(21 Feb 2026, 4:54 pm)WestDurhamSwift wrote 12 Branded X1 Streetdecks to Consett. 

Buses still need to be withdrawn: 

6184, 6191, 6949. 

Enviro 200s out to another depot takes away 7. 

Theres 10 in total. Arguement to say Consett are low on deckers so take an extra 2 into consideration with both 6336/37 now over 12 years old 

Theres also 4 ex london B9tls which could be moved to another depot to help withdraw some of the older versas/older deckers.

The 4 ex London deckers possibly replaced in time with 6352-55 perhaps?
Then X5/15 with the purple x lines e400s , the X45 in the hands of the new ultroliners and the 6/47 with the X1 streetdecks?

Been confirmed by an employee on facebook that the angel streetdecks are NOT going to percy main

(22 Feb 2026, 9:59 am)Iamtheone8483748 wrote Been confirmed by an employee on facebook that the angel streetdecks are NOT going to percy main

Wasn’t it mentioned before that the ex angels were going on the 51/52 93/94? before it was mentioned going to Percy main


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

(22 Feb 2026, 9:59 am)Iamtheone8483748 wrote Been confirmed by an employee on facebook that the angel streetdecks are NOT going to percy main

I have it on good authority that the plan was changed after it was made clear on here that nothing short of a Volvo Olympian could cope with the arduous slip roads on the Coast Road.

(22 Feb 2026, 11:24 am)cbma06 wrote Wasn’t it mentioned before that the ex angels were going on the 51/52 93/94? before it was mentioned going to Percy main

Can't say I've ever seen it mentioned as a definite. 

Only time I can remember is in one of the multiple they'd be good for Percy Main posts and I'd say they'd be good on there as they're easy routes as a suggestion and are desperate for an upgrade regardless. (Still think that).

Interesting to note that the 27 is a full Streetdeck allocation today mind, bar one, which is not normal and had a fair few yesterday aswell.

(22 Feb 2026, 11:34 am)PH - BQA wrote I have it on good authority that the plan was changed after it was made clear on here that nothing short of a Volvo Olympian could cope with the arduous slip roads on the Coast Road.

Living the dream there with Leyland / Volvo Olympians.........now for those who remember "pick up those phones"!

---

(22 Feb 2026, 11:45 am)Storx wrote Can't say I've ever seen it mentioned as a definite. 

Only time I can remember is in one of the multiple they'd be good for Percy Main posts and I'd say they'd be good on there as they're easy routes as a suggestion and are desperate for an upgrade regardless. (Still think that).

Interesting to note that the 27 is a full Streetdeck allocation today mind, bar one, which is not normal and had a fair few yesterday aswell.

Wasn't the 301 touted for these and a decker upgrade?

(22 Feb 2026, 11:49 am)L469 YVK wrote Wasn't the 301 touted for these and a decker upgrade?

Aye, Coast Roads definitely have been aswell.

Wonder if this new touted order might be one of the Percy Main routes now aswell with the Cobalt Clipper B9's staying/going onto the opposite service?

With Arriva getting new buses soon, which likely are going on the 306/308 they probably might be wanting to protect their routes since they've just dropped the nuke on the partnership.

(22 Feb 2026, 11:58 am)Storx wrote Aye, Coast Roads definitely have been aswell.

Wonder if this new touted order might be one of the Percy Main routes now aswell with the Cobalt Clipper B9's staying/going onto the opposite service?

With Arriva getting new buses soon, which likely are going on the 306/308 they probably might be wanting to protect their routes since they've just dropped the nuke on the partnership.

Or possibly the X1 & some of the X21 StreetDecks going given they're newer?

I don't think the 307/309 justify 'brand new' vehicles, but certainly decent ones.

It's the fuel economy side of things that makes them suited routes for Daimler StreetDecks though - including the ad-hoc / planned 35'X' workings.

GNE only bought B9TLs as they were coming end of line and possibly got a good bulk discount for 6084-6117 maybe?

I don't think the 301 requires decker's across the full route as if anything it is a "Supplementary Service" between Newcastle-Wallsend with other Stagecoach Services/Metro providing capacity where needed, you then have a number of service options via Bus between North Shields and Whitley Bay along with the Metro.

Currently where I do think it could benefit from deckers on the existing frequency is between Newcastle-MetroCentre only equally to the same token a frequency increase with short runs on this section of the route numbered as 302 would be better overall with a 12 minute frequency justifiable with during peaks and every 15 minutes during off-peaks.

The solution would be splitting the 301 into two services MetroCentre-Newcastle / Newcastle-Whitley Bay which would improve reliability as delay on the Coast won't then effect service at the other end of the route as I have seen multiple occasions where services have terminated at Gateshead.

In turn frequency would better match service demand and corridors get a stronger service without wasting buses on weaker sections of the route, reliability is improved with a hopeful boost to passenger numbers and reducing operational risk to the business.

(22 Feb 2026, 12:41 pm)L469 YVK wrote Or possibly the X1 & some of the X21 StreetDecks going given they're newer?

I don't think the 307/309 justify 'brand new' vehicles, but certainly decent ones.

It's the fuel economy side of things that makes them suited routes for Daimler StreetDecks though - including the ad-hoc / planned 35'X' workings.

GNE only bought B9TLs as they were coming end of line and possibly got a good bulk discount for 6084-6117 maybe?

I get what you're saying but imo if were going on a pure economic viewpoint I'd argue the 27/51/52/93/94 would be better (if they end up there).

I want to put my neck on the line and say there's not a single NSL section on any of those routes; I'm even questioning if there's any 50 mph.

(22 Feb 2026, 6:26 pm)Storx wrote I get what you're saying but imo if were going on a pure economic viewpoint I'd argue the 27/51/52/93/94 would be better (if they end up there).

I want to put my neck on the line and say there's not a single NSL section on any of those routes; I'm even questioning if there's any 50 mph - the only possible section for that would be the Jarrow to South Shields area.

I think there's arguments for all routes we've mentioned haha!

307/309 good to give a bit more headway with competition.

But the 51/52/93/94 and 27 aren't too hard routes as you say and suppose it would pretty much keep the StreetDecks together in some sense.

Consett defintely need something, a shortage of serviceable deckers means the X30/31/32 has frequently had single desckers and solos recently and the old ex-London E400s on the 16 are awful, classic case of lipstick on a pig with the repaint and branding trying to fool people into believing they are newer than they are. The previous suggestion of all E400s seemed to make more sense than streetdecks. 

Before our friend pipes up about changing the X30/31/32 allocation and interworking to solve the problem again, from a passenger point of view at least that's not the answer, ideally it should go back to 4 an hour with at least two X30s an hour as it's the only bus to serve shield row while east stanley and chester road have plenty services already so no need for extra services going that way.

What buses are coming later in the year, anything for the 56 and 60

(23 Feb 2026, 8:25 pm)Unber43 wrote What buses are coming later in the year, anything for the 56 and 60

ADLs E200s and E400s apparently.

(23 Feb 2026, 8:37 pm)Retro Nero wrote ADLs E200s and E400s apparently.

One would assume 60/56.

Possibly 20/X20/65

Hopefully 

E200 for 20/60
E400 for X20/65/56

(23 Feb 2026, 8:48 pm)Unber43 wrote One would assume 60/56.

Possibly 20/X20/65

Hopefully 

E200 for 20/60
E400 for X20/65/56

For 56 & 60

Will they be branded or just corporate?

(22 Feb 2026, 12:41 pm)L469 YVK wrote GNE only bought B9TLs as they were coming end of line and possibly got a good bulk discount for 6084-6117 maybe?

No they brought the Volvo B9TLs because they were an establish and proven vehicle type that suited the fleet and wanted to get as many as they could to the point that they even acquired 4 from dealer stock (6118-6121).

Also bulk discount isn't affected by if a vehicle type is reaching the end of production. Builders offer that just for operators to buy more.

(23 Feb 2026, 10:31 pm)nova347 wrote Will they be branded or just corporate?

Corporate, the Drifer already no longer exists .

(24 Feb 2026, 7:01 am)Retro Nero wrote Corporate, the Drifer already no longer exists .

Is there a time frame as to when vehicles are reallocated to their next depots, I'm thinking of the red x1  deckers from Washington  upto consett