East Beds Community Bus receives first vehicle of its kind in the UK
East Beds Community Bus has become the first operator in the UK to take delivery of an Iveco Daily Line Intercity minibus.
Manufactured on the Iveco Bus production line and sold directly via Guest Truck and Van in Peterborough, the 16-seater will be used exclusively for the organisation’s Ivel Sprinter voluntary community bus service.
The Daily Line Intercity minibus has been built on a 4.1m wheelbase – one of three available in the range – and is powered by a Euro 6 three litre diesel engine, which can produce up to 170hp at 3,500 rev/min, with a maximum 400Nm of torque.
Iveco has designed the vehicle specifically for intercity transport, with this first delivery featuring an eight-speed Hi-Matic automatic transmission. The manufacturer claims each gear change is quicker and more precise when compared to standard six-speed models, because Hi-Matic ensures that the correct gear is engaged at any engine speed in less than 200 milliseconds.
Iveco claims the Hi-Matic transmission has also been proven to reduce repair and maintenance costs by 10% versus a standard manual transmission, thanks to enhanced durability and reliability – contributing to a low total cost of ownership for the vehicle.
East Beds Community Bus is a not-for-profit organisation. It said the projected low total cost of ownership for the minibus enabled it to move away from purchasing second-hand vehicles. It will be in service up to five hours per day, six days per week, and is expected to clock-up approximately 10,000 miles each year.
The vehicle’s primary role is to assist residents in outlying villages and the suburbs of towns, who have been left without an alternative form of local public transport to take shopping trips and attend medical appointments. It can also be hired out by community groups for outings.
Peter Davies, Publicity Manager for Ivel Sprinter, said: “The vehicle ticked all the boxes for us, particularly with the ability to customise the configuration of the saloon to meet our exact requirements.
“It meant we could opt for a 16-seat layout to increase passenger capacity, while still ensuring plenty of space at the rear to accommodate their shopping.
“What made things really easy was being able to order the entire vehicle directly through our local Iveco Bus dealer in Peterborough. This saved an inordinate amount of time and reduced paperwork, which for a charity run by volunteers, makes all the difference.”
Supplied in the charity’s white and green livery, the Daily Line Intercity minibus is operating on a ‘hail-and-ride policy’ within an approximate 20-mile radius of Biggleswade and Sandy.
