(24 Jun 2014, 5:28 pm)Racer_Experience wrote i had a convo with a Scott Copper recently about the Tyne Tees Express and he said they should have got a red spare in the 1st place

would make sense to repaint 3941 into red to be used on Tyne Tees Express or Ten saves on using 6071 which is always on there instead of its designated route which is 10/10A/10B

(24 Jun 2014, 5:37 pm)Dan wrote I think most people (Go North East included - not just us enthusiasts) thought that the Volvo B9TLs would be successful on the Tyne Tees Xpress.
Indeed most members of the forum shot me down in flames when I was first sceptical about the Volvo B9TLs, and that must have been in under less than a year of their operation on the TTX? Now it's a completely different story, with most other people having doubts too...

Having a branded spare, Volvo B7TL 3963, was thought to have been enough at the time.

You could argue that GNE had the opportunity to purchase an additional spare vehicle in last year's orders, but I don't think they should have purchased an additional spare vehicle right from the start (after all, who could actually predict before they were first launched on the TTX that they'd be VOR so frequently?)

(24 Jun 2014, 5:57 pm)Drifter60 wrote 6101 should be transferred to Riverside with 3963 going the other way to Percy Main, both are now red spares. The spare Geminis are often off route (as they are kind of intended I may add) so B7TL in 3963 isn't that much of an issue and with it not been the branded vehicle (if allocated to CC) people won't expect power sockets in any case. 6116 will now be branded Cobalt Clipper.
Obviously you could argue that in years to come CC/Fab56 may require the B9 spares but GNE need to be proactive in the reliability of TTX.

(24 Jun 2014, 6:09 pm)Andreos Constantopolous wrote Do you have those posts?
Not disputing you by any means, but it would be interesting to see the comments from yourself and others from the time?

(24 Jun 2014, 6:13 pm)Dan wrote I'm afraid not, no.
I tried to look through before I posted but there was over 30 pages with 'Tyne Tees Xpress' in the search - and I'm unsure as to whether I actually wrote it in full (often abbreviate it to TTX). I gave up after a few minutes because I thought it was comparable to finding a needle in a haystack.

It was something Liam and I discussed in person and I later decided to broadcast my views on here - but nobody (to my memory) agreed with me, of the people who decided to give their opinions when replying.

(24 Jun 2014, 5:57 pm)Drifter60 wrote 6101 should be transferred to Riverside with 3963 going the other way to Percy Main, both are now red spares. The spare Geminis are often off route (as they are kind of intended I may add) so B7TL in 3963 isn't that much of an issue and with it not been the branded vehicle (if allocated to CC) people won't expect power sockets in any case. 6116 will now be branded Cobalt Clipper.
Obviously you could argue that in years to come CC/Fab56 may require the B9 spares but GNE need to be proactive in the reliability of TTX.

(24 Jun 2014, 6:19 pm)Andreos Constantopolous wrote Well that isn't good enough

Any idea when it was?

(24 Jun 2014, 6:25 pm)Dan wrote Very vague, but it was within a year of them first being launched on the TTX as I said before. If I had a better idea of the date, I'd have had a better idea of finding the posts myself.

It was when we started to see Volvo B7TL 3963 out almost every single day on the TTX, with branded B9TLs being VOR. Olympians were frequently being spotted on the TTX at this time too.

(25 Jun 2014, 8:43 am)Coppercap40 wrote Can anyone help with information as to which Toonlink working the Demonstrator is on today please ?

(25 Jun 2014, 8:46 am)Dan wrote If it's still at Riverside, it'll be on one of the workings that is given on this post.

If it's not, chances are it's gone to Crook for the Pronto.

(25 Jun 2014, 9:19 am)Dan wrote FTAO: Marcus and anyone else who is in the Chester-le-Street area...

Reported to be arriving at Chester-le-Street tonight - some time after 17:00.

(25 Jun 2014, 11:32 am)GMitchelhill wrote So much for it operating on the Toon Link for 2 weeks.

(25 Jun 2014, 8:46 am)Dan wrote If it's still at Riverside, it'll be on one of the workings that is given on this post.

If it's not, chances are it's gone to Crook for the Pronto.

(25 Jun 2014, 1:27 pm)missedbus wrote Definitely been working for Riverside today - I caught it at 11:38 at Eldon Square on the 11:28 11 service, and alighted at Crawcrook at 12:15, 17 minutes late. Still rattly and uncomfortable, and the driver had to open the doors using the emergency switch. It's probably been changed over now.

It was fine, performance-wise on the flat, but the bus was less than a third full.

(25 Jun 2014, 1:30 pm)Dan wrote Parked at Riverside now.

(25 Jun 2014, 9:19 am)Dan wrote FTAO: Marcus and anyone else who is in the Chester-le-Street area...

Reported to be arriving at Chester-le-Street tonight - some time after 17:00.

(25 Jun 2014, 3:27 pm)Marcus wrote Cheers, Dan.

I'll try and catch a glimpse later on. Is it going to Crook at some point later on, or tomorrow?

I'll try and work out it's boards if I see it out and about within the coming days so if anyone wants photos I'll have times (even though RGR756V can probably tell us before!)

(25 Jun 2014, 3:29 pm)Dan wrote Well it was meant to arrive at Chester for a brief check tonight and transferred to Crook ready for service tomorrow, but as it's been put back on the Toon Link again (having earlier been removed from service), god knows what's happening.

(25 Jun 2014, 4:28 pm)NEBCD Malarkey wrote Decided to get on the 15:05 73 from Sunderland to Washington Galleries this Afternoon, and I made some notes throughout the Journey of the Passenger Numbers for those who are Interested.

Sunderland Interchange - Departed with 10 Passengers
Enterprise Park - 1 off 3 on - 12 Passengers
Timber Reach Road - 2 off - 10 Passengers
Castletown - 5 off - 5 Passengers
Waterview Park (First Time) 4 Passengers on - 9 Passengers
Peel Retail Park (First Time) 1 Passenger off - 8 Passengers
Sulgrave (First Time) 1 off 4 on - 11 Passengers
Concord (First Time) 3 on - 14 Passengers
Coach Road - 8 off 5 on - 11 Passengers (Almost had a Heart Attack)
Concord (Second Time) - 3 off - 8 Passengers
Waterview Park (Second Time) - 1 off 2 on - 9 Passengers
Teal Farm - 4 off 1 on - 6 Passengers
Biddick - 1 off - 5 Passengers
Washington Galleries - 5 off - End of Journey

Also noticed that when Departing Park Lane that it took 73 the same amount of time as either 6099/6100 on the 56 to get to Concord, but despite that I still think the Service could be greatly improved.

(25 Jun 2014, 4:28 pm)NEBCD Malarkey wrote Decided to get on the 15:05 73 from Sunderland to Washington Galleries this Afternoon, and I made some notes throughout the Journey of the Passenger Numbers for those who are Interested.

Sunderland Interchange - Departed with 10 Passengers
Enterprise Park - 1 off 3 on - 12 Passengers
Timber Reach Road - 2 off - 10 Passengers
Castletown - 5 off - 5 Passengers
Waterview Park (First Time) 4 Passengers on - 9 Passengers
Peel Retail Park (First Time) 1 Passenger off - 8 Passengers
Sulgrave (First Time) 1 off 4 on - 11 Passengers
Concord (First Time) 3 on - 14 Passengers
Coach Road - 8 off 5 on - 11 Passengers (Almost had a Heart Attack)
Concord (Second Time) - 3 off - 8 Passengers
Waterview Park (Second Time) - 1 off 2 on - 9 Passengers
Teal Farm - 4 off 1 on - 6 Passengers
Biddick - 1 off - 5 Passengers
Washington Galleries - 5 off - End of Journey

Also noticed that when Departing Park Lane that it took 73 the same amount of time as either 6099/6100 on the 56 to get to Concord, but despite that I still think the Service could be greatly improved.

(25 Jun 2014, 4:51 pm)BJ10VUS wrote It's being replaced by another company in the July changes. I'm surprised at 14 passengers being the most, didn't think it would be as many!

(25 Jun 2014, 4:59 pm)NEBCD Malarkey wrote Same here, but how many of those Passengers were Fare Paying Passengers though as I know wasn't as I used my Key Card, admittedly I didn't pay any attention to that at all.

For that Journey Alone there was an Average of 8 Passengers, and I honestly think from using it Today, and this is despite GNE losing the 73 that it could be Operated Commercially, with a few Tweaks to the Route and some Advertising on Facebook etc it could be a Success.