What I'm going to say is :
16 wright streetdecks for 21 14+ 2 spares
B5s to Percy main for 1 with 3962/5 going with them
Coaster omnicities to replace old scanias
8X streetdecks for X9/10 6+ 2 spare
6043-48 to Washington to replace some presidents and 3943
18 wright streetlites for 35/36
11 wright streetlites for 16/16A
5298-5304 for X5
5305-5309 for X6
5325-5327 spares
5284-5292 to replace omnicities on X30/31
Replace more solars with them
16 streetdecks for red kites 14+2 spares
5409-5415 to deptford for 39
5416-19 to stay at Stanley
6118-21 to Percy main replacing presidents
8 streetlites for riverside 12/12A
3 spares between 53/54/12/12A&X66
5275-80 with 5281 spare to Chester for 28/28A
5282 for S1 replacing 8266
5283 & 5331 spare
10 streetlites for 11 8+ 2 spare
All solars to go to coperate livery to replace 4989-92/4954-60
18X streetdecks to replace all vykings to scrap
7X streetlites for green arrow scrap solars
15X streetdecks for 27 13+ 2spare
5310-6 for X84/5 making 5229-33 spare
5317-9& 5328-5330 spare and transfer to replace older solars etc
5317-19 & 5323/ 5328 on loops
5219-5226 scrap
Overall new buses
Wright streetdecks = 73
Wright streetlites = 54
127 new buses in total - not guaranteed to be next year but in coming years
What does everyone think ?
A few new suggestions.
30 Wright StreetDeck's for Corporate Livery Spares
25 (23+2 Spares) Volvo 7900H's for the Quaylink Q1/Q2 & Q3
10 (9+1 Spare) Wright Streetlite Micro-Hybrid for the Simplicity 2/2A
9 (8+1 Spare) Wright Streetlite Micro-Hybrid for the South Tyne 88/88A
9 (8+1 Spare) Wright Streetlite Micro-Hybrid for the Citylink 58
5 (4+1 Spare) Wright Streetlite Micro-Hybrid for the 61 (With Drifter Branding)
5 (4+1 Spare) Wright Streetlite Micro-Hybrid (10.4m) for the Lambton Worm 34/34A
Number of Vehicles to be ordered = 93 - The purpose of the order would be to withdraw the remaining Volvo B10BLE's (4896/4898/4899/4900/4915/4917/4919 & 4922) and the first batch of Scania L94's (4926 to 4938/4940 to 4949/4954 to 4966/4989 to 4992) along with Volvo B7TL Plaxton President's. This would then allow all 59 Optare Versa's to take a spare roll within the Go North East fleet across multiple depots across the region, whilst also significantly reducing the fleet age with this investment.
With reducing fleet age mind I think Go North East should start buying "New Double Deckers" in the form of Wright StreetDeck's to a Standard Specification to replace older Deckers in the fleet, rather than continuously purchasing second hand cast-offs from other Go-Ahead Divisions which have seen better days, I for one hate the Volvo B7 President's with a passion, as I would imagine many other customers do, passengers love nothing more than a new bus on there local routes, and as we have seen in the past with the Prince Bishops, Castles Express and Indigo recently, this massively boosts customer satisfaction with positive comments made by passengers when on board the new bus and on social media.
If gne buy new buses for volvo b9 route, then they could put them on 1 and toon link. Gne could put omnicities on 88/A and Crusader so they can interswap if needed keeping all the same.
My only suggestion would be to get 4 Streetdecks for the Red Kite services so all vehicles will be the same spec. The only idea what i have for where 6118-6121 would go would be 2 on the 21 to replace 3962/5 (although depending on these trials, that might not be necessary), 1 to Crook as the X21 spare with the last one going to Percy Main to give the Cobalt Clippers 2 spares again. I think it would be best to keep them together and upgrade one service rather than scattering them out like that though.
Don't want to be too cynical but noticed that 6107 is missing info between upper deck window and lower deck window on rear. Also noticed some missing with 6106 and 6108.
Have any changes been made to the NSA's for the 309/310/X39 yet or scheduled to be changed?
I changed my order predication so here are my predictions for orders: (think the numbers are right, don't quote post as i'll edit it if wrong)
Riverside:
Blaydon Racers: 10 + 1 Streetlites
Cascades:
Blaydon Racers (10) – Loop – only reason is because Dan mentioned the other day that they were “Environmentally friendly with better fuel consumption... Got absolutely no power at all compared to younger examples” – this is just speculation though.
The Loop route also takes around the same time as the Blaydon Racers – this also means nothing too, just thought I would mention that.
11 Scania’s from the Loop replace the remaining B10’s and older Scania’s in the fleet.
Stanley:
9 + 1 spares Streetlites for Durham Diamond
Cascades:
10 + 1 spares Citaro to Riverside for the Green Arrow
11 Scania’s replace 11 older Scania’s in the fleet.
Deptford:
15 Streetlites for the 35/35A/36
15 Citaro remain at Deptford for the X5, 9 (to allow a full allocation) and the 61.
9 Scania’s replace 9 older Scania’s in the fleet
5 Versa from the 61 move to spare roles throughout the fleet, once again removing older Scania’s from the fleet.
Percy Main:
17+ 2? Streetdecks for the Cobalt Clipper (I’m sure one unbranded B9 is currently allocated?)
Cascades:
All 19 to head to Stanley replacing all 19 Omnidekka’s
Omnidekkas replace:
10 to Percy Main to replace 3890/ 3891, 6008, 6010, 6015, 6023, 6025, 6031, 6033
9 to Chester to replace 6017- 6020, 6022, 6026, 6030, 6036, 6038, 6039
Buses withdrawn by single decker cascades:
B10’s replaced:
4896
4898
4899
4900
4902
Scania’s replaced:
4926 - 4936
4938
4940 - 4949
4954 – 4968
Double deckers withdrawn by double decker cascades:
Volvo B7TLPlaxton President/Tridents
3890/ 3891, 6008, 6010, 6015, 6017-6020, 6022, 6023, 6025, 6026, 6031, 6033, 6038, 6039
Total: 57 new buses
(10 Dec 2016, 8:58 pm)Michael wrote [ -> ]I changed my order predication so here are my predictions for orders: (think the numbers are right, don't quote post as i'll edit it if wrong)
Blaydon Racers (10) – Loop – only reason is because Dan mentioned the other day that they were “Environmentally friendly with better fuel consumption... Got absolutely no power at all compared to younger examples” – this is just speculation though.
The Loop route also takes around the same time as the Blaydon Racers – this also means nothing too, just thought I would mention that.
Surely reducing the flow of fuel to the engine to save fuel by limiting its power output isn't what's been done here, Limiting the power the Mercs can produce on a hilly route like the 49 is just going to backfire on the investment into all this Eco Rubbish, As it puts more strain on the engine, In turn making the engine having to work harder, In turn using more fuel which pollutes the environment.
(10 Dec 2016, 9:17 pm)South Tyne Lad wrote [ -> ]Surely reducing the flow of fuel to the engine to save fuel by limiting its power output isn't what's been done here, Limiting the power the Mercs can produce on a hilly route like the 49 is just going to backfire on the investment into all this Eco Rubbish, As it puts more strain on the engine, In turn making the engine having to work harder, In turn using more fuel which pollutes the environment.
No idea, i thought the same, maybe Dan could explain it a bit better?
(10 Dec 2016, 9:17 pm)South Tyne Lad wrote [ -> ]Surely reducing the flow of fuel to the engine to save fuel by limiting its power output isn't what's been done here, Limiting the power the Mercs can produce on a hilly route like the 49 is just going to backfire on the investment into all this Eco Rubbish, As it puts more strain on the engine, In turn making the engine having to work harder, In turn using more fuel which pollutes the environment.
(10 Dec 2016, 9:27 pm)Michael wrote [ -> ]No idea, i thought the same, maybe Dan could explain it a bit better?
AVID e-fan mods.
I've posted a link to their website's page in the past - Arriva installed the same to their Temsa Avenues. The Mercs, like the Temsas, have an abundance of power which just isn't required at all. The Blaydon Racers timetable is still realistic and achievable, and also more comfortable from a passenger perspective, with the fans. Just means in my opinion that they'll always be held on more local services now.
STL is well into his 'under the hood' stuff, so he'll probably know all about AVID e-fans.
Go North East Order Predictions
10 Metrocitys for CityLink 58 8+2 spares
17 Metrodeckers for the Ten Services 15+2 Spares
7 Alexander Enviro400 City for TyneTess Xpress 6+1 spare
11 Streetlites for Blaydon Racers 10+1 spare +1 streetlite acting as a spare for X66, Saltwell Park and Blaydon Racers
Cascades because of New Buses
15 Wright Eclipse Gemmi 2 Transfer to the Crusader Service 27 13 Branded 2 spares
14 Citaros transfer to Deptford 7 for X5 and branded Wear Xprees 2 for the 9 to allow full allocation and 5 for the 61
Versas 5377-5384 5389 rebranded as SouthTyne 5390 would be spare
Blaydon Racers Citaros 8 rebranded Loop 2 as spares for the loop
All the Solars and Versas from the services would become spare and withdraw older buses in the fleet.
(11 Dec 2016, 4:53 am)Dan wrote [ -> ]AVID e-fan mods.
I've posted a link to their website's page in the past - Arriva installed the same to their Temsa Avenues. The Mercs, like the Temsas, have an abundance of power which just isn't required at all. The Blaydon Racers timetable is still realistic and achievable, and also more comfortable from a passenger perspective, with the fans. Just means in my opinion that they'll always be held on more local services now.
STL is well into his 'under the hood' stuff, so he'll probably know all about AVID e-fans.
Ah right I see, Bigger fans like that take more energy from the engine to run, Which explains the loss of power.
Will no doubt explain people's complaints on here that the Red Arrows B9s lack power, As they are indeed equipped with them too.
I am indeed
(11 Dec 2016, 4:37 pm)South Tyne Lad wrote [ -> ]Ah right I see, Bigger fans like that take more energy from the engine to run, Which explains the loss of power.
Will no doubt explain people's complaints on here that the Red Arrows B9s lack power, As they are indeed equipped with them too.
But aren't the eFans driven by electricity (when required) rather than a constantly-running hydraulic motor?
This would result in lower parasitic drag - allowing 'more' power to drive the bus.
(11 Dec 2016, 4:53 pm)G-CPTN wrote [ -> ]But aren't the eFans driven by electricity (when required) rather than a constantly-running hydraulic motor?
This would result in lower parasitic drag - allowing 'more' power to drive the bus.
While I'm not definitely sure, The E-Fans will be driven by electricity, But the Electricity to power it comes from the bus electrics, Which needs the Engine's to deliver electricity to the battery otherwise the bus will be stranded.
That energy taken from the engine compromises the overall power the engine can deliver to the running axle, Creating drag.
Another similar example of this can be a car air-conditioning.
9 streetlites for 16 (1 corp spare for any service as 5419 does), displacing citaros 84->92 (4896 until 92 returns) to wherever.
5337-8 to be retained because they're not worth fixing.
8 streetlites for northerns (some boards having omnidekka allocation) allowing the omnidekkas to replace and withdraw B7 deckers.
I believe, sadly, Go North East could get away with having streetlites on the northerns as they rarely are packed.
The double decker boards should be allocated to buses which finish 6 or X31 (7-11 board), as these get busy in town at night.
Boards that finish X71 or X70 barely have any people on in the evening OR daytime.
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In addition to parts of branding missing on 6106/07/08, 6110 missing branding text between upper and lower saloon deck windows on rear.
Correct me if I'm wrong and the former three have been corrected since.
Something on the 21 to allow hybrids to go to Stanley to cascade omnidekkas around the fleet, outright replacing the elder B7s within the fleet.
Two birds in one stone.
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(05 Jan 2017, 4:26 pm)Jamie M wrote [ -> ]Something on the 21 to allow hybrids to go to Stanley to cascade omnidekkas around the fleet, outright replacing the elder B7s within the fleet.
Two birds in one stone.
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If and when the B5LHs are replaced on the 21, they'll more likely be allocated to something along the lines of the 27 rather than the demanding 6/X70/X71.
(05 Jan 2017, 4:30 pm)Kuyoyo wrote [ -> ]If and when the B5LHs are replaced on the 21, they'll more likely be allocated to something along the lines of the 27 rather than the demanding 6/X70/X71.
Probables be the 2017/2018 financial year now for the 21 as previously said.
(05 Jan 2017, 4:32 pm)Michael wrote [ -> ]Probables be the 2017/2018 financial year now for the 21 as previously said.
X9/X10 B9s then? They're unreliable enough for Stanley, too!
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