On 6125 and I must say it loves to move its a smother ride than a Gemini.

8265 has a Metrocentre free WiFi ad.

4939 actually caught fire at the Scania dealership. Surprised that there isn't many photos of it as it appeared at a bus and coach show before it's demise.

4922 made a nice little trip to Stanley. At Sunniside heading back to Riverside now

Do any of the Scania deckers have Tachographs fitted? Would be worth swapping one for a B7 Gemini from Riverside as a TTX backup rather than using 6084 and fitting it with Moovbox?

(06 Jun 2015, 1:18 pm)Robert wrote 4922 made a nice little trip to Stanley. At Sunniside heading back to Riverside now

Robert, you not been on 5401 to hear the Next Stop Announcements, with you been our Derwentside expert. 

(05 Jun 2015, 9:07 pm)Michael wrote The 2 plain purple versa's might join the Orbit if the proposed changes go ahead (Q1 merging with 51/52) athough this depends on how much it will increase by.

The Q2 and X40/40A were planned to merge together, interworking every 20 minutes, the rest of the Quaylink Versa's should go on their (although were not sure what they will be branded as)

So:

51/52 - Gateshead - Carr Hill - Felling Square - Heworth - Leam Lane Estate - Springwell Estate - Wrekenton - Easedale Gardens - Dryden Road - Gateshead - The Sage l Gateshead College l Baltic l Quayside l Newcastle - every 15 minutes - PVR 11? - the 2 purple versa's joins as "Orbit"

Q3 - Newcastle l Quayside l Ouseburn l St Peter’s Basin - Newcastle City Centre » Gosforth High Street » Regent Centre » Great North Road » Brunton Lane » Great Park  - Every 20 minutes - PVR 7 - Branded as ?????? (although this had a proposed route change at the great park, so it might change)

The 2 spare versa will remain at Riverside 
 

Thought the old 51/52 used to run into Newcastle years ago before the orbit brand came along 

---

Anyhow 6128 is alive and kicking on X30/X31 managed a photo

(06 Jun 2015, 1:24 pm)citaro5284 wrote Robert, you not been on 5401 to hear the Next Stop Announcements, with you been our Derwentside expert. 

Unfortunately not. Must try and get myself out sometime instead of sitting on my arse all day 

The Omnidekkas are really impressive! Rode 6128 from Gateshead to Lanchester and it was so smooth, and had a lot of power.

(06 Jun 2015, 2:25 pm)Tom wrote The Omnidekkas are really impressive! Rode 6128 from Gateshead to Lanchester and it was so smooth, and had a lot of power.

I think they sound great

(06 Jun 2015, 2:25 pm)Tom wrote The Omnidekkas are really impressive! Rode 6128 from Gateshead to Lanchester and it was so smooth, and had a lot of power.

The drivers at Stanley think all of their Christmases have come at once! On a changeover, two drivers were discussing the OmniDekkas, and both stated "they are like rockets", and one even said that he "didn't want to come off it".. They must be good!

(06 Jun 2015, 1:25 pm)Racer_Experience wrote

---

Anyhow 6128 is alive and kicking on X30/X31 managed a photo

https://www.flickr.com/photos/109436376@...ed-public/ Here's my photo of it

(06 Jun 2015, 2:29 pm)Dan wrote The drivers at Stanley think all of their Christmases have come at once! On a changeover, two drivers were discussing the OmniDekkas, and both stated "they are like rockets", and one even said that he "didn't want to come off it".. They must be good!

They should of been sent to Crook the replace the unreliable Prontos... they'd of been ideal on the X21.

(06 Jun 2015, 2:46 pm)pdiddy wrote They should of been sent to Crook the replace the unreliable Prontos... they'd of been ideal on the X21.

They will be ideal on X21 but I heard from an official manager of Go North East aka Kevin Carr that X21 could be getting new vehicles as the ones on there are far too old heard this at a launch event for Coast & Country that was 2 months ago

I know this is on the wrong thread but im just going to guess,    Volvo B5tl/Wright Gemini 3 will be the probably first choice as GNE have bought Volvo for years

My personal choice would be the Optare Metrodecker as its a totally new design, lightweight body, stop start technology, more powerful , ZF ecolife gearbox and very passenger appealing compared to a 15 and half year old B7TL Plaxton President Though the metrodecker has 2 less seats to a president so there will be a decrease in seated passenger capacity.


Or at least get a demonstrator like when they tested a B5TL on the X21 last year and see how they cope with the route.

Are deckers not using redheugh bridge due to high winds. I live above and not seen any. And sure the 44 which had a decker on went along Askew road earlier

(06 Jun 2015, 5:42 pm)South Tyne Lad wrote I know this is on the wrong thread but im just going to guess,    Volvo B5tl/Wright Gemini 3 will be the probably first choice as GNE have bought Volvo for years

My personal choice would be the Optare Metrodecker as its a totally new design, lightweight body, stop start technology, more powerful , ZF ecolife gearbox and very passenger appealing compared to a 15 and half year old B7TL Plaxton President Though the metrodecker has 2 less seats to a president so there will be a decrease in seated passenger capacity.

Are you and Davey Bowyer in any way related?

No where not realated

(06 Jun 2015, 5:42 pm)South Tyne Lad wrote I know this is on the wrong thread but im just going to guess,    Volvo B5tl/Wright Gemini 3 will be the probably first choice as GNE have bought Volvo for years

My personal choice would be the Optare Metrodecker as its a totally new design, lightweight body, stop start technology, more powerful , ZF ecolife gearbox and very passenger appealing compared to a 15 and half year old B7TL Plaxton President Though the metrodecker has 2 less seats to a president so there will be a decrease in seated passenger capacity.


Or at least get a demonstrator like when they tested a B5TL on the X21 last year and see how they cope with the route.

they may get a Wright Streetdeck the ones First have there is a 50% chance there is one coming up on Demonstration soon as somebody posted a shot of it interior wise and it had the current Go North East seat moquettes but i think some will go to X21, 27, they may trial a similar vehicle on X9/X10 to see how it copes along the long 2 plus hour round trip on X9/X10

I just don't think Wright Streetdecks are capable of working the X21 never mind the X9/10! too many hills and fast running for a engine that's used in solos and a 4 speed voith just makes it worse.  Yes the Metrodeckers have the same engine as the streetdecks but might work better with a lighter body and a 6 speed ZF
im not a expert so I might get proved wrong if a demonstrator comes and does ok.

Theres a video on youtube of a brighton streetdeck struggling badly up the hills, I mean struggling!

I think GNE are turning into arriva a bit, There like buying streetlites for all routes and if they buy streetdecks as a double decker that shows there buying cheaper less capable buses for routes that used to have mighty B10BLES, Omnicities and Mercedes Citaro Bendys there all heavy duty buses with bigger engines for tougher routes like them except the X66

Im sure everyone here would prefer a B8RLE on the Limes and maybe double deckers for the Red Kites though it was right buying streetlites for the X66 as its only 10 minutes long.
Nearly all bus companies don't buy heavywieghts now, that's why I think the B8RLE will not sell good its all about fuel savings!!!

(06 Jun 2015, 6:19 pm)Racer_Experience wrote they may get a Wright Streetdeck the ones First have there is a 50% chance there is one coming up on Demonstration soon as somebody posted a shot of it interior wise and it had the current Go North East seat moquettes but i think some will go to X21, 27, they may trial a similar vehicle on X9/X10 to see how it copes along the long 2 plus hour round trip on X9/X10

The demo volvo b5 on the X21 was nowhere near powerful enough and wouldn't have lasted a year, that's why I don't think any were bought. These 5 litre engines in deckers aren't suitable to the demanding route. That's why maybe they should try and get newer scania deckers 56 reg maybe from Brighton or B9s as these would be more suitable for the route

(06 Jun 2015, 6:44 pm)South Tyne Lad wrote I think GNE are turning into arriva a bit, There like buying streetlites for all routes and if they buy streetdecks as a double decker that shows there buying cheaper less capable buses for routes that used to have mighty B10BLES, Omnicities and Mercedes Citaro Bendys there all heavy duty buses with bigger engines for tougher routes like them except the X66

Im sure everyone here would prefer a B8RLE on the Limes and maybe double deckers for the Red Kites though it was right buying streetlites for the X66 as its only 10 minutes long.
Nearly all bus companies don't buy heavywieghts now, that's why I think the B8RLE will not sell good     its all about fuel savings!!!

You'll find that most companies in this industry now favour light-weight vehicles opposed to heavy-weight vehicles - it's not a case of "Go North East turning into Arriva" or anything like that.

I think the reason why a large number of bus operators are ordering single-deckers from Wrightbus is because Euro 5 is still offered. Euro 6 offers a greater fuel efficiency, which, when paired with a lighter weight, offers significant fuel savings. However, in the present climate, the operators struggle to reap the rewards from Euro 6 because the initial cost is so much greater than its Euro 5 equivalent. When manufacturers no longer offer Euro 5 products (ADL recently suggested that they were looking to wholly move over to Euro 6 soon), Euro 6 will be less of a novelty and I think this is when new buses will reduce in price, giving operators more of a choice between light-weight and heavy-weight.

As it stands, operators don't have much of a choice for heavy-weight products anyway. The Volvo B8RLE and Mercedes Citaro are some of the only heavy-weight vehicles available, and I think we're still waiting on a Wrights-bodied demonstrator vehicle of the former, with a MCV body presently being the only option available? 

Yes MCV offer a body on the B8RLE

(06 Jun 2015, 7:05 pm)pdiddy wrote The demo volvo b5 on the X21 was nowhere near powerful enough and wouldn't have lasted a year, that's why I don't think any were bought. These 5 litre engines in deckers aren't suitable to the demanding route. That's why maybe they should try and get newer scania deckers 56 reg maybe from Brighton or B9s as these would be more suitable for the route

B9s would be ideal but unfortunately are not offered anymore unless GNE transfer some from another route or theres some dealer stock left ( which I doubt )
I never tried the B5TL on the X21 but going by your words it wasn't powerful enough so the streetdeck should be worse cuase its less powerful than the B5
56 reg scanias from brighton is a good idea but I don't think will happen, I think GNE would want to upgrade it to new vehicles.

(05 Jun 2015, 9:07 pm)Michael wrote The 2 plain purple versa's might join the Orbit if the proposed changes go ahead (Q1 merging with 51/52) athough this depends on how much it will increase by.

The Q2 and X40/40A were planned to merge together, interworking every 20 minutes, the rest of the Quaylink Versa's should go on their (although were not sure what they will be branded as)

So:

51/52 - Gateshead - Carr Hill - Felling Square - Heworth - Leam Lane Estate - Springwell Estate - Wrekenton - Easedale Gardens - Dryden Road - Gateshead - The Sage l Gateshead College l Baltic l Quayside l Newcastle - every 15 minutes - PVR 11? - the 2 purple versa's joins as "Orbit"

Q3 - Newcastle l Quayside l Ouseburn l St Peter’s Basin - Newcastle City Centre » Gosforth High Street » Regent Centre » Great North Road » Brunton Lane » Great Park  - Every 20 minutes - PVR 7 - Branded as ?????? (although this had a proposed route change at the great park, so it might change)

The 2 spare versa will remain at Riverside 
 

Looks like:

Q1 is combined with the current 51/52, and will need 13 Versa if the same routes as now.
Numbered Q1 (current 51) & Q2 (current 52).

Q3 is the current X40 and Q2 combined, will need 6 Versa based on current running times and assumption that the frequency on Dean St is reduced from combined 5 mins to combined 7.5 mins (15 mins on each route).

There are 9 Quaylink and 9 Orbit Versa so perhaps one of the purple Versa (8328 & 8329) will become a Quaylink.

(06 Jun 2015, 7:50 pm)busmanT wrote Looks like:

Q1 is combined with the current 51/52, and will need 13 Versa if the same routes as now.
Numbered Q1 (current 51) & Q2 (current 52).

Q3 is the current X40 and Q2 combined, will need 6 Versa based on current running times and assumption that the frequency on Dean St is reduced from combined 5 mins to combined 7.5 mins (15 mins on each route).

There are 9 Quaylink and 9 Orbit Versa so perhaps one of the purple Versa (8328 & 8329) will become a Quaylink.

Think it would be better to Purchase 2 or 3 more Streetlites for the Saltwell Park and have the 53/54 merge with the Q1, Already enough Buses between Gateshead and Newcastle as it is in my opinion without even thinking about extending the 51/52.

(06 Jun 2015, 8:26 pm)Malarkey wrote Think it would be better to Purchase 2 or 3 more Streetlites for the Saltwell Park and have the 53/54 merge with the Q1, Already enough Buses between Gateshead and Newcastle as it is in my opinion without even thinking about extending the 51/52.

But the same amount of buses it will be wont it.....as the Quaylink does it now???

(06 Jun 2015, 7:50 pm)busmanT wrote Looks like:

Q1 is combined with the current 51/52, and will need 13 Versa if the same routes as now.
Numbered Q1 (current 51) & Q2 (current 52).

Q3 is the current X40 and Q2 combined, will need 6 Versa based on current running times and assumption that the frequency on Dean St is reduced from combined 5 mins to combined 7.5 mins (15 mins on each route).

There are 9 Quaylink and 9 Orbit Versa so perhaps one of the purple Versa (8328 & 8329) will become a Quaylink.

Ah right thanks, that sounds better.

Hopefully we see a better version of the Quaylink.. if they're branded that again.

(06 Jun 2015, 8:32 pm)citaro5284 wrote But the same amount of buses it will be wont it.....as the Quaylink does it now???

How many Minutes Layover do the Saltwell Parks get in Newcastle City Centre though as I would think an extra Vehicle or 2 might be needed, it takes the Q1 takes 18 Minutes to go from Gateshead to Central Station.

Was watching the Champions League Final so my previous post was pure guess work.