6125 looking very nice in Toon Link (too much hassle to quote Dan's post)

(12 May 2017, 10:13 am)Dan wrote 4990 now branded for Black Cats

Go North East 4990 / YN51 MKX. by Guy Park-Royal, on Flickr

(12 May 2017, 3:19 pm)S813 FVK wrote Go North East 4990 / YN51 MKX. by Guy Park-Royal, on Flickr

IS this one of the buses advertised for sale at £9500 that will be available june/july

(12 May 2017, 3:19 pm)S813 FVK wrote Go North East 4990 / YN51 MKX. by Guy Park-Royal, on Flickr

Suits the Scania.

(12 May 2017, 12:26 pm)Andreos1 wrote Are passengers really bothered about TC fines, VOR etc.?
Or do they want a bus turning up with all of the advertised features?

If we look at it from a passenger perspective (which is often forgotten about), they're making financial sacrifices and decisions based on a service offer and promise. Not often getting the things they have paid for.

I pay to get from a to b. Safely.

Everything else is just a nice bonus.

(12 May 2017, 3:31 pm)makem1 wrote IS this one of the buses advertised for sale at £9500 that will be available june/july

I would put a bet on that those vehicles aren't going to be around long, purely based on age.

(12 May 2017, 5:29 pm)BusLoverMum wrote I pay to get from a to b. Safely.

Everything else is just a nice bonus.

I imagine others are like that too. Others, such as commuters will be sold on the nice bonuses. 
It would be folly to advertise and offer those nice bonuses, if the aim wasn't to attract punters from the X12, the train or their cars.

(12 May 2017, 6:11 pm)Andreos1 wrote I would put a bet on that those vehicles aren't going to be around long, purely based on age.

But they're all Euro 5, so that might delay the withdrawal (like 4932/33)

(11 May 2017, 11:22 pm)Ambassador wrote Apologies if this has been asked and answered before, are the Omnishambles due for a refurb, or even a clean at any point.

6140 my bouncing ride home tonight was worse than 6134/5 et al. Cigarette burns into the plastic coving of the seats, most of the upper deck had red seats worn away to just...black seats, food stains across seating. It wasn't pretty. Weird musty smell throughout too. If these things are seeing regular service on major flagship routes, surely you need to clean them at least?

At least on their 21 runs the B7s, Tridents and Vykings were clean. I'd be embarrassed to take a tourist or visitor to the Angel or DURHAM on a Omnishambles

As another regular 21/X21 user, I agree with you that these 3 desparately need some attention as the threadbare, hard, ripped seats and numerous squeaks and rattles don't portray the image GNE will be looking for.  I also agree that 6140 is the worst of the 3.  Hopefully some internal attention will be forthcoming as having travelled on 6142 and 6146 on X21 runs, the refurbishment has made a big difference to these ones, which are actually pleasant enough to travel on.

(12 May 2017, 6:21 pm)Michael wrote But they're all Euro 5, so that might delay the withdrawal (like 4932/33)

If 4932/4933 which are in the new livery, why has 4936 been withdrawn?

(12 May 2017, 8:29 pm)GX03 wrote If 4932/4933 which are in the new livery, why has 4936 been withdrawn?

4936 was withdrawn for cost avoidance reasons as it was due for replacement by the 18 new Streetlites due in the next couple of months anyway:
http://northeastbuses.co.uk/fleet/item.php?operatorF=2&fleetnoF=4936

4932 and 4933 were repainted into the new corporate livery because they are Euro 5 so will be kept in the fleet longer than the Euro 4 vehicles.

When is the demo expected to be in service?

(12 May 2017, 6:11 pm)Andreos1 wrote I would put a bet on that those vehicles aren't going to be around long, purely based on age.


I imagine others are like that too. Others, such as commuters will be sold on the nice bonuses. 
It would be folly to advertise and offer those nice bonuses, if the aim wasn't to attract punters from the X12, the train or their cars.

Taking the X12 into Newcastle is £2.20 cheaper for me (all zone arriva pas v explorer, at new rates - the differential was smaller until last week!). The 20-25 minute connection isn't a winner, though, except when Durham is going through a snarled up phase, so it's more like 10 minutes!

(12 May 2017, 9:21 pm)Jackamcardle wrote When is the demo expected to be in service?

Monday.

Had ticket machine fitted today.

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(12 May 2017, 2:16 pm)S813 FVK wrote 6125 looking very nice in Toon Link (too much hassle to quote Dan's post)

If anyone is looking for 4990 with Black Cats branding, it left Holmeside on the 39 at around 11:05 (Pennywell Bound).

Really hope they do something with the seats on the Tooklink branded Deckers, loving the livery!

(13 May 2017, 10:38 am)Arcticrossy92 wrote Really hope they do something with the seats on the Tooklink branded Deckers, loving the livery!

Yes - their seats really need retrimming. They could maybe delay some of the B7 cascades to allow the Omnidekkas to be retrimmed.

(13 May 2017, 10:29 am)Jimmi wrote If anyone is looking for 4990 with Black Cats branding, it left Holmeside on the 39 at around 11:05 (Pennywell Bound).

Thanks Jimmi.

I do hope the 38 joins the "Black Cats" brand in the future, seems daft having the 238 but not the 38.... maybe cascades from the new Streetlites will allow that ;P

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(13 May 2017, 10:48 am)S813 FVK wrote Yes - their seats really need retrimming. They could maybe delay some of the B7 cascades to allow the Omnidekkas to be retrimmed.

They'll just swap the seats from the B7's to the Omnidekka's, can't see many of the B7's getting picked up by other companies so they'll just head to scrap. (unless they'll be kept to allow repaints on other buses for a few extra months).

Anyone know if 6125 is due at MetroCentre after 5pm or Newcastle Central before 5pm


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How are the New Ticket machines performing?

I heard from someone the other day that some of the drivers at Percy Main are dreading them being installed there and some just don't understand them from the training.
Is it this week that Percy Main get them? I suppose it is all just practice, but if you are not a techy/gadget type person you may struggle for a while.

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I think the Omnidekkas look good in Toon Link livery, likewise I like the look of Black Cats.

6138 has gained the '35 Million Miles' tagline: https://www.flickr.com/photos/nebp2/3424...ateposted/

(13 May 2017, 4:54 pm)S813 FVK wrote 6138 has gained the '35 Million Miles' tagline: https://www.flickr.com/photos/nebp2/3424...ateposted/

Last week, I think. I forgot to note it.

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(13 May 2017, 2:53 pm)thetravelman wrote How are the New Ticket machines performing?

I heard from someone the other day that some of the drivers at Percy Main are dreading them being installed there and some just don't understand them from the training.
Is it this week that Percy Main get them? I suppose it is all just practice, but if you are not a techy/gadget type person you may struggle for a while.

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I think the Omnidekkas look good in Toon Link livery, likewise I like the look of Black Cats.

The new machines are a lot more simple to use then the old ones, but yeah, some older people just can't grasp technology. Doubt it'll be long before we get a smashed screen on one of them though.

(13 May 2017, 5:48 pm)deanmachine wrote The new machines are a lot more simple to use then the old ones, but yeah, some older people just can't grasp technology. Doubt it'll be long before we get a smashed screen on one of them though.

They take longer to scan GNE passes for me.

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(13 May 2017, 6:40 pm)Jamie M wrote They take longer to scan GNE passes for me.

I cannot believe that.....the machines must know it is you 

Does any1 know then new ticket machine will appect contactless cards?

(13 May 2017, 8:26 pm)Panasonic44 wrote Does any1 know then new ticket machine will appect contactless cards?

Not immediately, but it has the capability, should be contactless soon.

(13 May 2017, 6:40 pm)Jamie M wrote They take longer to scan GNE passes for me.

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Hope they don't take as long as Arriva's do!

Are the pass readers flat or on some form of a slant? At least with the old Key readers and to an extent the ERG's that Concessionary Pass / Key holders have to keep a hold of their cards when they get scanned. 

With Arriva and their Wayfarers, cards can be laid flat thus slowing the process down as well as the fact that their ticket machines are slower.

(13 May 2017, 2:53 pm)thetravelman wrote How are the New Ticket machines performing?

I heard from someone the other day that some of the drivers at Percy Main are dreading them being installed there and some just don't understand them from the training.
Is it this week that Percy Main get them? I suppose it is all just practice, but if you are not a techy/gadget type person you may struggle for a while.

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I've only been on one bus with a new machine so far and the driver didn't know how to issue/charge a single to my Pop PAYG card.
He was older to be fair so as you say probably not as techy as younger drivers - although he didn't bother to check his handbook.
Never mind - it meant another free ride

(13 May 2017, 10:06 pm)ne14ne1 wrote I've only been on one bus with a new machine so far and the driver didn't know how to issue/charge a single to my Pop PAYG card.
He was older to be fair so as you say probably not as techy as younger drivers - although he didn't bother to check his handbook.
Never mind - eit meant another free ride

Took me three goes to get payg to work.  Need to tell the driver that you are using payg, then your destination or fare.  They then select the fare/destination, using the page that has boxes with +-  on.  Once instructed to, put your card on the reader and driver presses issue.