Vehicle Details
Registration: NK61 FEU
Chassis: Optare Solo SR M890
Bodywork: Optare
Depot: Drew Wilson Coach Sales
Livery: Little Coasters
Year new: 2011
Vehicle History
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. 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 Riverside Depot to Percy Main.
March 2020
Go North East
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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 Percy Main Depot to Riverside.
August 2019
Go North East
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Following repaint, this vehicle has received "Little Coasters" branding.
August 2019
Go North East
Following service changes and consequent re-allocations, this vehicle has lost its "indiGo" branding having been repainted into a new two-tone blue base livery.
July 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 North Tyne" services 40/41 and 42/42A.
August 2016
Go North East
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Following recent service changes which saw the PVR of the "indiGo North Tyne" services rise by three vehicles, this vehicle has received "indiGo North Tyne" 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 it does not yet have either of these features.
August 2016
Go North East
Having previously carried "Nexus" branding, this vehicle has been repainted into a plain pink base livery. There are a number of changes to Go North East's services in the North Tyneside and surrounding areas, from 24th July 2016. Pheonix Coaches has been awarded with the contract to operate the entire Whitley Bay Town Network from both Go North East (W1/W1A and W3) and Arriva (59/359 and W2). As a result of losing the contract to operate the W1/W1A and W3 services, the four "Nexus" branded Optare Solo SRs which Go North East currently allocate to this service will be repainted pink. These four Optare Solos will join the "indiGo North Tyne" brand, due to changes associated with the services encompassed within this brand.
July 2014
Go North East
A low-cost unit - operational from 27th July 2014 - has been set up at Percy Main Depot which sees the transfer of "Nexus" branded Optare Solo SR M890s 625 (NK11 HBB), 627 (NK61 DBY) and 631 (NK61 FEU) from Saltmeadows to Percy Main. The work which moves with these vehicles includes the Monday - Saturday operation of services W1/W1A and W3, in addition to the Sunday operation of Nexus-secured services 32/32A.
December 2011
Go North East
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This vehicle has entered service at Saltmeadows Road Depot.
December 2011
Go North East
Ahead of its entry into service, this vehicle has received "Nexus" branding.
December 2011
Go North East
This vehicle, which carries a grey and red base livery, has arrived into the Go North East fleet, and is currently being prepared for service at Saltmeadows Road Depot. It will be allocated to Saltmeadows Road Depot's low-cost unit comprising of Nexus-secured services.
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April 2011
Go North East
This vehicle has received "Cobalt Clipper" branding, with sub-branding for services 309/310.
April 2015
Go North East
This vehicle has now entered service at Riverside Depot on "X66 Metrocentre" service X66.
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 2019
Go North East
In order to provide a higher-specification vehicle on service X30 (Stanley - Newcastle), this vehicle has transferred from Riverside Depot to the Hownsgill Depot.
April 2007
Go North East
Having been delivered in a plain red base livery; this vehicle has now been repainted into a silver and blue base livery at Thornton Brothers, Ashington, and has also received "Cobalt Clipper" branding.