Vehicle Details
Registration: YJ10 MFK
Chassis: Optare Solo M880
Bodywork: Optare
Depot: Go North West
Livery: Little Coasters
Year new: 2010
Vehicle History
July 2020
Go North East
Photograph by
To facilitate the transfer of Optare Solo SR M890/Optare 635 (NK61 FJP) and 636 (NK61 FXD) from Deptford to Hexham to operate the Hadrian's Wall Country Bus AD122 service, this vehicle has returned to service at Percy Main, allowing the displacement of fleet livery Optare Solo SRs to Deptford, to be used on the staff shuttle service in their place.
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 re-licensed, but remains out of service.
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Following completion of all required vehicle re-allocations; this vehicle has been temporarily withdrawn from service due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and has been officially delicensed (SORN'd), enabling Go North East to obtain a tax refund.
October 2019
Go North East
Photograph by
Following repaint, this vehicle has received "Little Coasters" branding.
October 2019
Go North East
This vehicle has been repainted into a new two-tone blue base livery, having previously carried "indiGo" branding.
May 2019
Go North East
Photograph by
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 Washington Depot to Percy Main, in order to operate "Little Coasters" service 11 and act as a spare vehicle for "Little Coasters" services 40/41/42.
September 2018
Go North East
Photograph by
Following temporary loan to Chester-le-Street Depot, this vehicle has now returned to service at Washington.
September 2018
Go North East
This vehicle has transferred from Washington Depot to Chester-le-Street, on temporary loan, to alleviate vehicle shortages.
August 2017
Go North East
This vehicle has been fitted with Wi-Fi, partially meeting the standard specification of the newer "indiGo" branded Optare Solo SR M925/Optare vehicles which operate on "indiGo Washington" services 81/82/83/84.
October 2016
Go North East
Photograph by
This vehicle has entered service at Washington Depot, on "indiGo" services 85/86.
September 2016
Go North East
This vehicle has received "indiGo Washington" branding. It lacks the Wi-Fi and Next Stop Announcement feature 'blobs' as featured on the new Optare Solo SR M925/Optare vehicles which entered service earlier this year, as, unlike the new vehicles, it does not have either of these features.
September 2016
Go North East
This vehicle has been repainted into a plain pink base livery. Once prepared for service; this vehicle will be allocated to Washington Depot, and the recently introduced "indiGo" brand will be expanded to encompass services 85/86.
September 2016
Go North East
Photograph by
Since the withdrawal of Oxfordshire County Council subsidies on 20th July 2016, Thames Travel has been operating the Bicester Town bus services 22 and 23 on a commercial basis.
These services run at a loss of approximately £4,500 per week and therefore this decision was a temporary arrangement, while Thames Travel continued discussions with several local stakeholders to pool existing finances and resources to safeguard the longer term future of the services. The company’s proposal included extended operating hours to better meet the needs of commuters using rail services, offering improved daily links to the new Park & Ride site and providing a frequent service between the town centre, two rail stations and Bicester Village.
Unfortunately, while some stakeholders were supportive of the company’s proposals and were prepared to provide some funding for the services, others chose to pursue their own commercial interests and therefore services 22 and 23 were withdrawn from the end of service on Saturday 3rd September 2016.
The Optare Solos allocated to these services are now hence surplus to requirements at Thames Travel, and have hence been acquired by Go North East, to allow for the withdrawal of further Transbus Mini Pointer Darts from the fleet. This vehicle was new to Thames Travel in May 2010 as fleet number 710 and was later re-numbered fleet number 704. As the Go-Ahead Group purchased the company in May 2011, it is currently fitted with non-standard Mobitec destination displays. These are planned to be removed prior to entry into service at Go North East.
link Related
April 2016
Go North East
This vehicle has transferred from Deptford Depot to Peterlee, on temporary loan, to operate "Wear Tees Xpress" service X7, whilst two branded Mercedes Citaros are VOR.
April 2015
Go North East
Ahead of its entry into service, this vehicle has been repainted into a plain red base livery.
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 2009
Go North East
This vehicle has received "Coaster" branding, with sub-branding for service 1 (Gateshead - Whitley Bay).