(22 Feb 2017, 3:31 am)Rapidsnap wrote More then likely getting cleaned etc for it's return to Optare which by my reckoning is around now as it's been over 4 months now.

Hopefully we see some being ordered. It be nice to see something different on the roads around here.

Hopefully but some reason i doubt it haha

Saw a Solo Sr in new colours joining the A1 southbound at Chester earlier this morning.
It had 'shuttle' on blinds.

Guessing this is operating the service in Carrville today.

6099 is currently parked up in Southwick on route learning duties

(22 Feb 2017, 3:31 am)Rapidsnap wrote More then likely getting cleaned etc for it's return to Optare which by my reckoning is around now as it's been over 4 months now.

Hopefully we see some being ordered. It be nice to see something different on the roads around here.

Trial extended for 9099.

It's at Saltmeadows Rd to have a window repaired. Its second one so far...

(22 Feb 2017, 2:41 pm)Dan wrote Trial extended for 9099.

It's at Saltmeadows Rd to have a window repaired. Its second one so far...

Dan,  something I've always wondered. Do companies pay to have these vehicles on demonstration or are they provided free. The reason I ask is that if Optare have extended the demonstration for free, then they must be confident that GNE will place an order.

Think 697 has finally arrived, as a green/blue Thames travel solo was seen heading to Saltmeadows this morning.

Hi,
Wondering if anyone heard any news on the Tyne Tees Xpress service upgrades? I've heard a lot of rumours including that they are thinking of hanging onto the B9's for another year.

Also heard they might be running Sunday service every 20mins every day?
Just wondering if there was anything set in place yet, scene as though if they are doing the upgrades this year, they are due next month.

Thanks.

697 has arrived
https://www.flickr.com/photos/33928144@N07/33014297776/
Also I believe the new solos are heading to Percy Main, as 706 shows a destination for the Coaster service
https://www.flickr.com/photos/33928144@N07/33014317696/

(22 Feb 2017, 6:06 pm)EL1TE wrote 697 has arrived
https://www.flickr.com/photos/33928144@N07/33014297776/
Also I believe the new solos are heading to Percy Main, as 706 shows a destination for the Coaster service
https://www.flickr.com/photos/33928144@N07/33014317696/

Percy Main is likely but Riverside and Percy Main vehicles share destination programmes.

(22 Feb 2017, 5:48 pm)James M wrote Hi,
Wondering if anyone heard any news on the Tyne Tees Xpress service upgrades? I've heard a lot of rumours including that they are thinking of hanging onto the B9's for another year.

Also heard they might be running Sunday service every 20mins every day?
Just wondering if there was anything set in place yet, scene as though if they are doing the upgrades this year, they are due next month.

Thanks.

Don't think they'll make both routes longer as that will turn passengers back to the train. Maybe a 40 min frequency (20 combined) or some extra peak runs.

Wouldn't surprise me if they keep them another year if a major decker order comes through and either 6049(T); 6071(T) or 6101(T) become available as additional support alongside 6084(T)

(22 Feb 2017, 6:54 pm)S813 FVK wrote Percy Main is likely but Riverside and Percy Main vehicles share destination programmes.

I wouldn't read too much into it.

These buses previously had Bright tech destination displays. The Hanover destination displays in these buses now, as well as the destination controller itself, came from withdrawn buses.

The destination being displayed is whatever the controller was last set to before being removed from the bus. I would suggest that the controller on this bus came from one of the dual-door Volvo B10BLEs at Percy Main, given how the data is being shown on the display. It has since been re-programmed, though whether it's the correct programme or not is a different matter. It's just whichever one I had in the car!


708 is now at Deptford pending transfer to Peterlee, where it will be allocated to service 168 as a replacement for the MPD presently serving this purpose. It was collected by Deptford this afternoon.


Also of note is the return of 5284 from refurbishment. In Go North East's corporate livery, and now allocated to Deptford.

(22 Feb 2017, 2:54 pm)a718abb wrote Dan,  something I've always wondered. Do companies pay to have these vehicles on demonstration or are they provided free. The reason I ask is that if Optare have extended the demonstration for free, then they must be confident that GNE will place an order.

Bus builders will provide demonstration buses for free.

They do it so operators can get a feel for what it would be like to run the bus as if it was one of their own.

With the lack of sales of MetroDeckers so far, I would assume Optare are anticipating that by extending the trial, they are more likely to secure an order (as they would hope Go North East would be able to find a suitable service for that vehicle type during this time!)

Whether or not Go North East has found a suitable service or not for this vehicle type, and how it stacks up against competing double decks (StreetDeck, Volvo B5TL, Enviro400 City, etc) is another matter.

(22 Feb 2017, 7:35 pm)Dan wrote 708 is now at Deptford pending transfer to Peterlee, where it will be allocated to service 168 as a replacement for the MPD presently serving this purpose. It was collected by Deptford this afternoon.


Also of note is the return of 5284 from refurbishment. In Go North East's corporate livery, and now allocated to Deptford.

Any pictures of the interior?

Will it be kept out of service until the rest arrive from Blackburn?

So are all of the ex DD citaro's going to Deptford? Or just 8?

(22 Feb 2017, 7:46 pm)Michael wrote Any pictures of the interior?

Will it be kept out of service until the rest arrive from Blackburn?

So are all of the ex DD citaro's going to Deptford? Or just 8?

No - the Mercs will be drip fed into service.

5284 will be the fleet liveried spare bus for service X5 (of course forming part of the daily allocation until all branded examples are in service - as it will allow another bus to be transferred out immediately).

If not required on service X5, it should be used on other services which are allocated Merc Citaros instead (service 9, 35/36).

5284 will be returning to Saltmeadows Road for further preparation work tomorrow afternoon, and is unlikely to enter service this week. Hopefully ready by Monday.

(22 Feb 2017, 7:49 pm)Dan wrote No - the Mercs will be drip fed into service.

5284 will be the fleet liveried spare bus for service X5 (of course forming part of the daily allocation until all branded examples are in service - as it will allow another bus to be transferred out immediately).

If not required on service X5, it should be used on other services which are allocated Merc Citaros instead (service 9, 35/36).

5284 will be returning to Saltmeadows Road for further preparation work tomorrow afternoon, and is unlikely to enter service this week. Hopefully ready by Monday.

Thanks for the extra info Dan.

Will the Citaro's remain on the 9 then?, with the extra 2 coming from DD.

What about 5337/38?

(22 Feb 2017, 7:46 pm)Michael wrote Any pictures of the interior?

Will it be kept out of service until the rest arrive from Blackburn?

So are all of the ex DD citaro's going to Deptford? Or just 8?

Have you ever thought of a job as a quizmaster? 

(22 Feb 2017, 7:55 pm)citaro5284 wrote Have you ever thought of a job as a quizmaster? 

I have enough of those at work with the kids! Haha

(22 Feb 2017, 5:48 pm)James M wrote Hi,
Wondering if anyone heard any news on the Tyne Tees Xpress service upgrades? I've heard a lot of rumours including that they are thinking of hanging onto the B9's for another year.

Also heard they might be running Sunday service every 20mins every day?
Just wondering if there was anything set in place yet, scene as though if they are doing the upgrades this year, they are due next month.

Thanks.

TTX every 20 minutes every day would be quite an upgrade, even if slower.

Just seen 5284 while passing A690. Love the new red and blue leather seats. Looks so much better with the blue interior opposed to the grey

Just saw 5418 going down Chester Road, any ideas?

(23 Feb 2017, 11:29 am)EL1TE wrote Just saw 5418 going down Chester Road, any ideas?

Deptford does PSV testing for crook/cls/stanley/deptford, so that'd be my guess.

(23 Feb 2017, 12:54 pm)Jamie M wrote Deptford does PSV testing for crook/cls/stanley/deptford, so that'd be my guess.

Ah I forgot about that thanks.

(23 Feb 2017, 1:08 pm)EL1TE wrote Ah I forgot about that thanks.

I forgot about peterlee as well!

(22 Feb 2017, 7:33 pm)L469 YVK wrote Don't think they'll make both routes longer as that will turn passengers back to the train. Maybe a 40 min frequency (20 combined) or some extra peak runs.

Wouldn't surprise me if they keep them another year if a major decker order comes through and either 6049(T); 6071(T) or 6101(T) become available as additional support alongside 6084(T)

Aye, well, to be honest, they have ran the current B9's down to the ground, constantly thrashing them out, all day, every day has made most of them worse for wear. I would think if 6049, 6071 and 6101 did come available, and if they did get allocated to the TTX, i assume they would replace 6046, 6047 and 6048 as they are very worse for wear (especially 6048).
Thanks.

(23 Feb 2017, 4:39 pm)James M wrote Aye, well, to be honest, they have ran the current B9's down to the ground, constantly thrashing them out, all day, every day has made most of them worse for wear. I would think if 6049, 6071 and 6101 did come available, and if they did get allocated to the TTX, i assume they would replace 6046, 6047 and 6048 as they are very worse for wear (especially 6048).
Thanks.

It would only be one  of them depending on what route GNE decided to target fuel / efficiency savings with lightweight double deck vehicles (if any that is). The whole purpose of the cascaded vehicle with a Tachograph alongside 6084 would allow 2x spare vehicles to be available. This would not only allow the opportunity to rest 6043-48 but would ensure that suitable spares could be allocated if needed and or allow more downtime as required for 6043/48.

Red Arrows Cascade:
- 11x to Stanley inclusive of a spare vehicle
- 2x to Riverside / Hexham for TEN
- 1x to Riverside (6049) for TEN but swapped for spare B7 if needed for TTX
- 6084 becomes dedicated TTX spare

TEN Cascade:
- 11x to Stanley inclusive of a spare vehicle
- 1x to Percy Main for additional Cobalt Clipper spare
- 1x remaining at Riverisde being 6071 and alongside 6084 both become primary spare vehicles at Riverside for TTX and can also be used on TENs alongside newer corporate spares if not required on TTX

Cobalt Clipper Cascade:
- 11x to Stanley inclusive of a spare vehicle
- 3x to Riverside / Hexham for TEN
- 2x to Riverside / Hexham as spares for TEN
- 1x to Riverside being 6101 and alongside 6084 both become primary spare vehicles at Riverside for TTX and can also be used on TENs alongside other corporate spares if not required on TTX

(23 Feb 2017, 3:13 pm)Jamie M wrote I forgot about peterlee as well!

You probably forgot about Washington depot aswell on your journey.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

(23 Feb 2017, 6:57 pm)cbma06 wrote You probably forgot about Washington depot aswell on your journey.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

yes

Seen one of them small solos going down be sham bank this afternoon with an engineer driving with T1 tesco freebus on front. Could of been going stanley?

Can't remember if it's 8306 or 8309 which flew past me today with only the route number on the destination board. Looked funny with just 2A in the centre.

Seen 5269 for about a month now and when its on the road the rear display doesnt work. Must be when it hits a pot hole or something. But when tell drivers/gne they arent bothered.