(23 Oct 2024, 7:09 am)OrangeArrow49 wrote Does this mean Cleveland Transit liveried 26282 would transfer from Stockton to Slatyford if this happens? Presumably it would be repainted because the Cleveland Transit livery would make no sense in Slatyford?

We’ve still got 2 connecting the dots around Stockton livery’s up here (27246&27249) over a year later so I doubt they’ll paint that before sending them here if that is what’s actually happening.

(23 Oct 2024, 9:45 am)ReDemPTiion wrote We’ve still got 2 connecting the dots around Stockton livery’s up here (27246&27249) over a year later so I doubt they’ll paint that before sending them here if that is what’s actually happening.

So 26282 would be one transferring up to Slatyford if this is actually what's happening? Well that would be funny, but Stockton's pride bus and the Connecting the Dots ones as you say, transferred and haven't been painted, so it's not that unusual.

(21 Oct 2024, 9:20 pm)Michael wrote Sunderland's are arriving now, hopefully in service soon however they're being stored at Stockton until the depot is sorted (looks like the depot shed is almost down).

There's a couple at Sunderland though, 1's been out and about - likely driver training so drivers are ready to go once they enter service.

Hopefully the chargers are easy and quick to install.

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Apparently Slatyfords are now going to Stockton due to problems with the depot however i'm not sure if those have been ordered yet but they're like to bevYutongs like Sunderlands.


I'm not sure if thats correct for Stockton and Slatyford though.

So slight update with regards to the electric buses going to Slatyford. Speaking to a shunter today work is booked in for March 2025 to demolish and rebuild Slatyford depot. The plan is to turn the whole depot around so vehicles will most likely face the other direction this way it is classed as industrial rather than residential (don’t ask how I have no idea) but this way they can keep the roof off. But Slatyford are unlikely to get electric buses until late 2025 early 2026. It’s unclear as to what will happen to the ones for Slatyford but seems Stockton will still only receive the 40 and keep the 262’s.

Another of Sunderland's Yutongs arrived for storage at Stockton depot today, 73069 (NL74FVF)

(23 Oct 2024, 7:15 pm)stagecoachfan wrote Another of Sunderland's Yutongs arrived for storage at Stockton depot today, 73069 (NL74FVF)

They're starting to arrive quckily now, how many has arrived so far?

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(23 Oct 2024, 6:45 pm)ReDemPTiion wrote So slight update with regards to the electric buses going to Slatyford. Speaking to a shunter today work is booked in for March 2025 to demolish and rebuild Slatyford depot. The plan is to turn the whole depot around so vehicles will most likely face the other direction this way it is classed as industrial rather than residential (don’t ask how I have no idea) but this way they can keep the roof off. But Slatyford are unlikely to get electric buses until late 2025 early 2026. It’s unclear as to what will happen to the ones for Slatyford but seems Stockton will still only receive the 40 and keep the 262’s.

That just seems like a right clart on though.


Hopefully they might come to Sunderland, giving them 38 electric buses, also they'll already have their batch of electric buses and the drivers trained to drive them.

(23 Oct 2024, 6:45 pm)ReDemPTiion wrote So slight update with regards to the electric buses going to Slatyford. Speaking to a shunter today work is booked in for March 2025 to demolish and rebuild Slatyford depot. The plan is to turn the whole depot around so vehicles will most likely face the other direction this way it is classed as industrial rather than residential (don’t ask how I have no idea) but this way they can keep the roof off. But Slatyford are unlikely to get electric buses until late 2025 early 2026. It’s unclear as to what will happen to the ones for Slatyford but seems Stockton will still only receive the 40 and keep the 262’s.

I think a better idea in the short term would be for the Electric Buses/Services to be swapped between Slatyford and Walkergate with Electric Chargers installed at the latter giving it an early upgrade ahead of future Electric Bus Orders which it will no doubt get in the next few years, this then allows time for Slatyford to be rebuilt and once both sets of works are complete then services swapped over and can be reverted to how they are now.

Looking at things we are not the only area that is experiencing issues in getting EV Chargers installed, a few of the Yutong E12's intended for Rugby have gone to Stagecoach Western temporarily until early 2025 and have been allocated to Service 4 (Ayr - Kilmarnock - Glasgow) whilst works are carried out at the intended Depot they were due to be allocated to. 

With that in mind as mentioned by others in earlier posts having them go to Sunderland/Stockton is not a bad idea if it results in older buses in the fleet being withdrawn earlier than scheduled.

De carbonising the fleet clearly not easy. Not sure why they dont look for a new site which meets all criteria rather than trying to shoehorn something which is not 100%.

(24 Oct 2024, 10:43 am)Rustylino76 wrote Not sure why they dont look for a new site which meets all criteria rather than trying to shoehorn something which is not 100%.

The cost & time of looking, purchasing, submitting planning applications, building, possibly having to upgrade its power supply, installing chargers, transferring everything to the new site, selling off the old site…

(23 Oct 2024, 9:37 pm)Malarkey wrote I think a better idea in the short term would be for the Electric Buses/Services to be swapped between Slatyford and Walkergate with Electric Chargers installed at the latter giving it an early upgrade ahead of future Electric Bus Orders which it will no doubt get in the next few years, this then allows time for Slatyford to be rebuilt and once both sets of works are complete then services swapped over and can be reverted to how they are now.

Looking at things we are not the only area that is experiencing issues in getting EV Chargers installed, a few of the Yutong E12's intended for Rugby have gone to Stagecoach Western temporarily until early 2025 and have been allocated to Service 4 (Ayr - Kilmarnock - Glasgow) whilst works are carried out at the intended Depot they were due to be allocated to. 

With that in mind as mentioned by others in earlier posts having them go to Sunderland/Stockton is not a bad idea if it results in older buses in the fleet being withdrawn earlier than scheduled.

Hopefully means more of the gas buses would go because tbf, they're quite shite.

Least 8 more are going to reading buses soon.

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Personally I would allocate the electric buses to these routes (if we get Slatyford's).............. ITS JUST SPECULATION.


8 - 2 PVR
10/11 - 6 PVR
16 - 6 PVR
20 - 3 PVR
23 - 5 PVR
E1/E2/E6 - 10 PVR (confirmed for the current Sunderland batch)



32 out with 6 spares

(23 Oct 2024, 6:45 pm)ReDemPTiion wrote So slight update with regards to the electric buses going to Slatyford. Speaking to a shunter today work is booked in for March 2025 to demolish and rebuild Slatyford depot. The plan is to turn the whole depot around so vehicles will most likely face the other direction this way it is classed as industrial rather than residential (don’t ask how I have no idea) but this way they can keep the roof off. But Slatyford are unlikely to get electric buses until late 2025 early 2026. It’s unclear as to what will happen to the ones for Slatyford but seems Stockton will still only receive the 40 and keep the 262’s.

As discussed previously, if Stagecoach want to keep the funding for those buses, then they can’t just send them somewhere else, at least not permanently. So they will either have to ask Yutong to delay the build, or, should they already be built, switch around delivery schedules or at worst, locate them temporarily at somewhere with pre-existing infrastructure. However they wouldn’t be able to keep them there permanently as the money was awarded for a specific number of buses for the 30/31/36 routes in Newcastle. It’s all in the fine print.

(23 Oct 2024, 9:04 pm)Michael wrote They're starting to arrive quckily now, how many has arrived so far?

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That just seems like a right clart on though.


Hopefully they might come to Sunderland, giving them 38 electric buses, also they'll already have their batch of electric buses and the drivers trained to drive them.

So far I've photographed 6 of them:

73061/68 (NL74FUV/FVE) at Sunderland 
73058/69/70/72 (FTX/FVF/FVG/FVJ) at Stockton 

(73069/70/72 were all parked together by the fence at Stockton today)

(23 Oct 2024, 9:37 pm)Malarkey wrote I think a better idea in the short term would be for the Electric Buses/Services to be swapped between Slatyford and Walkergate with Electric Chargers installed at the latter giving it an early upgrade ahead of future Electric Bus Orders which it will no doubt get in the next few years, this then allows time for Slatyford to be rebuilt and once both sets of works are complete then services swapped over and can be reverted to how they are now.

Looking at things we are not the only area that is experiencing issues in getting EV Chargers installed, a few of the Yutong E12's intended for Rugby have gone to Stagecoach Western temporarily until early 2025 and have been allocated to Service 4 (Ayr - Kilmarnock - Glasgow) whilst works are carried out at the intended Depot they were due to be allocated to. 

With that in mind as mentioned by others in earlier posts having them go to Sunderland/Stockton is not a bad idea if it results in older buses in the fleet being withdrawn earlier than scheduled.

While swapping the electrics from Slatyford to Walkergate does sound like a really good idea (and would make the most sense, since we literally had similar chargers for the QuayLinks when Stagecoach operated them), Walkergate are overcrowded with single deckers and constantly run singles on routes that should realistically be deckers (12s/22s ect)

I'd personally love for Walkergate to have Yutong's, but only if we had enough double deckers to begin with.

With them being allocated for the 30s, another option would be to operate the 30/31/36s from Walkergate temoparily.

(26 Oct 2024, 5:46 pm)lewisparker1509 wrote While swapping the electrics from Slatyford to Walkergate does sound like a really good idea (and would make the most sense, since we literally had similar chargers for the QuayLinks when Stagecoach operated them), Walkergate are overcrowded with single deckers and constantly run singles on routes that should realistically be deckers (12s/22s ect)

I'd personally love for Walkergate to have Yutong's, but only if we had enough double deckers to begin with.

With them being allocated for the 30s, another option would be to operate the 30/31/36s from Walkergate temoparily.

The only issue with temporarily operating the 30/31/36 services from Walkergate is yes drivers could technically still get their breaks at Slatyford depot but any driver that has to take a bus out on a morning or return a bus from/to Walkergate depot would be required to be paid an extra 2 hours for travel so that wouldn’t be very good financially.

(26 Oct 2024, 8:50 pm)ReDemPTiion wrote The only issue with temporarily operating the 30/31/36 services from Walkergate is yes drivers could technically still get their breaks at Slatyford depot but any driver that has to take a bus out on a morning or return a bus from/to Walkergate depot would be required to be paid an extra 2 hours for travel so that wouldn’t be very good financially.

To be fair, the bigger problem is the lack of any charging facilities. I'd doubt that the Quaylink ones will be operational after being out of use for well over a decade. The BSIP funding usually funds them aswell and they won't be funding any at Walkergate.

Either way they need to upgrade Slatyford at some point anyway as Diesel buses will become obsolete at some point so kicking the can down the road won't help anyone.

27718 is stagecoach north east I seen on buses time today is that right?

(27 Oct 2024, 11:11 am)Glen1974 wrote 27718 is stagecoach north east I seen on buses time today is that right?

Ye, apparently that and 27772 are for Sunderland.

Ok mate

(26 Oct 2024, 5:30 pm)stagecoachfan wrote So far I've photographed 6 of them:

73061/68 (NL74FUV/FVE) at Sunderland 
73058/69/70/72 (FTX/FVF/FVG/FVJ) at Stockton 

(73069/70/72 were all parked together by the fence at Stockton today)

Thanks for the update, Hopefully we might see the electrics at Sunderland out more often on driving training with them having 2 at the depot.


Has 73034 gone back to the midlands since 2 of Sunderland's is now at the depot?


Sorry I forgot to reply haha

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With the roof down, I take it, work will begin soon on the chargers etc.

(20 Jun 2024, 12:39 pm)V514DFT wrote And the 18

(26 Oct 2024, 9:02 pm)Storx wrote To be fair, the bigger problem is the lack of any charging facilities. I'd doubt that the Quaylink ones will be operational after being out of use for well over a decade. The BSIP funding usually funds them aswell and they won't be funding any at Walkergate.

Either way they need to upgrade Slatyford at some point anyway as Diesel buses will become obsolete at some point so kicking the can down the road won't help anyone.

If walkergate can accommodate the changers can’t they just swap the 30/31/36 with a walkergate route of similar capacity 37/38, 12 all pass close to the depot! Even the whole 62/63 operation.

(27 Oct 2024, 7:52 pm)Coastliner700 wrote If walkergate can accommodate the changers can’t they just swap the 30/31/36 with a walkergate route of similar capacity 37/38, 12 all pass close to the depot! Even the whole 62/63 operation.

Not sure what the rules are on changing the buses with the bids. Not sure it'd be allowed I'd guess though.

The 39/40/62/63 should really be electric though regardless imo. They're arguably the routes which would be the biggest benefit of any considering they spend their whole route in an urban area and are busy bus routes.

Those E400MMC's could then be used to displace all the E400 Classics out. Shame they didn't bid for them imo.

(20 Jun 2024, 12:39 pm)V514DFT wrote And the 18

(27 Oct 2024, 9:55 pm)Storx wrote Not sure what the rules are on changing the buses with the bids. Not sure it'd be allowed I'd guess though.

The 39/40/62/63 should really be electric though regardless imo. They're arguably the routes which would be the biggest benefit of any considering they spend their whole route in an urban area and are busy bus routes.

Those E400MMC's could then be used to displace all the E400 Classics out. Shame they didn't bid for them imo.

I meant swap the 30/31/36 to walkergate and either 62/63/12/37/38 to Slatyford. The electrics go to Walkergate to cover 30/31/36 and the corresponding buses for the route been swapped go the other way! 12 probably a prime target as it’s mostly single decks these days anyway

Wheatsheaf depot now down, Looks like they're drilling now.

Also spotted a Yutong parked up in the depot.


[attachment=10834]


(Won't let me add more than 1 picture and won't let upload the pic on another post)....

Rare sighting of 37311 and 26282 together, in Hartlepool on the 6 and 36 respectively

(28 Oct 2024, 12:52 pm)Michael wrote Wheatsheaf depot now down, Looks like they're drilling now.

Also spotted a Yutong parked up in the depot.





(Won't let me add more than 1 picture and won't let upload the pic on another post)....

There doesn’t seem to be an image there?

But also how long will it take to actually get the chargers in there?

They're taking the tiles up and replacing them with concrete. We were told 3 months when they started takimg the shed down.

(29 Oct 2024, 4:51 pm)BusEnthusiast.com wrote There doesn’t seem to be an image there?

But also how long will it take to actually get the chargers in there?

Ugh I think its the forum, it was being annoying when trying to upload it.. it did say it uploaded it.

(27 Oct 2024, 9:55 pm)Storx wrote Not sure what the rules are on changing the buses with the bids. Not sure it'd be allowed I'd guess though.

The 39/40/62/63 should really be electric though regardless imo. They're arguably the routes which would be the biggest benefit of any considering they spend their whole route in an urban area and are busy bus routes.

Those E400MMC's could then be used to displace all the E400 Classics out. Shame they didn't bid for them imo.

I'd argue a case for the 22 personally, i bet it would curry favour with North Tyneside and Newcastle Council, aswell as the 2 business parks, sounds mad what i am saying, but really it makes sense

(29 Oct 2024, 8:46 pm)V514DFT wrote I'd argue a case for the 22 personally, i bet it would curry favour with North Tyneside and Newcastle Council, aswell as the 2 business parks, sounds mad what i am saying, but really it makes sense

It's funny I was going to mention the 22 aswell.

To be fair the 1, 37 and 38 all have a case aswell really. The 1 for being in urban areas the whole route pretty much and the 37/38 for both West Road and the Coast Road.

They're all better than the Q3 imo but that's for another thread.

RE Slatyford - is there any particular reason for changing the orientation?  Do charges like being east/west better than north/south for sunshine drying out reasons?

Any particular reason for a delay?  I know it can take a while (years) to get a big grid connection if the location needs lots of road digging up and there is no big and suitably sized subsation nearby so not just a case of running in a bigger cable but you needa bigger cable and switchegar etc several steps back down the grid supply line which compounds the delay.

(22 Oct 2024, 6:59 pm)ReDemPTiion wrote From what I’ve been told mate, it’s due to the heat the electric chargers will produce and apparently the big open doors either end of the shed aren’t enough. But they’ve had the roof off before and had complaints from the local residents about the noise from the buses being checked over on a morning so the same issue would just arise again. So from what I’ve been told as a driver at Slatyford our order has been cancelled and they’ll head to Stockton instead and Slatyford will receive the 69 plate 262’s from Stockton. This isn’t officially confirmed but I have been told this from a union rep.

Its a bit like Sunderland having to have their shed removed but they’re not in a residential area, same with Walkergate having their buses outdoors as well. It’s just an issue with Slatyford depot being in the middle of a residential area.

So you go electric to save the planet through lower CO2 from the buses but you pump out heat from the chargers - shame the heat cannot be reused for something else like keep the roof on and fill it with green houses for salad items, cucumbers, tomtaoes etc and save the road miles from Spain and Morocco.  Or keep the roof on and heat up your hot water.

On the noise issue, I worked in a data centre in a residential area - the air con got upgraded and the new units on the roof were in a different location causing noise to travel more and complaints came in from neighbours 300m away (due to land toplogy) of fan noise in the middle of the night and that was at 38db noise level.  The previous air con fans hid behidnd a 1m parapet wall which redirected the noise upwards.  The new noise got solved by adding variable length 'trumpets' to the fan outlets so each fan gave off a different noise which overall was less.