Seventeen Optare Solos have been acquired by Preston Bus to operate a new orbital service around and into the City of Preston.

The service has been introduced in collaboration with Lancashire County Council following a successful bid for funding of £977,000 under the Department for Transport's Kickstart scheme.

The money covers the purchase of the new Solos, revenue support for the service, and road infrastructure improvements along the 17-mile route. These include the upgrading of 80 bus stops with raised kerbs, the introduction of new bus lanes, traffic lights that give priority to approaching buses, and real-time information displays in bus shelters.

Services operate both clockwise and anti-clockwise and are numbered 88A and 88B. They connect key employment and housing areas, the Royal Preston Hospital and the city centre bus station.

Eleven of the Solos are 9.2 metre models with a seating capacity of 29 and the remainder are 8.5 metre, 25 seaters. The larger Solos will operate the service throughout the day and will be supplemented by the 8.5 metre Solos at peak times.

All the Solos have been finished in a new livery, which Preston Bus managing director Peter Bell says presents a brighter new image for the company.

The purchase of the Solos is allowing Preston Bus to dispose of 13 of its Optare Metroriders, which Peter Bell says have given good service and still retain a decent residual value. The company has been using Optare products for 13 years and currently has 37 Solos in its 120-strong fleet.

"We like the product," says Peter Bell. "Drivers are very positive about the Solo and our engineering staff have become very familiar with it, finding it straightforward to work on.

"It's a good bus to use on local routes into and out of the city because of its compact size and its passenger-friendly features, particularly the low entry height and the larger number of seats in the flat floor area of the saloon. We also get excellent support from Optare and the overall package is just what we require."

For further information please contact:
Martin Hayes, Communications Advisor, +44 (0) 207 494 8050