And then there was one



Excel 217  under refurbishment back in 2009

Optare Excel 223 has departed today to Teesside to receive its new engine at Cummins. This will leave sister 225 as the only original specification Excel in use. Sister 226 will be the return load from Cummins tomorrow. The refurbishment programme commenced in summer 2007 when 210 was treated and it returned to use in September. The programme, which also involves body work overhaul and, usually a repaint has involved the following vehicles with their completion date and livery.

• 1  210   September 2007 (Line 7 livery, since into new livery)
• 2  211   November 2007 (Line 7 livery, since into new livery)
• 3  212   March 2008 (Line 7 livery)
• 4  213   August 2008 (Line 7 livery)
• 5  220   October 2008 (pool livery)
• 6  216   January 2009 (Line 7 livery)
• 7  218   November 2009 (no repaint, kept pool livery)
• 8  217   November 2009 (Line 7 livery)
• 9  219   February 2010 (pool livery)
• 10 215  June 2010 (Line 7 livery)
• 11 212  January 2011 (new livery)
• 12 224  February 2011 (new livery)
• 13 221  September 2011 (retained pool livery but soon repainted into new livery)
• 14 222  December 2011 (new livery)
• 15 226  returned January 2012 (for new livery)

 Meanwhile Solo 254 is nearing the end of its repaint into the new fleet livery.