Could be worse, we could give them seats like this - https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...0813518418

Regardless, in europe most modern bus seats are completely plastic though if you're lucky they may have a little bit of fabric on them - https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...9026233011

I remember that wheel forward Wright Streetlite demo GNE (and A-Line) had, the seats weren't exactly comfortable on that - https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...5354452339

I actually really like the seats on the StreetDecks, they're firm but not hard. 
Much nicer than the seats on the E200/E400s, they're like sitting on a cushion, and don't have any support after about 30 minutes. They're alright for quick journeys, but for longer journeys I had to change seats.

(24 Feb 2021, 6:36 pm)Rapidsnap wrote Could be worse, we could give them seats like this - https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...0813518418

Regardless, in europe most modern bus seats are completely plastic though if you're lucky they may have a little bit of fabric on them - https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...9026233011

I remember that wheel forward Wright Streetlite demo GNE (and A-Line) had, the seats weren't exactly comfortable on that - https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...5354452339

The Esteban Ciclo are the worst seats fitted on any bus around here which are fitted on the VDL Gemini's at Blyth above the wheel arch and the rear seats. Luckily we seemed to dodge the rest of the bus being fitted in them unlike the poor souls in London who got the whole bus fitted in them - http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_MOVYEYFn5Vc/TQ...CF0754.JPG

I've never been on the Enviro 200's at Durham, but I believe they're fitted with them throughout aswell.

Hope they never turn up here.

(24 Feb 2021, 5:10 pm)Andreos1 wrote I think it's too easy to say 'buses are better now'. I'm not sure that is always going to be the case. As was one of the favourite phrases of the apparent former member of this parish 'eezypeazy': "that's a wild statement to be throwing around". Something like that anyway... I think he was distracted by me being in the bath with my face cloth one night. He lurked around for a bit, said something about 'battleship grey', 'wibble wibble' and 'magic money tree' and he's not been seen again!

I honestly think it depends on what element of the bus we're talking about, it isn't black and white. In terms of the actual vehicles, I'd always have more faith in an Olympian getting me somewhere than I'd have in an E400/StreetDeck. Equally, I'd always prefer the old Northumbria style (https://flic.kr/p/7RXw7G) DP seating to a Civic V3 which is the norm these days.

That said, the general ambience of a new vehicle is far more pleasant than something from even 10-15 years ago. Things like improved interior lighting, better fixtures and fittings and improved material choices/colours all contribute to passengers feeling more comfortable in their surroundings, particularly on later journeys where its dark and older vehicles were quite gloomy. Not to mention how certain batches of older vehicles were in the rain, or over the winter, with water ingress issues and poor heating. Then things like WiFi, NSAs, USBs all add to that.

(24 Feb 2021, 6:50 pm)Storx wrote The Esteban Ciclo are the worst seats fitted on any bus around here which are fitted on the VDL Gemini's at Blyth above the wheel arch and the rear seats. Luckily we seemed to dodge the rest of the bus being fitted in them unlike the poor souls in London who got the whole bus fitted in them - http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_MOVYEYFn5Vc/TQ...CF0754.JPG

I've never been on the Enviro 200's at Durham, but I believe they're fitted with them throughout aswell.

Hope they never turn up here.

They look like the same seats we had on the Solos that ran on the 18 (can't remember which ones they were, but they've gone now)

If they are, they honestly weren't that bad. They were better than those bench style seats they used to have!

The Toonlink Scanias are harmless but it’s disappointing for GNE to have an exacting, attention to detail approach on some projects and this seemingly laissez-faire attitude to others.

With the ‘any bus will do attitude’ from some enthusiast & operators (generally not GNE) I just think in a busy restaurant you don’t serve a customer who ordered steak some fish & chips and tell them they’re lucky they got anything, food is food.

(24 Feb 2021, 8:47 pm)streetdeckfan wrote They look like the same seats we had on the Solos that ran on the 18 (can't remember which ones they were, but they've gone now)

If they are, they honestly weren't that bad. They were better than those bench style seats they used to have!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=csdS5wgHvFQ - That's one of them isn't it? Doesn't look like the same seats like.

The Ciclo's are pretty much just the Urban 90 v2, https://www.explorerticket.co.uk/img/ciclo.jpg that's probably a better photo and the 1cm of seating is all the padding they've got.

https://i.ytimg.com/vi/JQIGYEvrbVo/hqdefault.jpg - Can see it quite clearly on one of the Blyth ones there, grim things. I always thought they we're a DB300  thing until recently but found out they're an actual seat.

(24 Feb 2021, 9:58 pm)Storx wrote https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=csdS5wgHvFQ - That's one of them isn't it? Doesn't look like the same seats like.

The Ciclo's are pretty much just the Urban 90 v2, https://www.explorerticket.co.uk/img/ciclo.jpg that's probably a better photo and the 1cm of seating is all the padding they've got.

https://i.ytimg.com/vi/JQIGYEvrbVo/hqdefault.jpg - Can see it quite clearly on one of the Blyth ones there, grim things. I always thought they we're a DB300  thing until recently but found out they're an actual seat.

Yeah, that's them. I had a quick look around but couldn't find any photos. Looking at those, they actually look worse than the Ciclos!

Whilst we’re on the progression of comfort in recent years in surprised no-ones brought up the ex-London Olympians Arriva had for a bit (photo from gjm):

https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...5749344583

The rear seat being an anti-vandal spec solid plastic type as found in your local 1990s playpark. Rode one on the 22 a few times and Silent Bank took about a fortnight. Also freezing and sloshing rainwater on the floor. Maybe present-day Arriva aren’t so bad.

(24 Feb 2021, 9:56 pm)James101 wrote The Toonlink Scanias are harmless but it’s disappointing for GNE to have an exacting, attention to detail approach on some projects and this seemingly laissez-faire attitude to others.

With the ‘any bus will do attitude’ from some enthusiast & operators (generally not GNE) I just think in a busy restaurant you don’t serve a customer who ordered steak some fish & chips and tell them they’re lucky they got anything, food is food.

Definitely agree.
It's all about giving the customer what they expect. If you market your service as a 'luxury' product, you'd better make sure you allocate buses with the advertised features, unless there's a bloody good reason why you can't.

(24 Feb 2021, 10:18 pm)streetdeckfan wrote Yeah, that's them. I had a quick look around but couldn't find any photos. Looking at those, they actually look worse than the Ciclos!

Horrid seats both of them tbh, don't understand why they'd even think about specing them tbh. I know London has the Ciclo's as they're vandal proof 'supposedly' but they're hated with the Urbans.

(24 Feb 2021, 10:21 pm)James101 wrote Whilst we’re on the progression of comfort in recent years in surprised no-ones brought up the ex-London Olympians Arriva had for a bit (photo from gjm):

https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...5749344583

The rear seat being an anti-vandal spec solid plastic type as found in your local 1990s playpark. Rode one on the 22 a few times and Silent Bank took about a fortnight. Also freezing and sloshing rainwater on the floor. Maybe present-day Arriva aren’t so bad.

They look quite pleasant to the non native Scania's that ended up at Blyth and Jesmond. https://www.flickr.com/photos/emdjt42/5951199384/ - That's one of the better ones aswell rather than the ones which used to have the mismatching red seats from Arriva Midland Fox like this one https://www.flickr.com/photos/mcw1987/8130547047/ which had enough leg room for a dwarf and stayed around way too long aswell (2012 that's taken) - https://www.flickr.com/photos/emdjt42/6358669453/, that's the interior and they we're on the Blyth expresses.

https://www.flickriver.com/photos/emdjt42/3546042097/ - I wasn't looking for that, was trying to find the one I mentioned above but oh dear at that, don't think we ever seen them North of the Tyne though.

(24 Feb 2021, 10:33 pm)Storx wrote Horrid seats both of them tbh, don't understand why they'd even think about specing them tbh. I know London has the Ciclo's as they're vandal proof 'supposedly' but they're hated with the Urbans.


They look quite pleasant to the non native Scania's that ended up at Blyth and Jesmond. https://www.flickr.com/photos/emdjt42/5951199384/ - That's one of the better ones aswell rather than the ones which used to have the mismatching red seats from Arriva Midland Fox like this one https://www.flickr.com/photos/mcw1987/8130547047/ which had enough leg room for a dwarf and stayed around way too long aswell (2012 that's taken) - https://www.flickr.com/photos/emdjt42/6358669453/, that's the interior and they we're on the Blyth expresses.

https://www.flickriver.com/photos/emdjt42/3546042097/ - I wasn't looking for that, was trying to find the one I mentioned above but oh dear at that, don't think we ever seen them North of the Tyne though.

Those Northern Counties N113s were a truly awful place to sit though I remember the Midland Fox ones having quite deep cushions. With the Olympian I mentioned I was more meaning specific the rear bench set which was solid plastic, not even an Urban 90 style fabric cover.

What is the trim name for the "dotted trim" that was fitted on 7410-7420? (Pxxx CCU)

(24 Feb 2021, 10:59 pm)L469 YVK wrote What is the trim name for the "dotted trim" that was fitted on 7410-7420? (Pxxx CCU)

I’ve only ever heard of this moquette referred to as ‘Smarties’:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/emdjt42/6172608164

(24 Feb 2021, 7:27 pm)mb134 wrote I honestly think it depends on what element of the bus we're talking about, it isn't black and white. In terms of the actual vehicles, I'd always have more faith in an Olympian getting me somewhere than I'd have in an E400/StreetDeck. Equally, I'd always prefer the old Northumbria style (https://flic.kr/p/7RXw7G) DP seating to a Civic V3 which is the norm these days.

That said, the general ambience of a new vehicle is far more pleasant than something from even 10-15 years ago. Things like improved interior lighting, better fixtures and fittings and improved material choices/colours all contribute to passengers feeling more comfortable in their surroundings, particularly on later journeys where its dark and older vehicles were quite gloomy. Not to mention how certain batches of older vehicles were in the rain, or over the winter, with water ingress issues and poor heating. Then things like WiFi, NSAs, USBs all add to that.

Never had those Volvo Olympian's but believe the Scania single deckers had the same seats and they were quite possibly the best bus seats I've ever come across.

The ride quality on buses now is absolutely diabolical in a lot of instances, I've been to rallies and had preserved buses all day float along roads with barely a rattle... and then it's time to go home and I have to be subjected to a StreetLite where you feel every little bump in the road and rattle/idle like the bus is shivering from being subjected to sub zero temperatures, I had one of Darlington's on the Dalesbus 830 to Hawes in 2019 and everyone thought it was gonna break their spines it was that unpleasant of a ride but yet Solo's didn't have this issue anywhere near as much.

The seating in a lot of modern stuff isn't anywhere near as comfortable in some cases IMO, even on some that are considered to be 'high spec' the e-leather ones being the worst especially the early GNE ones like on 16 plate Decks and Arriva's in most cases are even worse, absolute torture the time I had an 'Eco Green' Lite for a full 685 journey with them very firm seats.

Whilst buses are much more visually pleasing in many cases and stuff like WiFi and USB ports are nice, I feel the quality has dipped significantly in about the last 10-20 years in terms of comfort at least and supposedly in at least some cases the newer stuff is considered to be less robust, less reliable and require more in the way of work including new engines, some buses are hitting the road and new engines or serious work is required within the first week or so of them entering service.

Naturally not all the stuff from the past was brilliant, there was some elements from back then that is best left to the history books.

(25 Feb 2021, 1:20 am)Jimmi wrote Never had those Volvo Olympian's but believe the Scania single deckers had the same seats and they were quite possibly the best bus seats I've ever come across.

The ride quality on buses now is absolutely diabolical in a lot of instances, I've been to rallies and had preserved buses all day float along roads with barely a rattle... and then it's time to go home and I have to be subjected to a StreetLite where you feel every little bump in the road and rattle/idle like the bus is shivering from being subjected to sub zero temperatures, I had one of Darlington's on the Dalesbus 830 to Hawes in 2019 and everyone thought it was gonna break their spines it was that unpleasant of a ride but yet Solo's didn't have this issue anywhere near as much.

The seating in a lot of modern stuff isn't anywhere near as comfortable in some cases  IMO, even on some that are considered to be 'high spec' the e-leather ones being the worst especially the early GNE ones like on 16 plate Decks and Arriva's in most cases are even worse, absolute torture the time I had an 'Eco Green' Lite for a full 685 journey with them very firm seats.

Whilst buses are much more visually pleasing in many cases and stuff like WiFi and USB ports are nice, I feel the quality has dipped significantly in about the last 10-20 years in terms of comfort at least and supposedly in at least some cases the newer stuff is considered to be less robust, less reliable and require more in the way of work including new engines, some buses are hitting the road and new engines or serious work is required within the first week or so of them entering service.

Naturally not all the stuff from the past was brilliant, there was some elements from back then that is best left to the history books.

See, they're actually my favourite seats (other than the ones on 6337) that GNE have. I can sit in them for hours with absolutely no problem, in fact one day I sat in them for over 6 hours basically continuously other than my mandatory Cooplands break (I travelled to Newcastle, realised I forgot something so had to go all the way back to Bishop, then back up again). 

I even prefer the e-leather, it's not as slippery as the proper leather on the 67 plates has become, but it's also not too grippy like the new moquette.

As for the ride quality, I actually don't really like a proper floaty ride as it can make me feel quite queasy, the only time I've ever felt travel sick was on a coach because of the constant undulations.
Obviously I don't want it to feel like a Streetlite, but I think the upgraded suspension on the new StreetDecks strikes quite a good balance

Thing is, not everyone is going to agree, and the general public will be the same. It's like milk, some prefer skimmed, others like semi skinned, many like full fat, some don't like it at all or cannot drink it. Everyone is different and have different requirements.

Also with regards to the Urban 90s, there was one positive to them, after about 15 minutes you lose all feeling in your bottom so they feel as uncomfortable . But I remember the terror of Lowlanders on the 722/723 from Newcastle to Darlington.

5377 has been repainted in 2019 fleet livery - https://www.flickr.com/photos/danielgrah...8465371668 - Photo by Dan Graham.

Are 6094- 6097 near completion of repaint/refurb, as they're the only "CityRider" B9's left to return, they seem to of done them quite quick.

(02 Mar 2021, 2:43 pm)Michael wrote Are 6094- 6097 near completion of repaint/refurb, as they're the only "CityRider" B9's left to return, they seem to of done them quite quick.

Probably because there's not that many of them left after all the service cuts.

(02 Mar 2021, 9:31 pm)deanmachine wrote Probably because there's not that many of them left after all the service cuts.

The cuts at the moment are only temproary. There could be a number of reasons why they've not been returned yet.

6095 is now back from refurb and repaint - been tracking all day on the 56.

6096/97 only left to return now.

(09 Mar 2021, 3:01 pm)Michael wrote 6095 is now back from refurb and repaint - been tracking all day on the 56.

6096/97 only left to return now.

They're planned to return tomorrow (6096) and Saturday (6097).

(09 Mar 2021, 3:16 pm)Dan wrote They're planned to return tomorrow (6096) and Saturday (6097).

Oh right, that's good, thanks Dan.

Wonder if anything else will go for a refurb?, no doubt once are all back in service, the extra B9's not needed will leave Deptford.

How about a little game of spot the difference.... 

1.   https://flic.kr/p/2kKv4io
2.   https://flic.kr/p/2kKuwX7

(Guessing this is just a trick of the camera somehow, as it’s obviously the same bus and seems to have been taken at the same exact spot).

(13 Mar 2021, 1:47 pm)ne14ne1 wrote How about a little game of spot the difference.... 

1.   https://flic.kr/p/2kKv4io
2.   https://flic.kr/p/2kKuwX7

(Guessing this is just a trick of the camera somehow, as it’s obviously the same bus and seems to have been taken at the same exact spot).

White destination board

(13 Mar 2021, 2:04 pm)MichealAaron wrote White destination board

Correct! You’ve won a years free membership to NEB Forum. 

(09 Mar 2021, 3:16 pm)Dan wrote They're planned to return tomorrow (6096) and Saturday (6097).

6096 - NL63 YHZ was out this morning according to bustimes but isn't out now.

When is 5390 going to lose the Transplant Games livery?

Does anyone know whats happened to the toonlink scania single decks. They have a awful habbit of suddenly reappearing everytime you think you got rid of them.