Go North East: Latest News & Discussion - March 2019
Go North East: Latest News & Discussion - March 2019
(17 Mar 2019, 6:59 pm)Stanleyone some drivers will transfer temporarily.
Indeed the Omnicities will go eventually, however from opening Consett will have a number of Omnicities to operate the X30 (some X31s & X32s). I wouldn't think that the X30 will receive new buses, but personally i wouldn't rule out cascaded buses.
(17 Mar 2019, 6:59 pm)Stanleyone some drivers will transfer temporarily.
Indeed the Omnicities will go eventually, however from opening Consett will have a number of Omnicities to operate the X30 (some X31s & X32s). I wouldn't think that the X30 will receive new buses, but personally i wouldn't rule out cascaded buses.
(15 Mar 2019, 9:22 am)misfit 635 AD122 unusually on 516 service in South Shields.
(16 Mar 2019, 8:20 pm)ne14ne1 How come they're returning to via points after they'd made all the destinations so clear and easy to read?
(16 Mar 2019, 9:03 pm)Dans_bus_photos Probably because no one knew where the bus went apart from the end destination. I wonder if they'd seen Stagecoach's new destinations and decided to follow suit with the same layout.
(16 Mar 2019, 9:15 pm)OrangeArrow49 I don't know which destination method is best, clear end destination or via points. Stagecoach's new destinations? Stagecoach 63 yesterday had end destination City Centre in clear font like GNE, but otherwise the destinations have always looked the same as far as I have noticed.
(16 Mar 2019, 9:27 pm)Dans_bus_photos Stagecoach have recently been changing their destinations so that the via points are static instead of scrolling, although I dont think Newcastle's have been fully updated yet. I think they all should have at least 1 via point so you get an indication of where the bus is going for example if your at Dalton Park and are not too familiar with the bus network around there and want to travel towards Sunderland without asking the driver how do you know the bus displaying 'Hebburn' is going through Sunderland to get there?
(16 Mar 2019, 9:46 pm)OrangeArrow49 Are GNE going back to via points then? Are they going to be static or scrolling?
(16 Mar 2019, 10:23 pm)ne14ne1 I suppose theres pro's and con's with all styles.
Looking at bigger cities, New York City has via points on their buses but they flick every 1.5 seconds between the via points and a full screen destination which I quite like. As I've said before I would like to have seen this trialled here.
Edinburgh & London however usually just have the final destination like GNE's clear full screen format, however it is more precise than just the name of the City which isn't very informative. Granted GNE buses with the new controller do change from Newcastle to the actual terminating point part way through the route, which is my personal preference over the newest style 2-line format with bold destination on the 1st line & two via points on the 2nd line.
As for the Stagecoach service saying 'City Centre' in full screen, I believe this is just for short services that terminate in Central Newcastle. The big clear screen with no scrolling points is so different to their usual displays, it should mean people spot it and not board expecting a cross-city service.
(16 Mar 2019, 11:50 pm)ne14ne1 I noticed the lack of consistency on the refurbished Cobalt screens too. Whats that all about, plus how come their NSAs aren't enabled?
(17 Mar 2019, 12:06 am)JP6004 The via points are visible at Whitley Bay but not at cobalt........perhaps they switch to display end point after via points have been travelled through?
(17 Mar 2019, 6:59 pm)Stanleyone Indeed the Omnicities will go eventually, however from opening Consett will have a number of Omnicities to operate the X30 (some X31s & X32s). I wouldn't think that the X30 will receive new buses, but personally i wouldn't rule out cascaded buses.
(15 Mar 2019, 9:22 am)misfit 635 AD122 unusually on 516 service in South Shields.
(16 Mar 2019, 8:20 pm)ne14ne1 How come they're returning to via points after they'd made all the destinations so clear and easy to read?
(16 Mar 2019, 9:03 pm)Dans_bus_photos Probably because no one knew where the bus went apart from the end destination. I wonder if they'd seen Stagecoach's new destinations and decided to follow suit with the same layout.
(16 Mar 2019, 9:15 pm)OrangeArrow49 I don't know which destination method is best, clear end destination or via points. Stagecoach's new destinations? Stagecoach 63 yesterday had end destination City Centre in clear font like GNE, but otherwise the destinations have always looked the same as far as I have noticed.
(16 Mar 2019, 9:27 pm)Dans_bus_photos Stagecoach have recently been changing their destinations so that the via points are static instead of scrolling, although I dont think Newcastle's have been fully updated yet. I think they all should have at least 1 via point so you get an indication of where the bus is going for example if your at Dalton Park and are not too familiar with the bus network around there and want to travel towards Sunderland without asking the driver how do you know the bus displaying 'Hebburn' is going through Sunderland to get there?
(16 Mar 2019, 9:46 pm)OrangeArrow49 Are GNE going back to via points then? Are they going to be static or scrolling?
(16 Mar 2019, 10:23 pm)ne14ne1 I suppose theres pro's and con's with all styles.
Looking at bigger cities, New York City has via points on their buses but they flick every 1.5 seconds between the via points and a full screen destination which I quite like. As I've said before I would like to have seen this trialled here.
Edinburgh & London however usually just have the final destination like GNE's clear full screen format, however it is more precise than just the name of the City which isn't very informative. Granted GNE buses with the new controller do change from Newcastle to the actual terminating point part way through the route, which is my personal preference over the newest style 2-line format with bold destination on the 1st line & two via points on the 2nd line.
As for the Stagecoach service saying 'City Centre' in full screen, I believe this is just for short services that terminate in Central Newcastle. The big clear screen with no scrolling points is so different to their usual displays, it should mean people spot it and not board expecting a cross-city service.
(16 Mar 2019, 11:50 pm)ne14ne1 I noticed the lack of consistency on the refurbished Cobalt screens too. Whats that all about, plus how come their NSAs aren't enabled?
(17 Mar 2019, 12:06 am)JP6004 The via points are visible at Whitley Bay but not at cobalt........perhaps they switch to display end point after via points have been travelled through?
(17 Mar 2019, 6:59 pm)Stanleyone Indeed the Omnicities will go eventually, however from opening Consett will have a number of Omnicities to operate the X30 (some X31s & X32s). I wouldn't think that the X30 will receive new buses, but personally i wouldn't rule out cascaded buses.
Does any1 know what time demo 9080 53/54 due today at Market Street?
Also I do like via points and white LED displace on 309/310 however I dont like bit tweaked livery. I think East Yorkshire livery looks far better then GNE.
(18 Mar 2019, 2:56 am)Panasonic44 Does any1 know what time demo 9080 53/54 due today at Market Street?9080 was returned to ADL on Friday; sorry!
Also I do like via points and white LED displace on 309/310 however I dont like bit tweaked livery. I think East Yorkshire livery looks far better then GNE.
(18 Mar 2019, 2:56 am)Panasonic44 Does any1 know what time demo 9080 53/54 due today at Market Street?9080 was returned to ADL on Friday; sorry!
Also I do like via points and white LED displace on 309/310 however I dont like bit tweaked livery. I think East Yorkshire livery looks far better then GNE.
(18 Mar 2019, 2:56 am)Panasonic44 Does any1 know what time demo 9080 53/54 due today at Market Street?9080 was returned to ADL on Friday; sorry!
Also I do like via points and white LED displace on 309/310 however I dont like bit tweaked livery. I think East Yorkshire livery looks far better then GNE.
(18 Mar 2019, 2:56 am)Panasonic44 Does any1 know what time demo 9080 53/54 due today at Market Street?9080 was returned to ADL on Friday; sorry!
Also I do like via points and white LED displace on 309/310 however I dont like bit tweaked livery. I think East Yorkshire livery looks far better then GNE.
Are there any plans for the 74 to get next stop announcements?
I know it’s off topic but wouldn’t it be a good idea to set a discord server up for NEB?
Looking at the GNE fleet page, it has ex EYMS 885 (X594 EGK) in open top format acquired. Interesting.
(19 Mar 2019, 3:50 pm)Stanleyone Looking at the GNE fleet page, it has ex EYMS 885 (X594 EGK) in open top format acquired. Interesting.
(19 Mar 2019, 3:50 pm)Stanleyone Looking at the GNE fleet page, it has ex EYMS 885 (X594 EGK) in open top format acquired. Interesting.
(19 Mar 2019, 3:50 pm)Stanleyone Looking at the GNE fleet page, it has ex EYMS 885 (X594 EGK) in open top format acquired. Interesting.
(19 Mar 2019, 3:50 pm)Stanleyone Looking at the GNE fleet page, it has ex EYMS 885 (X594 EGK) in open top format acquired. Interesting.
(19 Mar 2019, 8:24 pm)Malarkey I wonder if they've converted it back to be a double decker for Scholars then.
(19 Mar 2019, 8:33 pm)Michael If its for a open top service, maybe the brand will be put over the cooperate livery?, sure i read on Twitter, that would be done for future brands.
(19 Mar 2019, 8:33 pm)Michael If its for a open top service, maybe the brand will be put over the cooperate livery?, sure i read on Twitter, that would be done for future brands.
(19 Mar 2019, 9:01 pm)S813 FVK I don't think that such a service would be relegated to just having branding added on-top of the standard RYB fleet livery. It would need to be treated the same as any other branded services that aren't the 9 or 49 imo.
Still in the early stages so could well change my thoughts, but it being labelled as only being in the standard livery suggests that it won't see that much use. Perhaps some special events such as the Great North Run (which EY usually send open tops up for anyway so some cost cutting there) and the odd day in mainstream service when the weather is nice.
(19 Mar 2019, 9:01 pm)S813 FVK I don't think that such a service would be relegated to just having branding added on-top of the standard RYB fleet livery. It would need to be treated the same as any other branded services that aren't the 9 or 49 imo.
Still in the early stages so could well change my thoughts, but it being labelled as only being in the standard livery suggests that it won't see that much use. Perhaps some special events such as the Great North Run (which EY usually send open tops up for anyway so some cost cutting there) and the odd day in mainstream service when the weather is nice.
3995 / 3996 did have removeable roofs, however their bodies weren't too good when the roof was removed, so the roofs are left on all the time.
There is some possibilities that they might be converting more in house. But if it's a one bus thing, well they might be looking at introducing open top tours similar to Go South Coast / Southern Vectis.
Examples (some good and some prob bad)
Hexham to Kielder
Hexham to Corbridge via Hadrians Wall
Newcastle - Quayside - Angel of the North
Sunderland to South Shields
Derwent Valley route Metrocentre to Consett (Get to see the Red Kite birds better)
(17 Mar 2019, 3:02 pm)Michael Not sure if it was ever confirmed but when the new depot opens:
“All of Stanley's OmniCitys will transfer to Gateshead, leaving the Volvo B9 to be allocated to the X70/X71.
The Consett-operated X30 service still needs to be allocated single-decks though, so stay tuned on that one...”
Wonder which single deckers will be allocated to the X30?
(17 Mar 2019, 3:02 pm)Michael Not sure if it was ever confirmed but when the new depot opens:
“All of Stanley's OmniCitys will transfer to Gateshead, leaving the Volvo B9 to be allocated to the X70/X71.
The Consett-operated X30 service still needs to be allocated single-decks though, so stay tuned on that one...”
Wonder which single deckers will be allocated to the X30?
(20 Mar 2019, 1:12 am)S813 FVK I’ve relegated myself away from speculation recently but have come up with some sort of solution to the X30 ‘issue’.
Taking the PVR for the 6/X31 at 9 as it is now and attaching a spare leaves the 4 that would have otherwise remained at Stanley/Consett for the X30 and the ‘misc’ board.
Alongside the Omnicitys, the only other full sized single decks currently allocated to Stanley are Streetlites. From a ‘fleet standardisation’ perspective, would it perhaps make sense to do a swap of 4 Omnicitys for the 4 X66 Streetlites?
I see this as a slightly bizarre but plausable idea, as well as a long term solution. Anything that would just be temporary would seem a bit strange and they may aswell just leave the 4 Omnis where they are until the main replacements are ready.
Maybe it’s just convenient numbers leading me up the garden path. We’ll find out soon enough.
(20 Mar 2019, 1:12 am)S813 FVK I’ve relegated myself away from speculation recently but have come up with some sort of solution to the X30 ‘issue’.
Taking the PVR for the 6/X31 at 9 as it is now and attaching a spare leaves the 4 that would have otherwise remained at Stanley/Consett for the X30 and the ‘misc’ board.
Alongside the Omnicitys, the only other full sized single decks currently allocated to Stanley are Streetlites. From a ‘fleet standardisation’ perspective, would it perhaps make sense to do a swap of 4 Omnicitys for the 4 X66 Streetlites?
I see this as a slightly bizarre but plausable idea, as well as a long term solution. Anything that would just be temporary would seem a bit strange and they may aswell just leave the 4 Omnis where they are until the main replacements are ready.
Maybe it’s just convenient numbers leading me up the garden path. We’ll find out soon enough.
Re: open topper. Martijn was involved in the introduction of an open topper at Reading Buses, as a private hire/events function. Maybe the same idea has been brought to GNE.