Fleet News - 17/11/15:

Ex-Oxford Volvo B10BLEs 5151, 5156, 5158 & 5159 (T801 CBW etc) have been withdrawn from Percy Main.

(17 Nov 2015, 10:47 am)Go North East wrote Fleet News - 17/11/15:

Ex-Oxford Volvo B10BLEs 5151, 5156, 5158 & 5159 (T801 CBW etc) have been withdrawn from Percy Main.

Least the 9 will have something decent now am sure Tom will agree with me same applies for him for 17/17A and it solves the mystery of which vehicles are not going to DDA Complinment that may also answer Michael question about them

(17 Nov 2015, 9:52 am)pdiddy wrote 6001 is getting painted .......... for the ...... service 



Haha love all the guesses , eh Dan , Citaro5284

6001- 6007 to Crook alongside 3943
6049 to Riverside as TTX spare
6084 repainted silver and branded for the TEN
6050, 6051 to Hexham / Riverside
6052 to Percy Main
6053, 6054, 6055 to Chester with 2 Angel branded and perhaps GKN retrofitted. the 3rd acts as a first resort spare 

3941 and 3942 remain at Riverside as spares
3963 and 3964 replace 3866 and 3867 at Percy Main
3962 goes where needed and 3965 remains at Chester as a last resort spare.

(17 Nov 2015, 12:20 pm)DaveyBowyer wrote 6001- 6007 to Crook alongside 3943
6049 to Riverside as TTX spare
6084 repainted silver and branded for the TEN
6050, 6051 to Hexham / Riverside
6052 to Percy Main
6053, 6054, 6055 to Chester with 2 Angel branded and perhaps GKN retrofitted. the 3rd acts as a first resort spare 

3941 and 3942 remain at Riverside as spares
3963 and 3964 replace 3866 and 3867 at Percy Main
3962 goes where needed and 3965 remains at Chester as a last resort spare.

Here we go again them won't happen the red arrows batch are only getting a refresh of red repaint that's all then rebranded once all have been done

Connections4 Xpress Anyone.

(17 Nov 2015, 12:30 pm)Diamond One wrote Here we go again them won't happen the red arrows batch are only getting a refresh of red repaint that's all then rebranded once all have been done

How do you know?

(17 Nov 2015, 10:47 am)Go North East wrote Fleet News - 17/11/15:

Ex-Oxford Volvo B10BLEs 5151, 5156, 5158 & 5159 (T801 CBW etc) have been withdrawn from Percy Main.

On the Fleet PDF, only the Riverside/Hexham and Percy Main page appears.

(17 Nov 2015, 1:55 pm)Michael wrote On the Fleet PDF, only the Riverside/Hexham and Percy Main page appears.

I noticed the same the pdf files will be sorted more than likely soon but I'm sure if someone gives a slight email or let Dan know it will be sorted asap

(17 Nov 2015, 12:56 pm)LeeCalder wrote How do you know?

I heard they were changes from a customer service advisor yesterday but he didn't say which one is getting it for January the south Tyneside ones need updating and Davey always says about Gemini cascades when they won't happen it will be last year when citaros from Blaydon Racers were getting a refresh

(17 Nov 2015, 1:55 pm)Michael wrote On the Fleet PDF, only the Riverside/Hexham and Percy Main page appears.

(17 Nov 2015, 2:13 pm)Diamond One wrote I noticed the same the pdf files will be sorted more than likely soon but I'm sure if someone gives a slight email or let Dan know it will be sorted asap

It has been re-uploaded.

I heard a rumour that the X21 will get new buses with an increase to every 20 minutes....

(17 Nov 2015, 2:49 pm)Michael wrote I heard a rumour that the X21 will get new buses with an increase to every 20 minutes....

Take it with a pinch of salt.

(17 Nov 2015, 2:55 pm)R852 PRG wrote Take it with a pinch of salt.

Don't worry, i did,

(17 Nov 2015, 2:49 pm)Michael wrote I heard a rumour that the X21 will get new buses with an increase to every 20 minutes....

That has been rumoured for about the last two years, the rumour also said it would use the Citaro's off the 309/310 which of course didn't happen.

Would be nice if the X21 was incresed to 20 minute operation although if it is, hopefully it would still be double decker operated.

(17 Nov 2015, 3:02 pm)Jimmi wrote That has been rumoured for about the last two years, the rumour also said it would use the Citaro's off the 309/310 which of course didn't happen.

Would be nice if the X21 was incresed to 20 minute operation although if it is, hopefully it would still be double decker operated.

Personally, I think a 20-minute freqency is best on the Durham-Newcastle stretch of the route, but I think the current 30 minute frequency on the Durham-Bishop Auckland section of the route should stay as it is.

(17 Nov 2015, 11:58 am)Diamond One wrote Least the 9 will have something decent now am sure Tom will agree with me same applies for him for 17/17A and it solves the mystery of which vehicles are not going to DDA Complinment that may also answer Michael question about them

They are DDA compliant.

(17 Nov 2015, 12:30 pm)Diamond One wrote Here we go again them won't happen the red arrows batch are only getting a refresh of red repaint that's all then rebranded once all have been done

And then there's you idea that the 27 will get double deckers.

(17 Nov 2015, 3:57 pm)DanPicken wrote They are DDA compliant.

I don't they are - i think out of the duel door B10,  its the ones on the FAB 57 that are going DDA.... of course this may change but i don't think it will because the ones on the FAB 57 will replace some of the 1999 ones.

(17 Nov 2015, 4:06 pm)Michael wrote I don't they are - i think out of the duel door B10,  its the ones on the FAB 57 that are going DDA.... of course this may change but i don't think it will because the ones on the FAB 57 will replace some of the 1999 ones.

I've rode most if them and if you sit at the front you can notice them go up when the doors close.

(17 Nov 2015, 4:09 pm)DanPicken wrote I've rode most if them and if you sit at the front you can notice them go up when the doors close.

I don't get what you mean sorry?

(17 Nov 2015, 3:02 pm)Jimmi wrote That has been rumoured for about the last two years, the rumour also said it would use the Citaro's off the 309/310 which of course didn't happen.

Would be nice if the X21 was incresed to 20 minute operation although if it is, hopefully it would still be double decker operated.

But was originally planned for that to happen.

(17 Nov 2015, 2:15 pm)Diamond One wrote I heard they were changes from a customer service advisor yesterday but he didn't say which one is getting it for January the south Tyneside ones need updating and Davey always says about Gemini cascades when they won't happen it will be last year when citaros from Blaydon Racers were getting a refresh

The Blaydon Racers is a totally different kettle of fish to the Red Arrows. The Red Arrows is one of GNE's main money makers. This coupled with:

- Could do with a brand update from the NSA's and perhaps (which is nothing wrong with) the livery.

- The B9s were ordered before (with the exception of the 21 and 47), plug sockets became standard on most decker routes.

- B9s are proven and reliable.

- Unless Streetdecks were ordered for the Pronto and the alleged fuel savings outweiged the purchase cost, then new vehicles aren't fully justified on the X21. However, due to the significant revenue generated by the X1, the purchase and running costs of a 'ROBUST' double decker such as the E400MMC (ADL / ADL and Cummins or ADL / Scania) could be justified.

- The E400MMC has been taken to like a duck to water by many operators and the classic version (Euro 5) has already been sampled on the X1 whilst covering for a long term VOR.

I forgot to post this yesterday, but it looked like 6071's rear blind wasn't working, the front and side blinds were working fine.

(17 Nov 2015, 4:43 pm)DaveyBowyer wrote The Blaydon Racers is a totally different kettle of fish to the Red Arrows. The Red Arrows is one of GNE's main money makers. This coupled with:

- Could do with a brand update from the NSA's and perhaps (which is nothing wrong with) the livery.

- The B9s were ordered before (with the exception of the 21 and 47), plug sockets became standard on most decker routes.

- B9s are proven and reliable.

- Unless Streetdecks were ordered for the Pronto and the alleged fuel savings outweiged the purchase cost, then new vehicles aren't fully justified on the X21. However, due to the significant revenue generated by the X1, the purchase and running costs of a 'ROBUST' double decker such as the E400MMC (ADL / ADL and Cummins or ADL / Scania) could be justified.

- The E400MMC has been taken to like a duck to water by many operators and the classic version (Euro 5) has already been sampled on the X1 whilst covering for a long term VOR.

Even though Volvos are outstanding Performance, presumably mechanically wise and a pleasure to ride on, I cant say that Volvo have excited the market with the B5TL like the B9TL did.
Even though last year people quoted that it was sluggish on the X21, I have to say Volvo have significantly improved with their production examples, with a Lothian Airlink example performing very well on both fast and slow sections of route 100 with only one gearbox slipup on route and the Gemini 3 bodywork is a work of art to go with it.
ADL have done a smart move in keeping the same 6 Cylinder Cummins ISB in their E400 MMC, proven, robust ( Cant say the same for Euro 4s! ) and suitable for all types of terrain that is why NXWM have favoured them for inner city routes aswell as Johnsons for their express X20 from Statford Uopn Avon to Birmingham.
Unfortunately as much as I love Volvo and the quality that goes In them, I cant see any new Volvos on the streets of the North East for a long time coming unfortunately, ADL have won this battle.

(17 Nov 2015, 5:39 pm)South Tyne Lad wrote Unfortunately as much as I love Volvo and the quality that goes In them, I cant see any new Volvos on the streets of the North East for a long time coming unfortunately, ADL have won this battle.

The rest of the Go-Ahead Group seem to have favoured the integral Wright StreetDeck - perhaps neither ADL nor Volvo have 'won this battle'..?

(17 Nov 2015, 5:44 pm)Dan wrote The rest of the Go-Ahead Group seem to have favoured the integral Wright StreetDeck - perhaps neither ADL nor Volvo have 'won this battle'..?

(17 Nov 2015, 5:44 pm)Dan wrote The rest of the Go-Ahead Group seem to have favoured the integral Wright StreetDeck - perhaps neither ADL nor Volvo have 'won this battle'..?

I can't say if the StreetDeck is good or not as i haven't been on it yet... lol

(17 Nov 2015, 5:50 pm)Michael wrote I can't say if the StreetDeck is good or not as i haven't been on it yet... lol

We can all tell you straight away its not lol

(17 Nov 2015, 5:51 pm)South Tyne Lad wrote We can all tell you straight away its not lol

Haha, i'll have to try and have a ride before it goes else where...

(17 Nov 2015, 5:44 pm)Dan wrote The rest of the Go-Ahead Group seem to have favoured the integral Wright StreetDeck - perhaps neither ADL nor Volvo have 'won this battle'..?

Though yes Go-Ahead have favoured the Streetdeck, There have been a few mistakes made by Brighton And Hove replacing Omnidekkas with Streetdecks with them reportedly severely struggling up hills on the south coast which can be seen by a quick search on YouTube. This type of roads are very common in the north east so should be considered after the Brighton and Hove kafuffle that Streetdecks are a no go for GNE