(31 Dec 2015, 11:11 am)NK53 TKT wrote Had another go at some allocation plans for the future:
Tynedale Links: MPDs; all 8 withdrawn keeping replacing them with 8 solos; one red as a spare and two streetlites, one to displace 5210 another as a red spare. 618 would stay for scholars and 619 would replace 560 at Deptford.
Tynedale Express: Get 5333-5336 from Peterlee displacing 5230-5233 keeping 5229 spare.
Wear Tees Express: Improved frequency to every thirty minutes with 9 streetlites including one spare.
Red Arrows: 3943, 6001 and 6002 to Riverside replacing all palatine mkiis and the rest to Stanley allowing a Palatine-free fleet, these would be replaced by 6043-6048, 9119(specifically to replace 3943) and 6084.
TTX: 7 Streetdecks including one red spare to replace 6084.
17: Renamed to the NTT (North Tyneside Traveller) every 30 mins (17) and every 30 mins (17A) the 17A would be extended to Northumberland Park via Battle Hill and Cobalt and the 17 ould be every 30 minutes Whitley Bay to Cramlington no services terminating off peak at Benton ASDA. PVR of 6 (17A) PVR of 8 (17.) 15 Streetlites one as a spare bus. This would allow all the renowns there to be withdrawn.
North Tyne Links: All withdrawn except 569 which will replace 542 at Riverside, 10 solos would come including one red spare (which could in theory be a NEXUS bus spare.) At peak times the spare streetlite could possibly added.
Cobalt Clipper: 17 streetdecks (two spare) could arrive allowing 6101 to stay to replace 3859. 6102-6105 could replace 3866, 3867, 3890, 3891 on the DFDS buses. 6106-6109 could replace 6118-6121 on the 47 bringing the fleet up to a consistent standard. 6110-6112 would replace Stanley's Lolynes and 6113-6117 would replace Chester-le-Street's lolynes. This would allow a lolyne free fleet.
DFDS: 6102-6105 could allow the current fleet to be withdrawn.
Coaster: 15 eclipses (including two spares) would come to displace the omnicities. 5272-5274 would stay put to allow the scholars services the renowns do to stay. These may also appear on the one as well as 5247-5249 and also on the Cobalt Connect. All the others would replace all the single door renowns at Riverside.
9: Given a brand of 'Sun-Shields' with all services doing the full route (no services terminating at Jarrow) through the tunnel and 9 versas (including one spare) like the CityLink examples would do the route.
82/82A/83A/85/86: Given a brand of Wahington Whistlers; 570 would replace 547 at Stanley, 603 would replace 548 at Deptford, 604 would replace 562, 605 would replace 564 and 606 would replace 565. 6 solos would replace them including one spare and 10 streetlites would replace the cadets and merits allowing them to replace 5167-5171 at Riverside 8254, 8255, 8261-8263 which would replace them. 8264, 8265, 8270 and 8271 would replace 4903-4906 at Deptford. 6085-6090 would replace the presidents 6085 and 6086 would be branded. The rest would be red.
FAB FIFTY SIX: 16 streetdecks (including 2 spares) 6085-6090 would move to Washington, 6091-6098 would replace Chester-le-Street's presidents and 6099-6100 would replace 6020 and 6042.
Pronto: An all-day X46 service (to compete with Arriva) half hourly only from Crook Market Place (not Beecham industrial estate) and the PVR would be 2 along with a PVR for the X21 of 7 (including one spare) 9 streetdecks would be needed.
Fast Cats: PVR of 13, 15 streetlites would be needed (including two spares) allowing a half-hourly full route service on the X36 with a PVR of 4. 4955, 4973-4976 and 5205 replacing Deptford's remaining renowns, 5206-5209 would replace 4926-4929 at Chester-le-Street.
Prince Bishops: 22 streetlites including two spares would be needed. 4945, 4946 and 4954 would replace 4930, 4931 and 4934 at Chester-le-Street. 4968 and 4969 would replace 4932 and 4933 at Riverside and 4970 would replace 4935. 5215-5217 would form a new brand at Stanley for the 15/15A as 'Lanchester Legion' replacing 6009, 6012 and 6013. 3966 and 3967 would replace 6014 and 6016 and 5211-5214 would replace them and the remaining buses would be surplus to requirements.
Tynedale Express - 5230-5233 seemingly cope fine at the moment, and I don't think they're in need of replacing.
Wear Tees Express - The Wear Tees Express is the sort of route that simply couldn't cope with Streetlites; they need heavyweight vehicles, such as Citaros, and not lightweight vehicles. Not even 4906-4909 could cope. I'm unsure of an increase in frequency however, sometimes I see it packed to the rafters and sometimes I see it carrying a light load. Perhaps on expected busy days such as match days, the airshow, etc?
Red Arrows and Tyne Tees Express - I like the idea of 6001-6007 (+3943) displacing the Olympians, but I imagine any further cascades from Brighton & Hove will be direct replacements for Olympians and Lolynes. Also, Streetdecks are completely unsuitable for the X9/X10, in my opinion. While 6043-6048 aren't in the best condition now, I think it's best that they stay where they are until a better replacement can be sourced for them.
17 - In my limited experience of the service, I really don't think it can justify some brand new Streetlites. The brand you've suggested also seems rather pointless to me, and a new brand is now seemingly expected with new vehicles. Perhaps some OmniCities or younger Solars would be a better option?
Cobalt Clipper - Why remove still relatively new vehicles from a remove when they are fine where they are, just to allow the removal of some older buses in the fleet? I honestly can't see the sense in it, some slightly older deckers perhaps would be a better idea, which I personally think will come from another cascade of OmniDekkas from Brighton & Hove.
Coaster - I think the fact that the OmniCities have only just recently been fitted with WiFi suggests that they aren't moving any time in the near future, and Go North East didn't seem overly keen on the Eclipse based on it's fuel consumption, with the Streetlite winning over it.
9 - A brand for this service isn't really necessary, it's fine how it is as an unbranded service. I don't think a service on a 15 minute frequency through to North Shields is justifiable, as I believe that section is secured by Nexus (somebody who knows better may be able to correct/clarify that?), but also, whenever I've used it, it has been relatively quiet.
82/82A/83A/85/86 - Once again, a brand is not necessary for these services. Nor are Streetlites. Cascaded Solars from elsewhere maybe.
Fab Fifty Six - Similar to the Cobalt Clipper; why remove vehicles that have only been purchased in the last couple of years from a service that really doesn't need to see further new buses? The B9TLs seem to cope absolutely fine on the 56.
Pronto - The X46 is merely a positioning journey at peak times to try and gain some revenue rather than just dead mileage. Every half an hour throughout the day is ludicrous. I don't think it could necessarily compete with Arriva's service, and if Go North East have ordered 7 - where will the other 2 come from...?
Fast Cats - I agree that possibly some Streetlites could be ordered for this service in the next couple of years, and some of the Scanias consequently cascaded could see the withdrawal of some of the older examples in the fleet.
Prince Bishops - I think the cascaded Solars will directly allow the removal of the any remaining Cadets/Merits and B10BLEs (native and dual-door) rather than just shuffle around a load Solars and Presidents within the fleet. I don't think the 15/15A is worthy of a brand to be honest, and I imagine double deck vehicles are needed at peak times as the service will get busy around Durham with students.
