(30 Dec 2018, 10:57 am)busmanT wrote Need to add reliability to the list of things considered as part of the evaluation of new buses - although Go North East have no experience of ADL double deck products in recent years, other parts of Go Ahead do.

(31 Dec 2018, 4:57 pm)Rapidsnap wrote I don't think GNE would buy anymore Streetlites after it was rumoured the current MD had bad experience with Wright Products during his time at Reading Buses. I'm hoping for Optare Products myself.

(31 Dec 2018, 4:57 pm)Rapidsnap wrote I don't think GNE would buy anymore Streetlites after it was rumoured the current MD had bad experience with Wright Products during his time at Reading Buses. I'm hoping for Optare Products myself.

(30 Dec 2018, 5:47 pm)Citaro5326 wrote Castles express 6304 currently wedged in the bridge near metro centre on X21...

(31 Dec 2018, 4:38 pm)Michael wrote Hopefully that doesn't put them off, as its a completely new demo bus, we expected a few niggles but i think the E400 has done well (according to other people) so hopefully those niggles are put down to it being completely new. 





For 2018:


I think we'll see more Streetlites coming in, ready for June/July, for the start of the Scania L94 withdrawal's... however only routes I could see getting new Streetlites is the Loop and 35 (standardising the types of buses at Deptford) along with new Streetlites arriving for the Quaylink, pushing the Versa's out on most of the Scania routes (Green Arrow), 13, 14 and X25. 


23 new Streetlites for the Quaylink including 2 spare = total of 25
8 new Streetlites for the 35 + 1 spare = total of 9. 
8 Streetlites for the Loop + 1 spare = total of 9

Cascades would be: 

10 Versa for the Green Arrow - but brand dropped
10 Versa for the 13, 14 and X25

Withdrawals: 

If my numbers are right, (which they'll not be!) it withdraws almost all the Scania’s and just leaves 5229, 5230, 5231, 5232 in service but some of the 2004 batch could be left in service as spares. 


Although, we know Go North East won't buy as many Streetlites as above, this is a suggestion, if they wanted to get rid of them straight away, as some are now 17 years old....

(31 Dec 2018, 9:53 pm)GNE6312 wrote My suggestion would be:
18 new streetairs (like the lothian ones) for the Q3
(5501-18) +12 spare (5519-30) +13 for the q1 + 12 fir the Q1/2(5531-43)

The 12 spares mean 6 spares for each route

8 new, eclipse 3s for the loop (5601-08) + 5 spare (5609-13)

8 more streetairs for the city link 58 (5544-51)+
5 spare (5552-56)


This will allow to transferr MOST of riversides versas to other depots to withdraw MOST of the L94s to be withdrawn


Let me know your thoughts

(31 Dec 2018, 9:53 pm)GNE6312 wrote My suggestion would be:
18 new streetairs (like the lothian ones) for the Q3
(5501-18) +12 spare (5519-30) +13 for the q1 + 12 fir the Q1/2(5531-43)

The 12 spares mean 6 spares for each route

8 new, eclipse 3s for the loop (5601-08) + 5 spare (5609-13)

8 more streetairs for the city link 58 (5544-51)+
5 spare (5552-56)


This will allow to transferr MOST of riversides versas to other depots to withdraw MOST of the L94s to be withdrawn


Let me know your thoughts

(31 Dec 2018, 4:57 pm)Rapidsnap wrote I don't think GNE would buy anymore Streetlites after it was rumoured the current MD had bad experience with Wright Products during his time at Reading Buses. I'm hoping for Optare Products myself.

(31 Dec 2018, 10:01 pm)NewcastleOne wrote Do you know about allocations, a Route does not need 5/6 Spare Buses there would be no benefit in that and will be a complete waste of money and that’s if GNE can even afford to have that many spares, my mind is blown.

(31 Dec 2018, 10:16 pm)GNE6312 wrote They don't all have to be on quaylink/loop/city link 58 they can go onto other services that may repuire a spare for whatever reasons and the 67/68/69 so they won't all be spare for 1 service

(31 Dec 2018, 10:04 pm)Jamie M wrote I like the streetlites from both perspectives. They're comfy and warm from pax point of view with wifi, chargers, nsas and a nice modern feel.
Warm and drive nicely from a drivers point of view. Can drive them all day no problem and regularly have done. Don't know why they have such bad reputation.

Great from an operators point of view due to the BSOG payments and the fact they are very good on the fuel.

(31 Dec 2018, 10:04 pm)Jamie M wrote I like the streetlites from both perspectives. They're comfy and warm from pax point of view with wifi, chargers, nsas and a nice modern feel.
Warm and drive nicely from a drivers point of view. Can drive them all day no problem and regularly have done. Don't know why they have such bad reputation.

Great from an operators point of view due to the BSOG payments and the fact they are very good on the fuel.

(31 Dec 2018, 9:55 pm)Rapidsnap wrote Wright Streetairs are a joke. Lothian ordered 12, but cancelled their order after 6 arrived after they turned out to be quite poor. Plus they are short wheelbase and would in no way cope with the loads on the Q3.

(31 Dec 2018, 10:04 pm)Jamie M wrote I like the streetlites from both perspectives. They're comfy and warm from pax point of view with wifi, chargers, nsas and a nice modern feel.
Warm and drive nicely from a drivers point of view. Can drive them all day no problem and regularly have done. Don't know why they have such bad reputation.

Great from an operators point of view due to the BSOG payments and the fact they are very good on the fuel.

(31 Dec 2018, 10:20 pm)Jamie M wrote The branding scheme is to keep as many branded vehicles on the routes as possible, flooding the allocation with spare vehicles isn't really solving any problems. It would only become nearly sensible if more services became corp livery which I can't see happening.

Most of the time, the right vehicles get allocated and at some point in most days there's 100% correct branding, at least at Riverside.

(31 Dec 2018, 11:33 pm)Adrian wrote Have they sold any other than those 6? I don't think even London have ordered any.

I didn't find them too bad, but clearly the order volume speaks for itself - either a bad product or poor value for money.

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They are always a good temperature, I'll give them that, but other than that they're pretty poor from a passenger point of view. They're narrow/cramped, uncomfortable and have more rattles than a baby's cot. It is a waste of time advertising the chargers, because they're rarely switched on. The poor design requiring a manual switch on each time the vehicle is started up, usually results in the drivers forgetting to switch them on. 

The E200MMCs that Stagecoach are running in Newcastle are essentially the same bus, but they're worlds apart in terms of build quality and ride quality IMO.

(01 Jan 2019, 8:18 am)GNE6312 wrote Maybe 3 spare per route will work

(31 Dec 2018, 10:20 pm)Jamie M wrote The branding scheme is to keep as many branded vehicles on the routes as possible, flooding the allocation with spare vehicles isn't really solving any problems. It would only become nearly sensible if more services became corp livery which I can't see happening.

Most of the time, the right vehicles get allocated and at some point in most days there's 100% correct branding, at least at Riverside.

(01 Jan 2019, 8:18 am)GNE6312 wrote Maybe 3 spare per route will work

(01 Jan 2019, 3:04 pm)Malarkey wrote x50 Alexander Enviro 200MMC


23 - Quaylink Q1/Q2 & Q3
8 - Citylink 58
8 - Saltwell Park 53/54
4 - X66
7 - Go North East

Streetlites off the 53/54 & X66 go to Deptford to replace all Scania L94's used on the 35/38
14 Versa V1170's new in 2013 would move to Chester-Le-Street replacing x4 Scania L94's and x10 (09 reg) Versas for use on 13/14/28/28A & X25
18 Versa V1110's currently used on the Quaylinks would go on the 93/94 and 97, 3 spares would be used as cover for these services or on the 64/95

(01 Jan 2019, 3:18 pm)Jamie M wrote Maybe rid of those euro 4 omnicities at Stanley too... the solars earn more brownie points than they do and only 2 or so years older. Versas in their place when the services come down.

(01 Jan 2019, 4:21 pm)V514DFT wrote What will they actually put on the 93 and 94 from this year,baring in mind the 09 versas will be 10 years old this year

(01 Jan 2019, 2:34 pm)Jamie M wrote those seats are uncomfortable as anything on the stagecoaches, cannot stand them. The USB chargers always work from my experience too on the Euro 6 versions and the refurbed mercs.

(02 Jan 2019, 6:12 pm)Adrian wrote Comfort is subjective, so each to their own! But you must be extremely lucky if the USB chargers always work from your experience. If I had a £1 for every time I have to ask for them to be switched on...

(02 Jan 2019, 6:12 pm)Adrian wrote Comfort is subjective, so each to their own! But you must be extremely lucky if the USB chargers always work from your experience. If I had a £1 for every time I have to ask for them to be switched on...

(31 Dec 2018, 11:33 pm)Adrian wrote Have they sold any other than those 6? I don't think even London have ordered any.

I didn't find them too bad, but clearly the order volume speaks for itself - either a bad product or poor value for money.

---

They are always a good temperature, I'll give them that, but other than that they're pretty poor from a passenger point of view. They're narrow/cramped, uncomfortable and have more rattles than a baby's cot. It is a waste of time advertising the chargers, because they're rarely switched on. The poor design requiring a manual switch on each time the vehicle is started up, usually results in the drivers forgetting to switch them on. 

The E200MMCs that Stagecoach are running in Newcastle are essentially the same bus, but they're worlds apart in terms of build quality and ride quality IMO.

(01 Jan 2019, 4:07 pm)Malarkey wrote I'd leave them for another year.

(01 Jan 2019, 4:07 pm)Malarkey wrote I'd leave them for another year.

(03 Jan 2019, 12:19 am)BusLoverMum wrote Good temperature? They have no insulation. The arriva ones with no heating are freezing in winter and boiling in summer and the Prince bishops onwards gne ones are always hot

(02 Jan 2019, 10:43 pm)JM03 wrote Tbh, where the stagecoach MMCs operate, it is not a surprise to see them in such a state. Its a shame because I find these stagecoach MMCs to be the comfiest and smoothest buses in the toon.

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If they operated in the more better areas they'd be in very good condition but the 100 makes the bus a big bin with USBs, 30/31 just to break it and on the occasions i see it on the 10, they're brilliant. If we saw these on routes like the 57,9,19,97/A and more, GNE will in my opinion have the best buses about and could easily take place of routes currently on Mercs, omnis, solars and maybe even versas while they can also get options to even replace some solo routes like the almost constant problem on indigo 40/41/42/A