Optare has begun supplying the first buses of a 32-vehicle order from Nottingham City Transport (NCT). The deal, to be completed during the second half of this year, is for Omnidekka double-deck buses, based on Scania chassis.
NCT is the largest operator of the Omnidekka in the UK, having first introduced the model to its fleet in 2003. It is now the only double-deck bus the company operates. When these latest orders are complete, Omnidekkas will account for half of the organisation's 330 vehicle fleet.
"These vehicles don't show up as Optare models in the official vehicle registration data, because, unlike the integral Solos and Versas we supply to them, and the 24 Solo SRs that they currently have on order, it is the chassis manufacturer who is credited with the registration," explains John Horn, Optare's sales director.
"The fact that NCT operates such a variety of Optare models clearly demonstrates our ability to meet any requirement from midibuses through to low weight but heavy duty single- and double-deckers" he continues.
"We also continue to offer our Olympian double-deck body on various makes of chassis, in both two- and three-axle configurations, and as an open-top tour bus,"
Horn adds that development work on a "ground-breaking integral double-decker" is progressing well. This vehicle will enter the market "when demand in this market sector shows signs of a more sustained recovery", he says. ??
