First Manchester 30327 has an interesting history. One of the last Metrobuses built, it was meant to be for West Midlands Travel but was never used by them. Instead it was bought, along with the design rights to the Metrobus, by Optare who used it as a design study for their forthcoming Spectra. Capital Citybus recognised a bargain when they saw it and added it to their fleet in London. It then came to Manchester to see out its last couple of years. It is waiting at the Clarence Hotel at Greenfield on the last day of operation of the 355.

Photograph courtesy of Mark Amis.