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| Minibuses for rural routes are in production | Minibuses for rural routes are in production |
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| The business opportunity in manufacturing small buses in Britain has already been spotted, writes Richard Bramall | The business opportunity in manufacturing small buses in Britain has already been spotted, writes Richard Bramall |
| It was interesting to read the letter (13 June) from Mike Parker regarding rural buses, making the argument that minibuses suitable for rural routes should be manufactured. And that such a business would be ideal for an entrepreneur. | It was interesting to read the letter (13 June) from Mike Parker regarding rural buses, making the argument that minibuses suitable for rural routes should be manufactured. And that such a business would be ideal for an entrepreneur. |
| Ironically, it was only a few days before that letter, on 4 June, that Rachel Reeves made her transport funding announcement of £15.6bn from the premises of Mellor Bus in Rochdale, which, along with its sister company, Treka Bus in Brighouse, West Yorkshire, make a range of buses, including 16-seater ones suitable for rural routes. | Ironically, it was only a few days before that letter, on 4 June, that Rachel Reeves made her transport funding announcement of £15.6bn from the premises of Mellor Bus in Rochdale, which, along with its sister company, Treka Bus in Brighouse, West Yorkshire, make a range of buses, including 16-seater ones suitable for rural routes. |
| Mellor and Treka are both part of the Woodall Nicholson group. That group’s business was acquired in 2023 by a Belgian entrepreneur, Guido Dumarey, to add to his portfolio. So there are suitable buses and there is an entrepreneur – let’s hope he keeps those businesses manufacturing in the UK. | Mellor and Treka are both part of the Woodall Nicholson group. That group’s business was acquired in 2023 by a Belgian entrepreneur, Guido Dumarey, to add to his portfolio. So there are suitable buses and there is an entrepreneur – let’s hope he keeps those businesses manufacturing in the UK. |
| It is a pity that the chassis used for the buses are of European origin (Mercedes and Iveco/Fiat) as there are no UK manufacturers of suitable chassis – now there’s an opportunity. But, as both Ford and DAF stopped making that type of chassis in the UK years ago, I can’t see any obvious candidate. Maybe Renault/Stellantis would or could make one available from their Ellesmere Port factory. Richard BramallSheffield | |
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