First 2025 change has appeared on VOSA:

PB0003954/1453
New GO NORTH EAST LIMITED 50S (50S) Chester-le-Street Durham
Date received 29 Nov 2024
Effective date 06 Jan 2025

Actually found it on Bustimes - https://bustimes.org/services/50s-washin...eet-waldri

1 run a day from Chester-le-street to Durham

Mix of city and Coatham operating today for the rail replacement 

Bendy city travel broken down and abandoned at Longbeck train station

Transport Secretary Louise Haigh resigns: 

Louise Haigh has resigned as transport secretary after it emerged she pleaded guilty to a fraud offence a decade ago.

She has admitted telling police in 2013 she had lost her work mobile phone in a mugging, but later found it had not been taken.

She was given a conditional discharge by magistrates, following the incident which happened before she became an MP.

Full story: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cdxy1kp73y9o

Pretty big blow for Starmer, as she's been leading on a lot of key legislation, including yesterday's vision for integrated transport announcement.

5523 has now been moved to Riverside. 5522, 24 & 25 will be joining it soon

RouteOne are reporting that the next generation Streetdeck Ultroliner will be available with a 6.7l Cummins engine option, alongside the existing 4 cylinder Daimler/Mercedes. Bus Vannin are to take the first Cummins engined example.

https://www.route-one.net/news/wrightbus...ins-power/

Wrightbus will utilise Cummins power in its StreetDeck Ultroliner diesel double-decker for the first time in a next-generation variant of that model.

Those vehicles will be powered by the six-cylinder B6.7 engine rated at 250bhp or 300bhp, driving through the Voith DIWA.8 seven-speed automatic gearbox. Such an approach will further reduce emissions, and the new model will be Ultra-Low Emission Bus accredited by Zemo Partnership, the manufacturer says.

The existing StreetDeck Ultroliner, which is powered by the Daimler OM 934 four-cylinder engine, will continue to be available. The first Cummins-powered examples are to be supplied to Isle of Man operator Bus Vannin.

Notably, Wrightbus says that using the latest Cummins engine platform opens the latest-generation StreetDeck Ultroliner to potential repower with a hydrogen combustion engine from the same manufacturer mid-life. Cummins previously showed an example of its hydrogen-powered B6.7H unit.

Wrightbus CEO Jean-Marc Gales acknowledges that “not everyone has the funding to be able to make the switch to zero-emission.”

He thus says that the vehicle manufacturer thus believes “in a blended approach of responsible technologies; battery-electric, hydrogen fuel cell, and the cleanest diesel to ensure all our customers can continue to decarbonise as quickly as possible, while still maintaining financially viable operations.”

Adds Mr Gales: “The combination of the latest generation of engines from Cummins and the latest technology from Voith, coupled to our industry-leading Micro Hybrid technology, means that the StreetDeck UIltroliner offers optimal efficiency in the diesel market. We are delighted that Bus Vannin will be the first customer to experience our new offering.”

Bus Vannin Director Ian Bates notes that the five StreetDeck Ultroliner buses ordered from Wrightbus are the first double-deckers procured by that operator since the pandemic period.

They will deliver what he describes as “a progressive step forward in a known technology, the internal combustion engine, while continuing to take into account the Isle of Man Government’s Island Plan and commitments to climate change.”

Adds Mr Bates: “Technologies continue to advance at an astonishing rate, but this controlled approach allows us to see how the network will look in the future, enabling an insight into possible hydrogen options alongside electrification.”

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c86qy500545o

no mention of up here though

Yes revenue inspectors are back!!! With Go North East.
Apparently Stagecoach has had them back a few weeks now,

Anyone know what the interworking pattern is for the North Tyne Rockets
Im  guessing it does
353>> 352 >> 355 
Then the rest im stuck on

Excuse me, I am quite curious about which brand of door handle on the train is relatively good. As we all know, door handles on trains need to be durable, reliable, and easy to use. Different brands may have different qualities and features. I am currently researching this topic and would greatly appreciate it if you could share your insights and experiences. Which brand do you think has performed exceptionally well in terms of functionality, design, and durability on trains? Thank you very much for your help.

The new timetable, apparently started in April this year, is now on the Nexus Website. Additionally the Tuesday timetable is now shown to operate also on Saturdays. No change to the Thursday timetable.
One of the most scenic routes anywhere.