North East Buses

(27 Aug 2020, 2:51 pm)ne14ne1 wrote [ -> ]One of the X1 Streetdecks at Saltmeadows now:


https://flic.kr/p/2jACNKF

Looks stunning!!!!!

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(27 Aug 2020, 2:52 pm)JP6004 wrote [ -> ]Looks stunning!!!!!

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There's not that much contrast between the two shades of red compared to the Green or the Blue ones. Might just be the camera though!

I thought the X1 StreetDecks weren't supposed to be arriving until the back end of September

(27 Aug 2020, 3:03 pm)streetdeckfan wrote [ -> ]There's not that much contrast between the two shades of red compared to the Green or the Blue ones. Might just be the camera though!

I thought the X1 StreetDecks weren't supposed to be arriving until the back end of September

Probs camera as not much contrast between gold and cream. Well I believe it was said all be in service by end of September - only few weeks away

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(27 Aug 2020, 2:51 pm)ne14ne1 wrote [ -> ]One of the red X1 Streetdecks is sat round the front of Saltmeadows at the moment:


https://flic.kr/p/2jACNKF

6374

That last photo was a little overexposed. Here’s a better one;



I have to say, this red edition of Xlines livery might even beat the X21’s blue version.

(27 Aug 2020, 5:17 pm)ne14ne1 wrote [ -> ]That last photo was a little overexposed. Here’s a better one;



I have to say, this red edition of Xlines livery might even beat the X21’s blue version.

Agreed

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(27 Aug 2020, 5:17 pm)ne14ne1 wrote [ -> ]That last photo was a little overexposed. Here’s a better one;



I have to say, this red edition of Xlines livery might even beat the X21’s blue version.

Thought it was just the photo. First impression it does look rather nice like. 
Definitely think it looks better than the blue, not quite as nice as then charcoal generic one though!

My personal favourite livery was actually the promotional Hop Tap Go! one. It was a lovely shade of blue, really stood out and suited the StreetDeck really well!

I’ve noticed on the back of 6359 that the destination display only shows the destination (the same as the lower display on the front), without any number. I hope that’s going to be fixed, especially if you'rewondering if you’ve just missed that bus.

With those new Streetdecks having such large front destination displays I think it would be nice to add the ‘M is for Metro’ (M) symbol alongside ‘Gateshead’.

Actually having said that it’d be nice to add the ‘M is for Metro’ symbol on all buses that have Gateshead, North Shields, Wallsend, Haymarket, Heworth etc as their destination.
And the ‘F is for Ferry’ symbol on any routes terminating at North Shields Ferry Terminal, (I’m not sure if that applies to GNE though).

After all, the Metro ‘M’ has been added to the new network map Dan posted recently.
It’s all about making people more aware of easy to use public transport/connections at the end of the day, even if we don’t yet have a fully integrated system like we had once upon a time.

Given that the StreetDecks only ended up on the X1 given the current situation and the need for more efficient duties out of Consett, do people reckon that they will be a 'stop gap' until better economic times before being cascaded while relatively new to one of the routes where the "binge drinking B9s" are a bit overkill?

Obviously this would mean a future order of E400MMCs or OM936 StreetDecks (if proven)

For all we know though, the new StreetDecks might prove to be fine on the X1. No bad reports on the X45 & X46 as of yet and they aren't the easiest of routes though not too bad.

(27 Aug 2020, 6:56 pm)L469 YVK wrote [ -> ]Given that the StreetDecks only ended up on the X1 given the current situation and the need for more efficient duties out of Consett, do people reckon that they will be a 'stop gap' until better economic times before being cascaded while relatively new to one of the routes where the "binge drinking B9s" are a bit overkill?

Obviously this would mean a future order of E400MMCs or OM936 StreetDecks (if proven)

For all we know though, the new StreetDecks might prove to be fine on the X1. No bad reports on the X45 & X46 as of yet and they aren't the easiest of routes though not too bad.

I can't see why they'd struggle on the X1, I think the B9s only seem to struggle because of the old emissions upgrades they received. Don't see it being anymore taxing than the 56, and the B9s on there are still rocket ships for the most part.

(27 Aug 2020, 6:56 pm)L469 YVK wrote [ -> ]Given that the StreetDecks only ended up on the X1 given the current situation and the need for more efficient duties out of Consett, do people reckon that they will be a 'stop gap' until better economic times before being cascaded while relatively new to one of the routes where the "binge drinking B9s" are a bit overkill?

Obviously this would mean a future order of E400MMCs or OM936 StreetDecks (if proven)

For all we know though, the new StreetDecks might prove to be fine on the X1. No bad reports on the X45 & X46 as of yet and they aren't the easiest of routes though not too bad.

Nope as it's a waste of money to replace deckers that don't need replacing especially when there's a lot of singles which will need replacing first ie the whole Versa fleet, Omnicities, Citaros etc.

(27 Aug 2020, 6:56 pm)L469 YVK wrote [ -> ]Given that the StreetDecks only ended up on the X1 given the current situation and the need for more efficient duties out of Consett, do people reckon that they will be a 'stop gap' until better economic times before being cascaded while relatively new to one of the routes where the "binge drinking B9s" are a bit overkill?

Obviously this would mean a future order of E400MMCs or OM936 StreetDecks (if proven)

For all we know though, the new StreetDecks might prove to be fine on the X1. No bad reports on the X45 & X46 as of yet and they aren't the easiest of routes though not too bad.

I personally think the StreetDecks will be a better option. In my view, they only went with the E400s out of necessity, they needed new vehicles, and ADL was the only option, unless they wanted a MetroDecker (which, let's be honest, nobody does!)

The 4 cylinder StreetDecks are adequate for 99% of the routes GNE operate, my bet is they don't order any more 6 cylinders, and buy another batch of the 4 cylinders.

Some interesting points made. Washington's B9s are the only ones running (excluding those temporarily on X9/X10 duty which always took it's toll) which seem to regularly overheat or at least run hot. This could be because of the modifications made years back to them. The Washington Highway isn't that long but it does have some pretty severe banks at either end as well as Deckham Bank and Grasswell. It'll be interesting to see how the StreetDecks cope with this. The Enviro seemed to make mincemeat of them when it was on demo but I still have reservations about the StreetDecks. I hope these new ones have come on leaps and bounds since the Angel batch, some of which have a dubious track record.

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(27 Aug 2020, 11:52 pm)6049 wrote [ -> ]Some interesting points made. Washington's B9s are the only ones running (excluding those temporarily on X9/X10 duty which always took it's toll) which seem to regularly overheat or at least run hot. This could be because of the modifications made years back to them. The Washington Highway isn't that long but it does have some pretty severe banks at either end as well as Deckham Bank and Grasswell. It'll be interesting to see how the StreetDecks cope with this. The Enviro seemed to make mincemeat of them when it was on demo but I still have reservations about the StreetDecks. I hope these new ones have come on leaps and bounds since the Angel batch, some of which have a dubious track record.

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In my experience they have plenty of power to get up steep banks, a driver took a wrong turn in Bishop and had to do a hill start on Newton Cap Bank, which is pretty steep, and 6332 (may have been 6333) flew up there like it wasn't there. 
Plus, 6332 has been running on the X21 since new and seems to still be the best one in the batch.

(27 Aug 2020, 11:52 pm)6049 wrote [ -> ]Some interesting points made. Washington's B9s are the only ones running (excluding those temporarily on X9/X10 duty which always took it's toll) which seem to regularly overheat or at least run hot. This could be because of the modifications made years back to them. The Washington Highway isn't that long but it does have some pretty severe banks at either end as well as Deckham Bank and Grasswell. It'll be interesting to see how the StreetDecks cope with this. The Enviro seemed to make mincemeat of them when it was on demo but I still have reservations about the StreetDecks. I hope these new ones have come on leaps and bounds since the Angel batch, some of which have a dubious track record.

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The Omnidekkas had more power than the B9's. Particularly noticeable on the Highway slip-roads.

I can't remember if the Washington batch of B9's were amongst the ones recalled due to water ingress or not. Pretty sure they were.

(28 Aug 2020, 9:35 am)Andreos1 wrote [ -> ]The Omnidekkas had more power than the B9's. Particularly noticeable on the Highway slip-roads.

I can't remember if the Washington batch of B9's were amongst the ones recalled due to water ingress or not. Pretty sure they were.

I've driven ones that have been used on the X9/X10 and they didn't struggle with hills like the Red Arrows did, there's definitely something different about them than the rest of the company's B9s.

Go North East X-lines 6342 / YX20 OKB by kieron mathews, on Flickr

On 6342 to Consett now (X71) and the NSA’s seems to have the volume turned right up


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(28 Aug 2020, 10:18 am)deanmachine wrote [ -> ]I've driven ones that have been used on the X9/X10 and they didn't struggle with hills like the Red Arrows did, there's definitely something different about them than the rest of the company's B9s.

The rumour mill has it that they had their manifolds played round with and for want of a better word, they totally rogered them (not in a good way).

Some of the 11 plates have had their gearboxes tweaked recently and it has made a noticeable difference.

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Go North East X-lines 6341 / YX20 OKA by kieron mathews, on Flickr

6341 has just entered service and is on the X46 to Newcastle, keeps making an annoying beeping noise constantly since it left Consett (my ride back to Newcastle)


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How many of the new buses are in service now?, not sure if Bustimes.org is correct or not.

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According to bustimes.org, both 6149/6155 are now at Riverside.


5416 is tracking on the 9, in Stanley... someone put the wrong number on - https://bustimes.org/vehicles/39632

Go North East X-lines 6356 / NK20 ELV by kieron mathews, on Flickr

Are the blinds programmed properly on the Streetdecks as 6356 had X70 on twice, I got 6359 at Consett and it had it on once

Go North East X-lines 6359 / NK20 EMJ by kieron mathews, on Flickr



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(28 Aug 2020, 8:17 pm)TEN 6083 wrote [ -> ]
Are the blinds programmed properly on the Streetdecks as 6356 had X70 on twice, I got 6359 at Consett and it had it on once





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On the rear of 6359, it displays ‘Stanley’ without number or Via points, the same as the bottom front blind. Seems that what’s on the bottom front blind will also be on the back as well.

Theres a 3rd streetdeck been delivered to Consett.  Not sure if 6358 came after the others on Wednesday (as I think 6356 and 6359 arrived on Wednesday) but it hasnt entered service yet.

I like the double height blind, but I can't help get the feeling it'd look better if it had the destination on the top and the via points underneath. I understand it might make things a bit more difficult to see when at bus stations on the stand mind.

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(28 Aug 2020, 11:22 pm)6049 wrote [ -> ]I like the double height blind, but I can't help get the feeling it'd look better if it had the destination on the top and the via points underneath. I understand it might make things a bit more difficult to see when at bus stations on the stand mind.

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Definitely agree there. Also, I just really dislike the arrows, they could have fitted another via point in there if they got rid of them, plus, the fact they're centred just looks a bit off to me

https://www.instagram.com/p/CEbUv6SHoGZ/...x56ls3hl5q

The first X1 Streetdeck has arrived at Saltmeadows


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All these months waiting for the new vehicles to arrive and it seems they are all arriving around the same time, hopefully now the cascades will start allowing older vehicles to be withdrawn