(29 Dec 2015, 1:09 am)Jimmi Will the new Volvo B11R/Caetano Levante 2's for National Express work be allocated to specific services/runs, or will they just show up on any National Express route?

Hoping that I don't get Plaxton Panther 7093 again with its seats that aren't so comfortable for over two hours when I head to Manchester next month.

(29 Dec 2015, 8:19 am)DanPicken Is 5160 out today?

(28 Dec 2015, 10:58 pm)Michael , i don't.

(28 Dec 2015, 11:28 pm)S813 FVK Ah right, thanks. It said it was based at Deptford but there was no mini article to suggest that it had gone back so i wasn't sure.

(29 Dec 2015, 9:07 am)Dan Should be 425/426, 435/436 and 461 as preference, but can also appear on services usually operated by tri-axle Scania coaches. Guessing it will coincide with maintenance cycles etc, as Go North East stated in their press release that they submitted additional quality standards in their bid for this contract, on top of those specified by National Express, one of which included more frequent engineering inspections.



I got quite lucky with 7120 on service 580 to Liverpool last week:

Go North East: 7120 / BX65WDA by Daniel Graham, on Flickr



Believe a tri-axle Scania covered for it on 425/426..?





Yes - 16/16A.

(29 Dec 2015, 9:59 am)DanPicken Thanks Dan, do you know when its due at Durham?

(29 Dec 2015, 10:14 am)GX03 SVC Read a timetable...

(29 Dec 2015, 9:59 am)DanPicken Thanks Dan, do you know when its due at Durham?

(29 Dec 2015, 1:09 am)Jimmi Will the new Volvo B11R/Caetano Levante 2's for National Express work be allocated to specific services/runs, or will they just show up on any National Express route?

Hoping that I don't get Plaxton Panther 7093 again with its seats that aren't so comfortable for over two hours when I head to Manchester next month.

(29 Dec 2015, 1:47 pm)grandad As a point of interest, are the new Levantes auto or manual?

(29 Dec 2015, 2:03 pm)R852 PRG 7093 seems to be highly thought-of by the members of the Northern Enthusiasts Group.

(29 Dec 2015, 2:13 pm)Jimmi Don't get me wrong, the bus is a good performer, the only reason I'm not so fond of it is simply because of the seats, when you're spending the best part of three hours on there, you want the seats to be extremely comfortable, which the seats in 7093 aren't so much, especially compared to the newer stuff used on National Express work.

(29 Dec 2015, 2:19 pm)Adrian Aye, I agree with you there Jimmi. Spec should be relatively the same no matter what NX service you use, and 7093 should be confined to the past.

(29 Dec 2015, 2:03 pm)R852 PRG 7093 seems to be highly thought-of by the members of the Northern Enthusiasts Group.

(29 Dec 2015, 2:19 pm)Adrian Aye, I agree with you there Jimmi. Spec should be relatively the same no matter what NX service you use, and 7093 should be confined to the past.

(29 Dec 2015, 2:42 pm)Dan Enthusiasts tend to like older buses/coaches - that's no secret. I'd guess that customers, like Jimmi, would much prefer the newer coaches, as they're a lot more comfortable.

7093 has been in a reserve capacity since the withdrawal of the seasonal Skegness 663 service. I'd imagine that it will be transferred to the Driver Training school or Hexham (for scholars contracts) when the remainder of the new coaches arrive in 2016, as one of these could presumably take 7093's place in the reserve fleet.

(29 Dec 2015, 2:42 pm)Dan Enthusiasts tend to like older buses/coaches - that's no secret. I'd guess that most 'normal' customers, like Jimmi, would much prefer the newer coaches, as they're a lot more comfortable.

7093 has been in a reserve capacity since the withdrawal of the seasonal Skegness 663 service. I'd imagine that it will be transferred to the Driver Training school or Hexham (for scholars contracts) when the remainder of the new coaches arrive in 2016, as one of these could presumably take 7093's place in the reserve fleet.