(01 Sep 2016, 5:42 pm)Tom wrote [ -> ]Black Cats maybe?
Maybe, seems more "Red Arrow" coloured ones are arriving later in the month, hopefully will make up one brand, depending how many are arriving..
Would like to see the 33/38/39/237 and 238 in "Black Cats", due to all just staying in Sunderland.
(01 Sep 2016, 5:48 pm)Michael wrote [ -> ]Maybe, seems more "Red Arrow" coloured ones are arriving later in the month, hopefully will make up one brand, depending how many are arriving..
Would like to see the 33/38/39/237 and 238 in "Black Cats", due to all just staying in Sunderland.
Yeah maybe the Solars on the 39 are branded in line with the Solos if they are going to Deptford with the 33, 38, 238 etc. using the Solos.
5217 running 23 minutes late on the X25, why didn't I just stick to the 21 😑
(01 Sep 2016, 7:23 am)busmanT wrote [ -> ]A new Streetdeck costs £225,000, so a spare can't be justified for a PVR of 7, the new vehicles are generally very reliable. It is a different business decision as the PVR gets higher.
To be honest, although an extra StreetDeck might have been beneficial for the X21, got to remember that at no evening or Sunday service currently exists as of yet meaning that the buses are only out for 13-14 hours maximum and only 6 days per week in most cases.
(01 Sep 2016, 6:35 pm)L469 YVK wrote [ -> ]To be honest, although an extra StreetDeck might have been beneficial for the X21, got to remember that at no evening or Sunday service currently exists as of yet meaning that the buses are only out for 13-14 hours maximum and only 6 days per week in most cases.
I'd take a guess in thinking if the 21 receives Streetdecks then Sunday X21s will move to Crook, As no fuel saving will be made as their both the same type of vehicle.
Hopefully the Durham to Newcastle section will get a hourly trial on a Sunday too if the above thing happens.
(01 Sep 2016, 7:04 pm)South Tyne Lad wrote [ -> ]I'd take a guess in thinking if the 21 receives Streetdecks then Sunday X21s will move to Crook, As no fuel saving will be made as their both the same type of vehicle.
Hopefully the Durham to Newcastle section will get a hourly trial on a Sunday too if the above thing happens.
Not sure why Sunday X21s would move to Crook? The depot is not open at all on a Sunday, so if you were to open it, you'd have to increase the number of staff at the depot. You'd not be able to give everyone a rest day on a Sunday, as you'd have to rota for it, going forward.
The interworking still happens on an evening and Sunday too, so unless you're suggesting splitting the services, then there's an even bigger headcount increase required at Crook.
Sounds like a lot of upheaval to me, to try and fix something that isn't broken...
(01 Sep 2016, 7:04 pm)South Tyne Lad wrote [ -> ]I'd take a guess in thinking if the 21 receives Streetdecks then Sunday X21s will move to Crook, As no fuel saving will be made as their both the same type of vehicle.
Hopefully the Durham to Newcastle section will get a hourly trial on a Sunday too if the above thing happens.
Unless the X21 was introduced to run beyond Durham on evenings and Sunday's, I would imagine Angel's would continue to do the 21/X21 as it's probably less confusing having Angel's on the X21 between Bishop Auckland and Durham than having Castles Express StreetDeck's on the 21 between Durham and Newcastle as people seeing Castle Express branded buses on the 21 may confuse people into thinking it's the limited stop X21 rather than the 21.
With any luck, if the 21 gets StreetDeck's they will hopefully be the same, or near as same specification as the examples on the X21.
6070 feels like a rocket compared to 6066. Not sure how this is only going to take 38 minutes to be honest!
Are GNE only getting 10 Solo Sr's?
7 Indigo
3 Red
(01 Sep 2016, 7:36 pm)citaro5284 wrote [ -> ]yup
Oh well, thought they might of got more.
Wonder what'll turn up next....
Indigo brand might become more relevant on North Tyneside when the new Indigo Business Park finally opens. Looks a huge site
(01 Sep 2016, 7:38 pm)Michael wrote [ -> ]Oh well, thought they might of got more.
Wonder what'll turn up next....
What you heard like Michael, we all know you have your ear to the ground :s
(01 Sep 2016, 7:43 pm)citaro5284 wrote [ -> ]What you heard like Michael, we all know you have your ear to the ground :s
Honestly Citaro, I've heard nothing, i didn't even know the Solo's had been ordered!
In the last couple years, Streetlites and Solo's have fronted the order, so i would imagine, Streetlites will be next... where for though.... is the question.
I do hope GNE have gone with something else though...
(01 Sep 2016, 5:34 pm)Adrian wrote [ -> ]Why?
I don't think it's the best brand in the world cosmetically, but interested why you think it's beyond comprehension that they've introduced it elsewhere?
It's a "local" brand for services connecting into the key routes - it's better than just making up brands for the sake of it.
Also allows flexibility with allocation, just need to change a few small parts of the branding.
(01 Sep 2016, 7:46 pm)busmanT wrote [ -> ]It's a "local" brand for services connecting into the key routes - it's better than just making up brands for the sake of it.
Also allows flexibility with allocation, just need to change a few small parts of the branding.
Yup, GNE have had far worse brand names in the past..
(01 Sep 2016, 7:16 pm)Jimmi wrote [ -> ]Unless the X21 was introduced to run beyond Durham on evenings and Sunday's, I would imagine Angel's would continue to do the 21/X21 as it's probably less confusing having Angel's on the X21 between Bishop Auckland and Durham than having Castles Express StreetDeck's on the 21 between Durham and Newcastle as people seeing Castle Express branded buses on the 21 may confuse people into thinking it's the limited stop X21 rather than the 21.
With any luck, if the 21 gets StreetDeck's they will hopefully be the same, or near as same specification as the examples on the X21.
I think you've misread my post, I suggested Crook running the current Sunday X21 between Bishop aswell as Durham to Newcastle via the weekday X21 route on a hourly frequency using the allocated Streetdecks. It would not involve B5LHs on the X21 or vice versa with the Streetdecks.
(01 Sep 2016, 7:15 pm)Adrian wrote [ -> ]Not sure why Sunday X21s would move to Crook? The depot is not open at all on a Sunday, so if you were to open it, you'd have to increase the number of staff at the depot. You'd not be able to give everyone a rest day on a Sunday, as you'd have to rota for it, going forward.
The interworking still happens on an evening and Sunday too, so unless you're suggesting splitting the services, then there's an even bigger headcount increase required at Crook.
Sounds like a lot of upheaval to me, to try and fix something that isn't broken...
Just a suggestion.
No I'm not suggesting to split the services, It would simply just be the current weekday daytime X21 route during a Sunday and possibly Evenings too.
The depot is quite a wasted asset in my opinion and would possibly would make more use of it if evenings and Sunday's were on the weekday daytime X21 route.
Would also give a faster ( albeit not as frequent ) option between Durham and Newcastle ( would run hourly instead of half hourly )
