Category:Traction Technology hybrid Optare Solo (GX55 LNF)

English: The Traction Technology hybrid trial bus, reg. GX55 LNF (ex-YJ55 YFK), was the fourth Traction Technology vehicle to go into trial service with by UK operators (the others being with Arriva North West in Bootle, Ipswich Buses and Epsom Coaches). Traction Technology Ltd of Slinford took over the assets of the failed Eneco hybrid technology business in May 2006. GX55 LNF was originally registered with the Yorkshire plate YJ55 YFK, having been delivered to Traction Technology by northern England bus manufacturer Optare as a Solo M950 midibus, as a shell. After conversion by Traction Technology it was sent to Arriva Southern Counties for extended trials, by which time it had been re-registered with the Kent, Surrey and Sussex plate, GX55 LNF. The four previous trial buses used a 1.9-litre Volkswagen diesel engine, but GX55 LNF as the first 'tribrid' to operate in the UK, combining the engine with a lead acid battery and a supercapacitor. It entered service with Arriva Southern Counties' Arriva Guildford & West Surrey division from October 2007, allocated fleet numer 1450. Operating out of their Horsham depot, it was put to use on their route 98 Horsham park and ride service, wearing a special silver livery with both Traction Technology & Arriva fleetnames. Traction Technology went into administration a few months after it entered service, and by September 2008 the bus had been returned to the company presumably as a sale-able asset for the liquidation process. By December 2009 it was in the hands of north east based operator Compass Royston, who converted it back into a conventionally powered bus, putting it into service in their white livery, still registered GX55 LNF.