Go North East orders 26 more Optare buses 30 August 2013

Following 10 weeks of trials with Optare's 11.7 metre low-weight Versa bus and successful experience over the years with its Solo vehicle, Go North East has ordered 26 new vehicles from the Yorkshire bus builder.

The North East bus operator has gone for 14 Versas and 12 Solo SR buses worth £3.5 million. Versa deliveries will commence in October with the Solos due to follow in November.

Go North East says the test Versa was put through its paces on some of the most demanding and intensive city centre services, with high passenger loadings and hilly terrain.

It cited "exceptional fuel efficiency" under demanding conditions as particularly impressive.

As with earlier Versa buses supplied to Go North East, the new 11.7 models will be powered by the Cummins ISBe engine, certified to Euro 5 EEV emissions.

This six-cylinder engine delivers 201bhp at 2,500 rpm with 700Nm of torque, providing good performance for the tough route conditions. It is mated to Allison's 2100 Series five-speed automatic transmission.

Go North East has also gone high for the rest of the vehicle specifications – with a Chapman MK250 driver's and Denso air conditioning and a full protection screen for the driver's compartment.

The 12 Solo SR models are the 9.0 metre version, powered by the Mercedes-Benz OM904LA four-cylinder engine, delivering 154bhp and 610Nm of torque. Like the Versas, it is mated to the Allison 2100 auto transmission.

Author
Brian Tinham

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