(11 Aug 2013, 4:39 pm)park5354 wrote

(08 Aug 2013, 10:05 am)GuyParkRoyal wrote

(06 Aug 2013, 9:06 pm)ifm001 wrote

(06 Aug 2013, 9:00 pm)gtomlinson wrote Not forgetting 221 and 21 which ran alongside all those during the bus war

And also Tyne Rider route 20 qhich operated to Harlow Green

Another one from the bus war was the OK service 23 from Worswick Street to Vigo Bridge via Low Fell and Birtley. That one caused Go Ahead Gateshead to run the 124 to compete with the OK 724. The 124 was an interesting service as it ran dead miles on a morning from Winlaton to Bishop Auckland.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/simplytrans...096927076/

A Tyne Rider Metrobus on service 74.

A great find! I was looking for a picture like this the other day when the Tyne Rider routes were being discussed. As I posted back then, the 74/75 (or maybe 73/74 - can't remember) ran in competition to Classic's 85/86 which competed with the 53/54. All those high-frequency buses going along Coatsworth Road. It must've been a nightmare to navigate.

(11 Aug 2013, 3:49 pm)gtomlinson wrote Only reason I can think of (and its stretching it) is that Church Road/Valley Drive is an affluent area with high car ownership and ridership beyond Gateshead was fairly low

There was certainly enough passengers that used to travel beyond Gateshead and into Newcastle on the 51 to justify it running to there.

The reason (or excuse) that was given at the time I think, although I'm not 100% sure, was that it ceased to serve Newcastle to improve the reliability of the service.

The reliability of the service got worse when it became a circular route, so it was less problematic as the 27 from Newcastle-Heworth. In which case, to improve reliability the best answer wouldn't be to terminate the Orbit at Gateshead, but to split to route in two at Heworth, going back to the old 27.

Finally found a photo of Classic's Saltwell Park circular. It was the 83/84, not the 85/86 as I previously thought.


(Courtesy of Brian Henderson)

(11 Aug 2013, 4:49 pm)big mac wrote There was certainly enough passengers that used to travel beyond Gateshead and into Newcastle on the 51 to justify it running to there.

The reason (or excuse) that was given at the time I think, although I'm not 100% sure, was that it ceased to serve Newcastle to improve the reliability of the service.

I've made a wee suggestion on Service Suggestions for the area.

Re- Classic. When they 'dropped the battle' (my memory is vague of the time) and GNE won/paid out whatever. What happened to the Classic fleet? They can't have needed all those buses, the 21 had a large amount of older stock all in livery, I assume they were scrapped?

This short newspaper article from the Chronicle (circa 1998) refers to the settlement agreement between Classic and GNE.



Judging by what was agreed, I would presume that most of their fleet was scrapped and the money used to purchase more coaches for their holiday and long-distance operations.

I wonder what GNE did with their coach fleet? I wonder if Classic bought/were given the bulk of it?

Most of the stuff Classic had running, especially when it all kicked off initially were knackered.
There were some Mk1 Nationals, some Bristol single deckers and some 'unique' bodied (to the area anyway) Atlanteans.

Couldn't tell you what happend to the Go-ahead coaches though.
Can anyone remember the name they used? The trips were often advertised on the back of bus tickets though.

(11 Aug 2013, 5:46 pm)Andreos1 wrote Most of the stuff Classic had running, especially when it all kicked off initially were knackered.
There were some Mk1 Nationals, some Bristol single deckers and some 'unique' bodied (to the area anyway) Atlanteans.

Couldn't tell you what happend to the Go-ahead coaches though.
Can anyone remember the name they used? The trips were often advertised on the back of bus tickets though.

some Go-Highstyle coaches passed to Classic.

One of them shown on this link
http://www.flickr.com/photos/busfreakbri...0653374818

According to some of the info displayed on Brian Henderson's photographs, some MK1 Nationals passed into GNE's fleet. For example, the vehicle with the registration 'DDW 431V' was acquired by Go Ahead in May 1998 before being scrapped in September of the same year. More of Classic's vehicles may have transferred into the fleet with GNE's coaches going the other way.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/busfreakbri...653374818/

Cracking memories there, I'd love TGM to do a Classic heritage livery!

It's a real shame there's not a Welcome or an HMB or a Classic to step up and challenge the Big 3 (of course taking on Stagecoach would be suicide but the other 2 have as much goodwill from passengers as the Devil)

3979 has presumably finally been fitted with a new engine and sent back to Deptford as she is no longer at the back of Saltmeadows.

5267 is the next Coaster being prepared for repaint.

8228 is still having panels replaced.

5304 has also just recently arrived at Saltmeadows, presumably for general maintenance.

5229 is still at Saltmeadows in Northern, while sister 5230 is not visible. It is possible that she has already entered the paint shop to receive what is rumoured to be a striking pink livery.

I hope not just have them as northen... looks like a pointless brand again

3967, 6020 and 6025 are all on loan to Percy Main from their respective depots.
6025 is the 1005 from Percy Main to Gateshead.

Four Coasters (including blue 5262) are VOR today, so expect a distinct lack of Omnicities on the service today.

Looks like GNE want to get re-paints and that done quickly


Lets hope its not a rubbish paint job

(12 Aug 2013, 8:15 am)Michael wrote I hope not just have them as northen... looks like a pointless brand again

I personally think that a striking livery on the X84/X85 is a good idea. I have always thought that the pink Angels had a very striking livery and the reintroduction of pink to the fleet colour scheme will help the services be noticed. They have had very little promotion (though I am not denying it may come soon), so customers need to be persuaded to either a) ditch the 10 with all of its luxuries or b) ditch the 685 which may or may not be as reliable.

With refurbishment on the cards for 5230-33 as well as the introduction of a new brand to the network, GNE may stand a chance of these services being successful. Customers travelling to Hexham on the 685 may need to use other GNE sevices there, so while the 685 may be initially cheaper to get you to Hexham, the overall cost may not be.

As a side note, 5230 may be getting refurbished as @nk55 said was happening rather than being in the paintshop. Seems a little silly to me if GNE aren't getting Thorntons to do the whole job of repainting also but nevermind...

As a side note, 5230 may be getting refurbished as @nk55 said was happening rather than being in the paintshop. Seems a little silly to me if GNE aren't getting Thorntons to do the whole job of repainting also but nevermind...
[/quote]

If they are getting a refurbished y are GNE wasting money on them... they still look good.... oh well typical GNE!

Im hoping the new timetables will be uploaded today for both X84/X85 also hoping the new timetable style is uploaded for the Coaster etc..


Note: the 53/54 is still in the rubbish style (before the newer style is uploaded) on the GNE site.. wonder if they waiting for the streetlites before uploading it?

it normaly takes GNE 100 years to remove a brand from its site but the Okexpressway has officaly being took down...

3964 is on 94s today. Left Gateshead about 5 mins ago

Fleet news:

SPD 8214: V214 ERG and the Mercedes Citaro artic that was bought for spares, 5357: BX54 UCO, have been sold to Alpha Recovery, Weetslade.

GNE have finally unbranded the remaining Drifter cadets on the fleet allocation

Like we know.. 5261 has being repianted and has being highlighted as blue.... 5262,5264-67 is now blue

4956-59 still purple on fleet allocation.. although, im sure more has being done?

3964 is highlight just as yellow but they still have it in the key for Festival of the north..

(12 Aug 2013, 11:30 am)Michael wrote Fleet news:

SPD 8214: V214 ERG and the Mercedes Citaro artic that was bought for spares, 5357: BX54 UCO, have been sold to Alpha Recovery, Weetslade.

more junk to go i was ready to post but am ok i wonder if there was info of all the OK Expressway scanias temporarily moving to another depot til the changes happen it happned when the old red arrows citaros moved to different depots til they figured where to put them now there all at winlaton as blaydon racers same happned when the renowns off Crusader went to other depots including its own to use as floats now there a Wear Tees Express at Peterlee so i have a feeling these scanias may be used either on gateshead routes temporarily and saltmeadows while they are getting repainted with some of the brand still on like when highwayman renowns were on 27 then got debranded til the northern vinals appeared

OK Solars 5231 and 5232 in Chester le Street today on the X25 and X22.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/98641142@N08/9494674536/
Also OK 571 was on the 502 for the Ashes Cricket but went back to the depot after the 10.00 run to be replaced by a Northern Trident.
Edit: 571 is now back on the road seen on the 34 this afternoon.

(12 Aug 2013, 11:48 am)GuyParkRoyal wrote OK Solars 5231 and 5232 in Chester le Street today on the X25 and X22.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/98641142@N08/9494674536/
Also OK 571 was on the 502 for the Ashes Cricket but went back to the depot after the 10.00 run to be replaced by a Northern Trident.

From what you've seen, are many people using the 502? I didn't think Chester-le-Street had more than a two-hourly service during the day (with more at peak times), or have there been extra trains put on?

(12 Aug 2013, 11:55 am)BJ10VUS wrote From what you've seen, are many people using the 502? I didn't think Chester-le-Street had more than a two-hourly service during the day (with more at peak times), or have there been extra trains put on?

TPX have been making extra calls at CLS for the period of the Ashes test.

(12 Aug 2013, 12:22 pm)tyresmoke wrote TPX have been making extra calls at CLS for the period of the Ashes test.

The TPX trains have been frequent (even on Sunday) with good loadings on the train but use of the 502 is shockingly low. Some runs have not taken place as no passengers boarded the bus one train arrived on Friday with around 100 passengers and only 5 boarded the bus. I guess the station is too close to the cricket ground to make this route worth while and no doubt some people want to walk via the front street to collect supplies. Will be interesting to see if they run a 502 after the one they have registered for the end of this month to cover the 20/20 cricket.

Thanks for the information, tyresmoke and GuyParkRoyal

Another cut from Go North East see's Durham - Langley Park service 14 get chopped on Mon-Thu evenings. Durham CC have tendered for a replacement and this will be operated by Stanley Travel. This takes effect from 1st September.

Didn't even notice it on the new timetable for the 14/15 untill you said.. least u can use your GNE passes on it.

Thanks

GNE have uploaded some of the newer style timetables to some of their service changes...

8/78A also theirs the V8 on their. - seems to be a problem on the 78/78A link - it shows the 8 timetable with no number 78.
13/14
18 - No pic of the MPD, just the brands logo
21
28/28A - Brand on a cadet
34/34A - Brand on a cadet
40/41
43/44
45/46
50/50A

Does anyone know where the 28B turns around in Birtley?

Does it turn off Station Lane and then turn up at the old Fire Station?

(12 Aug 2013, 4:11 pm)Michael wrote GNE have uploaded some of the newer style timetables to some of their service changes...

8/78A also theirs the V8 on their. - seems to be a problem on the 78/78A link - it shows the 8 timetable with no number 78.
13/14
18 - No pic of the MPD, just the brands logo
21
28/28A - Brand on a cadet
34/34A - Brand on a cadet
40/41
43/44
45/46
50/50A

BIB - they are actually B10BLEs on those timetables.

Sorry i keep getting mixed up with them... Wonder if this means they WON'T get the scania's or they screwed up by putting the wrong buses on?

(12 Aug 2013, 4:22 pm)Kuyoyo wrote BIB - they are actually B10BLEs on those timetables.

It is the B10BLE drawing, but to be honest it could just be a quick attempt at having something similar looking to a Prestige on the timetable? To be honest, the regular passenger probably wouldn't notice the difference between the vehicles on the timetables.