(22 Sep 2014, 8:24 pm)G-CPTN wrote Do you mean this one?

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@54.837359...oB7raw!2e0

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@54.837442...hGNdsg!2e0

That's the one.

Yeah - the bridge over the railway line.
Could have sworn there was a restriction along there.

As for the car parking - a lot have been parking at Rainton Meadows Arena which is/was owned by the same people who have/had the Chilton Country Pub.

(22 Sep 2014, 9:38 pm)Andreos1 wrote Yeah - the bridge over the railway line.
Could have sworn there was a restriction along there.

As for the car parking - a lot have been parking at Rainton Meadows Arena which is/was owned by the same people who have/had the Chilton Country Pub.

There is a sign up that mentions a weight restriction and i think it is for the bridge

(22 Sep 2014, 9:59 pm)Robert wrote There is a sign up that mentions a weight restriction and i think it is for the bridge

Its not a weight restriction in itself. The sign reads:

"Not suitable for heavy goods vehicles from Black Boy Bridge"

(22 Sep 2014, 12:29 pm)Dan wrote DAF SB120 8270 is currently at Saltmeadows for repaint into corporate livery.

Isn't it already red northern

(22 Sep 2014, 10:50 pm)Acky81 wrote Isn't it already red northern

The "Northern" name is, and has been for quite some time now, obsolete.

The "Northern" name was first gradually phased out in December last year, when red spares 5389/90 entered service on the Citylink 58. Repaints which followed (former "Fab Fifty Six" branded Scania L94s and former "South Tyne" branded DAF SB120s), when the bus was destined to receive "Northern" livery, were only given Go North East logos opposed to "Northern" vinyls.

This "scheme" was introduced to improve the public perception of 'spare' vehicles (which was seen as negative - a red bus turning up in place of a branded example meant that customers could potentially face an uncomfortable/unpleasant journey), while also allowing older spare vehicles to be withdrawn sooner. An example of this would of course be the red Versas (5389/90) allowing the withdrawal of a Dennis SPD vehicle when they first entered service late last year.

It is not yet clear whether whether this is it for the corporate livery. Whilst I initially expected more, I'm now in the boat that thinks that the aim was to make the livery as cheap as possible, and this will make branding on other buses stand out even more, and the vehicles will therefore stay what can be deemed as 'plain red'. I hope this isn't the case, but I do know that Saltmeadows is pretty much non-stop lately and I'd imagine this to be the plan for the next few months now (new buses just around the corner, more buses being repainted into corporate livery out of Northern livery, brands being re-launched, etc). Any other work would have to be contracted, meaning expenses go up...

DAF SB120 8270 had not been repainted since April 2011. Go North East likes to keep its fleet looking smart and presentable, and repaints do achieve this - hence the repaint now. A lot of buses have had their seats re-upholstered and I think this year will also see some mid-life refurbishments too.

(23 Sep 2014, 6:03 am)Dan wrote The "Northern" name is, and has been for quite some time now, obsolete.

The "Northern" name was first gradually phased out in December last year, when red spares 5389/90 entered service on the Citylink 58. Repaints which followed (former "Fab Fifty Six" branded Scania L94s and former "South Tyne" branded DAF SB120s), when the bus was destined to receive "Northern" livery, were only given Go North East logos opposed to "Northern" vinyls.

This "scheme" was introduced to improve the public perception of 'spare' vehicles (which was seen as negative - a red bus turning up in place of a branded example meant that customers could potentially face an uncomfortable/unpleasant journey), while also allowing older spare vehicles to be withdrawn sooner. An example of this would of course be the red Versas (5389/90) allowing the withdrawal of a Dennis SPD vehicle when they first entered service late last year.

It is not yet clear whether whether this is it for the corporate livery. Whilst I initially expected more, I'm now in the boat that thinks that the aim was to make the livery as cheap as possible, and this will make branding on other buses stand out even more, and the vehicles will therefore stay what can be deemed as 'plain red'. I hope this isn't the case, but I do know that Saltmeadows is pretty much non-stop lately and I'd imagine this to be the plan for the next few months now (new buses just around the corner, more buses being repainted into corporate livery out of Northern livery, brands being re-launched, etc). Any other work would have to be contracted, meaning expenses go up...

DAF SB120 8270 had not been repainted since April 2011. Go North East likes to keep its fleet looking smart and presentable, and repaints do achieve this - hence the repaint now. A lot of buses have had their seats re-upholstered and I think this year will also see some mid-life refurbishments too.

Dan that is way to long for a post before 8am

Na i hope they aren't gonna just go around as plain red, looks rubbish then, although like u said it could be to make their brands stand out more.

What buses have reached their mid-life refurbishments?

(23 Sep 2014, 6:41 am)Michael wrote Dan that is way to long for a post before 8am

Na i hope they aren't gonna just go around as plain red, looks rubbish then, although like u said it could be to make their brands stand out more.

What buses have reached their mid-life refurbishments?

The majority of that post has been said at least five times before!  

Which buses are between 6 and 8 years old that haven't yet been refurbished?

(23 Sep 2014, 6:41 am)Michael wrote Dan that is way to long for a post before 8am

Na i hope they aren't gonna just go around as plain red, looks rubbish then, although like u said it could be to make their brands stand out more.

What buses have reached their mid-life refurbishments?

Omnicities? The 07 citaros? They have all been around for 7 years with the 08 citaros been next. Sure that wouldnt make a difference though.

(23 Sep 2014, 6:43 am)Dan wrote The majority of that post has been said at least five times before!  

Which buses are between 6 and 8 years old?

Exactly! haha 

Most of the fleet then.... keeps everyone busy! 

50 buses from 2007 and 44 citaro's from 2008.

Good opportunity to get those Volvo B7TLs new in 2006 refurbished too!

(23 Sep 2014, 6:53 am)Michael wrote About time!!

Noob question of the day because its not even 8am!!!!

Will they be done 1 by 1... and at Thorton's 

Not something I have the answer to - but I'd assume so, given that previous refurbishments have all been done there (including 5245 - the soul OmniCity to have been refurbished, still awaiting the others). This, of course, is providing that there will be vehicle refurbishments this year (I only said 'I think'!) 

(23 Sep 2014, 6:50 am)Dan wrote Good opportunity to get those Volvo B7TLs new in 2006 refurbished too!

Are they still having the grey flooring, like the one on the cobalt connect?

The grey flooring suits the buses well and doesn't pick dirt up as much.

Edit: I deleted the above post as it was a noob question! hahahahahaha

(23 Sep 2014, 6:55 am)Michael wrote Are they still having the grey flooring, like the one on the cobalt connect?

The grey flooring suits the buses well and doesn't pick dirt up as much.

Edit: I deleted the above post as it was a noob question! hahahahahaha

5245 could be considered as the 'guinea pig' - I'd imagine they'll want to roll out the specification of 5245 as standard if it looks cleaner, etc.

The LED lighting on the floor (see photo below) comes to mind as being the biggest 'additional' cost, but if it has improved visibility at night and reduced the amount of people falling over on the bus as they see better...
Go North East: 5245 / NK56KHP by danielgrahamm, on Flickr

It does look a lot better with the grey flooring, the LED lights will bring the price up... but it makes the bus look much better.

How long before those two lights in particular are kicked to death - either accidently or not?

I can see the potential benefits, but the positioning of the lights, doesn't seem ideal.



6100 on the NPower shuttle again.
To add what Robert was saying, I can confirm one road leading to the bridge has the 'restriction' sign re the bridge/road suitability - with an additional sign placed on the main road, just off the roundabout at Rainton Meadows (https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@54.835505...EUcIIw!2e0 and https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@54.836214...thD7oQ!2e0).

The car park at the pub is cordoned off, but the section isn't that big - certainly not big enough to justify a decker going backwards and forwards all day. Indeed, just one passenger about 6100 when it passed me earlier on - with another passenger getting out of his car, having just missed the first bus.

@Andreos1
That's why I can't see appeal of park and ride one every day basis to work. Parking up then missing the bus.. All means you have to leave earlier to avoid been late.

Going on Andreos' comments, using a decker seems a little illogically when by the sounds of it an MPD, or maybe a solar/cadet could do the job. I know GNE had deckers spare from contract losses and it's possibly nPower who stipulated a decker to be used. Does seem silly.

On another separate note, the 700 seems to getting good loads, got the 700 to work today and two buses were heaving. One at 8:35ish couldn't pick up any more passengers. The next had people standing in the doorways. Versas certainly needed for this route.

I do think GNE or Nexus (who would deal with buying new buses?) should consider buying Versas and using the solos elsewhere in the fleet.

(23 Sep 2014, 11:31 am)Drifter60 wrote @Andreos1
That's why I can't see appeal of park and ride one every day basis to work. Parking up then missing the bus.. All means you have to leave earlier to avoid been late.

Going on Andreos' comments, using a decker seems a little illogically when by the sounds of it an MPD, or maybe a solar/cadet could do the job. I know GNE had deckers spare from contract losses and it's possibly nPower who stipulated a decker to be used. Does seem silly.

On another separate note, the 700 seems to getting good loads, got the 700 to work today and two buses were heaving. One at 8:35ish couldn't pick up any more passengers. The next had people standing in the doorways. Versas certainly needed for this route.

I do think GNE or Nexus (who would deal with buying new buses?) should consider buying Versas and using the solos elsewhere in the fleet.

Apart from peak/shift changes - the decker won't be carrying much more than fresh air.
It seems common sense that demand will drop once everyone is in work - apart from the odd exception, there won't be many people travelling between the car park and office during the day.

You then have the road suitability.
Not sure there is much difference between a 10 1/2 t HGV or a 10 1/2 t PCV either :s

(23 Sep 2014, 11:48 am)Andreos1 wrote Not sure there is much difference between a 10 1/2 t HGV or a 10 1/2 t PCV either :s

The subtlety is that HGVs can be 38 tonne artics (or even trucks with drawbar trailers).

Corbridge bridge has a 7.5 tonne weight limit (apart from buses). The actual 'limit' is 18 tonnes, but if they allowed 'HGVs' over 7.5 tonnes then some would chance it with 38 tonners.

In the case of the Black Boy bridge (road), I suspect that they don't want two (or more) 38 tonners trying to pass each other on a regular basis - thus they 'dissuade' HGVs with the signs.

(23 Sep 2014, 11:48 am)Andreos1 wrote Apart from peak/shift changes - the decker won't be carrying much more than fresh air.
It seems common sense that demand will drop once everyone is in work - apart from the odd exception, there won't be many people travelling between the car park and office during the day.

You then have the road suitability.
Not sure there is much difference between a 10 1/2 t HGV or a 10 1/2 t PCV either :s

You could argue the same about QEH Shuttle and the X40, seems pointless to me Operating a Service every 15/20 Minutes throughout the Day when as say nobody is going to use it due to being in Work, Perhaps Operating the Service to Employers Shifts would be more Ideal, as I would imagine there will a hell of lot of Dead Mileage on these Services also.

Different kettle of fish when it comes to contract work from the private sector though. No operator is going to argue a case for it to be done cheaper, as there's no business sense in that.

(23 Sep 2014, 12:37 pm)NEBCD Malarkey wrote You could argue the same about QEH Shuttle and the X40, seems pointless to me Operating a Service every 15/20 Minutes throughout the Day when as say nobody is going to use it due to being in Work, Perhaps Operating the Service to Employers Shifts would be more Ideal, as I would imagine there will a hell of lot of Dead Mileage on these Services also.

I wonder if there is scope in running a commercial route around there (seeing as the road is apparently suitable to do so), rather than a standalone service?

Operate the contracted run during the peaks and divert another service around there during the off peak.

(23 Sep 2014, 1:11 pm)Andreos1 wrote I wonder if there is scope in running a commercial route around there (seeing as the road is apparently suitable to do so), rather than a standalone service?

Operate the contracted run during the peaks and divert another service around there during the off peak.

Which Service are talking about here QEH Shuttle or the X40, To be fair they could probably both be ran Commercially in some form.

(23 Sep 2014, 1:14 pm)NEBCD Malarkey wrote Which Service are talking about here QEH Shuttle or the X40, To be fair they could probably both be ran Commercially in some form.

Sorry - the NPower service.

If NPower have signed a contract that means GNE can afford to send a decker back and forth all day, then brilliant.
Even if it was a partial contribution, that enabled GNE to divert a commercial run around there - even better. GNE win twice then, with conc passes, ticket sales AND NPower's contribution, ensuring it calls into The Chilton Country Pub.
The x22 would have been ideal!

One thought I have just had, is the state of Black Boy Road in the winter and DCC's apparent reluctance in gritting their portion.
Although it has just recently been 'dressed', it wasn't too long ago that Busman101 was complaining about the state of road.


#busesinditches
#hashtagsonNEB 

The subtlety is that HGVs can be 38 tonne artics (or even trucks with drawbar trailers).

Corbridge bridge has a 7.5 tonne weight limit (apart from buses). The actual 'limit' is 18 tonnes, but if they allowed 'HGVs' over 7.5 tonnes then some would chance it with 38 tonners.

In the case of the Black Boy bridge (road), I suspect that they don't want two (or more) 38 tonners trying to pass each other on a regular basis - thus they 'dissuade' HGVs with the signs.

It is interesting the signs are on the Sunderland/T&W side of the bridge and is about the DCC portion.
DCC don't have any signs on their side of the bridge.

(23 Sep 2014, 1:33 pm)Andreos1 wrote Sorry - the NPower service.

If NPower have signed a contract that means GNE can afford to send a decker back and forth all day, then brilliant.
Even if it was a partial contribution, that enabled GNE to divert a commercial run around there - even better. GNE win twice then, with conc passes, ticket sales AND NPower's contribution, ensuring it calls into The Chilton Country Pub.
The x22 would have been ideal!

One thought I have just had, is the state of Black Boy Road in the winter and DCC's apparent reluctance in gritting their portion.
Although it has just recently been 'dressed', it wasn't too long ago that Busman101 was complaining about the state of road.


#busesinditches
#hashtagsonNEB 

To be honest thinking about it is there really any need for this Shuttle Service when you have the 20A/35A Operating at a Combined Frequency of Every 10 Minutes during the Day through Rainton Bridge, and no doubt these Services probably stop close to the Car Parks that the Shuttles are Operating to anyway, Why not have Employees of nPower use these Services, as a Result it would boost Passenger Numbers on Both Services in the process.

The dash of the Mercs was mentioned a while back... Doubt the photo will do it justice, but 5305 is by far the worst...

Bits of metal and gaffer tape all over the joint...

(23 Sep 2014, 2:29 pm)NEBCD Malarkey wrote To be honest thinking about it is there really any need for this Shuttle Service when you have the 20A/35A Operating at a Combined Frequency of Every 10 Minutes during the Day through Rainton Bridge, and no doubt these Services probably stop close to the Car Parks that the Shuttles are Operating to anyway, Why not have Employees of nPower use these Services, as a Result it would boost Passenger Numbers on Both Services in the process.

20A stops near the bottom of Black Boy Road, but I wouldn't be too impressed if I had to walk 5-10 mins to get to the bus stop (and even then, nPower would only be about a 15 minute walk!)

35A doesn't - pretty much goes direct to Houghton after Rainton Bridge.

(23 Sep 2014, 2:29 pm)NEBCD Malarkey wrote To be honest thinking about it is there really any need for this Shuttle Service when you have the 20A/35A Operating at a Combined Frequency of Every 10 Minutes during the Day through Rainton Bridge, and no doubt these Services probably stop close to the Car Parks that the Shuttles are Operating to anyway, Why not have Employees of nPower use these Services, as a Result it would boost Passenger Numbers on Both Services in the process.

It is walkable, but there isn't a path for much of the stretch between the pub and existing stops on the 20a/35a.
That is probably why the new service was introduced.

Heading home from work, there is only the 20a that serves the end of Black Boy Road.

Last year:- http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/busines..._job_cuts/

Scania L94UB 4972 has now re-gained "Laser" vinyls, joining the already confirmed 4968 and 4970.
4971 was still in plain gold yesterday, but I didn't see it today, so cannot comment on whether it has been branded or not.