(14 Jan 2018, 7:42 pm)Michael wrote It seems odd that 5329 was out and about testing stop announcements for the 8/78, when its a Deptford bus.

(14 Jan 2018, 8:16 pm)S813 FVK wrote Chester-le-Street still have quite a high Streetlite PVR on a Sunday, so it may have been a case that there were none available and being the only single decks with that NSA system based there would give them no choice but to source a bus from another depot. 

Perhaps the available Streetlites (if there were any spare) were overlooked for employee convenience? It would seem a logical thing to do given both vehicle types would show the announcements in exactly the same way.

Either way, it won't have mattered too much, even if it has broken the trend a bit.

(14 Jan 2018, 8:35 pm)Malarkey wrote Could be that Dan had other things to do at Deptford this morning and has used 5329 to save on mileage instead of travelling to Chester depot to then double back on himself.

(15 Jan 2018, 7:18 am)Dan wrote Chester-le-Street only have two Coast & Country branded Streetlites spare on a Sunday (due to them being used on other services like the 28, 34 and X22) and had three VOR on Friday (meaning the two branded spares, and the Beamish Streetlite, were all probably going to be in use on Sunday, if they didn't get them back on the road).

During refurbishment, as well as having Next Stop Announcements fitted, the Mercedes Citaros have had new "Wi-Fi enabled" destination controllers fitted, meaning that both the destinations and Next Stop Announcements can be updated remotely. It meant that the test programme and 'proper' programme could be sent to the bus remotely. The Streetlites don't have this special kind of destination controller.

As well as this; when running all variations of the 8/8A, 78/78A, it's probably more efficient to start at the Sunderland end rather than slap bang in the middle of the route (round trip on the 78, 8A Sunderland - The Galleries return, 8 Sunderland to Stanley, 78A Stanley to Chester-le-Street return, then 8 Stanley to Sunderland).

Aside from that, yes, much more convenient for me to work from Deptford, when it's only 5 minutes down the road... 

As S813 FVK suggests, it doesn't matter too much what bus is used. As long as it's a bus with a TFT monitor when the 'proper' bus is a TFT monitor, and conversely LED when it's usually an LED.

(15 Jan 2018, 7:07 pm)Michael wrote Any chance, diversions could be put in place on the stop announcements in the future, with WIFI enabled destination controllers fitted, like for example, with Timber Beach Road closed in Sunderland, the 8 could say:

"This is the 8 to Stanley, there's a diversion in place between via Colima Avenue and the A1231 as Timber Beach Road is closed", "the closest stop would be Queen Alexandrea Bridge North End"

Or when approaches B&Q "This bus isn't stopping on Timber Beach Road due to roadworks, please use the enterprise park shuttle bus" 

These would stop once its back on to normal route and continue with normal announcements.  


Obviously it could be shorter, but that was just an example.

(15 Jan 2018, 7:12 pm)Dan wrote Yes - long-term once everything is up and running as it should be, that's the aim.

The announcements on the X9/X10 are a good example of this - they announce the Felling Bypass roadworks and how Testo's Roundabout was being omitted for the duration of the works. Slightly out of date now with the roadworks being paused, but that may well be the diversionary route again come 28th January (up to now, it's not known whether this will be the case or not).

(15 Jan 2018, 7:34 pm)S813 FVK wrote Would there be much point in creating a TFT program for services that would normally use LED monitors vice versa? Mightn't get use often, but it would increase system usage as well maintaining that part of the specification.

(15 Jan 2018, 7:38 pm)Dan wrote Go North East invested in new systems and destination controllers for all of the Quaylink buses, plus two of the red Versas, late last year. 

(16 Jan 2018, 4:36 pm)ne14ne1 wrote Will it be much longer until Emma's voice is heard across Citylink58s and Quaylinks?

(16 Jan 2018, 6:50 pm)G-CPTN wrote A few weeks ago I rode on a TEN with NSAs, yet as a general rule they seem to be inactive.
Has there been a problem?

(16 Jan 2018, 8:39 pm)Michael wrote You'll just get the same answer as before, other routes are a priority before the TEN.... like its been said many times before.

(16 Jan 2018, 9:59 pm)Andreos1 wrote That line could come back to haunt you Michael...

(16 Jan 2018, 6:50 pm)G-CPTN wrote A few weeks ago I rode on a TEN with NSAs, yet as a general rule they seem to be inactive.
Has there been a problem?

(16 Jan 2018, 8:39 pm)Michael wrote You'll just get the same answer as before, other routes are a priority before the TEN.... like its been said many times before.

(16 Jan 2018, 9:50 pm)Tyne_Traveller wrote 6077 is the only vehicle on Ten currently working with NSA's I've noticed however it doesn't work on either 10B or 10X but as I don't travel on the 10A I don't know about that one.

(17 Jan 2018, 9:16 am)Tyne_Traveller wrote Talking of things tech I've just downloaded the new app and like the tracking facility which even tells you what the bus fleetnumber is.

(17 Jan 2018, 9:16 am)Tyne_Traveller wrote Talking of things tech I've just downloaded the new app and like the tracking facility which even tells you what the bus fleetnumber is.

(17 Jan 2018, 2:01 pm)RM2186 wrote No Washington routes on there

App.jpg (Size 48.4 KB | Downloads 37)

(17 Jan 2018, 2:13 pm)Dan wrote I can see them!



Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

(17 Jan 2018, 3:48 pm)XUP254F wrote Thanks for the info with regard to the App, although it took me a while to realise it was a different App to that on the GNE website !
Having the fleetnumbers will be very useful !!
I still wish there was the equivalent of London Vehicle Finder for the whole country though, but this will do for GNE.

(17 Jan 2018, 4:13 pm)Swiny1 wrote How do you get the app please?

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(17 Jan 2018, 3:35 pm)westy3738 wrote On the list where you can choose your service, there's a few  routes missing.

(17 Jan 2018, 3:35 pm)westy3738 wrote On the list where you can choose your service, there's a few  routes missing.