Vehicle Details
Registration: NL63 XZT
Chassis: Optare Solo SR M890
Bodywork: Optare
Depot: Go South West
Livery: 2019 fleet livery
Year new: 2013
Vehicle History
September 2020
Go North East
Photograph by
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.
September 2020
Go North East
This vehicle has been repainted into a two-tone yellow and maroon base livery.
June 2020
Go North East
From Monday 1 June 2020, in line with guidance from the government, Go North East's bus services will start returning to what can be considered a 'normal' level of service on weekdays (albeit still reduced on weekends), also with some minor changes which had originally been planned to take place from 17 May 2020. As such, this vehicle has now been reinstated at Consett.
April 2020
Go North East
Following completion of all required vehicle re-allocations; this vehicle has been temporarily withdrawn from service due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and has been officially delicensed (SORN'd), enabling Go North East to obtain a tax refund.
April 2019
Go North East
Photograph by
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
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
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
Photograph by
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
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 2016
Go North East
This vehicle has had its sub-branding for "Fast Cats" services X35/X36 removed.
April 2020
Go North East
Due to high passenger volumes on the Byker ASDA free shuttle bus service, this vehicle has been reinstated to be allocated to this service. This will allow for more adequate social distancing measures on the A1/A2/A3 services.
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 2019
Go North East
This vehicle has entered service within Go North East's Special Events fleet. To be fitted with a digital tachograph, the vehicle will be available for Private Hire functions and stakeholder/community engagement events.