(24 Dec 2016, 1:28 pm)South Tyne Lad wrote  In other news, The new Streetlite's currently on delivery look to have new window alingments, Which heavily benefit people sat the back.

Seen here : https://www.flickr.com/photos/nsf323alis...otostream/


Looks like no one will suffer in the summer from now on  

They also have the Wright logo grille thing on the back, something which hasn't featured since the 2013 Streetlites.

(24 Dec 2016, 3:02 pm)S813 FVK wrote They also have the Wright logo grille thing on the back, something which hasn't featured since the 2013 Streetlites.

It was just the builder logo on the Euro5 examples - it is a grill at Euro6.

(24 Dec 2016, 10:38 am)Michael wrote Whats the allocations for this years boxing day services?

Chester-le-Street

• Service 21/X21: 13x "Angel" Volvo B5LH
  

Deptford

• Services 2/61: 9x "SimpliCity" Optare Versa
  
• Service 9: 4x GNE Red Mercedes Citaro / Scania L94
  
• Service 20: 7x "Fab Fifty Six" / GNE Red Volvo B9TL
  
• Service 35A: 6x "See it, Do it, Sunderland" Mercedes Citaro
  
• Service 56: 8x "Fab Fifty Six" Volvo B9TL
  
• Service 60: 3x "Drifter" Wright Streetlite
  
• Service X5: 4x GNE Red Mercedes Citaro / Wright Streetlite
  

Percy Main

• Service 309/310: 9x "Cobalt Clipper" Volvo B9TL
  

Riverside/Hexham

• Service 10: 9x "TEN" Volvo B9TL
  
• Service 27: 7x "Crusader" Mercedes Citaro
  
• Service 49: 7x "Blaydon Racers" Mercedes Citaro
  
• Service 53/54: 4x "Saltwell Park" Wright Streetlite
  
• Service 58: 6x "Citylink" Optare Versa
  
• Service 88: 4x "South Tyne" Optare Versa
  
• Service 97: 4x "Tyne Tees Xpress" Volvo B9TL
  
• Service Q1/Q2: 6x "Quaylink" Optare Versa
  
• Service Q3: 4x "Quaylink" Optare Versa
  
• Service X66: 3x "X66" Wright Streetlite
  

Stanley

• Service 6: 6x "Red Kite" Volvo B9TL / GNE Red OmniDekka
  
• Service 16A/V7: 3x "Durham Diamond" Mercedes Citaro
  
• Service 47/X30/X31: 9x GNE Red OmniDekka
  

Washington

• Service 4: 4x "Connections4" Mercedes Citaro
  
• Service X1: 7x "Red Arrows" Volvo B9TL
  

Service X50 will be operated by Riverside and Stanley this year - three buses from Riverside (all of which should be Volvo B9TLs - any brand) and one from Stanley (which again, should be a Red Kite Volvo B9TL).

(24 Dec 2016, 7:06 pm)Dan wrote Washington

• Service 4: 4x "Connections4" Mercedes Citaro
  
• Service X1: 7x "Red Arrows" Volvo B9TL
  

Are Washington doing the 2200 and 2300 X1 depatures from Newcastle? Big gap in the timetable if so.

(24 Dec 2016, 7:14 pm)Adrian wrote Are Washington doing the 2200 and 2300 X1 depatures from Newcastle? Big gap in the timetable if so.

A number of late evening journeys (mostly those funded by NUFC or Metrocentre) on services are provided by other depots. Other than these few journeys, there's very little in the way of other depots operating services which they don't usually operate, this year. You may have noticed in my last post that even Hexham is open this year.

(24 Dec 2016, 7:06 pm)Dan wrote Chester-le-Street

• Service 21/X21: 13x "Angel" Volvo B5LH
  

Deptford

• Services 2/61: 9x "SimpliCity" Optare Versa
  
• Service 9: 4x GNE Red Mercedes Citaro / Scania L94
  
• Service 20: 7x "Fab Fifty Six" / GNE Red Volvo B9TL
  
• Service 35A: 6x "See it, Do it, Sunderland" Mercedes Citaro
  
• Service 56: 8x "Fab Fifty Six" Volvo B9TL
  
• Service 60: 3x "Drifter" Wright Streetlite
  
• Service X5: 4x GNE Red Mercedes Citaro / Wright Streetlite
  

Percy Main

• Service 309/310: 9x "Cobalt Clipper" Volvo B9TL
  

Riverside/Hexham

• Service 10: 9x "TEN" Volvo B9TL
  
• Service 27: 7x "Crusader" Mercedes Citaro
  
• Service 49: 7x "Blaydon Racers" Mercedes Citaro
  
• Service 53/54: 4x "Saltwell Park" Wright Streetlite
  
• Service 58: 6x "Citylink" Optare Versa
  
• Service 88: 4x "South Tyne" Optare Versa
  
• Service 97: 4x "Tyne Tees Xpress" Volvo B9TL
  
• Service Q1/Q2: 6x "Quaylink" Optare Versa
  
• Service Q3: 4x "Quaylink" Optare Versa
  
• Service X66: 3x "X66" Wright Streetlite
  

Stanley

• Service 6: 6x "Red Kite" Volvo B9TL / GNE Red OmniDekka
  
• Service 16A/V7: 3x "Durham Diamond" Mercedes Citaro
  
• Service 47/X30/X31: 9x GNE Red OmniDekka
  

Washington

• Service 4: 4x "Connections4" Mercedes Citaro
  
• Service X1: 7x "Red Arrows" Volvo B9TL
  

Service X50 will be operated by Riverside and Stanley this year - three buses from Riverside (all of which should be Volvo B9TLs - any brand) and one from Stanley (which again, should be a Red Kite Volvo B9TL).

Thanks

(24 Dec 2016, 4:25 pm)Kuyoyo wrote It was just the builder logo on the Euro5 examples - it is a grill at Euro6.

And as these have a grille on the rear bonnet, that confirms Go North East is taking delivery of their first Euro 6 Daimler-engined Streetlites.

More photos below:

Go North East: 5443 / NK66EVC by Daniel Graham, on Flickr

Go North East: 5443 / NK66EVC by Daniel Graham, on Flickr

Go North East: 5443 / NK66EVC by Daniel Graham, on Flickr

(24 Dec 2016, 8:24 pm)Dan wrote And as these have a grille on the rear bonnet, that confirms Go North East is taking delivery of their first Euro 6 Daimler-engined Streetlites.

More photos below:


Go North East: 5443 / NK66EVC by Daniel Graham, on Flickr

Pleased to see that these ones appear to have had one of the offside opening windows moved to the rear of the vehicle. It should certainly help with air circulation inside on a hot day.

Could be a very interesting year order wise considering the demonstrators received.

Could Go Ahead be using the demonstrators to keep Wrightbus on their toes in terms of price and quality of product or could the demonstrators be viewed as potential contenders? I know many businesses even if they believe that they're getting the best value still sample and obtain quotes from competitors for all sorts of things.

Finally, was the E400 City demo trialed an actual 
Hybrid or did it just include eco friendly features such as stop start etc? Was the gearbox ZF or Voith and is there an option available for both?

(24 Dec 2016, 11:48 pm)L469 YVK wrote Could be a very interesting year order wise considering the demonstrators received.

I'd say that is more a case of putting 2+2 together and coming up with 10.

GNE have always trialled a variety of products, and I'd be surprised if that stopped, even if they were delighted with a particular manufacturer. It's the same in any industry, and you'd be daft not to try new products.

The E400City was a standard Diesel chassis with Stop Start technology.

What features do the new Streetlites have?

(25 Dec 2016, 4:05 pm)Michael wrote What features do the new Streetlites have?

Maybe dan can tell us for our christmas present!

Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk

(25 Dec 2016, 6:29 pm)Jamie M wrote Maybe dan can tell us for our christmas present!

Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk

No Christmas presents from me... Bah! Humbug!

They should be entering service within about a week of them arriving, so not too long to wait given that they're already at Heysham Docks and Go North East will have a marketing strategy planned to coincide with the launch of the new buses.

(25 Dec 2016, 6:33 pm)Dan wrote No Christmas presents from me... Bah! Humbug!

They should be entering service within about a week of them arriving, so not too long to wait given that they're already at Heysham Docks and Go North East will have a marketing strategy planned to coincide with the launch of the new buses.

Quick turnaround then! Does any driver familiarisation need to take place? I imagine with them being Euro 6, they will be slightly different to the Euro 5 models, much like the Micro-Hybrids having a minor change compared to the Drifter and Saltwell Park examples.

I would imagine that they are to the same specification as the rest of the Streetlites that have arrived over the past 2 years so WiFi, 3-pin plug & USB sockets and NSAs.

(25 Dec 2016, 6:33 pm)Dan wrote No Christmas presents from me... Bah! Humbug!

They should be entering service within about a week of them arriving, so not too long to wait given that they're already at Heysham Docks and Go North East will have a marketing strategy planned to coincide with the launch of the new buses.

Will they be arriving this week? (due to Wednesday-Friday being normal working days)

(25 Dec 2016, 6:40 pm)S813 FVK wrote Quick turnaround then! Does any driver familiarisation need to take place? I imagine with them being Euro 6, they will be slightly different to the Euro 5 models, much like the Micro-Hybrids having a minor change compared to the Drifter and Saltwell Park examples.

I would imagine that they are to the same specification as the rest of the Streetlites that have arrived over the past 2 years so WiFi, 3-pin plug & USB sockets and NSAs.

I'm lead to believe they will need minimal/if any Driver Familiarisation, As the cab layout hasn't been changed. If Familiarisation also counts for the Engine Bay, Then some attention will be needed at that.
Because it's following on from the Prince Bishops batch, This batch might also feature the addition of the Avid E-Fan System, Which I believe isn't in the Red Kite examples, So some training will be needed on how to deal with them.

As sister company Metrobus new Streetlite's feature " USB Charging " ,  This could give a hint that GNE's examples will feature the at seat USB Charging sockets found in Arriva's VLA MAX refurbishment instead of the Three Pin Sockets found in previous orders, Which are built into the shell of the bus.....

(25 Dec 2016, 6:52 pm)Michael wrote Will they be arriving this week? (due to Wednesday-Friday being normal working days)

Gerraway man, the next week are just Saturdays in the world of bus operations

(25 Dec 2016, 6:58 pm)South Tyne Lad wrote As sister company Metrobus new Streetlite's feature " USB Charging " ,  This could give a hint that GNE's examples will feature the at seat USB Charging sockets found in Arriva's VLA MAX refurbishment instead of the Three Pin Sockets found in previous orders, Which are built into the shell of the bus.....

Aren't they not as powerful as the sockets though?

(25 Dec 2016, 7:04 pm)Michael wrote Aren't they not as powerful as the sockets though?

Yes, But not by a lot from what ive experienced.

(25 Dec 2016, 7:09 pm)South Tyne Lad wrote Yes, But not by a lot from what ive experienced.

That's good then, not like i'll be using the Durham Diamond.

(25 Dec 2016, 4:05 pm)Michael wrote What features do the new Streetlites have?

Lots of plastic fittings, an underpowered engine and like the cheap toys you get for Christmas won't last very long. Happy Christmas everyone.

(25 Dec 2016, 6:58 pm)South Tyne Lad wrote As sister company Metrobus new Streetlite's feature " USB Charging " ,  This could give a hint that GNE's examples will feature the at seat USB Charging sockets found in Arriva's VLA MAX refurbishment instead of the Three Pin Sockets found in previous orders, Which are built into the shell of the bus.....

The Streetdecks and current Streetlites in the GNE fleet have both 3 pin and USB sockets, chances are this lot will have both too.

(25 Dec 2016, 8:11 pm)Greg in Weardale wrote Lots of plastic fittings, an underpowered engine and like the cheap toys you get for Christmas won't last very long. Happy Christmas everyone.

Well the one on the C&C are lasting...Nothing better at the min, it's all plastic.

Same as the ones at Arriva, all plastic although i can't comment on their performance because i never use Arriva.

(25 Dec 2016, 8:11 pm)Greg in Weardale wrote Lots of plastic fittings, an underpowered engine and like the cheap toys you get for Christmas won't last very long. Happy Christmas everyone.

What would you suggest as a suitable alternative Greg? It's all good and well saying it's lots of plastic fittings, underpowered, cheap, etc. But it's not stopping companies from buying them on mass...

(25 Dec 2016, 7:04 pm)Michael wrote Aren't they not as powerful as the sockets though?

Depends how they're set up.

As for next stop announcements heard drivers yesterday on indigo north tyne saying its only on 1 bus not all of them.

(25 Dec 2016, 8:40 pm)Adrian wrote What would you suggest as a suitable alternative Greg? It's all good and well saying it's lots of plastic fittings, underpowered, cheap, etc. But it's not stopping companies from buying them on mass...

The latest Citaro model is probably the best single deck vehicle available at the moment, having ridden in two demonstrators (the latest with Weardale a few weeks ago), but the slump in the pound compared with the euro has increased their price in the UK. Good, stylish interior, not as cramped as a Streetlite, built to last and, not really relevant to GNE perhaps, the most attractive design. The downside is that they MAY be a bit less economical regarding fuel consumption, but there's no doubt the Citaro gives a better passenger experience, which must be an important consideration when choosing vehicles. Enviro 400 City seems the best of the bunch for new deckers, more powerful than the Streetdecks, and that demo was great on the 21, although I didn't sample it on the X9/10.

(25 Dec 2016, 10:01 pm)Greg in Weardale wrote The latest Citaro model is probably the best single deck vehicle available at the moment, having ridden in two demonstrators (the latest with Weardale a few weeks ago), but the slump in the pound compared with the euro has increased their price in the UK. Good, stylish interior, not as cramped as a Streetlite, built to last and, not really relevant to GNE perhaps, the most attractive design. The downside is that they MAY be a bit less economical regarding fuel consumption, but there's no doubt the Citaro gives a better passenger experience, which must be an important consideration when choosing vehicles. Enviro 400 City seems the best of the bunch for new deckers, more powerful than the Streetdecks, and that demo was great on the 21, although I didn't sample it on the X9/10.

Suppose it goes back to some of the points made in the PCL thread about their fleet and business model compared to Spirits.

Then there are the enhanced uplifts a vehicle like a Streetlite gets. It would be of benefit to see those uplifts benefit passengers in the way of reduced fares. Instead it is used in other ways.

The heavier Citaro on the 4, has cheaper fares (distance and duration) per mile than the cheaper to run Streetlite on the 20.

From the initial outlay, the Streetlite will be cheaper than a Citaro, but I dont know whether the titivation and tarting up of them works in attracting passengers.

ANE held an event recently to see what passengers thought of potential purchases.
Northern Railways are asking passengers to check out their preferred seat types.

I genuinely would love to know what a decent sample of the customer base thinks of a Streetlite (tarted up or not).

(25 Dec 2016, 6:33 pm)Dan wrote No Christmas presents from me... Bah! Humbug!

They should be entering service within about a week of them arriving, so not too long to wait given that they're already at Heysham Docks and Go North East will have a marketing strategy planned to coincide with the launch of the new buses.

Do we know how many of these Streetlites are due to arrive in the next week or so?
Are there just the 3 that were photographed currently at Heysham Docks at the mo or are there others there also?