Farewell to the Standard Solo

[trentside]

Optare have announced on their website that the standard Optare Solo model, introduced in 1997, is to be retired. From Summer 2012, only the Solo SR will be available - with additional models introduced.

http://www.optare.com/pr_03_01_12.htm

 

[Ivo]

I gues it's bye-bye to what is for the most part a great little bus to travel on (in my opinion anyway). I've been on Solos in several parts of the country and seen them at work in many more and they have always come across as reliable little machines, even on routes where their use isn't really ideal such as on the Sundays/Holidays-only Southend to Brentwood route as I found out on December 27th.

I assume that Bath will thus be one of the few places where old will continue to meet new as far as Solos are concerned - if you don't know what to make of Solos in Bath, the model in the picture released by Optare is one of our very own. That picture was taken opposite the entrance to the University of Bath.

The new models certainly look sleek, but there's nothing to set them apart from Versas besides size - whereas the older ones had a uniqueness about them.

 

[Temple Meads]

I'm afraid I never really liked them to be honest, always found them a bit "buzzy"..

 

[northwichcat]

I gues it's bye-bye to what is for the most part a great little bus to travel on (in my opinion anyway).

Not yet unless Optare are giving free upgrades to all operators who purchased the original models. There's plenty of Mercedes 709D still in operation and they've not been produced for years.

 

[Aictos]

Peterborough recently got some new ones which are jinxed, the Bus Stopping sign which lights up when a passenger presses a button which sounds a bell keeps going off on it's own accord!

Perfect for local runs though...

 

[Blindtraveler]

Peterborough recently got some new ones which are jinxed, the Bus Stopping sign which lights up when a passenger
presses a button which sounds a bell keeps going off on it's own accord!

Perfect for local runs though...

wmdl if thats all thats wrong with them them good going.

As some here know I think, I feel about Solos the way others feel about Pacers, i.e, horrid little things and I woant be sorry to see the discontinuation of the standard moddle and even less so when opperaters start replacing them!

The SR seams an aj round better bus and although the build is as standard, a bit shoddy, the drivers iv spoken to who are mainly from Berwick based Perimans prefer them as indeed do I. A question though, is the SR available in the shorter length as used by some opperaters on v quiet services, I think maybe only 20 or so seats?

 

[trentside]

The SR seams an aj round better bus and although the build is as standard, a bit shoddy, the drivers iv spoken to who are mainly from Berwick based Perimans prefer them as indeed do I. A question though, is the SR available in the shorter length as used by some opperaters on v quiet services, I think maybe only 20 or so seats?

It isn't available in the shorter lengths at the moment, but when the updated model launches in the Summer, it will be.

 

[Blindtraveler]

It isn't available in the shorter lengths at the moment, but when the updated model launches in the Summer, it will be.

are thanks. Solo travel has 4ome hope of improving and unless someone can come up with somthing better then they wil continue to sell many of them.

 

[90019]

are thanks. Solo travel has 4ome hope of improving and unless someone can come up with somthing better then they wil continue to sell many of them.

Wright have decided that they want in on the Solo's market so brought out the StreetLite, whether they're better or not, I don't know.

 

[trentside]

Wright have decided that they want in on the Solo's market so brought out the StreetLite, whether they're better or not, I don't know.

An operator round here with a number of Solos has recently put 3 StreetLites in service. Having been on them, there really isn't much to compare the two from a passengers perspective - the StreetLite is maybe a little quieter and feels slightly more robust, but that's about it really.

 

[anthony263]

Streetlite's are ok except the turning cirlcle on them is terrible compared to the Optare solo.

Seen 1 strugle when working the Ystradgynlias local bus servie 121 which has some very narrow tight turns although you dont have the problem of grounding with the streetlite which does affect some versions of the optare solo.

I have travelled on a streetlite and I still prefer the solo. I dont like the solo's which are fitted with MAN engines though they just seem to rattle more than those fitted with Mercedes-benz engines.

 

[Blindtraveler]

Streetlite's are ok except the turning cirlcle on them is terrible compared to the Optare solo.

Seen 1 strugle when working the Ystradgynlias local bus servie 121 which has some very narrow tight turns although you dont have the problem of grounding with the streetlite which does affect some versions of the optare solo.

I have travelled on a streetlite and I still prefer the solo. I dont like the solo's which are fitted with MAN engines though they just seem to rattle more than those fitted with Mercedes-benz engines.

the Mans/cumins ones are better for hilly routes or those with lots of fast running in my opinion. As to Writes alternative iv never usf one but would I think automatically prefer it. Anybody know if anyone in the central belt of Scotland is ru6ing any? I need to bash one for comparison.

 

[Ivo]

I've never even heard of Streetlites until now hock:

Having checked their spec though, they appear to be more of a rival to the Versa than the Solo. Its minimum length is 8.8m, which is admittedly small for WrightBus - but at the top end of Solo availability. Still, it shows than some do still care about building the smaller vehicles that some routes require.

 

[ChrisCooper]

Strange really as the standard solos are still selling well, wheras the SRs never have. Only three operators around here have them, Arriva Derby bought a batch back in 2009, yet last year bought a batch of standard ones, Nottingham City Transport bought a large batch of SRs last year, and Marshalls of Sutton on Trent near Newark have 1. I think Solo sales in general are down though, as the economic situation is meaning many smaller operators who run Solos are feeling the squeeze, so are not replacing older models, and bigger companies are tending to drop the sort of routes that Solos run on. Then again, I can't see how only offering the more expensive SR would boost sales. Problem with the SR is not only do they cost more, weight more, but also lack a lot of common parts with the standard model and require more expensive curved glass windows wheras the Solos are flat. Perhaps they feel they can take advantage of a captive audience with the DDA deadline looming and quite a few none compliant buses (including early Solos) to replace.

Regarding the Streetlite, from what I've heard they are not good at all. Then again the company I'm most familiar with that has them bought pre-production versions so they did have a lot of teething issues (worst being leaky windows that then leaked onto electrics, so basically if it rained they would just die and need towing back).

 

[trentside]

I've never even heard of Streetlites until now hock:

Having checked their spec though, they appear to be more of a rival to the Versa than the Solo. Its minimum length is 8.8m, which is admittedly small for WrightBus - but at the top end of Solo availability. Still, it shows than some do still care about building the smaller vehicles that some routes require.

Although the Solo still has the smaller end of the market to itself, you can fit 33 people in an 8.8m StreetLite vs just 29 in a similar sized standard Solo. The upper end of the StreetLite range (with the front wheel behind the doors) is definitely a competitor to the Versa - just waiting to see one of these in service.

 

[90019]

the Mans/cumins ones are better for hilly routes or those with lots of fast running in my opinion. As to Writes alternative iv never usf one but would I think automatically prefer it. Anybody know if anyone in the central belt of Scotland is ru6ing any? I need to bash one for comparison.

The only one I'm aware of was when Lothian ran the demonstrator on the 20 a few months back. Not sure how much of a success it was though.

 

[Blindtraveler]

wel as I went for it 3 or 4 times and never got it not many im thinking! anoying as its wrong end of town for me grrr! heard a buz somewhere that now escapes me that McEwans were getting one or 2 for quieter dumfries runs but dont know if it happened or is happening

 

[90019]

wel as I went for it 3 or 4 times and never got it not many im thinking!

When they used it on the 20?

 

[ChrisCooper]

Although the Solo still has the smaller end of the market to itself, you can fit 33 people in an 8.8m StreetLite vs just 29 in a similar sized standard Solo. The upper end of the StreetLite range (with the front wheel behind the doors) is definitely a competitor to the Versa - just waiting to see one of these in service.

I think Wright are really trying to get more into the Midi market than the Mini market, since Wright haven't offered a midi since the Cadet and Crusader were phased out.

The smaller end of the market is actually quite competative due to the van conversions since these started to offer low floor versions. Really they are more competative than the Solo for a lot of the sort of work they would be doing. They also come in 16 seat versions which come under less strict regulations than large vehicles, including driver training (can be driven on a D1 licence, not a full D). They are really filling in the market that Mercedes had with it's range, including the popular 709, wheras even the smallest Solos are more in the top end of that range, the 811 and 814 (Vario), and their own Metrorider. Optare do offer a number of bodies on van chassis themselves.

 

[WillPS]

Probably the most successful bus since deregulation, great looking, questionable mechanics but still - 14 years in production and god knows how many units produced; you can't really argue with that.

 

[anthony263]

Had a chance to ride on a Optare solo today on service 172 from Porthcawl - Aberdare.

Lovelly trip although no chance of being better than the Volvo B10m's, although I must say even though the solo was packed it still managed to climb Maerdy mountain very quickly especially compared to the darts when they were used and that enviro 200 dart which stagecoach trialled on it ( Which inccidently packed up after only 1 or 2 trips)

There are still plenty of uses for the standard solo which are becoming very popular with the smaller independent companies.

Mr Greenback will be pleased as it looks like they could be replacing some of the darts used on local routes to Burry Port & Swiss Valley from Llanelli with some solo's displaced from Devon according to talk I have heard from staff

 

[Blindtraveler]

dont know the route but surprised it managed the climb so well. Solos round here dont like hills! Gotta agree that a B10M takes a bitta beating.

 

[anthony263]

dont know the route but surprised it managed the climb so well. Solos round here dont like hills! Gotta agree that a B10M takes a bitta beating.

Yes I too was surprised that it managed to get up Maerdy mount which is a very long steep twisting climb and is a popular with the bus photographers at the moment.

An example:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/48422263@N03/6668235901/in/contacts/


I was lucky to do service 172 on a plaxton beaver bodied Mercedes-Benz 709D which also really did do well too.

It will be interesting to see how the new scannia's cope with the route as they did trial an enviro 200 dart and a low floor volvo both of which really struggled with the route and from what I have heard the enviro 200 dart was pathetic.

I was surprised when I heard about the low floor volvo struggling to cope mind you as they do normally seem to pull up hills pretty well.

 

[Blindtraveler]

again surprised on the volvo. The 200s I have little time for as to me they seam gutless. The Scaniers should do ok though.

 

[mbonwick]

The Scanias should be well suited to the 172 with the way the gear ratios are set.

I'm not surprised that the B7RLE struggled - Volvo always seem to have stuggled to get decent low-end torque from their engines - something which Scania have always been good at.

 

[Blindtraveler]

il give you that one mbonwick, that said though we have many in edinburgh which perform quite well on some demanding runs gradiant wise.

 

[mbonwick]

It's not so much about the gradients, but the effect that this has on the gear/speed of the engine.

If the gradient causes the bus to drop a few gears and keep going, then a Volvo will be fine. It's the long gradients where vehicles are stuggling in a low gear with low revs that separate Scania and Volvo products - the former being superior to the latter.

 

[trentside]

If the gradient causes the bus to drop a few gears and keep going, then a Volvo will be fine. It's the long gradients where vehicles are stuggling in a low gear with low revs that separate Scania and Volvo products - the former being superior to the latter.

We've got an interesting contrast in Lincolnshire, being one of the few Stagecoach companies operating Volvo B7TLs and B7RLEs, alongside Scania N230UDs. On the main hill in Lincoln, the contrast is noticeable - the B7TLs make a huge fuss, while the Scanias seem to manage without much drama.

 

[Badger]

Am I the only one who wants to see an SR/Versa in Pendelino livery? That seems almost what they're going for! (In retrospect googling "virgin bus" wasn't my smartest idea.)

Sad to see the Solo go, I love them, they make up a large proportion of a great little local bus company: http://wmbusphotos.com/Midland/fleetlist.html