Optare Solo - The Marmite Bus

[the trainbasher]

Diamond used 2 hybrid optares on the X30 in Coventry - I think possibly to win the route contract and use 'green environment' transport when the service was first started ?
They were always breaking down.

The versas were new for the 56, but moved to Signature branded stuff and also replaced X30 branded MCVs

[B61 ANDREW]

Just a plus vote for the 55 plate Diamond Solo that I travelled on earlier - 202 from Rubery to Bromsgrove. I would imagine this vehicle has a fair few miles on the clock but it went well and no really loud rattles.   And also a spirited climb up Rose Hill for anyone who knows the route !  I guess that the next Solo I travel on could well be the opposite  . . . . . 

[Trident 4194]

20870 is a great solo. I think it has the same engines that 20731*- 4 solos had. They've got some real acceleration and I wish they weren't mostly withdrawn now. 

The Mercedes engined solos on the other hand are dreadful. 20740 etc. 

I travelled on 20912 on the 202 yesterday and had no complaints 

[Rachvince53]

Believe these were versas and not solos

Yes they were indeed Versas.  They carried the Signature brand and were based at Redditch I believe. It was reported out of service with Cumfybus in 2020.

[Bob]

On a plus point, theyre great for legroom if youre tall like me, compared to say a Chaserider single door Streetlite where ypir knees are almost up your neck ( weirdly their two door ones have loads of legroom!),downside is Cannocks examples are really unreliable. Maybe its a combination of their age and using them on punishimg interurban work? Even when new they were only intended for Derby locals

[Lukeee]

Take if you've never drove a solo, cabs aren't the roomiest