(22 Feb 2014, 7:58 pm)Dan wrote This is indeed the case, as Bazza Houston managed to get a photograph of it today:
Note that the Go North East stickers previously applied have been removed in favour of "Blaydon Racers" vinyls.
(20 Feb 2014, 6:36 pm)andreos1 wrote It seems strange that low fares aren't viable when it comes to QCS, but when it comes to attracting punters from a competitor...
(23 Feb 2014, 9:29 am)Chris wrote Come now, Andreos - you're a clever lad. My local spar is currently hawking coca cola at buy one get one free. The real I am as well, not their own American rubbish. Don't think they'll be able to do that for the next 10 years though, will they?
Good luck to GNE in trying to grow the market with this. If it all goes Pete Tong though, it's entirely their commercial risk. No risk to me as a taxpayer.
(23 Feb 2014, 9:09 am)Dan wrote I was meant to post this last night, but totally forgot...
To give an update on recent happenings:
- 5334 and 5336 are still currently at Saltmeadows. I'd imagine 5334 will be sent to Deptford on Monday, ready for service on Tuesday. All being well, 5336 the day after.
- 5152 is the latest Volvo B10BLE to arrive at Saltmeadows for a red repaint. This is likely to be next week's example to be repainted rather than this week's.
- Volvo B9TLs 6116/17 have now arrived at Percy Main, but I do not believe any further movements have occurred to reflect this. 5335 and 5337 should both be sent to Saltmeadows together for repaint now that Percy Main's spare vehicle allocation will not be affected.
(23 Feb 2014, 9:29 am)Chris wrote Come now, Andreos - you're a clever lad. My local spar is currently hawking coca cola at buy one get one free. The real I am as well, not their own American rubbish. Don't think they'll be able to do that for the next 10 years though, will they?
Good luck to GNE in trying to grow the market with this. If it all goes Pete Tong though, it's entirely their commercial risk. No risk to me as a taxpayer.
(23 Feb 2014, 9:44 am)andreos1 wrote It was a tongue in cheek comment like.
(23 Feb 2014, 11:07 am)Chris wrote I did read it that way, and my response was also intended to be mischevious.
I haven't got the inclination to work it out for myself so I'll believe your maths, but to non users a 59p journey has got to be appealing? "Try owt once. Twice if you like it" so the saying goes (obviously there are limitations to this one like...)
Your regulars are going to have their zonal buzzfare ticket anyway, so in effect it's aiming for non or occasional users?
(23 Feb 2014, 12:13 pm)Wellsey18 wrote Sorry if its been asked before. But whens the new corporate livery being rolled out, cause at the moment there's far too many buses that look too plain
(23 Feb 2014, 12:13 pm)Wellsey18 wrote Sorry if its been asked before. But whens the new corporate livery being rolled out, cause at the moment there's far too many buses that look too plain
(23 Feb 2014, 2:32 pm)northtynelinks2 wrote To be honest, I think that is the new spare livery, I don't personally like because it does, as you say look very plain. But because of its plainness (if that's a word) im guessing it isn't complete yet.
(23 Feb 2014, 3:18 pm)BJ10VUS wrote I think something along the lines of what Oxford Bus Company use would be nice as a new corporate livery.
Here's an example of a Citaro - photo from Wikimedia.
(22 Feb 2014, 11:44 am)Dan wrote So do 7060 and 8220 which are currently on Hexham's Death Row pending scrap... Are they to sit as spares too?
(23 Feb 2014, 3:18 pm)BJ10VUS wrote I think something along the lines of what Oxford Bus Company use would be nice as a new corporate livery.
Here's an example of a Citaro - photo from Wikimedia.
(23 Feb 2014, 4:25 pm)NEBCD Malarkey wrote I think it may look to be something along the lines of this - http://www.flickr.com/photos/36190698@N04/12664181224/ or alternatively - http://www.flickr.com/photos/11717981@N02/9459095265/ - Both Liveries from Plymouth Citybus, From a Personal opinion I think we would more likely see the Livery which is on the Citaro to be honest, unless GNE came up with various variations of there New Corporate Livery, I do quite like the one on the Pulsar though.
(23 Feb 2014, 4:30 pm)NEBCD Malarkey wrote That's a shame, looks much better than the one on the Citaro
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(23 Feb 2014, 4:35 pm)tyresmoke wrote I'm guessing they thought it was better as a single colour repaint is cheaper. Unfortunately it also looks much cheaper...
(23 Feb 2014, 4:38 pm)Dan wrote Go North East's corporate livery is designed to be cheaper because there are only a few buses in this livery which are on frontline allocation rather than in the reserve fleet. Their focus is the main brands.
I can't speak for Plymouth Citybus, but I guess they were wanting a simple but effective corporate livery to reduce costs. I don't think their corporate livery looks cheap at all though, for what it's worth. Without the "swoop" it would, mind.
(23 Feb 2014, 4:56 pm)CatsFast101 wrote Well for me I think all main service need to be branded then. Too many unbranded routes for a so basic livery to work, 9/29/X25/13/14/15/95/96 should be branded, then I think a plain red with simple Go North East logos then would work as they'd literally be allocated as spares only and not on many regular workings. Just a personal opinion.
(23 Feb 2014, 5:03 pm)Dan wrote There are only approximately 21 services which do not come under a brand in Go North East's network - about 108 which do come under a brand?
(23 Feb 2014, 5:14 pm)Michael wrote M2/M2A/M3,X3,W5/W6,13,14,15/15A,X22,X25,29/29A,X30/X31,38,X43,64/64A,X70/X71,71,X88,95,96/96A,99/99A/307.
128 - Runs March till October only
Other services with only 2/3 runs a day
90,91,92,391,792 -937, 939,941 Work services.
819 > 830,830 > 838,884 > 888 - Scholars
X78 - 2 run's a day, not sure what it uses?
(23 Feb 2014, 5:14 pm)Michael wrote Services without branding:
M2/M2A/M3,X3,W5/W6,13,14,15/15A,X22,X25,29/29A,X30/X31,38,X43,64/64A,X70/X71,71,X88,95,96/96A,99/99A/307.
128 - Runs March till October only
Other services with only 2/3 runs a day
90,91,92,391,792 -937, 939,941 Work services.
819 > 830,830 > 838,884 > 888 - Scholars
X78 - 2 run's a day, not sure what it uses?
(23 Feb 2014, 5:17 pm)Dan wrote I excluded the M2A given that it's just an extension of the M2. Same for the 29A (especially given that most runs operate with a Versa). Also excluded the X88 because on Saturdays it's typically allocated the Red Arrows B7 and on Sundays it's typically allocated a Red Arrows B9. Excluded 99A because it's an extension of the 99. Excluded 307 because it's allocated "Centurion" branded vehicles.
So 25 - still quite a low number in comparison to the number of branded services.
128 is allocated 4847, a branded B10BLE.
X78 is allocated an Olympian.
(23 Feb 2014, 5:28 pm)Marcus wrote Hi everyone, I've been a bus enthusiast since a very young age, I've contributed to several blogs in the past but never really thought of joining an actual forum, I live in Chester-le-Street and have several contacts and friendships with managers, supervisors and drivers there, so if there is anything you need to know about any of Chester's services or buses, I'll probably be able to tell you.
Thanks very much,
Marcus