They could be here, I'm sure Daniel will confirm it as there not yet on the Fleetlist

As far as I'm aware, they're not.
No arrivals last Thursday or Friday, and as I said above, Wrights dont usually deliver this week with it being Christmas.
The final four B9s should be here by next Friday.

On a slightly different note...

A further 13 new Volvo B9TL/Wright Gemini for Fab56 and Cobalt Connect have been delivered, please see the fleet list for details of the fleet numbers and registration marks.


MPDs 502: X502 WRG and 503: X503 WRG have been withdrawn from service at Peterlee.

MPDs 501, 510, 512, 515, 518, 519, 520, 521, 522, 523, 532, 533 and 534 have been sold to Ensign Bus Co. and Citaro artics 5349, 5351, 5355 and 5356 to Optare Group Ltd.


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Hey, I didn't know that the Cobalt Connect was getting brand new B9s... Must be a pretty big frequency increase to go with it too!

Might be branded as Cobalt Connect?

Doubt it.
Wrights don't usually deliver this week.

Shame, would of being good for all 34 to be here, then least from the 27th to the 30th they could be prepared for service with the drivers taking the wheel maybe from the 4th January, seems now its gonna be the week after that... 6.1.14

As far as I'm aware, they're not.
No arrivals last Thursday or Friday, and as I said above, Wrights dont usually deliver this week with it being Christmas.
The final four B9s should be here by next Friday.

Yeah that is true with it being Christmas, I noted them 3 down off that link you posted last week Daniel and they were on Heysham Docks then as I looked through the Photos to make sure I allocated the Reg Plates to the Correct Brand on my Personal Fleetlist

Will any of the buses which require a re-paint be stuck at Saltmeadows over Christmas?

When do they resume painting etc?

Might be branded as Cobalt Connect?

I think it would have just been a typo.
Would be far too confusing for the 309/310 to come under the same brand name as the 19.

Shame, would of being good for all 34 to be here, then least from the 27th to the 30th they could be prepared for service with the drivers taking the wheel maybe from the 4th January, seems now its gonna be the week after that... 6.1.14

Indeed, would have been nice.
I think that the Fab56 B9s may enter service on 05/01/14 as the Christmas/New Year disruption is over by then, and it allows for the Next Stop Announcements to be fully tested before entering service. Deptford drivers should be familiarised with the B9 now.
I'd imagine the Cobalt Clipper B9s would enter service the Sunday after, with promotion starting from the back end of next week perhaps.

Will any of the buses which require a re-paint be stuck at Saltmeadows over Christmas?

When do they resume painting etc?

Depots won't (or rather, shouldn't) send the vehicles if they won't be repainted until after Christmas.

Thornton's should commence painting again from w/c 30th December.
Saltmeadows should commence painting again from w/c 6th January.

I explained before that Thornton's usually only have the Christmas week off their usual duties because it's their job to repaint buses etc, whereas I doubt Saltmeadows will be fully staffed again until 6th January.

Oh, and speaking of fleet lists...
I think NEB's GNE fleet list is now up to date. PM me with any errors or things I've forgotten...

Will do SC followed by Arriva now, as I've just gotten back home.

Should start on adding photos again once all are updated.

Oh, and speaking of fleet lists...
I think NEB's GNE fleet list is now up to date. PM me with any errors or things I've forgotten...

Will do SC followed by Arriva now, as I've just gotten back home.

Should start on adding photos again once all are updated.

Ill have a look, thanks

Will u post when the updates are done for SC and Arriva

I advise you use Richard Smiles fleetlists to update the site ones Dan, he has kept updating while you have been un able to.

I advise you use Richard Smiles fleetlists to update the site ones Dan, he has kept updating while you have been un able to.

That was the plan
I've been helping Richard out with updates in quick e-mails so that he could keep on top of them all which would help me out in the long run.

On the GNE Fleet List, it states that 3803 is at Chester-le-Street when its currently based at Percy Main.

Well an example in my area is the 60/61. However, none of the 60's to my knowledge have working wifi yet, but I still can't imagine people letting the 61 go past and wait for a 60 because it has free wifi, I think it's a service which people think of as a bonus not a reason to travel.

Wi-Fi worked fine on Drifter 5369 the other day

Wi-Fi worked fine on Drifter 5369 the other day

Must have been luck then!!

Am I right in thinking the WiFi only works when the engine and interior lights are on?

A thought has just entered my mind regarding 5205 which been Repainted Black as we know. My thought is this that 5205-5208 could go on the Great Park and Ride X40 to Replace the Solar Fusions which could be Withdrawn and Sold, Just out of curiosity when are Solar Fusions up for Withdrawal as surely Now would be a good time to Cash in on them while GNE can, As they have done with the MPD's in the Past few Weeks.

A thought has just entered my mind regarding 5205 which been Repainted Black as we know. My thought is this that 5205-5208 could go on the Great Park and Ride X40 to Replace the Solar Fusions which could be Withdrawn and Sold, Just out of curiosity when are Solar Fusions up for Withdrawal as surely Now would be a good time to Cash in on them while GNE can, As they have done with the MPD's in the Past few Weeks.

That would be a good idea, I've heard loadings don't really need bendies and the reliability of them aren't very good at all. However, I believe they use the bendies as that is one of the basis why they won the contract, it's been discussed on this forum.

Wi-Fi worked fine on Drifter 5369 the other day

I believe one drifter has working wifi, so hopefully the problem is been sorted.

Completely forgot about this, but whilst on 5366 earlier today, the windows were absolutely drenched in condensation.

It wasn't raining at the time either nor was the bus particularly full.

Not sure if it was just a one off, or a common problem.
Never noticed the issue on those vehicles before.

Completely forgot about this, but whilst on 5366 earlier today, the windows were absolutely drenched in condensation.

It wasn't raining at the time either nor was the bus particularly full.

Not sure if it was just a one off, or a common problem.
Never noticed the issue on those vehicles before.

Strange for a Citaro. If the air conditioning is working/set right it shouldn't happen at all.

Strange for a Citaro. If the air conditioning is working/set right it shouldn't happen at all.

Unless it had just came out of the Depot to Replace another Citaro or Something an Hour or so Before CatsFast got on 5366. I have noticed when I had to swap Buses due a Fault particularly during the Winter, they do tend to end up like this as some Drivers leave the Doors Open overnight whilst they are in the Depot. As I noticed on Boxing Day Last Year when I was riding past Washington Depot.

Strange for a Citaro. If the air conditioning is working/set right it shouldn't happen at all.

Interesting you say that, I was on one last week and there were a number of windows open.
I was under the impression they were always locked on the Citaros to maintain/regulate the temperature.

Mind, I was glad they were open, because there was someone sitting on the bus who was lifting.
It smelled like they had a couple of steak bakes wedged under their jacket!

Noticed chester trident think it was 3804 (key app) but not 3872 (allocated to 34/34a) & 8289 both being driven by fitters heading towards stanley about 13.10, possible transfer to stanley?

Forgot to mention, I had a ride on a Cadet on the M3 last weekend and they are absolutely pathetic. Very slow and can't really cope, MPD's are much better! The M3 was surprisingly busy from Heworth due to a no-show 4.

Does anyone have a run down of what is doing what on Boxing Day?

Forgot to mention, I had a ride on a Cadet on the M3 last weekend and they are absolutely pathetic. Very slow and can't really cope, MPD's are much better! The M3 was surprisingly busy from Heworth due to a no-show 4.

Finally someone who Agrees MPD's are Better than those Lacklustre Cadets

Does anyone have a run down of what is doing what on Boxing Day?

309/310 Loop Scania

10A/10B Citylink Versa (and Northern B10)

49/49B Crusader Merc (and Northern B10)

44/45 Orbit Versa

All other Gateshead routes as normal :

27 Crusader Merc
51/52 Orbit Versa
53/54 Saltwell Pk Streetlite
58 Citylink Versa
X66 Gold Merc artic
97 Highywayman Scania
X40 Great Park Scania artic
X50 Northern B7

309/310 Loop Scania

10A/10B Citylink Versa (and Northern B10)

49/49B Crusader Merc (and Northern B10)

44/45 Orbit Versa

All other Gateshead routes as normal :

27 Crusader Merc
51/52 Orbit Versa
53/54 Saltwell Pk Streetlite
58 Citylink Versa
X66 Gold Merc artic
97 Highywayman Scania
X40 Great Park Scania artic
X50 Northern B7

I thought it was Volvo B7's on the X40 and B9's on the TEN's along with Citylink Versa's?

Finally someone who Agrees MPD's are Better than those Lacklustre Cadets

The run behind me on the M2 was a ''Northern'' MPD and the M3 was a Lilac Versa! - Clearly some issues with Cadets

The run behind me on the M2 was a ''Northern'' MPD and the M3 was a Lilac Versa! - Clearly some issues with Cadets

Which, no doubt, is why busmanT alluded to the withdrawal of the early Cadets in the fleet, with next year's investment.

Which, no doubt, is why busmanT alluded to the withdrawal of the early Cadets in the fleet, with next year's investment.

They are only 04, aren't they?