Custom-built bus will feature in the museum’s new All Aboard play area
London Transport Museum will launch a new family play zone, All Aboard, on March 28, for which Optare has provided a custom built bus.
The Solo midi bus was suspended in mid-air before being loaded up into the upper deck of the All Aboard play area by a crew of lifting specialists from Allelys using a heavy duty fork lift.
Young visitors to the Museum will be able to sit in the driving seat and operate the indicators, change the bus blinds and check out the CCTV.
As well as being able to get in the driver’s seat of the Optare Solo, they will be able to repair a mini Tube train and play in the ‘Lost Property’ office. They can enjoy ‘sailing’ the Thames Nipper, serve passengers in the Nipper café, fly the Emirates Air Line cable car, make driver announcements and help customers at the mini information desk. Budding musicians can also play musical instruments at the busking spot.
Sam Mullins, Director of London Transport Museum, said: “We are very grateful to Optare for transforming their latest Solo bus into a memorable interactive learning experience for our young visitors. The Optare bus will be a key attraction within our new All Aboard family play zone, and a heavily visited and photographed feature for all our Museum visitors.
“The new play zone will encourage our youngest visitors to learn through imaginative and creative play, using role play and dressing up as they become a bus driver or mechanic, and learn about some of the essential jobs which enable the transport system to function.”
Enrico Vassallo, CEO of Optare, commented: “When the London Transport Museum told us how popular the previous Optare bus had been with the children in the gallery, we were only too pleased to supply a custom built version of our latest Solo model, which is available in both Euro 6 diesel and full electric, for the next generation of young people to enjoy and learn about bus travel in the new purpose built gallery at the Museum.”
As well as the new play zone, the museum is hosting special family events over Easter inspired by All Aboard. These events run from March 30 to April 17.
