A large number of double-deck vehicles are required over the summer months, due to Go North East being awarded with the contracts to operate additional services for special events and Metro Replacement. As such; this vehicle, which would have otherwise been withdrawn following the cascade of Scania L94UB/Wright Solar vehicles to Chester-le-Street, has instead been moved into a float/reserve capacity at Chester-le-Street Depot, and will transfer between depots where required.
This vehicle has been withdrawn from service at Slatyford Depot and has transferred to South Shields Depot to form part of the depot's Driver Training fleet, following repaint into Stagecoach's Driver Training livery and completion of internal modifications to allow use within the training school.
With MAN 18.220LF/Transbus ALX300 22012 (NK03 XJB) having transferred to Slatyford as a route-learning vehicle, this vehicle has been withdrawn from service at Slatyford Depot.
Whilst Hexham-based Scania K340EB/Caetano Levante 7098 (FJ08 KLZ) and 7099 (FJ08 KMU) are on temporary loan to Chester-le-Street's Coaching Unit, on temporary loan, to provide extra coaches for the annual Glastonbury Festival, this vehicle has transferred from Riverside Depot's Driver Training fleet, to Hexham, on temporary loan, to cover for the aforementioned two coaches.
Following a week-long trial period on "indiGo" services 40/41, this vehicle's allocation has now been revised to operate "indiGo" services 42/42A for a further week-long trial period.
With "Toon Link" service 12 being upgraded with the former "Blaydon Racers" branded Mercedes Citaro 0530N/Mercedes Citaro vehicles, now internally refurbished and repainted into a plain black base livery, this vehicle has transferred from Riverside Depot to Stanley.
A large number of double-deck vehicles are required over the summer months, due to Go North East being awarded with the contracts to operate additional services for special events and Metro Replacement. As such; this vehicle, which would have otherwise been withdrawn in line with the gradual cascade of Scania CN230UB/Scania Omnicitys 5234 - 5238 to Stanley following the entry into service of the former "Blaydon Racers" branded Mercedes Citaros on services 12/12A, has instead been moved into a float/reserve capacity at Stanley Depot, and will transfer between depots where required.
Prior to entering service, this vehicle has received "Black Cats" branding. "Black Cats" is the new brand identity being introduced to encompass a variety of different frequent services in and around the city of Sunderland, promoting the cheap and competitively priced day and weekly tickets available for travel in the city (£3.65 for a day ticket, and £12.15 for a weekly ticket).