(22 Jun 2014, 4:45 pm)V514DFT wrote Thats crazy

(23 Jun 2014, 8:03 am)Dan wrote Every time I use the X7, I'm reminded of why I love the Mercedes Citaro so much.

Travelling at a speed of 60mph, and there are very few rattles, passengers are travelling with a high degree of comfort, and the vehicles are incredibly reliable.

Davey Bowyer - get writing an e-mail to Mercedes, requesting that they manufacture a double decked version of the Citaro... We may have a suitable replacement vehicle for the TTX, TEN and whatever other routes you mentioned if so!

(23 Jun 2014, 2:14 pm)Michael wrote Not much on fleet movements this week.

Volvo Olympian 3821: S821 OFT has been sold to Tyne & Wear Fire Service.

(23 Jun 2014, 8:03 am)Dan wrote Every time I use the X7, I'm reminded of why I love the Mercedes Citaro so much.

Travelling at a speed of 60mph, and there are very few rattles, passengers are travelling with a high degree of comfort, and the vehicles are incredibly reliable.

Davey Bowyer - get writing an e-mail to Mercedes, requesting that they manufacture a double decked version of the Citaro... We may have a suitable replacement vehicle for the TTX, TEN and whatever other routes you mentioned if so!

(23 Jun 2014, 4:37 pm)NEBCD Malarkey wrote Did a Citaro Double Decker PaperBus in September Last Year, And I have to agree we need a Mercedes Double Decker to compete with Alexander Dennis/Wrightbus and Optare.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/adammalarkey/9687218055/

As for an Airport Shuttle from Hartlepool/Middlesbrough to Newcastle, I think that would be a Great Idea if Teesides Airport is indeed closing all together.

(23 Jun 2014, 2:14 pm)Michael wrote Volvo Olympian 3821: S821 OFT has been sold to Tyne & Wear Fire Service.

(23 Jun 2014, 4:37 pm)NEBCD Malarkey wrote Did a Citaro Double Decker PaperBus in September Last Year, And I have to agree we need a Mercedes Double Decker to compete with Alexander Dennis/Wrightbus and Optare.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/adammalarkey/9687218055/

As for an Airport Shuttle from Hartlepool/Middlesbrough to Newcastle, I think that would be a Great Idea if Teesides Airport is indeed closing all together.

(01 Feb 2014, 12:45 pm)gtom wrote Ken O'Heed on SSC Forums took some photos last night at S********d Road

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?s=f2c0256661ea0ba80bad1c51743ac563&t=1517587&page=3

(23 Jun 2014, 5:31 pm)Kuyoyo wrote Considering Wrights' upcoming StreetDeck and the Metrodecker are both powered by Mecerdes engines, I doubt we'll see Mercedes enter the double decker market.

(23 Jun 2014, 6:02 pm)NEBCD Malarkey wrote why not enter the Double Decker Market, as there already Highly successful in the Single Deck and Articulated Market, and have also entered the Midibus Market with the Citaro K, So why not expand that bit further?

(23 Jun 2014, 6:02 pm)NEBCD Malarkey wrote And both are 5 Litre Engines though, We're talking about something more Powerful altogether, and why not enter the Double Decker Market, as there already Highly successful in the Single Deck and Articulated Market, and have also entered the Midibus Market with the Citaro K, So why not expand that bit further.

(23 Jun 2014, 6:05 pm)G-CPTN wrote Limited market for double deckers outside the UK.

(23 Jun 2014, 6:22 pm)Kuyoyo wrote As said, limited market in Europe for double deckers. And even in other parts of the world (USA, China and now even Australia) most double deckers are UK-built in some way. The fact the only 2 non-UK manufactures who have made waves in the UK Decker market are Volvo (who's most successful product - the Olympian - was designed by Bristol and acquired through the purchase of Leyland) and DAF/VDL (again, the DB250 was based on the MCW Metrobus). It's only 8 years since MAN tried to enter the market with their ND243F, and that didn't come off (only one example was built - RX07RKV - which was low height for trials in Germany, and the second full height example never came about).

(23 Jun 2014, 5:41 pm)Andreos Constantopolous wrote Just as a side note - if Ken ever visits this forum and wishes to drop me a PM (anonymity guaranteed), it would be massively appreciated.

I have a couple of questions that I would love answering re some posts made on SSC and have a feeling Ken would be able to share his vast knowledge on the subject.

(23 Jun 2014, 11:06 pm)gtom wrote You may be able to contact him through his photo site. If not you can def PM him with a hassle free sign up on SSC

(24 Jun 2014, 7:23 am)Dan wrote Former "TEN" branded Volvo B7TL/Wright Eclipse Gemini 3941 has arrived at Saltmeadows to be repainted into corporate livery.

(24 Jun 2014, 1:47 pm)Tom wrote Why? Is it being transferred?

(24 Jun 2014, 1:49 pm)Dan wrote Allows greater flexibility for Riverside, with all of Riverside's Volvo B7TLs being able to be used on the TEN and Tyne Tees Xpress.

Customers can't really tell the difference between a Volvo B7TL and a Volvo B9TL, so when they see 3941 turn up, they'd expect the vehicle to be equipped with power sockets and free Wi-Fi.
This is obviously not the case, so repainting the Volvo B7TLs into corporate livery means that customers will think it's an ordinary 'red spare' - no more confusion as a result!

(24 Jun 2014, 2:55 pm)NEBCD Malarkey wrote Surely Repainting 6071 Red would of been a Better Option, as we all know despite 3941 getting Repainted Red that 6071 will still appear on the X9/X10 on a Daily Basis, And we all know those B7TL's couldn't even survive a Day on the X9/X10 without Breaking Down anyway, So in reality does it really make the Allocations between the two Services any more Flexible, and finally when was the Last Time 3963 on the X9/X10 or out in Service for that Matter as I haven't seen it for a while, other than when passing Riverside Depot.

(23 Jun 2014, 11:36 am)David McGloin wrote 3963 back on TTX today aswell

(24 Jun 2014, 4:27 pm)DaveyBowyer wrote Why don't GNE swap 3941 and 3942 with 6101 repainted red and joined by 6117 with 6116 being repainted into CC livery? The only two places a B7 would struggle would be Chowdene Bank on the long Coaster and Rosehill on the Coaster, 17, 41 and 80 but otherwise, they'd be OK. Plus, 6101 and 6117 have Wi-Fi and power sockets installed including buggy bays for the TEN.

(24 Jun 2014, 1:49 pm)Dan wrote Allows greater flexibility for Riverside, with all of Riverside's Volvo B7TLs being able to be used on the TEN and Tyne Tees Xpress.

Customers can't really tell the difference between a Volvo B7TL and a Volvo B9TL, so when they see 3941 turn up, they'd expect the vehicle to be equipped with power sockets and free Wi-Fi.
This is obviously not the case, so repainting the Volvo B7TLs into corporate livery means that customers will think it's an ordinary 'red spare' - no more confusion as a result!