North East Buses

Out in for Indigo North Tyne repaint wise?

I'm not a big fan of the XLines branding, it reminds me too much of the X-Files! Also, I don't know why but the stripes facing backwards make me feel a bit uncomfortable. Hopefully a rebrand for the X21 is far enough away for them to change their mind about the new branding

Apparently, the 6 cylinder OM936 engine now available in the StreetDeck is 7.7l and 300bhp from what I've been reading. Might be wrong though but good move by Wrightbus if true.

(10 May 2019, 7:47 pm)Dan wrote [ -> ]The Cobalt & Coast was very much a work of the Managing Director, just made up by Beacon...

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Martijn seem to of confirmed on Twitter, that this is the style, they're going with on other brands to, when they get repainted.



"They’re different styles for different purposes. Cobalt is in our standard brand style (recently updated and now being rolled out). The gold design is for our express routes to differentiate them from normal services". 

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He said Silver is a hard colour to work with, so hopefully we have no more new brands using Silver.... fully expect the Fab 56 B9's to go for a refurbishment next.... hopefully the flowers don't make an appearance EVER again.... but would like another colour than orange.....

(11 May 2019, 6:31 am)Michael wrote [ -> ]Martijn seem to of confirmed on Twitter, that this is the style, they're going with on other brands to, when they get repainted.



"They’re different styles for different purposes. Cobalt is in our standard brand style (recently updated and now being rolled out). The gold design is for our express routes to differentiate them from normal services". 

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He said Silver is a hard colour to work with, so hopefully we have no more new brands using Silver.... fully expect the Fab 56 B9's to go for a refurbishment next.... hopefully the flowers don't make an appearance EVER again.... but would like another colour than orange.....

Think we’ll see those B9s away for a refurb, judging by the red kite B9s interior I wouldn’t be surprised if they went for refurb.

(11 May 2019, 8:49 am)Stanleyone wrote [ -> ]Think we’ll see those B9s away for a refurb, judging by the red kite B9s interior I wouldn’t be surprised if they went for refurb.

What if they go for a refurb but, end up on another route?

(11 May 2019, 10:31 am)L469 YVK wrote [ -> ]What if they go for a refurb but, end up on another route?

You never know, just my experience their interior is looking worse for wear now so they could really do will being cleaned up

(11 May 2019, 6:31 am)Michael wrote [ -> ]Martijn seem to of confirmed on Twitter, that this is the style, they're going with on other brands to, when they get repainted.



"They’re different styles for different purposes. Cobalt is in our standard brand style (recently updated and now being rolled out). The gold design is for our express routes to differentiate them from normal services". 

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He said Silver is a hard colour to work with, so hopefully we have no more new brands using Silver.... fully expect the Fab 56 B9's to go for a refurbishment next.... hopefully the flowers don't make an appearance EVER again.... but would like another colour than orange.....

To be fair I think the crusader would work well with the new style.....silver at front with a red rear same as now with white and orange stripe. Wouldn't take a lot of tweaking.

However I think that the gold front on all X services might be confusing down the line. Imagine standing at high level bridge and the X1, X21, X30, X70, X10 all come at once........be better if rear was gold and front brand colour to help differentiate between them

(11 May 2019, 12:34 am)V514DFT wrote [ -> ]Out in for Indigo North Tyne repaint wise?

Maybe an answer before the weekend. Like the new brand and the direction the MD is taking the company. I don’t feel like, as employees we are being kept in the dark like under the previous leader.

With PVR cuts on the 11, 18 and 36 there will be atleast 10 spare buses.
11: PVR 4 lost 
18: PVR 2 lost
36: PVR 4 lost

Could the 4 Versas allow for 5229 - 5232 to transfer to a different depot allowing 4x Older Solars to be withdrawn?
724/725 To Percy Main for IndiGo?
4x Omnicitys off Blue Arrow to remain at Percy Main for 19, alongside 5264 replace 4978 - 4982?

(11 May 2019, 5:57 pm)Stanleyone wrote [ -> ]Maybe an answer before the weekend. Like the new brand and the direction the MD is taking the company. I don’t feel like, as employees we are being kept in the dark like under the previous leader.

Ahhhh i see,no worries,only asked cus the 19th is rapidly approaching and i assume the current Indigo N/T buses will need to leave next Saturday night

(11 May 2019, 11:14 am)JP6004 wrote [ -> ]To be fair I think the crusader would work well with the new style.....silver at front with a red rear same as now with white and orange stripe. Wouldn't take a lot of tweaking.

However I think that the gold front on all X services might be confusing down the line. Imagine standing at high level bridge and the X1, X21, X30, X70, X10 all come at once........be better if rear was gold and front brand colour to help differentiate between them

At least GNE would actually keep the route specific 'X' branded vehicles on the correct routes unlike Arriva who end up putting a MAX branded X7/X8 Gemini on the X10/X11 or an X15 branded E400 on the X20.

6936 is at Volvo in Washington. Saw 6927 the other week too, though that has since returned.

(11 May 2019, 8:53 pm)L469 YVK wrote [ -> ]At least GNE would actually keep the route specific 'X' branded vehicles on the correct routes unlike Arriva who end up putting a MAX branded X7/X8 Gemini on the X10/X11 or an X15 branded E400 on the X20.

If express services are going to be gold, will that include the X84/X85? When are the rebrands going to be completed? Is the branding going to be changed on all routes? 

I like the new Cobalt & Coast branding, although it would be much better if the silver had been replaced. I think a gold/light brown colour scheme would be good for the Coaster (although I love the current blue livery), I liked the old Coaster branding, beige/cream and green, it looked more coastal and I think it makes sense. Are the Blue Arrow/Green Arrow brands going?

Are GNE intending to upgrade all buses eventually, to have the same features?

Route 47 (Newcastle to Blackhall Mill)
https://youtu.be/7oD-cDxMQxY

(11 May 2019, 8:53 pm)L469 YVK wrote [ -> ]At least GNE would actually keep the route specific 'X' branded vehicles on the correct routes unlike Arriva who end up putting a MAX branded X7/X8 Gemini on the X10/X11 or an X15 branded E400 on the X20.

Oh I dunno mind. 
Can see the Kia Picanto Solo's ending up on a 20 and causing all sorts of confusion when passengers see it approaching.

(12 May 2019, 8:58 am)Andreos1 wrote [ -> ]Oh I dunno mind. 
Can see the Kia Picanto Solo's ending up on a 20 and causing all sorts of confusion when passengers see it approaching.

With them colours, I think more the BMW version of Xline

(11 May 2019, 7:17 pm)S830OFT wrote [ -> ]With PVR cuts on the 11, 18 and 36 there will be atleast 10 spare buses.
11: PVR 4 lost 
18: PVR 2 lost
36: PVR 4 lost

Could the 4 Versas allow for 5229 - 5232 to transfer to a different depot allowing 4x Older Solars to be withdrawn?
724/725 To Percy Main for IndiGo?
4x Omnicitys off Blue Arrow to remain at Percy Main for 19, alongside 5264 replace 4978 - 4982?

I think 4978 - 4982 would move elsewhere with them being built in 2004 but then again, they're only Euro 4, so maybe.... unless GNE have got permission to withdraw the Scania's early, like the ones with the Euro 5 conversions.

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(11 May 2019, 9:13 pm)OrangeArrow49 wrote [ -> ]If express services are going to be gold, will that include the X84/X85? When are the rebrands going to be completed? Is the branding going to be changed on all routes? 

I like the new Cobalt & Coast branding, although it would be much better if the silver had been replaced. I think a gold/light brown colour scheme would be good for the Coaster (although I love the current blue livery), I liked the old Coaster branding, beige/cream and green, it looked more coastal and I think it makes sense. Are the Blue Arrow/Green Arrow brands going?

Are GNE intending to upgrade all buses eventually, to have the same features?

Martjin said, branding/repaints will only happen, when they're due for a repaint.


Basically confirmed, it seems like all express routes will get the same style of brand, would imagine they'll keep the same name "Xlines" and Normal routes will get the same style brand as the Cobalt Coast (apart from the colours).

Also from Twitter:


We’re working on buses due a mid life refurbishment or where we are implementing notable changes and re-launching routes. Currently underway are Cobalt Clipper, X6/7 WearXpress, X20,  North Tyneside ‘Indigo’ and ‘Whey aye 50’. We’ve 700+ buses, so this won’t happen overnight!

Think we will see 5229-5232 trandfer to percy main and 4978-4982 go , the Fab 56 rebrand got told that it will be Two tone orange. Love the idea of little coasters too which has been announced

(13 May 2019, 8:26 pm)Citaro5326 wrote [ -> ]Think we will see 5229-5232 trandfer to percy main and 4978-4982 go , the Fab 56 rebrand got told that it will be Two tone orange. Love the idea of little coasters too which has been announced

Disappointed the 56 will be staying orange.

Little Coasters?

(13 May 2019, 8:26 pm)Citaro5326 wrote [ -> ]Think we will see 5229-5232 trandfer to percy main and 4978-4982 go , the Fab 56 rebrand got told that it will be Two tone orange. Love the idea of little coasters too which has been announced

Little coasters for the 11?

And the Omnicities are going to Chester i'm guessing?

(13 May 2019, 8:26 pm)Citaro5326 wrote [ -> ]Think we will see 5229-5232 trandfer to percy main and 4978-4982 go , the Fab 56 rebrand got told that it will be Two tone orange. Love the idea of little coasters too which has been announced

Interesting.
The 42/A should be put in the cobalt livery and be branded for cobalt link 42/42A with 691-696 and 697/8 replacing 695/6 all to get refurbished to a similar spec of the c&c
625/27/31/32 are to be refurbished to Wallsend connect for the 40/41 this will be a yellow front and blue back with the blue front panel.  654/3 will also be branded for the Wallsend connect 40/41.
What are your thoughts.

(13 May 2019, 8:34 pm)GNE6312 wrote [ -> ]Interesting.
The 42/A should be put in the cobalt livery and be branded for cobalt link 42/42A with 691-696 and 697/8 replacing 695/6 all to get refurbished to a similar spec of the c&c
625/27/31/32 are to be refurbished to Wallsend connect for the 40/41 this will be a yellow front and blue back with the blue front panel.  654/3 will also be branded for the Wallsend connect 40/41.
What are your thoughts.

I can't see them refurbishing anything for the 40/41 like, not really a long route or anything

(13 May 2019, 8:33 pm)Tom wrote [ -> ]Little coasters for the 11?

And the Omnicities are going to Chester i'm guessing?

Is the Blue Arrow brand going to be axed? What about Green Arrow?

I like the OmniCities.

The 11 will be a PVR of 4 so could use Solos...
5266 - 5273 would be a great match for the Loop at a PVR of 8.

(13 May 2019, 10:15 pm)S830OFT wrote [ -> ]The 11 will be a PVR of 4 so could use Solos...
5266 - 5273 would be a great match for the Loop at a PVR of 8.

So the Loop is getting OmniCitys to replace the current allocation of Scania L94s? I thought Versas would be put on the Loop as the serve alongside the Versa operated Quaylink Q1/Q2 and City Link 58 services in some areas.

(13 May 2019, 10:22 pm)OrangeArrow49 wrote [ -> ]So the Loop is getting OmniCitys to replace the current allocation of Scania L94s? I thought Versas would be put on the Loop as the serve alongside the Versa operated Quaylink Q1/Q2 and City Link 58 services in some areas.

5377 - 5384 off the 58 would also be a good match for the Loop, aswell as 5369 - 5376 off the Drifter, some good combinations you can come up with...

(13 May 2019, 10:38 pm)S830OFT wrote [ -> ]5377 - 5384 off the 58 would also be a good match for the Loop, aswell as 5369 - 5376 off the Drifter, some good combinations you can come up with...

There's only 8 of those, but the weekday PVR of the Loop is 9.

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(13 May 2019, 8:28 pm)OrangeArrow49 wrote [ -> ]Disappointed the 56 will be staying orange.

Little Coasters?

That's the new brand for the Percy Main's indiGo network. Blue Arrow is remaining.

(14 May 2019, 6:19 am)RBZ 5459 wrote [ -> ]That's the new brand for the Percy Main's indiGo network. Blue Arrow is remaining.

Least we managed to get a surprise in there for you then!  

Blue Arrow isn't remaining - the Little Coasters brand will also encompass service 11 as part of the network review this weekend - the staff notice which went out last week that suggested the new brand sits alongside Coaster, Cobalt & Coast and Blue Arrow was slightly incorrect in this respect..!