(23 Mar 2019, 4:16 pm)JM03 wrote Is it possible all Percy Main corps could get swapped for these making all the solos at Percy Main 'indigo'?

(23 Mar 2019, 4:46 pm)Michael wrote Has the GNE livery Solo's got Stop announcements?

As Dan said these are needed on the 33/33A due to the number of blind people using the service from the docks

(23 Mar 2019, 8:41 am)Dan wrote It would be a fair old downgrade for the 33, to put lower spec Solos (poorer seats, no Next Stop Announcements) on it from Washington.

It's quite important that this service retains the Next Stop Announcement feature as there's a number of blind bus users in The Docks area that rely on this service.

717 is required at Stanley to be a spare Euro 6 small Solo for the Durham Cathedral contract. It is only allocated to the Chester-le-Street Town Service contract when neither of the two white Solos are VOR. 709 is not Euro 6 therefore would not be suitable.

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(23 Mar 2019, 5:11 pm)Malarkey wrote But it's the same fair old downgrade for the Indigo Washington 81/82/83 & 84 when one those lower spec Solos are used on those services rather than being kept on the 85/86 though, in all fairness the seats on them need reupholstering and if NSA's were installed it would bring them up to the same spec as the Solo SR's and it would standardise the minibus fleet at Deptford.

As mentioned in one of my previous posts what happens when 681/689/690 are VOR etc, one of the lower spec Solos with Black Cats branding takes it's place or whatever is spare at Deptford, in the last month and a bit I have seen 700, 5439 and 6901 along with Scania L94's on the 33's
 
Otherwise my alternative suggestion would be if the 11 new single decks end up being for the 4 then I would transfer the Mercs to Deptford for use on the 33/33A/35 and 38, therefore the 33's retain NSA's for the blind bus users around The Docks.

I would still transfer 681/689 and 690 to Washington for use on the 85/86, then the lower spec Solos can go elsewhere in the fleet.

(23 Mar 2019, 5:36 pm)Andreos1 wrote I keep having little voms in the mouth at the thought of something smaller or lighter replacing those Mercs on the 4.

I think they're wuality vehicles from a passenger perspective and they will be hard to replace for ride quality or comfort. 

Do they get something cheaper and tart it up in the style of purple Streetlite or actually buy something that's gonna last?

(20 Mar 2019, 12:46 pm)JACK6081 wrote Passed saltmeadows earlier 709 is in  plain black livery 6104 is back and 6000 is in corporate livery

(23 Mar 2019, 5:35 pm)Billinghambuslad wrote What is 6000 to be used on?

(23 Mar 2019, 5:35 pm)Billinghambuslad wrote What is 6000 to be used on?

(23 Mar 2019, 9:04 pm)DavidSBrough wrote Probably short 1s between Whitley Bay and North Shields to compete with the Stagecoach Seasider.

(23 Mar 2019, 11:31 pm)Wellsey18 wrote You never know could be 333? Could prove to be good competition for that seafront Stagecoach service? 

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(23 Mar 2019, 5:36 pm)Andreos1 wrote I keep having little voms in the mouth at the thought of something smaller or lighter replacing those Mercs on the 4.

I think they're wuality vehicles from a passenger perspective and they will be hard to replace for ride quality or comfort. 

Do they get something cheaper and tart it up in the style of purple Streetlite or actually buy something that's gonna last?

(24 Mar 2019, 9:15 am)R838PRG wrote Is the demo Enviro 200 still here? I’ve not managed a photo of it yet.

(23 Mar 2019, 8:41 am)Dan wrote It would be a fair old downgrade for the 33, to put lower spec Solos (poorer seats, no Next Stop Announcements) on it from Washington.

It's quite important that this service retains the Next Stop Announcement feature as there's a number of blind bus users in The Docks area that rely on this service.


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(23 Mar 2019, 1:55 pm)Coppercap40 wrote I thought it would be at all venues shown,  so which days will it be used ?

(25 Mar 2019, 1:27 pm)Ds1197 wrote 681 is in indigo branding

(20 Mar 2019, 12:46 pm)JACK6081 wrote Passed saltmeadows earlier 709 is in  plain black livery 6104 is back and 6000 is in corporate livery

(25 Mar 2019, 6:56 pm)TEN 6083 wrote

Confirmed it is going to Washington


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(25 Mar 2019, 8:50 pm)Malarkey wrote Wonder if this has been returned to Deptford or if it has gone straight to Washington.

(25 Mar 2019, 8:52 pm)Dan wrote It won't be transferring to Washington immediately. It returned to service on the 33 at Deptford today, so get your 'limited time only' shots while you can...

(25 Mar 2019, 8:57 pm)Michael wrote How long till it leaves and will 689/690 follow?, What will go on the 33/33A?

(25 Mar 2019, 9:09 pm)NewcastleOne wrote Possibly the Vehicles that we’re allocated to the 333 and 33/33a(Newcastle) as those Contracts have been lost.

(25 Mar 2019, 9:09 pm)NewcastleOne wrote Possibly the Vehicles that we’re allocated to the 333 and 33/33a(Newcastle) as those Contracts have been lost.

(25 Mar 2019, 9:09 pm)NewcastleOne wrote Possibly the Vehicles that we’re allocated to the 333 and 33/33a(Newcastle) as those Contracts have been lost.

(25 Mar 2019, 9:35 pm)Dan wrote The K3 was the other contract lost in addition to the 333, not the 33/33A. The 32A contract was lost too, possibly the one you're thinking of, but this was evening/Sunday only so was not additional PVR.

Two Solos have been released from the K3 and 333 contract losses and are now allocated to service 19, releasing 4981/82 from the Percy Main fleet into a float/reserve position in the fleet (remaining allocated to Percy Main).

(25 Mar 2019, 9:39 pm)Malarkey wrote I would assume these are on the Northumberland Park short boards.

(25 Mar 2019, 9:42 pm)Dan wrote No, should be Ashington runs. The Solos are more reliable than the ageing Volvo B7RLE.

(25 Mar 2019, 9:58 pm)omnicity4659 wrote Hopefully not allocated on any peak runs to/from Cobalt?

(25 Mar 2019, 10:00 pm)Dan wrote Even if they were, I don't think it is that much of an issue. The single decks are no where near full to capacity.

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(25 Mar 2019, 10:02 pm)omnicity4659 wrote The 1608 off Shields is full and standing leaving Cobalt. Hate to see a Solo on it.