Vehicle Details
Registration: NL63 XZS
Chassis: Optare Solo SR M890
Bodywork: Optare
Depot: Consett
Livery: 2020 Venture
Year new: 2013
Vehicle History
August 2020
Go North East
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This vehicle has received the new "Venture" branding, and has returned to service at Consett. The repainting and re-branding of the "Venture" minibus fleet at Consett marks the 50th anniversary of the Northern General Transport Company's acquisition of the Venture Transport business in May 1970 and also coincides with the major upgrades being carried out in the Derwentside area.
August 2020
Go North East
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This vehicle has been repainted into a two-tone yellow and maroon base livery.
April 2019
Go North East
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This vehicle has transferred from Stanley Depot to Hownsgill. After two and a half years of development, the region’s largest bus operator, Go North East opened the doors to its brand new £3.5 million, state-of-the-art Hownsgill Depot in Consett, County Durham, on Friday 15 March 2019. The high-tech operation replaces the company’s Stanley Depot, which it operated from for nearly 100 years. Therefore; most vehicles based at Stanley transferred to Hownsgill on Sunday 7 April, the date from which the new depot commenced operations.
November 2017
Go North East
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Following repaint earlier this year, this vehicle has now received "Venture" branding. The design has been slightly modified compared to the previous version, now no longer including a large white 'V' in the centre of the "Venture" logo, covering the windows. The 'V' is now less prominent and an outline of this letter is instead shown at the back of the bus. As per all recent designs; the fleet names have been modified to include the new company tagline, "Journeys taken care of".
September 2017
Go North East
Having previously carried "Venture" branding; this vehicle has been repainted into a two-tone yellow and maroon base livery, in a bid to improve the external quality of these vehicles, and as part of a minor re-branding exercise.
May 2017
Go North East
Following temporary loan to Deptford Depot, this vehicle has returned to service at Stanley.
May 2017
Go North East
This vehicle has transferred from Stanley Depot to Deptford, on temporary loan, to alleviate vehicle shortages.
May 2017
Go North East
Ahead of upcoming service changes, this vehicle has had its Next Stop Announcement equipment removed. The equipment is planned to be better utilised on other vehicles in the fleet, and will be re-fitted in the coming weeks.
February 2015
Go North East
All of Consett's operations have transferred to Stanley Depot, which has resulted in the transfer of this vehicle from Consett Depot to Stanley. There have been no changes to any of the "Venture" branded services as a result of the closure of Consett Depot.
December 2013
Go North East
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This vehicle has entered service at Consett Depot, on the ?Venture? group of minibus services. On evenings and Sundays, they will additionally be allocated to service 15 (Consett - Durham), interworking with the V1 service.
November 2013
Go North East
Ahead of its entry into service, this vehicle has received ?Venture? branding. Venture Transport was the largest independent bus operator in North East England. It operated services in the Derwent Valley between Consett and Newcastle upon Tyne. It was founded after World War I, and, on 1 May 1970, it was sold to the Northern General Transport Company with 86 buses. Shortly after deregulation, Go-Ahead Northern resurrected the Venture name for services operating from the former Venture depot in High Spen.
Go North East has now introduced the brand identity again to promote its local services in the Consett area. The tagline of the brand identity is ?every venture takes you further? - promoting the various onward connections the local Venture services offer in key hubs such as Stanley and Consett.
November 2013
Go North East
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This vehicle, which carries a yellow base livery with a red cant rail, has arrived into the Go North East fleet. It is currently being prepared for service at Saltmeadows Road Depot. Representing an investment of approximately £1,400,000, Go North East has ordered a batch of twelve Euro 5 Optare Solo SR M890/Optare minibuses to be launched on the Consett ?Venture? minibus network of services at Consett Depot. These brand new buses feature Esteban Civic V3 seating and ?Next Stop? audio-visual announcements.
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April 2019
Go North East
In order to provide a higher-specification vehicle on service X30 (Stanley - Newcastle), this vehicle has transferred from Saltmeadows Road Depot to the Hownsgill Depot.
April 2009
Go North East
This vehicle has been repainted into a plain cream base livery, also gaining a small "Coaster" logo below the windscreen in the process.
April 2017
Go North East
This vehicle has received minor modifications to its special promotional livery for radio station Sun FM, including new logos for both Go North East and Sun FM.
April 2020
Go North East
Further service changes have taken place due to the reduced demand for bus services as a result of the current Coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis. As such, this vehicle has transferred from Peterlee Depot to Deptford.