(14 Dec 2021, 12:42 am)Jimmi wrote Not really, GNE running 74 connects with other stuff ran by GNE in Hexham at least whereas Stagecoach would stick out like a sore thumb. Companies can't just swap routes around between either really and doubt Stagecoach would give up a more frequent commercial service to a rival company just to get an infrequent tendered route where the smallest thing they have to allocate is E200s.

Anything surrounding brands for the Tynedale Links services will be held off until its know if GNE retain the contracts next year.

Stagecoach has the 685 in Hexham. GNE sticks out like a sore thumb in Westerhope, Slatyford and Cowgate. The 74/74A did used to be ran by Stagecoach through Blue Bus Services. Maybe not a swap, and I know the vehicle allocation doesn't suit it but really Stagecoach buses are too big for a lot of their services. 

When next year are the contracts being reviewed? If GNE running the 74 connects with other GNE services, it surely makes sense they keep the contracts for Tynedale Links? Phoenix could maybe run it, who else could?

6087 has went to washington. Another blow for deptford how having 0 Spares for Schools, and just 1 for the 56 (Plaxton President)

(20 Dec 2021, 11:10 am)Keeiajs wrote 6087 has went to washington. Another blow for deptford how having 0 Spares for Schools, and just 1 for the 56 (Plaxton President)

It's only on loan due to a high VOR at Washington today. 6180 is similarly on loan from Chester-le-Street, and 6141 from Percy Main.

Deptford have two spare buses for the 56 and schools (6086 and 6087). 6089 is the only example that's off the road today, with 6086 covering on the 56 as a result. As the schools are off, 6942 is also a last resort spare.

6141 has always made its way to Washington

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(20 Dec 2021, 11:11 am)Dan wrote It's only on loan due to a high VOR at Washington today. 6180 is similarly on loan from Chester-le-Street, and 6141 from Percy Main.

Deptford have two spare buses for the 56 and schools (6086 and 6087). 6089 is the only example that's off the road today, with 6086 covering on the 56 as a result. As the schools are off, 6942 is also a last resort spare.

But aren't two needed for schools, meaning theoretically there is only 1. And most days there is atelast 1 streetlite on the 56, sometimes upto 3, including sometimes a mercedes. 

6942 was on the 61 the other Saturday, that is a rare working. Funny enough it never got replaced.

664 is also on, what on earth is going on at Washington!!

(20 Dec 2021, 11:10 am)Keeiajs wrote 6087 has went to washington. Another blow for deptford how having 0 Spares for Schools, and just 1 for the 56 (Plaxton President)

Go north east website fleet list has been updated today

Update on this for the X84/85. Optare Versas are becoming the new allocation for the services

(20 Dec 2021, 8:51 pm)KingSlayerRBLX wrote Update on this for the X84/85. Optare Versas are becoming the new allocation for the services

So PVR of 4, ex City Links, will they be refurbed?

(20 Dec 2021, 9:00 pm)Keeiajs wrote So PVR of 4, ex City Links, will they be refurbed?

5378 and 79 and then 2 others

(20 Dec 2021, 9:02 pm)KingSlayerRBLX wrote 5378 and 79 and then 2 others

What they could do is they could get 5380, 89,90. And timetable them better.

(20 Dec 2021, 9:02 pm)KingSlayerRBLX wrote 5378 and 79 and then 2 others

How do you know?
This is quite a downgrade for the X84/X85. Corporate livery, less onboard features. Do they have NSAs?
Are the Solos going of these services and the 74, have a full Versa allocation?

As Ex Citylink 58s yes they do have Next Stop Annoucments on board

(21 Dec 2021, 2:06 am)ThomasBooth123 wrote As Ex Citylink 58s yes they do have Next Stop Annoucments on board

Thank you, Thomas. At least that's something, and Versas are nice buses. Definitely a downgrade from the E400 deckers though.

(21 Dec 2021, 2:29 am)OrangeArrow49 wrote Thank you, Thomas. At least that's something, and Versas are nice buses. Definitely a downgrade from the E400 deckers though.

What they could do just idea, add Tables like 3 sets of them on each versa.

Why are tables there’s no room on Single Deckers!

(21 Dec 2021, 8:48 am)ThomasBooth123 wrote Why are tables there’s no room on Single Deckers!

Does adding tables really take up much extra space, I'm sure adding a table only takes half a seats worth of room because the seat is essentially just turned 180 degrees with only the little bit between the chairs 'wasted' because of the angle of the backrests.

The Enviro200EV demo vehicle they had a while back had 2 tables and it didn't feel like it took up too much extra space

(21 Dec 2021, 10:09 am)streetdeckfan wrote Does adding tables really take up much extra space, I'm sure adding a table only takes half a seats worth of room because the seat is essentially just turned 180 degrees with only the little bit between the chairs 'wasted' because of the angle of the backrests.

The Enviro200EV demo vehicle they had a while back had 2 tables and it didn't feel like it took up too much extra space

It's quite the downgrade. Tables and some tech spec might help cushion the blow for some.

To be quite fair a Versa is a downgrade from just about anything. Having travelled on X84 and X85 in the summer I found them well used and imperious in terms of comfort over the knackered 156s and 158s on the Tyne Valley.

This whole Bus improvement chatter is absolute b*llocks, acrosss the regions services are crumbling, and yes Covid has a huge bearing, but lets face it the reductions pinned on Covid never recovered.

(21 Dec 2021, 11:10 am)54APhotography wrote To be quite fair a Versa is a downgrade from just about anything. Having travelled on X84 and X85 in the summer I found them well used and imperious in terms of comfort over the knackered 156s and 158s on the Tyne Valley.

This whole Bus improvement chatter is absolute b*llocks, acrosss the regions services are crumbling, and yes Covid has a huge bearing, but lets face it the reductions pinned on Covid never recovered.

Personally I think the X84/X85 is on borrowed time if it goes hourly via the X84 route. It's just a matter of time before it goes back to being a Hexham -> Ovington service only. There's literally no reason for anyone to use it as it's slower than the 685 which has better buses (Enviro 400 MMC's and Pulsars) and people at the Villages of Wylam and Ovington are more likely to use the train it's every 20 minutes at the peaks, much quicker and both stations near the villages are relatively busy (Prudhoe 160k, Wylam 100k)

Mind I don't agree with your comments about the Class 158, even known they're getting on they're decent trains imo. The Class 156 is a bit meh but better than most buses in particular a Versa which imo are one of the worst full size buses in the North East.

(21 Dec 2021, 12:30 pm)Storx wrote Personally I think the X84/X85 is on borrowed time if it goes hourly via the X84 route. It's just a matter of time before it goes back to being a Hexham -> Ovington service only. There's literally no reason for anyone to use it as it's slower than the 685 which has better buses (Enviro 400 MMC's and Pulsars) and people at the Villages of Wylam and Ovington are more likely to use the train it's every 20 minutes at the peaks, much quicker and both stations near the villages are relatively busy (Prudhoe 160k, Wylam 100k)

Mind I don't agree with your comments about the Class 158, even known they're getting on they're decent trains imo. The Class 156 is a bit meh but better than most buses in particular a Versa which imo are one of the worst full size buses in the North East.

I think the X84/X85 could work, if they went to certain busier area's. 
But I was on the 25 the other day and it was a un-refurbished versa's and I just thought i would hate to use this ever day, it just looked very dirty and sad, but then I went on the Bemish one and I really prefered it. Can we speak about how much nicer the interior is the bemish versa the seats, compared to the Berries.

(21 Dec 2021, 12:30 pm)Storx wrote Personally I think the X84/X85 is on borrowed time if it goes hourly via the X84 route. It's just a matter of time before it goes back to being a Hexham -> Ovington service only. There's literally no reason for anyone to use it as it's slower than the 685 which has better buses (Enviro 400 MMC's and Pulsars) and people at the Villages of Wylam and Ovington are more likely to use the train it's every 20 minutes at the peaks, much quicker and both stations near the villages are relatively busy (Prudhoe 160k, Wylam 100k)

Mind I don't agree with your comments about the Class 158, even known they're getting on they're decent trains imo. The Class 156 is a bit meh but better than most buses in particular a Versa which imo are one of the worst full size buses in the North East.

The 156 overhaul was done on the cheap and the 158s are ruined, most seats are dead and the general state is patched up. They aren't ideal for the line and cast offs from elsewhere really isn't appropriate.

2 of the X-Lines Coaches have been withdrawn 7151/3

(21 Dec 2021, 12:54 pm)54APhotography wrote The 156 overhaul was done on the cheap and the 158s are ruined, most seats are dead and the general state is patched up. They aren't ideal for the line and cast offs from elsewhere really isn't appropriate.

Must admit I haven't been on them in awhile so can't really say what they're like lately. Least we dodged the Class 150 and Class 319/769 though, two absolutely awful types of trains beyond refurbs.

It's a shame they didn't get a decent refurb like the Welsh trains though, credit to Arriva for once.

(21 Dec 2021, 7:29 pm)Storx wrote Must admit I haven't been on them in awhile so can't really say what they're like lately. Least we dodged the Class 150 and Class 319/769 though, two absolutely awful types of trains beyond refurbs.

It's a shame they didn't get a decent refurb like the Welsh trains though, credit to Arriva for once.

Should have had the new CAF units, Northern treat us like second class citizens, they're only interested in Manchester.. Now the bus is going second class, or rather third class with plastic ,leaky Versas... Tyne Valley has never had it so bad...

(21 Dec 2021, 7:32 pm)54APhotography wrote Should have had the new CAF units, Northern treat us like second class citizens, they're only interested in Manchester.. Now the bus is going second class, or rather third class with plastic ,leaky Versas... Tyne Valley has never had it so bad...

Can't disagree tbh. Mind rail in the North East has been ignored for years, it doesn't help than Nexus aren't interested in it so it just sits there with no-one really representing it. Ideally it should be all one franchise up here with the Metro and local trains being one network like Crossrail, Underground and Overground in London.

Agreed about the Versa's though awful buses, probably the bus I dislike the most with Solo's up here as there's not exactly much in between them (passenger wise).

(21 Dec 2021, 7:18 pm)KingSlayerRBLX wrote 2 of the X-Lines Coaches have been withdrawn 7151/3

Seriously

6337 will sadly be departing soon
its got a * next to it on the official GNE fleet allocation list

(22 Dec 2021, 8:06 pm)KingSlayerRBLX wrote 6337 will sadly be departing soon
its got a * next to it on the official GNE fleet allocation list

Sure that isn't just for a refurb? It does indeed have a awful interior. 

Has anyone been on it? Is it comfy?

Asterisks have long been used on the fleet allocation document as a key to differentiate overall height differences within same vehicle types. 6337 is slightly taller than the rest - see the 'Vehicle Height' row.

Not aware of it ever being linked to upcoming movements/withdrawls etc

(22 Dec 2021, 8:07 pm)Keeiajs wrote Sure that isn't just for a refurb? It does indeed have a awful interior. 

Has anyone been on it? Is it comfy?

6337 is my favourite bus in the fleet (despite it being an Enviro 400!)

It has proper, comfy coach-style leather seats and actual has headroom, unlike the rest of the E400s

(23 Dec 2021, 12:11 am)streetdeckfan wrote 6337 is my favourite bus in the fleet (despite it being an Enviro 400!)

It has proper, comfy coach-style leather seats and actual has headroom, unlike the rest of the E400s

I have been trying to get on it for a while, however it has already been on 680's which aren't exactly the easiest to plan out when they are every 2 hours. And rarely on the X84/85 (before two got taken off).

I still need to get on 6337/6334 (as it has been of since mid Nov) and 6377 (which hopefully I can do a full Newcaslte - West Aukland on that before Jan, and maybe get a omnidekka or 6335).