(30 Dec 2013, 10:05 pm)Tom wrote How? - It would be a spare to the X7?

I don't think that's what Rob means...
By 'spare role', you mean a route with lesser priority than a branded service - vehicles which fall under the "Northern" brand (or "Go North East" corporate liveried services, for future repaints).

(30 Dec 2013, 10:07 pm)Dan wrote I don't think that's what Rob means...
By 'spare role', you mean a route with lesser priority than a branded service - vehicles which fall under the "Northern" brand (or "Go North East" corporate liveried services, for future repaints).

Ah right - I getcha now

An update:
List:

Lime
X66
Laser
Crusader
Washington Street Shuttle
All comes to 60 PVR

Rob has said in his latest post:

I do doubt Citaro will be purchased to make the Laser a full Citaro operation. It is more likely that deckers will be purchased, as you suggest.

Citaro is likely for the Lime

Then Rob said: New vehicles are potentially a viable option on the Toonlink services. The B7s are more likely to be moved to a spare vehicle role.

That could mean Toonlink has being added to the list - 13 PRV

So far, (What has said by our GNE Representative)

Lime - Citaro
X66
Laser - Deckers
Crusader
Washington Street Shuttle
Toonlink

Rest we are unsure, any news on them Rob?

Remove "Washington Street Shuttle". I did strongly hint at this yesterday, but how about QuayLINK Versa cascades in 2015, if the Cadets prove to be successful on those services? I feel like a broken record, but remember depot standardisation. Washington have already received similar vehicles for "South Tyne" service 88.

busmanT gave a very clear image of the top priorities for next year, with Rob filling in the gaps.

- X66 (11.7m Versa)
- Lime (Citaro)
- Crusader (Double decker - B5TL/Optare Integral?)
- Laser (As above)
- Toon Link (As above, or Citaro).
- Fab57 (11.7m Versa).

Demonstration vehicles will be required for some of next year's orders as some products have now been discontinued by manufacturers, and it will be difficult to meet the £11m budget if we have such a large order of heavy weight double decked vehicles again.

80 buses, sorted.

(31 Dec 2013, 11:13 am)Dan wrote Remove "Washington Street Shuttle".

- X66 (11.7m Versa)
- Lime (Citaro)
- Crusader (Double decker - B5TL/Optare Integral?)
- Laser (As above)
- Toon Link (As above, or Citaro).
- Fab57 (11.7m Versa).


80 buses, sorted.

I was thinking about removing it but i just hoyed it on because it was on Rob's list but now i'm thinking they wont get new buses with the info about the Toonlink services.

I defiantly think your list is correct for what will go where - i think the ToonLink and FAB 57 will get Citaro/Streetlite or Versa.

I'm looking forward to seen this - Optare Integral decker!
----
Question... Should we call the M2/M3/W5/W6 - Washington StreetShuttle - since its all Northern based spares now?

(31 Dec 2013, 11:21 am)Michael wrote Question... Should we call the M2/M3/W5/W6 - Washington StreetShuttle - since its all Northern based spares now?

I think if/when they do make a return, the brand will be spiced up and it'll be a lot better (similar to Connections 4).
The lettered routes for services M2/M3 could go, given that they promote links to the Metro (why advertise your competition?) and it would allow for a more simplistic network, with no letters.
At this stage, I would not yet include the W5/W6 in the aforementioned "WSS" upgrade.

I've heard that laser will get deckers, although personally I'm not sure it justifies them. I've never had to stand on a 35, I have on say the 20 etc. I'm think the Optare buses may be an idea. For ToonLink I'd suggest Versas with I'd like to see Citaros on the fab 57.
Also,can any service be ruled out of receiving new vehicles? I mean venture was a surprising option to receive new buses. I mean obviously with venture and other mini bus routes there is little in the way of cascades.

(31 Dec 2013, 11:29 am)Dan wrote I think if/when they do make a return, the brand will be spiced up and it'll be a lot better (similar to Connections 4).
The lettered routes for services M2/M3 could go, given that they promote links to the Metro (why advertise your competition?) and it would allow for a more simplistic network, with no letters.
At this stage, I would not yet include the W5/W6 in the aforementioned "WSS" upgrade.

Ye i hate letter based number bus routes... their pointless, they could re-number them

62/63 - M2/M3
75/76 - W5/W6

(31 Dec 2013, 11:29 am)CatsFast101 wrote I've heard that laser will get deckers, although personally I'm not sure it justifies them. I've never had to stand on a 35, I have on say the 20 etc. I'm think the Optare buses may be an idea. For ToonLink I'd suggest Versas with I'd like to see Citaros on the fab 57.

Well at least someone wasn't 'pulling your leg' about that one.
I doubt double deckers would have been discussed if the "Laser" network cannot justify them. You're at the stage whereby the "Laser" network has the best single deckers in the fleet, you cannot upgrade it any further from a single decker perspective, and if some journeys in and outside of peak hours can justify double decked vehicles...?

You'd have the Fab57 with better vehicles than Citylink service 58? Don't the Citaro vehicles cost £15-£20k more than a Versa?
Remember, both of those services share fairly common ground too...

(31 Dec 2013, 11:33 am)Dan wrote Well at least someone wasn't 'pulling your leg' about that one.
I doubt double deckers would have been discussed if the "Laser" network cannot justify them. You're at the stage whereby the "Laser" network has the best single deckers in the fleet, you cannot upgrade it any further from a single decker perspective, and if some journeys in and outside of peak hours can justify double decked vehicles...?

You'd have the Fab57 with better vehicles than Citylink service 58? Don't the Citaro vehicles cost £15-£20k more than a Versa?
Remember, both of those services share fairly common ground too...

No ones 'pulled my leg' so to speak at all, I've heard this from a depot manager. And with regards to the fab 57, unlikely to receive citaros yes. But ToonLink with better vehicles than cityLink?

Anyone got any idea's when these orders will be made?

(03 Jan 2014, 6:22 pm)Michael wrote Anyone got any idea's when these orders will be made?

I think orders are usually finalised in April, with the first arrivals to the fleet in August.

(03 Jan 2014, 6:24 pm)Dan wrote I think orders are usually finalised in April.

Cheer's wasn't sure of the date.

Don't think some of the buses will last that long..

(03 Jan 2014, 6:25 pm)Michael wrote Cheer's wasn't sure of the date.

Don't think some of the buses will last that long..

Don't quote me on that though, haha...

(03 Jan 2014, 6:24 pm)Dan wrote I think orders are usually finalised in April, with the first arrivals to the fleet in August.

If that is the case, it means 6117 will be the final B9 in the fleet whle 5368 will be the final Citaro in the current styling. As now, all orders will be built to Euro6 specifications whereas all orders places prior to New Years Eve 2013 will be built with Euro5 engines.

(03 Jan 2014, 6:31 pm)Dan wrote Don't quote me on that though, haha...

I won't , hopefully some orders will be made so buses will start to arrive around the June/July mark.

Don't think the B10's can cope anymore on the lime

(03 Jan 2014, 6:34 pm)Kuyoyo wrote If that is the case, it means 6117 will be the final B9 in the fleet whle 5368 will be the final Citaro in the current styling. As now, all orders will be built to Euro6 specifications whereas all orders places prior to New Years Eve 2013 will be built with Euro5 engines.

Haha, well they certainly don't finalise orders this soon - that's for sure!

(03 Jan 2014, 6:35 pm)Michael wrote I won't , hopefully some orders will be made so buses will start to arrive around the June/July mark.

Don't think the B10's can cope anymore on the lime

Disagree with the statement on B10's. They're still solid on the Lime, and in my opinion, one of the nicest rides.

(03 Jan 2014, 6:37 pm)Dan wrote Haha, well they certainly don't finalise orders this soon - that's for sure!

Funny, Arriva have managed to, and likely Stagecoach have already done the same with their order for the group normally announced in the next few weeks.

(03 Jan 2014, 7:21 pm)Kuyoyo wrote Funny, Arriva have managed to, and likely Stagecoach have already done the same with their order for the group normally announced in the next few weeks.

I thought Stagecoach finalised all offers in April or June? As that's why I said don't quote me on that one... Positive one is April and one is June.
With vehicles arriving so late in the year too...

(03 Jan 2014, 7:18 pm)aureolin wrote Disagree with the statement on B10's. They're still solid on the Lime, and in my opinion, one of the nicest rides.

Some of them have been rough for years, particularly the Dyson ones.
Can hear them coming from the bottom of the street when waiting at the Black Horse in Chester.

The bodywork on some examples is looking tatty too - however, others (like you mentioned) are still great rides.

Never tallied up whether Chester or Stanley have the better fleet.

(03 Jan 2014, 7:24 pm)Dan wrote I thought Stagecoach finalised all offers in April or June? As that's why I said don't quote me on that one... Positive one is April and one is June.
With vehicles arriving so late in the year too...

Have a feeling the financial year end will impact on when new orders are finalised.

(03 Jan 2014, 7:27 pm)andreos1 wrote Have a feeling the financial year end will impact on when new orders are finalised.

And isn't that April?

(03 Jan 2014, 7:24 pm)Dan wrote I thought Stagecoach finalised all offers in April or June? As that's why I said don't quote me on that one... Positive one is April and one is June.
With vehicles arriving so late in the year too...

No, delivery begins in April, the orders are always announced at the start of the year properly.

(03 Jan 2014, 7:31 pm)Kuyoyo wrote No, delivery begins in April, the orders are always announced at the start of the year properly.

Is that not just an estimation, due to funding etc?

(03 Jan 2014, 7:35 pm)Dan wrote Is that not just an estimation, due to funding etc?

No, orders are always announced in January or Feburary, with everything being sorted in the months before that. Delivery doesn't begin until the start of that financial year, with the order announced now normally all finished by the following January with later deliveries being any additional orders made.

So the new stagecoach's buses are gonna start arriving in April?

The additional gas buses aren't due to arrive till later in the year, by a email i got from stagecoach.

Shame because would be nice for all 40 of them to be put in to service at once. least i can get 3/4 services with them to and from work...

3,13 and 16 =D

(03 Jan 2014, 7:28 pm)Dan wrote And isn't that April?

End of March/begining of April for financial year - but different companies have different dates for their accounting period (say Jan - Dec, which would tie in with Jan orders).

No idea what the impact will be, but I imagine it has a big bearing on orders and purchases.

(03 Jan 2014, 7:50 pm)andreos1 wrote End of March/begining of April for financial year - but different companies have different dates for their accounting period (say Jan - Dec, which would tie in with Jan orders).

No idea what the impact will be, but I imagine it has a big bearing on orders and purchases.

Must be where I've got April from, and June for GNE's accounting period.

(03 Jan 2014, 8:35 pm)citaro5284 wrote Go Ahead's financial year is July - June

And there we have it! Ta, citaro.