Vehicle Details
Registration: NL63 XZW
Chassis: Optare Solo SR M890
Bodywork: Optare
Depot: Go South West
Livery: Adapted 2019 fleet livery
Year new: 2013
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. As such, this vehicle has now been reinstated at Deptford.
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Following completion of all required vehicle re-allocations; this vehicle has been temporarily withdrawn from service due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and has been officially delicensed (SORN'd), enabling Go North East to obtain a tax refund.
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 Percy Main Depot to Deptford, where it will see primary allocation to service 238 (Sunderland - Houghton-le-Spring), as well as acting as a spare vehicle for services 33/33A (The Docks - Silksworth via City Centre).
September 2017
Go North East
Following the transfer of the weekday operation of service 689 (Consett - Hexham) from Stanley Depot to Hexham in July, this vehicle has now transferred from Stanley Depot to Percy Main. Though intended to transfer in line with the loss of work at Stanley, it was temporarily retained at Stanley to assist in a repaint programme involving the "Venture" branded Optare Solo SR M890/Optare vehicles.
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.
April 2017
Go North East
Photograph by
Having previously carried "Venture" branding; this vehicle has been repainted into Go North East's corporate livery, ahead of upcoming service changes in May which will see this vehicle no longer form part of the PVR at Stanley. This example carries the tagline "Never miss your stop | Many of our buses have next stop screens and announcements"
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.
link Related
April 2017
Go North East
This vehicle has transferred from Chester-le-Street Depot to Crook, on temporary loan, to alleviate vehicle shortages.
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 been repainted into a plain cream base livery, also gaining a small "Coaster" logo below the windscreen in the process.