North East Buses

When did 8297 become a deptford vehicle or is this temporary from Chester. I noticed it on the 2A today but still has Durham advertising on the side

(14 Oct 2021, 8:22 pm)Acky81 wrote [ -> ]When did 8297 become a deptford vehicle or is this temporary from Chester. I noticed it on the 2A today but still has Durham advertising on the side

Its been at Deptford since the 6.10.21 (according to bustimes.org) looks to be a permanent transfer.

(14 Oct 2021, 8:40 pm)Michael wrote [ -> ]Its been at Deptford since the 6.11.21 (according to bustimes.org) looks to be a permanent transfer.

Are we in November already?

Seems odd just that one been sent over. I can’t stand all these clapped out versas. Gone from having decent vehicles to breakdowns day after day after day

(14 Oct 2021, 8:53 pm)Acky81 wrote [ -> ]Seems odd just that one been sent over. I can’t stand all these clapped out versas. Gone from having decent vehicles to breakdowns day after day after day

2 broke down today.

Theres a surprise 2 more breakdowns. All we are getting is Newcastle cast offs

(14 Oct 2021, 10:50 pm)Acky81 wrote [ -> ]Theres a surprise 2 more breakdowns. All we are getting is Newcastle cast offs

There was 2 or 3 mercedes broke down aswell

These should of left go north east a while ago

What would be a better bus replacement for these

(14 Oct 2021, 8:44 pm)JP6004 wrote [ -> ]Are we in November already?

Ye

(14 Oct 2021, 10:57 pm)Acky81 wrote [ -> ]These should of left go north east a while ago

All mercs except those on the connections 4 should have been withdrawn last year. Unfortunately  due to pandemic any proposals for new buses  was cancelled with the exception of the next batch of electric buses. Also with the proposed Newcastle clean air zone (now delayed till next year) any euro 6 emission bus was required for any service entering Newcastle so this meant Sunderland and County Durham areas had to lose out because of uncertainty over the future of bus travel. I would hope people are starting to  travel once more and once income starts to recover we will start once again to see investment in new buses hopefully many of them going to Sunderland and County Durham.

(14 Oct 2021, 8:22 pm)Acky81 wrote [ -> ]When did 8297 become a deptford vehicle or is this temporary from Chester. I noticed it on the 2A today but still has Durham advertising on the side

(14 Oct 2021, 8:40 pm)Michael wrote [ -> ]Its been at Deptford since the 6.10.21 (according to bustimes.org) looks to be a permanent transfer.

It's only on temporary loan.

(15 Oct 2021, 10:42 am)ian foster wrote [ -> ]All mercs except those on the connections 4 should have been withdrawn last year. Unfortunately  due to pandemic any proposals for new buses  was cancelled with the exception of the next batch of electric buses. Also with the proposed Newcastle clean air zone (now delayed till next year) any euro 6 emission bus was required for any service entering Newcastle so this meant Sunderland and County Durham areas had to lose out because of uncertainty over the future of bus travel. I would hope people are starting to  travel once more and once income starts to recover we will start once again to see investment in new buses hopefully many of them going to Sunderland and County Durham.

It was never intended for 'all' Citaros to be withdrawn last year, just some of them. That still remains to be the case once repaints and re-allocations are completed, with the eldest Citaros, 5275 - 5283, 5337/38 and 5481 - 5487, all planned for withdrawal. In addition to all those that went to Go North West last year, some of these have already been withdrawn:

• 5275 (fire damage)
  
• 5277 
  
• 5280
  
• 5283
  
• 5337
  
• 5338 (fire damage)
  
• 5481 (scrap/spare parts donor)
  
• 5482 (scrap/spare parts donor)
  
• 5483 (scrap/spare parts donor)
  
• 5485 (scrap/spare parts donor)
  
• 5487 (scrap/spare parts donor)
  

Buses are built and depreciated over a period of 12-15 years. The remaining Citaros are only 13 years old, therefore have an expected life of at least two years yet. The 07-plates are actually being withdrawn a year early (when new, they'd have expected to be withdrawn in 2022).

(15 Oct 2021, 10:51 am)Dan wrote [ -> ]It was never intended for 'all' Citaros to be withdrawn last year, just some of them. That still remains to be the case once repaints and re-allocations are completed, with the eldest Citaros, 5275 - 5283, 5337/38 and 5481 - 5487, all planned for withdrawal. In addition to all those that went to Go North West last year, some of these have already been withdrawn:

• 5275 (fire damage)
  
• 5277 
  
• 5280
  
• 5283
  
• 5337
  
• 5338 (fire damage)
  
• 5481 (scrap/spare parts donor)
  
• 5482 (scrap/spare parts donor)
  
• 5483 (scrap/spare parts donor)
  
• 5485 (scrap/spare parts donor)
  
• 5487 (scrap/spare parts donor)
  

Buses are built and depreciated over a period of 12-15 years. The remaining Citaros are only 13 years old, therefore have an expected life of at least two years yet. The 07-plates are actually being withdrawn a year early (when new, they'd have expected to be withdrawn in 2022).

Would you be able to share a similar list for which Omnicities have been withdrawn and which are to be withdrawn? As a number of them haven't operated for quite a while according to Bustimes it would be nice to get a little fleet update there is possible!

(15 Oct 2021, 5:15 pm)peter wrote [ -> ]Would you be able to share a similar list for which Omnicities have been withdrawn and which are to be withdrawn? As a number of them haven't operated for quite a while according to Bustimes it would be nice to get a little fleet update there is possible!

I've been on holiday for the past two weeks, so there'll probably be more now, but the list back then was:

• 5239 (scrap)
  
• 5241
  
• 5249
  
• 5250
  
• 5251 (scrap)
  
• 5263
  
• 5266 (scrap)
  
• 5267
  
• 5269
  
• 5270
  
• 5271 (earmarked for preservation)
  

The final cruise ship for the season docked on 3 October, so 5240/42/53 should all now be withdrawn too (as they were only being used on cruise ship shuttles).

5272 and 5274 are currently float/reserve and are in use at present at Deptford, to cover for buses off service for the air con modifications (Solos, Versas and Citaros) referenced here. They have been used at Riverside and Chester-le-Street similarly too. 5273, after a brief stint at Washington, is at Riverside for the same purpose, while Riverside's own allocation of Scania OmniCity (5252, 5264, 5268) are due for imminent withdrawal with 5464 - 5469 all having transferred into Riverside in recent weeks.

There's nothing factual behind this but it wouldn't surprise me if 8294 - 8306 get withdrawn soon especially being the Euro 4 singles left. There's no use for them unless I'm missing something, be very surprised if they end up getting Euro 6 mods (unless they've been done) and there's no route that needs them assuming that 8319 - 8328 or Streetlites do the 25/28/28A with 8307 - 8309 acting on 34 while spares for the rest.

(15 Oct 2021, 5:28 pm)Storx wrote [ -> ]There's nothing factual behind this but it wouldn't surprise me if 8294 - 8306 get withdrawn soon especially being the Euro 4 singles left. There's no use for them unless I'm missing something, be very surprised if they end up getting Euro 6 mods (unless they've been done) and there's no route that needs them assuming that 8319 - 8328 or Streetlites do the 25/28/28A with 8307 - 8309 acting on 34 while spares for the rest.

Except 8303 which went up in smoke,must be about 4 years ago now?

Will the official GNE enthusiast fleet page be updated soon?

(15 Oct 2021, 10:51 am)Dan wrote [ -> ]It was never intended for 'all' Citaros to be withdrawn last year, just some of them. That still remains to be the case once repaints and re-allocations are completed, with the eldest Citaros, 5275 - 5283, 5337/38 and 5481 - 5487, all planned for withdrawal. In addition to all those that went to Go North West last year, some of these have already been withdrawn:

• 5275 (fire damage)
  
• 5277 
  
• 5280
  
• 5283
  
• 5337
  
• 5338 (fire damage)
  
• 5481 (scrap/spare parts donor)
  
• 5482 (scrap/spare parts donor)
  
• 5483 (scrap/spare parts donor)
  
• 5485 (scrap/spare parts donor)
  
• 5487 (scrap/spare parts donor)
  

Buses are built and depreciated over a period of 12-15 years. The remaining Citaros are only 13 years old, therefore have an expected life of at least two years yet. The 07-plates are actually being withdrawn a year early (when new, they'd have expected to be withdrawn in 2022).

Hopefully someone will take one of 07 Plates that were new for the then "Red Arrows" and preserve it.

Give the Citaro track record, they may get their fingers burned.