DAF DB250 / Optare Spectra
Four Spectra's surround a Leyland Olympian at Washington Depot
The Optare Spectra isn't a vehicle new to Go North East. Acquired from London Central when they lost service 3 in 2000 to replace many unrefurbished Metrobuses and most of the Gardener engined Leyland Olympians. Two London Spectras have never entered service in the North East. These two are SP2 the only dual door Spectra of the Batch which was with Stagecoach, and SP14 which is owned by Go North East but fell of a viaduct and is uneconomical to repair, however it is to be at a Go North East depot, and unusually it has been given the fleetnumber of 3846.
Spectras are allocated to two depots, Washington and Chester Le Street. For a short period of time 4 Spectras were allocated to Sunderland Road for the X10. The majority of Spectras are at Washington. The Spectras based at Washington perform on the Washington Express Services (X5, X15, X90 and X94), also they appear on Asda buses. Chester examples appear on a variety of routes but mainly the 551, 726 and 733. The Spectras do make odd appearances on the 21 Group and the local services out of Chester. Ever since the Optare Spectras arrived in Go North East, they have been allocated to the 551.
Registrations
3834 - K301FYG
3835 - 3849 - K303FYG etc.
3850 - K125PGO
3851 - K124PGO
3852 - K160PGO
3853 - 3856 - K321FYG etc.
3857 - K159PGO
Former London Fleet Numbers
SP1 - 3834, SP3-SP25 - 3835-3857.
Depot Depositions
Washington (GWB) - 13 (3834/36/37/38/40/41/42/43/45/47/48/52/55)
Chester Le Street (GoN) - 10 (3835/39/44/49/50/51/53/54/56/57)
Deliecensed - 1 (3846)
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| A Spectra is seen at Stanley about to Depart for Chester Le Street on service 73. | A Spectra is seen in Doxford Park on a special journey on the 133 to Sunderland Interchange. |
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| Could a GNE Spectra page be complete without a picture of a Spectra in service in the Washington Area. Here is 1 example performing duties on the 188 at Concord Bus Station. | The NIS Spectra has come to rescue the other Spectra on the left that broke down because the doors refused to close. Every passenger apart from me got on the following 21 to Durham. I wanted to go to Ferryhill. The two are just seen outside of Chester Le Street in August 2002. |