(12 Nov 2019, 9:08 am)Stanleyone wrote

Facebook post from a few weeks ago suggests that the 4x Red Kite B9s will transfer to East Yorkshire before the end of the year, coupled with the Streetlites going to Deptford for the 35 and the Toon Link B9s for the 93/94 (unless plans have changed), I would think that the Streetdecks may well start to arrive within the next few weeks.

Yes I saw that too, even if only a few arrive before Xmas then Im sure they can jig things a bit to allow more L94 to be withdrawn until more Streetdecks arrive and subsequent cascades take place

(12 Nov 2019, 1:40 am)deanmachine wrote

I've heard the Deptford rumours that 6099 will be going to Percy Main with 6084 coming back to Deptford. Would make sense if Riverside are getting the two ex-East Yorkshire B5TLs.

And not only that, once the 6 cylinder example of the StreetDeck has been evaluated, that could then be assigned to the X9/X10 spare role if good enough.

Note that it's being advertised as a farewell event, doean't mean it will be the last day for them.

(12 Nov 2019, 2:37 pm)Rapidsnap wrote Note that it's being advertised as a farewell event, doean't mean it will be the last day for them.

Where

(12 Nov 2019, 2:37 pm)Rapidsnap wrote Note that it's being advertised as a farewell event, doean't mean it will be the last day for them.

It's like some sort of sick joke.

(12 Nov 2019, 3:29 pm)GNE6312 wrote

Where

In the linked tweet.

In response to a reply to the tweet, MG even suggests that some will remain in service into the early new year.

Got a message saying 6100s back in corporate livery

(12 Nov 2019, 8:05 pm)Citaro5326 wrote Got a message saying 6100s back in corporate livery

Interesting to see it's still full leather inside, I would have thought they would have went with the new moquette and leather design that they've been putting in the E400s and E200s, as well as what's going in the new Streetdecks (when they turn up!).

That is of course unless my original theory of E200 and E400s actually being intended for East Yorkshire and just been used by GNE instead is true.

It just seems strange they'd start refurbishing buses into the old interior design after the new 'standard' interior has been shown ?‍♂️

(12 Nov 2019, 8:49 pm)streetdeckfan wrote

Interesting to see it's still full leather inside, I would have thought they would have went with the new moquette and leather design that they've been putting in the E400s and E200s, as well as what's going in the new Streetdecks (when they turn up!).

That is of course unless my original theory of E200 and E400s actually being intended for East Yorkshire and just been used by GNE instead is true.

It just seems strange they'd start refurbishing buses into the old interior design after the new 'standard' interior has been shown ?‍

The specification for the refurbishments at Bus & Coach World was signed off almost 12 months ago.

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(12 Nov 2019, 8:49 pm)streetdeckfan wrote

Interesting to see it's still full leather inside, I would have thought they would have went with the new moquette and leather design that they've been putting in the E400s and E200s, as well as what's going in the new Streetdecks (when they turn up!).

That is of course unless my original theory of E200 and E400s actually being intended for East Yorkshire and just been used by GNE instead is true.

It just seems strange they'd start refurbishing buses into the old interior design after the new 'standard' interior has been shown ?‍

I’m pretty sure the refurbishments started before the new moquette was introduced so the cobalt and coast received leather, I don’t see it as strange though, it wouldn’t make sense to do half of the batch (6101-6117) in the leather, when they arrived the same time as (6084-6100) which, if refurbished to the same spec as the E400 and E200, would be in the new leather and moquette design, it would mean if the spares move around depots like 6100 moving from Deptford to Percy main or 6084 from Riverside back to Deptford, it wouldn’t match the interior of the vehicle that it is covering for.


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(12 Nov 2019, 9:08 pm)Milkytdi123 wrote I’m pretty sure the refurbishments started before the new moquette was introduced so the cobalt and coast received leather, I don’t see it as strange though, it wouldn’t make sense to do half of the batch (6101-6117) in the leather, when they arrived the same time as (6084-6100) which, if refurbished to the same spec as the E400 and E200, would be in the new leather and moquette design, it would mean if the spares move around depots like 6100 moving from Deptford to Percy main or 6084 from Riverside back to Deptford, it wouldn’t match the interior of the vehicle that it is covering for.


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They don't think that's an issue for the X21 which will have 3 different designs, they'll have the old blue leather, the red/blue leather and the leather/moquette!

I get it was signed off a while ago, but if there was enough time to design a new interior, then order and receive brand new buses with that interior, then there was time to change it (unless of course they were just EY's buses)

Once again it just seems like poor planning on GNE's part

(12 Nov 2019, 9:26 pm)streetdeckfan wrote

They don't think that's an issue for the X21 which will have 3 different designs, they'll have the old blue leather, the red/blue leather and the leather/moquette!

I get it was signed off a while ago, but if there was enough time to design a new interior, then order and receive brand new buses with that interior, then there was time to change it (unless of course it was just EY's design)

Once again it just seems like poor planning on GNE's part

A fancy bus is a fancy bus. It would be a bigger waste of time and even poorer planning to go and waste all that eleather to get them standardised.

(12 Nov 2019, 9:26 pm)streetdeckfan wrote

They don't think that's an issue for the X21 which will have 3 different designs, they'll have the old blue leather, the red/blue leather and the leather/moquette!

I get it was signed off a while ago, but if there was enough time to design a new interior, then order and receive brand new buses with that interior, then there was time to change it (unless of course they were just EY's buses)

Once again it just seems like poor planning on GNE's part

Come on - you're being silly now, it's not poor planning at all.

This refurbishment program was sorted 12 months ago with Bus & Coach World..! They would have ordered enough materials at the time for all 19 vehicles. It isn't something "off the shelf".

Seat moquette is incredibly expensive so to change this after the new specification was agreed would come at substantial cost.

The 14 ADL vehicles were always intended for Go North East, and you will see the StreetDecks delivered in a very similar style. This is the new interior specification for Go North East.

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(12 Nov 2019, 9:26 pm)streetdeckfan wrote

They don't think that's an issue for the X21 which will have 3 different designs, they'll have the old blue leather, the red/blue leather and the leather/moquette!

I get it was signed off a while ago, but if there was enough time to design a new interior, then order and receive brand new buses with that interior, then there was time to change it (unless of course they were just EY's buses)

Once again it just seems like poor planning on GNE's part

So now you're complaining about them keeping interiors the same across a batch of vehicles while simultaneously complaining that there will be 3 different interiors across the X21 fleet?

Have I understood this correctly? Surely I must be going wrong somewhere...

(12 Nov 2019, 9:34 pm)Dan wrote Come on - you're being silly now, it's not poor planning at all.

This refurbishment program was sorted 12 months ago with Bus & Coach World..! They would have ordered enough materials at the time for all 19 vehicles. It isn't something "off the shelf".

Seat moquette is incredibly expensive so to change this after the new specification was agreed would come at substantial cost.

The 14 ADL vehicles were always intended for Go North East, and you will see the StreetDecks delivered in a very similar style. This is the new interior specification for Go North East.

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All I'm saying is from the outside it seems like poor planning, not necessarily that a lot of planning hadn't gone into it.

Just out of curiosity how long ago was the new interior design that was used on the ADL vehicles planned out?

(12 Nov 2019, 9:35 pm)S813 FVK wrote

So now you're complaining about them keeping interiors the same across a batch of vehicles while simultaneously complaining that there will be 3 different interiors across the X21 fleet?

Have I understood this correctly? Surely I must be going wrong somewhere...

No, all I was saying was if that (keeping the same interiors) was GNE's priority, then they would have made sure that all the buses on the X21 would have the same internal spec.

Instead the X21 will have 3 different internal specs, they will have 4 with the blue leather seats, which have 240v at every seat, 2 with the red/blue leather seats, which has USB at every seat but only 240v at the tables, and 2 with the moquette/leather interior with USB at every seat but no 240v at all!

(12 Nov 2019, 9:55 pm)streetdeckfan wrote No, all I was saying was if that (keeping the same interiors) was GNE's priority, then they would have made sure that all the buses on the X21 would have the same internal spec.

Instead the X21 will have 3 different internal specs, they will have 4 with the blue leather seats, which have 240v at every seat, 2 with the red/blue leather seats, which has USB at every seat but only 240v at the tables, and 2 with the moquette/leather interior with USB at every seat but no 240v at all!

So they're damned if they do, and damned if they don't.

This kind of thing isn't new at all...

5245 was refurbished a few years ago with a more neutral grey colourscheme when Go North East were first considering moving away from the traditional blue, so this one is different to all of the other buses on the 5/50.

The Quaylink is operated by short wheelbase and long wheelbase Optare Versas, which have different seating layouts (and the latter are obviously in better condition being three years younger).

There will be many other examples and if nothing else it shows the company are trying things before doing them to every bus in the fleet.

There are big changes to come, plans and preparation for which are underway now. I have no doubt there will be a divide of opinions, as there clearly seems to be for a marginally different seat covering being used on the same service on the X21...

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(12 Nov 2019, 10:06 pm)Dan wrote So they're damned if they do, and damned if they don't.

This kind of thing isn't new at all...

5245 was refurbished a few years ago with a more neutral grey colourscheme when Go North East were first considering moving away from the traditional blue, so this one is different to all of the other buses on the 5/50.

The Quaylink is operated by short wheelbase and long wheelbase Optare Versas, which have different seating layouts (and the latter are obviously in better condition being three years younger).

There will be many other examples and if nothing else it shows the company are trying things before doing them to every bus in the fleet.

There are big changes to come, plans and preparation for which are underway now. I have no doubt there will be a divide of opinions, as there clearly seems to be for a marginally different seat covering being used on the same service on the X21...

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Not really, it's not the seat covering that bothers me, it's the different interior spec; USB, 240v, glass staircase etc. even if all the StreetDecks are 'high spec'

That, together with all the other 'issues' with the X21 just makes it feel like GNE don't care about it anymore

• The route through Woodhouse that the StreetDecks are far too large for, it is physically impossible to drive around without mounting the kerb with the way people park, drivers have even knocked down fences trying to go round the corners!
• The lack of NSA since May
• The issues with the app (which admittedly have been resolved now)

Anyway, in separate news, I had a ride on an E400 today, and as much as it pains me to say, I didn't hate it. I'm just finishing writing my 'review' of it and I shall post it shortly.

Interesting post from MG on Twitter this eve. Some new style seating ready to be fitted....but to which bus

5488 has entered service


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(12 Nov 2019, 11:08 pm)JP6004 wrote Interesting post from MG on Twitter this eve. Some new style seating ready to be fitted....but to which bus " alt="" title="">

Could perhaps be for the Versas, aren't they supposed to be getting a refurb soon and one is getting repainted

Saw the MetroCity being towed along the A1 southbound earlier. Heading past Team Valley, so seemed to be leaving the region?

With regards to the seats, they be for BF63HDC which did have these seats in https://flic.kr/p/GFdwnp

(12 Nov 2019, 11:54 pm)Rapidsnap wrote

With regards to the seats, they be for BF63HDC which did have these seats in https://flic.kr/p/GFdwnp

Hopefully, I've got backache just thinking about those seats. The Solos we had on the 18 had them and I could just about make the 15 minute journey!

(13 Nov 2019, 12:00 am)streetdeckfan wrote

Hopefully, I've got backache just thinking about those seats. The Solos we had on the 18 had them and I could just about make the 15 minute journey!

They are civic v2 seats...

(13 Nov 2019, 12:02 am)JP6004 wrote

They are civic v2 seats...

They could be replacing the seats entirely. I'd imagine they'd have some Civic V2 (or even V3) seats laying around in a depot somewhere from all the buses they keep for parts.

(13 Nov 2019, 12:06 am)streetdeckfan wrote

They could be replacing the seats entirely. I'd imagine they'd have some Civic V2 (or even V3) seats laying around in a depot somewhere from all the buses they keep for parts.

A few V3s have found their way into one of Washington's little solos. Be a few more now 5229 has been withdrawn

(13 Nov 2019, 12:10 am)JP6004 wrote

A few V3s have found their way into one of Washington's little solos. Be a few more now 5229 has been withdrawn

I'm just glad they decided to stay with the V3s for the StreetDecks. I honestly don't think I could sit for 2 hours in one of the SmartSeats from the E200/400s

Also, what is the difference between the V2s and V3s? Is it just the V3s are high back or is there something else I haven't noticed?

Talking about the Cobalt & Coast services, good to see that they're being taken more seriously now in terms of not only the investment but also the spare vehicle ratio increasing back to the original pre Sept 2014 level with 2x spares.

Hope that the next set of changes see a slightly increased evening frequency (extra services between 2000-2130 as a full half hourly evening frequency would be just a tad steep) and an improved Sunday service in terms of reliability. A more streamlined morning frequency would also be helpful with Sage due to move to Cobalt soon.

5256 causing chaos outside, hazards flashing, revving, getting nowhere - ah - it's limping off, now!

MG retweeted about wrightbus back at work building and delivering buses. Hopefully not long before street decks arrive