Dial-a-Ride diesels
Page 19
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
• London Regional Transport has ordered six MercedesBenz 307D models, worth almost £100,000, to add to its expanding London-wide Dial-aRide fleet. Head of Unit Mick Veale, says current evaluation of the fleet, which includes Renault Trafics, Volkswagen LT 31s, Mercedes-Benz 307s and 207s, Ford Transits, Fiat Ducatos and Bedford CF 280s, should aid standardisation.
Dial-a-Ride services, which provide transport for disabled people, now operate 29 schemes throughout the London area. They were previously run by Greater London Council, but LRT took over their administration last April with funding from the Government which this year will amount to almost £6 million.
In the past, co-ordinators at borough level have controlled vehicle specification. This resulted in a wide range of models with different seat configurations, body conversions, tail-lifts and interior accessories such as seat belts and grab rails. Veale plans to move towards standardisation and is making a start by specifying only diesel engines.
Veale expects a three to
five-year vehicle life on London's roads. The services, running 16-hours a day, sevendays a week, clock up around 56,000km in outer-London Bromley, and around 40,000km in congested Camden per year.