*Kickdown* Journey on Route 5 - Optare Excel L1150 - Safeguard Coaches 2 (X308CBT)

Optare Excels in normal service are very rare to be in regular service these days, and I believe Safeguard is one of a very small amount of operators (possible the only) to have these buses on routes other than school routes. The bus itself is actually quite good with a good ZF and kickdown enabled. The bus was in amazing condition which is quite incredible considering this bus is 22 years old. Safeguard's maintenance has paid off here.

[@Leopard26R]

You had a lively trip there, driver with a leaden foot!
Just to correct your caption, 307/8 are 10.7m Excels.

[@SouthernTransportFan]

Lovely vid. I got the YJ03 Excel also with kickdown a few months back and it was glorious.

[@nathanw9770]

Nice, they even gave it an LED display with Next stop info lol

[@eastlancsesteem]

Good engine sound.

[@mrabi_yt.]

When’s part 10? I want to request, but put it on any Saturday PLEASE.

[@jaggass]

It has an Allison gearbox not ZF. The reason it sounds like a ZF because it sometimes locks up in 1st gear and changes gear like one at times. It's probably been reprogrammed.