North East Buses

Go North East is running a ferry replacement today service 585 , percy main are the depot providing buses.

(27 Aug 2017, 8:24 am)Citaro5326 wrote [ -> ]Go North East is running a ferry replacement today service 585 , percy main are the depot providing buses.

6116 is one of them.

(27 Aug 2017, 8:24 am)Citaro5326 wrote [ -> ]Go North East is running a ferry replacement today service 585 , percy main are the depot providing buses.

Deptford is providing one bus and Percy Main the other.

(26 Aug 2017, 8:35 pm)Ambassador wrote [ -> ]Jesus, had 2 Waggonway solarss today, no ID I'm afraid. But the geaebox and suspension on them was absolutely ruined. Surely, considering the reliability and pvr issues of the 28, the Solar can't have long leftv

I was just thinking (and saying to the driver) yesterday that I hope that the recipients of the X84/X85 Scanias aren't expecting too much, as they are noisy (transmission/final drive), rattling roof panels and dodgy suspension.
Flat out on A69 @ 60mph (?) suggests that they are limited by the gearing.

(26 Aug 2017, 8:29 pm)Andreos1 wrote [ -> ]There's been a bit of discussion in the past about the mods.
Quite a few of us have our own specific niche interests. It could be allocations to Deptford, blobs on buses, Renowns, or the mechanical side of things.
One of mine is Public Funds being used to benefit the purse of a private PLC.

When GNE sell these vehicles, the potential to increase the sale value is going to be higher - if only because of the support of the LA's.

Anyway, I've found a quote from earlier this year.

It might be worth looking to see where the old purple Solar's ended up...
DCC contributed a big chunk of money to install the Eminox mods on them.

Think a fair few are on the Blue Arrow?

(27 Aug 2017, 10:21 am)G-CPTN wrote [ -> ]I was just thinking (and saying to the driver) yesterday that I hope that the recipients of the X84/X85 Scanias aren't expecting too much, as they are noisy (transmission/final drive), rattling roof panels and dodgy suspension.
Flat out on A69 @ 60mph (?) suggests that they are limited by the gearing.

Just as well, they can only do 60 along there.

(27 Aug 2017, 11:27 am)Tom wrote [ -> ]Think a fair few are on the Blue Arrow?

Only 5204 was a PB, The rest of the Blue Arrow ones are formed by the ones previously on Fast Cats, Percy Main also have 4954 formerly a PB/Fast Cats and 4955 also formerly a Fast Cats.

Another Gemini 3 spotted at Heysham Docks yesterday: https://www.flickr.com/photos/nsf323alis...ateposted/


No idea which one

(27 Aug 2017, 1:05 pm)Michael wrote [ -> ]Another Gemini 3 spotted at Heysham Docks yesterday: https://www.flickr.com/photos/nsf323alis...ateposted/

No idea which one

Two - note the body numbers on the caption of the photo.

6309 and 6310.

(27 Aug 2017, 1:08 pm)Dan wrote [ -> ]Two - note the body numbers on the caption of the photo.

6309 and 6310.

Oh ye, still wouldn't of known the fleet numbers.

Hopefully all 7 arrive by the 3rd September, when will we see the first one branded and out on driver familiarisation?

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I'm surprised that non of the TTX B9's are going to Percy Main for an extra spare for the Coblat Clipper.

(27 Aug 2017, 1:13 pm)Michael wrote [ -> ]Oh ye, still wouldn't of known the fleet numbers.

Hopefully all 7 arrive by the 3rd September, when will we see the first one branded and out on driver familiarisation?

Likely that just 5 of 7 will be ready for 3rd September, with the last two the following week, though getting five on the road is dependent on when they are delivered (we're on a Bank Holiday week, which doesn't help matters!)

One should be branded up and used for Next Stop Announcement testing on 1st September, and another (may be unbranded) used on the same date for driver familiarisation. As they are registered as '67' plates, they cannot leave Saltmeadows Road until 1st September.

(27 Aug 2017, 1:16 pm)Dan wrote [ -> ]Likely that just 5 of 7 will be ready for 3rd September, with the last two the following week, though getting five on the road is dependent on when they are delivered (we're on a Bank Holiday week, which doesn't help matters!)

One should be branded up and used for Next Stop Announcement testing on 1st September, and another (may be unbranded) used on the same date for driver familiarisation. As they are registered as '67' plates, they cannot leave Saltmeadows Road until 1st September.

That's tight to get them prepared for service, i take it that some of the current TTX B9's will be temporarily withdrawn from service after the B5's enter service for repaint etc?

(27 Aug 2017, 1:24 pm)Michael wrote [ -> ]That's tight to get them prepared for service, i take it that some of the current TTX B9's will be temporarily withdrawn from service after the B5's enter service for repaint etc?

There is still a high vehicle requirement next month, so it is unlikely that any buses (6043 - 6048 or any other double deckers in the fleet for that matter) will be withdrawn straight away.

As usual; Go North East has been awarded the contract to operate Baggage Buses for the Great North Run on 9th September, and they will run their own commercial services on top of this.

Go North East will also be supporting the Masters Golf event, operating another Metro Replacement bus service next weekend (after the main blockade finishes), with the possibility of being awarded a further Metro Replacement contract in a few weeks time on the same weekend as Go North East will operate Rail Replacement services between Newcastle, Alnmouth, Berwick-upon-Tweed and Edinburgh. There are also Kynren events on most, if not all, of these weekends, which Go North East operates Park & Ride services for...

So lots going on, in other words... 

(27 Aug 2017, 1:29 pm)Dan wrote [ -> ]There is still a high vehicle requirement next month, so it is unlikely that any buses (6043 - 6048 or any other double deckers in the fleet for that matter) will be withdrawn straight away.

As usual; Go North East has been awarded the contract to operate Baggage Buses for the Great North Run on 9th September, and they will run their own commercial services on top of this.

Go North East will also be supporting the Masters Golf event, operating another Metro Replacement bus service next weekend (after the main blockade finishes), with the possibility of being awarded a further Metro Replacement contract in a few weeks time on the same weekend as Go North East will operate Rail Replacement services between Newcastle, Alnmouth, Berwick-upon-Tweed and Edinburgh. There are also Kynren events on most, if not all, of these weekends, which Go North East operates Park & Ride services for...

So lots going on, in other words... 

, bloody metro always has works............... looking at the NEXUS site, from the 3rd September, almost every weekend until the 24th September, a part is closed...... 


Where does the Masters Golf buses run from?

(27 Aug 2017, 1:29 pm)Dan wrote [ -> ]There is still a high vehicle requirement next month, so it is unlikely that any buses (6043 - 6048 or any other double deckers in the fleet for that matter) will be withdrawn straight away.

As usual; Go North East has been awarded the contract to operate Baggage Buses for the Great North Run on 9th September, and they will run their own commercial services on top of this.

Go North East will also be supporting the Masters Golf event, operating another Metro Replacement bus service next weekend (after the main blockade finishes), with the possibility of being awarded a further Metro Replacement contract in a few weeks time on the same weekend as Go North East will operate Rail Replacement services between Newcastle, Alnmouth, Berwick-upon-Tweed and Edinburgh. There are also Kynren events on most, if not all, of these weekends, which Go North East operates Park & Ride services for...

So lots going on, in other words... 

What weekend will this occur.

(27 Aug 2017, 12:28 pm)Malarkey wrote [ -> ]Only 5204 was a PB, The rest of the Blue Arrow ones are formed by the ones previously on Fast Cats, Percy Main also have 4954 formerly a PB/Fast Cats and 4955 also formerly a Fast Cats.

Searching flickr most of them have been on the Prince Bishops at some point?

(27 Aug 2017, 1:35 pm)Michael wrote [ -> ], bloody metro always has works............... looking at the NEXUS site, from the 3rd September, almost every weekend until the 24th September, a part is closed...... 


Where does the Masters Golf buses run from?

Newcastle - I think someone copied the VOSA registration on the upcoming changes thread, a few weeks ago.

(27 Aug 2017, 1:38 pm)Malarkey wrote [ -> ]What weekend will this occur.

16/17th September - same weekend as last year (which scuppers anyone from the North East wanting to go to the Lothian Open Day event) - trains divert via the Tyne Valley Line (Carlisle), with rail replacement services also operating.

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service_di...F09%2F2017&TOC=gr
http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/static/doc...tember.pdf

(27 Aug 2017, 1:46 pm)Dan wrote [ -> ]Newcastle - I think someone copied the VOSA registration on the upcoming changes thread, a few weeks ago.


16/17th September - same weekend as last year (which scuppers anyone from the North East wanting to go to the Lothian Open Day event) - trains divert via the Tyne Valley Line (Carlisle), with rail replacement services also operating.

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service_di...F09%2F2017&TOC=gr
http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/static/doc...tember.pdf

Looking back, it was me, i should of remembered hahaha

(27 Aug 2017, 1:46 pm)Dan wrote [ -> ]Newcastle - I think someone copied the VOSA registration on the upcoming changes thread, a few weeks ago.


16/17th September - same weekend as last year (which scuppers anyone from the North East wanting to go to the Lothian Open Day event) - trains divert via the Tyne Valley Line (Carlisle), with rail replacement services also operating.

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service_di...F09%2F2017&TOC=gr
http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/static/doc...tember.pdf

Absolute nightmare which why I haven't bothered going since the one in 2015.

What will work the Rail Replacment? I think I'd prefer the 90min Tyne Valley line diversion as opposed to the prospect of Newcastle to Edinburgh on anything aside the Nat Express coaches in the GNE fleet

What "buses" carry out the replacement work?

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(27 Aug 2017, 1:59 pm)Ambassador wrote [ -> ]What will work the Rail Replacment? I think I'd prefer the 90min Tyne Valley line diversion as opposed to the prospect of Newcastle to Edinburgh on anything aside the Nat Express coaches in the GNE fleet

(27 Aug 2017, 2:00 pm)Jamie M wrote [ -> ]What "buses" carry out the replacement work?

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Each contract is different, but I'd imagine this one would utilise some of the coaches based at Hexham or either of the coaches in the newly created Special Events fleet. In July, Go North East used at least one coach from Hexham on a rail replacement service (see photo here).

One of the Northern contracts between Newcastle and Metrocentre earlier this year was operated by Streetlites:
Go North East: 5450 / NK66EVM by Daniel Graham, on Flickr

Likewise, a StreetDeck was used for a 'standby' rail replacement contract a few months ago:
6307 NK16 BXG Go North East The Castles Express by North East Malarkey, on Flickr

(27 Aug 2017, 1:29 pm)Dan wrote [ -> ]There is still a high vehicle requirement next month, so it is unlikely that any buses (6043 - 6048 or any other double deckers in the fleet for that matter) will be withdrawn straight away.

As usual; Go North East has been awarded the contract to operate Baggage Buses for the Great North Run on 9th September, and they will run their own commercial services on top of this.

Go North East will also be supporting the Masters Golf event, operating another Metro Replacement bus service next weekend (after the main blockade finishes), with the possibility of being awarded a further Metro Replacement contract in a few weeks time on the same weekend as Go North East will operate Rail Replacement services between Newcastle, Alnmouth, Berwick-upon-Tweed and Edinburgh. There are also Kynren events on most, if not all, of these weekends, which Go North East operates Park & Ride services for...

So lots going on, in other words... 

Out of interest, how many vehicles are expected to be withdrawn following the completion of all these contracts? Speaking of which, how many buses will be released due to the loss of school contracts and workers services?

(27 Aug 2017, 1:46 pm)Dan wrote [ -> ]Newcastle - I think someone copied the VOSA registration on the upcoming changes thread, a few weeks ago.


16/17th September - same weekend as last year (which scuppers anyone from the North East wanting to go to the Lothian Open Day event) - trains divert via the Tyne Valley Line (Carlisle), with rail replacement services also operating.

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service_di...F09%2F2017&TOC=gr
http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/static/doc...tember.pdf

I thought this years open day was the 23rd September?

(27 Aug 2017, 2:45 pm)Cobalt271 wrote [ -> ]I thought this years open day was the 23rd September?

The works are scheduled for that weekend also.

(27 Aug 2017, 2:28 pm)peter wrote [ -> ]Out of interest, how many vehicles are expected to be withdrawn following the completion of all these contracts? Speaking of which, how many buses will be released due to the loss of school contracts and workers services?

I think the simple answer is "lots".

There's quite a few buses kicking around in the fleet which should have long since been withdrawn (having been replaced by other cascaded buses earlier in the year), but were retained over the summer for these contracts, and that's before you take into consideration any buses being withdrawn after the loss of Miscellaneous Works contracts.

(27 Aug 2017, 2:45 pm)Cobalt271 wrote [ -> ]I thought this years open day was the 23rd September?

Sorry, you're right.

The diversion/rail replacement buses are still scheduled for that weekend, too, though.

(27 Aug 2017, 1:16 pm)Dan wrote [ -> ]One should be branded up and used for Next Stop Announcement testing.

It would be nice to have NSAs on the TEN . . . 

(27 Aug 2017, 2:49 pm)Dan wrote [ -> ]I think the simple answer is "lots".

There's quite a few buses kicking around in the fleet which should have long since been withdrawn (having been replaced by other cascaded buses earlier in the year), but were retained over the summer for these contracts, and that's before you take into consideration any buses being withdrawn after the loss of Miscellaneous Works contracts.

Hopefully all of the ex London B7 Presidents will be withdrawn when all of the contracts end. (Like Metro etc)

(27 Aug 2017, 2:51 pm)G-CPTN wrote [ -> ]It would be nice to have NSAs on the TEN . . . 

It would indeed, you're right. I'm sure it's in Go North East's best interests to have the announcements working on the Tyne Valley Ten services as soon as possible, and they wouldn't purposely disable them with no intention of re-enabling them.

The new programme, complete in the new "Tyne Valley Ten" colourscheme, was loaded to one of the first Volvo B9TLs which went in for repaint.

Unfortunately there was an error in the programme which meant that it would not load as it should do, which is why no further examples have been loaded since (until the error can be found and fixed, anyway!) Aside from that, the system errors (meaning that the screens have been stuck on Windows XP boot-up screen) have been getting repaired as and when the buses have gone in for repaint, to ensure that when the media is ready, with no faults, all buses work. There may be a light at the end of the tunnel...

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(27 Aug 2017, 1:16 pm)Dan wrote [ -> ]One should be branded up and used for Next Stop Announcement testing on 1st September, and another (may be unbranded) used on the same date for driver familiarisation. As they are registered as '67' plates, they cannot leave Saltmeadows Road until 1st September.

When the NSAs are being tested, is each route done in both directions or is one direction viewed as enough with the view that if one direction works, the other direction will too?