(15 May 2014, 5:57 pm)Michael wrote The VOSA thing is wrong, shame because why not extend it to Newcastle, could get more passengers?

(15 May 2014, 6:52 pm)BJ10VUS wrote I'm not sure, because some areas such as Deckham, Felling Square, Heworth, Fewster Square are served by the 57 and 58 and Low Fell and Wrekenton are served by a very frequent service to Newcastle.

It would be good for residents of Carr Hill Road, Leam Lane Estate (Grange Crescent, Meresyde, Millford), Springwell Estate (daytimes) and some areas of Low Fell which are further away from a service to Newcastle, requiring a change at Gateshead, but I think the Orbit Switcha is good value.

The registration for services 51/52 has always stated that its finishing point is Newcastle Pilgram Street, not Gateshead, probably because it was at some point in the past. If you look at the registration history for the service it will show that, so I wouldn't read too much into it.

http://www.tan.gov.uk/tanen/vosa_selfser...ceId=99030&txtLicenceNo=PB0003954&cboRegNoFilter=PB0003954/297

Bus Registration Search Results - Bus Route History

History for PB0003954/297

PB0003954/297 20 Registered 13-MAY-2014 2 -JUN-2014
PB0003954/297 19 Registered 31-MAY-2013 28-JUL-2013
PB0003954/297 18 Registered 1 -JUN-2012 29-JUL-2012
PB0003954/297 17 Registered 27-JAN-2012 25-MAR-2012
PB0003954/297 16 Registered 8 -JUN-2011 3 -JUL-2011
PB0003954/297 15 Registered 1 -JUN-2011 3 -JUL-2011
PB0003954/297 14 Registered 8 -MAY-2011 3 -JUL-2011
PB0003954/297 13 Registered 12-APR-2011 29-MAY-2011
PB0003954/297 12 Registered 1 -APR-2011 29-MAY-2011
PB0003954/297 11 Registered 4 -DEC-2009 31-JAN-2010
PB0003954/297 10 Registered 21-MAY-2009 26-JUL-2009
PB0003954/297 9 Registered 3 -APR-2009 31-MAY-2009
PB0003954/297 8 Registered 20-NOV-2008 24-NOV-2008
PB0003954/297 7 Registered 29-AUG-2008 26-OCT-2008
PB0003954/297 6 Registered 19-MAY-2008 2 -JUN-2008
PB0003954/297 5 Registered 30-NOV-2007 27-JAN-2008
PB0003954/297 4 Registered 1 -JUN-2007 29-JUL-2007
PB0003954/297 1 Registered 31-JAN-2007 25-FEB-2007
PB0003954/297 0 Registered 29-DEC-2006 25-FEB-2007

(16 May 2014, 6:44 pm)AIG20 wrote According to the "North East and Regional Bus Photos" Facebook Page, Wright Solar 4949 (NK51 OLP) has apparently had an engine fire! The extent of the damage is unknown.

Oh dear. I'm just wondering, will vehicles like 4949 (Solars, Cadets, Renowns etc) that will be going within the space of a couple of years be repaired following accident damage or fires? I mean, 4931 was repaired because it's probably got a few more years of service to go, but 3821 got withdrawn because it was due to be withdrawn following it's RTA. What would happen if a Volvo B10BLE was in an RTA sometime soon?

I like 4949, so I hope it does get repaired. I love how of all the things GNE could have chosen to brand it with, at least they dedicated a bus to the Soldiers fighting for us.

(16 May 2014, 6:44 pm)AIG20 wrote According to the "North East and Regional Bus Photos" Facebook Page, Wright Solar 4949 (NK51 OLP) has apparently had an engine fire! The extent of the damage is unknown.

I've read it has a Substantial amount of Damage on The Northern Road Transport Facebook Page, Quite a shame as I love Photographing 4949 when I see it out and about.

(16 May 2014, 6:52 pm)NEBCD Malarkey wrote I've read it has a Substantial amount of Damage on The Northern Road Transport Facebook Page, Quite a shame as I love Photographing 4949 when I see it out and about.

Seeing as it's based at Riverside and they have the best facilities in the fleet, will 4949 take long to be repaired?

(16 May 2014, 6:54 pm)Marcus wrote Seeing as it's based at Riverside and they have the best facilities in the fleet, will 4949 take long to be repaired?

All depends on extent of damage......

(16 May 2014, 6:54 pm)citaro5284 wrote All depends on extent of damage......

I see. It says substantial damage, and I think 4931 pretty much got off with a close shave on Boxing Day with little damage. Hopefully they'll see to it as soon as possible.

(16 May 2014, 6:56 pm)Marcus wrote I see. It says substantial damage, and I think 4931 pretty much got off with a close shave on Boxing Day with little damage. Hopefully they'll see to it as soon as possible.

All depends on when they get the vehicle back to the depot how substantial it is, it may look worse than it actually is.

(16 May 2014, 7:00 pm)citaro5284 wrote All depends on when they get the vehicle back to the depot how substantial it is, it may look worse than it actually is.

I know what you mean. When 4931 spent those 4 months VOR, over time and about two months before re-entering service you couldn't tell it was fire damaged, it just looked like they were tinkering with it's engine a little.

(16 May 2014, 6:44 pm)AIG20 wrote According to the "North East and Regional Bus Photos" Facebook Page, Wright Solar 4949 (NK51 OLP) has apparently had an engine fire! The extent of the damage is unknown.

I seen it at Heworth this afternoon to, its one of their best brands, hopefully its out and about soon.

Like seen the poppy bus out and about.

The changes to 51/52 are most likely becauee from that date Hendon Road is closed for about 3-4 month and they are being diverted.

Just out curiosity are the Branding Wraps (Material) Flammable, Just thinking as 4949's goes around the Rear of the Vehicle, which could result in it being quite bad if they are.

(16 May 2014, 8:00 pm)NEBCD Malarkey wrote Just out curiosity are the Branding Wraps (Material) Flammable, Just thinking as 4949's goes around the Rear of the Vehicle, which could result in it being quite bad if they are.

I honesty don't know. I think they are just stickers, and I wouldn't say they are flammable, although the stuff that sticks them to the side of the bus could be.

(16 May 2014, 6:44 pm)AIG20 wrote According to the "North East and Regional Bus Photos" Facebook Page, Wright Solar 4949 (NK51 OLP) has apparently had an engine fire! The extent of the damage is unknown.

So im guessing that that's the end of the Royal British Legion livery or will it be fully completed again in the near future? Not like im expecting you or anybody to know the answer

4949 was on the X10 Today from what I am reading on the group I mentioned earlier, I also read that an X9 Broke Down at 14:00pm in Middlesbrough according to GNE's Facebook Page, X9/X10 Interwork don't they, so I assume it either in Middlesbrough Bus Station or somewhere on Route to Middlesbrough if that Journey didn't operate.

(16 May 2014, 8:56 pm)NEBCD Malarkey wrote 4949 was on the X10 Today from what I am reading on the group I mentioned earlier, I also read that an X9 Broke Down at 14:00pm in Middlesbrough according to GNE's Facebook Page, X9/X10 Interwork don't they, so I assume it either in Middlesbrough Bus Station or somewhere on Route to Middlesbrough if that Journey didn't operate.

The fire happened around 1840 in Gateshead Interchange on the layover area.

(16 May 2014, 9:01 pm)citaro5284 wrote The fire happened around 1840 in Gateshead Interchange on the layover area.

Cheers Citaro5284, Separate Incident then, so which Vehicle Broke Down in Middlesbrough then, obviously a Bad Day for Riverside and the Tyne Tees Xpress.

Think gne should extend the 27X to shields think be a good idea express from shields to newcastle non stop r is that a bad idea

(16 May 2014, 9:05 pm)NEBCD Malarkey wrote Cheers Citaro5284, Separate Incident then, so which Vehicle Broke Down in Middlesbrough then, obviously a Bad Day for Riverside and the Tyne Tees Xpress.

Unsure which vehicle broke down earlier, but whilst 4949 had been on the X10, it actually was not in service at the time of the incident.

It's a disgrace how many buses appear to be catching fire as of late. Not just one company, but there's several instances of this happening over the past 12-18 months.

(16 May 2014, 9:54 pm)aureolin wrote It's a disgrace how many buses appear to be catching fire as of late. Not just one company, but there's several instances of this happening over the past 12-18 months.

I'm just thankful nobody was on board the vehicle in either of the recent cases (4931 and 4949).

(16 May 2014, 9:54 pm)aureolin wrote It's a disgrace how many buses appear to be catching fire as of late. Not just one company, but there's several instances of this happening over the past 12-18 months.

Whilst is may look high, it maybe now we are finding out about them more as opposed to 'the old days' without social media and forums like this.

It would be interesting to know how many car fires there is in a month across the North East area versus how many bus fires there is.

(17 May 2014, 6:29 am)citaro5284 wrote Whilst is may look high, it maybe now we are finding out about them more as opposed to 'the old days' without social media and forums like this.

It would be interesting to know how many car fires there is in a month across the North East area versus how many bus fires there is.

Excluding arson, I don't think there will be too many.
Maybe an FOI request to the fire brigade would help. Their investigations would help determine the location and cause of the fire too.

In experience, most cars catch fire through an electrical fault or due to poor maintenance.
Can't see it being too much different with a bus.

Just found this paper: http://papers.sae.org/2012-01-0989/ Not paying to download it, but the abstract explains findings in brief.

Saw 4949 parked at Gateshead last night. Didn't look too bad.

From the GNE FAB page -

Go North East

DISRUPTION: Services #56 & #9 will be operating via John Street heading into Sunderland due to traffic congestion. M&S stop won't be served.

(17 May 2014, 10:52 am)Michael wrote From the GNE FAB page -

Go North East

DISRUPTION: Services #56 & #9 will be operating via John Street heading into Sunderland due to traffic congestion. M&S stop won't be served.

Christ, and citaro5284 said you were speedy yesterday... Put that on within 30 seconds!!

(17 May 2014, 10:53 am)Dan wrote Christ, and citaro5284 said you were speedy yesterday... Put that on within 30 seconds!!

haha, i was on facebook and the forum anyway, might as well post it!

Any news on 4949?

(17 May 2014, 12:47 pm)Marcus wrote Any news on 4949?

I doubt we'll get any news on it until DiagTest start uploading the photos to Flickr showing its repair...

(17 May 2014, 12:51 pm)Dan wrote I doubt we'll get any news on it until DiagTest start uploading the photos to Flickr showing its repair...

I follow them regularly so if I see something new relating to 4949 I'll be sure to post a link or something.

Was around the old folks earlier on and my Mam (bless her) was on about how the x1 flies along the Washington Highway.
She has mentioned it a few times recently, but it got me thinking about how the Gemini's whizz along and are still pushed for time, compared to the Metrobuses, Olympians or Spectra's - when they were on the x5 (that didn't really need to hammer along the highway).

Back when the x5 operated and the x1 ran with the Merc's, the service was limited stop for more or less the entire journey - since the x1 is only limited between Shiney Row and Gateshead now, is this a contributing factor in the services reliability (timing) issues and drivers needing to push the buses to the limit whenever possible.
The Fencehouses x3 was pretty much the same once it became a stopping service, compared to the limited stop x94.

I have had a quick look at the timetables (on phone so hard to compare/contrast) and there doesn't seem that much difference in scheduled journey times on the x1 - despite the extra stops.
Obviously in the past, the lack of scheduled stopping points will have also helped make up time.

Unless a local bus between Houghton and Washington via Newbottle is reintroduced, affording the x1 to have the luxury of being limited stop again, maybe it is time the x1 had a bit more slack in the timetable.