Go North East: 0703 / YJ10MFF
Go North East's unallocated Optare Solo M880/Optare 703 (YJ10 MFF), which carries a plain pink base livery having recently undergone repaint, is pictured here at Riverside Depot, Gateshead, following completion of internal modifications and an interior clean, prior to entering service. 27/09/16
Since the withdrawal of Oxfordshire County Council subsidies on 20th July 2016, Thames Travel has been operating the Bicester Town bus services 22 and 23 on a commercial basis. These services run at a loss of approximately £4,500 per week and therefore this decision was a temporary arrangement, while Thames Travel continued discussions with several local stakeholders to pool existing finances and resources to safeguard the longer term future of the services. The company’s proposal included extended operating hours to better meet the needs of commuters using rail services, offering improved daily links to the new Park & Ride site and providing a frequent service between the town centre, two rail stations and Bicester Village. Unfortunately, while some stakeholders were supportive of the company’s proposals and were prepared to provide some funding for the services, others chose to pursue their own commercial interests and therefore services 22 and 23 were withdrawn from the end of service on Saturday 3rd September 2016. The Optare Solos allocated to these services are now hence surplus to requirements at Thames Travel, and have hence been acquired by Go North East, to allow for the withdrawal of further Transbus Mini Pointer Darts from the fleet. This vehicle was new to Thames Travel in May 2010 as fleet number 610 and was later re-numbered fleet number 703.
This vehicle has now been repainted into a plain pink base livery. Once prepared for service; this vehicle will be allocated to Washington Depot, and the recently introduced "indiGo" brand will be expanded to encompass services 85/86.
Go North East: 0703 / YJ10MFF
Go North East's unallocated Optare Solo M880/Optare 703 (YJ10 MFF), which carries a plain pink base livery having recently undergone repaint, is pictured here at Riverside Depot, Gateshead, following completion of internal modifications and an interior clean, prior to entering service. 27/09/16
Since the withdrawal of Oxfordshire County Council subsidies on 20th July 2016, Thames Travel has been operating the Bicester Town bus services 22 and 23 on a commercial basis. These services run at a loss of approximately £4,500 per week and therefore this decision was a temporary arrangement, while Thames Travel continued discussions with several local stakeholders to pool existing finances and resources to safeguard the longer term future of the services. The company’s proposal included extended operating hours to better meet the needs of commuters using rail services, offering improved daily links to the new Park & Ride site and providing a frequent service between the town centre, two rail stations and Bicester Village. Unfortunately, while some stakeholders were supportive of the company’s proposals and were prepared to provide some funding for the services, others chose to pursue their own commercial interests and therefore services 22 and 23 were withdrawn from the end of service on Saturday 3rd September 2016. The Optare Solos allocated to these services are now hence surplus to requirements at Thames Travel, and have hence been acquired by Go North East, to allow for the withdrawal of further Transbus Mini Pointer Darts from the fleet. This vehicle was new to Thames Travel in May 2010 as fleet number 610 and was later re-numbered fleet number 703.
This vehicle has now been repainted into a plain pink base livery. Once prepared for service; this vehicle will be allocated to Washington Depot, and the recently introduced "indiGo" brand will be expanded to encompass services 85/86.