North East Buses

Sunderland, Tyne & Wear
Fire in a flat on Hylton Road traffic starting to back up would avoid if possible #Sunderland

(09 Oct 2013, 8:58 am)Michael wrote [ -> ]Paragraph from the link:
Speaking at industry event Coach and Bus Live today (2 October 2013) Transport Minister Norman Baker announced additional money will be made available to bring 55 more low carbon buses into service and to retro-fit dozens more to clean up their exhaust fumes.

Also i just opened a new document - go down to the bottom it says 40 gas buses for Sunderland

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/sy...-table.pdf

That might of just located where the extra 23 extra buses for Sunderland are going... 17 (from round 4) - 23 from extra funding = 40 =D

40+ 21 (New E200's) = 61 new buses for Sunderland

Does anyone know when these extra buses will be delivered, it seem's to of come out of no where.

Oh, I do hope that you are right Michael.

(09 Oct 2013, 11:56 am)DavidP wrote [ -> ]Oh, I do hope that you are right Michael.

I hope so =D, Stagecoach seem to be getting treated this year, make the most of it because we won't get anymore for a while haha

Sunderland's had MAN enviro 200's all over today:
39727 was on the 20s
39731 was on the 16s
39732 was on the 13s

SN63VVA arrived this morning

Currently at the back of the depot is 22016 (freshly repainted),19218 and 12064

SN63VVB/VVC have http://www.flickr.com/photos/danielgrahamm/10183626986/

19383, 27731, 12064 and 19218 are all at Wheatsheaf too.

(10 Oct 2013, 7:18 am)Daniel wrote [ -> ]SN63VVB/VVC have http://www.flickr.com/photos/danielgrahamm/10183626986/

19383, 27731, 12064 and 19218 are all at Wheatsheaf too.

Is that 6 or 7 now? I'm lost haha

The training B10 is doing the 16 route today, its currently on chester road,with a good looking female driver on the wheel.

(10 Oct 2013, 8:32 am)Michael wrote [ -> ]Is that 6 or 7 now? I'm lost haha

Neither - 8!

In addition to the ones I noted in the news last Sunday, SN63VVA/B/C have all arrived.

, was close though
Any confirmation for when they will be out in service?

(10 Oct 2013, 9:12 am)Michael wrote [ -> ]The training B10 is doing the 16 route today, its currently on chester road,with a good looking female driver on the wheel.

I saw the training B10 yesterday afternoon on Chester Road going past Grindon Mill towards Hastings Hill.

(09 Oct 2013, 3:30 pm)Michael wrote [ -> ]I hope so =D, Stagecoach seem to be getting treated this year, make the most of it because we won't get anymore for a while haha

Spot on to me that Michael, this could mean the ALX200/300's at Sunderland all being withdrawn as I have just counted there are 62 of them combined according to the Stagecoach Fleet List.

It look's like we are getting them since on that link it says... 40 gas buses for Sunderland..just which service will they go on?

(10 Oct 2013, 11:33 am)Adam Malarkey wrote [ -> ]Spot on to me that Michael, this could mean the ALX200/300's at Sunderland all being withdrawn as I have just counted there are 62 of them combined according to the Stagecoach Fleet List.

They wouldn't withdraw all of them. Just the non-DDA ones.

Sunderland has 42 MAN ALX300's (34 of which are non-DDA) and 1 Dart ALX200 (non-DDA 33101). There are also reserve vehicles non-DDA 33484 and 33829. Not 62...

Partial closure of Doxford Park Way, affecting Services 4 and 13

http://www.stagecoachbus.com/serviceupda...px?Id=8617

(10 Oct 2013, 12:51 pm)mattdw92 wrote [ -> ]They wouldn't withdraw all of them. Just the non-DDA ones.

Sunderland has 42 MAN ALX300's (34 of which are non-DDA) and 1 Dart ALX200 (non-DDA 33101). There are also reserve vehicles non-DDA 33484 and 33829. Not 62...

Sunderland actually have 45 ALX300s, 12 of which are DDA compliant (22072-82) whilst the other 33 are non-DDA compliant.
33101 is the only ALX200 to remain out on frontline allocation rather than to play a reserve role (as is the case with ALX200s 33484 and 33829), and these are all non-DDA compliant.

From this, we know that there are 36 non-DDA compliant vehicles within the Sunderland fleet that Stagecoach will want to get rid of - presumably to sell, but could well end up replacing something older at other depots too.

We also know that there are 40 brand new eco-friendly buses to enter the fleet over the next few weeks/months.
I assume the four vehicles that will also transfer as part of this order will be 35187-90, leaving 19 Pointer 2 Darts in the fleet.

There are 21 ADL E200s that have already started arriving, and this quite easily removes those Pointer 2 Darts from the fleet.

(10 Oct 2013, 4:20 pm)Daniel wrote [ -> ]Sunderland actually have 45 ALX300s, 12 of which are DDA compliant (22072-82) whilst the other 33 are non-DDA compliant.
33101 is the only ALX200 to remain out on frontline allocation rather than to play a reserve role (as is the case with ALX200s 33484 and 33829), and these are all non-DDA compliant.

From this, we know that there are 36 non-DDA compliant vehicles within the Sunderland fleet that Stagecoach will want to get rid of - presumably to sell, but could well end up replacing something older at other depots too.

We also know that there are 40 brand new eco-friendly buses to enter the fleet over the next few weeks/months.
I assume the four vehicles that will also transfer as part of this order will be 35187-90, leaving 19 Pointer 2 Darts in the fleet.

There are 21 ADL E200s that have already started arriving, and this quite easily removes those Pointer 2 Darts from the fleet.

Not bad 61 new buses over the coming month's, it shows that most of the older buses will be withdrawn and Dart's transferred with some stopping for reserve vehicles.

I still can't find a delivery date for the extra 23 Bio Gas buses, once found ill post.

Just reading the latest Bus and Coach and the extra funding is mentioned in their, no more info than we already know

(10 Oct 2013, 4:20 pm)Daniel wrote [ -> ]Sunderland actually have 45 ALX300s, 12 of which are DDA compliant (22072-82) whilst the other 33 are non-DDA compliant.
33101 is the only ALX200 to remain out on frontline allocation rather than to play a reserve role (as is the case with ALX200s 33484 and 33829), and these are all non-DDA compliant.

From this, we know that there are 36 non-DDA compliant vehicles within the Sunderland fleet that Stagecoach will want to get rid of - presumably to sell, but could well end up replacing something older at other depots too.

We also know that there are 40 brand new eco-friendly buses to enter the fleet over the next few weeks/months.
I assume the four vehicles that will also transfer as part of this order will be 35187-90, leaving 19 Pointer 2 Darts in the fleet.

There are 21 ADL E200s that have already started arriving, and this quite easily removes those Pointer 2 Darts from the fleet.

Where's this 12th MAN Dan? As from my calculation, 22072-82 is only 11

(10 Oct 2013, 4:55 pm)Kuyoyo wrote [ -> ]Where's this 12th MAN Dan? As from my calculation, 22072-82 is only 11

It's been a long day... :p

(10 Oct 2013, 4:57 pm)Daniel wrote [ -> ]It's been a long day... :p

Tell me about it and its still dragging.. LOL


What was the month of the Gas buses to be delivered in, was it November?

(10 Oct 2013, 5:44 pm)Michael wrote [ -> ]Tell me about it and its still dragging.. LOL


What was the month of the Gas buses to be delivered in, was it November?

I only ever had the provisional dates for the ADL E200s, not the Scanias. Someone else may be able to tell us though!

(10 Oct 2013, 5:45 pm)Daniel wrote [ -> ]I only ever had the provisional dates for the ADL E200s, not the Scanias. Someone else may be able to tell us though!

Hopefully!, i'm sure it was next month, Question now is... what month is the next 23 due?

(10 Oct 2013, 4:20 pm)Daniel wrote [ -> ]Sunderland actually have 45 ALX300s, 12 of which are DDA compliant (22072-82) whilst the other 33 are non-DDA compliant.

33101 is the only ALX200 to remain out on frontline allocation rather than to play a reserve role (as is the case with ALX200s 33484 and 33829), and these are all non-DDA compliant.

(10 Oct 2013, 12:51 pm)mattdw92 wrote [ -> ]Sunderland has 42 MAN ALX300's (34 of which are non-DDA) and 1 Dart ALX200 (non-DDA 33101). There are also reserve vehicles non-DDA 33484 and 33829. Not 62...

That was a mistype, as I did check the fleetcard and mentally took 45.
A correction was needed yes, but you did not need to repeat what I said but from a DDA view rather than non-DDA...
As I said with my main point, 35 non DDA's on main fleet.

(10 Oct 2013, 5:44 pm)Michael wrote [ -> ]What was the month of the Gas buses to be delivered in, was it November?

Were scheduled beginning of November but a source tells me this is now moved back to the last week in November for the first ones, 28001-28017.

They haven't bid for any yet new ones yet. The grants have been received, but probably is SC. SC then have to bid for the money to be used in such way. If not decided already who gets the money, bidding for the money would happen. But as the press says, all we know is the local authority area. Due to the current bus climate in the NE, answers on a postcard...!

(10 Oct 2013, 5:57 pm)mattdw92 wrote [ -> ]They haven't bid for any yet new ones yet. The grants have been received, but probably is SC. SC then have to bid for the money to be used in such way. If not decided already who gets the money, bidding for the money would happen. But as the press says, all we know is the area. Due to the current bus climate in the NE, answers on a postcard...!

Forgive me - I have very little knowledge when it comes to government funding and the like, and have never really understood the Green Bus Fund other than to the point operators receive grants to purchase eco-friendly buses.

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/sy...-table.pdf

Does the above table (see last page) not suggest that Stagecoach in Sunderland have received a grant of £719,060 to purchase '40 single decker biomethane gas' vehicles?
From that, I wouldn't have thought there were any ifs about whether they're for Stagecoach or not, unless I haven't grasped what you're getting at. :p

Their defently for Sunderland and Stagecoach and theirs 40.

[align=right]

(10 Oct 2013, 6:47 pm)Daniel wrote [ -> ]Does the above table (see last page) not suggest that Stagecoach in Sunderland have received a grant of £719,060 to purchase '40 single decker biomethane gas' vehicles?
From that, I wouldn't have thought there were any ifs about whether they're for Stagecoach or not, unless I haven't grasped what you're getting at. :p

Ah crap. Didn't realise they had updated the old table.
It was indefinitely Stagecoach though elimination, but twas going along with what was public press! In that case, they will be on next years order - would be nice if they could sneak them on to this years order..... very late so I doubt it!


Anyhooo also to note, Hull have received their 7th ex-Manc Enviro400 Trident, which should mean that lovely Stockton can get a ALX400 numero 7 shortly - but of course, Stockton are still waiting patiently for Hull to kick out the 5th......

(10 Oct 2013, 7:03 pm)mattdw92 wrote [ -> ]Ah crap. Didn't realise they had updated the old table.
It was indefinitely Stagecoach, but going along with what was public press! In that case, they will be on next years order - would be nice if they could sneak them on to this years order...!

Would they be able to get them in service by March 2014 if on next year's order?

(10 Oct 2013, 7:07 pm)Daniel wrote [ -> ]Would they be able to get them in service by March 2014 if on next year's order?

Going on previous orders, the official order on paper is detailed by January/February, with the media revealing what's on the order soon after. This year 2013/14 start deliveries were in time for the new plate.

If remarkably on this years, would be late December arrivals.

(10 Oct 2013, 7:23 pm)mattdw92 wrote [ -> ]Going on previous orders, the official order on paper is detailed by January/February, which soon after the media reveal what's on the order, this year first deliveries were end April/start of May.

If remarkably on this years, would be late December/Jan arrivals.

Remember that, as per the conditions of Green Bus Fund Round 4, the vehicles that have been assisted by a grant from the GBF do need to be out in service by 31st March 2014. With that in mind, I do believe they will be on this year's orders.

(10 Oct 2013, 7:26 pm)Daniel wrote [ -> ]Remember that, as per the conditions of Green Bus Fund Round 4, the vehicles that have been assisted by a grant from the GBF do need to be out in service by 31st March 2014. With that in mind, I do believe they will be on this year's orders.

Or. I'd say they'd extend the deadline for the extension to give them time to order the buses and have them built and delivered around what time the manufacturers have, which I think might happen. It would leave 6 months between announcement and deadline, which is pretty tight to get green buses ordered and built.

(10 Oct 2013, 7:52 pm)mattdw92 wrote [ -> ]Or. I'd say they'd extend the deadline for the extension to give them time to order the buses and have them built and delivered around what time the manufacturers have, which I think might happen. It would leave 6 months between announcement and deadline, which is pretty tight to get green buses ordered and built.

Can't keep up with the edits here Matt - 'twas totally different last time I saw that post!

Surely the bid would be non-compliant again, if Stagecoach could not include confirmation from the relevant manufacturer(s) that they can meet the deadline of 31st March 2014?

See Section 4.2:
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/sy...idance.pdf

Unless an exception has been made in the past, is it likely that it will happen this time?

Admittedly, Section 4.2 also states
"Bids will be non­-compliant if they are received after the advertised deadline of 17:00 on Tuesday 26th March 2013"

On top of the 37 already intended for Stagecoach (in accordance with the 2013/14 Stagecoach Handbook), an additional 3 have been ordered. We know that 17 were intended for Stagecoach in Sunderland whilst the other 20 were for Sheffield (?), but an additional 3 have been ordered.
So perhaps the guidelines can be bent to suit circumstances such as this - but it does seem a little unlikely to me. I admit that the manufacturers would be incredibly pressured to have these buses built for March 2014, but I'm just going on the official documentation made available publicly.