North East Buses

6161 is now at Consett

Coach at Saltmeadows being prepped for repaint (or thats what it looked like) Any ideas?

When is the new buses arriving for the 21, 56, 58 and X66?

(13 Sep 2025, 4:29 pm)Michael wrote [ -> ]When is the new buses arriving for the 21, 56, 58 and X66?

If Wright Electroliners have been ordered then soon as Plymouth Citybus/Go-Ahead London are taking deliveries of them currently, once these are completed the next ones within Go-Ahead Group should be East Yorkshire, not sure where Go North East fits into this as I am of the understanding they've ordered Yuntong U11DD's for the 21/58 and potentially a few E12's for the X66, happy for anyone to correct me on this though as nothing 100% confirmed.

(14 Sep 2025, 3:51 pm)Malarkey wrote [ -> ]If Wright Electroliners have been ordered then soon as Plymouth Citybus/Go-Ahead London are taking deliveries of them currently, once these are completed the next ones within Go-Ahead Group should be East Yorkshire, not sure where Go North East fits into this as I am of the understanding they've ordered Yuntong U11DD's for the 21/58 and potentially a few E12's for the X66, happy for anyone to correct me on this though as nothing 100% confirmed.

The single decker Yutongs have turned out to be a good investment so hopefully the deckers do.

I had heard a while back that Matt Carney doesnt like Yutongs, so I would be surprised if GNE were going against what he says. I think it will be Wrights with them signing a deal with them back in 2024.

Are deckers not for the X66 with singles going on the 58?

(14 Sep 2025, 5:37 pm)L469 YVK wrote [ -> ]Are deckers not for the X66 with singles going on the 58?

Sure it was singles for the X66 and Deckers for the 58.

(14 Sep 2025, 5:37 pm)L469 YVK wrote [ -> ]Are deckers not for the X66 with singles going on the 58?

Would be better to have a full fleet of Double Deckers for the 21/58/X66 than having a microfleet of Single Deckers on either 58 or X66.

Currently on the Durham bound 50 and we just had to pick up passengers off 6215.

Bust wing mirror.

6100 seems to of broken down in front of Flannels in Sunderland, it only got from Park Lane - it was its first run of the day.

https://bustimes.org/vehicles/gnel-6100


It tracked on the 99 but didn't actual run.

I've seen 8322 in Newcastle twice today appearing to be operating on the 1. There was a few people on board so mustn't have caused that much confusion. Can only assume it never got updated when the service changes happened.

Good to see gaffer tape being used to cover the holes above the rear wheel arches on the inside of 5384. Oh and the doors don't work

(28 Sep 2025, 9:48 am)DeltaMan wrote [ -> ]Good to see gaffer tape being used to cover the holes above the rear wheel arches on the inside of 5384. Oh and the doors don't work

But is it genuine branded gaffer tape or the cheapest that Pound Bargains had on offer?

I would hope that only high quality bodge jobs would be acceptable.

(28 Sep 2025, 2:27 pm)BusLoverMum wrote [ -> ]But is it genuine branded gaffer tape or the cheapest that Pound Bargains had on offer?

I would hope that only high quality bodge jobs would be acceptable.

It appeared to be B&Q standard. So somewhere in between!

(28 Sep 2025, 9:48 am)DeltaMan wrote [ -> ]Good to see gaffer tape being used to cover the holes above the rear wheel arches on the inside of 5384. Oh and the doors don't work

Trying to follow in GCT's footprints now then, they have been using it for years

Here's a one, so just got off the 309 and the driver mentioned that the 301 is going back to deckers with the soon to be ex-Angel StreetDecks.

IMO, would be a wiser move using them on the 307/309 with B9TLs doing the 301 instead which are way better suited to the distance & teraim especially around Bensham, Lobley Hill & Whickham.

Followed an old Optare Decker on the X21 yesterday joining the A1(N) Northbound after Chester-Le-Street it crawled up the slip road at no more than 20-30mph very dangerous and very loud.

Has there been any repaints lately?

(01 Oct 2025, 4:39 pm)Michael wrote [ -> ]Has there been any repaints lately?

5369 is now in Fleet Livery. Apart from that I don't think anything has been redone past few weeks. Still the Sunderland Connect solo & The Last Peterlee purples Solo to do as well as the remaining 3 Voltras (believe 2 of them are currently being done, imagine the Quaycity ones are next)

Wouldn't be surprised if they start rebranding the Angel Streetdecks to corp ready for the Electric Deckers

(02 Oct 2025, 2:27 pm)WestDurhamSwift wrote [ -> ]5369 is now in Fleet Livery. Apart from that I don't think anything has been redone past few weeks. Still the Sunderland Connect solo & The Last Peterlee purples Solo to do as well as the remaining 3 Voltras (believe 2 of them are currently being done, imagine the Quaycity ones are next)

Wouldn't be surprised if they start rebranding the Angel Streetdecks to corp ready for the Electric Deckers

Cheers for the update.

Ye, hopefully all the routes, what are getting new buses are repainted before they arrive... however... no doubt it'll be half way through 2026 and the odd Angel will be knocking around.

(02 Oct 2025, 2:27 pm)WestDurhamSwift wrote [ -> ]5369 is now in Fleet Livery. Apart from that I don't think anything has been redone past few weeks. Still the Sunderland Connect solo & The Last Peterlee purples Solo to do as well as the remaining 3 Voltras (believe 2 of them are currently being done, imagine the Quaycity ones are next)

Wouldn't be surprised if they start rebranding the Angel Streetdecks to corp ready for the Electric Deckers

I've got a feeling GNE will go corporate even if they end up on the 301.

No doubt GNE will want to take advantage of their fuel savings and use them on the later 307/309 trips (which get a new bus & driver sent out in North Shields) and the Sunday 307/353 workings.

(02 Oct 2025, 8:22 pm)L469 YVK wrote [ -> ]I've got a feeling GNE will go corporate even if they end up on the 301.

No doubt GNE will want to take advantage of their fuel savings and use them on the later 307/309 trips (which get a new bus & driver sent out in North Shields) and the Sunday 307/353 workings.

I feel like a good chunk of the Streetdecks really need to move onto Hownsgill to replace the remaining 4 Voyagers, Ex GNW Deckers and the 2 Dual E400 to get them off front line service. If they do head to Percy Main, it does release Streetlites to replace the remaining Versas and some of the 63 plate ones. Whatever way they do it they really need to sort Hownsgill out. 

Potentially could see the B5s move to Consett after the X20 changes, suppose it depends on interworking patterns.

(02 Oct 2025, 9:24 pm)WestDurhamSwift wrote [ -> ]I feel like a good chunk of the Streetdecks really need to move onto Hownsgill to replace the remaining 4 Voyagers, Ex GNW Deckers and the 2 Dual E400 to get them off front line service. If they do head to Percy Main, it does release Streetlites to replace the remaining Versas and some of the 63 plate ones. Whatever way they do it they really need to sort Hownsgill out. 

Potentially could see the B5s move to Consett after the X20 changes, suppose it depends on interworking patterns.

The Streetdecks and B5TL's would be horrid at Consett imo. They're shot to bits and wouldn't last a day in service when they can't do simpler work like the 21. 

I'd image the Fab 56 B9TL's will end up there instead and are more suitable imo. 

Imagine the Streetlites might replace the Mercs over the 63 Plate Versa's though since they're fuel hungry etc.

Something like: 
12x to Washington, Mercs and Versa's withdrawn
4x stay at Percy Main, Versa's withdrawn
X66 Electrics at Riverside, Versa's withdrawn

Having all the 17 Plates at Washington would massively help them with the ULEZ issues, especially now with rumours the 8 is heading to Riverside which will mean they'll lose even more E6 single deckers which they need for the 28/29 unless they want new open top buses.

(04 Oct 2025, 9:12 pm)Storx wrote [ -> ]The Streetdecks and B5TL's would be horrid at Consett imo. They're shot to bits and wouldn't last a day in service when they can't do simpler work like the 21. 

I'd image the Fab 56 B9TL's will end up there instead and are more suitable imo. 

Imagine the Streetlites might replace the Mercs over the 63 Plate Versa's though since they're fuel hungry etc.

Something like: 
12x to Washington, Mercs and Versa's withdrawn
4x stay at Percy Main, Versa's withdrawn
X66 Electrics at Riverside, Versa's withdrawn

Having all the 17 Plates at Washington would massively help them with the ULEZ issues, especially now with rumours the 8 is heading to Riverside which will mean they'll lose even more E6 single deckers which they need for the 28/29 unless they want new open top buses.

It's a shame that the 21 StreetDecks are to replace the Coaster StreetLites....as both the Cobalt & Fab 56 B9TLs would sort Consett's decker issues including the ex-X9/X10 B9TLs on the 47.

IMO......the StreetDecks should go on the 307/309, they'll be suited to pottering around Mullen Road, Battle Hill Drive, Addington Drive, Norham Road and Meadowell as opposed to Bensham Bank, Lobley Hill and around Whickham. The B9TLs will give as good service on the 301 as the B/C reg Leyland Olympians did back in the day!

(04 Oct 2025, 9:12 pm)Storx wrote [ -> ]especially now with rumours the 8 is heading to Riverside

Deptford are getting the 8 as far as im aware.

I'd read elsewhere that the 8 was moving to Deptford, with the 14 being operated by Washington and interworking with the 50. Unsure if that's still the plan.

(08 Oct 2025, 12:14 pm)Chris 1 wrote [ -> ]I'd read elsewhere that the 8 was moving to Deptford, with the 14 being operated by Washington and interworking with the 50.  Unsure if that's still the plan.

That seems to be the case, the 8 is definitely moving to Deptford though.

(08 Oct 2025, 1:08 pm)deanmachine wrote [ -> ]That seems to be the case, the 8 is definitely moving to Deptford though.

Wonder if that means, the last 2 runs from Stanley will run to Park Lane instead of Washington Galleries or Chester-Le-Street.

I take it, that only a few streetlites will move over to Deptford with the rest made up of Deptford's current streetlites (due to the PVR drop from the 61)

(08 Oct 2025, 8:59 am)NL62WVW wrote [ -> ]Deptford are getting the 8 as far as im aware.

Aye apologies meant to say Deptford, my mistake. Would never work from Riverside.