Go North East: Latest News & Discussion - June 2013
Go North East: Latest News & Discussion - June 2013
Does anyone know which Simplicity buses are for 42 which are/were for 36? As the 36 buses say 'Every 12 Minutes' with 42 buses saying 'Every 10 Minutes' 8320-8329 are all branded SimpliCity, but unsure as to which ones branded for which service.
(02 Jun 2013, 3:47 pm)CatsFast101 Does anyone know which Simplicity buses are for 42 which are/were for 36? As the 36 buses say 'Every 12 Minutes' with 42 buses saying 'Every 10 Minutes' 8320-8329 are all branded SimpliCity, but unsure as to which ones branded for which service.
(02 Jun 2013, 3:47 pm)CatsFast101 Does anyone know which Simplicity buses are for 42 which are/were for 36? As the 36 buses say 'Every 12 Minutes' with 42 buses saying 'Every 10 Minutes' 8320-8329 are all branded SimpliCity, but unsure as to which ones branded for which service.
Thanks Daniel. So has it been all simplicity Versa's on the 2A/2C/61?
(02 Jun 2013, 11:11 am)CatsFast101 Oh okay. So they'll be on the 61 too, assuming they are interworking? That for me could suggest that the simplicity Versa's are the allocated vehicles for the 61 and will all be gradually branded as drifter.
EDIT: Simplicity Versa are usually used for the 26A Sunday service, so I wonder what's been used on their today?
(02 Jun 2013, 11:11 am)CatsFast101 Oh okay. So they'll be on the 61 too, assuming they are interworking? That for me could suggest that the simplicity Versa's are the allocated vehicles for the 61 and will all be gradually branded as drifter.
EDIT: Simplicity Versa are usually used for the 26A Sunday service, so I wonder what's been used on their today?
I am inclined to agree with the above comments. I'm a fan of branding routes, but It becomes ridiculous when they can't get the right buses on the route, and I mean I'm not so bothered about the occasional mishap for the day but it's when like at the minute at Deptford on Sundays, four branded routes (2A&2C/60/61/42) all not using correct buses so it means at least two services won't have correct branding, and even 3 today isn't (I understand the 60 had drifters so was the right brand.) It proves it logistically can't happen. Simplicity Versas are used on the 26A on Sundays as a regular working. Waggonway 28 & Lambton Worm 34A services interwork on Sundays using Waggonway DAF's. It was also suggested that 17/307 interwork on weekdays (never actually got clarification) with the 17 now reintroducing 'The Centurion' brand, it would mean that 307 uses wrong branded buses, when it should really be northern.
(02 Jun 2013, 10:50 pm)CatsFast101 I am inclined to agree with the above comments. I'm a fan of branding routes, but It becomes ridiculous when they can't get the right buses on the route, and I mean I'm not so bothered about the occasional mishap for the day but it's when like at the minute at Deptford on Sundays, four branded routes (2A&2C/60/61/42) all not using correct buses so it means at least two services won't have correct branding, and even 3 today isn't (I understand the 60 had drifters so was the right brand.) It proves it logistically can't happen. Simplicity Versas are used on the 26A on Sundays as a regular working. Waggonway 28 & Lambton Worm 34A services interwork on Sundays using Waggonway DAF's. It was also suggested that 17/307 interwork on weekdays (never actually got clarification) with the 17 now reintroducing 'The Centurion' brand, it would mean that 307 uses wrong branded buses, when it should really be northern.
(02 Jun 2013, 10:50 pm)CatsFast101 I am inclined to agree with the above comments. I'm a fan of branding routes, but It becomes ridiculous when they can't get the right buses on the route, and I mean I'm not so bothered about the occasional mishap for the day but it's when like at the minute at Deptford on Sundays, four branded routes (2A&2C/60/61/42) all not using correct buses so it means at least two services won't have correct branding, and even 3 today isn't (I understand the 60 had drifters so was the right brand.) It proves it logistically can't happen. Simplicity Versas are used on the 26A on Sundays as a regular working. Waggonway 28 & Lambton Worm 34A services interwork on Sundays using Waggonway DAF's. It was also suggested that 17/307 interwork on weekdays (never actually got clarification) with the 17 now reintroducing 'The Centurion' brand, it would mean that 307 uses wrong branded buses, when it should really be northern.
8326 NK11 GMX GNE Simplicity Optare Versa on the 2C to Otterton-Penshaw
http://www.flickr.com/photos/adammalarkey/8929709603/
Operating the last 2C working of the day from Washington Galleries at 23:25
I know this is a bit blurry that is due to the Night Light situated along the top of the Bus Station, it was also a one shot once chance only as it stood still for all of 10 seconds before pulling out.
As for the branding, I do like the Idea of branding, but the whole point of the Interworkings on the Sunday is to A.) Save Money B.) GNE will use less buses thus resulting save fuel and I know this is stupid, but it's clever as it would meet GNE's targets if they have any for reducing co2 emissions etc.
I think you'll realise what i'm trying to say hence why it is logical GNE have made this move regarding the 2A/2C/60/61 and 42 at Deptford and the 28/28A/34/34A at Chester le Street. Personally I think it was a nice change coming home on a Optare Versa on the 2A today compared to the same old boring Citaro all the time, hopefully they'll variate the fleet allocations.
Does anyone know if the above will be interworking on a night Mon-Sat.
Also a note regarding the 27X after speaking to a Saltmeadows driver on the W6 Tonight, it will be using MPD 564 as of tomorrow.
No changes to evening interworking- On an evening the 42/60 will interwork usually with Drifter Versas. 61 evening runs are shorter than Sundays so they will operate independently, usually with Drifter Cadets. The 2C will operate idependently most likely with Silver Arrows Ciatro's.
Just woken up a short while a go to see what is running some of the early trips on 36/36A, 99 and X36; can't see fleet numbers from my window though.
36
0652 Town End Farm - 0719 Sunderland......."Drifter" Cadet.
0649 Sunderland - 0749 Sunderland............."Drifter" Cadet.
36A
0700 Southwick - 0742 Sunderland..............."Northern" Cadet.
0718 Sunderland - 0812 Sunderland.............."Drifter" Cadet.
99
0737 Southwick - Vicarage Farm..................."Plain yellow" MPD - A bit confused by this one, I assumed this bus would have been dropping out on to a Scholars in the afternoon, unless it gets replaced at some point during the day.
X36
0720 Sunderland - 0821 Newcastle................."Northern" Renown (no surprise really, this made up the previous allocation for X3). When this particular bus returns to Sunderland at 0927, I can't quite figure out if it will go straight back out on the 0930 X36, or the 0934 short X3 to Boldon ASDA. During the day X36 and short X3's appear to interwork, but because this first X36 from Newcastle runs three minutes earlier, it could theoretically do another round trip on X36 before going on to the X3.
No sign of SimpliCity Versas in North Sunderland so far it seems.
Now I have to get ready
Certainly looks that way!
A Vyking is currently working the 0930 ex-Sunderland X36 if anyone is wanting a photo. She is running about 10 minutes late mind.
I'm hoping to be over that way some point on Tuesday. But first I have the matter of tracking down Arriva's 7361 on an early morning work service, need it for a ride on.
Also minor fleet changes. Mainly shuffling of MPDs.
540 - Peterlee to Deptford
544 - Consett to Deptford
564 - Deptford to Saltmeadows
565 - Deptford to Consett
(03 Jun 2013, 9:45 am)GMitchelhill I'm hoping to be over that way some point on Tuesday. But first I have the matter of tracking down Arriva's 7361 on an early morning work service, need it for a ride on.
Also minor fleet changes. Mainly shuffling of MPDs.
540 - Peterlee to Deptford
544 - Consett to Deptford
564 - Deptford to Saltmeadows
565 - Deptford to Consett
(03 Jun 2013, 9:45 am)GMitchelhill I'm hoping to be over that way some point on Tuesday. But first I have the matter of tracking down Arriva's 7361 on an early morning work service, need it for a ride on.
Also minor fleet changes. Mainly shuffling of MPDs.
540 - Peterlee to Deptford
544 - Consett to Deptford
564 - Deptford to Saltmeadows
565 - Deptford to Consett