(22 May 2015, 8:29 pm)Dan wrote Stu Elmore has done the Coast & Country Next Stop Announcements - think this is the same voice as the Fab56 and Cobalt Clipper?

Our opinions were divided - citaro5284 preferred Brian's, but I preferred Stu's...!

Aye, Brian all the way for me like 

So, what are the forum members thoughts on the white destination displays as opposed to the amber ones?

(22 May 2015, 8:37 pm)citaro5284 wrote Aye, Brian all the way for me like 

Screw Lisa, What about Garry, you cannot beat the way he says "Springwell Village" on the X1 though.

(22 May 2015, 9:01 pm)citaro5284 wrote So, what are the forum members thoughts on the white destination displays as opposed to the amber ones?

Much better.

(22 May 2015, 9:02 pm)Malarkey wrote Screw Lisa, What about Garry, you cannot beat the way he says "Springwell Village" on the X1 though.

Are Gary and Lisa still about?

(22 May 2015, 9:01 pm)citaro5284 wrote So, what are the forum members thoughts on the white destination displays as opposed to the amber ones?

Worthwhile investment imo. I find them a lot easier to read from a distance compared to the amber ones, and they stand out by a mile on a night.

Is it a group thing to go with white destinations all around? Reason I ask is I noticed that Metrobus have used them on their new Enviros for the 273, as well as B&H's Coaster service.

(22 May 2015, 9:04 pm)citaro5284 wrote Are Gary and Lisa still about?

Nope as Real Radio went downhill didnt it, what a shame  

(22 May 2015, 9:05 pm)aureolin wrote Is it a group thing to go with white destinations all around? Reason I ask is I noticed that Metrobus have used them on their new Enviros for the 273, as well as B&H's Coaster service.

Not as far as I am aware, we can buy what we like, but after the trial we had with the Versa and the feedback we received, it made sense to purchase them.

In fact, I think Brighton's on the Streetdeck is a HD one with alot more LED's on it compared to the standard one.

(22 May 2015, 9:08 pm)Malarkey wrote Nope as Real Radio went downhill didnt it, what a shame  

Yeah they stayed for a few months after becoming Heart but left around the end of last year I think which is a shame.

Heart Radio is awful, just plays Pharrell Williams - Happy, over and over again!

What are the omnidekkas having done, is it just the seats? 

(22 May 2015, 9:32 pm)Arcticrossy92 wrote What are the omnidekkas having done, is it just the seats? 

The flipdot side destination is getting replaced by an LED one for sure.

(22 May 2015, 9:35 pm)citaro5284 wrote The flipdot side destination is getting replaced by an LED one for sure.

Taken from the Renowns and Cadets I am guessing.

(22 May 2015, 9:04 pm)citaro5284 wrote Are Gary and Lisa still about?

They not on Real/Heart anymore, they left Heart at the end of last year. I believed was, possibly still is, doing some work with BBC Newcastle Newsreading and the like. 
Speaking of the NSA, the 700 ones are so loud was in one yesterday? And everyone commented that it was so loud. Also, who does the drifter NSA's? 

(22 May 2015, 9:01 pm)citaro5284 wrote So, what are the forum members thoughts on the white destination displays as opposed to the amber ones?

I much prefer the white - it's so much easier to identify the number of a bus from a distance as it approaches. My mam was venturing around the "Coast & Country" routes yesterday, and when she got back home last night, she even commented on the fact that the white LED displays were much clearer, especially when compared to "the green ones on those yellow buses" (ie the flipdots).

When I was heading to Stanley on Thursday, I saw one of the new "Sapphire" Wright Streetlites on the 22. The "Sapphire" brand is well-designed and looks very professional, and I love it when it's paired with the white LED displays, but the normal amber side/rear displays didn't half ruin it... Cheaper to get normal amber on the side/rear, of course, but it looks very poor indeed. Compare the three below:

Go North East: 5407 / NK15ENW by Daniel Graham, on Flickr


Arriva North East: 1597 / NK15AAX by Daniel Graham, on Flickr

Go North East: 5372 / NL63XBC by Daniel Graham, on Flickr

I know which one I prefer most!

With regards to font types, which was discussed on the Arriva NE section of the forum the other day, how easy do forum members think it is to read the second 'via point' line on the Arriva example, compared to the two Go North East offerings above, when viewing the small embedded version of the image on the forum? I had to get up close to my screen to be able to read the "for bus times", but I needn't even lean in to read Go North East's. I much prefer the design of Arriva's destination set up (as it's so easy to distinguish what the terminal point is compared to the via points), but I don't think it's practical at all as it's difficult from a distance to be able to read the via points, which is why I prefer the font type that Go NE and Stagecoach NE use for the terminal/via points.

First post,

Daughter has dyslexia and can read the white display but not the normal ones very easily. Much prefer the white.

(23 May 2015, 5:59 am)pww1965 wrote First post,

Daughter has dyslexia and can read the white display but not the normal ones very easily. Much prefer the white.

Welcome to the forum!

That's quite interesting. When this has been discussed in the past, Andreos1 has stated that dyslexic people would find it more difficult to read owing to the contrasting white on black (http://uxmovement.com/content/6-surprisi...xic-users/). I can only assume that this might not be the case, due to the fact the LEDs often appear to have a slight blue tinge to them, and the destination display actually being a dark grey?

As my signature suggests, my school bus was 3813 for the first time since it transferred back to Stanley from Riverside. I remember the last time i had it, it was a standard olympian engine which didn't sound right with me being used to having that loud (from inside), wonderful noise drowning the olympian engine out. I'm pleased to report that it has got its old noise back and still flies up banks like it used to. I loved riding it so much i don't know whether to stay with 3823 or go back to 3813!

(23 May 2015, 12:29 am)Drifter60 wrote They not on Real/Heart anymore, they left Heart at the end of last year. I believed was, possibly still is, doing some work with BBC Newcastle Newsreading and the like. 
Speaking of the NSA, the 700 ones are so loud was in one yesterday? And everyone commented that it was so loud. Also, who does the drifter NSA's?

Aye, Lisa has been doing the news and Gary had a show on a Saturday, when there wasn't a match on.

(23 May 2015, 8:06 am)Robert wrote As my signature suggests, my school bus was 3813 for the first time since it transferred back to Stanley from Riverside. I remember the last time i had it, it was a standard olympian engine which didn't sound right with me being used to having that loud (from inside), wonderful noise drowning the olympian engine out. I'm pleased to report that it has got its old noise back and still flies up banks like it used to. I loved riding it so much i don't know whether to stay with 3823 or go back to 3813!

I hope you mean 3813 

Didn't realise the StreetLite's were so powerful! Currently on Lime 5395 doing about 90 through Rickleton :p

(23 May 2015, 10:26 am)leestransportphotos wrote Didn't realise the StreetLite's were so powerful! Currently on Lime 5395 doing about 90 through Rickleton :p

They are, i noticed this when i was going along Washington Highway on the 8 haha 

At shields yesterday and heard this awful noise it came from a east durham bus which was on the 20 felt sorry for the passgers on it

(23 May 2015, 10:26 am)leestransportphotos wrote Didn't realise the StreetLite's were so powerful! Currently on Lime 5395 doing about 90 through Rickleton :p

 It will be 90 kph, which is roughly about 55 mph.

(23 May 2015, 11:01 am)citaro5284 wrote  It will be 90 kph, which is roughly about 55 mph.

Dread to think what 90mph would be like on a StreetLite.

I quite like the new StreetLite's although I haven't sampled a Red Kite example yet as B10BLE 4897 turned up instead on Monday.

(23 May 2015, 11:05 am)Jimmi wrote Dread to think what 90mph would be like on a StreetLite.

I quite like the new StreetLite's although I haven't sampled a Red Kite example yet as B10BLE 4897 turned up instead on Monday.

Me too, i was 50/50 when it was announced the Lime (as it was then!), Red Kite and X66 were getting Streetlites, as i think the ones on the 60 are meh, but iv'e being proved wrong... the hybrid version is much better than the MAX version... 

Try the stretch between Chester and Stanley on the Limes. I was impressed with how well 5399 handled it yesterday, so I'm going to make a point of doing it all the way to Consett during the week. 

On another note. What should be the X70/X71 allocation on a Sunday or bank holiday? 

(23 May 2015, 11:53 am)aureolin wrote Try the stretch between Chester and Stanley on the Limes. I was impressed with how well 5399 handled it yesterday, so I'm going to make a point of doing it all the way to Consett during the week. 

On another note. What should be the X70/X71 allocation on a Sunday or bank holiday? 

The 2 spare Streetlites, i think.

I have the week off now, i may go out and about and do a review!  

(23 May 2015, 11:55 am)Michael wrote The 2 spare Streetlites, i think.

I have the week off now, i may go out and about and do a review!  

If that's correct, then I think I'll be heading over Consett tomorrow or Monday. It'll be interesting to see how a Streetlite copes with the hills and bends on the scenic X70/X71 route.

(23 May 2015, 11:56 am)aureolin wrote If that's correct, then I think I'll be heading over Consett tomorrow or Monday. It'll be interesting to see how a Streetlite copes with the hills and bends on the scenic X70/X71 route.

It is, checked our: Go North East: Allocations & Scheduled 'Wrong Brands' after the post =D

(23 May 2015, 11:56 am)aureolin wrote If that's correct, then I think I'll be heading over Consett tomorrow or Monday. It'll be interesting to see how a Streetlite copes with the hills and bends on the scenic X70/X71 route.

I did the X71 route for the first time on Monday as a Volvo Olympian was allocated, it is an interesting route, lots of tight roads and many hills.

If anyone hasn't done the X71 before I'd strongly recommend it.