14 - Volvo B8RLE Wright Eclipse 3 - Toon Link
15 - Volvo B8RLE Wright Eclipse 3 - Whey-Aye-50
14 - Volvo B8RLE Wright Eclipse 3 - Connections4
10 - Wright Streetlite Micro-Hybrid 3 - Citylink 58
12 - Wright Streetlite Micro-Hybrid 3 - Black Cats 35/38

5 - Scania Omnicities to Percy Main replacing Volvo B7RLE's 
8 - Scania Omnicities to CLS replacing Wright Solars
14 - Mercedes Citaros Washington to Riverside replacing Green Arrow Solars - x2 Spare
10 - Optare Versas replacing Loop Solars - x2 Spare
16 - Scania Omnicity replacing 09reg Versas

(15 Sep 2018, 10:19 pm)Malarkey wrote 14 - Volvo B8RLE Wright Eclipse 3 - Toon Link
15 - Volvo B8RLE Wright Eclipse 3 - Whey-Aye-50
14 - Volvo B8RLE Wright Eclipse 3 - Connections4
10 - Wright Streetlite Micro-Hybrid 3 - Citylink 58
12 - Wright Streetlite Micro-Hybrid 3 - Black Cats 35/38

5 - Scania Omnicities to Percy Main replacing Volvo B7RLE's 
8 - Scania Omnicities to CLS replacing Wright Solars
14 - Mercedes Citaros Washington to Riverside replacing Green Arrow Solars - x2 Spare
10 - Optare Versas replacing Loop Solars - x2 Spare
16 - Scania Omnicity replacing 09reg Versas

Doubt they'll take so many deckers to Washington and isn't the 58 and Q1/2/3 already getting the streetlights

(15 Sep 2018, 11:01 pm)JM03 wrote Doubt they'll take so many deckers to Washington and isn't the 58 and Q1/2/3 already getting the streetlights

The B8RLE's are not deckers - https://www.flickr.com/photos/adammalark...Qsz-xius9m

First i've heard the 58/Quaylink rumour mind.

It would be an interesting change of strategy to suggest GNE would purchase 43x Volvo B8RLEs, when they have decided otherwise in the past, when perhaps they'd have been a more suitable vehicle. The Prince Bishops and Durham Diamonds spring to mind.

(16 Sep 2018, 12:14 pm)Malarkey wrote The B8RLE's are not deckers - https://www.flickr.com/photos/adammalark...Qsz-xius9m

First i've heard the 58/Quaylink rumour mind.

I mentioned it in the latest thread last month, but that was because someone asked about when the Scania's would be withdrawn.

So i put in a suggestion in, of what they could get to replace the Scania's

(16 Sep 2018, 4:06 pm)Adrian wrote It would be an interesting change of strategy to suggest GNE would purchase 43x Volvo B8RLEs, when they have decided otherwise in the past, when perhaps they'd have been a more suitable vehicle. The Prince Bishops and Durham Diamonds spring to mind.

I agree, I think with the new MD from Reading Buses coming in there will be a change in strategy when comes to buying buses, my suggestion was merely with standardisation in mind given the amount of vehicles which have been purchased from Wrightbus in recent years.

It is of my understanding the new MD is not a fan of Wrightbus products, think this is very well supported given Reading Buses have only purchased 7 Streetlites and 6 Streetdecks compared to the amount of vehicles they've purchased from Alexander Dennis since 2013.

(16 Sep 2018, 4:29 pm)Malarkey wrote I agree, I think with the new MD from Reading Buses coming in there will be a change in strategy when comes to buying buses, my suggestion was merely with standardisation in mind given the amount of vehicles which have been purchased from Wrightbus in recent years.

It is of my understanding the new MD is not a fan of Wrightbus products, think this is very well supported given Reading Buses have only purchased 7 Streetlites and 6 Streetdecks compared to the amount of vehicles they've purchased from Alexander Dennis since 2013.

On that note, Reading Buses took on some Greenline work and they trialed the BCI Excellence (double decker). Wonder if one might appear as a demo up here at some point.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoN6A8mJUc4 


(video not mine)

(16 Sep 2018, 10:09 pm)L469 YVK wrote On that note, Reading Buses took on some Greenline work and they trialed the BCI Excellence (double decker). Wonder if one might appear as a demo up here at some point.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoN6A8mJUc4 

(video not mine)

It's a common misconception amongst enthusiasts that an MD of a bus company would be so heavily involved in choosing a vehicle type to invest in. I don't think this is really commonplace at all, as the company pays a lot of money for an engineering lead to make those kind of decisions.

Reading Buses' fleet isn't really standardised at all and generally speaking is a bit of a mish-mash of whatever took their fancy at the time. The order for StreetDecks on the orange routes was only to bite back at ADL who weren't willing to change their vehicle specification at the time to meet Reading's needs (this order to Wrights kicked ADL up the rear-end which subsequently led to these changes being made), and in my opinion the more recent order for MetroDeckers for the Greenline services is more of a statement of being the first to buy that vehicle type. I don't think there's any room for that at Go North East.

Reading have actually ordered two of those BCIs for peak-time journeys on the purple 17, which are due to be delivered next year. They wanted to buy tri-axle dual-door buses for the purple 17 but no manufacturer would do it. However, it's my understanding that Lothian Buses have placed an order recently for tri-axle Volvo B8TLs on ADL Enviro500 bodywork, which could well see a step-shift in Reading Buses' loyalty to Scania.

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Found my post about the Scania's, for those who missed it, I've copied and paste it across to here:

Edit: Numbers maybe wrong.


Not sure what would be on order, only service which could get new buses is the Quaylink or Citylink 58, or both as i would imagine they do quite well? (not from the area so no idea), 25 Scania's need replacing at Riverside

38 Versa's at Riverside:
5377 - 84 (8) - 58
5385 - 5388, 8310 - 8318, 8329 - 8338 (23) - Quaylink
5389, 8306, 8308, 8309, 8327, 8328 (6) - Go North East


Streetlites ordered:  31

8 for the 58 + 1 spare
23 for the Quaylink + 3 spare

--- Cascades (all to be in Go North East)

5377 - 84 to Loop (5385 as a spare)
8310 – 16 to Chester for the 13/14 and X25? (8317/18/19 as spares)
8329 – 8338 (10) to Green Arrow (8327/8328 as spares)
8306, 8308 – 67/69
86,87,88 and 89 spares at Riverside


Total spares:

Chester – 3
Riverside – 8 (1 to be used on the X66 on a Saturday)




All above removes the Scania’s from service from Riverside and Chester expect for 5228-32 which will go Percy Main to replace the Eclipses.


I have tried to sort out allocations, so every service has the same style Versa and in number ordering (a tad like the Citaro's)


Although, won't be ordered at once, maybe over the next 2 years.



Edit:

Deptford's Scania's to be removed at a later date (as i can't see it getting new buses)


Or...

8 Streetlites 
1 Solo to be allocated to the 38 
1 spare Streetlite

Wonder if we will see an investment in the Sunderland Connect next year as its 6 and 7 years since the hybrid Solo's first entered service.

I think the buses were joint funded by the Uni and Council?, so would be interesting to see what would happen to them...

(26 Oct 2018, 9:03 am)Michael wrote Wonder if we will see an investment in the Sunderland Connect next year as its 6 and 7 years since the hybrid Solo's first entered service.

I think the buses were joint funded by the Uni and Council?, so would be interesting to see what would happen to them...

I can see the 93/94 getting streetlites

(26 Oct 2018, 10:44 am)V514DFT wrote I can see the 93/94 getting streetlites

I was told by a driver that the new MD dislikes the streetlites, time will tell when new buses arrive.


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(26 Oct 2018, 11:20 am)cbma06 wrote I was told by a driver that the new MD dislikes the streetlites, time will tell when new buses arrive.


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The reading fleet seems to be mostly Enviro 400's, although they do have 6 Streetdecks and 7 Streetlites. 


Hopefully we see Enviro's enter Go North East's fleet, wouldn't mind Gas buses either, although i think they've stopped doing the ones Stagecoach Sunderland have, can you get gas buses in the new Enviro 300 style?

Direct everyone back up to post #8:
https://northeastbuses.co.uk/forum/showt...p?tid=2167&pid=220975#pid220975

Just because the MD may not like the buses that they offer doesn't necessarily mean that the company will drift away from Wright. I think this scenario is very unlikely.

(26 Oct 2018, 9:03 am)Michael wrote Wonder if we will see an investment in the Sunderland Connect next year as its 6 and 7 years since the hybrid Solo's first entered service.

I think the buses were joint funded by the Uni and Council?, so would be interesting to see what would happen to them...

Part of the new contract, which came into effect last month, was for the operator to supply 3x Euro 6 vehicles.

Dispensation is allowed to permit time for an operator to buy these vehicles (as they won't be owned by the council this time around), but yes, I'd certainly expect to see three new Solos for the Sunderland Connect some time within the next few months.

Go North East will be able to buy the Hybrids at a reduced rate given they've been maintained by the company since new, but given how expensive their parts are when they're out of warranty, I'm doubtful they will be bought.

(26 Oct 2018, 2:47 pm)Dan wrote Part of the new contract, which came into effect last month, was for the operator to supply 3x Euro 6 vehicles.

Dispensation is allowed to permit time for an operator to buy these vehicles (as they won't be owned by the council this time around), but yes, I'd certainly expect to see three new Solos for the Sunderland Connect some time within the next few months.

Go North East will be able to buy the Hybrids at a reduced rate given they've been maintained by the company since new, but given how expensive their parts are when they're out of warranty, I'm doubtful they will be bought.

Thats good, about time, hopefully a new colour scheme will be done.

Shame Go North East won't buy the current hybrids though

(26 Oct 2018, 2:47 pm)Dan wrote Part of the new contract, which came into effect last month, was for the operator to supply 3x Euro 6 vehicles.

Dispensation is allowed to permit time for an operator to buy these vehicles (as they won't be owned by the council this time around), but yes, I'd certainly expect to see three new Solos for the Sunderland Connect some time within the next few months.

Go North East will be able to buy the Hybrids at a reduced rate given they've been maintained by the company since new, but given how expensive their parts are when they're out of warranty, I'm doubtful they will be bought.

Would the hybrid solos then be allocated to Crook due to the low PVR?

(29 Oct 2018, 5:33 pm)JP6004 wrote Would the hybrid solos then be allocated to Crook due to the low PVR?

They might not get bought, as Dan said the parts for the hybrids are expensive.

(29 Oct 2018, 11:13 pm)Michael wrote They might not get bought, as Dan said the parts for the hybrids are expensive.

No the hybrids currently on the 700. Would they go to Crook after new bought for the 700...

(29 Oct 2018, 11:27 pm)JP6004 wrote No the hybrids currently on the 700. Would they go to Crook after new bought for the 700...

That's what Dan's saying, the Hybrids currently on the 700 aren't owned by GNE, and it's unlikely they will be bought due to the cost of spare parts.

(29 Oct 2018, 11:48 pm)peter wrote That's what Dan's saying, the Hybrids currently on the 700 aren't owned by GNE, and it's unlikely they will be bought due to the cost of spare parts.

Aaaaah

(30 Oct 2018, 12:20 am)JP6004 wrote Aaaaah

Penny dropped there eventually!

I may be proven wrong as this one is just my personal opinion, but there is limited scope for use of those Hybrids and as I say, the Hybrid nature of them means that there are expensive bills to pay as soon as they're out of warranty

Technology moves on and actually they cost quite a bit to run compared to a Euro 6 diesel Solo.

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(30 Oct 2018, 6:09 am)Dan wrote Penny dropped there eventually!

I may be proven wrong as this one is just my personal opinion, but there is limited scope for use of those Hybrids and as I say, the Hybrid nature of them means that there are expensive bills to pay as soon as they're out of warranty

Technology moves on and actually they cost quite a bit to run compared to a Euro 6 diesel Solo.

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Shame because they're decent buses, will the new solo's have Stop Announcements built in?

The current ones have them, but not sure whos choice it was to put them in, because i've used it a few times and the standard compared to the likes of the Fab 56 etc, aren't very good...

(30 Oct 2018, 8:08 am)Michael wrote Shame because they're decent buses, will the new solo's have Stop Announcements built in?

The current ones have them, but not sure whos choice it was to put them in, because i've used it a few times and the standard compared to the likes of the Fab 56 etc, aren't very good...

It's Nexus-owned kit and the media was programmed by them.

Existing kit from current buses will be transferred to the new buses.

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(30 Oct 2018, 8:26 am)Dan wrote It's Nexus-owned kit and the media was programmed by them.

Existing kit from current buses will be transferred to the new buses.

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Ah right, will it be updated in to Emma's voice?

(30 Oct 2018, 7:34 pm)Michael wrote Ah right, will it be updated in to Emma's voice?

Nope. All down to Nexus.

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(30 Oct 2018, 8:57 pm)Dan wrote Nope. All down to Nexus.

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Shame, they aren't as good as the ones Emma does, hopefully they're rerecorded and the screens are re-done, i did report, that no sound was coming out from the speakers and was just making a noise, along with the monitor not working but not sure if that ever got fixed/ (haven't been on the 700 since the summer)

Wright streetdeck micro-hybrid 3
Fab fifty six (6334-6348)
plus 2 spare (6349 and 6350)
To be given new orange and black 'fab fifty six' branding.

Wright gemini 2 eclipse
Crusaders (former fab fifty six plus back ups 6085-6100) Plus 6043 and 6084 to fill full crusader PVR
Replacing mercs plus burn down 5319 to start phasing out more solars as well as giving more capacity/flexability for the crusaders.
6159-61 brung in from Stanley for back ups on 10s,26/27 and X9/10 with long omnidekkas taking their place at Consett

(10 Nov 2018, 10:02 pm)JM03 wrote Wright streetdeck micro-hybrid 3
Fab fifty six (6334-6348)
plus 2 spare (6349 and 6350)
To be given new orange and black 'fab fifty six' branding.

Wright gemini 2 eclipse
Crusaders (former fab fifty six plus back ups 6085-6100) Plus 6043 and 6084 to fill full crusader PVR
Replacing mercs plus burn down 5319 to start phasing out more solars as well as giving more capacity/flexability for the crusaders.
6159-61 brung in from Stanley for back ups on 10s,26/27 and X9/10 with long omnidekkas taking their place at Consett

By the looks of things, the Fab 56 and Cobalt Clipper will be holding onto B9s for a while yet as they're due a repaint.

Most if not all of the B9TL routes (unless EYMS need more decker of) will probably keep them for timebeing as even though they're slightly heavy duty in some instances, they can be kept on longer due to their durability.

11 streetlites for the 9
put the merc citaros back on the 35
withdraw the old rattly scanias