Mellor Strata

During 2018 Rotala were looking at options of being able to provide Euro VI standard vehicles for contracted services at competitive prices. Up to then the option like other bus operators was to offer the vehicle types produced by the likes of ADL and Wrights and where smaller buses are required the manufacturer offers cut down versions of their larger vehicles. In respect to the number of seats provided these smaller vehicles are not very cost effective when compared to the same vehicle types but with more seats. Mellor Coachcraft who have been building minibuses for many years now offer a version of their minibus built to a full bus specification on a Mercedes chassis with a Euro VI standard engine. Rotala acquired 15 of these vehicles in late 2018  Five were put to work in Lancashire on contracted work run by their Preston operation and following the renewal of a number of Transport for West Midlands contracts in October 2018 Rotala were able to offer far more competitive tender prices for contracts requiring Euro VI vehicles and ten of these vehicles have entered the Diamond Bus fleet.  With the introduction of these vehicles in the West Midlands Diamond Bus have introduced a new version of their livery which incorporates two shades of blue.  During 2024 and 2025 many of the Mellor Strata vehicles were withdrawn and returned to the leasing company. There were also movements of vehicles between group member companies. Hover during March 2025 despite a number of West Midlands based vehicles being withdrawn 21205 was transferred from the Diamond South East fleet. It had been used on a contract at Heathrow Airport  and was repainted into the two tone blue Diamond livery on reallocation to Kidderminster depot. It had been in a special white based livery whilst running in the south east.