(23 Feb 2018, 6:35 pm)Malarkey I was also informed that Go North East planned to extend the DFDS contract by a further a year, however have agreed a rumoured 5 year deal with two brand new vehicles to be purchased as part of the new contact, at this point this is unconfirmed and merely speculation, however coincidentally two of the DFDS Omnidekkas don't have luggage racks fitted despite the service being in need them, so I do wonder if there is more than meets the eye with this rumour, furthermore and this is just me speaking my mind here in thinking that the 309/310 will be in line for new vehicles this year also, as I really can't see Go North East buying two new vehicles for just one service, depot standardisation and that coming into mind.
(23 Feb 2018, 6:35 pm)Malarkey I was also informed that Go North East planned to extend the DFDS contract by a further a year, however have agreed a rumoured 5 year deal with two brand new vehicles to be purchased as part of the new contact, at this point this is unconfirmed and merely speculation, however coincidentally two of the DFDS Omnidekkas don't have luggage racks fitted despite the service being in need them, so I do wonder if there is more than meets the eye with this rumour, furthermore and this is just me speaking my mind here in thinking that the 309/310 will be in line for new vehicles this year also, as I really can't see Go North East buying two new vehicles for just one service, depot standardisation and that coming into mind.
Chances are that the MetroDecker was taken off because the driver that was due to take over hadn't been trained on it.
Also despite going looking for DFDS buses, the Pink Omnidekka evaded me once again.
(24 Feb 2018, 8:27 pm)Rapidsnap Chances are that the MetroDecker was taken off because the driver that was due to take over hadn't been trained on it.
Also despite going looking for DFDS buses, the Pink Omnidekka evaded me once again.
(24 Feb 2018, 8:27 pm)Rapidsnap Chances are that the MetroDecker was taken off because the driver that was due to take over hadn't been trained on it.
Also despite going looking for DFDS buses, the Pink Omnidekka evaded me once again.
On another note, GNE will soon be the only operator to use Volvo B5LH's in the North East once the swap between Arriva's Blyth Depot and Arriva Yorkshire takes place.
Wonder in years to come if GNE order StreetDecks for the 309/310 that they poke away about their green 'micro hybrid and 'low carbon' credentials.
I can just imagine the scenes...people flocking from the 306/308 onto the 309/310 for the witchcraft they call "micro hybrids".
Kevin Carr to Retire in June after 43 Years with Go North East
http://www.route-one.net/articles/People..._to_retire
(24 Feb 2018, 8:27 pm)Rapidsnap Chances are that the MetroDecker was taken off because the driver that was due to take over hadn't been trained on it.
Also despite going looking for DFDS buses, the Pink Omnidekka evaded me once again.
(24 Feb 2018, 8:27 pm)Rapidsnap Chances are that the MetroDecker was taken off because the driver that was due to take over hadn't been trained on it.
Also despite going looking for DFDS buses, the Pink Omnidekka evaded me once again.
(25 Feb 2018, 12:26 am)Jordan2104 Believe there was a problem with the destination controller in cab according to a driver.
(25 Feb 2018, 12:26 am)Jordan2104 Believe there was a problem with the destination controller in cab according to a driver.
(24 Feb 2018, 10:44 pm)Malarkey Kevin Carr to Retire in June after 43 Years with Go North East
http://www.route-one.net/articles/People..._to_retire
(24 Feb 2018, 10:44 pm)Malarkey Kevin Carr to Retire in June after 43 Years with Go North East
http://www.route-one.net/articles/People..._to_retire
(25 Feb 2018, 5:22 pm)Michael Be interesting to see who replaces him, and what direction they'll go in, such as branding, new buses etc.
Will 6116/17 be repainted in to the new livery anytime soon?
(25 Feb 2018, 5:22 pm)Michael Be interesting to see who replaces him, and what direction they'll go in, such as branding, new buses etc.
Will 6116/17 be repainted in to the new livery anytime soon?
(25 Feb 2018, 5:22 pm)Michael Be interesting to see who replaces him, and what direction they'll go in, such as branding, new buses etc.
Will 6116/17 be repainted in to the new livery anytime soon?
(25 Feb 2018, 5:22 pm)Michael Be interesting to see who replaces him, and what direction they'll go in, such as branding, new buses etc.
Will 6116/17 be repainted in to the new livery anytime soon?
(25 Feb 2018, 6:20 pm)Andreos1 No idea about any changes to the purchasing strategy - except they're gonna need to sort something for8 the remaining Solar's and maybe 2/3 years beyond that, I think we will start to see the Omni's start to slowly disappear.
By that point, the Streetlites will have been tested and analysed fully. Who knows what Wrights or Optare are offering, never mind ADL.
I do think we will see further changes and transition to routes once the new MD has settled in
The new machines will play their part in those changes, regardless of any ideas or strategies he/she may have.
(25 Feb 2018, 6:20 pm)Andreos1 No idea about any changes to the purchasing strategy - except they're gonna need to sort something for8 the remaining Solar's and maybe 2/3 years beyond that, I think we will start to see the Omni's start to slowly disappear.
By that point, the Streetlites will have been tested and analysed fully. Who knows what Wrights or Optare are offering, never mind ADL.
I do think we will see further changes and transition to routes once the new MD has settled in
The new machines will play their part in those changes, regardless of any ideas or strategies he/she may have.
(25 Feb 2018, 8:10 pm)JP6004 They cant do anything about black cats loop or green arrow until 2019 because of restrictions placed by the council after tgose buses received modifications to upgrade them to euro 5. I would imagine that all the above services will receive new buses after the specified date to allow the solars to be withdrawn
(25 Feb 2018, 8:10 pm)JP6004 They cant do anything about black cats loop or green arrow until 2019 because of restrictions placed by the council after tgose buses received modifications to upgrade them to euro 5. I would imagine that all the above services will receive new buses after the specified date to allow the solars to be withdrawn
(25 Feb 2018, 9:42 pm)Andreos1 They can certainly get the ball rolling with the business case, financing or planning of replacements though (if it isn't rolling already).
Depending when in 2019 the restrictions are lifted, the 54 plate Solar's will be hitting 15 years old.
Appreciate some older examples are still kicking around, such as Chester's 52 plates, so I expect the better 54 plates to hang around at least towards the end of 2019 or in to 2020.
By that point, the Omni's will be getting closer to 15 years old and I can't see them lasting too much longer after that. Certainly a max of 3 years.
Compared to the Solar's, there are fewer Omni's in the fleet. The cost implications of sourcing parts for the Omni's, versus cannibalising older Solar's may impact on their lifespan. I can't see them kicking around as long as the Renowns or Solar's. Partly because of the smaller pool to salvage from.
A lot of vehicles to replace under the current PVR.
If we see further changes or route consolidation, then maybe we won't see a like for like pvr replacement.
(25 Feb 2018, 9:42 pm)Andreos1 They can certainly get the ball rolling with the business case, financing or planning of replacements though (if it isn't rolling already).
Depending when in 2019 the restrictions are lifted, the 54 plate Solar's will be hitting 15 years old.
Appreciate some older examples are still kicking around, such as Chester's 52 plates, so I expect the better 54 plates to hang around at least towards the end of 2019 or in to 2020.
By that point, the Omni's will be getting closer to 15 years old and I can't see them lasting too much longer after that. Certainly a max of 3 years.
Compared to the Solar's, there are fewer Omni's in the fleet. The cost implications of sourcing parts for the Omni's, versus cannibalising older Solar's may impact on their lifespan. I can't see them kicking around as long as the Renowns or Solar's. Partly because of the smaller pool to salvage from.
A lot of vehicles to replace under the current PVR.
If we see further changes or route consolidation, then maybe we won't see a like for like pvr replacement.
(25 Feb 2018, 10:00 pm)JP6004 52 plate solars due to be withdrawn once ex south tyne versas undergo repaint. But there are quite a few 51 plates being pushed beyond their limit. To be fair if it wasnt for the council i think replacements would of been sourced; for some of them anyway
(25 Feb 2018, 10:00 pm)JP6004 52 plate solars due to be withdrawn once ex south tyne versas undergo repaint. But there are quite a few 51 plates being pushed beyond their limit. To be fair if it wasnt for the council i think replacements would of been sourced; for some of them anyway
(25 Feb 2018, 10:28 pm)Andreos1 I just tried to tally up how many Solar's are left, but I got bored checking on each status.
If you or anyone else fancies it...
I suppose it was easier and cheaper to take the upgrades at the time, than have to worry about replacing a chunk of them.
Win/win for GNE in a number of aspects. Certainly in the short-term.
However, I do think it has hindered them long-term.
Whether they can finance new vehicles or not, passengers on the 35 have certainly lost out and I wonder what perception those passengers hold now.
What may have been good PR initially, has resulted in vehicles well past their best (not sure anyone could argue with that), plying their trade on a major corridor and prone to competition from it's own services, never mind SNE.
Going back to what I said earlier about the pool of withdrawn vehicles and spares, it could mean that these Solar's are quite cheap to repair.
(25 Feb 2018, 10:28 pm)Andreos1 I just tried to tally up how many Solar's are left, but I got bored checking on each status.
If you or anyone else fancies it...
I suppose it was easier and cheaper to take the upgrades at the time, than have to worry about replacing a chunk of them.
Win/win for GNE in a number of aspects. Certainly in the short-term.
However, I do think it has hindered them long-term.
Whether they can finance new vehicles or not, passengers on the 35 have certainly lost out and I wonder what perception those passengers hold now.
What may have been good PR initially, has resulted in vehicles well past their best (not sure anyone could argue with that), plying their trade on a major corridor and prone to competition from it's own services, never mind SNE.
Going back to what I said earlier about the pool of withdrawn vehicles and spares, it could mean that these Solar's are quite cheap to repair.
(23 Feb 2018, 7:02 am)cbma06 I think timetables were published for the southtyneside changes as it was mentioned somewhere , I think new timetables are produced on major changes but not for minor changes like retiming by a few minutes etc...There are new timetables on some crusader buses for 26/27
Recently when Arriva changed the timings of the 22,23,24. I did messaged them for new timetables to be sent through post, and got an email back stating that there don’t post them out no more and then 5 days later I got the timetables through the post with a note attached saying sorry for the delay sending out the timetables.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
(23 Feb 2018, 7:02 am)cbma06 I think timetables were published for the southtyneside changes as it was mentioned somewhere , I think new timetables are produced on major changes but not for minor changes like retiming by a few minutes etc...There are new timetables on some crusader buses for 26/27
Recently when Arriva changed the timings of the 22,23,24. I did messaged them for new timetables to be sent through post, and got an email back stating that there don’t post them out no more and then 5 days later I got the timetables through the post with a note attached saying sorry for the delay sending out the timetables.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Has there been any indication on wether the Boxing Day bus services for GNE,were up in passenger numbers than in previous years?.