Mulleys Optare Solos

Saturday 19 June 2021 (0926) – Public bus services began serving the new Mildenhall Hub site on Monday 14 June 2021. However, the layby for their calling point was not yet completed although the bus shelter was in place and can be seen on the right. Meanwhile the buses were using the school bus parking area temporarily. Mulleys Motorways MX57 HDH working service 358 from West Row to Mildenhall. It is an Optare Solo 920SL (9.2 metres long slimline model) which was new in September 2007 to Nightingale Coaches (Johnson) of Greencroft, Annfield Plain, County Durham. Parked in the background overnight is West Row Coach Services W914 BEC, an Irizar Century bodied Scania L94 that was new Battersby-Silver Grey of Morecambe in March 2000. The recently opened Mildenhall Hub is located on the western edge of the town centre and houses a number of different community facilities including the Council Offices, Clinic, Library, Leisure Centre, Swimming Pool, Police Offices, etc all of which were previously located in different parts of the town. Close by is the Mildenhall College Academy, created with the merging of the Mildenhall Upper and Riverside Middle Schools on the expanded site of the latter.

Thursday 24 June 2021 (0814) – Two Mulleys Motorways buses seen in St. Andrew’s Street North, Bury St. Edmunds. Left is MX57 HDH an Optare Solo which was new in September 2007 to Nightingale Coaches (Johnson) of Greencroft, Annfield Plain, County Durham. Right is YN54 AHA working service M55 to the Mildenhall Road and Howard Estates. It is a Scania N94UD OmniCity new to Nottingham City Transport (208) in September 2004.

Friday 8 July 2022 (1051) – Dogs Head Street near the Old Cattle Market Bus Station in Ipswich. Mulleys Motorways MX57 HDH had recently arrived on service 111 from Hitcham (Cross Green) and was now out of service. It is an Optare Solo 920SL (9.2 metres long slimline model) that had been new to to Nightingale Coaches (Johnson) of Greencroft, Annfield Plain, County Durham in September 2007. The rear panel information relates to a town service in Bury St. Edmunds. First Eastern Counties Buses 67775 (SN62 AXO), an Alexander Dennis Enviro300 new to First Midland Bluebird in January 2012, operating the Park & Ride service 800. Park & Ride livery.

Friday 8 July 2022 (1048) - Mulleys Motorways MX57 HDH, seen on the approach to the Old Cattle Market Bus Station in Ipswich arriving on service 111 from Hitcham (Cross Green). It is an Optare Solo 920SL (9.2 metres long slimline model) that had been new to to Nightingale Coaches (Johnson) of Greencroft, Annfield Plain, County Durham in September 2007. Following is First Eastern Counties Buses 67775 (SN62 AXO), an Alexander Dennis Enviro300 new to First Midland Bluebird in January 2012, operating the Park & Ride service 800. Happy Bench Monday!

Friday 8 July 2022 (1048) - Mulleys Motorways MX57 HDH, seen on the approach to the Old Cattle Market Bus Station in Ipswich arriving on service 111 from Hitcham (Cross Green). It is an Optare Solo 920SL (9.2 metres long slimline model) that had been new to to Nightingale Coaches (Johnson) of Greencroft, Annfield Plain, County Durham in September 2007. Following is First Eastern Counties Buses 67775 (SN62 AXO), an Alexander Dennis Enviro300 new to First Midland Bluebird in January 2012, operating the Park & Ride service 800.

Friday 8 July 2022 (1049) – Dogs Head Street near the Old Cattle Market Bus Station in Ipswich. First Eastern Counties Buses 69422 (AU58 FFJ), a Wright Eclipse Urban bodied Volvo B7RLE new in January 2009. Ipswich Reds livery with ‘Felixstowe Flyers’ branding. First Eastern Counties Buses 67775 (SN62 AXO), an Alexander Dennis Enviro300 new to First Midland Bluebird in January 2012, operating the Park & Ride service 800. Park & Ride livery. Mulleys Motorways MX57 HDH, had arrived on service 111 from Hitcham (Cross Green). It is an Optare Solo 920SL (9.2 metres long slimline model) that had been new to to Nightingale Coaches (Johnson) of Greencroft, Annfield Plain, County Durham in September 2007.

Friday 8 July 2022 (1049) – Dogs Head Street near the Old Cattle Market Bus Station in Ipswich. Ipswich Buses 103 (SN16 OGJ), an Alexander Dennis (ADL) Enviro200D new in March 2016, which is branded for the ‘Greenwich Greyhound’ service 1. Seen in Dogs Head Street heading to Nacton Road (John Lewis/Waitrose store). Mulleys Motorways MX57 HDH, had arrived on service 111 from Hitcham (Cross Green). It is an Optare Solo 920SL (9.2 metres long slimline model) that had been new to to Nightingale Coaches (Johnson) of Greencroft, Annfield Plain, County Durham in September 2007.

Saturday 7 July 2012 (1630) – The Olympic Torch Relay was passing along Fornham Road, Bury St. Edmunds on day 50 of the 70 day long route. General traffic was held up as a result and Mulleys Motorways MX57 HDH is seen paused at the Railway Station during a temporary hold up when operating the 1620 town service M55. This me a chance to switch off the bus and see something of the proceedings as they passed by.

Friday 5 June 2015 (1114) - Mulleys Motorways YJ57 YDB seen in St. Andrew's Street, Bury St. Edmunds working service M55 to the Mildenhall and Howard housing estates. It is a 10.2 metre long Optare Solo new to Peterborough City Council (#600) in December 2007. The Council began a small scale bus operation in 2007(?) in order to operate a number of regular bus services which could not be run viably by a commercial operator thus requiring Council subsidy. On July 1 2011 this operation was transferred to Enterprise Peterborough, a partnership created by the Council with outsourcing contractor Enterprise. In 2013 it was decided that these bus services, branded ‘Local Link’, would again be contracted out and Stagecoach in Peterborough became the chosen bidder.

Friday 5 June 2015 (1114) - Mulleys Motorways YJ57 YDB seen in St. Andrew's Street, Bury St. Edmunds working service M55 to the Mildenhall and Howard housing estates. It is a 10.2 metre long Optare Solo new to Peterborough City Council in December 2007. The Council began a small scale bus operation in 2007(?) in order to operate a number of regular bus services which could not be run viably by a commercial operator thus requiring Council subsidy. On July 1 2011 this operation was transferred to Enterprise Peterborough, a partnership created by the Council with outsourcing contractor Enterprise. In 2013 it was decided that these bus services, branded ‘Local Link’, would again be contracted out and Stagecoach in Peterborough became the chosen bidder.

Saturday 25 November 2023 (1012) – Mulleys Motorways YJ57 YDB seen in St. Andrew’s Street North, Bury St. Edmunds just after completing the 0940 town service M44 serving the Mildenhall Road and Howard housing estates. The bus and driver would now drop out of service for a break to resume as the 1120 service M55. It is a 10.2 metre long Optare Solo new to Peterborough City Council (#600) in December 2007.

Saturday 25 November 2023 (0951) – On board Mulleys Motorways YJ57 YDB in Severn Road, Bury St. Edmunds when working the 0940 Bury St. Edmunds town service M44 serving the Mildenhall Road and Howard housing estates. It is a 10.2 metre long Optare Solo new to Peterborough City Council (#600) in December 2007.

Saturday 25 November 2023 (1012) – Mulleys Motorways YJ57 YDB seen in St. Andrew’s Street North, Bury St. Edmunds just after completing the 0940 town service M44 serving the Mildenhall Road and Howard housing estates. The bus and driver would now drop out of service for a break to resume as the 1120 service M55. It is a 10.2 metre long Optare Solo new to Peterborough City Council (#600) in December 2007.

Saturday 5 September 2015 (1154) - Mulleys Motorways YJ57 YDB seen in St. Andrews Street North, Bury St. Edmunds. An Optare Solo that had been new to Peterborough Council in December 2007.

Saturday 5 September 2015 (1154) - Mulleys Motorways YJ57 YDB seen in St. Andrews Street North, Bury St. Edmunds. An Optare Solo that had been new to Peterborough Council in December 2007.

Saturday 5 September 2015 (1154) - Mulleys Motorways YJ57 YDB seen in St. Andrews Street North, Bury St. Edmunds. An Optare Solo that had been new to Peterborough Council in December 2007.

Thursday 20 December 2018 (1158) – Mulleys Motorways YJ57 YDB and pre-Christmas shoppers seen in St. Andrew's Street, Bury St. Edmunds. Having arriving from the Mildenhall and Howard housing estates on the 1120 circular service M55 it was about to turn round and work the 1200 service M44. A 10.2 metre long Optare Solo new to Peterborough City Council (#600) in December 2007.

Thursday 30 July 2020 (1144) – Mulleys Motorways YJ57 YDB seen in West Row when working the 1130 circular service 358 from Mildenhall which arrives back in Mildenhall at 1144. It is an Optare Solo that had been new to Peterborough Council in December 2007.