North East Buses

(24 Feb 2022, 4:49 pm)Andreos1 wrote [ -> ]They could get Stenning to work his magic and make it look different.
Oh... On second thoughts. Maybe not.

Ah yes, a totally unique design. 
Wait a minute while I channel my inner desires...

Haha, very good.

Now if/when the 21 does get EVs, would they get the Voltra name/livery being electric, or retain the aptly named Angel brand, that is the question.
I’d hope they wouldn’t try to join the two together but they do like long route names that passengers then don’t end up referring to.

Do the 53/54s announce they are Voltra 53/54 services when departing stops? Every time I’ve been on them they’ve announced upcoming stops (plus ‘This is…’ when stopped), but I’ve never heard them announce their service name/number and destination.

(24 Feb 2022, 5:31 pm)ne14ne1 wrote [ -> ]Haha, very good.

Now if/when the 21 does get EVs, would they get the Voltra name/livery being electric, or retain the aptly named Angel brand, that is the question.
I’d hope they wouldn’t try to join the two together but they do like long route names that passengers then don’t end up referring to. 

Do the 53/54s announce they are Voltra 53/54 services when departing stops? Every time I’ve been on them they’ve announced upcoming stops (plus ‘This is…’ when stopped), but I’ve never heard them announce their service name/number and destination.

Didn't they market the last EV demo on The Angel as the Electric Angel?

(24 Feb 2022, 5:31 pm)ne14ne1 wrote [ -> ]Haha, very good.

Now if/when the 21 does get EVs, would they get the Voltra name/livery being electric, or retain the aptly named Angel brand, that is the question.
I’d hope they wouldn’t try to join the two together but they do like long route names that passengers then don’t end up referring to. 

Do the 53/54s announce they are Voltra 53/54 services when departing stops? Every time I’ve been on them they’ve announced upcoming stops (plus ‘This is…’ when stopped), but I’ve never heard them announce their service name/number and destination.

They can't overdo it with Voltra...with all new vehicles likely to be electric in future, then everything would just end up Voltra branded. I think for flagship routes like the Angel, an iconic brand that I can't see them getting rid of, it'll get a refresh with the fact they're electric heavily featured. But with the next batch of Yutong's coming this summer, I imagine they'll just be Voltra with either the 57 or Q3 (or whichever service they end up on) being branded Voltra as well. Speaking of the Q3 I would like to see it renumbered now there's not a Q1 or Q2 anymore.

Electric Angel makes sense.

Lots of cheesy She’s Electric style branding, electric nights out, running all night etc etc

You’re welcome Dan, if you let Martijn know I’m available at low cost for further ideas.

(24 Feb 2022, 6:31 pm)Ambassador wrote [ -> ]Electric Angel makes sense.

Lots of cheesy She’s Electric style branding, electric nights out, running all night etc etc

You’re welcome Dan, if you let Martijn know I’m available at low cost for further ideas.

Reckon the other buses in the depot will start bitching on?
Sitting in the depot at night and theres a Versa complaining to a Solo something like 'She is electric, can I be electric too?'

Well the trial vehicle is less cheesy. Bad photo because I had to run to catch it up then realised I'd pulled my crap phone out of my pocket.

Numbered 9048 I believe.

How long have GNE got it for, as I've got to work out when to get it due to my work schedule.

It must be more than a few days, given that they've added vinyls for more than just the fleet number (right at the top on the rear, there)

Looks a little Spartan inside…

(28 Feb 2022, 12:09 pm)Rapidsnap wrote [ -> ]Numbered 9048 I believe.

How long have GNE got it for, as I've got to work out when to get it due to my work schedule.

1 week

(28 Feb 2022, 12:09 pm)Rapidsnap wrote [ -> ]Numbered 9048 I believe.

How long have GNE got it for, as I've got to work out when to get it due to my work schedule.

NEWS - 28 FEBRUARY 2022
Go North East trials electric double-decker bus on popular Angel 21 route
Go North East, the region’s largest bus company, is undertaking a trial of an electric double-decker bus that boasts the latest technology on its popular Angel 21 route.

The bus will be trialled on the service for one week from today, Monday 28 February, serving Brandon, Durham, Arnison Centre, Chester-le-Street, Birtley, Low Fell, Gateshead and Newcastle.

The metallic blue coloured British built ‘StreetDeck Electroliner’ bus, which is manufactured by Wrightbus in Northern Ireland, comes with the best-in-class range, providing up to 200 miles on full charging and a fast charge time of just 2.5 hours.

The trial follows on from the bus company’s introduction of the region’s first electric fully-electric bus fleet in November 2020, with the buses operating around Gateshead and Newcastle each day on Go North East services 53 and 54.

Go North East hopes that through further electric bus trials, it can help shape future investment strategies as the company looks to have all of its buses running on electricity or hydrogen by 2035, and to become a net zero business by 2045.

Martijn Gilbert, managing director at Go North East, said: “Buses play a vital role in keeping our towns and cities moving, and we’re committed to improving the service we offer to help reduce congestion and improve air quality.

“Whilst the bus industry continues to face challenges with reduced passenger numbers and revenue, it’s important that we don’t lose sight of the future and that we continue to innovate and make progress with even greener buses.

“This electric bus trial will help shape our plans for the future of our fleet. The interior layout, including the seats, on this bus is a standard build from the manufacturer and should we buy any then they would be customised to our usual standards.

“If you do get the chance to ride on this electric double-decker bus whilst it’s in the North East on trial, then we’d love to hear your feedback about the other aspects of the experience.”


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What is tracking as on Bus Times as there is nothing for 9048 - LY71 GYE when I done a quick search?

200 mile range? 4 journeys before it needs filling up with electric?

(28 Feb 2022, 2:59 pm)Rob44 wrote [ -> ]200 mile range? 4 journeys  before it needs filling up with electric?

Only 29 miles shorter than the VOLTRA fleet, or at least based on the info Pelican Yutong put out in their press released. It'd be interesting to know whether GNE get a better or worse range than that though.

In an ideal world, there needs to be better charging infrastructure than the facilities at each depot. For interurban stuff, eHighways, similar to Germany, might be a good solution to that: https://www.ehighway-sh.de/de/ehighway.html

What is the charging infrastructure currently like at CLS, I presume they don't have any fast chargers in the depot?

I guess they'd probably send it out with the bigger battery pack, which is 454kWh.
From a standard plug, that would take about 6 days to fully charge, or about 2 and a half days from a regular 7kW home charger.
If they have 3 phase (which I assume they would), they could get it down to about 20 hours to charge

Maybe that explains why it only lasted about 55 miles today!

(28 Feb 2022, 1:27 pm)Ambassador wrote [ -> ]Looks a little Spartan inside…

Shows how little interested manufacturers are in producing a product that suits the public rather than the pockets of themselves and operators.

I wasn't expecting something that poverty-spec though...

To be honest the interior of the Ikarus vehicles are much akin to what is found in city buses in most parts of Europe where bus journies are normally shorter. Longer distance vehicles tend to have a bit more padding.

Here are some other European Style interiors.....
MIVB STIB Van Hool A308 - https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...9025712898
MIVB STIB Van Hool newA330 - https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...9026233011
MIVB STIB Van Hool A300 - https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...9025751403
MIVB STIB Van Hool AG300 - https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...9025767338
Post Auto ADL Enviro 500MMC - https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...1685084845
Basler Verkehrs-Betriebe BVB MAN NG353 - https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...1673904792
Baselland Transport AG Mercedes Benz Citaro - https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...1665856279
TransN - Transports publics Neuchâtelois NAW / Hess ABB BGT5-25 - https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...1669322625

Mind we could go back futher to the times of Utility Buses where they didn't even give you seat padding.
Derby Trolleybus 172 - https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...0813518418

Doesn't look like it made it out today

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