Mulleys Motorways YJ23 EKN and YJ23 EKO at Ixworth - 25 Mar 2023 (P1140717)

Saturday 25 March 2023 – Two new Optare MetroDeckers were delivered to Mulleys Motorways on Friday 24 March 2023 and they are seen here parked at Ixworth.

Powered by Mercedes-Benz engines these integral buses are registered YJ23 EKN and YJ23 EKO and were part of an order placed by Reading Buses in June 2018 to operate the Green Line branded route 702 from London to Slough, Windsor and Legoland. Reading Buses cancelled the order in July 2020 as part of a number of financial cutbacks made following the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Passenger capacity is for 75 seated passengers plus 8 standees. When a wheelchair passenger is carried the number of seated passengers is reduced by 3. All seats have seatbelts.

The vehicles feature a number of interior refinements not otherwise expected on normal service buses. The seats feature a drop down tray with cup holder, a coat/bag hanger (a retractable stud pushed to reveal and push again to retract), USB point and phone charger.

Optare Group Limited was re-named Switch Mobility Limited at the end of November 2020.