on either side of it. Also fitted in the roof are blue / white LED lights and two pairs of rear saloon speakers. For the comfort of all passengers, rear saloon Eberspacher air conditioning and heating has also been installed.
The interior of Essex County Council’s accessible minibus.
Safety Features
To aid the driver we have included many safety features. Some of these features include reverse warning sensors and bleepers, battery guard and runlock system. A high-tech camera system with side sensors, side and high-level rear cameras with night vision facility and an audible left turn warning has been installed. An in-cab monitor will display all of this information. We have also installed a cycle warning system which alerts the driver of any cyclists in their blind spots.
We pride ourselves on safety. Therefore, at Stanford Coachworks we convert all of our vehicles to the highest quality and safety standards. Each of the 35 vehicles for Essex County Council comply with all of our National Small Series Type Approval regulations.
It is an absolute honour to be able to provide our very own county with Stanford Coachworks minibuses. Working with Essex County Council has been a pleasure. We hope to continue supplying them and more boroughs with our conversions in the future!