Anyone know if gne are operating the metro replacements in march for 15 days Tynemouth- Shiremoor.

Would be ideal for percy main

(24 Jan 2016, 10:10 pm)dannygee wrote Anyone know if gne are operating the metro replacements in march for 15 days Tynemouth- Shiremoor.

Would be ideal for percy main

will be announced nearer to the time itself as its january no plans have yet to be finalised

(24 Jan 2016, 10:10 pm)dannygee wrote Anyone know if gne are operating the metro replacements in march for 15 days Tynemouth- Shiremoor.



Would be ideal for percy main

I think Arriva are doing it as this is there territory.

(25 Jan 2016, 6:41 am)DanPicken wrote I think Arriva are doing it as this is there territory.

Doesn't matter whose 'territory' the rail replacement falls under - all interested parties will have to bid for the work and Nexus will award the contract to the most commercially economic bid.

I would say that part of North Tyneside is for Go-Ahead than Arriva. But as Dan said, it depends on the bids, but it could be Arriva or GNE as they would have deckers spare for being the school holidays.

(24 Jan 2016, 9:05 pm)G-CPTN wrote It leaves the bus station as 687 @ 11:35 then ALDI @ 11:40 and runs to Corbridge and back, leaving Corbridge @ 11:53 or thereabouts - depending on the delays on Haugh Lane (due to gas-main renewal).
ETA Hexham bus station 12:10.

It then used to run up to Colwell via Barrasford and Gunnerton (Snaith 882) leaving Hexham as 682 @ 12:10 - but that was 'withdrawn' by GNE as uneconomic.

From Corbridge (instead of the 687) you could catch the TEN (from the Hill Street stop) @ 12:08 - ETA Hexham 12:17.

TENs might run a couple of minutes late due to the closure of Station Road, Corbridge.

Not quite correct - this trip was not 'withdrawn' by GNE. It was paid for by the County Council for a short time, before they asked for it to be withdrawn.

(25 Jan 2016, 10:04 am)eezypeazy wrote Not quite correct - this trip was not 'withdrawn' by GNE. It was paid for by the County Council for a short time, before they asked for it to be withdrawn.

Apologies.

(25 Jan 2016, 7:17 am)Dan wrote Doesn't matter whose 'territory' the rail replacement falls under - all interested parties will have to bid for the work and Nexus will award the contract to the most commercially economic bid.

The big closure back in 2011 or whenever it was from Byker to North Shields saw a few operators. GNE had the majority with Weardale having some journeys. But GNE provided vehicles from all of its larger depots. That was the time that 6008 - 6042 arrived and operated in their London colours still with dual door operation.

Fleet News: 25/01/16

An Optare Solo is on loan at Hexham, pending the delivery of new vehicles, to cover for MPD 555: NK53 TKT which has been withdrawn together with 561: NK53 TLF. The Solo is 9106: YJ10 EZB. Dennis MPD 524: NA52 AWG has been sold to Alpha Recovery, Weetslade and Scania L94/Wright artic 4950: NK51 OLR has been sold to Diagtest Ltd, Meadowfield.

The Vyking im on has no lights on, driver said they have a issue with them.

5279 has a new blind.

Whats the crack with 5277?

(25 Jan 2016, 5:20 pm)S813 FVK wrote Whats the crack with 5277?

Aye, it has had a destination fitted that has more LED's in it to see how we find it.

That is the standard font for that blind.

(25 Jan 2016, 5:21 pm)citaro5284 wrote Aye, it has had a destination fitted that has more LED's in it to see how we find it.

That is the standard font for that blind.

Thought the font wasn't the regular. That route number is fatter for a start!

Would like to try and see it when i'm out and about over that way. Can't really tell how good it is from a photo.

(25 Jan 2016, 5:25 pm)S813 FVK wrote Thought the font wasn't the regular. That route number is fatter for a start!

Would like to try and see it when i'm out and about over that way. Can't really tell how good it is from a photo.

It is the same type of display as in the rear of an indiGo branded Optare Solo, if you have seen one of those in the flesh.

If you think the route number is fat on that photo - wait until you see it on a 49A or 49C... Not keen myself!

The blind looks way to small for the bus and 49A is tiny it scrolls rather slow as well

(25 Jan 2016, 5:32 pm)Dan wrote It is the same type of display as in the rear of an indiGo branded Optare Solo, if you have seen one of those in the flesh.

Ah right. I've seen them but ive never had long enough to have a look at the display. And whn i do have a longer period of time, my eyes are drawn to the massive number and i completely forget about the rest of the destination.

(25 Jan 2016, 5:42 pm)Transbus574 wrote The blind looks way to small for the bus and 49A is tiny it scrolls rather slow as well

The destination had not been re-programmed until noon, when it was removed from service and re-programmed by myself.

Trust me - the 49A is not tiny any more..!

(25 Jan 2016, 5:49 pm)Dan wrote The destination had not been re-programmed until noon, when it was removed from service and re-programmed by myself.

Trust me - the 49A is not tiny any more..!

Can you not change the fonts to the standard for the front? 

Ever since you've mentioned it being the same type of display as the ones in the rear of the SRs, it looks stranger.

Noticed when i saw 5247 in the town on the 309/310 the via points were in wrong order on 310. Unsure about 309

(25 Jan 2016, 7:36 pm)dannygee wrote Noticed when i saw 5247 in the town on the 309/310 the via points were in wrong order on 310. Unsure about 309

I have arranged for the buses to have the destination programme loaded again.

Them new deckers launched on the 36 in Harrogate today look the dogs bollocks .... dunno about the library tho! Surely they'd get nicked round here

Smart design tho

(25 Jan 2016, 8:20 pm)pdiddy wrote Them new deckers launched on the 36 in Harrogate today look the dogs bollocks .... dunno about the library tho! Surely they'd get nicked round here

Smart design tho

I quite like the glazed roof. Bet it turns I to a green house during the summer mind!

(25 Jan 2016, 1:47 pm)Go North East wrote Fleet News: 25/01/16

An Optare Solo is on loan at Hexham, pending the delivery of new vehicles, to cover for MPD 555: NK53 TKT which has been withdrawn together with 561: NK53 TLF. The Solo is 9106: YJ10 EZB. Dennis MPD 524: NA52 AWG has been sold to Alpha Recovery, Weetslade and Scania L94/Wright artic 4950: NK51 OLR has been sold to Diagtest Ltd, Meadowfield.

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 524 is gone https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBZ7AfZR9xs sorry i could't resist

(25 Jan 2016, 5:20 pm)S813 FVK wrote Whats the crack with 5277?

i actually like that blind suits the citaros really well

(25 Jan 2016, 8:20 pm)pdiddy wrote Them new deckers launched on the 36 in Harrogate today look the dogs bollocks .... dunno about the library tho! Surely they'd get nicked round here

Smart design tho

nice livery red and black its smart 

(25 Jan 2016, 8:22 pm)Adrian wrote I quite like the glazed roof. Bet it turns I to a green house during the summer mind!

might have a mini garden on the go if thats the case eg carrots tomatoes potatoes etc

(25 Jan 2016, 7:41 pm)Dan wrote I have arranged for the buses to have the destination programme loaded again.

Are any more of Percy Mains B9s away for retrofits?

I know this sounds a bit daft but I can see why GNE and other Go Ahead subsidaries are going for the Streetdeck over other alternatives because if GNE are taking the opportunity to retrofit carbon flywheels on 2 year old B9s, then that surely tells us something. Although the B9 is efficient and can return rougly 7mpg without the mods, the Streetdeck can return more and although a very nice vehicle, the E400MMC according to various sources struggles to achieve 7mpg at times which is less than the B9 or Streetdeck.

Ah for the simple days of rollerblinds.

I appreciate the detail and care that goes into destination displays but sometimes I feel there's too much. The 21 scroll seems to last a lifetime

(25 Jan 2016, 10:36 pm)DaveyBowyer wrote Are any more of Percy Mains B9s away for retrofits?

I know this sounds a bit daft but I can see why GNE and other Go Ahead subsidaries are going for the Streetdeck over other alternatives because if GNE are taking the opportunity to retrofit carbon flywheels on 2 year old B9s, then that surely tells us something. Although the B9 is efficient and can return rougly 7mpg without the mods, the Streetdeck can return more and although a very nice vehicle, the E400MMC according to various sources struggles to achieve 7mpg at times which is less than the B9 or Streetdeck.

The trial is ongoing on the two already retrofitted (6085 and 6104), but I'm doubtful any further examples will receive these modifications.

(26 Jan 2016, 12:58 am)Ambassador wrote Ah for the simple days of rollerblinds.

I appreciate the detail and care that goes into destination displays but sometimes I feel there's too much. The 21 scroll seems to last a lifetime

In future, we will be able to remove via points once the bus passes a certain GPS location.

We tried this on Quaylink, and it was a success (to a degree), but it has also caused issues because the Next Stop Announcement system on these vehicles is so old (for now, anyway!) The new HTC system which replaced the old HANCIS system is more robust and gives us more opportunities to play around with the technology available.

Comments were recently made about the long list of via points on service 20. The local connections offered on this service are ultimately as important as the connections between the main cities and towns on the route, so it is in our commercial interests to show the via points that we do. If/when vehicles with Next Stop Announcements are allocated in future, we can remove via points which are no longer relevant, after the bus has passed that location. Upon arrival into South Shields, the service could in theory have a single via point of 'Harton Nook', for example.

(26 Jan 2016, 2:45 am)Dan wrote The trial is ongoing on the two already retrofitted (6085 and 6104), but I'm doubtful any further examples will receive these modifications.

I would be interested to read more . . .

3981 has just passed me sounding very rough and loud indeed!

(26 Jan 2016, 10:38 am)G-CPTN wrote I would be interested to read more . . .

I think the Fab 56 although a Streetdeck would suffice, deserves the extra power due to the demands of the route (intense schedules, climbs in and out of Gateshead). On the other hand however, I think the Cobalt Clippers could
end up being prime candidates for a Streetdeck upgrade when the time is right  (maybe in a few years) and a route or routes can be found for the 17x Geminis at Percy Main. 

Don't want to delve into any order suggestions or anything so diven't gan of a tangent folks. The fuel savings however, would be quite significant I imagine on the 309 and 310 though.