Mellor Strata

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Mellor Strata
Arriva North West Mellor Strata LF in Macclesfield in August 2018
Overview
ManufacturerMellor Coachcraft
Production2016–Present
AssemblyRochdale, Greater Manchester, England
Body and chassis
Doors1
Floor type
ChassisMercedes-Benz Sprinter
Powertrain
EngineMercedes-Benz
Power output
  • 514 CDI
  • 140 brake horsepower (100 kW)
  • 516 CDI
  • 163 brake horsepower (122 kW)
Transmission7-speed automatic or manual
Dimensions
Length7.76–8.78 metres (25.5–28.8 ft)
Width2.3 metres (7 ft 7 in)
Height
  • Strata LF
  • 2.67 metres (8 ft 9 in)
  • Strata HF 16
  • 2.76 metres (9 ft 1 in)
Curb weight5,500 kilograms (12,100 lb)
Chronology
PredecessorVarious unnamed Mellor designs

The Mellor Strata is a minibus body manufactured by Mellor Coachcraft since 2016 on Mercedes-Benz Sprinter chassis. It is available as the Mellor Strata LF, a low-floor variant targeting the service bus market, with a capacity of up to 21 seated passengers, or as the Mellor Strata HF 16, a step-entrance version aimed at the access bus market, so named for its maximum seated passenger capacity of sixteen.

Design

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Belle Vue Coaches second-generation Mellor Strata at Stockport Interchange in October 2025

The van-derived Strata minibus was launched in 2016 to compete with the short wheelbase Alexander Dennis Enviro200 MMC and Optare Solo SR, as well as other van-derived minibus designs. The standard low-floor Strata LF, built on the long-wheelbase Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 516 CDI chassis and marketed for local bus operations, has a seating capacity of up to 21 passenger and as a result of its wide body and the relocation of the Sprinter's propshaft below the low-floor area, had additional capacity for two wheelchairs. Other features of the Strata include a one-piece sliding entrance door, destination displays integrated into the windows and a fold-out wheelchair ramp, as well as options for three-point seatbelts and differing seat configurations for local authority and community transport use.[1]

A high-floor variant of the Strata, named the Strata HF 16 and marketed towards local authority and community transport operators, was later launched on both the 514 CDI (with a less powerful engine) and 516 CDI variants of the Sprinter, featuring a slightly reduced seating capacity but a completely flat floor throughout the interior, with options for a rear-mounted wheelchair lift and space for up to seven wheelchairs depending on seating configuration.[2][3]

Since 2018, Mellor have offered two longer versions of the Strata, the 8.1m Strata Plus and the 8.7m Strata Ultra.[4] The first Strata Ultra was delivered in 2019.[5]

Mellor announced the launch of the second-generation Strata in April 2025, able to be specified in either standard, Plus and Ultra variants, the latter capable of carrying 29 seated passengers and one standing passenger. New features of the second-generation Strata include the step-free interior area being extended by 266 millimetres (10.5 in), permitting four seats as well as twin wheelchair bays to be added, steps up to the raised area being reduced to one, and the emergency exit door being brought forward in Plus and Ultra variants for an improved seating layout.[6][7]

Operators

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First generation

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Two of the largest local authority operators of Strata HF 16s are Lancashire County Council and East Riding of Yorkshire Council, taking delivery of 59 and 53 Stratas respectively between 2016 and 2025.[8][9][10] Other operators of Strata HF 16s include Hartlepool Borough Council and Hull City Council.[11][12]

The first two Strata LFs entered commercial service with McGill's Bus Services in late 2016 on their Inverclyde network.[13] The Strata's first major group order followed in 2017, with Arriva North West taking delivery of nine Stratas for services in Macclesfield and Winsford in Cheshire.[14] Other operators include Rotala Group's Diamond West Midlands, Diamond North West and Preston Bus for both commercial and contracted routes as well as the latter's Ribble Valley operations,[15][16] Transdev Blazefield, whose Rosso subsidiary launched 18 Strata Ultras on 'Ribble Country' branded services across the Ribble Valley in 2021,[17] following a prior delivery of five Stratas to the Keighley Bus Company in 2018,[18] and Moffat & Williamson of Newport-on-Tay.[19]

The Strata LF has also seen strong sales with local councils for community transport operations, with three Stratas delivered to Dumfries & Galloway Council's SWestrans operation and leased to Houston's Coaches of Lockerbie,[20] three delivered to Redcar and Cleveland Council,[21] and two delivered to Nottinghamshire County Council.[22] Additionally, Strata LFs have been delivered to Stagecoach Manchester and First Manchester for Bee Network franchised bus services.[23][24]

A Strata LF was also exported to Hong Kong in 2018 for trial use on public light bus services, however no orders resulted.[25]

Second generation

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Go South Coast were the first operator to take delivery of the second-generation Strata Ultra, taking nine for its Salisbury Reds operation's 'Little Reds' rural minibus service in November 2025.[26]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Mellor confirmed Sprinter-based Strata midibus". Coach & Bus Week. Peterborough. 6 June 2016. Retrieved 12 November 2025.
  2. ^ "Mellor launching high floor Strata". Bus & Coach Buyer. Peterborough. 23 November 2016. Retrieved 12 November 2025.
  3. ^ Orchard, Rob (25 October 2017). "Strata HF – a step in the right direction". Bus & Coach Buyer. Peterborough. Retrieved 12 November 2025.
  4. ^ "Mellor Strata Ultra: Watershed minibus moment?". routeone. 26 November 2018. Archived from the original on 30 August 2019. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
  5. ^ "Stringers places first order for Strata Ultra". Buses. No. 770. Stamford: Key Publishing. 23 April 2019. Archived from the original on 30 August 2019. Retrieved 30 August 2019.
  6. ^ "Second-generation Mellor Strata minibus to debut shortly". routeone. 9 April 2025. Retrieved 9 April 2025.
  7. ^ "Mellor launches updated Strata". Coach & Bus Week. Peterborough. 15 April 2025. Retrieved 12 November 2025.
  8. ^ "Lancashire CC adds 15 Mellor Strata High Floor minibuses". routeone. 6 February 2025. Retrieved 12 November 2025.
  9. ^ "10 Mellor Strata HFs join East Riding of Yorkshire". routeone. 15 December 2022. Retrieved 12 November 2025.
  10. ^ Peat, Chris (8 May 2025). "New Mellor Strata High Floors transform East Riding transport". Bus & Coach Buyer. Peterborough. Retrieved 12 November 2025.
  11. ^ "Hartlepool invests in new Mellor minibuses". Coach & Bus Week. Peterborough. 27 August 2025. Retrieved 12 November 2025.
  12. ^ "Seven Mellor Strata HFs hit the roads of Hull". Coach & Bus Week. Peterborough. 18 February 2020. Retrieved 12 November 2025.
  13. ^ "First Stratas arrive at McGills". Coach & Bus Week. Peterborough. 15 November 2016. Retrieved 12 November 2025.
  14. ^ Cork, Laura (2 August 2017). "Arriva North West gets the measure of Mellor's Strata". Transport Engineer. Archived from the original on 12 August 2017. Retrieved 17 September 2017.
  15. ^ "Diamond Bus adds 10 Mellor Stratas". Coach & Bus Week. Peterborough. 4 December 2018. Retrieved 12 November 2025.
  16. ^ "Mellor gets on the road with Preston Bus operation". Coach & Bus Week. Peterborough. 18 September 2018. Retrieved 12 November 2025.
  17. ^ "Historic name returns as Ribble Country launches". Coach & Bus Week. Peterborough. 5 May 2021. Retrieved 12 November 2025.
  18. ^ "Keighley Jets to expand in partnership with West Yorkshire Combined Authority". Coach & Bus Week. Peterborough. 30 May 2018. Retrieved 12 November 2025.
  19. ^ "Moffat & Williamson chooses Mellor for bus order". Coach & Bus Week. Peterborough. 17 July 2018. Retrieved 12 November 2025.
  20. ^ "SWestrans receives Mellor Strata trio for local bus contracts". Coach & Bus Week. Peterborough. 13 September 2017. Retrieved 12 November 2025.
  21. ^ "Trio of Stratas arrive at Redcar and Cleveland Council". Coach & Bus Week. Peterborough. 24 April 2017. Retrieved 12 November 2025.
  22. ^ "Nottinghamshire County Council makes a return trip to Mellor". Coach & Bus Week. Peterborough. 17 December 2019. Retrieved 12 November 2025.
  23. ^ "First Manchester buys local with Mellor order". Coach & Bus Week. Peterborough. 3 October 2023. Retrieved 12 November 2025.
  24. ^ "Stagecoach adds Mellor Strata order for Manchester Bee Network". routeone. 10 October 2023. Retrieved 12 November 2025.
  25. ^ "Mellor delivers Strata to Hong Kong for trial". Coach & Bus Week. Peterborough. 20 November 2018. Retrieved 12 November 2025.
  26. ^ "Salisbury Reds debuts Little Reds Mellor Strata Ultra minibus fleet". routeone. 10 November 2025. Retrieved 10 November 2025.