North East Buses

674 is done seen it today.

Wonder if recent repaints of the "Country Ranger Streetlites" are an indicator of potential New Buses arriving in fleet which is long overdue.

(25 May 2025, 5:22 pm)Malarkey wrote [ -> ]Wonder if recent repaints of the "Country Ranger Streetlites" are an indicator of potential New Buses arriving in fleet which is long overdue.

Doubt it, probably just a case of getting rid of the branding

(18 May 2025, 9:52 am)Michael wrote [ -> ]673 and 5404 is now in GNE livery according to bustimes.

GNE have changed the 8/78 in to GNE colours on the their timetable list.

(25 May 2025, 5:22 pm)Malarkey wrote [ -> ]Wonder if recent repaints of the "Country Ranger Streetlites" are an indicator of potential New Buses arriving in fleet which is long overdue.

Probably more it was a completely stupid brand with 2 bus routes which were completely irrelevant to each other bar roughly 4 stops.

5406 now corporate as well

(29 May 2025, 2:59 pm)Tiger5105 wrote [ -> ]5406 now corporate as well

675 now also in corporate.

682 now in corporate and allocated to Sunderland

Have GNE painted any of there dual door buses in a "non corporate" livery? Reason i has is a DD dual door was going over the a1 towards Lobley hill/whickham and could swear it was a GNE bus. was light green at front and dark at back?

(10 Jun 2025, 12:34 pm)Rob44 wrote [ -> ]Have GNE painted any of there dual door buses in a "non corporate" livery?  Reason i has is a DD dual door was going over the a1 towards Lobley hill/whickham and could swear it was a GNE bus. was light green at front and dark at back?

That'll be Northstar E400. They have two of them

Since the 1 (soon 301) started going to the Metrocentre I always thought a better name should be applied (Coast and County perhaps) but as brands seem to be slowly vanishing, I kept the idea to myself

(10 Jun 2025, 12:35 pm)Aaron21 wrote [ -> ]That'll be Northstar E400. They have two of them

Ah right - are they not getting rid of the centre doors? Just GNE seem to take a lot of flack on here for running theres?

(10 Jun 2025, 4:42 pm)Rob44 wrote [ -> ]Ah right - are they not getting rid of the centre doors? Just GNE seem to take a lot of flack on here for running theres?

Depends what they're doing, if they're only on school runs it doesn't really matter as they'll know whether there's a wheel chair or not. Only really an issue on public services. I don't think anyone would have issue with dual door buses with GNE if they were on the school runs, but they're not.

6318 seems to have had an allover wrap. 
Excluding the front end.

(17 Jun 2025, 7:18 pm)Andreos1 wrote [ -> ]6318 seems to have had an allover wrap. 
Excluding the front end.

They can wrap it but can’t fix the rear display that’s been missing for best part of a year

Why did 638 go to go north west? Why did it come back and why is it still in Go north west fleet colours. It’s an odd bus. Was 637 withdrawn ?

(22 Jun 2025, 6:22 pm)Acky81 wrote [ -> ]Why did 638 go to go north west? Why did it come back and why is it still in Go north west fleet colours. It’s an odd bus. Was 637 withdrawn ?

Hopefully it might go once the changes to the 9 happen in July.



I would think atm, its been used to cover the repaints at Deptford.

(22 Jun 2025, 6:56 pm)Michael wrote [ -> ]Hopefully it might go once the changes to the 9 happen in July.



I would think atm, its been used to cover the repaints at Deptford.

Noticed the graphites are being painted at present how about the last silver fox and the drifters

(22 Jun 2025, 8:31 pm)Acky81 wrote [ -> ]Noticed the graphites are being painted at present how about the last silver fox and the drifters

All should be done soon, hopefully.


I think the only brands what should remain at Deptford is the:


Cityrider
Prince Bishops
Sunderland Connect

----


I wonder which depot will be done next, Country Ranger is currently getting repainted too.

Branding should just be scrapped all together imo

5408 out today, now in Fleet Livery.

676 now in corporate

(22 Jun 2025, 6:22 pm)Acky81 wrote [ -> ]Why did 638 go to go north west? Why did it come back and why is it still in Go north west fleet colours. It’s an odd bus. Was 637 withdrawn ?

Was seemingly needed at GNW for whatever reason for a bit, when it became surplus at GNW, it transferred back to GNE (I think as a result of Nexus contract gains?), think it was only meant to be a short term solution (hence lack of repaint) but for whatever reason, it's still clinging on.

Funnily enough, I just had 638 tonight on the 25. Still just as strong as the 16 plates at the depot, canny little bus still, that's probably why it's hanging on.

5394 now corporate

(25 Jun 2025, 7:20 pm)Retro Nero wrote [ -> ]5394 now corporate

Saw it this morning on 62a looks smart

5405 now in Fleet livery, on the 6 today. 

That’s the last Country Ranger to be painted at Hownsgill. 

Hopefully those Voyager B9s get a repaint soon!

(15 Jul 2025, 1:43 pm)WestDurhamSwift wrote [ -> ]5405 now in Fleet livery, on the 6 today. 

That’s the last Country Ranger to be painted at Hownsgill. 

Hopefully those Voyager B9s get a repaint soon!

I believe the Explorers and Drifters are next

(15 Jul 2025, 1:43 pm)WestDurhamSwift wrote [ -> ]Hopefully those Voyager B9s get a repaint soon!

Just a waste of money painting them, they should be leaving the fleet - they're 17 year old and well past it now. Assume the electrics and rumoured E400MMC's at Deptford will see them off before long, or at least onto schools.

(15 Jul 2025, 4:47 pm)Storx wrote [ -> ]Just a waste of money painting them, they should be leaving the fleet - they're 17 year old and well past it now. Assume the electrics and rumoured E400MMC's at Deptford will see them off before long, or at least onto schools.

I'd expect from new buses coming in the forthcoming months that the following would be withdrawn:

Volvo B7TL Wright Gemini 3941-43/3962-65: Hopefully some go into Preservation, I do think a donation of at least x2 of them to Beamish Museum would be ideal for there vintage bus services as I think they need them to help the those with disabilities navigate around the Museum as I seen a lot of people struggling when I was there a few weeks back, I'd also add 8319 in the donation list when that gets withdrawn.

Also withdrawn would be Volvo B9TL Wright Gemini 6177-79-6196 and Dennis Trident Enviro 400/Olympus' - 6944-66 /6970-76.