Go North East: Latest News & Discussion - July 2013

[CatsFast101]

Meant to post yesterday but I seen a MetroLink solar on vine place/Holmeside heading towards the interchange in Sunderland yesterday. Was very taken a back not sure what service it was on.

[Dan]

Meant to post yesterday but I seen a MetroLink solar on vine place/Holmeside heading towards the interchange in Sunderland yesterday. Was very taken a back not sure what service it was on.

Possibly the 939. I've known "MetroLINK" Solars to appear on the evening 939 before.
Was this around 6pm in Sunderland? If so, there's your answer. :p

[Malarkey]

Meant to post yesterday but I seen a MetroLink solar on vine place/Holmeside heading towards the interchange in Sunderland yesterday. Was very taken a back not sure what service it was on.

Possibly the 939. I've known "MetroLINK" Solars to appear on the evening 939 before.
Was this around 6pm in Sunderland? If so, there's your answer. :p

I seen it on Washington Highway near Waterview Park when I was the 8 heading to The Galleries, thought it may of been on the 922 just heading a different way into Washington from Rainton Bridge Npower, Obviously I may of been wrong.

[legend]

564 on QEH Shuttle leaving car park now (1138)

Previous mystery solved as to where 564 is at! I've not seen 563 either (the "QEH" branded MPD), so if 564 is presumably covering for 563, where's 563?

On Sunday I saw her on 40A

[nk55]

4944 has replaced 5229 at crook, which has now left crook for internal refurbishment (thorntons) and repainting (saltmeadows), 6024 ended up on the ok1 due to the roadworks at cockerton causing delays, 6024 being the "spare" at the time.

[CitaroFavourite]

4944 has replaced 5229 at crook, which has now left crook for internal refurbishment (thorntons) and repainting (saltmeadows), 6024 ended up on the ok1 due to the roadworks at cockerton causing delays, 6024 being the "spare" at the time.

sign of the brand finally disolving and into its new brand wonder what there gonna call X84 any Ideas i would call it Tynedale Links Express or X84 and have it a similar design for Wear Tees Express or call it something like Derwent Tyne Links something obvious any ideas?

[MurdnunoC]

Although I generally loathe the idea of branding, I suppose something like the 'Tynedale Express' or the 'Hexham Clipper' might work for the X84.

I don't see how the Derwent theme would be an obvious suggestion. The closest the current route comes to passing the Derwent is going along the West Road into Newcastle. However, if the X84 was ever to be extended beyond Hexham and onto Carlisle, the old 'Cross-Country' branding could be borrowed from Derwent and applied to the service.

[CatsFast101]

Meant to post yesterday but I seen a MetroLink solar on vine place/Holmeside heading towards the interchange in Sunderland yesterday. Was very taken a back not sure what service it was on.

Possibly the 939. I've known "MetroLINK" Solars to appear on the evening 939 before.
Was this around 6pm in Sunderland? If so, there's your answer. :p

Ah yes that will probably be it, mystery solved!

[Malarkey]

4944 has replaced 5229 at crook, which has now left crook for internal refurbishment (thorntons) and repainting (saltmeadows), 6024 ended up on the ok1 due to the roadworks at cockerton causing delays, 6024 being the "spare" at the time.

sign of the brand finally disolving and into its new brand wonder what there gonna call X84 any Ideas i would call it Tynedale Links Express or X84 and have it a similar design for Wear Tees Express or call it something like Derwent Tyne Links something obvious any ideas?

GNE should atleast keep one in the OK Livery, Because of the Centenary, I think the X84 will end up coming under the Tynedale Links Brand, rather than the suggestions above.

[nk55]

There was talk the buses would remain in the ok livery due to the 684 operated by ok travel, however plans keep changing.

[Dan]

Un-ID'd Red Kite on X70/X71 today. Will be on the next departure from Newcastle.

Edit: Scrap the above, it runs onto a 45:46 once it reaches NCL. :p

[Dan]

Blue Coaster NK56KJY is at Sunderland Road today, as well as North Tyne Links MPD 504. I would assume this is for MOT day, but not certain on that one.

A MetroLINK Solar was parked up at Gateshead Interchange earlier today also, so could be a similar story for that vehicle too.

1001 has been repainted into standard ancillary vehicle livery (plain red w/ GNE logos).

[Tom]

There was talk the buses would remain in the ok livery due to the 684 operated by ok travel, however plans keep changing.

I am guessing 5229 will go ''Northern'' - The X84 will probably only need 4 (or less!) vehicles, so 5229 will not be needed. I hope the Scanias do stay in ''OK Expressway'' livery though.

[cbma06]

There was talk the buses would remain in the ok livery due to the 684 operated by ok travel, however plans keep changing.

I am guessing 5229 will go ''Northern'' - The X84 will probably only need 4 (or less!) vehicles, so 5229 will not be needed. I hope the Scanias do stay in ''OK Expressway'' livery though.

When the new registration came out on Vosa for the X84 there was also a new registration for the 687 which had a starting point where the X84 will terminate, maybe the X84 will continue on as a separate service onto the 687?.

[Dan]

1001 has been repainted into standard ancillary vehicle livery (plain red w/ GNE logos).

He's found it!!! Just 4 days later

She's been hiding!! :-p

[Dan]

Yellow Bus on the 309/310 today. Was rather unexpected but is presumably covering for Citaro 5334 who is at Saltmeadows today for reasons unknown. Sister 5335 went to Saltmeadows also a few days ago, but was sent back and didn't look like she had even been touched.

[Dan]

Yellow Bus on the 309/310 today. Was rather unexpected but is presumably covering for Citaro 5334 who is at Saltmeadows today to be repainted (is being sanded now). Sister 5335 went to Saltmeadows also a few days ago, but was sent back and didn't look like she had even been touched.

[BJ10VUS]

The 27 is running to a pretty weird frequency - every 10/11 minutes according to the timetable. Not all that easy to remember. Surely every 12 minutes would make sense?

[Malarkey]

[quote='Daniel' pid='8621' dateline='1375257751']

A MetroLINK Solar was parked up at Gateshead Interchange earlier today also, so could be a similar story for that vehicle too.

Most likely been used on the Saltmeadows Staff Shuttle for a short while, Unless it had been on the 921 or the X1 and had broke down at Gateshead earlier in the day maybe.

[Dan]

Yellow Bus on the 309/310 today. Was rather unexpected but is presumably covering for Citaro 5334 who is at Saltmeadows today to be repainted (is being sanded now). Sister 5335 went to Saltmeadows also a few days ago, but was sent back and didn't look like she had even been touched.

"Cobalt Clipper" Citaros are having their rear advertisements removed, and are being repainted after the adverts are removed. Unlike what I said before, 5335 is likely to have had her advert removed too.

4944 has replaced 5229 at crook, which has now left crook for internal refurbishment (thorntons) and repainting (saltmeadows), 6024 ended up on the ok1 due to the roadworks at cockerton causing delays, 6024 being the "spare" at the time.

5229 is currently at Saltmeadows, presumably pending repaint.

Most likely been used on the Saltmeadows Staff Shuttle for a short while, Unless it had been on the 921 or the X1 and had broke down at Gateshead earlier in the day maybe.

Off memory (couldn't get a photo as it was on the bend at Gateshead Interchange - we're not allowed to walk there), said "MetroLINK" was 4965 or 4966. 4961 would be done before these, and debranding/repainting of "MetroLINK" branded vehicles is currently on hold - therefore couldn't be used as a Saltmeadows Staff Shuttle. "Coaster" and "The OK Expressway" branded vehicles should come before any further "MetroLINK" repaints if I am correct.
Could potentially have been on the "Red Arrows" service X1/921 and if it was late, could have been waiting time at Gateshead so it could just swing round and be on-time once more. I believe a plum Solar made it onto the X1 a week or two ago, so there's always potential for it to happen with "MetroLINK" branded vehicles too.