Quite a depressing outlook, unless they’re sponging government funding for something electric, it’s 15 year old cast offs from London.

(29 Jul 2023, 2:29 pm)streetdeckfan wrote You give off more Barbie vibes then Oppenheimer.

I went to Newcastle the other day, I was sat in my usual spot trying to get some work done on the laptop. Some old man got on and sat opposite me. The entire time he kept looking at me, looking at my laptop and tutting!

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Well Barbie is an option, not sure if we are going to do Oppenheimer, Mission Impossible and Barbie depending on timings. 

Do you get much done I would always be nervous of people looking over my shoulder staring at what i'm doing

(29 Jul 2023, 8:34 pm)Ambassador wrote Quite a depressing outlook, unless they’re sponging government funding for something electric, it’s 15 year old cast offs from London.

They are, 18 electric deckers for the 21.

(29 Jul 2023, 8:37 pm)Unber43 wrote Well Barbie is an option, not sure if we are going to do Oppenheimer, Mission Impossible and Barbie depending on timings. 

Do you get much done I would always be nervous of people looking over my shoulder staring at what i'm doing

I generally don't care if people see what I'm doing as I don't do anything particularly sensitive when I'm out and about, unless I'm sitting up against a wall.

Besides, on the 14" screen of my travel laptop things are barely legible even for me at the scale I have to look at spreadsheets, so unless they have binoculars I'm not really too concerned!

The documents I write will usually be made public so at worst they'll get an early peek.

My main issue is that because of the absolutely stupid decision to put a wireless charger in the middle of the table on the Streetdecks, even a 14" laptop doesn't sit flush and ends up rocking.

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(29 Jul 2023, 9:22 pm)streetdeckfan wrote I generally don't care if people see what I'm doing as I don't do anything particularly sensitive when I'm out and about, unless I'm sitting up against a wall.

Besides, on the 14" screen of my travel laptop things are barely legible even for me at the scale I have to look at spreadsheets, so unless they have binoculars I'm not really too concerned!

The documents I write will usually be made public so at worst they'll get an early peek.

My main issue is that because of the absolutely stupid decision to put a wireless charger in the middle of the table on the Streetdecks, even a 14" laptop doesn't sit flush and ends up rocking.

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I hate the wireless chargers in the middle of the table. But I hate when just one person its alone at a table. That proper pisses me off so much.

I don't know what they've done to 5372 but it flies now. Well bit slow on hilstarts but it finally goes over 25mph on flat roads.

I've noticed a PDA looking device on some buses I've gotten. I don't suppose anyone knows why they'd be using them?

(30 Jul 2023, 7:52 am)itsadam wrote I've noticed a PDA looking device on some buses I've gotten. I don't suppose anyone knows why they'd be using them?

It’s the new GoCheck devices - replaces the traditional first use check cards, and means that control and engineering have a live feed of any defects which drivers report.


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(28 Jul 2023, 11:05 pm)Rapidsnap wrote DOE18 has been repositioned at Saltmeadows and is now parked in the corner where a rubbed down Scania Omnicity was previously. https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...3078417320

The latest issue of Buses Magazine Fleet News states that the following are also joining the Go North East Fleet however seems as though they are going to Go North West instead:

WVL360 - LX60 DWL - In BEE Network Livery for Go North West
WVL364 - LX60 DWP
WVL440 - LJ61 GWZ
WVL441 - LJ61 GXA
WVL442 - LJ61 GXB
WVL443 - LJ61 GXC
WVL444 - LJ61 GXD - In BEE Network Livery for Go North West

I would hazard a guess that plans changed and all of the above will be for Go North West for the BEE Network and we'll wait and see what happens with the below ADL E400's. 

E187 - SN61 BJE
E188 - SN61 BJF

(30 Jul 2023, 4:04 pm)Malarkey wrote The latest issue of Buses Magazine Fleet News states that the following are also joining the Go North East Fleet however seems as though they are going to Go North West instead:

WVL360 - LX60 DWL - In BEE Network Livery for Go North West
WVL364 - LX60 DWP
WVL440 - LJ61 GWZ
WVL441 - LJ61 GXA
WVL442 - LJ61 GXB
WVL443 - LJ61 GXC
WVL444 - LJ61 GXD - In BEE Network Livery for Go North West

I would hazard a guess that plans changed and all of the above will be for Go North West for the BEE Network and we'll wait and see what happens with the below ADL E400's. 

E187 - SN61 BJE
E188 - SN61 BJF

Perhaps Buses Magazine got confused between Go North East and Go North West??
I don't believe that any of these were ever intend for GNE.

(30 Jul 2023, 4:04 pm)Malarkey wrote we'll wait and see what happens with the below ADL E400's. 

E187 - SN61 BJE
E188 - SN61 BJF

Why those two? They’re a bit younger than the rest we have. They have the newer headlight design: 

https://flic.kr/p/S2Rcbv

672 has came on 39B / 39

anyone know what happened to 8329

5393 causing a few issues at Dalton Park around lunchtime, seemingly some sort of defect was parked in the bus stop with Not In Service displayed. Bit of a backlog of buses unable to get parked by the time two X6’s, a 22 and a 61 turned up around the same time.

(31 Jul 2023, 5:53 pm)Drifter60 wrote 5393 causing a few issues at Dalton Park around lunchtime, seemingly some sort of defect was parked in the bus stop with Not In Service displayed. Bit of a backlog of buses unable to get parked by the time two X6’s, a 22 and a 61 turned up around the same time.

655 was on Friday, and it still isn't back in service.

(31 Jul 2023, 5:53 pm)Drifter60 wrote 5393 causing a few issues at Dalton Park around lunchtime, seemingly some sort of defect was parked in the bus stop with Not In Service displayed. Bit of a backlog of buses unable to get parked by the time two X6’s, a 22 and a 61 turned up around the same time.

The Ex-East Durham Explorers, seem to be a lot more reliable now that what they were.

(31 Jul 2023, 6:18 pm)nova347 wrote The Ex-East Durham Explorers, seem to be a lot more reliable now that what they were.

I don't think much has changed except the people driving them.

(31 Jul 2023, 8:23 pm)deanmachine wrote I don't think much has changed except the people driving them.

i definitely think that was an issue later but at first the 65 absolutely killed them

(31 Jul 2023, 8:23 pm)deanmachine wrote I don't think much has changed except the people driving them.

Well, they did get new engines but the 65 route is quite harsh tbh, because before these recent changes the 65's were very tightly timed and often really delayed. I know the Peterlee drivers use to thrash the life out of them because they needed the time.

(29 May 2023, 8:02 pm)Tiger5105 wrote Solo 641 is looking a bit worse for wear today!
I'm sure this is meant to be reinstated.

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All that needs is a door and a panel I’ve fixed worse


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What's with the abundance of angels of the road?

(04 Aug 2023, 10:41 am)itsadam wrote What's with the abundance of angels of the road?

My layman guess would be age and lack of spare parts. Internally aside the tables they’re well maintained but a few drivers on here aren’t big fans and a few ex drivers on Facebook seem to not rate the maintenance skills of the gne engineering team 

We’re getting back to the last days of the hybrids when something green on an Angel was a rare working itself.

6361 has arrived at GNW

Which Versas have the worst turning?

(05 Aug 2023, 9:42 pm)nova347 wrote Which Versas have the worst turning?

Chester had some awful ones on the 34/34A a few years back.

They would come out of Pelaw Estate and nearly take the front of the shop off on Pelaw Bank.

(05 Aug 2023, 9:50 pm)Andreos1 wrote Chester had some awful ones on the 34/34A a few years back.

They would come out of Pelaw Estate and nearly take the front of the shop off on Pelaw Bank.

You just need to look at the turning circle at Low Moorsley at the minute. Madness how it wasn't brought up by residents how bad it was.

(05 Aug 2023, 8:48 pm)Unber43 wrote 6361 has arrived at GNW

Wonder why GNE are sending them our newer buses to use when they could've taken some our older euro 6 compliant vehicles.

(05 Aug 2023, 10:52 pm)Malarkey wrote Wonder why GNE are sending them our newer buses to use when they could've taken some our older euro 6 compliant vehicles.

They are only on loan - 6361 has gone so that new GNW drivers can be familiarised on StreetDecks, as GNW will be taking a large number over from Diamond.

(06 Aug 2023, 9:49 am)busmanT wrote They are only on loan - 6361 has gone so that new GNW drivers can be familiarised on StreetDecks, as GNW will be taking a large number over from Diamond.

Unless they're planning to bend the rules, I'm not sure how that matters.

The GNW driver's shouldn't be following them to Wigan as driver's are meant to be TUPED to the new operator so they should be no-where near the Diamond Streetdeck's.

(06 Aug 2023, 10:26 am)Storx wrote Unless they're planning to bend the rules, I'm not sure how that matters.

The GNW driver's shouldn't be following them to Wigan as driver's are meant to be TUPED to the new operator so they should be no-where near the Diamond Streetdeck's.

I specifically said "new GNW drivers" - i.e. not ones working at Queens Road, but ones recruited specially for the new franchise work at Bolton and Wigan.

There is absolutely no guarantee that existing drivers will TUPE over to GNW - they don't have to and Diamond are retaining a depot in Bolton (Folds Road - rumoured to be the current Arriva depot) and Stagecoach are setting up a new depot for recently won schools work so some drivers might choose to stay with them.

And there is nothing as far as I can see to stop GNW using existing drivers on franchise work anyway.