Optare Soroco is first small coach for Robin Hood

Long-established Staffordshire coach company Robin Hood Travel of Rudyard near Leek have taken a 19-seat Optare Soroco executive minicoach into their 13 vehicle fleet.

It’s the first small coach that the company has operated during its 51 years in business. Owner Ron Eyre, who runs the firm with his wife Mary, says that they saw an opportunity for a coach of this size to use on high quality contract and corporate work as well as short three and five day tours within the UK.

“The Optare Soroco met the requirement exactly in terms of seating capacity and its high standard of comfort makes it ideal for both the corporate and the tour work. It’s also quite compact in overall size which suits the roads in this rural area. It looks good too, which supports the modern image we want to project for our business.”

This is the first Optare product to go into service with Robin Hood Travel and is to a high specification. It has Kiel reclining seats with leather inserts to the headrests and gangway armrests. Moquette trim to the side panels is repeated in the roof centre panel to create a luxurious feel and the tinted side windows have full-draw curtains. A roof-mounted Diavia air conditioning unit ensures that a pleasant temperature can be maintained in the saloon in all conditions.

The paint finish is in metallic silver to create a very sleek and stylish appearance. Robin Hood have had an electric step fitted, which together with the wide plug door makes passenger access easier, particularly for people with reduced mobility.

Based on the well-proven Mercedes-Benz 515 CDi Sprinter chassis/cowl, the Soroco measures just 7.38 metres by 1.99 metres. Power is provided by the four-cylinder OM646 engine, a direct injection, turbocharged engine using common rail technology to achieve optimum performance and good fuel efficiency. The engine is rated at 150 bhp and is matched to a six-speed manual transmission.

The vehicle incorporates numerous safety features including ABS and ASR brakes plus Telma electric retarder for increased safety and stability. The coachbuilt body is based on a steel-framed R66 roll-over compliant safety structure. All seats have three-point safety belts with mountings that meet the M3 standard.