(05 Apr 2016, 9:43 am)Andreos1 They have been shifted over to the 'Sunderland Service Changes' department

(05 Apr 2016, 10:12 am)South Tyne Lad The amount of Growth on the South Tyne 88/88A is enough to warrant new vehicles.
Also the Versas ( the oldest in the fleet ) are really worn out and should become spares, 11.5M Metrocitys would be nice.

(05 Apr 2016, 10:23 am)Davie Two of them (8294 & 8295 for example), could go to Crook to replace 571 & 572.

(05 Apr 2016, 3:10 pm)Panasonic44 If South Tyne buses do get upgrade they could get volvo 7900h from Lothian Buses.

For Crusader could/hope to get Scania Omnicity Double Decker from Brighton and Hove and rename the route to Toonlink/merge together created better value connections to Metrocentre.

The move citraos to 93/94, or to 1 (swap citraos for Omnicity) 88/88A, or 97/96.

(05 Apr 2016, 3:27 pm)Adrian I don't see why Lothian would give their new Volvo hybrids away, nor could I see the benefit for a company in buying near new? Go Ahead are one of the market leaders, and I'm sure they'd buy their stock as new. That being said though, and as nice as the Volvo hybrids are, does the benefit outweigh the costs?

For Crusader; I'm not sure I see the logic in replacing a premium vehicle like a Citaro, with a 12+ year old second hand decker? As much as I personally like the OmniDekkas, I think GNE would want something a bit better for a route that competes with the Shields to Newcastle Metro corridor.

(04 Apr 2016, 9:23 pm)JP6004 Revised Prediction:

Should this now be the 2016-2017 order prediction Smile

Anyway for the coming financial year:

10 Streetlite for 49s
14 Streetlite for 2/2A (1 spare
17 Streetdeck for 21
6 Streetdeck for X9/X10


10 Blaydon Racer mercs displaced to Deptford for X35
13 versa displaced to washy for 82/A, 85 & 86 (1 spare)
15 B5H displaced to Deptford for 35/36 or some to Stanley for 6/X70/X71 & rest to Hexham for X84/X85
6 B9s displaced into spare role for 21/X21 and 309/310

(05 Apr 2016, 4:51 pm)Kuyoyo BIB: like I said in the 2015/2016 thread, the B5LHs if and when they are displaced from the 21 would in my honest opinion more than likely ended up on the 27 than on the 35/36 or indeed the 6/X70/X71 or X84/X85. More likely to see Mercs on the X84/X85 (and before the X35 in my opinion.....)

(05 Apr 2016, 4:51 pm)Kuyoyo BIB: like I said in the 2015/2016 thread, the B5LHs if and when they are displaced from the 21 would in my honest opinion more than likely ended up on the 27 than on the 35/36 or indeed the 6/X70/X71 or X84/X85. More likely to see Mercs on the X84/X85 (and before the X35 in my opinion.....)

(05 Apr 2016, 5:21 pm)Adrian I'd agree with Mercs on the X84/X85. It's a route with some nice fast sections, and for me X7 has proven that the Mercs are more than up for the job.

(05 Apr 2016, 5:59 pm)northern156 What would the point in that be though? The Solars have only been on it for a couple of years or so now and, to me, they cope just fine. I think the Citaros are more suited to non-stop express work (ie not the likes of the 4 or 57) which the X84 isn't, really. X85 yes I would see point in that [again though, nowt wrong with the Solars] but that would mean splitting the two routes up?

(05 Apr 2016, 6:12 pm)Adrian X84/X85 is in direct competition with Arriva on both road and rail. Ideally I'd like to see brand new vehicles with power sockets in addition to the WiFi, but I've little knowledge of the route to know whether or not an order would be justified?

The services gaining Mercs would be the next best option imo, given that a bus with a Mercedes badge on the front gives a more luxurious/premium perception to a customer - exactly the kind of thing you want, when you're in direct competition.

(05 Apr 2016, 7:08 pm)South Tyne Lad The could justify brand new vehicles in my opinion, Though a Heavy Duty Vehicle should be chosen as Streetlites are definitely not suited for continues Express Work. ( Same goes for the X7 )

If Mercs are Chosen instead of new Vehicles then it would be best if they were Deep Cleaned or Internally Refurbished again, Maybe fitted with Plugs , Wifi and maybe NSAs if needed.
Most Citaros I've been on recently have been very grubby.

(05 Apr 2016, 7:08 pm)South Tyne Lad The could justify brand new vehicles in my opinion, Though a Heavy Duty Vehicle should be chosen as Streetlites are definitely not suited for continues Express Work. ( Same goes for the X7 )

If Mercs are Chosen instead of new Vehicles then it would be best if they were Deep Cleaned or Internally Refurbished again, Maybe fitted with Plugs , Wifi and maybe NSAs if needed.
Most Citaros I've been on recently have been very grubby.

(05 Apr 2016, 7:12 pm)Adrian The Blaydon Racers Citaros need some urgent attention. They're 9 years old now, and haven't been treated to a mid life refurbishment, whereas the majority of Solars and Renowns were.

(05 Apr 2016, 7:16 pm)Dan They were new in 2007/08 - they're long overdue their mid-life refurbishment.

The Blaydon Racers especially are in a terrible state internally, and it's quite surprising that they've been left to get in such poor conidition.

I'd certainly welcome the fitment of power sockets and Wi-Fi as part of the mid-life refurbishment of a bus.

(05 Apr 2016, 7:17 pm)South Tyne Lad I agree and so do the Crusader Citaros too, I regularly see loose seat cushions on them. And the Fabric is severely worn on most.

(05 Apr 2016, 7:19 pm)South Tyne Lad They indeed need a Mid-life refurb, Most mechanically are still brilliant but its the state of the interior that lets them down.

Can Power Sockets be fitted to Mercs?