(25 Sep 2021, 9:24 am)Train8261 I think The 9 and The 49 are just names as they couldn't think of a brand name for them at the time

(25 Sep 2021, 9:29 am)streetdeckfan Then why bother branding them! It was a half arsed attempt, so half arsed that the only thing they did was move the swoop forward a bit and slap a big circle with a number in on the side. 

I dread to think how much they paid someone to come up with that design!

(26 Sep 2021, 8:33 pm)Acky81 I past 3 65 buses out of service whilst travelling through Murton. Shambles

(26 Sep 2021, 10:01 pm)Keeiajs I know, there reliability is utterly shocking no one can dispute that, I think there has been a breakdown every day of service. Causing 2-4 trips being cancelled. That is utterly ridiculous. While the 65 needed a capacity/frequency update, not these.

No wonder they where on the X66, they are only on a 10 min route, with a massive depot inbetween. Probs always had a mechanic on standby for the one of 4. 
We all know GNE are not going to de brand these, however I would paint atleast 2 if not 3 newer more reliable (yes more reliable) then the pieces of junk on them at the moment. Get 5369-5374 on them, more reliable by miles. Even the OmniDekkas are more reliable.

(26 Sep 2021, 10:01 pm)Keeiajs I know, there reliability is utterly shocking no one can dispute that, I think there has been a breakdown every day of service. Causing 2-4 trips being cancelled. That is utterly ridiculous. While the 65 needed a capacity/frequency update, not these.

No wonder they where on the X66, they are only on a 10 min route, with a massive depot inbetween. Probs always had a mechanic on standby for the one of 4. 
We all know GNE are not going to de brand these, however I would paint atleast 2 if not 3 newer more reliable (yes more reliable) then the pieces of junk on them at the moment. Get 5369-5374 on them, more reliable by miles. Even the OmniDekkas are more reliable.

(27 Sep 2021, 6:13 am)cbma06 I wonder what the mileage are for these ex metrocentre streetlites, with them going back and forth between Gateshead and metrocentre non stop since new in 2015.

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(27 Sep 2021, 6:45 am)54APhotography Yesterday I went for 5392, which worked. 5393 however didn't get beyond start up and 5439 had to be brought in quickly. I cycle on that route and the hills are severe, Seaham, Cold Heseldon, Murton - which is just one steep hill after another and the heavy grade up to Valley View. I doubt any vehicle used to only the A184 climb to Gateshead would fare well on this punishing route.

(27 Sep 2021, 6:55 am)Dan Around 100k lower than that of the Coast & Country examples.

5391 - 5394 are some of the most reliable Streetlites in the fleet - granted having only been used on very easy work for the past six years.


Let's give them time to settle down. The entire batch have been treated to (proactive) mid-life engine overhauls prior to repaint.

They're operating on far different terrain to what they were previously, and, as always happens when the fleet is moved around, different drivers find problems with buses that actually may not be huge issues in reality, that a driver more familiar with that particular vehicle may know how to resolve.

(27 Sep 2021, 6:45 am)54APhotography Yesterday I went for 5392, which worked. 5393 however didn't get beyond start up and 5439 had to be brought in quickly. I cycle on that route and the hills are severe, Seaham, Cold Heseldon, Murton - which is just one steep hill after another and the heavy grade up to Valley View. I doubt any vehicle used to only the A184 climb to Gateshead would fare well on this punishing route.

(27 Sep 2021, 4:59 pm)Keeiajs I would get a refund on the mid-life engines like.

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Granted they do up the Mill IN & After Murton...but so did the Solo's.

(27 Sep 2021, 5:40 pm)54APhotography Most drivers will take a Solo over a Streetlite.. They did fine on the hill

(27 Sep 2021, 6:17 pm)54APhotography Indigo on the 700 this evening!

(27 Sep 2021, 6:28 pm)54APhotography Anything goes at the moment. 2/39 has had Indigo, Cherry, Violet, any spare Citaro, Omnidekka, OmniCity on in the last three weeks!

(27 Sep 2021, 6:41 pm)Michael Could be that buses are off the road and they can't get the parts they need due to the shortage of HGV drivers..... hence all the random allocations - along with repaints.

(27 Sep 2021, 7:02 pm)Keeiajs I mean, isn't that what spare branded buses are for. Not 3 Violets on 35 & 2. I went past deptford, there was quite a few buses.

(27 Sep 2021, 6:33 pm)Keeiajs  I mean atleast they put. 2019 branded vehicles. 

(27 Sep 2021, 7:02 pm)Keeiajs  isn't that what spare branded buses are for.