(Today, 4:35 am)Dan wrote Generally speaking, as a passenger, I’m not a huge fan of small buses like these, as you feel every bump along the road. The 96 is slow-going, however, and unlikely to be going much more than 20mph at any point, so this isn’t as great an issue as a result.
However with your company although you don't like them as a passenger, these Minibuses are a "necessary evil" to enable you to win certain niche contracts, and also handy vehicles on rail replacement contracts that go to stations that are difficult to reach with a normal vehicle. Especially if you want the vehicle to go into the car park of more rural stations.
Whilst on the subject, I got 3 of the Stratas out in service on the 515/558/568. Once the 4th one is available, no doubt the 520 will revert back to using one too. Though I think the 515 could get away with a bigger vehicle, I do recall Veolia and later GNE using Solo / Solo SR on past variations of the 515, think it was the 68. It went up Nursery Lane like the 515 currently does. (Veolia Solo on Nursery Lane - https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photogenic/5813776498)
Anyway here is the Northstar Strata fleet in action....
11 at Boldon Colliery - https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...5408118780
13 on Nursery Lane, Felling - https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...5408119075
14 at Boldon Colliery - https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...5407733196
Here is number 13 when it was with Arriva North West in Macclesfield when less than a year old - https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...6806883817 - Turns out it did a stint with Arriva Southern Countries before Northstar acquired it.