(21 Feb 2014, 9:18 pm)Tom wrote A long time away, but this is what I think the 2015 orders will be...
4 X Optare Versa - ''Sunderland Connect'', freeing up the current Solos for use on the 5, replacing 8242-6.
20 X Mercedes Citaro - ''Coaster'' and ''Cobalt Connect'', freeing up 5243-6/5251-2/5261-72, with 5243-6 for use on the ''Lambton Worm''(replacing 8303-6 for use on the ''East Durham'' services 202/208/265, replacing various MPD's), 5251-2 for use on the 71 (replacing 2 X B10BLE), 5261-65 for use on the Waggonway (replacing 5 X Wright Solar to replace various B7TL/B10BLE's), 5266-71 for the X25 (replacing B10BLE's/ELC's) and 5272 spare at Chester-le-Street replacing a ELC.
7 X Unknown for ''Tyne Tees Xpress'' - Freeing up 3963/6043-8 for use on the ''Pronto'' (replacing B7TL vehicles)
8 X Optare Versa for ''LOOP'' - Freeing up 5219-26 (replacing various buses)
33 X Optare Solo SR - Replacing all ''Tynedale Links'' (555-559 and 8293), ''North Tyne Links'' (548-551/553-554/562/566-569) and ''East Durham'' (535-546/560/564-565/573-574/618-619) - One spare at each depot. East Durham would also use Optare Versa on busier journeys.
The newer MPD's (603-606/618-9) would replace spare MPD's at Riverside/Deptford:
603-6 would replace 542/544/561 at Deptford, 603/4 destined for the 99, 605/6 would be a spare. 618/9 would transfer to Riverside for the S1 (Merit 8266 would replace a B10BLE, helping to reach the target) and 27X/40A, replacing 547.
Providing Nexus were assisting with the cost of the vehicles again (as I believe they did with 629/630 (?)), I'd assume that they would contribute towards an additional vehicle for the 700's PVR of 3 and the 701's PVR of 1, as well as having one vehicle spare - though Go North East would probably have to pay for the spare as it'd be down to operational convenience.
I honestly don't think the Cobalt Connect is worthy of investment. Let's think of how many journeys are secured. If you've been on the Cobalt Connect, you'll know how few passengers actually travel between Cramlington and Ashington. They essentially carry air.
I don't know what to make of the Coaster. If it was to receive investment, I think it would be Mercs as you've pointed out... The livery re-design suggested to me that they'd be on there for another few years yet though.
The Pronto is likely to receive a full set of the same vehicle type rather than a mixture. 3963 is likely to become a 'red spare' in the near future, rather than a branded vehicle. Whether this is by cascades or by investment, I don't know.
The Loop certainly wouldn't justify investment. Not at all. It's a service for Saltmeadows drivers and Gateshead College students, with the occasional single fare and concessionary pass.
As for the Solo SRs... I really don't think that some of the services held within those brand networks can justify the cost of new vehicles. Touching on a few points regarding Hexham... They already have a branded spare MPD (the PVR is 4, and they have 5 vehicles), and 8293's replacement has to be a full sized single decker (just like 8228's had to be).
(22 Feb 2014, 1:06 am)CatsFast101 wrote If streetlites could be a viable option could they not be purchased for the simplicity group (42/61/39) & Orbit 51/52, and also with a rumoured upgrade on QuayLink. This allows then 33 Versas to be freed up, 17 for East Durham, 11 NTL, 5 South Tyne 5.
I'd think if any service, out of those MPD/Low Cost services, M2/M3 could probably justify new vehicles outright. 5 Versas could be bought for 700/701 to allow the 4 Solo to go onto W4/W5.
I'd then suggest upgraded Red Arrows to new vehicles, allowing 7 B9's to go onto Pronto, 3 onto angel (giving 1 spare and displacing B7's), 1 B9 goes onto Tyne Tees Xpress (allowing them to have 7 branded vehicles all B9's). This then creates spare deckers to displace older ones and withdrawn remaing Olympians.
Replacing the 2011-born Versas (SimpliCity = 10, Orbit = 9) may be a good idea, though I question whether it would be good to do it in 2015 or 2016, given that I feel MPD replacement hasn't been a 'top priority' (X-reg MPDs should have been withdrawn in 2012, not 2013). We know that, no matter what, the "QuayLink" examples are going to be freed up - I've suggested that the current plan is for them to go to Washington for services M2/M3, assuming that the current midi-sized vehicle "trial" (if you want to treat it like that) is successful.
Nevertheless, 19 Versas to play around with... I'm not including the plain purple batch...
For a PVR of 12, I think that 14 Versas (losing one spare as the newer vehicles should be more reliable) could go to Peterlee. There are a number of services which run quite empty, but there are also a number of them which could justify a cascaded Versa. Deptford require 2 MPDs for the 238 and I'd assume like for like replacements and give them 3 for good measure. Crook require 2 MPDs for the 18, and I'd replace these likewise also - accounting for your 19 Versas.
We know that the "South Tyne" branded Cadets on the 5 are being replaced this year. We've been told that those vehicles are going to be withdrawn.
As for the cascades of the 700, you'd be allocating two different vehicle types (Hybrid vs non-Hybrid) again. I think they'll be retained for use on Nexus contracts.
(22 Feb 2014, 10:20 am)Michael wrote Got to remember that's if GNE win the contract for the Quaylink... they could still loose it.... means the buses on their don't have to be replaced and it free's up 9 versa's.....not sure if anyone else would bid
I do think it'll be a contractual requirement for eco-friendly vehicles this time around. A simple Euro regulation won't suffice, if you ask me.