E Lana alloy midi
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• East Lancashire Coachbuilders of Blackburn, has launched a new all-aluminium midibus based on the Dodge S56 chassis. The little midi can carry between 20 and 29 passengers, depending on layout, and has been designed as a practical long-life vehicle for the soon-to-be deregulated bus market.
The first production model has already been delivered to Ipswich Borough Transport. It is powered by a 59kW(79hp) four-cylinder, naturally-aspirated Perkins diesel coupled to a Chrysler Torqueflite three-speed automatic gearbox.
However, East Lanes expects the majority of its future orders to be specified with the more powerful 67kW (90hp) turbocharged Perkins four-cylinder engine fitted with the same transmission.
The 5.6-tonne GVW Dodge midi will be offered with a choice of interior layouts in both local bus or coach variants. East Lanes is buying a number of 67kW automatic S56 chassis and will body them to the shell stage to allow early completion and delivery.
The body, which does not utilise the original Dodge scuttle, provides a full-height maximum headroom bus with a well-placed entrance allowing it to be used for one-person operation.
East Lancs says the vehicles can be finished to individual operator requirements and will be competitively priced at just under £1,000 per passenger.
E Despite the drop in demand for new bus bodies East Lanes says it has an adequate business for the foreseeable future. It has recently built a number of dual-purpose double deck buses and coaches including two long-wheelbase Leyland Olympian coaches for London Buses for its London Liner service to Eastbourne. The two-axle Olympians are fitted with 70 Lazzarini seats with lap belts.
Special features on the 4.3m high deckers include a toilet, provision for a wheelchair-bound passenger in the lower saloon and a wheelchair ramp for the main entrance.