(14 May 2019, 8:39 pm)S830OFT wrote 6301 - 6307 would be better at Deptford on Prince Bishops, as they have most of the same features as the StreetLites, minus the tables.

I don't think the PBs will get deckers just yet. 6301-05 would be fine on the 56 given the stop / start nature of the routes. 6306 & 6307 would be more than adequate as spares even on the X1.

(14 May 2019, 9:23 pm)L469 YVK wrote I don't think the PBs will get deckers just yet. 6301-05 would be fine on the 56 given the stop / start nature of the routes. 6306 & 6307 would be more than adequate as spares even on the X1.

Or Cobalt&Coast soares since they have the same features as Cobalt & Coast

(15 May 2019, 1:54 pm)GNE6312 wrote Or Cobalt&Coast soares since they have the same features as Cobalt & Coast

I believe it's already been confirmed that the X21 will not be receiving new deckers. I believe 6332 will cover for PVR increase

(15 May 2019, 1:54 pm)GNE6312 wrote Or Cobalt&Coast soares since they have the same features as Cobalt & Coast

Except the tables on the Streetdecks are actually usable. There is nowhere near enough leg room on the C&C for me to sit at the table comfortably, even when I have the whole table to myself. And the post is in the perfect place for me to not be able to get in to the seat without banging my knees.
IMO, they would have been better off just omitting the tables all together

(15 May 2019, 1:54 pm)GNE6312 wrote Or Cobalt&Coast soares since they have the same features as Cobalt & Coast

They would've done that by now but due to the PVR increasing by 1x on X21, there wouldn't be enough B9TLs to make up the PVR on the Castles Express without leaving the Cobalt & Coast 1x short.

---

Interesting...... so that now could mean the following:

Option 1:
- 16x to Consett for Red Kites (incl 2x spare)
- 15x to Washington for X1 (incl 2x spare)

Option 2:
- 15x to Washington for X1 (incl 2x spare)
- 16x to Deptford for Fab 56 (incl 2x spare)

Working it out, it couldn't be the PB's, Coasters or TVT's (unless other types made up spares) as they would all require 18x or 19x vehicles only leaving 12x.

Well working it out, Red Arrows is a definite cert to get new vehicles whether confirmed or not so that only leaves 16x with the Fab 56 PVR reducing by 1x vehicle. Therefore, it looks like the Red Kites could be in for an upgrade unless the 1x extra vehicle was used between CLS/Crook.

Cascades from Red Arrows:
- 6049-54 + 6006-07 to Riverside and refurbished for 6/X31
- 6001-05 to Hownsgill and refurbished for X70/X71
- 6055 Coaster

Cascades from Red Kites & PBs (x11 + 3x)
- 8x for Citylink 58
* Versas go on loop with another sourced if PVR is 9x
- 5x for Blaydon Racers
- 1x spare
- 6118-20 go on 15/15A
- 6121 Percy Main spare

Cascades from Connections 4
- 10x Mercs for 97/97A
- 1x Riverside spare

Red Kite Cascades (plus 3x ex PB StreetLites):
- 8x StreetLites to Riverside for CityLink 58
* 8x Versas + another sourced for 93/94
- 5x StreetLites to Riverside for Blaydon Racer 12/12A
* 5x from these alongside 3x from CityLink 57 allocated to 6/X31
* CityLink 57 revised to run between Newcastle and Wardley only with the same stopping arrangements in Newcastle
         as the Fab 56
- 1x StreetLite to Riverside as a spare
- 6118-20 remain at Hownsgill for 15/15A
- 6121 remains at Hownsgill as a spare alongside 2x StreetDecks covering a PVR of 30x (15/15A/45/46/47/X30/X70/X71)

Red Arrows Cascades
- 6001-05 to Hownsgill for X70/X71
- 6006-07 to Percy Main for DFDS
- 6049-50 to Percy Main for DFDS
- 6051/52/53/54 to Percy Main as spares for Cobalt & Coast / Coaster
* 6100 forms part of Cobalt & Coast PVR with an increase to 18x and service 310 serving Hadrian Park
- 6055 makes up additional PVR on Coaster

Connections 4 Cascades
- 10x 63 reg Mercs to Riverside for 97/97A
- 1x 63 reg Merc to Riverside as a spare

(26 May 2019, 10:00 pm)L469 YVK wrote Red Kite Cascades (plus 3x ex PB StreetLites):
- 8x StreetLites to Riverside for CityLink 58
* 8x Versas + another sourced for 93/94
- 5x StreetLites to Riverside for Blaydon Racer 12/12A
* 5x from these alongside 3x from CityLink 57 allocated to 6/X31
* CityLink 57 revised to run between Newcastle and Wardley only with the same stopping arrangements in Newcastle
         as the Fab 56
- 1x StreetLite to Riverside as a spare
- 6118-20 remain at Hownsgill for 15/15A
- 6121 remains at Hownsgill as a spare alongside 2x StreetDecks covering a PVR of 30x (15/15A/45/46/47/X30/X70/X71)

Red Arrows Cascades
- 6001-05 to Hownsgill for X70/X71
- 6006-07 to Percy Main for DFDS
- 6049-50 to Percy Main for DFDS
- 6051/52/53/54 to Percy Main as spares for Cobalt & Coast / Coaster
* 6100 forms part of Cobalt & Coast PVR with an increase to 18x and service 310 serving Hadrian Park
- 6055 makes up additional PVR on Coaster

Connections 4 Cascades
- 10x 63 reg Mercs to Riverside for 97/97A
- 1x 63 reg Merc to Riverside as a spare

The 327 PVR is only 4, make more sense to keep them as the only backups at Percy Main withdrawing omnidekkas and solars. 
Also maybe 3941/2/3/62/3/4/5 to Riverside moving presidents to Saltmeadows for more miscellaneous works?

For those who aren't on the 'Busesnortheast' Facebook Group, a comment by Martjn Gilbert on photos of the Enviro Demos has confirmed the following regarding the new vehicles:

The Enviro200MMCs are for Riverside depot, not Washington.
The initial Double Decker order will be for Consett and Stanley area services (presumably confirming the E400s are low-height examples for the X30, matches the PVR)
The additional vehicle added to the order is indeed a Streetdeck but unlike the rest, this will feature the 6 cylinder engine as a trial - as such, it will operated out of every depot at various points.

(29 May 2019, 8:36 am)Kuyoyo wrote For those who aren't on the 'Busesnortheast' Facebook Group, a comment by Martjn Gilbert on photos of the Enviro Demos has confirmed the following regarding the new vehicles:

The Enviro200MMCs are for Riverside depot, not Washington.
The initial Double Decker order will be for Consett and Stanley area services (presumably confirming the E400s are low-height examples for the X30, matches the PVR)
The additional vehicle added to the order is indeed a Streetdeck but unlike the rest, this will feature the 6 cylinder engine as a trial - as such, it will operated out of every depot at various points.

Thanks for sharing.

Had a feeling that those E200s were for the 97. Not like GNE these days to order no spare buses, which there wouldn't of been if they were for the 4.

(29 May 2019, 10:27 am)deanmachine wrote Had a feeling that those E200s were for the 97. Not like GNE these days to order no spare buses, which there wouldn't of been if they were for the 4.

Isn't the PVR for the 97 also 11?

So will this mean the following?:
- 10x + 1x spare E200MMC for 97/97A
- 14+2x spare StreetDeck OM936 for 45/46/47
- 13x+1x spare StreetDeck OM936 for X1
- 3x E400MMC for X30
- 1x float StreetDeck OM936

(29 May 2019, 11:30 am)L469 YVK wrote So will this mean the following?: - 10x + 1x spare E200MMC for 97/97A - 14+2x spare StreetDeck OM936 for 45/46/47 - 13x+1x spare StreetDeck OM936 for X1 - 3x E400MMC for X30 - 1x float StreetDeck OM936

Interestingly, someone else commented on that photo that Washington are not due any new buses this year. Whether than just means if any are due, they're not due until early next year, is anyone's guess.
Also, there's only 1 OM936 Streetdeck - the float. The rest, as stated by Mr Gilbert, are the standard OM934 version.

(29 May 2019, 10:51 am)JP6004 wrote Isn't the PVR for the 97 also 11?

No it’s 10

(29 May 2019, 11:42 am)NewcastleOne wrote

No it’s 10

Ah thought it increased a couple years back

(29 May 2019, 11:35 am)Kuyoyo wrote Interestingly, someone else commented on that photo that Washington are not due any new buses this year. Whether than just means if any are due, they're not due until early next year, is anyone's guess.
Also, there's only 1 OM936 Streetdeck - the float. The rest, as stated by Mr Gilbert, are the standard OM934 version.

Unless the OM934s for Red Kite were ordered before MG took charge of GNE and MG want's to assess multiple vehicle types for the X1.

(29 May 2019, 3:11 pm)L469 YVK wrote Unless the OM934s for Red Kite were ordered before MG took charge of GNE and MG want's to assess multiple vehicle types for the X1.

A fair few demos have been on the X1. I can't see all 34 deckers going to consett. Let's not forget officially the X1 hasnt been ruled out.

(29 May 2019, 3:31 pm)JP6004 wrote A fair few demos have been on the X1. I can't see all 34 deckers going to consett. Let's not forget officially the X1 hasnt been ruled out.

I think it will happen for the X1 but with Wrightbus now offering the OM936, that changes things a bit and GNE need to evaluate both the E400MMC more intensely and also evaluate Wrightbus' improved offering.

(29 May 2019, 3:38 pm)L469 YVK wrote I think it will happen for the X1 but with Wrightbus now offering the OM936, that changes things a bit and GNE need to evaluate both the E400MMC more intensely and also evaluate Wrightbus' improved offering.

Maybe they evaluating for X21 as they don't seem to cope very well on the long route

(29 May 2019, 3:46 pm)JP6004 wrote Maybe they evaluating for X21 as they don't seem to cope very well on the long route

Now this baffles me. Surely a bus in service for 12 hours or so is in service for 12 hours or so, whether the route is 5 miles or 50? Isn't the issue more accurately that those streetdecks don't like the fast stretches? </pedantic>

(29 May 2019, 5:51 pm)BusLoverMum wrote

Now this baffles me. Surely a bus in service for 12 hours or so is in service for 12 hours or so, whether the route is 5 miles or 50? Isn't the issue more accurately that those streetdecks don't like the fast stretches? </pedantic>

I didn't think u got any fast stretches will those streetdecks

(29 May 2019, 8:36 am)Kuyoyo wrote For those who aren't on the 'Busesnortheast' Facebook Group, a comment by Martjn Gilbert on photos of the Enviro Demos has confirmed the following regarding the new vehicles:

The Enviro200MMCs are for Riverside depot, not Washington.
The initial Double Decker order will be for Consett and Stanley area services (presumably confirming the E400s are low-height examples for the X30, matches the PVR)
The additional vehicle added to the order is indeed a Streetdeck but unlike the rest, this will feature the 6 cylinder engine as a trial - as such, it will operated out of every depot at various points.

33 Deckers (+ 1 for the trial)

16 for Red Kite (2 spare)
10 for X31/X70/X71 (1 spare)
3 E400MMC on the X30

4 - Not sure where they could go...

>11 Single deckers:

97/97A - 1 spare

(29 May 2019, 6:08 pm)Michael wrote

33 Deckers (+ 1 for the trial)

16 for Red Kite (2 spare)

10 for X31/X70/X71 (1 spare)

3 E400MMC on the X30

11 Single deckers: 97/97A - 1 spare

I like your thinking Michael. As MG has said the additional streetdeck will be a spare for all streetdeck depots, so in your thinking it will be Chester-Le-Street, Consett and Crook. Will the X31 return to Consett?, maybe the X30,X31,X70 & X71 might get the Xlines treatment with new E400s & streetdecks. Is the streetdeck available in low height to go under Dunston bridge otherwise in the event that a E400 is unavailable it’ll be a omnidekka replacement

(29 May 2019, 6:51 pm)Stanleyone wrote

I like your thinking Michael. As MG has said the additional streetdeck will be a spare for all streetdeck depots, so in your thinking it will be Chester-Le-Street, Consett and Crook. Will the X31 return to Consett?, maybe the X30,X31,X70 & X71 might get the Xlines treatment with new E400s & streetdecks. Is the streetdeck available in low height to go under Dunston bridge otherwise in the event that a E400 is unavailable it’ll be a omnidekka replacement

The spare Streetdeck, will be used at all Depots at some point, probables starting at Riverside and ending at Deptford - Can't see it heading to Peterlee and Saltmeadows though.


I think the Xlines could be used on the X30,X31,X70 and X71, if they get deckers.

I just hope if the Red Kite gets deckers... then the bird will be designed around the advertisement boards, they look daft with half of the bird cut off!

Well going by the word 'initial' and also the Stanley / Consett areas being mentioned, that will presumably be the 3x E400MMCs, 16x StreetDecks (OM934) & 1x float (OM936). Then depending upon the results obtained from the E400MMC demo (incl the 3x on the X30) and the OM936 StreetDeck, the next batch using funds from this year's budget will be for the X1 either late on this year or early next year depending on what happens.

Phase 1 predictions:
- 10x + 1x spare E200MMC for 97/97A (Solars withdrawn)
- 14x + 2x spare Wright StreetDeck OM934 for 45/46/47
- 3x E400MMC for X30
- 1x float Wright StreetDeck OM936

Phase 1 cascades (Option 1):
- 8x StreetLites for 58
- 5x StreetLites for 12/12A
- 1x StreetLite Riverside spare
- 8x Versas (plus another sourced) for 93/94
- 6118-20 for 15/15A
- 6121 spare either at Hownsgill or Crook (may be temporarily at Percy Main for Coaster PVR increase)
- 8x Mercs (5x from 12/12A + 3x from 57 IF curtailed) for 6/X31

Phase 1 cascades (Option 2):
- 8x StreetLites for 6/X31
- 5x StreetLites for X70/X71 (busier boards allocated spare StreetDecks or 6121 if not required on 15/15A/45/46/47)
- 1x StreetLite spare for either Hownsgill or Riverside
- 6118-20 for 15/15A
- 6121 spare at Hownsgill
- Ex London B9TLs displaced elsewhere within fleet or moved to another Go-Ahead division

Surprised nobody has mentioned the possibility of the 16/16A possibly getting upgraded to double deckers yet rather than the X70/X71 given the B9's have only been on those services 14 months.

(29 May 2019, 9:26 pm)Malarkey wrote

Surprised nobody has mentioned the possibility of the 16/16A possibly getting upgraded to double deckers yet rather than the X70/X71 given the B9's have only been on those services 14 months.

I would have thought if they were going to be upgraded then they would get B9s off another route rather than new stock.

The Streetdeck is available in low height form as Oxford Bus Company has a fleet of them due to the low bridge at the Railway Station.

Here is a pair of them https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...6306406476