(18 Jul 2015, 8:01 pm)S813 FVK Close to getting myself papped today. Good job it went past a few seconds earlier! https://www.flickr.com/photos/bazza90/19186164293/

I walked out of the interchange building when 9119 was sitting at the lights just after the mini-roundabout with 6007 behind it.

(18 Jul 2015, 8:02 pm)South Tyne Lad I would compare the Streetdeck to the VDL Gemini DL.....

With the Streetdeck only having a 5.1 Litre Daimler with a 4 speed Voith the bus will need a very big turbo to get enough power to move a Double Deck same as the Gemini 2DL and once the massive turbo tires out, You end up with a blown,gutless wreck that can barely go 20mph.

The E400 having a 6.7 Litre Cummins with a 6 speed ZF Ecolife will need a relatively smaller Turbo compared to the Daimler to get it moving. But will take a lot longer to run out due to having a bigger engine and a bigger gearbox with smaller RPMs which results in a longer life.

(18 Jul 2015, 8:43 pm)Diamond One much prefer a Enviro 400 it felt smooth as anything although the Streetdeck is a nice vehicle i can see these being a future order knowing GNE they may order it a possible suggestion X21 and of course 27 would love to see a Streetdeck in Hebburn it does get packed on a morning and late rush even during the day but i think also 20/20A/X20 and the night bus N20 could do with deckers

(18 Jul 2015, 12:49 pm)S813 FVK Apparently it has been confirmed that the X21 will be rebranded 'Angel' when they get new buses...
The crap some enthusiasts can come out with is absolutely ridiculous.

(19 Jul 2015, 8:37 am)GX03 SVC Using Chester-le-Street OmniDekkas too... 

(19 Jul 2015, 9:53 am)Michael Wanna bet after the demo buses are finished with and if GNE decide to buy new buses for the X21, they'll go for the Streetdeck... although everyone seems to like the E400 more.......

(19 Jul 2015, 11:17 am)Diamond One knowing them they probs would although that E400 is a canny ride would love to see that but one route that will more than likely to get it is X21 other routes that probs need them would be 27 it does get busy on that route alot

(19 Jul 2015, 11:27 am)LeeCalder I think routes such as the 20 needs deckers more than the 27 Bazza. I've been on the 27 many many times in the last few weeks and not once have I witnessed standees

(19 Jul 2015, 11:27 am)LeeCalder I think routes such as the 20 needs deckers more than the 27 Bazza. I've been on the 27 many many times in the last few weeks and not once have I witnessed standees

(19 Jul 2015, 10:07 am)nk55 Cost will as ever play a massive part in amy order......streetlites v citaro springs to mind and streetlite rattles v scania rattles.....not much difference already!!!

(19 Jul 2015, 11:51 am)aureolin It's not just me that's noticed the infernal rattle that comes from a Streetlite fire door then. Which is a shame, given that the seats for the fire exit have got the best leg room on the bus.

(19 Jul 2015, 11:27 am)LeeCalder I think routes such as the 20 needs deckers more than the 27 Bazza. I've been on the 27 many many times in the last few weeks and not once have I witnessed standees

(19 Jul 2015, 1:43 pm)Panasonic44 I agree with Diamond One because when you live on 27 (last 20+ years) route the buses 7/10 times are not on time which causes problems e.g. Passengers Stand I had to stand lots of times due to bus being packed. Since Volvo B10 moved their are less seats for people to sit including OAPs.

The company should had left South Shields depot which would have save all the problems.

Also when 2 buses come along together that too creates for next bus which gets packed to.

I think the times need to be every 15 mins to sort bus loads out better but I think 27 needs Double Deckers even if they hybrids or get more seats than citaros e.g. volvo 7900h or scania omincitys/omnidekkas (would have been far better choice than citaros).

PS I would really like to see (if the buses remain to be red instead of silver for next cruasder repaint.

(19 Jul 2015, 1:54 pm)tyresmoke So what you're saying is standees are caused by gaps in service, which in turn leads to bunching and more loadings. This will always be a feature of frequent services I suppose. Only real fix is to add another bus into it to extend the running times, but cost will usually be prohibitive of doing this.