Something need to be done to the X9/X10 soon 3694 is on there today, needless to say it's currently in peterlee broken down, recovery truck just arrived to sort the problem

Chances are it would have been the 12:00 X9 from Middlesbrough which is not operating.

The amount of reports of breakdowns I see/hear from GNE and people is starting to become quite frankly alarming and it's now at the point where we now seem to be in the same situation as back in 2012 with the Volvo B7TL's which were frequently failing on the TTX.

Chances are it would have been the 12:00 X9 from Middlesbrough which is not operating.

The amount of reports of breakdowns I see/hear from GNE and people is starting to become quite frankly alarming and it's now at the point where we now seem to be in the same situation as back in 2012 with the Volvo B7TL's which were frequently failing on the TTX.

Yeah that's the one it was the 11:17 X9 from peterlee to boro, so if it was a quick fix it could be picking it up from peterlee to Newcastle

You joking?! The deckers get packed! They tried coaches on the X9 originally.

When you consider these coaches seat 79 (16 lower / 63 upper) , nat ex layout. whilst the current deckers seat 71 (43/28) and no standees, coaches will no doubt last longer.

I recently caught sight of the Plaxton Elite's working the X5 between Cambridge and Oxford. Time constraints meant I didn't get a go unfortunately.

Fine looking coaches and the Elite's have the advantage of having roll on access for wheelchairs, in addition to a decent capacity. 

The route has grown from one that used Alexander PS's (cascaded I believe) in the not too distant past, to one that has toilets and much more.

Although I suggested the cheaper option of using vehicles that interwork on a less demanding route, therefore saving wear and tear. Is it not time to actually go for it? Stopping with the fannying about with buses and introduce something that will last.

I am sure someone would snap the hands off GNE for a high mileage, but hi-spec coach at the end of their GNE lives. If not, the commercial department can work their magic with a new route or upgrade an existing one.

Does anybody know the best place to get hold of the new Indigo east Durham paper timetables please

Have you tried Durham Bus Station? If not, I will try and remember to check in the morning for you.

Although I suggested the cheaper option of using vehicles that interwork on a less demanding route, therefore saving wear and tear. Is it not time to actually go for it? Stopping with the fannying about with buses and introduce something that will last.

Their current way of doing it clearly isn't working. Every four to five years there are a few months where breakdowns seem to happen on a far too frequent basis. This will inevitably be noticed by passengers, reducing their impression of the service. The vehicles used are then no good for any service that has any level of demand, unless they undergo serious mechanical work. 

Coaches would last longer, arguably help increase service growth, and you'd think would have some use afterwards, as you stated. 

It's also not as if coaches aren't accessible, or 'local' service friendly either now.

WRT paper timetables at Hexham bus station, there are examples spread out along the (inside) window cills of the waiting room.

The weather today was almost balmy, so the 20-odd would-be passengers for the TEN enjoyed sitting on the seats alongside gate A for the twenty minutes that it took for the spare (3941) bus to be fetched round from the layover bay and for the driver to collect their thoughts before opening the doors.
No shelter, though, and last week it was bitingly cold.
The departure screen in the waiting room isn't working yet, and the toilet flush is broken.

I agree new buses/coaches need to be brought in to operate the X9/X10.

With the amount and regularity of current breakdowns, it has got to be damaging to the service, where by passengers just lose faith. 

In reality though how quickly could GNE get new buses brought in to take over the service and can the current allocation last long enough.

If the coach option is not viable and similar double decker type vehicles are to be sourced for the service, would it not be better to change them say every 3  years before regular breakdowns start occurring and service reliability starts to suffer.

Their current way of doing it clearly isn't working. Every four to five years there are a few months where breakdowns seem to happen on a far too frequent basis. This will inevitably be noticed by passengers, reducing their impression of the service. The vehicles used are then no good for any service that has any level of demand, unless they undergo serious mechanical work. 

Coaches would last longer, arguably help increase service growth, and you'd think would have some use afterwards, as you stated. 

It's also not as if coaches aren't accessible, or 'local' service friendly either now.

With the upcoming changes to Northern next year, I reckon we could see more people hit the rail network.
Whoever launches the improvements first, could end up having a massive headstart.

With the upcoming changes to Northern next year, I reckon we could see more people hit the rail network.
Whoever launches the improvements first, could end up having a massive headstart.

Won't the Northern trains have WIFI, plugs etc? or i'm i thinking of a different company?

Won't the Northern trains have WIFI, plugs etc? or i'm i thinking of a different company?

http://maps.dft.gov.uk/northern/

At the very least, frequency between Boro and Tyneside is matched with the X9/10.

http://maps.dft.gov.uk/northern/

At the very least, frequency between Boro and Tyneside is matched with the X9/10.

Ah cool, might give GNE some competition although it already exists but with Northern trains gaining WIFI etc... might get people to use the service.

Glad to see the sevice increase too, about time.

If the coach option is not viable and similar double decker type vehicles are to be sourced for the service, would it not be better to change them say every 3  years before regular breakdowns start occurring and service reliability starts to suffer.

Changing the allocation every 3 years would surely make double deckers a worse economic investment than coaches would it not? Over a 10 year period you're nearly into your fourth set of vehicles, while coaches would probably just be being replaced. 

With the upcoming changes to Northern next year, I reckon we could see more people hit the rail network.
Whoever launches the improvements first, could end up having a massive headstart.

Yep. I also wouldn't really class GNE going for the same type of vehicles (i.e standard double deck buses) as a massive improvement, especially considering the improvements that Northern are promising within the next few years. 

Just a query, do the tables brought in on the Streetdecks lower the capacity? That's one way that I could see GNE improving the TTX, however then the capacity issue comes up again.

WRT paper timetables at Hexham bus station. What's WRT anyone please?

Can someone let me know if you see 3872 out today? Many thanks!

WRT paper timetables at Hexham bus station. What's WRT anyone please?

With Reference To.

I think we will see the Enviro 400 City on the services.... but that's a massive "think" haha.

Would be nice top see a Scaniviro version or MMC appear for demonstration. That was rumored earlier in the year among drivers.

Ah cool, might give GNE some competition although it already exists but with Northern trains gaining WIFI etc... might get people to use the service.

Glad to see the sevice increase too, about time.

Theres plenty online about the spec the Connect services will be given. Granted the kit will be getting on 20 odd years old when it arrives, but as long as they work, are comfy and come with all of the added extras they've promised - it will be a definite improvement.

Changing the allocation every 3 years would surely make double deckers a worse economic investment than coaches would it not? Over a 10 year period you're nearly into your fourth set of vehicles, while coaches would probably just be being replaced. 

Yep. I also wouldn't really class GNE going for the same type of vehicles (i.e standard double deck buses) as a massive improvement, especially considering the improvements that Northern are promising within the next few years. 

Just a query, do the tables brought in on the Streetdecks lower the capacity? That's one way that I could see GNE improving the TTX, however then the capacity issue comes up again.

Genuinely have no idea. It may have been mentioned previously.
If they do lose seating capacity, I can't see it being by many.

X84 through Corbridge towards Hexham @14:35 with X85 on the destination boards.

(X84 follows a different route through Corbridge)

When you consider these coaches seat 79 (16 lower / 63 upper) , nat ex layout. whilst the current deckers seat 71 (43/28) and no standees, coaches will no doubt last longer.

Deckers are easier to cascade or sell on though.

---

6047 screen still kaput.

WRT paper timetables at Hexham bus station. What's WRT anyone please?

I wondered that!

Can someone let me know if you see 3872 out today? Many thanks!

3872 is VOR and given that 6146 has now entered service, it may just be scrapped.

Does anyone know when the Citylinks and the Q3 buses are getting sub branding back?

6047 screen still kaput.

Remove the 'still' from that post and your post would be correct!

The destination displays in 6046, 6047 and 6048 were all replaced and/or repaired. The faults relate to water damage - clearly the replacement display in 6047 has been water damaged again.

Deckers are easier to cascade or sell on though.

---

I remember when I passed my Psv test I was driving a K reg ex national express Volvo coach around on tour work, 2003 this was, loads of coaches move onto pastures new after some gruelling work.

Changing the allocation every 3 years would surely make double deckers a worse economic investment than coaches would it not? Over a 10 year period you're nearly into your fourth set of vehicles, while coaches would probably just be being replaced. 

Yep. I also wouldn't really class GNE going for the same type of vehicles (i.e standard double deck buses) as a massive improvement, especially considering the improvements that Northern are promising within the next few years. 

Just a query, do the tables brought in on the Streetdecks lower the capacity? That's one way that I could see GNE improving the TTX, however then the capacity issue comes up again.

The current B9's have a capacity of 73 seats compered to 68 for the Streetdecks with tables. The enviro 400 city had a capacity of 69 seats (also with 4 tables) so although there is a difference, it is quite small and may be worth adding tables for passenger growth.

When are the Mercs going on X5?

When are the Mercs going on X5?

I would imagine when new buses arrive, they can't cascade any Citaro's until they do, as the 4 from Peterlee are allocated to service 9. (2/4 so far due to not all of the Solo Sr's arriving from Thames Travel), while it's also more likely 2 Citaro's will be allocated to the 9 when they become available so it can become a fully Citaro route so Deptford should have services X5, 9, 35/35A/36 as Citaro's.


The Blaydon Racers were one of the Citaro routes rumoured to be getting new buses, it would seem logical because 9 Citaro's are needed at Deptford for a full allocation to the X5 (7) and 2 for the 9, with 1 spare and the Blaydon Racers is a busy route. The 35/36 were also rumoured to be getting get new buses. 


If the 35/36 got new buses, they'll be enough to upgrade the X5 (7), 9 (Only need 2 because of Citaro's from the Peterlee) and the 61 (5) and leaves 1 spare and means more services have 1 set of buses. 

Never know the 35/36 and the Blaydon Racers might both get upgraded. 


Hopefully in the next couple of months, new buses start to arrive but it's all rumours at the moment.

I think looking at the TTX, Enviro's could last but the X9 / X10 alongside the X93 are the killer routes in the North East that have a particular niche.

Although the B9TLs have proven reliable so far on the X93 as well as the Enviros on the X18, the X9 / X10 is a constant high speed route that needs vehicles with taller gearing ratios to reduce stress on the engine plus wear and tear.

The only service vehicle that would've been capable of the above was the Palatine II with the D10-245 unit.

I would imagine when new buses arrive, they can't cascade any Citaro's until they do, as the 4 from Peterlee are allocated to service 9. (2/4 so far due to not all of the Solo Sr's arriving from Thames Travel), while it's also more likely 2 Citaro's will be allocated to the 9 when they become available so it can become a fully Citaro route so Deptford should have services X5, 9, 35/35A/36 as Citaro's.


The Blaydon Racers were one of the Citaro routes rumoured to be getting new buses, it would seem logical because 9 Citaro's are needed at Deptford for a full allocation to the X5 (7) and 2 for the 9, with 1 spare and the Blaydon Racers is a busy route. The 35/36 were also rumoured to be getting get new buses. 


If the 35/36 got new buses, they'll be enough to upgrade the X5 (7), 9 (Only need 2 because of Citaro's from the Peterlee) and the 61 (5) and leaves 1 spare and means more services have 1 set of buses. 

Never know the 35/36 and the Blaydon Racers might both get upgraded. 


Hopefully in the next couple of months, new buses start to arrive but it's all rumours at the moment.

The rumours are Durham diamonds 5284-92 to deptford ( X5 ) 2 spares , see it do it Mercs to riverside due to streetlites for 35/35A/36 
The 12 to get half the blaydon racers Mercs.