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 Penrith
based Alba Travel have added another Optare
Solo SR to their fleet for use on a new
contract in the Lake District. Their choice
of the 2.3 metre wide Slimline model reflects
the narrow road conditions along most of
the route the bus will follow.
The
contract awarded by the Lake District National
Park is for the X33 ‘Lakeland
Explorer’ service which operates daily
throughout the summer season. The service
will start and end each day in Penrith, where
the Solo will be based, and connects Keswick,
Ambleside and Coniston with Ravenglass on
the west coast where the famous narrow gauge
railway is located.
Transport
Manager of the family run firm, Michael Holmes,
says that
it’s a route
that includes several tortuous sections of
narrow Lakeland roads. “The slightly
narrower width of this Solo SR will suit
these conditions better than a full width
bus,” he says. “Outside of the
tourist season we will be using the bus on
our local services and private work in the
Penrith area.
“As with our earlier Solos, we’ve
again specified ‘E’ leather seats
to give our passengers a bit more comfort,” he
adds. “There are 31 fixed Rescroft
CT Lite seats which are fitted with 3-point
seat belts for added safety and three tip-ups
in the wheelchair/buggy bay.”
Power
for the bus is from a Euro 5 compliant Mercedes-Benz
OM 904LA engine delivering
154 bhp (115 kW) at 2200 rpm. This is matched
to an Allison 2100 Series five-speed automatic
transmission featuring a lock-up torque
converter
for increased fuel efficiency, which is
also enhanced by an electro-magnetic retarder
automatically activated when braking.
Other
features include Mobitec LED destination
equipment and a reversing camera and monitor,
the latter being a standard feature on Alba
Travel’s vehicles.
“We’re delighted to be again
supplying Alba Travel with our Solo SR model
following good experience with those we supplied
in 2010,” says Optare Sales Director,
John Horn.
“This
attractively styled and compact bus – and
particularly the narrower SlimLine version – is
well suited to the type of services that
this highly-regarded
family firm runs in Cumbria, where roads
can be quite narrow and traffic heavy during
the summer months. Its easy access also makes
it ideal for use by people of all levels
of mobility.”
For
further information please contact:
Martin Hayes, or David Rowlands Automotive
PR, T: +44
(0) 20 7952 1070,
E: mhayes@automotivepr.com or drowlands@automotivepr.com
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