I think it looks quite smart. Similar to what Brighton and Hove do with their route branding, which I do think works quite well.

I'd happily see this design rolled out to your so called 'secondary routes', and then keep full branding for the flagships.

(27 Jan 2017, 4:43 pm)Dans_bus_photos wrote I would like to see 5 of 5275-83/5331 retain their Blaydon Racers branding and allocated to the 12s, allowing 5234-38 to go onto the 28s, as it was hinted before that the 28 was to be upgraded soon.

Hopefully, include a spare Citaro too (an extra spare to 4 routes) then the other 4 Citaro can go on a route with a PVR of 3 or 4.

(27 Jan 2017, 4:52 pm)Adrian wrote I think it looks quite smart. Similar to what Brighton and Hove do with their route branding, which I do think works quite well.

I'd happily see this design rolled out to your so called 'secondary routes', and then keep full branding for the flagships.

So do I - it may not look flash but I think it still works. It also helps to add the feature blobs on the corporate liveried vehicles.

(27 Jan 2017, 4:52 pm)Adrian wrote I think it looks quite smart. Similar to what Brighton and Hove do with their route branding, which I do think works quite well.

I'd happily see this design rolled out to your so called 'secondary routes', and then keep full branding for the flagships.

Me too, hopefully that happens.

What do you class a "Flagship route" though? - Angel, Castles Express, Fab 56, Red Arrow is defiantly 4 but that's just some examples, don't think we will see it on older buses or NEXUS funded services though.

(26 Jan 2017, 10:18 pm)Ambassador wrote Are there still vehicle issues at Chester? The X12 has hopeless reliability lately so I've used the 21 all week and I've had an Omnidekka , a rammed 5401 or a rancid B7. It's doing no use at all to my data allowance or my bum cheeks!

I even let a packed 6038 leave only for bloody 5401 to turn up! Just assuming it's a combination of Hybrids getting tested/a much needed clean or some general off the roadness 

Edit to add, Quorum are in talks to allow the 554 to serve the business park following passenger complaints directly to Quorum. I can see the point. People will wait at Fourl Lane Ends or Quorum for a heavily delayed 555 sitting on Benton Park Road whilst 554 tends to sail through. Seems daft not to add capacity when it can only benefit passengers as a whole. Plus it means the 554 isn't selfishly blocking one lane of traffic at rush hour because it's so early.

3965 is being kept on scholars at the moment, so there is one accounted for.

Its good to finally see what the 49's are. I thought it seemed like the 'Blaydon Racers' brand was being dropped from Dan's original comment that New buses had been ordered for the 49's and Not mentioned as for Blaydon Racers.

I think the new branding looks OK and smart, maybe a little bland.

I have always been of the opinion that the Blaydon Racers brand didn't suit the 49's as it didn't really resemble their route, whereas the 12's are far better suited to the brand since they "travel along the Scotswood Road" and serve Blaydon, I would like to see a come back of the Brand but hopefully on the 12's. Also I've never really liked the Toon Link brand. However I do think the Omnicity's look good in Black.

I will now be interesting to see where the Merc Citaros go from the Blaydon racers.

(27 Jan 2017, 5:00 pm)Michael wrote Me too, hopefully that happens.

What do you class a "Flagship route" though? - Angel, Castles Express, Fab 56, Red Arrow is defiantly 4 but that's just some examples, don't think we will see it on older buses or NEXUS funded services though.

All depends what the business objectives are, but I'd say whatever is making a high margin and/or it can be demonstrated there is a track record of stable organic growth.

This morning around 9:30am I saw a Blue 'Durham Diamond' Merc Citaro going around Cramlington Nelson Industrial Estate 'Not In Service'. It then parked up at a bus stop on Nelson Road for about 5 mins then set off again. I wasn't close enough to ID it.

Not sure why it was there, but AVID Technology is close by on Admiral Business Park.

As has been said before with depot standardisation maybe the mercs might go on to the 12s releasing the omnicities to Stanley for the 6/x70/x71 along with Deckers to make up the pvr

(27 Jan 2017, 5:23 pm)GX03 wrote As has been said before with depot standardisation maybe the mercs might go on to the 12s releasing the omnicities to Stanley for the 6/x70/x71 along with Deckers to make up the pvr

Wouldn't be surprised, the only other depots with Omnicities are Washington, Percy Main and Stanley so really one of those should get them.

They have a few options on what to do with the Omnicities:


Percy Main for the 19? It then releases the B7RLE else where in the fleet.
Washington - i doubt they would receive anymore, they won't be able to have them out on a daily bases, as all other routes are branded. 
Stanley - as above, the 6/X70/X71 but i'm not sure if GNE will want a mixed allocation.
Riverside - nothing which could be used on.


I can see them going to Percy Main for the 19, releases the B7RLE's, hopefully to a route like the 61, which needs better buses than those horrid Versa's!


Pure speculation though.

---

(27 Jan 2017, 5:18 pm)thetravelman wrote This morning around 9:30am I saw a Blue 'Durham Diamond' Merc Citaro going around Cramlington Nelson Industrial Estate 'Not In Service'. It then parked up at a bus stop on Nelson Road for about 5 mins then set off again. I wasn't close enough to ID it.

Not sure why it was there, but AVID Technology is close by on Admiral Business Park.

Could of been getting ready to go to Blackburn for it's refurbishment.

(27 Jan 2017, 5:34 pm)Michael wrote Wouldn't be surprised, the only other depots with Omnicities are Washington, Percy Main and Stanley so really one of those should get them.

They have a few options on what to do with the Omnicities:


Percy Main for the 19? It then releases the B7RLE else where in the fleet.
Washington - i doubt they would receive anymore, they won't be able to have them out on a daily bases, as all other routes are branded. 
Stanley - as above, the 6/X70/X71 but i'm not sure if GNE will want a mixed allocation.
Riverside - nothing which could be used on.


I can see them going to Percy Main for the 19, releases the B7RLE's, hopefully to a route like the 61, which needs better buses than those horrid Versa's!


Pure speculation though.

---

Could of been getting ready to go to Blackburn for it's refurbishment.

I can see them going on the Blue Arrow and 19, or Green Arrow and 19 to be fair, along with 5331-5338.

(27 Jan 2017, 5:42 pm)Tom wrote I can see them going on the Blue Arrow and 19, or Green Arrow and 19 to be fair, along with 5331-5338.

Could be anything, we could be totally wrong and the Blaydon Racer Citaro's could end up on something else but i'm hoping the 2/2A because those Versa's are terrible.

One thing i'm surprised at, is that the Quaylink didn't receive new buses this year, i was expecting them too for some reason.

(27 Jan 2017, 5:47 pm)Michael wrote Could be anything, we could be totally wrong and the Blaydon Racer Citaro's could end up on something else.

I'm hoping the 2/2A because those Versa's are terrible.

One thing i'm surprised at, is that the Quaylink didn't receive new buses this year, i was expecting them too for some reason.

Out of the £10m investment and the value of purchases so far including a few new coaches, there should be just enough for 17 new Streetdecks  

(27 Jan 2017, 5:49 pm)JP6004 wrote Out of the £10m investment and the value of purchases so far including a few new coaches, there should be just enough for 17 new Streetdecks  

, Don't encourage him! 

Hopefully the last of the MPD's are replaced (697 should replace one) this year, when is 697 due to arrive?

Heard stuff about the X70/X71 getting back omnicity allocation and something else on the 6. A driver mentioned getting some back from riverside, didn't make much of it but it's possible.

Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk

(27 Jan 2017, 5:18 pm)thetravelman wrote This morning around 9:30am I saw a Blue 'Durham Diamond' Merc Citaro going around Cramlington Nelson Industrial Estate 'Not In Service'. It then parked up at a bus stop on Nelson Road for about 5 mins then set off again. I wasn't close enough to ID it.

Not sure why it was there, but AVID Technology is close by on Admiral Business Park.

5291, which is now back at Stanley.

The former Durham Diamond Mercs are having some AVID modifications done at the moment - 5291 being the first to receive them (given that it's numerically the final Durham Diamond branded example if you exclude 5292). The rest will follow after returning from refurb.

(27 Jan 2017, 5:42 pm)Tom wrote I can see them going on the Blue Arrow and 19, or Green Arrow and 19 to be fair, along with 5331-5338.

I think that it is important to bear in mind 5333-5336 have just been repainted into the corporate livery. The 19 is possible but I would say that the Blue/Green Arrow is unlikely.

(27 Jan 2017, 6:20 pm)S813 FVK wrote I think that it is important to bear in mind 5333-5336 have just been repainted into the corporate livery. The 19 is possible but I would say that the Blue/Green Arrow is unlikely.

I bet Dan's sitting rubbing his hands at all this speculation!

(27 Jan 2017, 6:54 pm)Michael wrote I bet Dan's sitting rubbing his hands at all this speculation!

I don't know why he would! Having employees of a company on here doesn't mean everything has to be formally confirmed. 

Lets speculate away instead, like enthusiasts should be doing. 

(27 Jan 2017, 5:50 pm)Michael wrote , Don't encourage him! 

Hopefully the last of the MPD's are replaced (697 should replace one) this year, when is 697 due to arrive?

Haha, and nothing from NCC today!

17 Streetdecks though? Would that be with spares included or excluding spares?

(27 Jan 2017, 6:20 pm)S813 FVK wrote I think that it is important to bear in mind 5333-5336 have just been repainted into the corporate livery. The 19 is possible but I would say that the Blue/Green Arrow is unlikely.

This sort of branding would suit the 9 well, As it's every 30 mins but serve's a purpose along the route, In that it connects North and South Tyneside.

5333-36 are perfect for the 9 too, Comfy, Warm , and perfect for the drivers driving them.

I like the idea of branding on the existing corporate livery, but just as long as it's not branding for the sake of branding, advertising a bus route with no on-board features for example.

What bugs me is use of contravision, yes, the route number has to stand out but does it really need to be plastered on the side windows?

Also, noticed a few people complaining about it being bland. Nobody ever complained about the bland subbranding which Arriva use placed on top of the existing Interurban livery...

(28 Jan 2017, 5:02 am)omnicity4659 wrote Also, noticed a few people complaining about it being bland. Nobody ever complained about the bland subbranding which Arriva use placed on top of the existing Interurban livery...

Haven't you heard? Arriva are the best bus company ever and could never do anything wrong...

(28 Jan 2017, 8:27 am)S813 FVK wrote Haven't you heard? Arriva are the best bus company ever and could never do anything wrong...

I'm definitely not sat on a MAX on Coastliners like.... 

(28 Jan 2017, 5:02 am)omnicity4659 wrote Also, noticed a few people complaining about it being bland. Nobody ever complained about the bland subbranding which Arriva use placed on top of the existing Interurban livery...

Oh they have, it's another one that gets repeated over and over again.

We should all know by that that everything bus related in the North East is crap, Arriva are crap, Go North East are crap, Stagecoach are crap, independents are crap, every bus is crap and everyone is a prat. This is basically what I see everyday especially from within the North East (and Yorkshire).

Wouldn't care but everyone slates GNE but it's all they seem to be intrested in...

My exact point a while back Jimmi and omnicity4659.

(27 Jan 2017, 9:59 pm)South Tyne Lad wrote This sort of branding would suit the 9 well, As it's every 30 mins but serve's a purpose along the route, In that it connects North and South Tyneside.

5333-36 are perfect for the 9 too, Comfy, Warm , and perfect for the drivers driving them.

Hopefully 2 from the Durham Diamond join those ones on the 9 however 5337 or 5338 will have to stand in until 5292 re-enters service.

I'm hoping 5337/38 become spares at Deptford to allow the 9 (if allocated Citaro's)/35/36 and X5 to have 3 spares, hopefully that spare See it Do it Citaro is painted soon.

I'm quite a fan of basing brands around a corporate livery, take all the brands which used to feature the 'swoop', for example.

Not a huge fan of this particular example if I'm honest, but it does the job, and that's what it is there to do.

5455 has entered service.......... on the X66...
https://m.flickr.com/#/photos/140920997@...726871124/

The branding of the 49 doesn't excite me nor does it make me want to use the service more (the 49 was always my route of choice once the X66 got its Streetlite allocation).

However to pick up on points raised over the years the forum has been growing and discussed in the branding thread I think, was that the company didn't have that much of an identity (or it was lost) and this was maybe down to the number of branded routes and rainbow of colours adorned to the vehicles.
Points were made about other operators and that passengers could identify the operator, regardless of the branding.
In other words the branding was worked around the corporate colour scheme.
Whilst the X34 may not be as loud and brash as the 56, there's no arguments or doubts about who the operator of the X34 is.
This is obviously repeated with the green coloured hybrid vehicles across the region too. There's the one that is maybe loud and brash and there's the two that are linked to corporate branding.

As far as I can see, the 49 not only has branding but has worked it around the corporate colour scheme.