Vehicle Details
Registration: NK16 BXV
Chassis: Optare Solo SR M925
Bodywork: Optare
Depot: Sunderland
Livery: Sunderland District Graphite
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. This vehicle has transferred from Deptford Depot to Percy Main, to be allocated primarily to the Byker ASDA free bus service, with passenger numbers on this service having now reduced in number meaning that the Optare Versa can be utilised elsewhere.
June 2020
Go North East
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This vehicle has received new sub-branding for service X20 on the external cant rail, showing the revised route details (Sunderland - Houghton-le-Spring - Durham - Langley Park) following the service changes which took place from Monday 1 June 2020.
June 2020
Go North East
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Service changes from Monday 1 June 2020 resulted in X-lines service X20 being extended from Durham to Langley Park, via Arnison Centre, to replace service 14 and offer new cross-city journeys. As such, services X6/X7 have been taken out of the X-lines brand, with larger single-deck buses being used currently to help with social distancing for passengers using these services. As such, this vehicle has received new internal branding for service X20, including cove panels and a rear mural. The cant rail branding has been stripped to remove the reference to Peterlee, although will be replaced in due course.
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 transferred from Hexham Depot to Deptford.
May 2020
Go North East
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With an expectant announcement from the government this weekend that some 'lockdown' restrictions could be relaxed, there may be an increase in demand for bus services. Therefore, some services are going to be operated by larger vehicles, to allow greater social distancing on-board buses, and Go North East will deploy up to 10 'hot spare' vehicles at key bus stations over the morning and evening peaks. As such, this vehicle has been reinstated at Hexham.
April 2020
Go North East
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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 been taken out of service. It is expected to be formally delicensed closer to the end of the
month, in order to allow the company to claim a tax refund.
March 2020
Go North East
Due to the current Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, there is falling customer demand and available resources. Therefore, to combat this during these unprecedented times, Go North East has reduced its service levels from Monday 23 March to run enhanced Sunday timetables rather than the full normal weekday output (Sunday service levels, plus some extra morning journeys for key workers, and a small number of contracted school/works services). As such - due to the lower number of vehicles being required at the moment - a number of transfers have taken place to ensure services are operated by the most fuel-efficient, economic and reliable buses. One such transfer is of this vehicle from Deptford to Hexham, for primary use on "Tynedale Express" services X84/X85.
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 Percy Main Depot to Deptford, where it will be allocated to the revised X6/X7 services and the enhanced X20 service (which now runs all day Monday to Saturday instead of at peak-times only). "X-lines" is a new brand identity introduced to house express or limited-stop services and is designed to provide a more premium customer experience.
Following transfer to Deptford Depot, this vehicle also received "X-lines" branding, with sub-branding for services X6/X7 and X20, promoting the fast links between Sunderland and Peterlee or Durham, which these services offer. Whilst the majority of branded buses will now include advertisement frames as standard, "X-lines" branded buses will not include these, aiming to make them stand out against standard local buses. Each bus has a different message on the rear, with this example promoting the ability to get passengers to the shops, to work, or to the match.
May 2019
Go North East
Ahead of upcoming service changes and consequent re-allocations, this vehicle has lost its "indiGo" branding having been repainted into a new four-colour base livery. The livery is mostly gold-based at the front, with a berry colour at the rear. Prior to being repainted the bus was also fitted with USB charging sockets at Thornton Brothers, Ashington.
March 2016
Go North East
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This vehicle has entered service at Percy Main Depot.
March 2016
Go North East
Prior to entering service, this vehicle has received "indiGo" branding for the local network of services operating out of Percy Main Depot.
March 2016
Go North East
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This vehicle, which carries a plain pink base livery, has arrived into the Go North East fleet. It is currently being prepared for service at Saltmeadows Road Depot. Representing an investment of approximately £1,200,000, Go North East has ordered nine Optare Solo SR minibuses to be launched on the "North Tyne Links" network of services at Percy Main Depot. The services will be re-branded as "indiGo", promoting connections to Whitley Bay, Cobalt, Newcastle and beyond. 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 2008
Go North East
Prior to new branding being launched, this vehicle has been repainted into a plain pink base livery.
April 2019
Go North East
In order to provide a higher-specification vehicle on service X30 (Stanley - Newcastle), this vehicle has transferred from Saltmeadows Road Depot to the Hownsgill Depot.
April 2016
Go North East
This vehicle has had its sub-branding for "Fast Cats" services X35/X36 removed.
April 2009
Go North East
This vehicle has received "Coaster" branding, with sub-branding for service 1 (Gateshead - Whitley Bay).
April 2016
Go North East
Prior to the service changes taking place on Sunday 17th April 2016, this vehicle has transferred from Chester-le-Street Depot to Washington, allowing a period of driver familiarisation on the Scania OmniCity vehicle type.