A good percentage of schools in Sunderland have broken up for Easter (myself included), but quite a few haven't also. I believe it's the same everywhere else too, but the percentages are higher in the other areas for still being at school.

so far at least 2 have been branded as Wear Tees Express (4906) http://www.flickr.com/photos/bazza90/859...hotostream (Bazza90 Bus Photos) (4909) http://www.flickr.com/photos/bazza90/858...otostream/ (Bazza90 Bus Photos) a fab fifty six ended up on 26 http://www.flickr.com/photos/bazza90/859...otostream/ (Bazza90 Bus Photos) silver arrows on X3 http://www.flickr.com/photos/bazza90/858...otostream/ (Bazza90 Bus Photos) and a South Tyne Cadet in the wrong place (8253) http://www.flickr.com/photos/bazza90/858...otostream/ (Bazza90 Bus Photos)[/i]

Now that the fleet changes are happening is there any chance of Percy mains B10`s being branded for the 17 or is this not happening now?????

---

Fleet chnages ....

The final Volvo B9TL/Wright Gemini for service 10 has been delivered and is 6083: NK13 EJO.

A number of vehicle transfers have taken place this weekend, although not all may have been completed by the time this appears:-

Volvo B10BLEs 4906 - 4909: W906 - 909 RBB to Peterlee for Wear Tees Express service X7.

Volvo B10BLE 4846: R846 PRG Gateshead to Winlaton.

Volvo B10BLE 4843: R843 PRG Winlaton to Chester le Street.

Volvo B10BLE 5164: T814 CBW and 5165: T815 CBW Winlaton to Percy Main.

Citaros 5312: NK08 MYA and 5313: NK08 MYB Winlaton to Gateshead.

SPDs 8238: NK51 MKM Percy Main to Chester le Street and 8240: NK51 MKO Percy Main to Deptford.

SPD 8216: V216 ERG Deptford to Washington.

Olympians 3821: S821 OFT and 3822: S822 OFT Chester le Street to Stanley.

A number of vehicles are due to be withdrawn as a result of these transfers, details to follow.

Ex-London Volvo Olympians 3919, 3920, 3923 and 3924 have been sold to North East Bus & Coach, Easingwold.

SPDs 8212 and 8213 have been sold to Go Coach Hire, Otford, Kent

(25 Mar 2013, 10:40 pm)Wellsey18 wrote Now that the fleet changes are happening is there any chance of Percy mains B10`s being branded for the 17 or is this not happening now?????

---

Fleet chnages ....

The final Volvo B9TL/Wright Gemini for service 10 has been delivered and is 6083: NK13 EJO.

A number of vehicle transfers have taken place this weekend, although not all may have been completed by the time this appears:-

Volvo B10BLEs 4906 - 4909: W906 - 909 RBB to Peterlee for Wear Tees Express service X7.

Volvo B10BLE 4846: R846 PRG Gateshead to Winlaton.

Volvo B10BLE 4843: R843 PRG Winlaton to Chester le Street.

Volvo B10BLE 5164: T814 CBW and 5165: T815 CBW Winlaton to Percy Main.

Citaros 5312: NK08 MYA and 5313: NK08 MYB Winlaton to Gateshead.

SPDs 8238: NK51 MKM Percy Main to Chester le Street and 8240: NK51 MKO Percy Main to Deptford.

SPD 8216: V216 ERG Deptford to Washington.

Olympians 3821: S821 OFT and 3822: S822 OFT Chester le Street to Stanley.

A number of vehicles are due to be withdrawn as a result of these transfers, details to follow.

Ex-London Volvo Olympians 3919, 3920, 3923 and 3924 have been sold to North East Bus & Coach, Easingwold.

SPDs 8212 and 8213 have been sold to Go Coach Hire, Otford, Kent

thank god 8213 is gone really hated that SPD for one when ive been on it vibrated violently i ended up getting a sore back and even a driver had to be taken to hospital with it due to that bus giving it a bad back

Following on from korn90's post, I think I'll confirm everything in one post - given that they were the focus of my day!

4906 (danielgrahamm)
4907 (danielgrahamm)
4908 (danielgrahamm)
4909 (danielgrahamm)
"East Durham" MPD 535 on "Wear Tees Xpress" X7. (danielgrahamm)
"Tyne Tees Xpress" meets "Wear Tees Xpress"! (danielgrahamm)


4907, 08 and 09 were allocated to the X7 service today, leaving 4906 spare to cover for one of her sisters in the event of a breakdown. By 11:30am, she saw immediate usage. 4906 had to cover for 4907 today due to the heating problems 4907 had. 4907 was subsequently sent to Deptford depot for engineers to have a look at the problem.

4908 broke down near Middlesbrough/Stockton today, and 535 was her replacement. Soon after 535 took over, 4908 came back to life and started working again. By the time 535 went to Sunderland and returned to Peterlee, 4908 took over once more. She had immediate problems once more though, but the driver was prepared and knew what to do to resurrect the problems.

All of the Renowns seem to have no heating at all, they're all freezing.

4906 also has some issues with a smell of "burning" coming from the exhaust/engine and making its way into the bus.

I'd be prepared for some "East Durham" MPDs making their way onto the X7s in the forthcoming days...

What was on the 265 yesterday and is it a peterlee ran service or still chester?

What destination shows up on the X7.. Peterlee or middlesbough.. Only asking because it was split on VOSA... If it only shows peterlee , then people might not know it goes to middlesbough from sunderland or from middlesbough to sunderland.

X7 destination did read Sunderland when leaving m'boro. It should be changed to read peterlee for s'land or peterlee for m'boro, for tachograph rules.

When departing Sunderland (bound for Middlesbrough), the destination read, "X7 Peterlee for Middlesbrough". When departing Peterlee (bound for Middlesbrough), the destination read "X7 Middlesbrough via xxx - xxx -xxx".

On the opposite direction, bound for Sunderland, just the opposite.

Although I must admit I have seen photos of the X7 carrying the destination, "X7 Middlesbrough via xxx - xxx - xxx" upon departing Middlesbrough, I believe this was a rookie mistake from the drivers with it being the first day of the service's operation. I think that they would have typed in the wrong code, not knowing it had to be split up.

8239 is now unbranded just in red no northern stickers yet, out on the 17 this morning

Go North East: "Buses By Brand"...

East Durham:
- 535 added
- 537 replaced
- 539 added

Wear Tees Xpress:
- 4906 added
- 4907 added
- 4908 added
- 4909 added
[This set is now complete. As ever, photos are subject to be replaced.]

The OK Expressway:
- 5229 replaced
- 5231 added
- 5233 added
[This set is now complete. As ever, photos are subject to be replaced.]

Fast Cats:
- 4954 added
- 4973 replaced
[This set is now complete. As ever, photos are subject to be replaced.]

Northern:
- 8233 added
- 4917 added

Red Arrows:
- 6003 added

Pulse:
- 5164 removed from the list
- 5165 removed from the list
- 5162 added

TEN:
- 6083 added to the list
- 3942 added

Blaydon Racers:
- 5280 added

SimpliCity:
- 8328 added

Has there being a decker on the 36 yesterday or Saturday?

I saw a unknown decker pass my house on one of the days and was unsure if it could be route learning for x36? Never seen if it was in service or not.

(26 Mar 2013, 10:29 am)idiot wrote Has there being a decker on the 36 yesterday or Saturday?

I saw a unknown decker pass my house on one of the days and was unsure if it could be route learning for x36? Never seen if it was in service or not.

I didn't see it personally, but there is a photo of a Northern B7 on the 36 in Sunderland yesterday. I'm on my phone now and can't post a link, but if you google nerbp flickr, you should find the north east and regional bus photos photostream by Steven Hodgeson and Mark McCann.

(26 Mar 2013, 11:25 am)Brandon wrote

(26 Mar 2013, 10:29 am)idiot wrote Has there being a decker on the 36 yesterday or Saturday?

I saw a unknown decker pass my house on one of the days and was unsure if it could be route learning for x36? Never seen if it was in service or not.

I didn't see it personally, but there is a photo of a Northern B7 on the 36 in Sunderland yesterday. I'm on my phone now and can't post a link, but if you google nerbp flickr, you should find the north east and regional bus photos photostream by Steven Hodgeson and Mark McCann.

Thanks Brandon. Couldn't even remember the day off the top of my head at time of posting!!

A number of vehicles are due to be withdrawn as a result of these transfers, details to follow.

Anyone have any idea which buses will be withdrawn?

The vast majority of DAF's I would think and a few SPD's

http://www.flickr.com/photos/adammalarke...093745295/
Wear Tees Xpress Photos

http://www.flickr.com/photos/adammalarkey/sets
For other GNE buses by brand visit the sets section of my Flickr Page

The orbit versa on the Q2 was 8331
4931 was on the 28s
Ive noticed since Deptford's blinds have been updated at the weekend- the 35s has lost their coloured numbers and are now in the lighter shade of orange

(26 Mar 2013, 6:29 pm)dans_bus_photos wrote Ive noticed since Deptford's blinds have been updated at the weekend- the 35s has lost their coloured numbers and are now in the lighter shade of orange

I thought it happened before last weekend to be honest. Looked like that for a while now, updated not so long after the coloured square was coded.

Slight branding idea here

If and when the Waggonway DAF's go (and we're all praying for that day) we'll probably end up with either Solars or B10's.

I'd scrap the Waggonway brand and put the 28 group into an old Northern heritage branding (Maybe Northern General Transport) which I think would tie in nicely with Beamish and through the villages on the route between Birtley and Chester le Street.

It'd be a nice tie in with Beamish, of which GNE are a trust partner now and it'd look quite good too

Other candidate for a one-off heritage branding would be the Angel (won't happen) but it'd be nice considering the Angel from Chester to Low Fell Tram Stop (at Kells Lane) was the first route undertaken by Northern General

That's a really good idea! I hadn't thought of that!
Do send that as a suggestion to GNE. If they hadn't thought about it, I'm sure they could discuss it!

(26 Mar 2013, 6:55 pm)Daniel wrote

(26 Mar 2013, 6:29 pm)dans_bus_photos wrote Ive noticed since Deptford's blinds have been updated at the weekend- the 35s has lost their coloured numbers and are now in the lighter shade of orange

I thought it happened before last weekend to be honest. Looked like that for a while now, updated not so long after the coloured square was coded.

Im sure they still had the red background behind the blue numbers last week, im assuming it was a mistake when they were updated for the service changes

8083 / NK13 EJO in service today on the TEN network.
533 / NA52 AWV on Red Kite also.
Photos available in my usual place for those interested.

(26 Mar 2013, 7:53 pm)dans_bus_photos wrote

(26 Mar 2013, 6:55 pm)Daniel wrote

(26 Mar 2013, 6:29 pm)dans_bus_photos wrote Ive noticed since Deptford's blinds have been updated at the weekend- the 35s has lost their coloured numbers and are now in the lighter shade of orange

I thought it happened before last weekend to be honest. Looked like that for a while now, updated not so long after the coloured square was coded.

Im sure they still had the red background behind the blue numbers last week, im assuming it was a mistake when they were updated for the service changes

It was not a mistake on the 35's. We wanted to try with the gold background but it just did not look right with the white numbers, so that is why the colour has been took off. It only takes a couple of minutes to change the blinds on a pc and a couple of minutes to load it into the vehicles, so no real issue. The background colour remains on the 20, 36 and 42.

(26 Mar 2013, 8:16 pm)citaro5284 wrote

(26 Mar 2013, 7:53 pm)dans_bus_photos wrote

(26 Mar 2013, 6:55 pm)Daniel wrote

(26 Mar 2013, 6:29 pm)dans_bus_photos wrote Ive noticed since Deptford's blinds have been updated at the weekend- the 35s has lost their coloured numbers and are now in the lighter shade of orange

I thought it happened before last weekend to be honest. Looked like that for a while now, updated not so long after the coloured square was coded.

Im sure they still had the red background behind the blue numbers last week, im assuming it was a mistake when they were updated for the service changes

It was not a mistake on the 35's. We wanted to try with the gold background but it just did not look right with the white numbers, so that is why the colour has been took off. It only takes a couple of minutes to change the blinds on a pc and a couple of minutes to load it into the vehicles, so no real issue. The background colour remains on the 20, 36 and 42.

So are they going to stay in that light orange colour- or is different coloured numbers going to be trialled?

(26 Mar 2013, 8:42 pm)dans_bus_photos wrote

(26 Mar 2013, 8:16 pm)citaro5284 wrote

(26 Mar 2013, 7:53 pm)dans_bus_photos wrote

(26 Mar 2013, 6:55 pm)Daniel wrote

(26 Mar 2013, 6:29 pm)dans_bus_photos wrote Ive noticed since Deptford's blinds have been updated at the weekend- the 35s has lost their coloured numbers and are now in the lighter shade of orange

I thought it happened before last weekend to be honest. Looked like that for a while now, updated not so long after the coloured square was coded.

Im sure they still had the red background behind the blue numbers last week, im assuming it was a mistake when they were updated for the service changes

It was not a mistake on the 35's. We wanted to try with the gold background but it just did not look right with the white numbers, so that is why the colour has been took off. It only takes a couple of minutes to change the blinds on a pc and a couple of minutes to load it into the vehicles, so no real issue. The background colour remains on the 20, 36 and 42.

So are they going to stay in that light orange colour- or is different coloured numbers going to be trialled?

They are going to remain as they are. The route number you see now is the closest you get to the 'normal' orange LED's as per a non colour blind.

White on Gold? Perhaps a DDA related removal then?

(26 Mar 2013, 9:06 pm)aureolin wrote White on Gold? Perhaps a DDA related removal then?

no

Laser should have a Gold Background with Red Numbers.

Take the crusader citaros for example, look at how clear the Numbers are compared to the Laser examples.

Crusader
http://www.flickr.com/photos/adammalarke...otostream/

Laser
http://www.flickr.com/photos/adammalarke...otostream/

Major difference as you can see.

Not sure if we've made a note of 4841 in "Toon Link" branding with a photo, so do see below for a photo:
4841, now in "Toon Link" branding (danielgrahamm)

26/03/13 - Odd workings:
"The Orbit" 8331 on "QuayLink" service Q2 (danielgrahamm)
"Drifter" Cadet 8258 on "Drifter" service 60 (Bazza90 Bus Photos)
"South Tyne 8243 on service 51 (Bazza90 Bus Photos)
"Fast Cats" 4976 on "Prince Bishops" service 20A (Bazza90 Bus Photos)
"Whey Aye Five 0" 4931 on "Waggonway" service 28 (Bazza90 Bus Photos)

how true is a rumour I've heard thr us going to be bendy buses on x40 sage starting 7th of April and us it running out of Percy main depot

(27 Mar 2013, 3:57 pm)Paul1975 wrote how true is a rumour I've heard thr us going to be bendy buses on x40 sage starting 7th of April and us it running out of Percy main depot

The first part of it is correct - the second isn't.

I believe conclusive evidence is given on Go North East's website here