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Engineering training goes mobile

One of Arriva London’s former driver training buses is set for a new lease of life – this time with the engineering department.

The bus, fleet number DDL 6, is undergoing a thorough front to back refurbishment to make it into a purpose-built mobile classroom for members of Arriva London’s engineering team.

When completed it will accommodate six engineers and a trainer in clean, comfortable, well-lit surroundings. It will have new heating, raised flooring, a well-equipped demonstration area, a projector and communications equipment to show DVDs and support special presentations.

On site and in use at the garages the bus’s electrical training equipment will operate from a normal 240-volt feed from selected points.

The conversion is being carried out at Beddington Farm and at the time of writing the bus was about to be delivered to Enfield for repainting and the installation of electrical equipment, which was to be carried out by a contractor.

On completion, the bus will sport the words ‘Engineering Training Bus’ on its exterior panels and vinyls from companies sponsoring the conversion.

Body shop manager Steve Fox, who is overseeing the project, said: “The training bus will be used as a mobile classroom so that we can take training to engineers.

“It is essential that our employees are kept up to date with the very latest technology and the training bus will enable us to do that much more quickly and effectively than having to arrange for one or two people at a time to travel miles away from their garage.”

Beddington Farm coachmaker Richard Crowley has worked on the conversion with assistance from colleagues Neil Hewish and Robert Hewish.

He said the bus had been “completely stripped” of its original seating and the centre door had been removed and replaced by new panelling.

Entry and exit is by a single door at the front of the bus and a new bulkhead door has been installed to improve security.

“The bus will be something special when it’s completed,” said Richard. “There is plenty of room for the provision of various systems and bits of equipment so that engineers can get actual hands-on experience. I think they’ll be delighted when they come to use it.”

The project was pioneered by engineering director Tony Ward, who introduced a similar vehicle at Arriva Southern Counties a year ago.
 

Published: Sun 10 Apr 2011Modified: Tue 29 Mar 2011Archived: Sun 8 May 2011

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