Vehicle Details
Registration: NK66 CXE
Chassis: Optare Solo SR M925
Bodywork: Optare
Depot: Washington
Livery: Little Pinks
Year new: 2016
Vehicle History
September 2020
Go North East
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To allow better social distancing on "X-lines" service X20, the service is being temporarily upgraded to Wright Streetlites. As such the Optare Solos normally allocated are available to be displaced, with one now in use on the Arriva North East duplicate service this vehicle was being allocated to at Deptford. As such; this vehicle has transferred from Deptford Depot to Washington, in order to operate duplicate services around the time of school movements, on service 5.
September 2020
Go North East
In line with the re-commencement of scholars services for the 2020/21 academic year, this vehicle has transferred from Washington to Deptford. This is as a result of one board on services 85/86 being upgraded from minibus to single-deck (Scania OmniCity) to allow better social distancing.
June 2020
Go North East
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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. The depots which were temporarily 'mothballed' for the duration of the crisis have now re-opened, except for Saltmeadows Road, which is where most of the National Express coaches are stored. The central works facility remains open as usual. Therefore, this vehicle has now transferred from Deptford Depot to Washington.
March 2020
Go North East
On March 23 2020, Boris Johnson placed the country on "lockdown", enforcing rules on people only leaving the house to shop for necessities, to exercise once a day, for medical needs or to provide care, or to travel to and from work (if they can't work from home). Shops, pubs, restaurants and theatres have all been closed, as well as mass gatherings being banned, schools being closed, and sporting events being cancelled. Therefore, further changes were made to bus timetables from Saturday 28 March, reflecting a mass reduction in customer demand for buses. As part of these timetable revisions; Chester-le-Street, Percy Main and Washington Depots were temporarily 'mothballed' with services operated out of key depots Consett, Deptford (including Peterlee outstation) and Riverside (including Hexham outstation) only. Therefore, this vehicle has transferred from Washington Depot to Deptford.
May 2019
Go North East
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In line with service changes and the introduction of new brand identities, there were a large number of vehicle re-allocations which took place on Sunday 19 May, the significance of which have been likened to the South Shields and Bishop Auckland depot closures in 2005 and 2006 respectively. This vehicle has transferred from Deptford Depot to Washington, in order to operate "indiGo" services 81/82/83/84, as well as 85/86.
March 2019
Go North East
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Following repaint, this vehicle has now received the Washington variant of the "indiGo" branding.
March 2019
Go North East
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Ahead of upcoming service changes and consequent re-allocations, this vehicle has lost its "Black Cats" branding having been repainted into a plain pink base livery.
June 2017
Go North East
This vehicle has received "Black Cats" branding. "Black Cats" is the new brand identity being introduced to encompass a variety of different frequent services in and around the city of Sunderland, promoting the cheap and competitively priced day and weekly tickets available for travel in the city (£3.65 for a day ticket, and £12.15 for a weekly ticket).
September 2016
Go North East
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Presently unbranded, this vehicle has entered service at Deptford Depot. At Deptford, it will be used to upgrade the daytime 33 service (The Docks - City Centre - Silksworth), and, to maximise the amount of mileage operated by these fuel-efficient vehicles which are eligible for an enhanced rate of BSOG payment, it will also be allocated to Nexus-secured services 38C and 135/136 on evenings and Sundays.
September 2016
Go North East
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This vehicle, which carries a plain red base livery, has arrived into the Go North East fleet. It is currently being prepared for service at Saltmeadows Road Depot. It will be transferred to Deptford Depot in due course. These brand new buses feature Esteban Civic V3 seating complete with e-leather; two-colour Tarabus 'Wood Effect' flooring; and blue accent lighting, which is fitted underneath seats, to provide extra light on the gangway. They are also fitted with free passenger Wi-Fi and Next Stop Announcements.
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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.
April 2009
Go North East
This vehicle has received "Coaster" branding, with sub-branding for service 1 (Gateshead - Whitley Bay).
April 2018
Go North East
This vehicle has been reinstated at Hexham Depot, to operate the seasonal Hadrian's Wall Country Bus AD122 service.
April 2009
Go North East
This vehicle has received "Coaster" branding, with sub-branding for service 1 (Gateshead - Whitley Bay).
April 2007
Go North East
This vehicle has been repainted into a purple cream base livery, and has also received "The Drifter" branding, for services 60 (Sunderland - Seaham - Parkside) and 61 (Sunderland - Murton).
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.