Upping the internal specification of a new Solo SR bus has brought added flexibility to Acklams of Beverley in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
Comfortable seat-belted Rescroft Defender seats, Unwin tracking in the wheelchair bay, soft trim to ceiling and side panels, and carpeting throughout add a level of luxury that means the Solo can be used on local private hires, according to Acklams managing director Paul Acklam.
"The low entry height of the Solo along with the simple fold out wheelchair ramp make it ideal for use by people with reduced mobility," says Acklam.
"We wouldn't use it on distance work, but for local private hires for organisations like pensioners clubs or the WI, it does a great job. And passengers travelling on the bus during its normal work, six days a week on local services around Beverley, can enjoy that extra level of comfort," he adds.
Power for this 9.6 metre Solo SR comes from a Euro 5 compliant Mercedes-Benz OM904LA engine rated at 115kW (154bhp) matched to an Allison 2100 Series five-speed fully automatic transmission.
The Optare minibus has been fitted with 27 fixed seats plus two tip-ups in its wheelchair bay, and has Mobitec destination equipment.
