(04 Aug 2015, 9:40 pm)DaveyBowyer wrote Well put it this way, I've got a very sneaky feeling about it because:I can't see the Go Ahead Group investing any further money in new buses in the North East until the results of Nexus attempt to confiscate their business are known, towards the end of the year.
- The demonstrator is Silver and the bodywork isn't the same styling as the B&H streetdecks.
- The seating is in GNE moquette.
Could GNE potentially be keeping this bus?
If they do, then I think the following will happen:
- 16x Cobalt Clipper full spec Streetdecks (original Streetdeck bodywork) + 2 in the same spec as the demonstrator with the latter 2 and 9119 (probably re-numbered) just making do with Moovbox. These vehicles could then be used for scholars work and the extra afternoon runs. Therefore, a high profile launch wouldn't be needed due to some commonalities with the Gemini 2 bodywork and styling. This would also calm passengers down who could potentially go shouting 'why have they got new buses after only a year and a bit!'.
- 6101 has vinyls removed and transferred to Riverside with TEN vinyls applied and forming the full PVR of 14 vehicles required on the TEN group of services.
- 6102 to 6117 (6117 spare) go to Washington so power sockets can 'quietly' be introduced onto service X1 with 6102 to 6115 repainted red and all bar 6117 rebranded for Red Arrows. Only noticeable difference would be the lack of CCTV monitors and for the drivers, (half?) of the buses with 50 less BHP.
- 6049 to 6055 alongside 3943 (or 6007) as spare to Crook for Pronto service X21.
- 6001 to 6007 (6007 spare or 3943) could if Tom's predictions were to be right for potential changes to the X30 / X31, move to Stanley for them services OR all 7 be used with spares being made up of Omnideckas, on potential new services 44 / 44A.
No one with any sense would invest money in a business that might not have a future, as their investment would be lost when their right to trade was removed.
Don't forget that Nexus are proposing to confiscate the current bus business in Tyne and Wear without any compensation for the business that they will destroy.
Even the labour government of 1948 & 1967 paid the owners of the bus businesses that they nationalised (Tilling Group and BET).
All to keep the same bus network, with a drab overall red based livery on every bus, with almost 1 in 4 passengers paying a higher fare than they would otherwise do, and "freeze" the fleet as it will be at the end of 2019 until 2027. The 2020's will be boring if Nexus get their way.......
(04 Aug 2015, 9:40 pm)DaveyBowyer wrote Well put it this way, I've got a very sneaky feeling about it because:I can't see the Go Ahead Group investing any further money in new buses in the North East until the results of Nexus attempt to confiscate their business are known, towards the end of the year.
- The demonstrator is Silver and the bodywork isn't the same styling as the B&H streetdecks.
- The seating is in GNE moquette.
Could GNE potentially be keeping this bus?
If they do, then I think the following will happen:
- 16x Cobalt Clipper full spec Streetdecks (original Streetdeck bodywork) + 2 in the same spec as the demonstrator with the latter 2 and 9119 (probably re-numbered) just making do with Moovbox. These vehicles could then be used for scholars work and the extra afternoon runs. Therefore, a high profile launch wouldn't be needed due to some commonalities with the Gemini 2 bodywork and styling. This would also calm passengers down who could potentially go shouting 'why have they got new buses after only a year and a bit!'.
- 6101 has vinyls removed and transferred to Riverside with TEN vinyls applied and forming the full PVR of 14 vehicles required on the TEN group of services.
- 6102 to 6117 (6117 spare) go to Washington so power sockets can 'quietly' be introduced onto service X1 with 6102 to 6115 repainted red and all bar 6117 rebranded for Red Arrows. Only noticeable difference would be the lack of CCTV monitors and for the drivers, (half?) of the buses with 50 less BHP.
- 6049 to 6055 alongside 3943 (or 6007) as spare to Crook for Pronto service X21.
- 6001 to 6007 (6007 spare or 3943) could if Tom's predictions were to be right for potential changes to the X30 / X31, move to Stanley for them services OR all 7 be used with spares being made up of Omnideckas, on potential new services 44 / 44A.
No one with any sense would invest money in a business that might not have a future, as their investment would be lost when their right to trade was removed.
Don't forget that Nexus are proposing to confiscate the current bus business in Tyne and Wear without any compensation for the business that they will destroy.
Even the labour government of 1948 & 1967 paid the owners of the bus businesses that they nationalised (Tilling Group and BET).
All to keep the same bus network, with a drab overall red based livery on every bus, with almost 1 in 4 passengers paying a higher fare than they would otherwise do, and "freeze" the fleet as it will be at the end of 2019 until 2027. The 2020's will be boring if Nexus get their way.......