(28 Mar 2018, 4:49 pm)GNE6312 wrote I know weekdays at 16:00 there is 2 309 runsfrom blyth to newcastle due to the rest going out of service to cobalt for the X39 but it doesn't run on saturday or sunday so is there more 309s at 16:00

(27 Mar 2018, 11:21 pm)MrBoyt wrote Yard man reckons 4899 is going next week (for the third time). I'll miss it, always a smooth drive.

(27 Mar 2018, 8:03 am)Dan wrote 6126, 6127, 6129 - Stanley to Riverside (for Jewish Scholars)
3995, 3996, 6136 - Stanley to Percy Main
6009, 6025, 6031 - Withdrawn (replaced as above)
559 - Withdrawn (suffered defects, 4899 has replaced it)
4937 - Withdrawn (suffered defects, but was already planned for withdrawal).

(29 Mar 2018, 9:01 am)V514DFT wrote Im going to miss the solars

(29 Mar 2018, 3:40 pm)OrangeArrow49 wrote Perhaps one for service suggestions, but I was thinking maybe the Quaylink brand should go.

Quaylink is a long-standing brand previously with Stagecoach, and now less of a fitting brand with the Q3 going to Wallsend and the Q1/Q2 further into Gateshead.

I would scrap Quaylink and Blue Arrow creating a new either indiGo Links or indiGo Arrows brand incorporating Q1/Q2/Q3, 11/11A and 42/42A. The Q would still highlight the Quay link of the route, and update/expand three brand over all.

(29 Mar 2018, 4:00 pm)ifm001 wrote Whole idea of the Quaylink brand is that they go to the Quayside, which al of them do, no argumenta there. Its a recognised and settled brand. Especially with tourists to the area.

(29 Mar 2018, 3:11 pm)Dans_bus_photos wrote 5438 has been repainted plain red and has gained advert frames

(29 Mar 2018, 4:47 pm)OrangeArrow49 wrote True. When the Quaylink service launched with Stagecoach operating it, the idea was that it ran to and from the Quayside, a new circular service. No idea what served the Quayside before? Now it goes further, the Quayside is only part of the route (albeit a significant one) and this would be recognised in the Q prefix, at the same time as promoting other links as part of a wider (and GNE original) brand with potential to expand further. The buses would remain bright yellow and recognisable for tourists. GNE regularly changes brands/colours.  

A further suggestion would be to divert a service along the Stagecoach 12 route to compete against that, with both the Coaster and Blue Arrow services going along Shields Road and the Q3 serving Walker Road. GNE doesn't serve Byker Metro, Stagecoach does. The 1/1A and 11/11A go to Whitley Bay via Byker and the 12 and 39/40 go to Walker/Wallsend via Byker, but Stagecoach's 12 goes a different route, picking up passengers GNE could with their cheaper fares and features. I don't see why even some Coaster or Blue Arrow couldn't divert along the route providing a further link for GNE.

(29 Mar 2018, 4:47 pm)OrangeArrow49 wrote True. When the Quaylink service launched with Stagecoach operating it, the idea was that it ran to and from the Quayside, a new circular service. No idea what served the Quayside before? Now it goes further, the Quayside is only part of the route (albeit a significant one) and this would be recognised in the Q prefix, at the same time as promoting other links as part of a wider (and GNE original) brand with potential to expand further. The buses would remain bright yellow and recognisable for tourists. GNE regularly changes brands/colours.  

A further suggestion would be to divert a service along the Stagecoach 12 route to compete against that, with both the Coaster and Blue Arrow services going along Shields Road and the Q3 serving Walker Road. GNE doesn't serve Byker Metro, Stagecoach does. The 1/1A and 11/11A go to Whitley Bay via Byker and the 12 and 39/40 go to Walker/Wallsend via Byker, but Stagecoach's 12 goes a different route, picking up passengers GNE could with their cheaper fares and features. I don't see why even some Coaster or Blue Arrow couldn't divert along the route providing a further link for GNE.

(29 Mar 2018, 5:22 pm)Jamie M wrote 3995 entered service on 11.

(29 Mar 2018, 6:08 pm)Tom wrote Was on the 1 on Tuesday

(29 Mar 2018, 9:55 pm)Coastliner700 wrote There was also a Busways 101 at one point that went from Haymarket to Quayside when they had the Ivecos delivered so 1989/90 F651 KNL had a special quayside livery. Can’t remember much ore than that. The 34/35 pretty much took over. Welcome also ran a 222 from Gateshead across Swing Bridge, Gray Street, Central Station then via Business Par to Dumpling Hall. Welcome became Busways and then 222 survived until late 90s

(30 Mar 2018, 9:25 pm)NewcastleOne wrote Has the Go North East order been released yet?

(31 Mar 2018, 10:35 am)Citaro5326 wrote 5438 plain red now I've been told

(30 Mar 2018, 8:15 pm)Pulsar wrote Would I be correct in thinking that the remaining Waggonway solars will stay in service until the new mini Optare Solo's arrive? The arrival of these solos will allow 706 - 708 to transfer to Peterlee and for the X6 / X7 to go back to fully wear xpress solo and then the 54 plate solars to transfer out of Peterlee to Chester-le-Street replacing the Waggonway solars. Just trying to catch up as there seems to have been a lot happening recently.