North East Buses

Apparently 2 400MMC's are in the base livery for the X9 and X10 due to the Coaches not being a reliable recovery to the services.
May not be true but this is being rumoured

(19 Dec 2021, 7:53 pm)KingSlayerRBLX wrote [ -> ]Apparently 2 400MMC's are in the base livery for the X9 and X10 due to the Coaches not being a reliable recovery to the services.
May not be true but this is being rumoured

nice...would much rather have E400's than coaches.

Would it not be better to have 6377 in it?

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Might be 6352/3 they have been off for over a week of X84/85 wonder what will replace them, I mean its not like they need double deckers but still, there has been laods of versa's on them.

(19 Dec 2021, 8:33 pm)Keeiajs wrote [ -> ]nice...would much rather have E400's than coaches.

Would it not be better to have 6377 in it?

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Might be 6352/3 they have been off for over a week of X84/85 wonder what will replace them, I mean its not like they need double deckers but still, there has been laods of versa's on them.

people are thinking this because of those 400MMC's. we will have to wait and see for what happens next

(19 Dec 2021, 8:40 pm)KingSlayerRBLX wrote [ -> ]people are thinking this because of those 400MMC's. we will have to wait and see for what happens next

But if this is true, what is happening to the X84/X85. Maybe 1 is being withdrawn? 

I expect some January Services Changes

(19 Dec 2021, 8:40 pm)KingSlayerRBLX wrote [ -> ]people are thinking this because of those 400MMC's. we will have to wait and see for what happens next

And what is the source for this rumour?

Seems highly improbable to me, if they were going to put a couple E400s on, they'd probably put them in generic charcoal so they could be moved later without another paint job

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(19 Dec 2021, 8:51 pm)streetdeckfan wrote [ -> ]And what is the source for this rumour?

Seems highly improbable to me, if they were going to put a couple E400s on, they'd probably put them in generic charcoal so they could be moved later without another paint job

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I agree, but two exact X85/4 which were removed from service the exact same day, connective fleet numbers..seems a bit..

(19 Dec 2021, 8:53 pm)Keeiajs wrote [ -> ]I agree, but two exact X85/4 which were removed from service the exact same day, connective fleet numbers..seems a bit..

Versas staying on the X84/X85? X84/X85 aren't usually that busy off peak. Could use the Versas on the 74 as well for the Clean Air Zone (shame the Sprinters are too small). Recently Solos and Versas have been on the X84/X85.

(19 Dec 2021, 8:53 pm)Keeiajs wrote [ -> ]I agree, but two exact X85/4 which were removed from service the exact same day, connective fleet numbers..seems a bit..

Seems a bit like nothing.

Has anyone actually seen them in X9/X10 colours, or are people just seeing two vehicles off the road and hoping?

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Seems Dan has commented on the post on the North East Bus enthusiast Facebook page, about the E400MMC's going on the X84/X85:



Vanity project? Wasn’t it a Group-led decision to swap 9 new StreetDecks from GNE for 7 leased coaches from OBC, due to there being limited scope for capex but Oxford had contracts to fulfil? Not sure where the vanity is there!

The X9/X10 services have been given every opportunity to fully recover (reinstatement of full timetable, coach allocation, increased marketing drive) but the crux of it is that the passenger numbers aren’t there to warrant a renewal of the lease. It is sensible during these times of uncertainty that GNE reviews suitability and re-allocates existing resource accordingly.

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Wonder where the other 3 E400MMC's will come from?

(19 Dec 2021, 9:30 pm)Michael wrote [ -> ]Seems Dan has commented on the post on the North East Bus enthusiast Facebook page,  about the E400MMC's going on the X84/X85:



Vanity project? Wasn’t it a Group-led decision to swap 9 new StreetDecks from GNE for 7 leased coaches from OBC, due to there being limited scope for capex but Oxford had contracts to fulfil? Not sure where the vanity is there!

The X9/X10 services have been given every opportunity to fully recover (reinstatement of full timetable, coach allocation, increased marketing drive) but the crux of it is that the passenger numbers aren’t there to warrant a renewal of the lease. It is sensible during these times of uncertainty that GNE reviews suitability and re-allocates existing resource accordingly.

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Wonder where the other 3 E400MMC's will come from?

Leased?

(19 Dec 2021, 9:30 pm)Michael wrote [ -> ]Seems Dan has commented on the post on the North East Bus enthusiast Facebook page,  about the E400MMC's going on the X84/X85:



Vanity project? Wasn’t it a Group-led decision to swap 9 new StreetDecks from GNE for 7 leased coaches from OBC, due to there being limited scope for capex but Oxford had contracts to fulfil? Not sure where the vanity is there!

The X9/X10 services have been given every opportunity to fully recover (reinstatement of full timetable, coach allocation, increased marketing drive) but the crux of it is that the passenger numbers aren’t there to warrant a renewal of the lease. It is sensible during these times of uncertainty that GNE reviews suitability and re-allocates existing resource accordingly.

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Wonder where the other 3 E400MMC's will come from?

Get those streetdecks back here 

So, X9/X10 coaches are leased, always broken. 

GNE gave 9 streetdecks for pieces of crap. (fair trade) 

And how the X84/85 are being replaced by something. And now GNE need atleast 3 more E400, atleast 3 more when normal service return.

(19 Dec 2021, 9:40 pm)Andreos1 wrote [ -> ]Leased?

Is this the first mention of the coaches being leased (presumably from an outside org)?

Im sure I read somewhere that it's GAG's policy for the group to buy the vehicles outright then for the subsidiary to lease from the group

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So are GNE getting anything back or have they been left with piles of crap for 9 perfect nice streetdecks,

(19 Dec 2021, 9:51 pm)streetdeckfan wrote [ -> ]Is this the first mention of the coaches being leased (presumably from an outside org)?

Im sure I read somewhere that it's GAG's policy for the group to buy the vehicles outright then for the subsidiary to lease from the group

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It's the first mention of them being leased on here. Certainly from my recollection anyway.

(19 Dec 2021, 9:30 pm)Michael wrote [ -> ]Seems Dan has commented on the post on the North East Bus enthusiast Facebook page, about the E400MMC's going on the X84/X85:



Vanity project? Wasn’t it a Group-led decision to swap 9 new StreetDecks from GNE for 7 leased coaches from OBC, due to there being limited scope for capex but Oxford had contracts to fulfil? Not sure where the vanity is there!

The X9/X10 services have been given every opportunity to fully recover (reinstatement of full timetable, coach allocation, increased marketing drive) but the crux of it is that the passenger numbers aren’t there to warrant a renewal of the lease. It is sensible during these times of uncertainty that GNE reviews suitability and re-allocates existing resource accordingly.

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Wonder where the other 3 E400MMC's will come from?

I do wonder what the liklihood is of the X9/X10 being cut to run just hourly to the X10E route like they've dropped to this weekend so only the 4 that were branded for X84/X85 are required?

Never understood them putting those E400MMCs on the X84/X85 in the first place, whenever I've seen these services it never seemed like it required them, think they hoped pulling the X85 out of Heddon & Horsley would boost numbers but doesn't look to have worked, nor have the evening journeys although doesn't help the Bus Station to St Andrew's Cemetery section has been unable to be served due to roadworks. Can't say I have seen much promo of the service since the changes and new vehicles were introduced.

(19 Dec 2021, 9:30 pm)Michael wrote [ -> ]Seems Dan has commented on the post on the North East Bus enthusiast Facebook page,  about the E400MMC's going on the X84/X85:



Vanity project? Wasn’t it a Group-led decision to swap 9 new StreetDecks from GNE for 7 leased coaches from OBC, due to there being limited scope for capex but Oxford had contracts to fulfil? Not sure where the vanity is there!

The X9/X10 services have been given every opportunity to fully recover (reinstatement of full timetable, coach allocation, increased marketing drive) but the crux of it is that the passenger numbers aren’t there to warrant a renewal of the lease. It is sensible during these times of uncertainty that GNE reviews suitability and re-allocates existing resource accordingly.

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Wonder where the other 3 E400MMC's will come from?

6252 - 6355. Reading through the lines it comes across as an 13 type 'suspension'.

(19 Dec 2021, 9:30 pm)Michael wrote [ -> ]Wonder where the other 3 E400MMC's will come from?

That would likely be 6338-40 if PVR is 7x with 6336/37 in turn providing low height spares at Consett for the X30's/X70's.

Obviously the X9/X10 don't need a low height spares so could be covered by 6377 or a B9TL if required.

Will be interesting to see how they perform? Arriva's classic E400s have coped fine until 5 year old on the X18 but obviously due replacement now. 5 year in service on the X9/X10 is more than acceptable.

If this is true I’m starting to think those union members who were saying that GNE were spending too much money on paint might have a point. We’ve already seen a quick change on the X5/X15 now this.

I’m not sure they’ve really given enough time for stuff to work, either loadings on the X84/X85 or the X9/X10, how long as there really been when buses have been completely normal - no social distancing, no masks, no working from home/distance learning, no general thoughts that people should take leisure travel a bit steady, no shortages of drivers making travel unreliable - I think it’s amounted to a few days!

(19 Dec 2021, 11:36 pm)Wybus wrote [ -> ]If this is true I’m starting to think those union members who were saying that GNE were spending too much money on paint might have a point. We’ve already seen a quick change on the X5/X15 now this.

I’m not sure they’ve really given enough time for stuff to work, either loadings on the X84/X85 or the X9/X10, how long as there really been when buses have been completely normal - no social distancing, no masks, no working from home/distance learning, no general thoughts that people should take leisure travel a bit steady, no shortages of drivers making travel unreliable - I think it’s amounted to a few days!

All this stemmed from was the need to divert StreetDecks to Oxford.

If COVID never happened, the X9/X10 would've got new deckers with B5TLs ending up on the X84/X85.

It was the quantity of E400MMCs ordered with 4x left over after reallocation of the rest from Washington to Consett that led to their allocation on the X84/X85 to foll the void. Things have changed since then though.

(19 Dec 2021, 11:36 pm)Wybus wrote [ -> ]If this is true I’m starting to think those union members who were saying that GNE were spending too much money on paint might have a point. We’ve already seen a quick change on the X5/X15 now this.

I’m not sure they’ve really given enough time for stuff to work, either loadings on the X84/X85 or the X9/X10, how long as there really been when buses have been completely normal - no social distancing, no masks, no working from home/distance learning, no general thoughts that people should take leisure travel a bit steady, no shortages of drivers making travel unreliable - I think it’s amounted to a few days! 

Glad I'm not the only one to think that! They're not the only services either.

(19 Dec 2021, 11:58 pm)L469 YVK wrote [ -> ]All this stemmed from was the need to divert StreetDecks to Oxford.

If COVID never happened, the X9/X10 would've got new deckers with B5TLs ending up on the X84/X85.

It was the quantity of E400MMCs ordered with 4x left over after reallocation of the rest from Washington to Consett that led to their allocation on the X84/X85 to foll the void. Things have changed since then though.

Some Questions 
- What is happening with X84/5 (fleet allocation) ?
- What will the X9/10 get allocation wise?
- What will happen to the coaches
- Is GNE getting anything from other operators.

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(20 Dec 2021, 12:00 am)Andreos1 wrote [ -> ]Glad I'm not the only one to think that! They're not the only services either.

21 is another prime example ussed to be every 15 mins to Durham, now eveery 30 mins.

Why didn't they just brand some Levantes for the X9/X10?
That way they could have saved face by keeping coaches on, I mean it's not as if they haven't been running since day one anyway!

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(20 Dec 2021, 12:13 am)streetdeckfan wrote [ -> ]Why didn't they just brand some Levantes for the X9/X10?
That way they could have saved face by keeping coaches on, I mean it's not as if they haven't been running since day one anyway!

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Some days, if not most you had more of a chance of getting a levante than a branded vehicle

(19 Dec 2021, 11:36 pm)Wybus wrote [ -> ]If this is true I’m starting to think those union members who were saying that GNE were spending too much money on paint might have a point. We’ve already seen a quick change on the X5/X15 now this.

I’m not sure they’ve really given enough time for stuff to work, either loadings on the X84/X85 or the X9/X10, how long as there really been when buses have been completely normal - no social distancing, no masks, no working from home/distance learning, no general thoughts that people should take leisure travel a bit steady, no shortages of drivers making travel unreliable - I think it’s amounted to a few days!

I dread to think how much they've spent on the coaches, not only in terms of trying to (and failing) to keep them on the road, but also the modifications they made to them such as upseating them

It all seems a bit sus to me, I can't wait to see the way the marketing department spin the downgrade from 'luxury coaches' to bog standard double decker with barely enough headroom.

If anything, in terms of passenger experience, they're even a downgrade from the B5s they had previously!

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X9 withdrawn, X10E to run hourly with PVR of 4, 6352-6355 replacing knackered coaches.

X85 withdrawn, X84 will revert to it’s previous guise of 684, not sure what buses but looks to be Versas.

(20 Dec 2021, 12:32 am)Kramer1 wrote [ -> ]X9 withdrawn, X10E to run hourly with PVR of 4, 6352-6355 replacing knackered coaches.

X85 withdrawn, X84 will revert to it’s previous guise of 684, not sure what buses but looks to be Versas.

If that's the case with the X10, then I genuinely can't see why they couldn't just swap out the coaches for 4 Levantes and call it a day.

Why downgrade the X84/X85 at the same time?


I wonder if this is the beginning of the end for the X10, and that's why they've added Dalton park to the X1

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(20 Dec 2021, 12:36 am)streetdeckfan wrote [ -> ]If that's the case with the X10, then I genuinely can't see why they couldn't just swap out the coaches for 4 Levantes and call it a day.

Why downgrade the X84/X85 at the same time?


I wonder if this is the beginning of the end for the X10, and that's why they've added Dalton park to the X1

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Completely anecdotally but the Levantes don't seem much better from what I've seen. They'll also be knackered by this point with their previous career on Nat Ex work.

On MMCs being allocated, I think it's a good move. While 6377 would be a good option, ultimately it's the only 6 cylinder in the fleet and the other StreetDecks would die pretty quickly I'd imagine. I can't speak for GNEs MMCs, but I know ANEs handle express work superbly day in day out, and I've had similar good experiences with various Stagecoach examples on demanding routes.

What's the point in getting all these buses. How long have we had these coaches and no joke. How many days have all 6 been out

Secondly I've said it previously just withdraw the X9 as the X10 does the route on evening & Sundays and tbh most of this year has been the X10 doing both. This is what the 3rd time the X9 is being withdrawn

Versa on the X84/X85 seems a smart idea. Deckers are not needed for that route. But I'm guessing that goes the X Lines brand for Hexham. I don't even think its been a year since the E400MMC on the X84/5 were introduced

(20 Dec 2021, 12:36 am)streetdeckfan wrote [ -> ]If that's the case with the X10, then I genuinely can't see why they couldn't just swap out the coaches for 4 Levantes and call it a day.

Why downgrade the X84/X85 at the same time?


I wonder if this is the beginning of the end for the X10, and that's why they've added Dalton park to the X1

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I’m not overly familiar with them but can only assume they’re making no money since covid, X85 is commercial so gets pulled, X84 is secured or at least part secured so hangs on. Surely they only got the upgrade for the planned CAZ as Citaros weren’t suitable.