(27 Jul 2019, 8:24 pm)Jimmi From looking at the timetables and the times of allocations on BusTimes for last Sunday, that X21 looks to be separate from the 21.

The 2 earlier X21s leave DBS earlier in the hour than the 11am-ish one. It doesn't run from further back than DBS before then. I think i read somewhere about a few of the X21s still running on the old interworking with teh 21 pattern, but not sure if it applies to the 9:56 and 8:56. If these aren't interworking with the 21 then it's, at best, coincidence that they leave at the time the 21 arrives and that they run a few minutes earlier than the ones that run from Newcastle. If they don't interwork, then it's shockingly bad planning to not have timings that allow for a reliable connection.

(27 Jul 2019, 8:48 pm)BusLoverMum

The 2 earlier X21s leave DBS earlier in the hour than the 11am-ish one. It doesn't run from further back than DBS before then. I think i read somewhere about a few of the X21s still running on the old interworking with teh 21 pattern, but not sure if it applies to the 9:56 and 8:56. If these aren't interworking with the 21 then it's, at best, coincidence that they leave at the time the 21 arrives and that they run a few minutes earlier than the ones that run from Newcastle. If they don't interwork, then it's shockingly bad planning to not have timings that allow for a reliable connection.

(27 Jul 2019, 8:53 pm)Jimmi From what I can tell those two trips leave earlier so they drop onto a Newcastle bound X21 about 5 minutes after those short trips arrive from Durham (arrive in Bishop Auckland at 10:28, depart at 10:33)

Bloody annoying, if that's the case. Would sooner walk into town (takes 25 minutes, longer if distracted by pokemon) than get the earlier 21 and hang around for exactly half an hour. Even the 50 doesn't connect up.

(27 Jul 2019, 6:43 pm)Michael Was the airshow buses busy today, with the weather being rubbish?

We passed through early evening and there were piles of deckers standing doing nowt.

(27 Jul 2019, 9:48 pm)Andreos1

We passed through early evening and there were piles of deckers standing doing nowt.

(27 Jul 2019, 11:48 am)Michael Whats in for repaint at SM?

---

(27 Jul 2019, 7:27 pm)misfit Could see 702 inside this morning

702 re-entered service on Sunday on the 40/41.

(28 Jul 2019, 11:27 pm)Rapidsnap

702 re-entered service on Sunday on the 40/41.

5285 (Wear Xpress) and 703 (indiGo) at Saltmeadows currently, in addition to 6112 which has returned from Bus & Coach World.

(29 Jul 2019, 10:41 am)V514DFT So im guessing 6114 has gone in exchange of 6112?

(29 Jul 2019, 11:19 am)Dan 6115.

Will that one receive a repaint & refurbushment or just a refurbishment

I did wonder why GNE picked such a dark colour on the stairwell panelling behind the cab in the refurbished Cobalt & Coasts - turns out they're having vinyls added which will make that area brighter: https://twitter.com/DanGrahamGNE/status/1156225007363792896


Also, note the switch-around of the exterior route brand, and GNE logo + tag line.

(30 Jul 2019, 4:53 pm)ne14ne1

I did wonder why GNE picked such a dark colour on the stairwell panelling behind the cab in the refurbished Cobalt & Coasts - turns out they're having vinyls added which will make that area brighter: https://twitter.com/DanGrahamGNE/status/1156225007363792896


Also, note the switch-around of the exterior route brand, and GNE logo + tag line.

Can't say I'm a fan of the logo swap. The application on 6101 is much better.

(30 Jul 2019, 5:08 pm)S813 FVK

Can't say I'm a fan of the logo swap. The application on 6101 is much better.

This will be the new standard going forward - it follows the style of Brighton & Hove, Oxford Bus Company and Reading Buses, all of whom tend to have their logo in this position, with the brand name between the two decks. It's all about creating more of a focus on the Go North East logo rather than the brand name itself.

The beauty of the horizontal Go North East logo including the tagline is also that it easily avoids the skirt panels (which are often changed due to panel damage). We'd be limiting ourselves quite a lot with other brand logos, if the positioning on 6101 was made standard.

If your concerns are mainly about the size of the Cobalt & Coast logo, then this may not be an issue on other brands which use a shorter name.

(30 Jul 2019, 5:20 pm)Dan

This will be the new standard going forward - it follows the style of Brighton & Hove, Oxford Bus Company and Reading Buses, all of whom tend to have their logo in this position, with the brand name between the two decks. It's all about creating more of a focus on the Go North East logo rather than the brand name itself.

The beauty of the horizontal Go North East logo including the tagline is also that it easily avoids the skirt panels (which are often changed due to panel damage). We'd be limiting ourselves quite a lot with other brand logos, if the positioning on 6101 was made standard.

If your concerns are mainly about the size of the Cobalt & Coast logo, then this may not be an issue on other brands which use a shorter name.

If all buses are going to follow suit, I think this will work really well. All new branding working with this style for me, makes complete sense. The older branding, and the mutlicoloured buses has been great, however I do think now with times changing its starting to look a little 'childish' and doesn't really add anything anymore.

Routes like the 21 are fine as they are, with some minor modifications to ensure people know this Is 'Go North East'

I do think brands like the Coaster/Red Arrows need a huge change in the styling. I imagine a lot of brands will disappear and become corp, starting with the Green Arrows service and I imagine the 49 will follow suit. These brands are a little pointless & really don't do anything for me personally and I can't see why the would benefit the company.

Huge fan of the interior design on these, along with the addition of vinyls, it looks so much more professional and a lot more 2019, compared to the old brand.

Personally I'm a huge fan of the direction the brandings seem to be going, I hope they stick with it long term and don't chop and change liveries and corp identity as it seems the last few years there's been a lot of that and Its not good for either the business or the customer.