(18 Dec 2016, 1:03 pm)Jamie M 649 left as V8 20 minutes late due to a faulty dimmed light and a damaged change slot on the driver's change-holder.

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(18 Dec 2016, 1:07 pm)LeeCalder And we need to know that why?

(18 Dec 2016, 2:19 pm)Ds1197 Saw a Streetlite on the 9 is that the normal allocation for a Sunday?

(18 Dec 2016, 2:21 pm)Dan Yes, two red Streetlites and two Mercedes Citaros on a Sunday. In today's case, 5438 and 5439 have been allocated alongside Mercedes Citaros 5335 and 5336 (the latter replaced 5333 at around 09:30am this morning).

The red Streetlites are allocated to provide a higher specification bus for passengers - they have free Wi-Fi and power sockets.

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(17 Dec 2016, 10:04 pm)BusLoverMum I think the North east economy is a big factor, here. Bus fares are expensive, anyhow and most of the people taking the bus can't afford those fares on a whim, so will limit their trips. During the week, a good 80% of passengers on my local route enjoy some sort of concessionary fare, whether free OAP/Disabled fares or student fares. I'm sure that, apart from some of the core shopping routes (eg X21), that changes very little across the region.

One thing really stuck with me today, though. 20 years ago, you couldn't pay me to go anywhere near Newcastle city centre on a Saturday in December. Well we did, today, and it wasn't significantly busier than a Saturday at the beginning of November. In the 90s, even on a weekday, you've be carried around by your shoulders by the crowds. At 2:20, this afternoon, Eldon Square and Northumberland street weren't even approaching that busy. I had a moment where we got into a bit of a snake and I thought someone might be fiddling with my backpack, but I turned quickly and there was actually no one behind me!

We caught a 21 to CLS just after 2:30 and sat downstairs, which was barely more than half full.

(18 Dec 2016, 5:05 pm)Dan This might spark some discussion...

(18 Dec 2016, 5:05 pm)Dan This might spark some discussion...

(18 Dec 2016, 5:05 pm)Dan This might spark some discussion...

(18 Dec 2016, 5:30 pm)Ds1197 One looks like the new GNEs corporate livery

(18 Dec 2016, 5:27 pm)Michael Durham Diamond ?

(18 Dec 2016, 5:36 pm)South Tyne Lad Looks more than likely to me in my opinion,  As the only brand off the top of my head with similar base colors is the Connections4 and Blue Arrow.

The 2 corporate spare's bought for every batch could result in the redundancy of 5337 and 5338 at Stanley also....

(18 Dec 2016, 5:41 pm)Michael It would also allow Stanley to have only Omnicities as the other long based single decker.

Unless the Omnicities are replaced next year too.

(18 Dec 2016, 5:47 pm)South Tyne Lad Indeed.

Imo the Omnicity's are more than suited to the X30/X31,X32 , Apart from the capacity issue's they can have at peak times.

(18 Dec 2016, 5:57 pm)Michael Ye, Citaros from Durham Diamond to Deptford for the X5 and put 2 Citaro's from the same batch on 9 to make it full Citaro.

7 on X5
2 on the 9
1 spare 

Replaces 9/10 Scanias.

(18 Dec 2016, 6:07 pm)South Tyne Lad The appeal of the 9 has risen a lot for me since them Citaro's became allocated (escpecially as its a service local to my area ), So it would be great for it to become fully Citaro operated.

Id say either Deptford or Riverside for them, While I believe the best place for 5337 and 38 would be Riverside regardless.