(07 Mar 2016, 4:31 pm)BusLoverMum wrote The castle's just next door!

It's a hard one to get a good shot of, though. Its most impressively photogenic side overlooks the river.

Oh, I think I need to improve my geography of the area!

Might take my Dads Camera because my IPhone wont cope with a night time shot.

EDIT I actually thought Durham Cathedral was the castle!

(07 Mar 2016, 4:29 pm)BusLoverMum wrote I'm guessing that the free year of travel will be not much use to anyone living in Arrivaland

That's an annoying thing, I'd like to have one of my photos used but a years free GNE travel wouldn't be of much value to me. I'm guessing the answer will be no but, can I send a photo and give the years free travel to someone else?

(07 Mar 2016, 4:40 pm)Jimmi wrote That's an annoying thing, I'd like to have one of my photos used but a years free GNE travel wouldn't be of much value to me. I'm guessing the answer will be no but, can I send a photo and give the years free travel to someone else?

I'll ask the question tomorrow and get back to you on that one.

The terms and conditions usually state that the prize will be added to the winner's key card but they don't say that on this occasion - could be that it's been missed off, but could mean that it'll be a separate key card issued with the prize on it.

I think this is quite a good contender myself, certainly the best ive seen so far!

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127079988@...ateposted/

I think, had a train (preferably a VTEC) has been going over the bridge, it would have been even better.

(07 Mar 2016, 5:03 pm)S813 FVK wrote I think this is quite a good contender myself, certainly the best ive seen so far!

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127079988@...ateposted/

I think, had a train (preferably a VTEC) has been going over the bridge, it would have been even better.

I think Go North East are looking for photographs of the actual castles on the route of the X21 - Auckland, Durham, Lumley and Newcastle - as opposed to photographs of the buses!

(07 Mar 2016, 5:05 pm)Dan wrote I think Go North East are looking for photographs of the actual castles on the route of the X21 - Auckland, Durham, Lumley and Newcastle - as opposed to photographs of the buses!

Well, in that case, its not

Still a nice photo nevertheless, though.

(07 Mar 2016, 3:59 pm)Dan wrote Go North East are also holding a photography competition to complement the investment into new vehicles for service X21.

For a chance to win a year's free travel and your photograph to feature in a Castles Express bus, check out the competition on the link below:
http://www.simplygo.com/castlescomp

Their using my photo I sent to them last week on the comp page

https://www.flickr.com/photos/mrchanbong...ed-public/

(07 Mar 2016, 5:03 pm)S813 FVK wrote I think this is quite a good contender myself, certainly the best ive seen so far!

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127079988@...ateposted/

I think, had a train (preferably a VTEC) has been going over the bridge, it would have been even better.

Cheers Robert!

Surely if I was to send this in to Go North East, they would not want a train in the shot considering the X21 competes with the train between Durham and Newcastle.

(07 Mar 2016, 3:42 pm)Michael wrote

---

http://www.simplygo.com/news/x21-goes-up...-new-buses

Oh dear:-

The X21 has went up in the world . . .

I thought I'd try the Castles today with coinciding with work in Durham

As I have absolutely no luck and a terrible sense of timing, I ended up on a Solar and a Trident...

5205 is on X35 screen not working on front or the back only the side

(07 Mar 2016, 5:42 pm)G-CPTN wrote Oh dear:-

The X21 has went up in the world . . .

Has gone, for the grammar pedants among us. 

(07 Mar 2016, 6:05 pm)Ambassador wrote I thought I'd try the Castles today with coinciding with work in Durham

As I have absolutely no luck and a terrible sense of timing, I ended up on a Solar and a Trident...

The following departures are all scheduled to be a corporate liveried single or double deck:
- 0640 X21 Chester-le-Street to Durham
- 0710 X21 Chester-le-Street to Durham
- 0758 Spennymoor Precinct to Framwellgate Moor Salutation 
- 0706 X21 Durham to Newcastle
- 0736 X21 Durham to Newcastle
- 1620 X21 Newcastle to Durham
- 1650 X21 Newcastle to Durham
- 1720 X21 Newcastle to Durham

Those are the journeys you ought to avoid, on top of the evening journeys from Bishop Auckland which connect in Durham Bus Station as a 21 through to Newcastle, if you're hunting one of the new Castles. There is a mention of some of these workings on the timetable (admittedly on the wrong pages), to advise customers that the standard features offered on the Castles Express won't be available.

(07 Mar 2016, 5:05 pm)Dan wrote I think Go North East are looking for photographs of the actual castles on the route of the X21 - Auckland, Durham, Lumley and Newcastle - as opposed to photographs of the buses!

X46 is also part of the Castle's express routes. 

But nobody has even mentioned Brancepeth Castle!

Ps The drivers tell me the next stop anouncments are spot on , on all 7 vehicles (cheers Dan + Citaro5284)

(07 Mar 2016, 5:42 pm)G-CPTN wrote Oh dear:-

The X21 has went up in the world . . .

Ouch.

I can forgive that from someone chatting on a forum. When someone is paid to promote a brand via social media, though... :s

(07 Mar 2016, 7:37 pm)pdiddy wrote X46 is also part of the Castle's express routes. 

But nobody has even mentioned Brancepeth Castle!

Ps The drivers tell me the next stop anouncments are spot on , on all 7 vehicles (cheers Dan + Citaro5284)

It doesn't pass Brancepeth Castle or even Brancepeth, itself!

(07 Mar 2016, 7:48 pm)BusLoverMum wrote It doesn't pass Brancepeth Castle or even Brancepeth, itself!

The X46 goes through Brancepeth.

(07 Mar 2016, 8:12 pm)S813 FVK wrote The X46 goes through Brancepeth.

I sit corrected

(07 Mar 2016, 6:39 pm)Dan wrote The following departures are all scheduled to be a corporate liveried single or double deck:
-

Ah, I knew some of the runs were scheduled non table bus, my bad luck that the times I need happen to be it. 

Back to the X12 tomorrow (no lowlander please)

(07 Mar 2016, 3:42 pm)Michael wrote X21 goes up in the world thanks to £2m investment in new buses.

Also:

Further investment...

Other services will also benefit from the £10.5m investment in the coming months, so make sure you keep your eyes peeled and regularly check our Social Media pages for the latest information.


http://www.simplygo.com/news/x21-goes-up...-new-buses

Nice to see more money getting spent this time.

7 Streetdeck
22 Streetlite
14 Solo
Total 43

What are the remaining 4......?

(08 Mar 2016, 12:06 am)JP6004 wrote 7 Streetdeck
22 Streetlite
14 Solo
Total 43

What are the remaining 4......?

Probables be the coaches.

(08 Mar 2016, 12:09 am)Michael wrote Probables be the coaches.

Possibly.....just they said X21 the first to benefit

About the closest we have got to seeing 635 in its new AD122 branding
https://www.flickr.com/photos/rpbsp/25599734285/

(07 Mar 2016, 4:47 pm)Dan wrote I'll ask the question tomorrow and get back to you on that one.

The terms and conditions usually state that the prize will be added to the winner's key card but they don't say that on this occasion - could be that it's been missed off, but could mean that it'll be a separate key card issued with the prize on it.

The prize is non-transferable and the terms and conditions have been updated accordingly.

Go North East

Due to works at Stanley Bus Station today, Sunderland bound services 8 and 78 will depart from Stand K, and V7 will depart from Stand F.

(08 Mar 2016, 12:51 am)JP6004 wrote Possibly.....just they said X21 the first to benefit

I think it just means out of the 47 new buses due, the X21 is the first to get them, not sure.... Dan or Citaro could confirm?

Screens and next stop announcements aren't on upstairs but are downstairs on 6073 not sure if these are faulty or just turned off

Is the 47 actually going to Consett then? I've just over heard someone on it that its running to Consett from April. I know that it's moving to Stanley depot, but is the route changing?

(08 Mar 2016, 3:53 pm)Jackamcardle wrote Is the 47 actually going to Consett then? I've just over heard someone on it that its running to Consett from April. I know that it's moving to Stanley depot, but is the route changing?

It would make sense for it to run to Consett because of Stanley's location. And would replace a Solo on the V9 But layover times might be very overstretched.
It would save on dead mileage too id imagine, Stanley's closer to Consett than Blackhall Mill is.

Apparently 570 has left for London....

(08 Mar 2016, 5:55 pm)South Tyne Lad wrote It would make sense for it to run to Consett because of Stanley's location. And would replace a Solo on the V9 But layover times might be very overstretched.
It would save on dead mileage too id imagine, Stanley's closer to Consett than Blackhall Mill is.

Really, the 47 would only go through 2 zones and take about 25 mins longer, therefore a day ticket would be £6.30 on the 47 or £7.80 on the 45/46. Also has a cancellation been placed for the V9 because i dont remember seeing one.