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Optare Excel T714NOE is seen approaching Wolverhampton bus station on 24/03/09.
It looks to have been recently re-painted, which would have been welcome given how scruffy a lot of the Excels looked around this time.
The slot for the fourth Olympian on service 1 turned out to be filled in by this Excel, 216 (T216 HCW), which is (I believe) the last remaining native example in the fleet - there are others from Go-Ahead and Reading still in use. I don't know if this was just done for some variety, or if this one is about to be withdrawn as well, but it was certainly turned out nicely for the event.
This Optare Excel dates from 1997 and was one of the first five low floor buses to arrive in Malta.
It is seen in March this year on a school journey in Pembroke
June 2006
ExCel Exhibition Centre in Royal Victoria Docks, East London. It is not lit up like this anymore unfortunately.
After the Delta, came the Excel. Although another futuristic design, the bus wasn't as popular as it should have been. Trent were good Optare customers, so bought the Excel. 194 (V194DRC) is in the famous, and recently demolished, Derby Bus Station on 20 March 2000.
It's been about 4 years (three years at time of this photo) since I've seen an Excel and all of the ones I've seen were hatchbacks, never a sedan. And I bet the sedans are more rare than the hatchbacks. GLS must've been the highest spec.
TrentBarton Excel 257 still going strong on frontline duty working Rainbow 1 through Langley Mill.
Thu 3rd March 2016.
L-R: 713 T713NOE, 7205 R408HWU, 685 S685YOL.
Ousted by brand new Volvo B7RLE's at Wolverhampton. these Optare Excels await thier fate at Miller Street garage in Birmingham. Probably to be shipped off to NXWM's infamous 'car park' storage site and stored till the scrap man calls.
685 and 713 were new to Travel West Midlands. 7205 was new to Travel London and came to the West Midlands via Travel Dundee.
The only Optare Excel that is still operating out of Trentbarton's Sutton Depot 261 Y261 DRC, is seen near Nottingham City Hospital working the 141 on 05-08-16.
Springfield also operated the Optare Excel on Easylink services, though these weren't part of the deal when First Manchester took control of the services in 2000.
I'm unsure where this and it's bretheren went after leaving Wigan but this one later turned up with Stagecoach, it being allocated with the rest of the groups Excels at East Midlands.
Wigan bus station is the location of R641MBV not long before the company called it a day on stage carriage work.
Ipswich Buses Optare Excel YG52DGE, that was new to the operator in 2002.
Tower Ramparts bus station 17/05/16
First Manchester inherited eleven Optare Excels from the slice of Timeline Travel that they took over [Arriva got the other slice!]. The former 218 is seen on Bolton's Moor Lane bus station having been repainted out of 'Tomato Soup' and into the livery adopted for vehicles that didn't confirm to First's standard interior, not that the travelling public would know this. The lower expanse of white would soon be wrapped in the 'Barbie Pink' fade out vinyls which cost an absolute fortune and quickly became shabby looking [even more shabby than your usual First operated vehicle that is!].
6606 would become 60145 in the new national numbering system and the bus now operates out of Wigan depot, which is currently on the 'hit list' of depots to be sold off in the big First shake up of its UK operations.
Former Stagecoach Devon Volvo B6LE P709 BTA (31709) sits with Optare Excel P101 UNH at Wigley's scrapyard in February 2012.
Stagecoach Chesterfield Optare Excel 35006 YN51VHP is seen on route 54 today. A sad day today, for some of us at least, as it is thought to be the final day of Optare Excels running in public service with Stagecoach. However all 6 are staying and being converted to Driver Training Vehicles, so they won't be vanishing completely for a little while yet!
Safeguard Optare Excel X307 CBT was out on Sunday duties today, seen here on the 5A.
Usually, the Sunday service is run by the newer buses.
Friary bus station, Guildford, Surrey.
WA56FUE 33413. First West of England (Weston super Mare) ADL Enviro 400 in Rupert Street, Bristol on X4 in 'Excel' livery. New to First Devon & Cornwall (Plymouth) for Plymouth park & ride services.
On 7th August, 1996, brand new Metrobus Optare Excel 501 (P501 OUG) was a surprise arrival in Hastings on one of the operator's seaside special services, normally the preserve of double deckers.
Simonds of Botesdale
JGV929
seen on St Andrews Street North, Bury St Edmunds.
Ex Ipswich Buses 192, its now with its 3rd company, the 2nd being a short stint at Carters: www.flickr.com/photos/gbbuspics/4849160050/