(24 May 2018, 9:47 am)Jamie M wrote No info at the stops or at Heworth, or Gateshead, or on buses. It's all well and good writing news articles about it, but what's the use if there's no direct info to passengers? I'm not a chronicle reader and I had literally no idea it was happening until I got diverted off. Car drivers were backed all the way to the Stadium too. It's by all means short notice in real life.

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It's on the Nexus website - so that would suggest they knew about it in advance.
It's on the GNE website - so that would suggest they knew about it advance too.

Last night wasnt the first night of closures according to all three sources.

Then there are the signs by the side of the road.

(24 May 2018, 10:03 am)Andreos1 wrote It's on the Nexus website - so that would suggest they knew about it in advance.
It's on the GNE website - so that would suggest they knew about it advance too.

Last night wasnt the first night of closures according to all three sources.

Then there are the signs by the side of the road.

I didn't see any the night before, must be becoming blind in my not-very-old-age >.>


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(24 May 2018, 11:04 am)Jamie M wrote I didn't see any the night before, must be becoming blind in my not-very-old-age >.>


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https://www.gateshead.gov.uk/article/489...Roundabout been on here for a couple of weeks

(24 May 2018, 11:04 am)Jamie M wrote I didn't see any the night before, must be becoming blind in my not-very-old-age >.>


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Big, led/matrix signs by the side of the road. Can't miss 'em...

Moving swiftly on, currently on a few routes and buses are the new displays present at Stanley.
- 5451 & 62 plate B9TLs on X31, X30, X70, X71, 6, 6A and Short M6 to Crookgate only
- Most buses for short M6 to crookgate only (for Sunday and 2 evening runs)

When are the rest of them planned to be migrated over for all routes?
When is Stanley also going to be following the shift-oriented boards for drivers, rather than the old bus boards? I believe Stanley's now the only depot that operates in this format.

(22 May 2018, 9:02 pm)Malarkey wrote I would gather Go North East has gained some further Nexus and DCC Contracts to be announced which require use of a minibus.

Not forgetting that there is a current "shortage" of minibuses - the Byker ASDA "free bus" contract is currently operating with a Solo instead of an MPD (meaning that Riverside are short of a spare minibus, with 4899 having taken the MPD's place until it is withdrawn tomorrow), service 18 is operating with Optare Versas opposed to Solos, and three boards on services X6/X7 are operating with Scania L94s opposed to Solos.

(23 May 2018, 3:59 pm)Rapidsnap wrote I do wonder if the 3 new baby Optare Solos on order have already been allocated numbers 715 - 717.

Yes - fleet numbers 715 - 717 had already been allocated to the three new Solos on delivery from Optare, with this batch of pre-owned Solos being allocated fleet numbers 718 and higher.

(24 May 2018, 1:04 pm)Jamie M wrote Moving swiftly on, currently on a few routes and buses are the new displays present at Stanley.
- 5451 & 62 plate B9TLs on X31, X30, X70, X71, 6, 6A and Short M6 to Crookgate only
- Most buses for short M6 to crookgate only (for Sunday and 2 evening runs)

When are the rest of them planned to be migrated over for all routes?

I wouldn't expect to see any changes to the destination lists now before July.

There's a couple of things in the pipeline, but a lot of what is being done isn't possible just yet (some firmware upgrades are required on each controller). This is currently being tested prior to being rolled out fleet-wide.

The larger terminal point only destinations actually take up more memory than a 'standard' display, and this is proving troublesome on the controllers on some older buses at Riverside, where the database is now quite some size. Go North East have also carried out some research into the display types, which may mean that further routes aren't converted to the large terminal point only display.

(24 May 2018, 1:47 pm)Dan wrote Not forgetting that there is a current "shortage" of minibuses - the Byker ASDA "free bus" contract is currently operating with a Solo instead of an MPD (meaning that Riverside are short of a spare minibus, with 4899 having taken the MPD's place until it is withdrawn tomorrow), service 18 is operating with Optare Versas opposed to Solos, and three boards on services X6/X7 are operating with Scania L94s opposed to Solos.


Yes - fleet numbers 715 - 717 had already been allocated to the three new Solos on delivery from Optare, with this batch of pre-owned Solos being allocated fleet numbers 718 and higher.


I wouldn't expect to see any changes to the destination lists now before July.

There's a couple of things in the pipeline, but a lot of what is being done isn't possible just yet (some firmware upgrades are required on each controller). This is currently being tested prior to being rolled out fleet-wide.

The larger terminal point only destinations actually take up more memory than a 'standard' display, and this is proving troublesome on the controllers on some older buses at Riverside, where the database is now quite some size. Go North East have also carried out some research into the display types, which may mean that further routes aren't converted to the large terminal point only display.

Is this an explanation for why some only have the route number on the rear full display, or just the wrong program on? 5217 and an orange loop are examples.

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(24 May 2018, 1:49 pm)Jamie M wrote Is this an explanation for why some only have the route number on the rear full display, or just the wrong program on? 5217 and an orange loop are examples.

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Yes - it was a bit of a 'bodge job' until something more permanent could be done.

The different display types are grouped together; the group which has a route number only rear display uses less memory than the one with the full size display, so that one was able to be loaded. Hanover are working with Go North East to release new firmware which essentially 'unlocks' a bit of hidden storage space on the controller, amongst other things.

(24 May 2018, 2:43 pm)Dan wrote Yes - it was a bit of a 'bodge job' until something more permanent could be done.

The different display types are grouped together; the one with a small route number only rear on the back uses less memory than the one with the full size display, so that one was able to be loaded. Hanover are working with Go North East to release new firmware which essentially 'unlocks' a bit of hidden storage space on the controller, amongst other things.

Interesting. Can the controllers not be replaced with ones that natively have more space, or is it not modular enough to do so?

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(24 May 2018, 2:49 pm)Jamie M wrote Interesting. Can the controllers not be replaced with ones that natively have more space, or is it not modular enough to do so?

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Yes, but very pricey!

(24 May 2018, 2:59 pm)Dan wrote Yes, but very pricey!

Makes sense, I thought the display would be the most expensive part due to the size of them, but I guess all they are is black plastic with a few LEDs stuck to them. Thanks for the info!

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(24 May 2018, 3:07 pm)Jamie M wrote Makes sense, I thought the display would be the most expensive part due to the size of them, but I guess all they are is black plastic with a few LEDs stuck to them. Thanks for the info!

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The displays are the most expensive. A brand new full set of displays, plus new controller, is around the £2,000 mark!

(24 May 2018, 3:12 pm)Dan wrote The displays are the most expensive. A brand new full set of displays, plus new controller, is around the £2,000 mark!

That's a fair amount like. Some of them must be worth close to the value of the bus when sent for scrapping.

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(24 May 2018, 1:47 pm)Dan wrote Not forgetting that there is a current "shortage" of minibuses - the Byker ASDA "free bus" contract is currently operating with a Solo instead of an MPD (meaning that Riverside are short of a spare minibus, with 4899 having taken the MPD's place until it is withdrawn tomorrow), service 18 is operating with Optare Versas opposed to Solos, and three boards on services X6/X7 are operating with Scania L94s opposed to Solos.


Yes - fleet numbers 715 - 717 had already been allocated to the three new Solos on delivery from Optare, with this batch of pre-owned Solos being allocated fleet numbers 718 and higher.

Are they still due for a June delivery? 

Will the 718+ batch finally withdraw 618/619?


Edit: 

Looking through the fleet list... looks like ex London presidents are also arriving in the fleet:


6901-6919 are all Gemini (19)

6920-6934 are all presidents (15) 

Omnidekka's are 6162-6179 (18)

Looks like only 1 gemini 2 left in gne red which is 6116. The rest are commemorative here is a list of forner gne red gemini 2s

6084 - new cooperative

6100 - daft as a brush

6117 - fulisers 50

Would have thought 6116 would get a new livery soon

(24 May 2018, 8:36 pm)GNE6312 wrote Would have thought 6116 would get a new livery soon

It has already been confirmed that 6116 will become a Cobalt Clipper when the rest are repainted, hence why it hasn’t been repainted into the new fleet livery.

Just being mulling over the sort of contracts that will stretch the GNE fleet over the summer and I've come up with the following, have I missed any others out.

Tall Ships (Early July)
Sunderland Airshow (Late July / Early Aug)
Durham Cricket Park and Ride (Various Days over Summer)
Kynren at Bishop Auckland (Various Days over Summer)
Cruise Ship Arrivals (Various Days over Summer)
Metro Engineering Blockcade? (Not sure if there is one over the summer holidays or where it is, sure someone mentioned Heworth to South Shields)
Increased vehicle requirement for DFDS (Various Days over Summer)

Any others I might have missed, just trying to add up all the oppotunites I have to get the 69xx Geminis incase they don't stay.

Also just to add that 6920 - 6934 are actually ADL Presidents and are some of the last ones built with this body style.

(24 May 2018, 1:04 pm)Jamie M wrote Moving swiftly on, currently on a few routes and buses are the new displays present at Stanley.
- 5451 & 62 plate B9TLs on X31, X30, X70, X71, 6, 6A and Short M6 to Crookgate only
- Most buses for short M6 to crookgate only (for Sunday and 2 evening runs)

When are the rest of them planned to be migrated over for all routes?
When is Stanley also going to be following the shift-oriented boards for drivers, rather than the old bus boards? I believe Stanley's now the only depot that operates in this format.

I would assume there is a reason they're still operating in that format. Probably a union agreement of some form.

(25 May 2018, 5:46 am)LeeCalder wrote I would assume there is a reason they're still operating in that format. Probably a union agreement of some form.

Union people don't really care about it, it makes life more confusing for most. Riverside has the same layout, but they just have a monitor inside to show which bus which shift which run etc.

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(25 May 2018, 5:49 am)Jamie M wrote Union people don't really care about it, it makes life more confusing for most. Riverside has the same layout, but they just have a monitor inside to show which bus which shift which run etc.

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Union means that you can collectively meet and negotiate with management over any issues, so I would therefore assume that they would have an input on the matter if it ever arisen.

I can't imagine there being any other reason they are kept that way....

(23 May 2018, 9:18 pm)Jamie M wrote Hope neebody is trying to travel to or from Pelaw tonight,  there's a short notice closure on the whole of the Heworth Interchange.

27: Hebburn, Mill Lane, A194, Leam Lane, Meresyde (Like Q2 onwards), Grange Cresent, High Lanes, High Heworth Lane, Heworth Interchange

(35A, X10), 4: (A184), Lingey Lane, Meresyde and as above.

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There is a Shuttle Bus serving the 27 route through Pelaw.

Go North East 713 / WK59 CWY. by Guy Park-Royal, on Flickr

(25 May 2018, 5:46 am)LeeCalder wrote I would assume there is a reason they're still operating in that format. Probably a union agreement of some form.

Only thing i can think of is because of the complex vehicle movements between Stanley depot and Stanley Bus Station or Consett Bus Station.

(25 May 2018, 10:22 am)westy3738 wrote Only thing i can think of is because of the complex vehicle movements between Stanley depot and Stanley Bus Station or Consett Bus Station.

Riverside is the same situation on a night. Often 8 vehicles all different brands and one specific one has to be taken.

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My option isnt even there.

Red-hewf

https://twitter.com/gonortheast/status/9...84033?s=20

(25 May 2018, 1:30 pm)Andreos1 wrote My option isnt even there.

Red-hewf

https://twitter.com/gonortheast/status/9...84033?s=20

I agree with your option, but more "Redyewf"

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(25 May 2018, 11:12 am)Jamie M wrote Riverside is the same situation on a night. Often 8 vehicles all different brands and one specific one has to be taken.

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Most of these are on part of the driver's duty where he has to take a specific car working to the depot. This is especially prevalent on a Sunday evening when no staff shuttle operates

Edit: 

Looking through the fleet list... looks like ex London presidents are also arriving in the fleet:


6901-6919 are all Gemini (19)

6920-6934 are all presidents (15) 

Omnidekka's are 6162-6179 (18)
[/quote]
How many are going to percy main and which ones?

The 69xx vehicles are just here for the summer at the moment and their allocations are expected to be fluid depending on when and where they are needed. Should GNE be successful in gaining more contracts then more than likely some of the Geminis will remain, I however expect the Presidents to move on after the summer.

As for the Omnidekka they be used wherever they are needed, prob displace the shorter examples to the Special Events fleet.

Does the 09:18 off K'worth 1A run off 08:48 Newcastle Arrive 309 on a Sunday?

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(27 May 2018, 8:15 am)Jamie M wrote Does the 09:18 off K'worth 1A run off 08:48 Newcastle Arrive 309 on a Sunday?

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I believe it does