This may of already been mentioned so my apologies in advance..

Above.. Dan confirmed a total of 21 Streetlites have been purchased, Ten for Durham Diamond and eleven for services 49/49A.

Is there a hint there that the 49/49A are No Longer "Blaydon Racers" since it was detailed as the route number rather than brand. Also the Streetlites that seem to be arriving are in either Durham Diamond colours or in the New GNE corporate livery. Also the fleet lists state that the next ones On Delivery are also Blue & Red colour.

Unless of course the "Blaydon Racers" are going to be given an updated brand look, which seems similar in colours to corporate brand.

Yes - it is something that I noticed myself and brought up on the forum, although in far less detail than yourself.

Could it have done purposefully to refrain from confirming that there will be a change to the brand of the 49/49A, leaving that job down to the Marketing team at Go North East instead or until the first vehicle that will be branded is spotted at Heysham/is delivered to the company? By showing all vehicles as being Red & Blue, it can easily mislead people and stop things from being released onto the public domain before the company wants to.

I only suggest that because it is very rare for them to purchase brand new vehicles for a route that will be unbranded. I don't really see the relevance of the Blaydon Racers brand being attached to the 49/49A anyway, only one of the services actually goes to Blaydon (49), I think they'd be better off dropping the Toon Link brand from the 12/12A and transferring the Blaydon Racers brand over, it would have much more relevance and would give people 1 less reason to moan about the company. No idea what replacement brand I would suggest for the 49/49A though.

Yes - it is something that I noticed myself and brought up on the forum, although in far less detail than yourself.

Could it have done purposefully to refrain from confirming that there will be a change to the brand of the 49/49A, leaving that job down to the Marketing team at Go North East instead or until the first vehicle that will be branded is spotted at Heysham/is delivered to the company? By showing all vehicles as being Red & Blue, it can easily mislead people and stop things from being released onto the public domain before the company wants to.

I only suggest that because it is very rare for them to purchase brand new vehicles for a route that will be unbranded. I don't really see the relevance of the Blaydon Racers brand being attached to the 49/49A anyway, only one of the services actually goes to Blaydon (49), I think they'd be better off dropping the Toon Link brand from the 12/12A and transferring the Blaydon Racers brand over, it would have much more relevance and would give people 1 less reason to moan about the company. No idea what replacement brand I would suggest for the 49/49A though.

Yea, I was also wondering whether the Blaydon Racers brand was being dropped and the 49's receiving a New brand still yet to be revealed.

I do agree, I've always thought that the 49's didn't best suit the Blaydon Racers Brand, where as the Toon Link 12's would be far better suited to the brand, since their route takes in more of the original route of the Blaydon Races.

We will just have to wait and see what colour the new Streetlites are when they start to arrive, whether this gives us an indication of an updated brand or a fresh new brand only time will tell. Wonder how long it will be before the next ones arrive?

5455 at Heysham Docks: https://flic.kr/p/QbSeGt

5455 at Heysham Docks: https://flic.kr/p/QbSeGt

Thanks Dan, still no sign of 5448 and 5450?


How long will 5284 and 5285 be at Bus & Coach World for?, just i wasn't sure on how long it normally takes them to refurbish a full bus.

GNE seem to have started using Bus and Coach World at Blackburn for refurbishments. Is this as well as Thorntons, or instead of, or are Thorntons too busy to carry out the work.

5455 at Heysham Docks: https://flic.kr/p/QbSeGt

And its in the corporate livery...maybe what thetravelman said was correct about services '49/49A' being said as opposed to 'Blaydon Racers'.

And its in the corporate livery...maybe what thetravelman said was correct about services '49/49A' being said as opposed to 'Blaydon Racers'.

So maybe we will just have sub branding applied then?

And its in the corporate livery...maybe what thetravelman said was correct about services '49/49A' being said as opposed to 'Blaydon Racers'.

I can't even see the red on it if i'm going to be honest.

---

So maybe we will just have sub branding applied then?

Hopefully not, rather have them fully branded than just some route/frequency stuck on the side.

Anyone know whats currently up with Blaydon Racers Citaro 5276? Haven't seen it in service for nearly 2 month.

Anyone know whats currently up with Blaydon Racers Citaro 5276? Haven't seen it in service for nearly 2 month.

Its engine is poorly.

Its engine is poorly.

A technical description if ever I saw one

A technical description if ever I saw one

Up Stanley, they say 6014 has an indefinite cold. Even in the summer it never fails to infect its passengers!

Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk

5455 at Heysham Docks: https://flic.kr/p/QbSeGt

And its in the corporate livery...maybe what thetravelman said was correct about services '49/49A' being said as opposed to 'Blaydon Racers'.

Mmmm! interesting. Looking at the photo of 5455 sat at Heysham Docks, you would initially think that it is in GNE corporate livery, however after looking further I cant be sure just like Michael has said, you can't really tell with the reflections whether it may be fully Blue. If it is fully Blue does this indicate a fresh New look for 'Blaydon Racers' or even a Fresh New brand.

Think we need another photo from a different angle to see whether this bus is in GNE Corporate livery or whether it is indeed Blue.

Mmmm! interesting. Looking at the photo of 5455 sat at Heysham Docks, you would initially think that it is in GNE corporate livery, however after looking further I cant be sure just like Michael has said, you can't really tell with the reflections whether it may be fully Blue. If it is fully Blue does this indicate a fresh New look for 'Blaydon Racers' or even a Fresh New brand.

Think we need another photo from a different angle to see whether this bus is in GNE Corporate livery or whether it is indeed Blue.

I see a white/gold or blue/black dress issue growing here!

Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk

If anybody would like to grab a photo following its partial repaint, 6123 will be on the 17:05 90 from Team Valley.

Unless some discussion is likely to be generated from it, is it really necessary to copy and paste news items? In instances where it helps with/starts a discussion, such as the Blaydon Racers talk and the Citaro refurbs, yes but i'm not too sure about anything else.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

One of the ex Oxford dual door B10s was towed away by Alpha today.  Spotted it heading north from the Central Motorway onto Great North Road this morning.  I was too far away to ID it.

One of the ex Oxford dual door B10s was towed away by Alpha today.  Spotted it heading north from the Central Motorway onto Great North Road this morning.  I was too far away to ID it.

I saw it going up the A189

Could've been 5154, I went past Saltmeadows today and I saw 3831 where 5154 was previously parked.

What on earth is '0141 Steel'? 3822 was showing it on all destination boards at Gateshead.
Number on the left face-on with the display in all.
Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk

What on earth is '0141 Steel'? 3822 was showing it on all destination boards at Gateshead.
Number on the left face-on with the display in all.
Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk

Hexham Schools, NCC tendered contract number.
Assume a driver error selecting NIS.

What on earth is '0141 Steel'? 3822 was showing it on all destination boards at Gateshead.
Number on the left face-on with the display in all.
Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk

I noticed one of the Olympians displaying the same thing on Friday morning too.
Was parked in the middle at Gateshead.

I noticed one of the Olympians displaying the same thing on Friday morning too.
Was parked in the middle at Gateshead.

One of them had 682/3 to newbrough once, made me laugh.

Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk

I noticed one of the Olympians displaying the same thing on Friday morning too.
Was parked in the middle at Gateshead.

The Steel is a farm about 3 miles south of Hexham deep in rural Hexhamshire.

The scholars service used to run to Whitley Chapel and was also available to the public to use.

Charles

The Steel is a farm about 3 miles south of Hexham deep in rural Hexhamshire.

The scholars service used to run to Whitley Chapel and was also available to the public to use.

Charles

Hexhamshire or Northumberland. Now that is a question

The Steel is a farm about 3 miles south of Hexham deep in rural Hexhamshire.

The scholars service used to run to Whitley Chapel and was also available to the public to use.

Charles

It's lovely up that neck of the woods. If you haven't tried it (and if it's still decent), the pub at Dipton Mill is worth a look.

I haven't been for a while, but they had their own brewery last time I looked.

The Thames Travel Optare Solo 691: YJ13 HNW has entered service at Peterlee
depot. This has resulted in the transfer of MPD 574: NK53 TMZ to Riverside and
the withdrawal of 605: NK04 NUA. The last Volvo Olympians have been withdrawn
from Stanley, fleet numbers 3822, 3830, 3831 and 3832. However, 3830 has been
transferred to Riverside to replace their 3824 which is withdrawn. Also
withdrawn from Stanley is Volvo B10BLE 4896: V986 ETN. Ex-Brighton Omnidekka
6145: YN55 NFC is in service at Percy Main together with 6132: YN04 GJF
transferred from Stanley in exchange for Dennis Trident/Plaxton 3888: NK51 UCR.
19 December

---

5442 5443 5444 new vehicles in service at Stanley
699 in service at Deptford
3832 reinstated at Riverside
3830 withdrawn from Riverside
5336 Peterlee to Deptford
6022 withdrawn from Chester le Street
8246 withdrawn from Driver Training

5451 has entered service on the 11.17 16 to Durham

What on earth is '0141 Steel'? 3822 was showing it on all destination boards at Gateshead.
Number on the left face-on with the display in all.
Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk

Just seen it an hour ago with the same destination on. Maybe someone is having a play around?  

According to someone on Facebook, Optare MetroDecker YJ16DFG (9099) has been sighted heading down the A1(M) towards Leeds.