Vehicle Details
Registration: YJ62 FMA
Chassis: Optare Solo SR M900
Bodywork: Optare
Depot: Go South West
Livery: 2019 fleet livery
Year new: 2012
Vehicle History
January 2020
Go North East
Photograph by
As a result of service changes and consequent re-allocations, this vehicle has transferred from Deptford Depot to Consett. At Consett, this vehicle should primarily be allocated to operate the new 30/31/32 services which operate from Stanley to Lanchester, East Stanley and Annfield Plain.
May 2019
Go North East
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 Peterlee Depot to Deptford, in order to operate services 33/33A (The Docks - Silksworth via City Centre).
September 2018
Go North East
Photograph by
Following brief use at Deptford Depot, this vehicle has now transferred from Deptford Depot to Peterlee. It is the final vehicle of the trio of former Dawson Rental Optare Solos to be allocated to Peterlee, meaning that "Wear Xpress" services X6/X7 should revert to the original allocation of 4x Optare Solo, with three of the boards having been temporarily allocated Scania L94UB/Wright Solar vehicles since March owing to a shortage of minibuses. Alongside sisters 719 (YJ62 FME) and 720 (YJ62 FYH), it should act as the spare vehicle for the "indiGo East Durham" and "Wear Xpress" branded services in the event that any of the branded vehicles are unfit for service. One of these vehicles should also be allocated to scholars service 452 (Houghton School - St. Michael's RC Primary School) and workers' service 968 (Easington Lane - Waterview Park).
September 2018
Go North East
Following the cascade of Optare Solo M880/Optare 705 (YJ10 MFN) to Washington Depot, where it will act as a spare vehicle for Washington's minibus services, this vehicle has transferred from Washington Depot to Deptford. It is intended for this vehicle to transfer onward to Peterlee Depot, where it will enable Scania L94UB/Wright Solar 5206 (NK54 NVA) to transfer back to Chester-le-Street.
July 2018
Go North East
Photograph by
Although originally intended to be allocated to Peterlee Depot, this vehicle has now entered service at Washington Depot on the recently awarded 23 service contract, operating between Washington Galleries and Barley Mow Estate, via Birtley. The allocation of this vehicle to Washington - as well as similar 723 (YD63 UZC) which has temporarily transferred to Washington from Hexham - is pending delivery of new minibuses for Durham County Council contracts, and subsequent re-allocations of the existing vehicles allocated to these services to Washington.
July 2018
Go North East
Photograph by
Following completion of route learning at Washington Depot for the new 23 service, this vehicle has been taken out of service again and is undergoing further preparation for service at Peterlee. Although taken out of service; it will be used to test the 'Next Stop' audio-visual announcement system on Crook's 18 service, ahead of the entry into service of the Optare Solos destined to be allocated to the service, and also used as transport for vehicle movements associated with the Special Events in operation this month.
July 2018
Go North East
Photograph by
Pending delivery of parts required to fully prepare the vehicle for public service, this vehicle has been allocated to Washington Depot. Go North East has been awarded the contract to operate service 23 (Barley Mow Estate – Birtley – Washington) from Sunday 22nd July 2018, so route learning for low-cost drivers at Washington Depot is currently in progress. As it has not been fully prepared for service, this vehicle cannot be allocated to public service, but will instead be used by drivers undergoing route learning.
June 2018
Go North East
Intended to be allocated to Peterlee Depot once prepared for service, this vehicle has now been fitted with free Wi-Fi prior to entering service. This vehicle being fitted with Wi-Fi means that all services operating in the Peterlee and Tees Valley (Stockton, Middlesbrough and Hartlepool) areas will offer free Wi-Fi to passengers.
June 2018
Go North East
Photograph by
Prior to entering service, this vehicle has been repainted into Go North East's corporate livery. This example carries the tagline "It's our fantastic people - all 2000 of them - that make the wheels on our buses go round and round".
May 2018
Go North East
New in December 2012 to Courtney Coaches, Bracknell, this vehicle was recently returned to the lessor (Dawson Group) and has now been acquired by Go North East, where it has received fleet number 718. It is one of a batch of 8 pre-owned Optare Solos being acquired by Go North East, due to a shortage of minibuses following the award of contracts. This example is of a more ‘premium’ specification, featuring high-back Civic V3 seats with black leather headrests, and is also fitted with Next Stop Announcements. It also features a full colour front destination display, a feature fairly unique to the Go North East fleet, with long-term loan demonstrator Optare Versa V1170 Hybrid/Optare 9084 (YJ64 DZM) being the only other bus in the fleet to have such a destination display.
link Related
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 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
In order to combat the changing demand for bus services in the current Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, this vehicle has been reinstated at Riverside Depot.
April 2019
Go North East
In line with the operation of "Toon Link" services 6 and X31 transferring from Stanley Depot to Riverside, this vehicle has also transferred to Riverside.
April 2016
Go North East
This vehicle has received the orange variant of the revised "Loop" branding.
April 2017
Go North East
Presently unbranded; this vehicle has returned to service at Riverside Depot, where it will see allocation to services 12/12A (Newcastle - Winlaton).
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).