Yesterday, Optare celebrated the handover of the pre production 11.1m Metrodecker demonstrator vehicle to UK Operator First Bus, for a series of extensive trials which will see Optare’s new double deck put through its paces operating on route X78 from Sheffield to Doncaster. The X78 route is a service route used by First Bus for extensive testing of all the major bus manufacturers’ vehicles.
Mark Munday, Technical Director at First Bus, commented: “We are pleased to be working with Optare to put the Metrodecker through its paces in South Yorkshire.
“First Bus is committed to continual improvement in environmental performance and are keen to test the fuel efficiency benefits for ourselves.”
Robert Drewery, Commercial Director, Optare said, “After an extremely successful trial at Reading Buses where we saw best in class mpg performance, both Optare and Ashok Leyland see great potential for the Metrodecker. I am delighted that the Metrodecker will be setting out to prove itself on a real world trial with one of the largest group operators in the UK. We will be monitoring its performance closely and we look forward to the feedback from First Bus.”
The Metrodecker is Optare’s newest addition to its vehicle portfolio. The low floor double deck has a fully integral frame, boasts light weight credentials, enviable fuel economy and class leading seating capacity. The Metrodecker is available in two lengths the single door measures in at 11.1metres and the two door at 10.5metres.
The Optare Metrocity will also undertake a similarly rigorous in-service programme in Halifax with First Bus this summer.
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Last week Optare celebrated the handover of their 11.1m Metrodecker demonstrator vehicle to New Adventure Travel (N.A.T. Group), for the start of a trail which will see Optare’s new double deck put through its paces operating on its Cardiff Network. N.A.T. Group is one of South Wales’ leading transport providers with over 110 buses and coaches in their fleet.
N.A.T. Group recently acquired a further ten Optare Metrocity buses following excellent in service fuel economy results. This takes the number of Metrocity buses ordered by N.A.T. Group to 30 in the last 12 months.
Kevyn Jones, Managing Director, N.A.T. Group, said, “We like the styling of the Metrocity as it really helps us stand out from other operators in the area, combine this with the excellent fuel economy and great aftersales support and the decision to increase our fleet to 30 Optare Metrocity buses was any easy one to make. We are very much looking forward to putting the Metrocity’s big brother, the Metrodecker through its paces, especially after hearing about its fantastic mpg performance on previous in service trials.”
Robert Drewery, Commercial Director, Optare said, “After an extremely successful trial at Reading Buses where we saw best in class mpg performance, I am delighted that the Metrodecker will be setting out to prove itself with N.A.T. Group. We will be monitoring its performance closely and we look forward to the feedback from N.A.T. Group and their passengers.”
The Metrodecker is Optare’s newest addition to its vehicle portfolio. The low floor double deck has a fully integral frame, boasts light weight credentials, enviable fuel economy and class leading seating capacity. The Metrodecker is available in two lengths the single door measures in at 11.1metres and the two door at 10.5metres.
N.A.T. Group currently operates 30 Optare Metrocity and 12 Optare Solos and 6 Optare Tempo’s.
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The CILT annual Corporate Member Plaque Presentation Day celebrates the organisations that have Institute Corporate Membership.
The CILT UK President, Beverley Bell, presented members with their plaques and urged all corporate members to work with the institute to tackle the challenges that the industry is currently facing.
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Anthony’s Travel have acquired a new Optare Solo.. Anthony’s Travel are an award winning family owned coach company established in 1985 by Anne, Tony and Richard Bamber.
The Mercedes Euro 5, 7.9m slim line Solo with Allison 2100 transmission seats up to 27 and will operate on the Runcorn Hospital service contract.
Richard Bamber,, Managing Partner of Anthony’s Travel said, “The Optare Solo has proven to be ideal for our service route. We pride ourselves on our commitment to provide a high quality service to all of our customers and as part of this commitment this new vehicle will replace the existing Solo operating on the Runcorn Hospital service.”
Steph Baker, Regional Sales Manager, Optare, said, “Optare are proud to be able to supply Anthony’s with another slim line Solo as part of their fleet upgrade programme.”
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On the 26 April 2016, Royal British Legion launched their new Optare Metrocity. The new bus will be used for a regular shopping trip and excursion service from the Byng House Poppy Break Centre in Southport. The Royal British Legion provides lifelong support for the Armed Forces community; serving men and women, veterans, and their families. The Legion offers much-needed breaks to ex-Service and serving personnel and their families at its Break Centres located in prime locations around the country.
The Cummins Euro 5, 11.5m Metrocity with Allison 2100 Transmission also features removable seats to give the flexibility for up to two wheelchair bays and full saloon air conditioning.
Sarah Curry, Business Manager, Byng House, said, “We have previously operated an Optare Solo which has been very reliable and proved extremely versatile. The Metrocity’s capacity and the flexibility of two wheelchair bays really attracted us to this product.”
Chris Hunt, Regional Sales Manager, Optare, said, “Optare are proud that the Royal British Legion have chosen another Optare product to operate regular shopping trips and excursions from Byng House, Poppy Break Centre.”
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Kevin Carr, Go North East, Managing Director, said: “While bus travel is one of the most environmentally friendly forms of transport, we are not complacent about our environmental impact and we are committed to investing in better air quality. These vehicles bring the total Optare low carbon Solos added to the Go North East fleet in the last 12 months to 28, after 14 new Optare Solos were purchased for the indiGo bus service in Peterlee in August 2015.”
Tim Matthews, Head of UK Sales at Optare, said, “We are delighted that the low carbon Solos are delivering such good results for Go North East and that they have decided to invest further in improving air quality in the towns and cities in the North East of England.”
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Photograph with thanks to ANDREW’S BUS STOP
West Coast Motors have added seven Optare Solos to their fleet. West Coast Motors is privately owned by the Craig family and headquartered in Campbeltown, Argyll. The company also recently acquired Perryman’s Buses Ltd of Berwick-Upon-Tweed.
Four of the Euro 5, 9.2m, slim line Solos seat up to 30 and have gone into operation at Ardrishaig, Oban and Isle of Mull depots. The remaining three Euro 5, 7.9m, slim line Solos have 17 seats and 2 wheelchair bays are operating as part of the Company’s Glasgow Citybus fleet on contracted SPT services.
Colin Craig, Managing Director, said, “The Solo product is ideally suited to the mixed terrain of the routes we operate. Reliability and fuel economy are both very good and they have been well received by our drivers and customers.
Chris Hunt, Regional Sales Manager, Optare, said, “West Coast Motors already operate a number of Solos andI am delighted that the Solo is yet again their vehicle of choice for these new routes & fleet upgrades.”
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Midland Classic have acquired two Optare Metrocity buses. Midland Classic foundedin 2005 operates local bus services around Swadlincote and Burton upon Trent.
The 10.1m, Euro 5, Metrocity buses, seat up to 35 and feature, under seat lighting, an additional buggy bay as well as the usual wheelchair bay, and USB charging points fully integrated into the seating. The vehicles will operate on the Lichfield City circular services.
James Boddice, Managing Director, Midland Classic, said, “We had heard from other operators who have purchased the Metrocity how impressed they have been with the vehicle’s performance. Our colleagues at D&G Bus kindly allowed us to try out one of their vehicles and we were also suitably impressed. We really liked the stylish design of the Metrocity and Optare were also able to offer us a choice of engine specification to best meet our needs.”
Steph Baker, Regional Sales Manager, Optare, said, “I am pleased that Midland Classic have, like so many of my customers been tremendously impressed with the performance of the Metrocity product and Optare’s ability to deliver a stylish vehicle to a specification that caters to our customer’s needs.”
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Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) has purchased a further five Optare Solos to be used on various subsidised local bus services across the area, including on the demand-responsive MyBus service. This follows an investment in 23 Solos in 2015.
The 7.9m, Euro 5, slim line, Solos are all fitted with e-leather seats and seatbelts, three of the Solos feature two wheelchair bays and 17 seats, making them ideal for use on MyBus, a bookable bus service offering door-to-door transport in urban and rural areas.
Two of the vehicles will be used by operators McGills from their Hamilton Depot and one by Shuttle Buses, Kilwinning to operate on demand-responsive MyBus services. The remaining two vehicles will be operated by Stagecoach, Western Buses and McColls Buses, Dumbarton.
An SPT spokesperson said, “The purchase of these new buses is part of our continued commitment to keeping communities connected and making public transport accessible, attractive and easy to use. We currently have a number of Slimline Solos in operation and they have performed well on our MyBus service, meeting our requirements for seating capacity, while still being of a size that permits ease of operation in residential urban areas and more remote rural locations.”
Chris Hunt, Regional Sales Manager at Optare, said, “SPT has been a customer of Optare for the last 8 years and we are pleased they have chosen to purchase more of the popular Optare Solo to help keep the communities of Strathclyde connected.”
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P&O Lloyd have added another two Optare Solos to their fleet. P&O Lloyd situated on the North Wales coast are a family run company, established in 1927 and still run today by the 3rd and 4th generation of the Lloyd family.
The 9.2m, Euro 5 Solos seat up to 30 and feature belted seats. The new buses will operate on routes 126 & 22.
David Lloyd, Owner at P&O Lloyd Coaches said, “We have number of Optare Solos in our fleet providing local Bus Services to Holywell, Flint, Mold, Rhyl, Prestatyn and the surrounding rural areas. The new Solos will replace the existing Solos which have been owned from new. We have always found that the Solos to have good passenger appeal, fuel efficiency & reliability, on the rural routes we operate.”
Steph Baker, Business Development Manager, Optare, said, “P&O Lloyd Coaches have been a customer of Optare for over 12 years and they operate an all Optare fleet of service buses inc Solo. I am delighted that Optare vehicles are performing so well for P&O Lloyd Coaches and that they have chosen to add a further two Solos to their fleet.”
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