(20 Jan 2024, 10:47 pm)L469 YVK wrote Brands should just be

North East Xpress
- X10 & X21

CityLink
- 21, 56

Coast Road (unsure what brand could be)
- 306, 307, 308, 309

CityRider (current Voltra routes)
- 53, 54, Q3

Everything else corporate!

I wouldn’t touch the Angel brand, I very much doubt it drives up custom and it’s just busy because…well it’s the 21 but Citylink is a meaningless brand and I’d chance the majority of the traffic is point to point locally (low fell to Gateshead, Birtley to Chester etc) 

There’s a reason it’s stayed untouched since GNE inherited the number off Classic following the bus wars. It’s the prized possession, don’t touch it. 

Ps did we ever find out who ordered the omnicites on the 21 and were they publicly  flogged outside Global Video in Chester le St and then banished from the industry for sheer incompetence as punishment ?

(20 Jan 2024, 10:51 pm)Dan wrote Since inception, X-lines routes were described as ‘interurban routes’ which were express/limited stop - akin to Arriva with their MAX brand.

The X66 doesn’t fit that criteria, but those services branded as X-lines all do.

There's nothing express / limited stop on the X5/X15 is there? Always seemed pointless to me, it kind of made sense with Arriva as they didn't have any other brands so it stood out but with GNE, it was just 'another' brand especially since nothing else changed. Least Arriva done a mid life refurb, as part of it, so it was like a relaunch per say.

Mind Arriva lost the plot with it aswell, and just branded way too much, with Sapphire complicating things with some routes part of that being questionable aswell, if they bothered to allocate things properly anyway which lasted days at some depots. Blyth, Darlington and Durham, in particular.

Stagecoach Gold was the best version of it imo.

(20 Jan 2024, 11:07 pm)Storx wrote There's nothing express / limited stop on the X5/X15 is there? Always seemed pointless to me, it kind of made sense with Arriva as they didn't have any other brands so it stood out but with GNE, it was just 'another' brand especially since nothing else changed. Least Arriva done a mid life refurb, as part of it, so it was like a relaunch per say.

Mind Arriva lost the plot with it aswell, and just branded way too much, with Sapphire complicating things with some routes part of that being questionable aswell, if they bothered to allocate things properly anyway which lasted days at some depots. Blyth, Darlington and Durham, in particular.

Stagecoach Gold was the best version of it imo.

Anyone driving in their car between Consett and Durham would literally go via the A691.

Whilst the X5/15 stop at the likes of Lanchester and Witton Gilbert, for anyone going directly into the city centre, then the time it takes to park/pay is probably roughly the same as the bus stops.

You could have used a better example (X72 springs to mind).


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(20 Jan 2024, 11:24 pm)Dan wrote Anyone driving in their car between Consett and Durham would literally go via the A691.

Whilst the X5/15 stop at the likes of Lanchester and Witton Gilbert, for anyone going directly into the city centre, then the time it takes to park/pay is probably roughly the same as the bus stops.

You could have used a better example (X72 springs to mind).


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Aye I meant literally there, true though - mind not sure why anyone wants to go into Durham but that's another subject.

The X72 is technically non stop between between Team Valley and Gateshead so would've been a bit of an own goal, wasn't leading myself into that trap

God, what could this be:

https://x.com/garyhunter91/status/1749049163331883328?s=46&t=tPuGEygnn6BhKgNFiA4yAw

(21 Jan 2024, 5:29 pm)ne14ne1 wrote God, what could this be:

https://x.com/garyhunter91/status/1749049163331883328?s=46&t=tPuGEygnn6BhKgNFiA4yAw

I think that's just the back of 5491 - at a guess looks like that and two other MMC's will be going on the X66, leaving six plus a spare at Consett for the 6

(21 Jan 2024, 5:29 pm)ne14ne1 wrote God, what could this be:

https://x.com/garyhunter91/status/1749049163331883328?s=46&t=tPuGEygnn6BhKgNFiA4yAw

1 of his replies is:

"Does this mean you don't want any ADL MMCs at Percy Main?"


Could be making that up... but can't think of any services they could go on.


Would be nice to see them at Deptford for the 60.. since that service hasn't had a refresh at all.

41/41A takes 3 vehicles.

Unless the 1 is due to be split again for the umpteenth time, meaning that there'd be enough E200MMC for Whitley Bay to Gateshead?

(21 Jan 2024, 8:15 pm)L469 YVK wrote Unless the 1 is due to be split again for the umpteenth time, meaning that there'd be enough E200MMC for Whitley Bay to Gateshead?

No No No No No No 

It's fine going to Metrocentre

(21 Jan 2024, 8:15 pm)L469 YVK wrote Unless the 1 is due to be split again for the umpteenth time, meaning that there'd be enough E200MMC for Whitley Bay to Gateshead?

Surely makes sense to keep the E200MMC at the same depots as the E400MMC. 
Percy Main surely StreetLite heaven!

(21 Jan 2024, 8:15 pm)L469 YVK wrote Unless the 1 is due to be split again for the umpteenth time, meaning that there'd be enough E200MMC for Whitley Bay to Gateshead?

After not long painting extra rattlelites into Coaster livery?

Nexus had a tender out for an airport service in the March tenders. Wonder if it has something to do with this if GNE have won it?

(21 Jan 2024, 10:24 pm)Thomas12 wrote Nexus had a tender out for an airport service in the March tenders. Wonder if it has something to do with this if GNE have won it?

How do you know about top secret tenders?

(21 Jan 2024, 10:24 pm)Thomas12 wrote Nexus had a tender out for an airport service in the March tenders. Wonder if it has something to do with this if GNE have won it?

Is it possible a reroute of the 342 to the airport

(21 Jan 2024, 10:24 pm)Thomas12 wrote Nexus had a tender out for an airport service in the March tenders. Wonder if it has something to do with this if GNE have won it?

Did you put a tender in?

(21 Jan 2024, 11:17 pm)DaveFromUpNorth wrote How do you know about top secret tenders?

Dan mentioned in on here somewhere, I think in relation to the Arriva 777 service.

727 is now in corporate livery, didn't get pics ( sorry) it's out on 60s

(22 Jan 2024, 1:20 pm)Retro Nero wrote 727 is now in corporate livery, didn't get pics ( sorry) it's out on 60s

Much better

https://flic.kr/p/2ptTdYY

(21 Jan 2024, 5:29 pm)ne14ne1 wrote God, what could this be:

https://x.com/garyhunter91/status/1749049163331883328?s=46&t=tPuGEygnn6BhKgNFiA4yAw

I’m friends with Gary on Facebook and he put this on today


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(22 Jan 2024, 6:28 pm)TEN 6083 wrote

I’m friends with Gary on Facebook and he put this on today


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I sincerely hope this is a one-off ‘retro’ livery and not another new corporate livery. The current corporate livery works well, especially with all other branding variations e.g. X-lines. Not to mention the massive waste of money a new corporate livery will bring.

Might be a similar retro livery to 3946 (tho it doesnt seem like something NIgel would do)

(22 Jan 2024, 7:08 pm)Adtrainsam wrote I sincerely hope this is a one-off ‘retro’ livery and not another new corporate livery. The current corporate livery works well, especially with all other branding variations e.g. X-lines. Not to mention the massive waste of money a new corporate livery will bring.

Its been heavily rumoured that this is a Retro Livery for the X66 as 2 others are set to be done up

(22 Jan 2024, 7:08 pm)Adtrainsam wrote I sincerely hope this is a one-off ‘retro’ livery and not another new corporate livery. The current corporate livery works well, especially with all other branding variations e.g. X-lines. Not to mention the massive waste of money a new corporate livery will bring.

I can’t see it being a new corporate livery as there are more buses in it than ever (with the reduction in brands) and it would take c5 years to repaint them all.

Is it about 25 years since the red/blue/yellow livery was introduced?

(22 Jan 2024, 7:53 pm)busmanT wrote I can’t see it being a new corporate livery as there are more buses in it than ever (with the reduction in brands) and it would take c5 years to repaint them all.

Is it about 25 years since the red/blue/yellow livery was introduced?

Longer than 25 years, for the livery, don't believe it was around 1994 though.

The first low floor bus was 30 years ago in March though but unsure it'll be for that though.

Is it not the Supershuttle revival livery currently being done at Saltmeadows?

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R-Reg vehicles were the first to be delivered in the Red Yellow and Blue livery. Only low floor livery was Coastline and MetroCentre Shuttle.

(22 Jan 2024, 9:54 pm)Rapidsnap wrote R-Reg vehicles were the first to be delivered in the Red Yellow and Blue livery. Only low floor livery was Coastline and MetroCentre Shuttle.

Weren’t the Optare Excels on the 21 in the livery too

(22 Jan 2024, 10:26 pm)Ambassador wrote Weren’t the Optare Excels on the 21 in the livery too

The Optare Excels apart from the first batch (and only short examples) for Coastline were delivered in the RYB scheme.

Last new buses in each divisions (Only applies to names carried across to the new livery) colour schemes were.....
Coastline (Go Coastline) - 8125 - 8132 - P9xxACU - Optare Excel L1070.
Go-Ahead Gateshead (Go Gateshead) - 4814 - 4817 - Volvo B10B / Plaxton Verde*.
Northern (Go Northern) - 414 - 424 - P4xxVRG - Optare MetroRider MR17.
OK Travel (Go OK Travel) - 8426 - 8432 - M4xxRDC - Volvo B6 / Alexander Dash.
VFM Buses (Go VFM Buses) - 8090 - 8092 - M89xGBB - Dennis Dart / Plaxton Pointer.
Wear Buses (Go Wear Buses) - 425 - 429 - P4XXVRG - Optare MetroRider MR17.

*Go-Ahead Gateshead got a delivery of DAF SB220LF / N-C Paladin LF in a special livery for the X66 Super Shuttle.

As for the first new buses in the new colour schemes, they were as follows....
Go Coastline - 8142 - 8147 - R24xOCU - Optare Excel L1150 - https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...4088688923
Go Gateshead - 8158 - 8175 - S3xxONL - Dennis Dart SLF - Plaxton SPD. - https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...2488373437
Go Northern - 8157 - S157OCU - Optare Excel L1150** - https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...4088692583
Go OK Travel - 4848 - 4855 - R8xxPRG - Volvo B10BLE / Wright Renown*. (4850 was R856PRG) - https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...0837999316
Go VFM Buses - None, operation was rebranded to Go Coastline before delivery of any new vehicles.
Go Wear Buses - 8133 - 8141 - R8xxNRG - Optare Excel L1150. - https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...4045525096

* Delivered with Go Northern Fleetnames to which Go OK Travel was rebranded to around the same time as VFM Buses. Used against Classic on the Durham Road Corridor.
**Tried out at Chester Le Street when new before going to South Shields depot. Next new vehicles were DAF SB220LF / Plaxton Prestige which started to arrive a month after the Excel arrived.

As ever your in depth and factual replies are bowed to. Lovely trip down memory lane with those photos too