North Yorkshire independent Abbotts of Leeming has taken delivery of a pair of Optare Solo SR midibuses for use with the County Council on a service connecting Northallerton with Stokesley.
The 9.7 metre Solos are the SlimLine model, which at 2.3 metres wide is designed the narrow country roads that make up much of the route.
Abbotts chose the 6.7 litre, six-cylinder Cummins ISBe engine (Euro 5, harnessing SCR technology), which delivers 201bhp (150kW) at 2,500rpm and 750Nm torque at 1,500rpm.
That has been matched to an Allison 2100 fully automatic, five speed transmission, which has a lock-up torque converter for improved fuel efficiency. It also has an electromagnetic retarder, which operates automatically through the brake pedal.
Passenger capacity is 34 on fixed Rescroft CT Lite seats plus two tip-ups in the wheelchair space, located directly behind the driver's compartment and accessed using the manual fold-out wheelchair ramp.
"We already run a number of Optare Solos and find the model to be reliable and good on fuel," comments Clifford Abbott, owner of the 70 year old family firm.
"Early feedback from our passengers shows that these new buses are proving popular and our drivers find them easy to handle too, especially on country roads, where the narrower width is helpful."
