Optare Versa   

30128-30/2-6

During 2011 Rotala made a bid for  15 hybrid single deck vehicles using Government Green Bus Funding for use on the Bath Park and Ride service which they were as the time operating. Unfortunately during retendering of the service they lost the contract but were successful in obtaining the the Government funding. Following some negotiation with the Government it agreed the vehicles could still be purchased. Seven went to the Preston operation and 8 of the Optare Versa hybrid vehicles joined the West Midlands fleet. Ironically the buses were originally destined for Redditch for use of the 57 and 58 routes but agreement could not be reached with Worcestershire Council to part fund the buses. As a result the buses were put onto the 56 route from Birmingham City Centre and Brownhills. However, the buses proved too small for the route and were moved onto the Route 16 from Birmingham City Centre and Hamstead. Following retendering of the Signature network in Solihull by Centro in the Summer 2013 it was agreed to deploy a number of the vehicles on that network in return for a 5 year contract from Centro. Two of the buses were also used on the X30 service in Coventry. Like other operators with these types of vehicles they did not prove to be as fuel efficient as the manufacturer claimed. Also the hybrid technology proved difficult to maintain. Rotala took the decision when the initial lease contracts came to an end to withdraw the vehicles from service