Damn! Got my times completely wrong and will probably end up just missing it.

Thanks for letting me know.

5442 should be out too so you might still have a chance of catching one.

5443 has been replaced by 604.

5443 has been replaced by 604.

Drivers of the depot were told not to use these for the past few days. Stanley is short (6127 and 52?? Off road + others), so I wouldn't be surprised if it was just to make numbers meet. Maybe there was some testing, but I'm not sure. Seems a bit odd to send them into service where they aren't fully ready and there's only 2-3 of them at the depot.

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5443 has been replaced by 604.

CORRECTION: Must of been 5442 that was removed after performing the 11:50 16A from Durham.

5443 was the 12:47 16 from Stanley Bus Station heading towards Durham.

Drivers of the depot were told not to use these for the past few days. Stanley is short (6127 and 52?? Off road + others), so I wouldn't be surprised if it was just to make numbers meet. Maybe there was some testing, but I'm not sure. Seems a bit odd to send them into service where they aren't fully ready and there's only 2-3 of them at the depot.

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It's certainly unusual for brand new buses to be sent out in service, prior to branding being applied. In fact, I can't recall another time in recent years where this has happened? I may be wrong mind.

It's certainly unusual for brand new buses to be sent out in service, prior to branding being applied. In fact, I can't recall another time in recent years where this has happened? I may be wrong mind.

Think the last time was 2011 when the purple versas were used on the 994

The see it do it Citaro i'm on still has Red Arrows branding inside.

6128 heading to saltmedows, cannot confirm what for but it's a lot unhealthier than it was last night. Might be paint work, I don't know Some damage to the rear panels, but nout like 6127. I believe the backside was already worked on, on this one though. Another bus down at Stanley though..

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It's certainly unusual for brand new buses to be sent out in service, prior to branding being applied. In fact, I can't recall another time in recent years where this has happened? I may be wrong mind.

681, 689 and 690 have all been sent out without branding.

681, 689 and 690 have all been sent out without branding.

698 and 700 have too, although they are used buses.

681, 689 and 690 have all been sent out without branding.

True, but I'd say that is a bit different. 681, 689 and 690 weren't for a branded route, and the route they're allocated to remains unbranded five month later.

True, but I'd say that is a bit different. 681, 689 and 690 weren't for a branded route, and the route they're allocated to remains unbranded five month later.

Dan will be in your sights now, as he'll be sick of hearing about that "brand" which has yet to appear hahahaha 

True, but I'd say that is a bit different. 681, 689 and 690 weren't for a branded route, and the route they're allocated to remains unbranded five month later.

The South Tyne Versa's ran around in unbranded Purple on the 88/88A in late 2013 following displacement from the Saltwell Park, 8295,8300 and 8301 ran in Saltwell Park Green around the same time too.
8299 had serious work done to it around that period, As I only recall it being on the 88/88A was a few months after the rest of the batch arrived, Also in debranded Green.

The South Tyne Versa's ran around in unbranded Purple on the 88/88A in late 2013 following displacement from the Saltwell Park, 8295,8300 and 8301 ran in Saltwell Park Green around the same time too.
8299 had serious work done to it around that period, As I only recall it being on the 88/88A was a few months after the rest of the batch arrived, Also in debranded Green.

The discussion regards new vehicles, not cascaded vehicles from a new route.

The discussion regards new vehicles, not cascaded vehicles from a new route.

Didn't notice

574 has reentered service and will replace 605 at Riverside. (source from the news)

Thought I'd seen one of the new streetlites parked in Consett bus station about 10 minutes ago, I was slightly confused and thought it was a dirty red kite!

Thought I'd seen one of the new streetlites parked in Consett bus station about 10 minutes ago, I was slightly confused and thought it was a dirty red kite!

As said earlier on the forum, 5442 and 5443 entered service today, although it looks to of been very limited.

5443 in service on the 16/16A today.
Go North East: 5443 / NK66EVC by Matthew Jimmison, on Flickr

5443 in service on the 16/16A today

Mind I knew you wouldn't resist an opportunity to bang the link to your photo on here 

Have they officially replaced any Citaro's at Stanley yet?, if so can u confirm where the Citaro's are going?.

Yes it's been said to Deptford for the 9 and X5 but wasn't officially confirmed.

Mind I knew you wouldn't resist an opportunity to bang the link to your photo on here 

But of course, just think of the amount of views I'll get just from NEB

Sadly GuyParkRoyal beat me to the punch for a photo of the Gateshead Central Taxi's 701 service 

Have they officially replaced any Citaro's at Stanley yet?, if so can u confirm where the Citaro's are going?.

Yes it's been said to Deptford for the 9 and X5 but wasn't officially confirmed.

No.

Today was a lucky catch for those Streetlites. They may be out in service again tomorrow over the scholars peak, depending on the availability of other buses, but unlikely to be back out in service again now until branded.

One was removed from service today but was re-allocated to services 6 and X70/X71 this afternoon so that the decker could be used for scholars.

No.

Today was a lucky catch for those Streetlites. They may be out in service again tomorrow over the scholars peak, depending on the availability of other buses, but unlikely to be back out in service again now until branded.

One was removed from service today but was re-allocated to services 6 and X70/X71 this afternoon so that the decker could be used for scholars.

Ah right! Thanks

I was happy to see one - the new bus smell drifted out of the bus when it pulled into the stop this morning. I'd have much preferred to have got on that instead of 6032.

I have also decided that I hate the 16/16A timetable - since i finish early on a Tuesday, i was going to get the 15 up to Consett and get the 16 from there to South Stanley. It, however, departs just minutes earlier than the 15s arrival. I would have liked to have had a ride on one but nevermind.

I was happy to see one - the new bus smell drifted out of the bus when it pulled into the stop this morning. I'd have much preferred to have got on that instead of 6032.

I have also decided that I hate the 16/16A timetable - since i finish early on a Tuesday, i was going to get the 15 up to Consett and get the 16 from there to South Stanley. It, however, departs just minutes earlier than the 15s arrival. I would have liked to have had a ride on one but nevermind.

I reckon they must have known you finish early on a Tuesday and thought "We'll not have that S813 FVK sitting on our brand new buses, we'll schedule it so it leaves just minutes before the 15 arrives" 

I was happy to see one - the new bus smell drifted out of the bus when it pulled into the stop this morning. I'd have much preferred to have got on that instead of 6032.

I have also decided that I hate the 16/16A timetable - since i finish early on a Tuesday, i was going to get the 15 up to Consett and get the 16 from there to South Stanley. It, however, departs just minutes earlier than the 15s arrival. I would have liked to have had a ride on one but nevermind.

Connections are a bit tight but achievable, but you could get the 15 to Ledgate then catch the 16 from there heading in either direction.

Should have seen me trying to work out where 5443 was, in the end I decided to catch the 11:00 15 to Consett, got off in Ledgate to discover spare Citaro and 6011 on 16's, so jumped on 6011 to Consett. Was going to wait for the 12:04 departure for Durham but having got a reporting that 5442 was on the way to Stanley on the 16A, I jumped on the 78 instead but sadly 5442 got removed just before I got there but thankfully 5443 was on the board I thought it was on. Working out was tricky because when I saw your post it said 1 hour ago which was not so helpful.

I reckon they must have known you finish early on a Tuesday and thought "We'll not have that S813 FVK sitting on our brand new buses, we'll schedule it so it leaves just minutes before the 15 arrives" 

I hope not

The 78 leaves Consett minutes before the 16 too which adds more salt to the wound so to speak. I still haven't had a decent ride on a Streetlite yet and they have been on one of my 'local routes' for coming up to 2 years now!

Connections are a bit tight but achievable, but you could get the 15 to Ledgate then catch the 16 from there heading in either direction.

Should have seen me trying to work out where 5443 was, in the end I decided to catch the 11:00 15 to Consett, got off in Ledgate to discover spare Citaro and 6011 on 16's, so jumped on 6011 to Consett. Was going to wait for the 12:04 departure for Durham but having got a reporting that 5442 was on the way to Stanley on the 16A, I jumped on the 78 instead but sadly 5442 got removed just before I got there but thankfully 5443 was on the board I thought it was on. Working out was tricky because when I saw your post it said 1 hour ago which was not so helpful.

I suppose I could do that - I have passed the 16 around Leadgate when I have used the 15 in the past. After February half term, i'll be finishing half an hour earlier so i'd be getting the 12:50ish 15A from Lanchester as opposed to the 13:20ish 15.

Sorry about the post this morning lol - it was the 08:05 from South Stanley and I wasn't sure if that would be much use to anybody. I could remember typing up that board in full to send to somebody via skype but I didn't have it to hand on my phone but I could remember that the last journey that it operated was the 16 from Stanley to South Stanley, hoping that it would not be too difficult for anybody to work back.

The discussion regards new vehicles, not cascaded vehicles from a new route.

When GNE took over Hexham depot a small batch of Mercedes Benz Citaros were eventually purchased, these being 5328 etc (BJ10---). They were delivered in silver and ran for a good few weeks unbranded because at that time, the Newcastle to Hexham service was still the ex Arriva 602.  The citaros were not branded until the 602 became the 10, at which timenthey were given full Ten branding