(11 Apr 2018, 10:19 am)Dan The Next Stop Announcements were enabled on the Tyne Valley Ten and Citylink around a month ago, in line with the service changes which took place last month. They were also changed on the Coaster buses, for the new route around Gateshead, and changed on the Red Arrows/Connections4 buses, to remove traces of simplygo.com and to include new graphics. They were also enabled for the first time on the Tynedale Links 680 and Tynedale Express X84/X85 - the announcements will also work on the X84/X85 if a Volvo B9 is allocated.

A handful of buses, mainly those on the Tyne Valley Ten, would not take the load. These have problematic units which require repair from Hanover.

(11 Apr 2018, 8:07 pm)Jordan2104 When will cobalt clippers be updated. These still have metro radio doing them and advertising the old website and logos on them

(11 Apr 2018, 8:15 pm)OrangeArrow49 I was previously told on here the Cobalt Clipper NSAs are not a priority as they at least have NSAs which fulfil their purpose. The voice changes on the 309 too, I noticed last year when going to Whitley Bay. What do you mean old logos?

(11 Apr 2018, 8:17 pm)S813 FVK The old Go North East logo (and probably metroradio logo too).

I also remember it being suggested that there may be an upcoming refresh for the Cobalt Clipper buses later in the year, so presumably a new set of NSAs would be prepared in line with that.

(11 Apr 2018, 8:34 pm)JM03 I was on 5274 on the 1. I enjoyed the journey on the omni today but it didn't seem busy at all during rush hour too. Didn't see the point in getting bigger buses because they never needed them in my opinion. Do like the new buses tho.

(11 Apr 2018, 8:26 pm)OrangeArrow49 I didn't know the metro radio logo had changed. 

Personally I think GNE should be rolling out NSAs to more services before replacing existing ones, particularly just to change logos or the voice or whatever. What kind of refresh for the Cobalt buses? Just a repaint? Are they going to fix the Newcastle and North Shields mistake as the 309 goes to Blyth and only the 310 goes to North Shields?

(11 Apr 2018, 8:26 pm)OrangeArrow49 I didn't know the metro radio logo had changed. 

Personally I think GNE should be rolling out NSAs to more services before replacing existing ones, particularly just to change logos or the voice or whatever. What kind of refresh for the Cobalt buses? Just a repaint? Are they going to fix the Newcastle and North Shields mistake as the 309 goes to Blyth and only the 310 goes to North Shields?

(11 Apr 2018, 8:34 pm)JM03 I was on 5274 on the 1. I enjoyed the journey on the omni today but it didn't seem busy at all during rush hour too. Didn't see the point in getting bigger buses because they never needed them in my opinion. Do like the new buses tho.

(11 Apr 2018, 8:45 pm)S813 FVK I've managed to dig out the post I referenced for you:
http://northeastbuses.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?tid=2063&pid=212577#pid212577

The refresh will include a repaint and I would, personally, like to see revised branding. Not a fan of the current livery myself.

(11 Apr 2018, 9:02 pm)OrangeArrow49 Thanks.

Well I personally think a blue livery would be good for the Cobalt services. Alternatively rebrand the Cobalt Clipper to Silver Links and keep a silver base livery. What do you think for revised branding?

(12 Apr 2018, 4:42 pm)L469 YVK I think the Cobalt Clipper brand serves its purpose fine BUT........

I do think the style of the revised branding will depend whether or not the 309 / 310(X39) continue to interwork or; barring the early mornings, some evenings and perhaps Sundays; they both get changed to run standalone.

And taking into account the following:
- New traffic lights / bridge at Norham Road (to be operational this summer)
- New developments in Whitley Bay = more passengers and more traffic around the area
- More passengers as a result of the above plus the slight 'downgrade' to service 308
- Extra time being added to competing service 308 (which runs a 'slightly' shorter route)
- Tight turnaround times with no extra time available to add to service 309 (if both the 309 and 310 continue to  interwork, even with an extra bus added which would provide more layover and running time on service 310 but nothing for service 309).

I can see the PVR permanently remaining at 17 with both services going standalone during Mondays to Saturdays. In terms of branding and route info on the buses, maybe 2x slightly different liveries could be created for the 309 and 310 with a similar waypoint format (above and near the passenger door) akin to the Tyne Valley Ten and Red Arrows.


Service 309 waypoints (6101-6110)
Blyth
Whitley Bay
Cobalt Park
Newcastle

Service 309 taglines for engine flap (6101-6110)
"This bus has free Wi-Fi, surf from the heart of the Coast to Cobalt and Newcastle every 15 minutes"
"Catch this bus to Newcastle for our fast & frequent Tyne Valley Ten service to the Metrocentre"
"From the heart of Blyth and Whitley Bay to Cobalt and Newcastle every 15 minutes"
"Maximise your horizions with our many connections in Newcastle"
"Continue down the Coast on the Coaster for connections to Tynemouth & North Shields"

Service 310 waypoints (6111-6117)
North Shields
Cobalt South
High Farm
Newcastle

Service 310 taglines for engine flap (6111-6117)
"This bus has free Wi-Fi, surf from the heart of North Tyneside to Newcastle every 15 minutes"
"Catch this bus to Newcastle for our fast & frequent Tyne Valley Ten service to the Mertocentre"
"Maximise your horizons with our many connections in Newcastle"

Service 309 / Service 310 joint waypoints (located in the middle panel between lower and upper deck on both the sides and rear of the vehicle)
- "Battle Hill - Coast Road - Cradlewell - Newcastle"
-  Then "Upto every 7-8 minutes" below it
- Similar style to Red Arrows and Tyne Valley Ten waypoints on the rear.

(12 Apr 2018, 7:19 pm)Rapidsnap Can anyone confirm if the Beamish advert buses still have their adverts or are now plain red. Ta

(12 Apr 2018, 7:39 pm)Jamie M 5389 still had its a few days ago
5419 still defo has its.

(12 Apr 2018, 7:20 pm)JM03 I would imagine that 6116/7 will be painted into corporate as its also interworking with the 1.

(12 Apr 2018, 9:29 pm)L469 YVK At the moment, 6116/17 are in the old corporate livery but, that was when the PVR was 15 and since the PVR was increased to 16, 1x of them forms part of the PVR (excluding any extras for the roadworks).

So even if the PVR was to remain at the same, 1x of them (presumably 6116) would need to be repainted.