(09 Aug 2016, 7:14 pm)biglugs@yahoo.com wrote Although already asked what will replace 3866,67 even though there is 4 month i dont know weather the following could happen
4x new buses for 327 this will allow 3866,67 to be withdrawn and 3890,1 to replace plaxton presidents.
2x omnidekkas allowing 3876,7 to be withdrawn
Im not sure if GNE have a plan for them but i think its a shame they dont meet dda.
Could GNE make them DDA complaint alike the B10S?

(09 Aug 2016, 7:14 pm)biglugs@yahoo.com wrote Although already asked what will replace 3866,67 even though there is 4 month i dont know weather the following could happen
4x new buses for 327 this will allow 3866,67 to be withdrawn and 3890,1 to replace plaxton presidents.
2x omnidekkas allowing 3876,7 to be withdrawn
Im not sure if GNE have a plan for them but i think its a shame they dont meet dda.
Could GNE make them DDA complaint alike the B10S?

(09 Aug 2016, 7:15 pm)Tom wrote Has a Vyking replaced 6034 at Percy Main? One was on the 1 yesterday according to dannygne.

(10 Aug 2016, 11:43 am)Michael wrote Is the Metrocity still here?, if so any chance it will move to a different depot before it goes back>?

(10 Aug 2016, 11:43 am)Michael wrote Is the Metrocity still here?, if so any chance it will move to a different depot before it goes back>?

(10 Aug 2016, 1:49 pm)NK53 TKT wrote What about 9101?

(10 Aug 2016, 6:38 am)G-CPTN wrote Is there any report on the findings of the GKN flywheel trials?

(10 Aug 2016, 3:19 pm)L469 YVK wrote Will be interesting. Considering the time, momey and manpower required to fit the flywheels, they might as well wait until the need for cascades is due with the GKN earmarked services being replaced with Streetdecks. Given the recent service changes as well as other services due for an upgrade, I think it will happen within the next 12-18 months.

(10 Aug 2016, 3:35 pm)Dan wrote Given that the two vehicles fitted with the GKN Flywheels have now had them removed, I think that suggests what the success of the flywheel was like (up here, at least!)

I cannot imagine a report being published, though.

(10 Aug 2016, 3:35 pm)Dan wrote Given that the two vehicles fitted with the GKN Flywheels have now had them removed, I think that suggests what the success of the flywheel was like (up here, at least!)

I cannot imagine a report being published, though.

(10 Aug 2016, 4:18 pm)L469 YVK wrote This isn't an order prediction as such Dan but if the need arose for cascades and there was a good business case to do so (extra fuel savings, right traffic conditions etc), do you think GNE would end up replacing the B9s on the Cobalts or Fab 56 with Streetdecks in the near future? Not that I'd want them to go BTW but I'd imagine the fuel saving potential would be good on these types of routes.

(10 Aug 2016, 5:03 pm)Dan wrote I can't see that happening any time soon, really.

There are other double-decker routes which would benefit from an upgrade first. By no means a suggestion that it'll happen, but the TEN is currently running at a PVR of 16 with just 13 branded vehicles. The current situation isn't ideal, but it's about designing changes which are right for both the business and customers. Investing into this route would mean that 16 branded vehicles could be ordered with two spares. The TEN is a high-profile route, which has proven to be worthy of upgrades time after time.

(10 Aug 2016, 7:05 pm)Michael wrote Is that a hint Dan?

(10 Aug 2016, 5:03 pm)Dan wrote I can't see that happening any time soon, really.

There are other double-decker routes which would benefit from an upgrade first. By no means a suggestion that it'll happen, but the TEN is currently running at a PVR of 16 with just 13 branded vehicles. The current situation isn't ideal, but it's about designing changes which are right for both the business and customers. Investing into this route would mean that 16 branded vehicles could be ordered with two spares. The TEN is a high-profile route, which has proven to be worthy of upgrades time after time.

(10 Aug 2016, 7:14 pm)Ambassador wrote Any chance of some divine intervention for my Angel Dan?

(10 Aug 2016, 7:14 pm)Ambassador wrote Any chance of some divine intervention for my Angel Dan?

(10 Aug 2016, 7:19 pm)citaro5284 wrote A nice batch of Omnicities would go down nicely for the 21

(10 Aug 2016, 7:21 pm)Dan wrote Another high-profile route which would benefit from having a full allocation of vehicles to the same specification with an appropriate number of spares - one of which could be shared with service X21

(10 Aug 2016, 7:23 pm)Ambassador wrote You tease! Hybrids due off next year?

Imagine they'd need a fairly lightened end of life route

(10 Aug 2016, 7:34 pm)Dan wrote No teasing intended - just of the opinion that high-profile routes should consistently offer the advertised features such as Wi-Fi and power sockets!

As was said by someone else on the forum recently, it would be difficult to get a business case to stack up to retrofit red ex-London B7s with Wi-Fi when these vehicles are close to the end of their working lives, but if/when the services are invested in, I would expect sufficient vehicles to be branded with an appropriate number of same spec spares.

(10 Aug 2016, 7:34 pm)Dan wrote No teasing intended - just of the opinion that high-profile routes should consistently offer the advertised features such as Wi-Fi and power sockets!

As was said by someone else on the forum recently, it would be difficult to get a business case to stack up to retrofit red ex-London B7s with Wi-Fi when these vehicles are close to the end of their working lives, but if/when the services are invested in, I would expect sufficient vehicles to be branded with an appropriate number of same spec spares.

(10 Aug 2016, 7:34 pm)Dan wrote No teasing intended - just of the opinion that high-profile routes should consistently offer the advertised features such as Wi-Fi and power sockets!

As was said by someone else on the forum recently, it would be difficult to get a business case to stack up to retrofit red ex-London B7s with Wi-Fi when these vehicles are close to the end of their working lives, but if/when the services are invested in, I would expect sufficient vehicles to be branded with an appropriate number of same spec spares.

(10 Aug 2016, 8:16 pm)L469 YVK wrote TEN:
- Buses can get stuck in severe traffic around the Metrocentre occasionally

Cobalt Clipper:
- Buses can get stuck in severe traffic around Cobalt Business Park and outlying areas occasionally

(10 Aug 2016, 8:28 pm)northern156 wrote With regards to slow moving/stop start traffic, are auto engine stop/start vehicles available on the market for GNE?

(10 Aug 2016, 8:32 pm)Kuyoyo wrote I believe the only Manufacturer currently offering a Start/Stop option is Alexander Dennis.

(11 Aug 2016, 12:10 am)G-CPTN wrote I am naturally very protective of the TEN, and believe that the B9TLs are ideal for the westerly section of the route - there are gradients (such as Tinklers Bank at Corbridge) which the B9s cope with admirably - I'm not sure that a 5 litre engine would be adequate.

It is mildly 'disappointing' when non-liveried vehicles (by which I mean red B7TLs) have to be used (the TEN livery is so good IMO), though any bus is preferable to no bus. What is strange is that 3942 used to be in TEN livery before it was repainted red.

Hexham do a superb job of using whatever spares they have to keep the service(s) 'on schedule' - I spotted a TEN B9TL running the X84 heading east through Corbridge on Tuesday @ 17.30ish (a few minutes late - but running nevertheless) and I've seen B9TLs on the occasional X84/X85 during 'daytime'.

In return we get the occasional single decker running the TEN (it comes as a surprise when they turn into central Corbridge instead of continuing along Main Street and Newcastle Road).

What I'm trying to say is don't mess with the current allocation (except where necessary to fill gaps) as the current vehicles seem to be ideally suited to the routes.

I dread to think what will happen when the B9TLs wear out - though maybe that will be a long time yet?

(11 Aug 2016, 9:47 am)Michael wrote Hopefully, i think they really suit the TEN, continuing about "red" buses etc on them due to lack of B9's, i think GNE will want to upgrade the TTX soon, as i doubt they'll want a repeat of what happened with the B7's, with the constant breakdowns, of course, that's if GNE decide to replace them in the next financial year (2017-2018), or even this years!, then the TTX B9's could go on the TEN and Cobalt Clippers along with a couple of spares.