Solos replacing Solos
In 2024, Stagecoach in South Wales received its first sizeable batch of new vehicles after a gap of five years in the shape of 19 8.57m Switch Mobility Solos, (48101-3/15-23/85-91), which have all have all been allocated to Cwmbran depot. I say 19, but in reality the first three (48101-3) spent the first six months operating in Manchester and replaced what would have been 48192-4.
They can usually be found on the local services in Cwmbran, having replaced older Solo SRs and the 60-plate Alexander Dennis Enviro200s, as well as interworked Services 5 (Blackwood-Oakdale-Crumlin-Newbridge-Pant) and 21 (Cwmbran-Pontypool-Hafodyrynys-Llanhilleth-Crumlin-Newbridge-Blackwood).
However, in this January 2025 shot taken at Market Square in Newport, 48186 was operating Service X15 (Newport-Rogerstone-Crosskeys-Newbridge-Hafodyrynys-Llanhilleth-Abertillery-Brynmawr) with a friendly wave from the driver.
Coincidentally, its 19 years since the company's first new Solos arrived and there are still a couple of survivors from that batch.
Solos replacing Solos
In 2024, Stagecoach in South Wales received its first sizeable batch of new vehicles after a gap of five years in the shape of 19 8.57m Switch Mobility Solos, (48101-3/15-23/85-91), which have all have all been allocated to Cwmbran depot. I say 19, but in reality the first three (48101-3) spent the first six months operating in Manchester and replaced what would have been 48192-4.
They can usually be found on the local services in Cwmbran, having replaced older Solo SRs and the 60-plate Alexander Dennis Enviro200s, as well as interworked Services 5 (Blackwood-Oakdale-Crumlin-Newbridge-Pant) and 21 (Cwmbran-Pontypool-Hafodyrynys-Llanhilleth-Crumlin-Newbridge-Blackwood).
However, in this January 2025 shot taken at Market Square in Newport, 48186 was operating Service X15 (Newport-Rogerstone-Crosskeys-Newbridge-Hafodyrynys-Llanhilleth-Abertillery-Brynmawr) with a friendly wave from the driver.
Coincidentally, its 19 years since the company's first new Solos arrived and there are still a couple of survivors from that batch.