A pair of Optare Solos in service with Metrobus Limited – part of the Go-ahead Group – and operating out of their Orpington depot are making easy work of a largely rural route that also takes them in and out of town.

The 7.4 metre SlimLine Solos are running on the hourly R8 service, which connects local villages and a large housing estate at Biggin Hill with Orpington shopping centre and main line railway station. This service is very popular with people living in these rural communities and is well used. At 17 seats plus standees the Solo is proving to be a good size to cope with fluctuations in demand throughout the day.

Part of the route takes in Downe village, which is accessed along narrow country lanes that in parts are single track. Being only 2.3 metres wide the SlimLine Solos are an ideal width for this type of road and their compact overall size also makes them well suited to busy town centre traffic conditions.

Tim Pinkney, Assistant Operations Manager at Metrobus in Orpington, says that feedback from drivers to the Solos has been very positive. “They regard them as a nice drive,” he says, “and the fact that even though they’re small they have many big bus features, also adds to their appeal.”

Those big bus features include ample power at 177 bhp (132 kW) from the MAN engine, an Allison 2010 five-speed fully automatic transmission, and an integral KLAM electro-magnetic retarder. All-round air suspension ensures a comfortable ride and the front kneeling capability gives Solo a low entry height of just 200 mm – the lowest of any bus currently on British roads. The MAN engine is a 4.8 litre, four-cylinder unit and uses the EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation) technology to meet Euro 4 emission standards. Accommodating this power unit required an extension of 300mm to the overall length of the Solo from its previous shortest length of 7.1 metres to 7.4 metres, with the extra length being in the rear overhang. As with all Solos, the engine, gearbox, exhaust system and cooling pack are all mounted onto a quick release carrier to facilitate fast changes of these major components if required.

The seats in the new Solos are Esteban’s Civic V2 model, which has been ergonomically designed for maximum comfort combined with durability on heavily-used urban applications. These are topped by a narrow yet strong and stylish handgrip that allows maximum visibility and gives good support when entering or leaving the seat.

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