(11 Mar 2016, 6:03 pm)thetravelman wrote Thanks Dan.
Will this stay as an MPD when the new Solos come?
Are the MPDs which are staying at Hexham, going to be used on a specific Tynedale Links Service eg: 688 or will the MPDs Just mix in with the Solos and both vehicle types together work any Tynedale Links services except obviously the 680 service.
(11 Mar 2016, 6:25 pm)Dan wrote I'm not 100%, but I would imagine that it will stay the same.
One board on the 688 service runs onto scholars service 141, which requires seatbelts, so MPD 618 is allocated to this board at present. As this vehicle was refurbished specifically for this purpose, I cannot see this allocation being changed, but if 618 is VOR, one of the new Optare Solos will be allocated in its place, to fulfil the contractual requirement of seatbelts on the 141 service.
In my opinion; it would make sense to allocate three of the five new Solos to the boards on service 74, which interwork with service 686 and 687, as well as scholars 112, as these are the more 'long-distance' services which would benefit from improved reliability. One of these boards also runs onto service 688, so it would keep the seatbelt specification consistent on this service. I would then allocate one to services X81/681/185, as the new Optare Solos should be more reliable than the present MPD allocation, and another to service 682.
This would mean that an MPD would continue to be allocated to service 683, with two MPDs remaining as spares.
Thanks again Dan.
I agree with your idea, that keeping the new Solos for the longer distance services Ie: 74/686/687 and X81/681/185 boards in the first instance would help keep these service more reliable.
I presume all the new Optare Solos for Hexham are going to come ready fitted with seat belts, so that they are all compliant with NCC - Hexham and Sorrounding area Scholars services.