(12 Sep 2017, 9:12 am)Citaro5326 wrote Deptford have a  Orange solo on loan from optare yj64 dwd to replace 640 which is away for repair - my mates just messaged me

Will this be 9094 in the fleet?

(12 Sep 2017, 2:30 pm)mb134 wrote So "Tyne Tees Xpress" isn't simple or straight to the point? 

For example, if you're travelling down the A19 behind an X9/X10, which of these gives you more information as to where the bus serves?

https://flic.kr/p/cJUC2G
https://flic.kr/p/X5JCtg

Another good point - hadn't noticed the rear branding tells you where the bus goes via, but not where it goes to and from...bizarre to omit this if attempting to encourage motorists to switch from the car to (standing on!) the bus...

Thanks to GNE for putting a solo on 60 at peak time making it full to pick up any passengers en route and has a spare streetlite on staff shuttle

9094 has just departed Saltmeadows Road for Deptford.
It should arrive within 30 minutes.

(12 Sep 2017, 2:53 pm)stagecoachbusdepot wrote Another good point - hadn't noticed the rear branding tells you where the bus goes via, but not where it goes to and from...bizarre to omit this if attempting to encourage motorists to switch from the car to (standing on!) the bus...

^ 

The back of the bus is the selling point to motorists heading in the same direction, if you're sat behind a bus, that's all you are going to see. 

I can see it has WiFi, USB and Tables, it says it twice. It runs direct via the A19, it's great value and its "contactless" (please use "contactless payments" or "contactless accepted" next time?!). But where does the bus go? Yes there's a full read blind, but if you're sat behind it and it says "Dalton Park then Middlesbrough", then where do you try and get on...? 

It's all well and good plastering it on the side, but if a car is overtaking, it's just going to be a blur.

I dont think thats a valid argument - all displays have general info. 99% of destination places would require somebody new to the area to go and do some personal research. I don't think it's any less specific than before. Better to see just bare panel with only the start/end place names present. I think this is just trying to find issues, rather than there actually being anything out of place.

I however do not think it's justifiable to put versas and streetlites as spares on this service when there are TEN and TTX buses at the depot of nicer specification/capacity.

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(12 Sep 2017, 4:06 pm)Jamie M wrote I dont think thats a valid argument - all displays have general info. 99% of destination places would require somebody new to the area to go and do some personal research. I don't think it's any less specific than before. Better to see just bare panel with only the start/end place names present. I think this is just trying to find issues, rather than there actually being anything out of place.

I however do not think it's justifiable to put versas and streetlites as spares on this service when there are TEN and TTX buses at the depot of nicer specification/capacity.

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So you're saying that people new to the area would have to research where Newcastle and Middlesbrough are, those being the routes two main destinations? 

It is far more likely that people will have to make an effort to look into where the 'X9/X10' goes.

(12 Sep 2017, 2:30 pm)mb134 wrote So "Tyne Tees Xpress" isn't simple or straight to the point? 

For example, if you're travelling down the A19 behind an X9/X10, which of these gives you more information as to where the bus serves?

https://flic.kr/p/cJUC2G
https://flic.kr/p/X5JCtg

Again, I have read both of my previous posts and at no point did I say that the Tyne Tees Xpress was not simple or straight to the point.

After already expressing my view on the rear of the B5TLs, the old Tyne Tees Xpress is certainly better. That aside, however, there is a lot more to a brand than just where it goes, especially if you are competing with the train. The people who are likely use the services will, most likely, live somewhere along the route anyway meaning that they will know where the bus serves. Perhaps not as good as having the route on the rear, but it certainly isn't information that cannot be sourced through independent research.

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(12 Sep 2017, 4:14 pm)mb134 wrote So you're saying that people new to the area would have to research where Newcastle and Middlesbrough are, those being the routes two main destinations? 

It is far more likely that people will have to make an effort to look into where the 'X9/X10' goes.

The customer cannot expect everything to be done for them regardless of what industry is being discussed. If you are considering using the bus, it would make sense to get more information on it first to get a rough idea of ticketing options. The routes would be discovered during that process, wouldn't they?

I also think it is likely that people needed to make an effort to look at what services to look out for if they did choose to use the bus.

(11 Sep 2017, 8:18 pm)S813 FVK wrote The X9|X10 brand name, if it can be called that, gets straight to the point to me. I instantly know which services the buses operate on without having to look up at the destination display which, not now in my case but certainly soon, would involve taking my eyes off the road if I was driving.

(12 Sep 2017, 6:45 am)S813 FVK wrote I never said that it was more explanatory, just that it was simple and straight to the point which, when travelling 50/60mph down the A19, is something you need.

(12 Sep 2017, 4:19 pm)S813 FVK wrote Again, I have read both of my previous posts and at no point did I say that the Tyne Tees Xpress was not simple or straight to the point.

After already expressing my view on the rear of the B5TLs, the old Tyne Tees Xpress is certainly better. That aside, however, there is a lot more to a brand than just where it goes, especially if you are competing with the train. The people who are likely use the services will, most likely, live somewhere along the route anyway meaning that they will know where the bus serves. Perhaps not as good as having the route on the rear, but it certainly isn't information that cannot be sourced through independent research.

 Both of the comments in your first two posts imply that the TTX brand was not straight to the point. 

I'm of the opinion that after putting so much effort into making the inside of the vehicle as premium as possible, in order to compete with other modes of transport as you say, they should have kept the premium livery. Both the original TTX livery and the 2012-17 version were, in my opinion, two of the most premium liveries the North East has seen and I think it would have been far better to build on that.

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(12 Sep 2017, 4:19 pm)S813 FVK wrote The customer cannot expect everything to be done for them regardless of what industry is being discussed. If you are considering using the bus, it would make sense to get more information on it first to get a rough idea of ticketing options. The routes would be discovered during that process, wouldn't they?

I also think it is likely that people needed to make an effort to look at what services to look out for if they did choose to use the bus.

Okay, so let's say 'Pete' is driving to work in Middlesbrough from Newcastle, and is following a B5 down the A19. He has no idea where that bus has come from, and unless he's looking up at the rear destination, he may not know where it's going. 

Now, had he been making that journey when the B9s were allocated to the route, he'd see at eye level that the bus goes from Newcastle to Middlesbrough, is every 30 minutes, and can also easily see that it has WiFi, sockets etc. 

My point is that, he'd probably be more likely to look at the possibility of using the bus if he knew it's destinations, than just the service numbers.

(11 Sep 2017, 10:08 pm)Michael wrote Agree, no one ever moans about any other company in the NE when something goes wrong, such as a launch, problems with new buses etc.


"And before anyone moans that there is no need for me to be like this, well I don't give a flying feather", i think the exact same.

You joking? Someone commented the other day there were at least 6 non-Sapphires on the 43/44/45.

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(11 Sep 2017, 7:48 pm)Greg in Weardale wrote Just realised that "Tyne Tees Express" has been dropped from the brand which is now simply "X9/X10", a disappointing and illogical change. Brands with just numbers are rather meaningless, like "the 49" and it was a great improvement  changing the boring "Ten" to "Tyne Valley Ten". The "Tyne Tees Express" was relevant and well known.

I agree.
Maybe they're embarrassed to call it an Express now it's been slowed down so much.

(12 Sep 2017, 4:30 pm)mb134 wrote  Both of the comments in your first two posts imply that the TTX brand was not straight to the point. 

I don't know how you have been able to imply that, given that I was not doing a direct comparison to the TTX brand at that point, nor had I mentioned it.

Reminds me of a discussion in the 2017/8 order predictions thread the other week!

Ticket I got today when travelling on 6312 has 6012 on it for some reason


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(12 Sep 2017, 5:54 pm)TEN 6083 wrote Ticket I got today when travelling on 6312 has 6012 on it for some reason


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Would've been the vehicle they had taken the machine from as 6012 was supposed to be withdrawn following Metro Replacements, but went to Percy Main to assist additional PVR due to roadworks in June, no further updates on the NEB Fleetlist to say whether it has been withdrawn or not.

9094 at Saltmeadows before a fitter came and drove her to Deptford.
https://flic.kr/p/YrESaB

Is 9094 in service today ?

6310 taken off in Heworth about an hour ago and was replaced by 3963 which ended up leaving 15 minutes late and still displaying 'Not in Service'

5300 has arrived at Hexham, seen it parked as I was going out to Tesco


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Go North East 9094 at Roker Beach on service 700.
https://flic.kr/p/Y5He4w

For anyone who wants 9094 it was the 15:53 off Sunderland Interchange.

Have 3885 and 3887 been withdrawn? They have both broken down within the last week (3885 seemed to have a gearbox issue) and I have only seen 3886/9 recently.

https://flic.kr/p/Xq8iyo

Another photo of 9094.

According to the Go North East fleet news, 4898 has been withdrawn, so it looks like it might not make to Deptford after all.

News, that it was intended to transfer to Deptford, can be found here: http://www.northeastbuses.co.uk/fleet/it...peratorF=2&fleetnoF=4898

(13 Sep 2017, 6:33 pm)Michael wrote According to the Go North East fleet news, 4898 has been withdrawn, so it looks like it might not make to Deptford after all.

News, that it was intended to transfer to Deptford, can be found here: http://www.northeastbuses.co.uk/fleet/it...peratorF=2&fleetnoF=4898

They could always send 4899.

(13 Sep 2017, 6:43 pm)S830OFT wrote They could always send 4899.

They were both due to head over. Not too sure if a replacement, an older solar i'd assume, will be sent over. Doesn't seem that they are needed at Deptford just yet though.

(13 Sep 2017, 7:01 pm)S813 FVK wrote They were both due to head over. Not too sure if a replacement, an older solar i'd assume, will be sent over. Doesn't seem that they are needed at Deptford just yet though.

I would think with the Citaros for the X84/X85 now returning from Blackburn that a Scania L94 from Hexham would transfer to Deptford in 4898's place.

Was on 6148 tonight and what a mess the interior is (upstairs anyway). All of the seats are wrecked more or less, think they could do with a refurb!

6147 and 6148 are due to be internally refurbished (retrim and fitment of luggage bays) from this month, after all of the additional contracts Go North East gained finish.

The remaining OmniDekkas in the fleet will then be re-trimmed and have handle bars etc repainted, too.

As mentioned previously, this exercise will take a few months to complete, being done on a one-by-one basis.

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0635 X9 from Middlesbrough not running due too a 'technical issue'.........

Not really the best start, going off the last few days!

(14 Sep 2017, 3:59 am)Dan wrote 6147 and 6148 are due to be internally refurbished (retrim and fitment of luggage bays) from this month, after all of the additional contracts Go North East gained finish.

The remaining OmniDekkas in the fleet will then be re-trimmed and have handle bars etc repainted, too.

As mentioned previously, this exercise will take a few months to complete, being done on a one-by-one basis.

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Ah right, that's good then. I didn't even notice they didn't have luggage racks

What's so special about 9094? Have I missed something?

It's orange.

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