14 Aug 2020, 11:35 pm
#13
(14 Aug 2020, 11:03 pm)streetdeckfan For a lot of routes, it's not the length that's the issue, it's the width. And that's one area where the Solo excels.
I might be wrong in thinking this, but I believe because the Solos are wheel forward, it means they can get round tighter bends than a door forward vehicle of the same length.
Yeah that is true with the wheel, mostly for tight estates etc. However I believemost the Solo if not all the Solo routes currently used to be ran by MPD's which are the predecessor of the new Enviro 200 MMC. Quite a few solo routes could easily have wider buses but was probably more the fact that GNE were just buying Optare buses at the time. Also the shortest Enviro (8.7m) is shorter than the shortest Solo (9.25m) and also narrower (2.47m vs 2.5m) excluding slimlines.
All the Percy Main network could easily be ran by them, the same as the X6, X7 and X20 which have all had deckers or full length singles on at times and they're the routes that are likely if any to get newer buses.
Venture is out and I can't see Peterlee or Washington getting replacements as their fine for awhile, I'm not sure on the Hexham routes and the contract terms but they used to be MPD so don't see an issue there.
Genuinely don't see any issues with them anywhere with GNE, could even possibly see other routes downgraded to minis at some point, does the 34/34A really need Versa's for example and I believe they have some of the oldest in the fleet which will need replacement soon enough especially with Covid expected long term drops.
Have to see what happens though.
