Mellors introduced at Team Pennine

Six Mellor Strata Ultras are being rolled out on Team Pennine’s routes.

The new buses are the first for Halifax in six years. They are to enter service on five local bus routes this month. The new buses are the result of an investment of almost £1 million by Team Pennine’s parent firm Transdev as it continues to fulfil its promise to replace one in two of the vehicles it took over from previous operator, Arriva-owned Yorkshire Tiger, in July of this year.

As well as Team Pennine’s two-tone livery, the new buses will carry a new brand name, ‘Calder Country’.

The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter-based Mellor Strata Ultras can carry up to 30 passengers.

“We are well on our way to renewing one in two buses within the first six months of our new company” – Transdev CEO, Alex Hornby

Transdev CEO, Alex Hornby, said: “We’re delighted to unveil our new Calder Country buses for our customers and new colleagues. They will enter service during November on a network of rural and urban connections across Halifax and Calderdale.

“As the first new buses to run in Halifax for six years and the first new buses since the start of our Team Pennine business in July 2021, this is a special and important moment for us, our colleagues, our customers and our stakeholders. We are well on our way to renewing one in two buses within the first six months of our new company.

“We are confident that these amazing new buses will transform the quality of service for many people across the region and support our shared aim with the Mayor of West Yorkshire and the West Yorkshire Bus Alliance to attract more people to switch from the car to the bus.

“Each of the new Calder Country buses – named to celebrate our strong, local relationship with the community we serve – will have high back luxury seating with leather headrests, and audio-visual next stop information on board. The buses represent a total investment of £800,000 by Transdev in the quality and reliability of our services in and around Halifax – all of it at no extra cost to our customers as fares remain unchanged.”

• Click on the picture above for a gallery of the vehicles.