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Go North East: Latest News & Discussion - October 2018

Go North East: Latest News & Discussion - October 2018

Jamie M
Unregistered
RE: Go North East: Latest News & Discussion - September 2018
(01 Oct 2018, 10:12 am)Coppercap40 wrote Anyone else having problems with the bus tracker app ?
Yes

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Jamie M
Unregistered
Go North East: Latest News & Discussion - September 2018
Out of complete er.. curiosity, is there a list of services run by saltmeadows road?

Thanks.

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RE: Go North East: Latest News & Discussion - September 2018
According the fleet news 9089 has gone to Deptford.
Ooo Friend, Bus Friend.
Site Administrator
RE: Go North East: Latest News & Discussion - September 2018
(01 Oct 2018, 4:46 pm)Michael wrote According the fleet news 9089 has gone to Deptford.
It transferred to Deptford last week, although in reality it was never used and has now been withdrawn (to be returned to Optare today).

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RE: Go North East: Latest News & Discussion - September 2018
(01 Oct 2018, 4:53 pm)Dan wrote It transferred to Deptford last week, although in reality it was never used and has now been withdrawn (to be returned to Optare today).

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Ah right, thanks.
Ooo Friend, Bus Friend.
RE: Go North East: Latest News & Discussion - September 2018
(30 Sep 2018, 7:20 pm)JM03 wrote What is the 17:42 97 from Newcastle allocated to? Seen a lot of deckers on it recently

Does 131 St Cuthberts to Hazelrigg, then 1708 Q3 Great Park to Eldon Square, then 1742 97 Newcastle to MetroCentre. 

Was 6916 this evening.
Jamie M
Unregistered
RE: Go North East: Latest News & Discussion - September 2018
(01 Oct 2018, 7:17 pm)missedbus wrote Maybe, but still taxed and MOT'd, so no tearing hurry to withdraw it, although it should be gone in theory, with 2 Solos having come in.
I call it turning up on C&C duties soon..

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RE: Go North East: Latest News & Discussion - September 2018
(01 Oct 2018, 7:15 pm)westy3738 wrote Does 131 St Cuthberts to Hazelrigg, then 1708 Q3 Great Park to Eldon Square, then 1742 97 Newcastle to MetroCentre. 

Was 6916 this evening.
Will they be using the middle doors ever on it?
Jamie M
Unregistered
RE: Go North East: Latest News & Discussion - September 2018
(01 Oct 2018, 9:06 pm)G-CPTN wrote I will be slightly sad when we no longer have 619 trundling around our country lanes, as the MPDs have served us well over the years - it's the end of an era . . .
Absolute backbreakers like, never really liked them.

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6358
RE: Go North East: Latest News & Discussion - September 2018
(01 Oct 2018, 9:33 pm)Jamie M wrote Absolute backbreakers like, never really liked them.

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great to drive when they were new at Redby
RE: Go North East: Latest News & Discussion - September 2018
(01 Oct 2018, 9:06 pm)G-CPTN wrote I will be slightly sad when we no longer have 619 trundling around our country lanes, as the MPDs have served us well over the years - it's the end of an era . . .

Is 619 ever allocated to service 74? Tyndale Links 74 has always been a Solo recently. I rarely see a Citaro on it.
RE: Go North East: Latest News & Discussion - September 2018
8307 in service at Riverside today on 67/69.
RE: Go North East: Latest News & Discussion - September 2018
5401 has a peppa pig small advert on the back, and its cut some of the Beamish branding on it... looks daft.
Ooo Friend, Bus Friend.
Jamie M
Unregistered
RE: Go North East: Latest News & Discussion - September 2018
(04 Oct 2018, 6:17 am)Michael wrote 5401 has a peppa pig small advert on the back, and its cut some of the Beamish branding on it... looks daft.
Wonder why it wasnt corp branded like the other beamish buses?

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Site Administrator
RE: Go North East: Latest News & Discussion - September 2018
(04 Oct 2018, 6:19 am)Jamie M wrote Wonder why it wasnt corp branded like the other beamish buses?

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It has been planned to go into corporate livery for a number of months now, along with the Lambton Worm Versa, but Chester-le-Street have had a high number of vehicles VOR now for quite some time, so can't afford to release a bus to be repainted.
RE: Go North East: Latest News & Discussion - September 2018
(04 Oct 2018, 9:05 am)Dan wrote It has been planned to go into corporate livery for a number of months now, along with the Lambton Worm Versa, but Chester-le-Street have had a high number of vehicles VOR now for quite some time, so can't afford to release a bus to be repainted.

Should be able to in the upcoming fortnight though with the schools being off, saying that the 5482/83/84 still need painting also.

On another note 4932 is currently at Saltmeadows covering for the Bluestar Mercs while they are painted.
Site Administrator
RE: Go North East: Latest News & Discussion - September 2018
(05 Oct 2018, 7:47 pm)Malarkey wrote Should be able to in the upcoming fortnight though with the schools being off, saying that the 5482/83/84 still need painting also.

On another note 4932 is currently at Saltmeadows covering for the Bluestar Mercs while they are painted.
Yes, that's certainly the plan... although the schools are only off for a week, not two.

5485 is this week's Citaro being painted, with 4932 on loan to Saltmeadows to cover as you say. 5481 likely to be the last Citaro to be repainted now it is at Riverside.

Saltmeadows single-deck boards likely to be converted to double-deck during the school holidays - some of these buses are still required as they operate works services too.

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RE: Go North East: Latest News & Discussion - September 2018
(05 Oct 2018, 8:11 pm)Dan wrote Yes, that's certainly the plan... although the schools are only off for a week, not two.

5485 is this week's Citaro being painted, with 4932 on loan to Saltmeadows to cover as you say. 5481 likely to be the last Citaro to be repainted now it is at Riverside.

Saltmeadows single-deck boards likely to be converted to double-deck during the school holidays - some of these buses are still required as they operate works services too.

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Someone at work yesterday said they were off for two, I lost track of school holidays after I left school in 2009.
Jamie M
Unregistered
RE: Go North East: Latest News & Discussion - September 2018
(05 Oct 2018, 8:21 pm)Malarkey wrote Someone at work yesterday said they were off for two, I lost track of school holidays after I left school in 2009.
8 weeks on, 1 week off, 8 weeks on, 2 weeks off, 5 weeks on, 1 week off, 6 weeks on, 2 weeks off, 7 weeks on, 6.5 weeks off. Roughly speaking, although I finished up college in May, I've already forgotten enough to be doubting myself!

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RE: Go North East: Latest News & Discussion - September 2018
(05 Oct 2018, 8:25 pm)Jamie M wrote 8 weeks on, 1 week off, 8 weeks on, 2 weeks off, 5 weeks on, 1 week off, 6 weeks on, 2 weeks off, 7 weeks on, 6.5 weeks off. Roughly speaking, although I finished up college in May, I've already forgotten enough to be doubting myself!

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I'm still in year 11 so ill look into it. The next holidays are the week beginning 29th and christmas holidays aren't starting till the very last week.
RE: Go North East: Latest News & Discussion - September 2018
I didn't know where to put this but i think this would be a good idea to change the bus fleets at Percy Main and Riverside depots
Riverside to Percy Main-
Q3 ops to be moved to percy main operating all day Monday to Saturdays and Sunday Daytimes (Sunday nights ops to remain at riverside). 33A to be extended to St peters basin at night and to interwork with the Q3. 67-69 versas also to transfer to percy main to be used on the 19. Versas can be used for backups on indigo services keeping corp solos on the needed routes (K3,W1/A,W2,333) so 1 backup solo. Vehicles to transfer-
5385,5387-5390,8306-8315,8328,9084
Percy Main to Riverside-
11 ops all day, everyday resulting in riverside getting a big fleet of omnicities. Solar eclipses to transfer to riverside to re-join other solars in the fleet and replace 67/69 versas. Vehicles to transfer-
4978-4982,5263-5274.

This will end up keeping all the percy main single-deck vehicles the same saving money by all parts being the same now but also adding extra capacity to the indigo services when needed like during Cobalt rush hour. This would also benefit Riverside as the 11 can stick with the blue arrows brand all day every day while and bring upgraded travel to the Green arrows on Sundays (probs be better getting up Lobley Hill bank too) but also saving money on parts with the solars staying at the main depots (Chester,Riverside and Deptford). This will also bring the oppotuinity to bring newer vehicles to the 67-69 earlier than expected as the solars are to be replaced sooner than expected as the solars to be replaced soon.
Jamie M
Unregistered
RE: Go North East: Latest News & Discussion - September 2018
(05 Oct 2018, 9:57 pm)JM03 wrote I didn't know where to put this but i think this would be a good idea to change the bus fleets at Percy Main and Riverside depots
Riverside to Percy Main-
Q3 ops to be moved to percy main operating all day Monday to Saturdays and Sunday Daytimes (Sunday nights ops to remain at riverside). 33A to be extended to St peters basin at night and to interwork with the Q3. 67-69 versas also to transfer to percy main to be used on the 19. Versas can be used for backups on indigo services keeping corp solos on the needed routes (K3,W1/A,W2,333) so 1 backup solo. Vehicles to transfer-
5385,5387-5390,8306-8315,8328,9084
Percy Main to Riverside-
11 ops all day, everyday resulting in riverside getting a big fleet of omnicities. Solar eclipses to transfer to riverside to re-join other solars in the fleet and replace 67/69 versas. Vehicles to transfer-
4978-4982,5263-5274.

This will end up keeping all the percy main single-deck vehicles the same saving money by all parts being the same now but also adding extra capacity to the indigo services when needed like during Cobalt rush hour. This would also benefit Riverside as the 11 can stick with the blue arrows brand all day every day while and bring upgraded travel to the Green arrows on Sundays (probs be better getting up Lobley Hill bank too) but also saving money on parts with the solars staying at the main depots (Chester,Riverside and Deptford). This will also bring the oppotuinity to bring newer vehicles to the 67-69 earlier than expected as the solars are to be replaced sooner than expected as the solars to be replaced soon.
Interesting, I don't see much use in any of this though.

The eclipses at percy main are Volvo engines, not the same as the Solars which are Scanias.

Omnicities also are pretty worn out right now, they probably want some internal TLC given their age, not really much of an upgrade.

33 doesn't need extending, it wouldn't be used and would need nexus to support it to make it worth while.

Valid argument about peak time journeys needing more seat space, but it's not easy to do this when perhaps more space is only needed for 2 journeys a day.

I would say that next year will be interesting with the ability to bin most buses that are older than 55 plate with the solar council agreement ending in 2019. Maybe streetlites for 97, 93/94 and 35 with the best of the 54 plate solars being kept for spares and chester.

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RE: Go North East: Latest News & Discussion - September 2018
(05 Oct 2018, 10:12 pm)Jamie M wrote Interesting, I don't see much use in any of this though.

The eclipses at percy main are Volvo engines, not the same as the Solars which are Scanias.

Omnicities also are pretty worn out right now, they probably want some internal TLC given their age, not really much of an upgrade.

33 doesn't need extending, it wouldn't be used and would need nexus to support it to make it worth while.

Valid argument about peak time journeys needing more seat space, but it's not easy to do this when perhaps more space is only needed for 2 journeys a day.

I would say that next year will be interesting with the ability to bin most buses that are older than 55 plate with the solar council agreement ending in 2019. Maybe streetlites for 97, 93/94 and 35 with the best of the 54 plate solars being kept for spares and chester.

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The omnicities are outstanding vehicles in my opinion and are a great ride. The 42 could defiantly use extra capacity between north shields and wallsend, it overcrowds a lot during the day. The eclipses are starting to look a bit knackered on the 19 and have served great. Some are in worse condition than others with my guess 4982 in the best condition travelling on these twice a day. The streetlights to replace the solars are a brilliant idea and if enough ordered could release all riverside versas with the Qs,58 and 67/69s getting a new opportunity (maybe not so much on the 67/69 with them still being euro 4) but could help release the majority of solars. Percy Mains buses needing a bit of a upgrade, its had nothing new in years and starting to look knackered all round. The omnidekkas need to be released to Chester in my opinion asap to be swapped with their gemini so its all the same decker types.

That would be first priority for me at percy amin but props the eaisest task as it can be completed in a few hours.