(10 Sep 2022, 8:15 am)cbma06 What will happen when the consett xlines services frequency start to increase again, would there paint those spares xlines buses into the TVT and then back to Xlines?


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(10 Sep 2022, 9:15 am)Storx Why would they be increasing the frequency again, none of the changes there were temporary and are all permanent changes.

Keep seeing people post buses are full with most single seats taken (which isn't full) but surely that's what a bus operator wants... If you add another bus to the PVR then it's likely 1/3 full or 2/3 empty.

(10 Sep 2022, 9:50 am)cbma06 I’m not saying that the services would increase next week or next month or next year, I’m saying if those services do pick up again in the future , temporary and permanent are just the the same word in GNE mental of state


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(10 Sep 2022, 9:57 am)Storx Aye that's fair but surely it's better to be using the 67/20/70 plate Streetdeck's during that time on a proper route rather than effectively acting as spares for everything and anything.

If they do increase it I'm sure they could nab something from elsewhere if needed. The Ten is a quite popular route (arguably more so than the Consett services) and the B9's are getting on a bit on there especially since they've never been refurbished. (Not sure the PVR is enough mind, haven't checked).

(10 Sep 2022, 9:57 am)Storx Aye that's fair but surely it's better to be using the 67/20/70 plate Streetdeck's during that time on a proper route rather than effectively acting as spares for everything and anything.

If they do increase it I'm sure they could nab something from elsewhere if needed. The Ten is a quite popular route (arguably more so than the Consett services) and the B9's are getting on a bit on there especially since they've never been refurbished. (Not sure the PVR is enough mind, haven't checked).

(10 Sep 2022, 11:19 am)Andreos1 Would numbers on the 10 grow as a result of these vehicles being allocated to the route?

Part of me wonders if the under-investment in the less popular routes, leads to that downward spiral/lack of passengers/demand we keep seeing and if there was a switch in mindset (ie investment in those less popular routes in an effort to grow it), it may reverse that cycle.

(10 Sep 2022, 11:19 am)Andreos1 Would numbers on the 10 grow as a result of these vehicles being allocated to the route?

Part of me wonders if the under-investment in the less popular routes, leads to that downward spiral/lack of passengers/demand we keep seeing and if there was a switch in mindset (ie investment in those less popular routes in an effort to grow it), it may reverse that cycle.

(10 Sep 2022, 11:40 am)Rob44 100% this.  If the electric buses are much much much cheaper to run why not stick them on routes like the 28/28b/29 and other when the savings on fuel would offset the loses made buy the diesel buses and i'm sure if people in kibblesworth, ouston etc saw them, received a leaflet drop about them or had all 8 of them parked in the SoHo tavern car park this would increase patronage 10 fold!

(10 Sep 2022, 11:59 am)Storx Electric buses can't run longer routes as their battery capacity are crap so can't do longer without needing a charge midday or taking a risk - they're a bit of a gimmick atm and not sure their the long term answer (that's Hydrogen imo). Not sure whether they could do the 28 etc but could imagine it would be quite tight mileage wise believe they can do 200 mile or so.

(10 Sep 2022, 12:12 pm)F114TML Yeah, especially when Wrightbus are claiming the hydrogen version of the GB Kite will be able to do up to 600 miles on a single change/tank, although I'd like to see it actually do that before making judgement. ADL claim the E400 FCEV will be able to do 300, which is a much more reasonable estimate (and nearly double the E400EV).

For short city services, electric is fine, but for the rest I think we need hydrogen - via CNG/biogas.

Edit: Wrightbus have it seems revised their claim, and say 640-650 miles, although the one they actually built says 450. Either way, it's still much better than a BEV.
https://wrightbus.com/en-gb/gb-kite-hydroliner-fcev

(10 Sep 2022, 12:15 pm)Rob44 very true. but what about the green arrow buses on the 97?  Surely they would save money on routes when they arn't even breaking even? I agree hydrogen is the way forward though

(10 Sep 2022, 12:18 pm)Storx Aye, to be fair I don't see why it's not doable they do similar to Diesel pretty much so it's just a like for like replacement, not to mention the big bonus that there's been examples of diesel vehicles been converted which is a massive gain. I'm surprised they aren't designing new diesel buses with provision in place so it can be done tbh.

The biggest benefit is though is if it ran out, it can pop into the depot fill up in 20 seconds and be back out - it's not ideal but it's certainly better than sitting around all night on a charger getting charged up - which is a problem in itself, where's all the space for that going to come from at the tighter depots ie. Washington.

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(10 Sep 2022, 12:18 pm)Storx Aye, to be fair I don't see why it's not doable they do similar to Diesel pretty much so it's just a like for like replacement, not to mention the big bonus that there's been examples of diesel vehicles been converted which is a massive gain. I'm surprised they aren't designing new diesel buses with provision in place so it can be done tbh.

The biggest benefit is though is if it ran out, it can pop into the depot fill up in 20 seconds and be back out - it's not ideal but it's certainly better than sitting around all night on a charger getting charged up - which is a problem in itself, where's all the space for that going to come from at the tighter depots ie. Washington.

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Aye they should be doable, tbh it's one thing I always like about Arriva is they tend to buy new buses for all types of routes and then run them to the ground on that route rather than buying new buses for one route then having handydowns over and over again.

The new Enviro 200 MMC's for the 46/51/55/57/57A and Enviro 400 MMC's for the X14 and X20 being prime examples - those routes would never get newer buses if it was ran by GNE or if they did they get them took away for elsewhere - see North Tyneside or the 47/X47 which are similar routes really. I know it's all about internal issues though as they wouldn't have the case internally to get the vehicles in the first place with GNE.

imo if you have the same type of bus on your route then they never really get old per say like the Gemini's at Blyth still feel alright to me and that's because they've been there since new. If we suddenly got them 3/4 through their life they're old and scruffy.

(10 Sep 2022, 10:33 pm)Rapidsnap You are indeed correct Wibble.

5505 - https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photogenic/51171378634
5506 - https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photogenic/51170824478

(12 Sep 2022, 9:34 am)morritt89 2 Red Kite Streetdecks have appeared at Deptford this morning.

(12 Sep 2022, 9:34 am)morritt89 2 Red Kite Streetdecks have appeared at Deptford this morning.

(12 Sep 2022, 12:54 pm)cbma06 change the wording on the side, and have it as x56 , park lane to concord normal route then non stop between concord and Heworth then non stop between heworth and Gateshead, hourly of pvr2, then if needed back at consett for the x45/x46 then doesn’t need painting again, might pick up passengers for faster journeys between hub points.


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(12 Sep 2022, 12:18 pm)deanmachine Hopefully they'll be put to use on the 20.