Five new Optare Solos have entered service with Coastal Coaches and are the final vehicles of a fleet replacement programme of eight vehicles.  Family run Coastal Coaches currently operate an all Optare fleet of Optare Solos.  The Solos will operate on routes 76 and 78, around Blackpool, rural Fylde and Lytham St Annes.

The 7.9m Euro 5 slim line Solos seat up to 27.  Following a tradition of naming the buses after family and close friends these buses are named Master Jack, Master Peter, Miss Lucy, Sir Stuart and Miss Ruby, and join Master Luke, Master Liam and Miss Elvi who went into service earlier this year.

Bill Holder, owner at Coastal Coaches, said, “We have operated Solos for many years and have been extremely happy with the performance of the vehicle and I am delighted to say that we were not disappointed with the first of our fleet replacement vehicles that went into service earlier in the year.  We have found them to be economical and reliable and they have been extremely well received by our customers and drivers alike. The routes these vehicles serve are quite narrow in places so the slim line Solo is ideal for this purpose.”

Tim Matthews, Head of UK Sales, Optare, said, “I am pleased to hear that the first three buses have been so well received.  Coastal Coaches have been a loyal customer and supporter of Optare since 2003, and we are delighted to complete the replacement of their fleet of Solos with the latest model and we are delighted to complete the replacement of their fleet of Solos with the latest model.