(24 Aug 2017, 6:00 pm)Malarkey Will 6084 be repainted and branded for the X9/X10, or will it remain in Red.

(24 Aug 2017, 6:52 pm)Citaro5326 6308-6314 branded for X9/10
6043/6044/6045/6084 will be spares for decker routes

(24 Aug 2017, 8:27 pm)Malarkey Will it be a branded spare though

(24 Aug 2017, 8:38 pm)JP6004 Doubt it......they seem to be moving away from branded spares...however i agree that an eighth branded B5 would of been beneficial so least one could have a day off being hauled up the A19....might last a bit longer too

(24 Aug 2017, 9:05 pm)Malarkey won't last two years on there going flat out at 60mph up and down the A19, surprised the B9's lasted five years, should of purchased coaches instead in my opinion

(24 Aug 2017, 9:07 pm)S813 FVK I have become so predictable haven't I? Yes, I agree that the symbol should only be used if it is available at every seat - USBs alone probably aren't too effective when charging up a laptop.

Not massively keen on the black headlight surrounds though but hopefully seeing it in person will make it look better, much like the Black Cats branding on the Streetlites.

(24 Aug 2017, 5:17 pm)JP6004 Looks fab! Although looks like the NSA has now gone back to the TFT rather than the LED version.......or is that something else on the upper deck windscreen?

(24 Aug 2017, 6:00 pm)Malarkey Will 6084 be repainted and branded for the X9/X10, or will it remain in Red.

(24 Aug 2017, 6:52 pm)Citaro5326 6308-6314 branded for X9/10
6043/6044/6045/6084 will be spares for decker routes

(25 Aug 2017, 7:35 am)Dan They certainly do!

The Next Stop Announcements will still use an internal LED sign - the downstairs one is fitted at the wheelchair bay (like the Castles Express) but the upstairs one hasn't been fitted yet. They'll likely be in service for a couple of weeks before a new bracket can be created and fitted by Wrightbus, with the LED sign mounted on this, at the top of the staircase.

The TFT monitor on the plastic bulkhead is presently being used to show CCTV images, though it is intended (if it is possible to do so) to link this to the Next Stop Announcements instead, so it can be better utilised for advertising (Dalton Park, connections to other Go North East buses, etc).




6084 should be repainted into the red/blue fleet livery next week, ahead of the service changes on 3rd Sept, when it will become a dedicated spare vehicle for the X9/X10.

6045 - 6047 will be repainted for the TEN: 6045/46 allocated to Riverside, and 6047 allocated to Hexham.
6043/44/48 will be repainted into the red/blue fleet livery: 6043/44 allocated to Riverside (spare for the TEN) and 6048 allocated to Hexham (spare for the TEN).

All six of the current "Tyne Tees Xpress" branded Volvo B9TLs will have Next Stop Announcements fitted during repaint (indeed, the system has already been fitted, it just requires the TFT monitors to be fitted and connected up), providing consistency with the main branded allocation of the branded vehicles.

(25 Aug 2017, 8:18 am)Michael Will 3941, 3942, 3963 and 3964 remain at Riverside as spares to replace the Plaxton Presidents?

(25 Aug 2017, 8:33 am)JP6004 Presidents only at Riverside for Metro replacement

(25 Aug 2017, 8:39 am)Michael Oh aye, Chester or Washington?, as they're the only other Depots with the Volvo B7TL's? 

(24 Aug 2017, 11:48 pm)komnicity4659 Don't think its even possible

(25 Aug 2017, 10:05 am)Jordan2104 Or percy main too

(25 Aug 2017, 8:39 am)Michael Oh aye, Chester or Washington?, as they're the only other Depots with the Volvo B7TL's? 

(24 Aug 2017, 11:10 pm)Jimmi Problem with coaches on the X9/X10 are: they would be a much more expensive to buy and run than buses and how many years would you expect to use them on the X9/X10 for? Then there is the question what would you do with them when it's time to replace them, can't really displace them onto another service and who would want buy coaches with such high mileage? Also, coaches have not proven popular with the elderly and disabled in the area previously on the likes of the Arriva X66.

Go North East seem to be a similar thing with the X9/X10 as Lothian Buses with their Airlink 100 service which is buy buses for the service and then replace them a few years down the line onto a less demanding service(s).

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(25 Aug 2017, 10:24 pm)Malarkey How many elderley and disabled people on a daily basis across the country use the likes of National Express, National Holidays, Megabus, JH Coaches, Oxford Tube, Greenline, Shearings which are all coach operated?

Answer to that question is "Thousands" without any complaints, why should the X9/X10 be an exception to the above.

Go North East has just withdrawn a batch of Caetano Levantes after 9 Years on National Express, so clearly if coaches were purchased they would be allocated to the X9/X10 for quite some time.

(25 Aug 2017, 11:52 pm)RBZ 5459 Services by such operators are not normal stage-carriage services or if they are, are more limited stop than the likes of X9/X10. Limited stop ones in particular will use a bus station, with a DDA coach only being able to use it's electric wheelchair lift at a select few bus stops safely, like bus stations. A low entrance vehicle like the new B8RLE Leopard would be the closest choice to a 'coach' with the current setup of the Tyne Tees Xpress services, or some other Interdecker like the Elite i, but that's quite an overkill and sizeable investment.

(26 Aug 2017, 12:09 am)callum2015 Another issue with using something like the Elite I would be length,as i imagine it would be abit of pain getting it in/out of Peterlee BS & Newcastle EQ,So if these was bought it would be more likely they would have to move some stops about,whilst the likes of Oxford Tube or NE do not have the problem (Unless they got NX permission to use the Coach Stn,but then people would possibly complain that the services have been moved to the bottom end of the City)