(10 Oct 2015, 9:39 am)S813 FVK wrote Trident 3875 has gained a front LED destination display:

I was lucky enough to ride this earlier.

I got 5227 on a 98!
I was absolutely overjoyed, it sounded a bit unhealthy, though

(10 Oct 2015, 3:23 pm)NK53 TKT wrote I got 5227 on a 98!
I was absolutely overjoyed, it sounded a bit unhealthy, though

been on that bus at least more than once its an ok machine

(10 Oct 2015, 5:56 pm)Diamond One wrote been on that bus at least more than once its an ok machine

To be fair it was dripping stuff out the back on Dunston Bank

(10 Oct 2015, 5:57 pm)NK53 TKT wrote To be fair it was dripping stuff out the back on Dunston Bank

try a dart back in 2010 it was snowing back of the bus

(10 Oct 2015, 10:31 pm)Diamond One wrote try a dart back in 2010 it was snowing back of the bus

Everything snowed in 2010.

(10 Oct 2015, 11:13 pm)BusLoverMum wrote Everything snowed in 2010.

was on my way home from the ice rink with my buddies Ryan (his uncle works for GNE) and Dean back then we were the 3 duos with a lot of things to look forward too for me it was Linkin Park that year for us meeting new people and 2011 we met our pal who would be a massive help and our bestie aka Paul

(10 Oct 2015, 11:19 pm)Diamond One wrote was on my way home from the ice rink with my buddies Ryan (his uncle works for GNE) and Dean back then we were the 3 duos with a lot of things to look forward too for me it was Linkin Park that year for us meeting new people and 2011 we met our pal who would be a massive help and our bestie aka Paul

I'm sorry it was too much not to pick up.... You do realise a duo is two people, so how were you's the 3 duos...... 

(10 Oct 2015, 3:23 pm)NK53 TKT wrote I got 5227 on a 98!
I was absolutely overjoyed, it sounded a bit unhealthy, though

I did an Explorer bash on Friday and 5227 was what I got on the 97, Gateshead to Metrocentre via Whickham. I'm not normally a lover of Scanias but that one was just terrific! Driver always on the throttle or brakes. Very good for me!

(09 Oct 2015, 7:10 pm)S813 FVK wrote Does the buses to be branded include 5401 or will it be like the Cobalt Clipper where a corporate liveried vehicle (B9) is allocated everyday? It still needs GNE logos like.

Will probably get a repaint at somepoint as the Red Kites are a fairly profitable route and GNE needed to make the changes to improve reliability. GNE haven't got around to repainting 6116 yet because of the GKN mods which are due to take place but it's nothing to do with whether or not the 15 min extension to Blyth has paid off, if it didn't, GNE would've reduced it again by now.

(11 Oct 2015, 10:14 am)DaveyBowyer wrote Will probably get a repaint at somepoint as the Red Kites are a fairly profitable route and GNE needed to make the changes to improve reliability. GNE haven't got around to repainting 6116 yet because of the GKN mods which are due to take place but it's nothing to do with whether or not the 15 min extension to Blyth has paid off, if it didn't, GNE would've reduced it again by now.

5401 will be allocated/branded for the Red Kite from October 25th due to changes to the service.

(11 Oct 2015, 10:57 am)Michael wrote 5401 will be allocated/branded for the Red Kite from October 25th due to changes to the service.

Just a question regarding the allocation of 5401 to services 45/46 from 25th October:

Will the service be similar to the Prince Bishops as i seem to remember somebody saying that the services get a long layover at Consett? When i read this, I immediately thought that the PVR could have been 8 without the lengthy layover but they have chosen to make the PVR 9 with a lengthy layover to improve the reliability of the service (but lose a spare vehicle in the process).

(11 Oct 2015, 10:57 am)Michael wrote 5401 will be allocated/branded for the Red Kite from October 25th due to changes to the service.

i thought 5401 was staying as it is as the red spare

(11 Oct 2015, 11:01 am)S813 FVK wrote Just a question regarding the allocation of 5401 to services 45/46 from 25th October:

Will the service be similar to the Prince Bishops as i seem to remember somebody saying that the services get a long layover at Consett? When i read this, I immediately thought that the PVR could have been 8 without the lengthy layover but they have chosen to make the PVR 9 with a lengthy layover to improve the reliability of the service (but lose a spare vehicle in the process).

Service X43, which is currently allocated a red Streetlite, is being withdrawn and replaced by new services V7/V8 (which will operate with "Venture" branded Solo SRs).

To improve reliability of the "Red Kite" 45/46 services, an additional vehicle is being added to the PVR of the services, which will allow for increased running/layover time. The PVR will rise from 9 vehicles to 10, and 5401 will be the vehicle that forms part of the PVR of the "Red Kite" 45/46 services from 25th October. The red base livery used on the "Red Kite" branded vehicles is only marginally lighter than Go North East's corporate livery red, and as such, I cannot see it being repainted (but should be branded accordingly).

As I have said previously; 5419 will act as the spare vehicle for both the 8/78 and 45/46, but I'd imagine that services 8/78 will get priority if both have branded vehicles missing from service, given that it is branded for Beamish (and service 8 serves Beamish). As Stanley are losing a spare vehicle, there is no doubt that there will be an increase in the amount of corporate liveried vehicles which are not to the same specification as the usual branded Streetlites.

(11 Oct 2015, 11:04 am)Diamond One wrote i thought 5401 was staying as it is as the red spare

No - from 25th October, it will form part of the allocation for Red Kite services 45/46.

are the ex oxford T CBW buses able to be used after the issue with DDA compliant rule

(11 Oct 2015, 12:51 pm)buss14 wrote are the ex oxford T CBW buses able to be used after the issue with DDA compliant rule

5151 to 5159 at Percy Main and 5160 at Riverside are still in active use. Although 5165 was withdrawn from service at Percy Main, it is being reinstated as and when required.

One further 515x series Volvo B10BLE is awaiting withdrawal from service (one of the 491x series examples transferred last month from Riverside replaced it), and I would imagine further examples will be withdrawn before the year is out. Any which cannot be withdrawn without replacement prior to 1st January 2016 will be modified to become DDA-compliant.

(11 Oct 2015, 12:55 pm)Dan wrote 5151 to 5159 at Percy Main and 5160 at Riverside are still in active use. Although 5165 was withdrawn from service at Percy Main, it is being reinstated as and when required.

One further 515x series Volvo B10BLE is awaiting withdrawal from service (one of the 491x series examples transferred last month from Riverside replaced it), and I would imagine further examples will be withdrawn before the year is out. Any which cannot be withdrawn without replacement prior to 1st January 2016 will be modified to become DDA-compliant.

If the Citaro's are going on the 57..i would imagine the current duel door 10's on the FAB57 will be repainted or just left as blue as they are from 2000, replacing 5 of the 1999 ones... until further replacements can be brought in.

Big'un's question of the hour:

Why do the mark I citaros have a destination display on the driver's side?

(11 Oct 2015, 3:03 pm)BusLoverMum wrote Big'un's question of the hour:

Why do the mark I citaros have a destination display on the driver's side?

5337 and 5338 were new to Southern Vectis, acquired by Go North East in November 2010. Southern Vectis specified that they wanted a destination display on the offside as well as the more usual nearside display on this batch of Mercedes Citaros.

(11 Oct 2015, 3:03 pm)BusLoverMum wrote Big'un's question of the hour:

Why do the mark I citaros have a destination display on the driver's side?

Based on the Isle of Wight, I believe that it is rules and regulations

(11 Oct 2015, 2:52 pm)Michael wrote If the Citaro's are going on the 57..i would imagine the current duel door 10's on the FAB57 will be repainted or just left as blue as they are from 2000, replacing 5 of the 1999 ones... until further replacements can be brought in.

If the ommicities which operate on the 11 are being sent to stanley, i cant help thinking that the fab57 B10s will struggle on the 11 route. Is it therefore not feasable that the mercs from stanley will see use on the 11/96 under a new brand?

(11 Oct 2015, 3:03 pm)BusLoverMum wrote Big'un's question of the hour:

Why do the mark I citaros have a destination display on the driver's side?

(11 Oct 2015, 3:07 pm)Dan wrote 5337 and 5338 were new to Southern Vectis, acquired by Go North East in November 2010. Southern Vectis specified that they wanted a destination display on the offside as well as the more usual nearside display on this batch of Mercedes Citaros.

So when you standing on the opposite side of the road, you can see what bus you have just missed without trying to get killed running across the road 

(11 Oct 2015, 3:35 pm)nk55 wrote If the ommicities which operate on the 11 are being sent to stanley, i cant help thinking that the fab57 B10s will struggle on the 11 route. Is it therefore not feasable that the mercs from stanley will see use on the 11/96 under a new brand?

Won't be enough, there's only 5294-5297 which are still in Diamond, with 5293 is now signal blue base livery... meaning there's 5... 5337/38 will stay at Stanley i think.


The FAB 57 B10's would stay in service but not on the 11/96, they'll be spares, i think the 11 and 96 are going to be allocated scania's.

i have heard that the new 434 service in ashington will be using double deckers, is it really neccessary to have a big bus on that sort of route.

(11 Oct 2015, 3:36 pm)citaro5284 wrote So when you standing on the opposite side of the road, you can see what bus you have just missed without trying to get killed running across the road 

Hah! That was my answer!

(11 Oct 2015, 3:46 pm)buss14 wrote i have heard that the new 434 service in ashington will be using double deckers, is it really neccessary to have a big bus on that sort of route.

Yes a trident, as Dan said in the upcoming changes thread earlier...


There was a PVR reduction owing to the loss of Nexus Miscellaneous Works contracts at Percy Main from 31st August, and it was suggested that Dennis Trident/East Lancs Lolyne 3859 (W859 PNL) would have been withdrawn as a result. This vehicle has been retained in the fleet at Percy Main ahead of the upcoming increase in PVR (for the new 434/448 services in Bedlington/Ashington).

(11 Oct 2015, 3:40 pm)Michael wrote Won't be enough, there's only 5294-5297 which are still in Diamond, with 5293 is now signal blue base livery... meaning there's 5... 5337/38 will stay at Stanley i think.


The FAB 57 B10's would stay in service but not on the 11/96, they'll be spares, i think the 11 and 96 are going to be allocated scania's.

Pvr for 11/96 is 5 (if i've worked it out correctly)

(11 Oct 2015, 3:46 pm)buss14 wrote i have heard that the new 434 service in ashington will be using double deckers, is it really neccessary to have a big bus on that sort of route.

It is linked to a scholars which needs a double deck.

(11 Oct 2015, 3:50 pm)citaro5284 wrote It is linked to a scholars which needs a double deck.

Will the new 12/12A service interwork with the 47 on Sundays?