(18 May 2015, 6:38 pm)citaro5284 wrote Dont mention 5237, been stuck at Riverside all afternoon trying to get the destinations working on it.

haha oh dear!, good start to a week then  

(18 May 2015, 6:38 pm)citaro5284 wrote Dont mention 5237, been stuck at Riverside all afternoon trying to get the destinations working on it.

5237 5237 5237 5237 5237.

Best OmniCity in the land...! 

(18 May 2015, 6:38 pm)citaro5284 wrote Dont mention 5237, been stuck at Riverside all afternoon trying to get the destinations working on it.

That phone got some hammer this afternoon... Poor Hanover Displays!

(18 May 2015, 6:21 pm)Michael wrote Iv'e never ever being on any of the Merits, are they decent?

The seats on the merits are really comfortable, however, for it to reach anything more than 20mph it needs to make this horrendous noise 

I was also on 3864 earlier on service X25, at least 4 times throughout the journey the buzzing noise and light signifying there is a 'problem with the water' according to the driver went off. The driver reqested that he changed bus.

The driver I had is a canny fellow as well, always has a chat with me. I'm not sure of his name but he is bald and wears black glasses.

(18 May 2015, 6:15 pm)Michael wrote This year according to the fleet list on here.

Oh, I just assumed that as they are Ex- Demonstrator they would be a couple of years old.

(18 May 2015, 7:47 pm)Sidthebusbabe wrote Oh, I just assumed that as they are Ex- Demonstrator they would be a couple of years old.

They're not former demonstrator vehicles - they're ex-dealer stock. These vehicles were built by Wrightbus and stored for later sale once the production of the Volvo B9TL stopped.

(18 May 2015, 7:49 pm)Dan wrote They're not former demonstrator vehicles - they're ex-dealer stock. These vehicles were built by Wrightbus and stored for later sale once the production of the Volvo B9TL stopped.

Ok, that's just what one of the drivers told me. So is it correct that they were built in 2015?

(18 May 2015, 8:52 pm)Sidthebusbabe wrote Ok, that's just what one of the drivers told me. So is it correct that they were built in 2015?

The reg marks are 15 plate.   It is against the law to display newer reg plates on older vehicles but you are allowed to display older regs on newer vehicles hence certain private regs actually being new in the 1960s

(18 May 2015, 9:03 pm)ifm001 wrote The reg marks are 15 plate.   It is against the law to display newer reg plates on older vehicles but you are allowed to display older regs on newer vehicles hence certain private regs actually being new in the 1960s

But if the vehicle has never been registered before, that law doesnt apply? Its the same as 8293, it was built in 2000 but wasnt registered until 2004. The B9s certain,y werent built in 2015.

(18 May 2015, 9:07 pm)Robert wrote But if the vehicle has never been registered before, that law doesnt apply? Its the same as 8293, it was built in 2000 but wasnt registered until 2004. The B9s certain,y werent built in 2015.

Yes but if it had been ex demo..which it is not..then it would have been registered prior And therefore would have been breaking the law with this reg. but we all know they are not ex demo.

(18 May 2015, 2:44 pm)JakeSavage wrote Hope there's no inter working between the 47 and those odd 11 and 32s which operate via the Eastern end of Newcastle Business Park. #LowBridge

It would appear that there is some interworking, saw a Red Kite B9TL on the 11 this morning.

(18 May 2015, 9:07 pm)Robert wrote But if the vehicle has never been registered before, that law doesnt apply? Its the same as 8293, it was built in 2000 but wasnt registered until 2004. The B9s certain,y werent built in 2015.

The registration year indicates when the vehicle was first registered. Q prefix plates are used in the vehicle was registered a long time after being built, in the case of kit cars, or if the year of build is not known.

(18 May 2015, 8:52 pm)Sidthebusbabe wrote Ok, that's just what one of the drivers told me. So is it correct that they were built in 2015?

Pretty sure those models weren't constructed this year. Not 100% guaranteed like.

Stories emerged a while back about the model being discontinued.

Logic would suggest that a handful of vehicles in dealer stock, would not be built and sold within the first few months of the year. They could be sitting around for months before purchase.
(Pretty sure Nissan still have the mid 90's model of Micra sitting in their car parks awaiting sale )

Business sense would suggest that the company wouldn't rush through a handful last minute orders on the off-chance they would be sold. Obviously anything that isn't to operator spec, would incur costs by the operator during a re-fit.
A good negotiator, would look at reducing the outlay, by looking to lower the purchase price. This in turn, lowers Wrights margins and again would be a reason to suggest they have been standing a while.

Anything that was still on the production line towards the end of the build dates, would be built to operator specifications.

No confirmed ideas on dates and not saying I am correct, just trying to apply logic.

(19 May 2015, 8:52 am)Scott wrote The registration year indicates when the vehicle was first registered. Q prefix plates are used in the vehicle was registered a long time after being built, in the case of kit cars, or if the year of build is not known.

This Bedford sat for years before it entered service with Bob Smith Travel. 
https://www.flickr.com/photos/nebp2/1336...815423763/ 

If I may stick my nose in the debate regarding the new B9TLs, I'm inclined to say they were built before 2012. The reason why I think this is because of the interior lighting. The 12/62/13/63-reg batch have clear white lighting, whilst the 11-reg batch have slightly "creamier" looking lighting, and in my view, having seen them yesterday, the new Red Kite B9TLs have this.

As always though, I'm probably wrong haha.

Scania CN230UB/Scania Omnicity 5234 (NK56 KHB) is now fully branded for "Toon Link" services 11/31/32. 5237 (NK56 KHE) was used for driver familiarisation purposes today.

Washington's DAF SB120/Wright Cadet 8247 (NA52 BVD) has now been withdrawn and is in storage at Saltmeadows.

(19 May 2015, 3:53 pm)Dan wrote Scania CN230UB/Scania Omnicity 5234 (NK56 KHB) is now fully branded for "Toon Link" services 11/31/32. 5237 (NK56 KHE) was used for driver familiarisation purposes today.

Washington's DAF SB120/Wright Cadet 8247 (NA52 BVD) has now been withdrawn and is in storage at Saltmeadows.

Does it look good, it looks quite good on the picture GNE provided us on their site! 

(19 May 2015, 3:55 pm)Michael wrote Does it look good, it looks quite good on the picture GNE provided us on their site! 

Looks superb... Much better than the old "Toon Link" brand. The silver vinyls even match the light clusters - looks like so much thought has gone into it when you see it in the flesh.

As Malarkey has already said, Go North East has definitely upped their game with regards to new brand designs.

(19 May 2015, 3:59 pm)Dan wrote Looks superb... Much better than the old "Toon Link" brand. The silver vinyls even match the light clusters - looks like so much thought has gone into it when you see it in the flesh.

As Malarkey has already said, Go North East has definitely upped their game with regards to new brand designs.

Looking forward to seen a picture of it  


Brands are getting better, so let's hope the Black Cats brand is good! 

Can anyone tell me how much a day return is from Park Lane to Durham is on the 20? Wanting to make sure I have the change!

Does anyone know when the changes to Go North East's website will be taking place?

(19 May 2015, 4:52 pm)leestransportphotos wrote Does anyone know when the changes to Go North East's website will be taking place?

30th May

(19 May 2015, 4:54 pm)Davie wrote 30th May

Will the live map be implemented at this time too?

(19 May 2015, 4:52 pm)leestransportphotos wrote Does anyone know when the changes to Go North East's website will be taking place?

Changes?, what were they again, can't remember :p 

(19 May 2015, 4:57 pm)Michael wrote Changes?, what were they again, can't remember :p 

Redesigning of the website as per other Go Ahead operators.

(19 May 2015, 5:01 pm)Robert wrote Redesigning of the website as per other Go Ahead operators.

Ah yes! Thanks Robert =D

(19 May 2015, 4:56 pm)Tom wrote Will the live map be implemented at this time too?

I'm not sure mate, sorry

572 getting towed down the A167 again this afternoon

I hope the live map can be incorporated into the app... like Arriva's bus app.