North East Buses

(16 Mar 2019, 9:47 pm)deanmachine wrote [ -> ]As a driver on the 9 I get asked almost every time I come into Dalton Park whether I'm heading to Sunderland or not. Via points probably wouldn't help in that situation either as even if it had Murton on the front it would still say via Sunderland.

Saying that I'm pretty sure I've been asked if it goes to Sunderland, when I've been terminating there and had to check to see if I had my destination set correctly!

Almost guaranteed to happen at Dalton Park from experience, happened when it was still the 61 to Sunderland, hear the same with the Arriva 22/23 and similar with the Seaham services. Probably passengers just wanting to ensure that the bus is definitely heading in the direction they want to go in more than anything as there has been times buses have come in with wrong destinations on, I once intended to catch a 22 to Peterlee and it came in still showing Sunderland whilst on the return trip to Durham.

Is the issue with Dalton Park more that the same bus stop is used for buses travelling in both directions of the route (just guessing here as I've never been), rather than an issue with the buses having a final destination only display?

(16 Mar 2019, 10:28 pm)ne14ne1 wrote [ -> ]Is the issue with Dalton Park more that the same bus stop is used for buses travelling in both directions of the route (just guessing here as I've never been), rather than an issue with the buses having a final destination only display?

That doesn't help. We get the same issue with the 62 and 14 at the arnison centre. (I got caught out by that in the glare of the sun, the other day. You wouldn't believe the strength of the tuts I got from a gaggle of old ladies.)

The 309 and 310 some of them via points now

309
Newcastle
Via Whitley Bay & Colbat

310
Newcastle
Via Colbat & Battle Hill

(16 Mar 2019, 11:30 pm)Ds1197 wrote [ -> ]The 309 and 310 some of them via points now

309
Newcastle
Via Whitley Bay & Colbat

310
Newcastle
Via Colbat & Battle Hill

Go North East 6103 / NL63 XBT by kieron mathews, on Flickr

Noticed yesterday 6103 didn’t have them as pictured here

Go North East 6102 / NL63 YJF by kieron mathews, on Flickr

But 6102 pictured here and 6101 did have them

I noticed the lack of consistency on the refurbished Cobalt screens too. Whats that all about, plus how come their NSAs aren't enabled?

(16 Mar 2019, 11:50 pm)ne14ne1 wrote [ -> ]I noticed the lack of consistency on the refurbished Cobalt screens too. Whats that all about, plus how come their NSAs aren't enabled?

No they're not, they're getting new ones made.

(16 Mar 2019, 11:45 pm)TEN 6083 wrote [ -> ]Go North East 6103 / NL63 XBT by kieron mathews, on Flickr

Noticed yesterday 6103 didn’t have them as pictured here

Go North East 6102 / NL63 YJF by kieron mathews, on Flickr

But 6102 pictured here and 6101 did have them

The via points are visible at Whitley Bay but not at cobalt........perhaps they switch to display end point after via points have been travelled through?

(16 Mar 2019, 11:50 pm)ne14ne1 wrote [ -> ]I noticed the lack of consistency on the refurbished Cobalt screens too. Whats that all about, plus how come their NSAs aren't enabled?

Dan deals with all that, chances are he hasn't had the chance yet to update them as he has had other things to do as he is part of the commercial team at Go North East which has more to it than simply updating destination screens and testing NSA's work, he does quite a lot on the promotional side of things as well, yesterday's opening ceremony for the new depot being a good example.

As you referenced "screens", are you talking about the destination screens or the internal screens for the next stop announcements?

As for the NSA's I was on both 6101 and 6103 the other day and the NSA's were enabled with the lass from down south doing them.

(17 Mar 2019, 12:06 am)JP6004 wrote [ -> ]The via points are visible at Whitley Bay but not at cobalt........perhaps they switch to display end point after via points have been travelled through?

Got a photo of 6101 at Cobalt Park on Friday and it had them



Here’s a close up from my photo


Sent from my iPhone XS using Tapatalk

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(17 Mar 2019, 12:06 am)JP6004 wrote [ -> ]The via points are visible at Whitley Bay but not at cobalt........perhaps they switch to display end point after via points have been travelled through?

Got a photo of 6101 at Cobalt Park on Friday and it had them



Here’s a close up from my photo


Sent from my iPhone XS using Tapatalk

(17 Mar 2019, 12:06 am)JP6004 wrote [ -> ]The via points are visible at Whitley Bay but not at cobalt........perhaps they switch to display end point after via points have been travelled through?

I caught both 6101 and 6103 on the Coast Road and they both showed the displays as shown in the above post, I would therefore think 6103 has not had it's displays updated as of yet by Dan.

6101 - https://www.flickr.com/photos/adammalark...ed-public/

6103 - https://www.flickr.com/photos/adammalark...ed-public/

(17 Mar 2019, 12:11 am)TEN 6083 wrote [ -> ]Got a photo of 6101 at Cobalt Park on Friday and it had them



Here’s a close up from my photo


Sent from my iPhone XS using Tapatalk

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Got a photo of 6101 at Cobalt Park on Friday and it had them



Here’s a close up from my photo


Sent from my iPhone XS using Tapatalk

If it had not yet travelled through battle hill then I presume the display wouldn't of updated until it got there as that is the last via point. The 309 updated to the end destination as the final via point (cobalt) had been reached?

(17 Mar 2019, 12:09 am)Malarkey wrote [ -> ]As you referenced "screens", are you talking about the destination screens or the internal screens for the next stop announcements?

As for the NSA's I was on both 6101 and 6103 the other day and the NSA's were enabled with the lass from down south doing them.

Sorry, by screens I'd meant the destination displays. As for the internal screens though now the Cobalt's have the scrolling LED NSAs are the original flatscreens being removed to be used elsewhere or will they be kept to play live CCTV images & adverts?

Good to hear the NSAs are enabled. And as for the 'lass from down south', you mean Emma Hignett from County Durham. 

(17 Mar 2019, 10:13 am)ne14ne1 wrote [ -> ]Sorry, by screens I'd meant the destination displays. As for the internal screens though now the Cobalt's have the scrolling LED NSAs are the original flatscreens being removed to be used elsewhere or will they be kept to play live CCTV images & adverts?

Good to hear the NSAs are enabled. And as for the 'lass from down south', you mean Emma Hignett from County Durham. 

Well Durham is to the south of my current location   

Some of her pronunciations are questionable as to whether she is from up here although her bio does state she has a house in Teesdale, may of picked up on London accent while working for TFL.

The bigger screens internally should be for CCTV/Adverts.

Not sure if it was ever confirmed but when the new depot opens:

All of Stanley's OmniCitys will transfer to Gateshead, leaving the Volvo B9 to be allocated to the X70/X71.

The Consett-operated X30 service still needs to be allocated single-decks though, so stay tuned on that one...


Wonder which single deckers will be allocated to the X30?

(17 Mar 2019, 1:54 pm)Malarkey wrote [ -> ]Well Durham is to the south of my current location   

Some of her pronunciations are questionable as to whether she is from up here although her bio does state she has a house in Teesdale, may of picked up on London accent while working for TFL.

The bigger screens internally should be for CCTV/Adverts.

At least she'll be aware that that place on the coast isn't pronounced "see ham."

(17 Mar 2019, 3:02 pm)Michael wrote [ -> ]Not sure if it was ever confirmed but when the new depot opens:

All of Stanley's OmniCitys will transfer to Gateshead, leaving the Volvo B9 to be allocated to the X70/X71.

The Consett-operated X30 service still needs to be allocated single-decks though, so stay tuned on that one...


Wonder which single deckers will be allocated to the X30?

As far as we are aware, we will retain 3 (more likely 4) Omnicities. 3 of which will operate the main daytime X30s with a 4th operating the early morning 16 from Flint Hill to Durham and the afternoon 836 Tanfield School, this then runs into Newcastle to operate a X30 back to Stanley then light to Consett Depot. In regards to the 6 Toon Link liveried B9s only 5 are required for main daytime runs, however the 6th will operate the morning and afternoon 827, with the afternoon running light from Rowlands Gill to Newcastle to operate a service back to Consett.

(17 Mar 2019, 4:05 pm)Stanleyone wrote [ -> ]As far as we are aware, we will retain 3 (more likely 4) Omnicities. 3 of which will operate the main daytime X30s with a 4th operating the early morning 16 from Flint Hill to Durham and the afternoon 836 Tanfield School, this then runs into Newcastle to operate a X30 back to Stanley then light to Consett Depot. In regards to the 6 Toon Link liveried B9s only 5 are required for main daytime runs, however the 6th will operate the morning and afternoon 827, with the afternoon running light from Rowlands Gill to Newcastle to operate a service back to Consett.

Ah right, would seem the better choice, to keep some at the new Consett depot.


I forgot to put the link in where i seen that information:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/danielgrah...otostream/ 

Info from Dan on his Flickr!

With less buses at Consett now, will some drivers be transferring to Riverside?

(17 Mar 2019, 5:11 pm)JM03 wrote [ -> ]With less buses at Consett now, will some drivers be transferring to Riverside?

some drivers will transfer temporarily.

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(17 Mar 2019, 4:22 pm)Michael wrote [ -> ]Ah right, would seem the better choice, to keep some at the new Consett depot.


I forgot to put the link in where i seen that information:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/danielgrah...otostream/ 

Info from Dan on his Flickr!

Indeed the Omnicities will go eventually, however from opening Consett will have a number of Omnicities to operate the X30 (some X31s & X32s). I wouldn't think that the X30 will receive new buses, but personally i wouldn't rule out cascaded buses.