College awards top marks to 4x4 Mercedes Sprinter21 October 2014

A college in Hampshire has taken delivery of a specially converted 4x4 Mercedes Sprinter, to transport students with physical disabilities.

Treloar College's Sprinter 516 CDI was supplied by dealer Orwell Truck & Van and equipped as an accessible minibus by Stanford Coachworks, of Essex.

It joins another Sprinter 516 CDI, a standard rear-wheel drive model, delivered two weeks earlier.

Both of the 5-tonne gvw Sprinters have flexible interiors, with up to 16 seats that can be moved around or removed.

Typically, they are configured for five passengers seated with space for four students with wheelchairs, which can be secured to tracking in the floor.

The vehicles are also equipped with 10 power sockets, as well as wi-fi connectivity, allowing students and staff to work while on board.

The 4x4 version was ordered after the college struggled to transport students during winter conditions.

"We have students here for 50 weeks of the year and the college is in quite a remote location," explains transport manager Mark Copping.

"We have to be able to get our staff to work in all conditions, as well as needing a vehicle that's capable of getting students to the local hospital 15 miles away," he continues.

"It's a demanding requirement but the Sprinter 4x4 gives us everything we need."

Treloar College has residential and day students from the age of 16 to 25, providing them with education, therapy, medical care and independence training.

Author
Laura Cork

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