Dear Steve,
Earlier this year you had posts about the electric
buses in Milton Keynes, and the Chinese built electric buses in
London.
We were on holiday in north Yorkshire last week,
and visiting family in York. I had the chance to sample all electric Optare
Versas operated by First York on a park and ride service in York.
Park and Ride service 59 operates from a site off
the A59 Harrogate - York road at Poppleton Bar. It started on 8 June
2014, the basic frequency is every 10 min, seven days a
week.
 |
| 49001 Versa EV at Poppleton Bar pic (c) Robert Appleton |
It is worked by six all electric Optare Versa EV
fleetnumbers 49901 to 49906. As far as I could work out, they are based on the
Optare Versa V1110 ie 11.1m long. Their batteries are charged overnight in the
First York depot, then during the offpeak when five of the six Versas are
required to work the service, they can be topped up using two charging
points at Poppleton Bar. Photo attached of 49902 shows it
recharging.
 |
| 49002 re-charging at Poppleton Bar pic (c) Robert Appleton |
In the peak hours all six Optare Versa EV are
required for service. If one of the Versas is undergoing maintenance then a
First York diesel engined Volvo B7RLE/Wright Eclipse in silver York park and
ride livery is used.
 |
| 49005 at Poppleton Bar pic (C) Robert Appleton |
I had a ride on 49906 in to York and back again,
Very smooth, good acceleration, comfortable seats. Very quiet, just a faint
whine from the electric motor, and you will be pleased to know no rattles at
all!
 |
| Rear view of 49006 at Poppleton Bar pic (C) Robert Appleton |
The attached scanned leaflet shows the route ie it
serves York railway station. So if you ever go to York by train, it would
be easy to use this service.
 |
| The Route 59 P&R route in York. |
Hope this may be of interest.
With best wishes,
Robert.
It certainly was, Robert. Thanks again.
No comments:
Post a Comment