Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) has purchased 14 Optare Solos to be used on various subsidised local bus services across the area, including on its demand-responsive service MyBus. 

The 7.9m, Euro 5, Slim line, Solos are all fitted with leather seats and seatbelts,  the six MyBus Solos feature two wheelchair bays and 17 seats, making them ideal for use on MyBus, a bookable bus service offering door-to-door transport in urban and rural areas.

The latest vehicles will be used by operators First Glasgow on mainstream routes in Motherwell, Larkhall and Wishaw, joining other Solos already purchased by SPT, including four acquired recently as part of the fleet for the subsidised bus network on the isle of Arran (operated on SPT’s behalf by Stagecoach). 

An SPT spokesperson said: “SPT appreciates just how vital bus travel is in the public transport mix.  The purchase of these new buses is part of our commitment to keeping communities connected and making public transport accessible, attractive and easy to use. We currently have a number of Slimline Solos in operation and they have performed well on our MyBus service, meeting our requirements for seating capacity, while still being of a size that permits ease of operation in residential urban areas and more remote rural locations.”

Tim Matthews, UK Sales & National Key Account Manager, Optare, said: “SPT has been a customer of Optare for many years and we are thrilled to be supplying more of our popular Solos to help keep the communities of Strathclyde connected.”