(22 Feb 2018, 12:57 pm)Andreos1 wrote Not sure to be honest.
I read somewhere that they produce them for a new service, but don't for existing - regardless of any service revisions that are made.
How accurate that is, I have no idea.

No, but customers can request them to be printed. That is perhaps something that could be advertised better though

Before it is too late and any chance of discussion is killed:

Go North East 6161 (LJ62 KZP). Saltmeadows Road Depot, Gateshead by Captain Deltic, on Flickr

Logos and URLs but no tagline (or advert boards - but they could come later as per 5453-5462). Could this suggest that they are going to receive a variation to the corporate livery? Would be very surprised to see branding as it is likely that they would be allocated to the Toon Link over the 15/15A if necessary.

(22 Feb 2018, 4:59 pm)S813 FVK wrote Before it is too late and any chance of discussion is killed:

Go North East 6161 (LJ62 KZP). Saltmeadows Road Depot, Gateshead by Captain Deltic, on Flickr

Logos and URLs but no tagline (or advert boards - but they could come later as per 5453-5462). Could this suggest that they are going to receive a variation to the corporate livery? Would be very surprised to see branding as it is likely that they would be allocated to the Toon Link over the 15/15A if necessary.

Nearside taglines have been fitted:
- 6157 (fantastic people)
- 6161 (never miss your stop)

Offside taglines aren't fitted on double-decks until the advert frames have been fitted - these have to be sprayed first (they were yellow at Go-Ahead London - Go North East's are red) hence why they haven't been fitted just yet.

WVL506 (LJ62KDZ) Go-Ahead London (London General) by Zubin M Transport Photography, on Flickr

(22 Feb 2018, 4:33 pm)S813 FVK wrote No, but customers can request them to be printed. That is perhaps something that could be advertised better though

If that is the case, then I agree, it does need to be advertised more.
Had no idea it was even possible to request printed timetables.

Seen a few vykings heading towards percy main today?

(22 Feb 2018, 9:49 pm)Jordan2104 wrote Seen a few vykings heading towards percy main today?

Special events fleet being used on the 327 ferry service perhaps?

(22 Feb 2018, 10:06 pm)Simmy wrote Special events fleet being used on the 327 ferry service perhaps?

They had one yesterday but went on 309

(22 Feb 2018, 4:33 pm)S813 FVK wrote No, but customers can request them to be printed. That is perhaps something that could be advertised better though

Can they though? They point blank refused too send a timetable for the indiGo Washington to my grandad, because he contacted them via email they claimed he could just download a copy.

He’s 80. Not the most tech savvy.

(22 Feb 2018, 10:25 pm)LeeCalder wrote Can they though? They point blank refused too send a timetable for the indiGo Washington to my grandad, because he contacted them via email they claimed he could just download a copy.

He’s 80. Not the most tech savvy.

Very poor customer service indeed.

GNE employee posts that paper timetables can be requested from the company on a public forum, yet customer is told no by another GNE employee when asking for one. 

Appreciate that customer service advisors do not get it right all of the time, but its such a vague query that whoever was replying to messages that day would have probably had to check with others before responding, given an indication that more than 1 member of the team did not know the answer.

Have any timetables been published for the recent changes on the 26/27, 9, 50 etc?

Still a very poor decision by Go Ahead to scrap timetables when the likes of Arriva are still producing them.

(22 Feb 2018, 11:26 pm)Wybus wrote Have any timetables been published for the recent changes on the 26/27, 9, 50 etc?

Still a very poor decision by Go Ahead to scrap timetables when the likes of Arriva are still producing them.

I think timetables were published for the southtyneside changes as it was mentioned somewhere , I think new timetables are produced on major changes but not for minor changes like retiming by a few minutes etc...

Recently when Arriva changed the timings of the 22,23,24. I did messaged them for new timetables to be sent through post, and got an email back stating that there don’t post them out no more and then 5 days later I got the timetables through the post with a note attached saying sorry for the delay sending out the timetables.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Optare Metrodecker Demonstrator (9083) was on the 327 this afternoon with the driver informing me it will be allocated over the weekend also for anyone looking for it.

I was also informed that Go North East planned to extend the DFDS contract by a further a year, however have agreed a rumoured 5 year deal with two brand new vehicles to be purchased as part of the new contact, at this point this is unconfirmed and merely speculation, however coincidentally two of the DFDS Omnidekkas don't have luggage racks fitted despite the service being in need them, so I do wonder if there is more than meets the eye with this rumour, furthermore and this is just me speaking my mind here in thinking that the 309/310 will be in line for new vehicles this year also, as I really can't see Go North East buying two new vehicles for just one service, depot standardisation and that coming into mind.

Nevertheless here is 9083 on the 327 this afternoon - https://www.flickr.com/photos/adammalark...ed-public/

(23 Feb 2018, 6:35 pm)Malarkey wrote Optare Metrodecker Demonstrator (9083) was on the 327 this afternoon with the driver informing me it will be allocated over the weekend also for anyone looking for it.

I was also informed that Go North East planned to extend the DFDS contract by a further a year, however have agreed a rumoured 5 year deal with two brand new vehicles to be purchased as part of the new contact, at this point this is unconfirmed and merely speculation.

Obviously keeping it to a non-schedule service as there prob not enough drivers trained on it.

As for the Contract, I was told a similar thing a few weeks back when I bumped into one of the drivers I know and he mentioned the new contract plus new buses. But as you say it could all be speculations, we all know what this hobby is like.

(23 Feb 2018, 7:34 pm)Rapidsnap wrote Obviously keeping it to a non-schedule service as there prob not enough drivers trained on it.

As for the Contract, I was told a similar thing a few weeks back when I bumped into one of the drivers I know and he mentioned the new contract plus new buses. But as you say it could all be speculations, we all know what this hobby is like.

The driver I spoke to this afternoon was saying he has worked the DFDS contract since it originally started, so given he has worked for Go North East for however many years he must know quite a lot of the incomings and outgoings with the company, much like Dan and Citaro5284 do.

(13 Feb 2018, 4:53 pm)Andreos1 wrote Not sure if it has been noted yet, but the 21 branded deckers have been decorated in three external stickers as part of the Gateshead Angel Birthday celebrations.

Attached a quick photo giving an example of two sticker locations on the vehicle.

An additional sticker on the nearside, just above the blind.

Saw 6328 today and it didn't appear to have any of the 20th anniversary stickers that the others have.
Not sure if any of the others have been missed.

(23 Feb 2018, 7:34 pm)Rapidsnap wrote Obviously keeping it to a non-schedule service as there prob not enough drivers trained on it.

As for the Contract, I was told a similar thing a few weeks back when I bumped into one of the drivers I know and he mentioned the new contract plus new buses. But as you say it could all be speculations, we all know what this hobby is like.

I believe it was on the dfds as was vor today to be fixed as broke other day

MetroDecker is on 309 and 310. Not on thr DFDS.

(24 Feb 2018, 10:19 am)Rapidsnap wrote MetroDecker is on 309 and 310. Not on thr DFDS.

Could still put in an appearance on the 327 yet as 6106 appears to have replaced it on the 309/310.

(24 Feb 2018, 1:06 pm)Jimmi wrote Could still put in an appearance on the 327 yet as 6106 appears to have replaced it on the 309/310.

Wondr why it got took off

(24 Feb 2018, 2:41 pm)Jordan2104 wrote Wondr why it got took off

It's not long since left Newcastle on the 327. Various President's and Vykings plus branded OmniDekka's have also been allocated to the 327 this afternoon.

(23 Feb 2018, 6:35 pm)Malarkey wrote I was also informed that Go North East planned to extend the DFDS contract by a further a year, however have agreed a rumoured 5 year deal with two brand new vehicles to be purchased as part of the new contact, at this point this is unconfirmed and merely speculation, however coincidentally two of the DFDS Omnidekkas don't have luggage racks fitted despite the service being in need them, so I do wonder if there is more than meets the eye with this rumour, furthermore and this is just me speaking my mind here in thinking that the 309/310 will be in line for new vehicles this year also, as I really can't see Go North East buying two new vehicles for just one service, depot standardisation and that coming into mind.

I don' think that GNE will order new vehicles for the 309/310 despite the Volvo B9TLs being too heavy duty for both routes. There are no other routes which spring to mind that the B9TLs could be cascaded to at the moment.

But, if the reliability of 6301-07 on the Castles Express continues to prove temperamental, I could see the following happening:

Vehicle Movements:
- 6101-17 refurbished and fitted with new destination displays.
- 6101-07 additionally fitted with tables on upper deck then repainted, re-branded and transferred to Crook for Castles Express.
- 6108-17 given repaint and new branding for Cobalt Clipper Service 309.
- 6301-07 converted to fully seated upper decks, repainted, re-branded and transferred to Percy Main for Cobalt Clipper Service 310.

Service Changes:
- 309 operates standalone during Monday to Saturday daytime using 6108-17 (PVR 10).
- 310 and X39 operate standalone during Monday to Saturday daytime using 6301-07 (PVR 7).
- Some interworking of both services during early to mid-late evening, with StreetDecks preferably being used on boards which finish late into the evening (if timetable allows).
- 5x StreetDecks and 3x B9TLs used on Sundays with StreetDecks being allocated to boards which run into the evening. Services 309 and 310 would continue to interwork.

Chances are that the MetroDecker was taken off because the driver that was due to take over hadn't been trained on it.

Also despite going looking for DFDS buses, the Pink Omnidekka evaded me once again.

(24 Feb 2018, 8:27 pm)Rapidsnap wrote Chances are that the MetroDecker was taken off because the driver that was due to take over hadn't been trained on it.

Also despite going looking for DFDS buses, the Pink Omnidekka evaded me once again.

I’ve seen it twice in 2 days on the same school bus route.

On another note, GNE will soon be the only operator to use Volvo B5LH's in the North East once the swap between Arriva's Blyth Depot and Arriva Yorkshire takes place.

Wonder in years to come if GNE order StreetDecks for the 309/310 that they poke away about their green 'micro hybrid and 'low carbon' credentials.

I can just imagine the scenes...people flocking from the 306/308 onto the 309/310 for the witchcraft they call "micro hybrids".

Kevin Carr to Retire in June after 43 Years with Go North East
http://www.route-one.net/articles/People..._to_retire

(24 Feb 2018, 8:27 pm)Rapidsnap wrote Chances are that the MetroDecker was taken off because the driver that was due to take over hadn't been trained on it.

Also despite going looking for DFDS buses, the Pink Omnidekka evaded me once again.

Believe there was a problem with the destination controller in cab according to a driver.

(25 Feb 2018, 12:26 am)Jordan2104 wrote Believe there was a problem with the destination controller in cab according to a driver.

Well it was displaying 309 New York when I first photographed it. It did show 310 North Shields just fine.

(24 Feb 2018, 10:44 pm)Malarkey wrote Kevin Carr to Retire in June after 43 Years with Go North East
http://www.route-one.net/articles/People..._to_retire

Be interesting to see who replaces him, and what direction they'll go in, such as branding, new buses etc.


Will 6116/17 be repainted in to the new livery anytime soon?

(25 Feb 2018, 5:22 pm)Michael wrote Be interesting to see who replaces him, and what direction they'll go in, such as branding, new buses etc.


Will 6116/17 be repainted in to the new livery anytime soon?

Probably more route merging