(09 Sep 2023, 8:49 pm)Storx wrote Guess it depends what the long term aim is. The fact they've withdrawn newer Solo's would suggest that these don't have long left either and something is planned.

This is complete and outright speculation but SLS 1 - 22 in London are routeless at the end of the month which are 9.7m 66 Plate Streetlite's. People are expecting 14 of them to replace the ENS batch of Enviro 200 Dart's (which will also be routeless - doubt they'll end up here though) but there's still 8 of them with absolutely nowhere to go (no midibus routes in London) and it just happens to conveniently be the number of Solo's remaining in service up here ignoring the 3 short Solo's which are ideal for the 434. I'm not sure whether they can do the 96 but full length Streetlite's have been on in the past. I know it's a bit 1+1=2 sort of theory but wouldn't be surprised by it especially considering the number of Streetlite's we already have now at both depots.

Otherwise I have a feeling these will displace them out from other movements elsewhere (not sure what) even known there's the problem of no emergency door.

The short solos (2601-2603) are no good on the 57/57a at all. I had 2603 on the 19:16 57a Departure from Whitley Bay, it was full to standing, and a fight almost started to boot. Standing capacity is non-existent either. It needs sorting stat.