(27 Oct 2017, 5:21 pm)S813 FVK I think that the 9 will get this lot of Mercs. The 35 is linked with the 36 through the advertising of a combined frequency so them sharing a brand should be guaranteed, even if the specification on both services is different.

(27 Oct 2017, 5:34 pm)Michael The 35 needs 8 Citaro's, so i would of thought they would get 5325-32 to keep it as one batch... or they could have 5323/5324 join the 35 and have 5323-5330 in that batch.


5331-36 as a batch - 9 

5337/5338 as spares


5305-5309 as one batch - moving to another service at a different depot. 

Just a guess though, not confirmed.

(27 Oct 2017, 6:00 pm)Dans_bus_photos As the versas on the 36 have been branded as 'up to every 15 minutes' id imagine they plan on retaining the see it do it Sunderland brand for the 35 but hopefully on the blue base on the current Mercs that are allocated to the 35. So id have thought 5328-33 would be for the 9 with 5334-6 being the spares.

(27 Oct 2017, 6:04 pm)Michael But didn't Go North East want brands/services under the same batch, that's why 5328-5330 was removed from the Crusader brand.

(27 Oct 2017, 6:19 pm)Dans_bus_photos I think within reason yes, but to be fair the Citylink Mercs are still not all grouped together. Only time will tell but I still think the current mercs will stay on the 35 with the 10 plates going on the 9

(28 Oct 2017, 12:01 am)Acky81 How the 39 has changed over the years with some terrible vehicles to the best

(27 Oct 2017, 7:17 pm)S813 FVK Agreed.

Either way, it would have been impossible to have the consecutive fleet numbers for both the 9 and 35 allocation. 

In the same way as fleet standardization company ideals can only go so far.

(28 Oct 2017, 11:24 am)Citaro5326 Were is 5328 anyone ? My mate who works for deptford says its not there or on the pits

(28 Oct 2017, 11:24 am)Citaro5326 Were is 5328 anyone ? My mate who works for deptford says its not there or on the pits

(27 Oct 2017, 11:03 am)JP6004 Seems like the 35 or 9 going to be branded in fleet livery like the 49

(29 Oct 2017, 5:34 pm)Ambassador A big keeeerchiiing for Go North East profits today

(29 Oct 2017, 9:41 pm)Jamie M The deckers were kept out quite late tonight on 27s. Was there any reason why they weren't swapped off?

(26 Oct 2017, 8:11 am)S813 FVK 635 and 636 will be free now - perhaps these will free two of 707-709 to Stanley?

(30 Oct 2017, 6:23 am)Dan Correct guess!

635 was used as the spare for Winlaton Shuttle Bus - this has now finished, and it has hence been released for cascade to Peterlee.
636 has been used on the 680S Brunton Crossroads shuttle bus - whilst this is still ongoing, it will be replaced in the fleet at Hexham temporarily by a demonstrator minibus, which should arrive early this week.

This releases 707 and 708 to join 706 at Stanley - as noted before, two of these to be allocated to Cathedral Bus, and the other to Tesco Free Bus. Doesn't really matter which one is allocated to which.