There are around 6.5 million people who are at least 50% disabled currently living in Germany. Over 700,000 of them are dependent on a wheelchair and are greatly restricted in their mobility. Mobility is however something many of them do not want to do without, especially when they are travelling on holiday. With the new purchase of a specially equipped Mercedes-Benz Tourismo touring coach, the Stambula Bustouristik GmbH travel company in Hamburg has expanded its selection of barrier-free buses. "Travel should not and no longer has to be an insurmountable hurdle for people with disabilities", said Uwe Stambula at the celebratory event for the acquisition which took place on 14 June 2010 at the Mercedes-Benz sales and service outlet in Hamburg. The keys were handed over by H. Dieter Hertlein, Sales Manager of Mercedes-Benz Bus and Coach Unit North. This Mercedes-Benz Tourismo is the second one in the Stambula fleet which has been specially equipped to meet the needs of people with disabilities.

On average tourists with disabilities take about two million trips for their holidays per year. While travelling they are primarily dependent upon disability-adapted transportation options such as the Mercedes-Benz Tourismo, whose complete set of disability-adapted equipment is supplied directly ex factory. The touring coach includes a total of six wheelchair spaces plus 49 + 2 passenger seats. An electric wheelchair lift behind the front axle allows passengers with restricted mobility to enter and exit the vehicle quickly and safely through a separate door. In the passenger compartment the wheelchairs are secured with the help of quick-clamping fixtures on airline rails. To guarantee 100% passenger safety, necessary design changes to the frame construction have been made in the area of the wheelchair lift. As a result, compromises to safety which could arise from retrofitting in the bus frame are completely avoided. The disability-adapted version of the Tourismo is produced through a completely normal manufacturing process at Mercedes-Benz. Design-related changes are made before production begins to guarantee a high degree of stability and safety.

Safety is a key consideration in Stambula's fleet. That's another reason why the company chose the Tourismo, as it sets the highest standards for safety in its class. Its exemplary standard safety equipment includes the Electronic Braking System (EBS), disc brakes on all wheels, anti-lock blocking system (ABS), acceleration skid control (ASR), Brake Assist (BA), cruise control, a hydrodynamic retarder, continuous braking limiter (DBL) and most important of all the Electronic Stability Program (ESP®).

The modern interior of the touring coach, which has a white exterior, is primarily dominated by its 49 seats. All the seats have footrests and folding tables, armrests and luggage nets and the upper part of them is upholstered in leather. To make room for wheelchair spaces, two on the right and four on the left, the seat rows designated for this purpose can be removed within seconds. For the entertainment of the passengers there is a radio system as well as a DVD changer and two 15-inch flat screens in the front and in the centre area. In the centre doorway there is a flushable toilet and behind that a well-equipped galley.

A 32 kW air conditioning system with controls separate from those for the driver’s area plus a convector heater on the side walls ensure that the temperature on board always remains pleasant. The Tourismo’s 300 kW engine meets the EU’s Euro V emissions standard with its BlueTec®-diesel technology and downstream SCR catalytic converter.

Since 1995 the Stambula Bustouristik GmbH company has been offering comprehensive travel service. Safety, quality and flexibility are the driving factors for success in the business areas of bus transfers, shuttle service and transport of people with illnesses or disabilities. One special service for passengers who are limited in their mobility is the transport of passengers who are ill or have disabilities via electric wheelchairs, stretchers or transport chairs. With special buses such as the Tourismo in the company's fleet, entire groups of wheelchair-bound travellers can go on excursions or trips together.

The barrier-free Tourismo was delivered via the Mercedes-Benz sales and service outlet in Hamburg. Last October this branch expanded its range of services for disability-adapted conversions: people with disabilities can now receive tailor-made ex factory conversions and driving aids for their passenger cars at the Niendorf centre (Kollaustraße). "Get in and drive off" is the motto of the More Mobility Center. A visit there reveals a new, large selection of disability-adapted solutions for A-Class, B-Class, C-Class and E-Class vehicles. Time-consuming and expensive after-market vehicle conversions are a thing of the past. Now these customised dream cars can be delivered ex factory to meet all individual requirements. And the conversions are also completely covered in the vehicle warranty. They meet the high quality standards of Mercedes-Benz in every aspect.