Dennis Lance - Optare Sigma
Sigma 4786 is seen here on service 340 at Wallsend Metro
The Dennis Lance with Optare Sigma bodywork is quite rare in the UK and the Go-Ahead Group owns a majority if Optare Sigma's. When some of the Sigma's were first delivered they were used in competition against OK Travel with The Way Ahead fleetnames on Go-ahead Gateshead Livery. However the buses received Go-Ahead Gateshead fleetnames after the rivalry died down. With delivery of the Scania L94UB / Wright Solars the Sigma's were transferred to Go Coastline where they had 5 Lance SLFs. The Sigma's were shared between South Shields and Percy Main, displacing many Wright bodied Darts.
Percy Main based Sigma's are easier to find as they are allocated to the 302, 340 and 341, however Nationals and Olympians creep on at times. Also there's a journey in the early Mon-Fri morning ran by a low floor bus usually a SPD, but also a Excel is likely. The 340 and 341 also have extra vehicles around school starting and finishing times. The South Shields Sigma's are a little bit harder as they run on schools and also any route that requires a Single Decker so they are commonly running alongside Dennis Darts. Sigma's were also common on the 544 until they were replaced by Optare Excels, which were displaced off the 528 by 4 new DAF SB120 / Wright Cadets.
Registrations
4775 - 4779 - L475CFT etc
4780 - L470YVK
4781 - 4788 - L481CFT etc
Depot Deposition
South Shields - 4 (4775-9)
Percy Main - 9 (4780-8)
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| Here we see a Sigma leaving South Shields Depot in the snow. | Here we have a Sigma at North Shields Ferry after terminating on service 302 (Gateshead M - North Shields Ferry) |
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| Here we see a Sigma straying on to the Low Floor 317 at the Foxhunters Pub (Near Whitley Bay). This photo was taken after the severe snow storms at the end of January 2003. | Here we see Sigma 4777 in South Shields Town Centre. 4777 can be recognized by its unusual destination box. |
Here we see Sigma 4784 plough through the blizzard at the end of January 2003. It is on service 302 in Rosehill.