(29 Sep 2022, 5:05 pm)Malarkey wrote I'd say investment in the coming years should be that should be marked as a priority are listed below:

x12 Mercedes-Benz eCitaro's - Connections 4 - Mercs Withdrawn.
x17 Wright Streetdeck FCEV's - Cobalt & Coast 309/310/311 - B9TL's replace older Ex Eyms/Go North West & Lothian B9TL's which would be Withdrawn.
x16 Wright Streetdeck FCEV's - Angel 21 - MH Streetdecks transfer to Hownsgill for Durham Diamond 16/16A/Red Kite Ranger 47.
x16 Wright Streetdeck FCEV's - Tyne Valley Ten - B9TL's replace older Ex Eyms/Go North West & Lothian B9TL's which would be Withdrawn.
x12 Wright Streetdeck FCEV's - Prince Bishops 20 - Streetlites replace Midi Versas which would be Withdrawn.
x13 Wright Streetdeck FCEV's - CityRider 56 - B9TL's replace older Ex Eyms/Go North West & Lothian B9TL's which would be Withdrawn.
x14 Wright Hydroliner Single Deck - Drifter 60/61 - Streetlites & Mercs Withdrawn.

Once these are completed i'd then go towards New Buses for the X-Lines Network with a focus on upgrading Mini/Midibus Services across the region, the then former X-Lines E400MMC's/B5TL's and MH Streetdecks would provide upgrades to the likes of the Crusader 27, East Gateshead Rider 58 and East Gateshead Loop 93/94 along with replacing some on the Ex London B9TL's.

See I think GNE might want to get some E200 EV's. Especially with the 60, it really shouldn't be allocated anything over 11.5m. And I think the Hydroliner only come in 10.8 & 12m. 

10.8 is too small, 12m is too big for the route to be its permant allocation.

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(29 Sep 2022, 5:05 pm)streetdeckfan wrote I can't see anything changing with the X21 any time soon, the B5s are seemingly performing very well on it, as long as they're actually being allocated.
The most I can see with the X21 is a StreetDeck or two getting painted into Xlines blue, but even then I think they'd just paint it into Xlines charcoal so it can be used on any route

I agree, however the reason I and many others were wondering if the StreetDecks would be on the X21 was that there is 7/8 brand new buses just sitting on school routes. 

GNE clearly aren't in a place to start new expresses.

(29 Sep 2022, 5:32 pm)Unber43 wrote See I think GNE might want to get some E200 EV's. Especially with the 60, it really shouldn't be allocated anything over 11.5m. And I think the Hydroliner only come in 10.8 & 12m. 

10.8 is too small, 12m is too big for the route to be its permant allocation.

Could get Yutong E10's.

(29 Sep 2022, 6:03 pm)Malarkey wrote Could get Yutong E10's.

There too small.

I think the reason the 60 went for Versa's to Streetlite in 4 years were due to capacity issues,

Also please no more Yutongs they're awful.

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But i think we can all agree 10/10A/10B/20/21/60/56/309/310/311 need upgrades, with the latter 56/309/310/311 possibly getting upgrades.

(29 Sep 2022, 5:32 pm)Unber43 wrote See I think GNE might want to get some E200 EV's. Especially with the 60, it really shouldn't be allocated anything over 11.5m. And I think the Hydroliner only come in 10.8 & 12m. 

10.8 is too small, 12m is too big for the route to be its permant allocation.

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I agree, however the reason I and many others were wondering if the StreetDecks would be on the X21 was that there is 7/8 brand new buses just sitting on school routes. 

GNE clearly aren't in a place to start new expresses. 

But the excess of drivers...

There's another 100 being recruited currently, so when you add them together, there's going to be an even bigger surplus. Time to explore new routes?

(29 Sep 2022, 6:15 pm)Andreos1 wrote But the excess of drivers...

There's another 100 being recruited currently, so when you add them together, there's going to be an even bigger surplus. Time to explore new routes?

Possibly, wonder if they'll look in here at a couple of suggestions for routes. Tho none of us have a degree and is not from the local area.

(29 Sep 2022, 5:24 pm)cbma06 wrote If the Xlines brand to be kept on, then have them in the same front half colour, but the backend colour should all be the same, ie corporate colours design back end, the rest of the fleet should go corporate colours apart from all over paid advertisements, GNE need to go back to basics, individual branded services and route branding does not work when there are allocated to run other services and cause confusion to customers/passengers and not enthusiasts, and get rid of the x20 for good, it’s not needed , put deckers on the 20/20a for capacity issues


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I don’t know why they don’t bring overall branding back? Black cats and peterlee purples (bar one venturing into newcastle) as an example, paint multiple bus types into the brand for multiple routes and then that creates more flexibility and more of an identity for local services. I never understood why the sunderland district brand was all individual brands as oppose to one overall bran just called sunderland district. Or, just paint everything corp and make everyones life easier

(29 Sep 2022, 9:22 pm)ALavery wrote I don’t know why they don’t bring overall branding back? Black cats and peterlee purples (bar one venturing into newcastle) as an example, paint multiple bus types into the brand for multiple routes and then that creates more flexibility and more of an identity for local services. I never understood why the sunderland district brand was all individual brands as oppose to one overall bran just called sunderland district. Or, just paint everything corp and make everyones life easier

It's pointless doing that as the point of a brand is you think, ooo the green Angel that's my bus. If you paint everything in the green Angel then it defeats the point of it.

They tried to copy Trent Barton and Transdev where it actually works but then made an arse of it by changing names every other month and what buses are allocated with then multiple buses in the same brand which just defeats the point of it.

It's like Kelloggs changing it's name of Special K to Supreme K, then Super K the week after or branding everything as Special K so you can't tell the different between the cereals from miles away.

Wonder if GNE would ever purchase any second hand young deckers which are maybe 3-4 year old for fleet replacements for services such as the 56/309/310/311. Blackpool if they still do the fleet-replacement every 4 years would be a good place to get them from.

Rip out the interiors and replace them with GNE spec, ADL Seats, tables, USB, Wireless chargers then they're basically brand new!

Their Citaros would be quite good on the 12/12A/X20/61 or 35 as they quite suit CItaros.

(12 Nov 2022, 5:07 pm)Unber43 wrote Wonder if GNE would ever purchase any second hand young deckers which are maybe 3-4 year old for fleet replacements for services such as the 56/309/310/311. Blackpool if they still do the fleet-replacement every 4 years would be a good place to get them from.

Rip out the interiors and replace them with GNE spec, ADL Seats, tables, USB, Wireless chargers then they're basically brand new!

Their Citaros would be quite good on the 12/12A/X20/61 or 35 as they quite suit CItaros.

GNE has pretty much replaced its entire fleet of Citaros - I can't see them wanting to bring Citaros back into the fleet any time soon.

(12 Nov 2022, 5:29 pm)Dan wrote GNE has pretty much replaced its entire fleet of Citaros - I can't see them wanting to bring Citaros back into the fleet any time soon.

Maybe its because I have a soft spot for Citaros they are amazing buses, I was on the 35 and the versas are so much worse than the Citaros in quality.

(12 Nov 2022, 5:29 pm)Dan wrote GNE has pretty much replaced its entire fleet of Citaros - I can't see them wanting to bring Citaros back into the fleet any time soon.

The Citaros were good for their time, but they aged badly and GNE's 'refurbishment' ruined them completely

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With any future orders do you think GNE will finally move to mirrorless buses?

(12 Nov 2022, 5:29 pm)Dan wrote GNE has pretty much replaced its entire fleet of Citaros - I can't see them wanting to bring Citaros back into the fleet any time soon.

Not even some eCitaro's?

I think there are some 65 Plate Citaros which are being replaced in London, there are 15 

9x 35 
6x X20

10 Plate Citaros (X20) could be sent to CLS for 34 which needs 4 (1x Spare), 2x Spare for Deptford.

(19 Nov 2022, 2:24 pm)Unber43 wrote I think there are some 65 Plate Citaros which are being replaced in London, there are 15 

9x 35 
6x X20

10 Plate Citaros (X20) could be sent to CLS for 34 which needs 4 (1x Spare), 2x Spare for Deptford.

Why would GNE want Citaros? They're a money pit compared to StreetLites, Versas and E200MMCs

(19 Nov 2022, 2:24 pm)Unber43 wrote 10 Plate Citaros (X20) could be sent to CLS for 34 which needs 4 (1x Spare), 2x Spare for Deptford.

Washington don't you mean?

(20 Nov 2022, 12:07 pm)NL62WVW wrote Washington don't you mean?

Yeah

(19 Nov 2022, 2:24 pm)Unber43 wrote I think there are some 65 Plate Citaros which are being replaced in London, there are 15 

9x 35 
6x X20

10 Plate Citaros (X20) could be sent to CLS for 34 which needs 4 (1x Spare), 2x Spare for Deptford.

Go-Ahead London are getting 20 Scania Irizar IE Tram Buses to replace the 65reg Mercs on the 358 from Orpington Station to Crystal Palace which are due to enter service in early 2023, I would think 65reg Mercs would be cascaded to replace the older 09reg Mercs on the 108 from Stratford International to Lewisham with latter then cascaded elsewhere, I could also see the 108 being converted to Electric Buses in the New Year also, we'll have to wait and see what happens but I certainly wouldn't expect any cascades up here.

One thing I hate about E400MMC's, is that stupid AC vent at the front upstairs, first of all, its so loud and even when it's freezing outside it is still on. Like I don't think the E400MMC's even have any heating or if they do it's shit as they're also so cold.

(05 Dec 2022, 2:19 pm)nova347 wrote One thing I hate about E400MMC's, is that stupid AC vent at the front upstairs, first of all, its so loud and even when it's freezing outside it is still on. Like I don't think the E400MMC's even have any heating or if they do it's shit as they're also so cold.

The blow air heating on the Streetdecks is great, it blows down on top of you. It's a shame they didn't put adjustable vents up there as well!

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(05 Dec 2022, 5:05 pm)streetdeckfan wrote The blow air heating on the Streetdecks is great, it blows down on top of you. It's a shame they didn't put adjustable vents up there as well!

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i remember a few times though where the streetdecks had the heating on in the summer? Safe to say i was sweating enough to flood a city

Given how horrendously the seats of the newer X-Lines vehicles have aged, with any new orders are we likely to see a return full leather, or at least a darker colour scheme to hide the grime?

I'm currently on 6099 and despite being refurbished 3 years ago it's still in better nick than the StreetDecks or E400s.

(07 Dec 2022, 5:06 pm)streetdeckfan wrote Given how horrendously the seats of the newer X-Lines vehicles have aged, with any new orders are we likely to see a return full leather, or at least a darker colour scheme to hide the grime?

I'm currently on 6099 and despite being refurbished 3 years ago it's still in better nick than the StreetDecks or E400s.

I like the interior of the Xlines buses, but I agree the cream hasn't aged well. Really they need to stick with one interior, within like the last 6 years theres been 4 or 5 different interiors.

They need to stick with one, and I doubt there will be any more XLines which need Cream seats so I assume there just wont be any create seats.

Wonder if GNE would ever trial or buy an optare/switch again, just looked at their electric buses and the decker is awful, the only one I kinda like is e1.

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Also I really like the GB Kite. You could easily fit 1 table in them aswell.

XLines X21 - E400EV
11x Newcastle - West Auckland (30 mins layover in Newcastle to charge as on a full charge it can only do the trip twice max)

Simplicity 42|43 - E200EV
5x Silksworth - Sunderland (every 15 mins combined)

Connections 2|3 - E200EV
7x Sunderland - Washington (every 30 mins)

Connections 4 - eCitaro
19 x Heworth - Sunderland (every 15 mins combined)
4 - Heworth - Houghton - Doxford Park - Sunderland (every 30 mins)
4A Heworth - Houghton - Doxford Park (39A Route to Sunderland Park Lane) 

6 - MCV Evora
9x Lanchester/Stanley - Newcastle (every 30 mins)

Tyne Valley Ten  10|10A|10B - StreetDeck FCEV
20x Newcastle - Blackhall Mill/Low Prudhoe/Hexham (every 10 mins combined)

Prince Bishops 20 - E200EV
9x Sunderland - Durham (every 15 mins)

Angel 21 - StreetDeck FCEV 
20x Newcastle - Chester-Le-Street either Ouston (hourly) or Waldridge Park (hourly) | Newcastle - Durham/Brandon (every 30 mins) | Newcastle - Bowburn Amazon (every 30 mins)

Blaydon Racer 49|49A E200 EV
9x Gateshead - Winlaton (every 15 mins combined)

CityRider 56 StreetDeck FCEV
11x Sunderland - Newcastle (every 15 mins)

Drifter 60|61|62 Wrightbus GB KITE ELECTROLINER BEV or E200EV 
7x 60 Parkside - Sunderland (every 12 mins) 
3x 61 Sunderland - Murton (every 30 mins)
3x 62 Sunderland - Doxford Park - A19 - New Seaham - Dawdon - Murton - Easington - Peterlee (every 60 mins) (39 way to Doxford)

Coast & Country 78 MCV Evora
7x Sunderland to Consett 

Cobalt & Coast 309|310|311 StreetDeck FCEV
17x Newcastle - Hadrian Park | North Shields | Blyth 

Overall Changes 

Red Kite Ranger 47
Upgraded to Volvo B5TL Wright Eclipse Gemini 3 (Ex-XLines X21) (PVR 7, 1 Spare)

East Gateshead Rider 58
Upgraded to Wright StreetDeck Micro Hybrid (Ex-Angel) (PVR 7)

East Gateshead Loop 93/94 
Upgraded to Wright StreetDeck Micro Hybrid (Ex-Angel) (PVR 9)

Country Ranger 8
Upgraded to Wright Streetlites (Ex - 6 (66 plates)) (PVR 6, 1 Spare)

35
Upgraded to Wright Streetlites or Mercedes Citaros (Ex Connections 4 or Prince Bishops) (PVR 8, 2 Spare)

Wright Gemini 2 
31x Placed on School Routes/Spare buses/327 

Xlines X71/72
6x StreetDeck (ex X45/46)

Xlines X1 
2x StreetDeck (ex X45/46) there could be a further expansion of X1 route. 

6350|6351
Painted to Xlines Charcoal (X10 Spare & Other Spare)

Xlines X5|X15 
4x Wright StreetDeck (ex Angel) 

34
Reduced to every 30 mins (PVR 2) 

Angel 21 
Extended to Durham every 15 mins, 2ph to Brandon, 2ph to Bowburn Amazon. Extended 1ph Waldridge Park, 1ph to Ouston

Sunderland & District Graphite
Every 15 Mins Combined
39 Sunderland Park Lane - Pennywell 
39A Sunderland Park Lane - Pennywell (different route)

Withdrawn -
8x Wright Streetlite (Drifter)
4x Mercedes Citaro (Violet)
11x Optare Versa (Berries)
21x Optare Versa (Corporate)
7x Wright Eclipse Gemini (Corporate)

Issues - 
16|16A|16B|27 will all need new/used buses 

I really love the look of the GB Kite, I hope GNE will get some

(21 Dec 2022, 10:52 am)Unber43 wrote I really love the look of the GB Kite, I hope GNE will get some

I think it looks absolutely awful, it's got a very thicc forehead

It should have dual display it has the space

GNE seem to be really struggling atm tbf. 

as someone mentioned TVT 7 are off, probs more, RK Rangers have awful reliablity, 11 Plate/12 Plate Deckers are struggling, especially with the hybrids. Drifters/Ex Saltwell Parks are struggling too. even the 15/16 plates lites are. 

Wonder if GNE engineering is just poor, I heard a driver say about a bus, its had a new engine, they should have got their money back (no idea for vehicle just heard it while passing)

They need a huge order, ordering about 150 buses between 2011-2013 has done them no good