(09 Jul 2015, 5:28 pm)S813 FVK wrote I wonder how long it will take for Riverside to cross mix the brands (Q1/Q2 versa on Q3 vice versa)

is there going to be a luanch for the Quaylink services

sorry if it has been posed

(09 Jul 2015, 5:28 pm)S813 FVK wrote I wonder how long it will take for Riverside to cross mix the brands (Q1/Q2 versa on Q3 vice versa)

I would't put it past them if it happened on the first week...

(09 Jul 2015, 5:28 pm)S813 FVK wrote I wonder how long it will take for Riverside to cross mix the brands (Q1/Q2 versa on Q3 vice versa)

About half an hour.

(09 Jul 2015, 4:58 pm)Dan wrote Go North East is supporting this year's LGBT Pride Festival with a specially-designed bus.

Based on the new Quaylink livery, and incorporating the LGBT rainbow, the bus will be at the Pride Festival at Exhibition Park in Newcastle on Saturday 18 July, along with the company's promotional team. Go North East will be bringing along a 'selfie bus', games, and face painting. As usual, there will be a give-away too. The main aim is to have some fun, and the more that come, the better!

Beyond the festival the bus will become a regular sight on the streets of Newcastle and Gateshead, as part of the new Quaylink service.

As an aside, the latest Optare Versas to arrive at Saltmeadows Road for repaint include former "Orbit" branded 8330 (NK11 HDO) and 8331 (NK11 HJX).

count me in i will be at this event i may bump into my aunt at this event

(09 Jul 2015, 5:02 pm)BJ10VUS wrote So essentially, will this be the spare bus for the Quaylink services?

I guess the brand design gives them flexibility to re-brand one for special events. Good on GNE for getting involved.

(09 Jul 2015, 5:28 pm)S813 FVK wrote I wonder how long it will take for Riverside to cross mix the brands (Q1/Q2 versa on Q3 vice versa)

It'll be interesting to see. GNE are certainly a lot better at managing vehicle allocations these days, and I can imagine the commercial team wouldn't be best pleased to see it happening unless absolutely necessary. Especially given the effort they appear to be making to re-design/re-brand/re-launch the Quaylink services.

(09 Jul 2015, 6:18 pm)aureolin wrote I guess the brand design gives them flexibility to re-brand one for special events. Good on GNE for getting involved.

Yeah, I think it's certainly a good idea!

It's a shame about the Q1/Q2 only serving Newcastle in one direction, so to speak. I think it would have been well-used from the Felling, Carr Hill Road and Deckham areas to Newcastle via the Quayside, but it's unlikely they're going to travel all the way around via Leam Lane, Wrekenton and Gateshead to the Quayside and Newcastle.

(09 Jul 2015, 6:18 pm)aureolin wrote I guess the brand design gives them flexibility to re-brand one for special events. Good on GNE for getting involved.


It'll be interesting to see. GNE are certainly a lot better at managing vehicle allocations these days, and I can imagine the commercial team wouldn't be best pleased to see it happening unless absolutely necessary. Especially given the effort they appear to be making to re-design/re-brand/re-launch the Quaylink services.

i think either 8328 or 8329 will gain this livery

(09 Jul 2015, 6:36 pm)Diamond One wrote i think either 8328 or 8329 will gain this livery

Not exactly because 8328/9 will form part of the PVR so arnt spare buses, so really any of the Versas could get this livery

(09 Jul 2015, 5:02 pm)BJ10VUS wrote So essentially, will this be the spare bus for the Quaylink services?

Not really, if it had not been vinyled up celebrating pride, it would have been in the purple livery.

(09 Jul 2015, 7:05 pm)citaro5284 wrote Not really, if it had not been vinyled up celebrating pride, it would have been in the purple livery.

Ah, I see. Thanks for clearing that up, wasn't too sure, that's all. Still a nice idea to decorate the bus in that way.

(09 Jul 2015, 6:46 pm)South Tyne Lad wrote Not exactly because 8328/9 will form part of the PVR so arnt spare buses, so really any of the Versas could get this livery

i worked the theory out 8310 to 8318 will be the green Quaylinks 8330 to 8330 will be the purple Quaylinks while either 8328 or 8329 should gain the special livery aka the Quaylink treatment someone said one of them will be going red but i took it with a pinch of salt the guy who said it can tell lies

(09 Jul 2015, 8:42 pm)Diamond One wrote i worked the theory out 8310 to 8318 will be the green Quaylinks 8330 to 8330 will be the purple Quaylinks while either 8328 or 8329 should gain the special livery aka the Quaylink treatment someone said one of them will be going red but i took it with a pinch of salt the guy who said it can tell lies

I doubt you would need that many for the Q3

(09 Jul 2015, 8:42 pm)Diamond One wrote i worked the theory out 8310 to 8318 will be the green Quaylinks 8330 to 8330 will be the purple Quaylinks while either 8328 or 8329 should gain the special livery aka the Quaylink treatment someone said one of them will be going red but i took it with a pinch of salt the guy who said it can tell lies

Bazza, we will find out when we find out. There is no point in making "theories" because we will find out in the end anyway

(09 Jul 2015, 8:52 pm)LeeCalder wrote Bazza, we will find out when we find out. There is no point in making "theories" because we will find out in the end anyway

i worked it out via the brands but we will find out soon enough

(09 Jul 2015, 8:52 pm)LeeCalder wrote Bazza, we will find out when we find out. There is no point in making "theories" because we will find out in the end anyway

Nothing wrong with trying to create a bit of discussion though? Or shall we just be boring and not speculate on anything because we will find out in the end anyways?

(09 Jul 2015, 8:53 pm)Diamond One wrote i worked it out via the brands but we will find out soon enough

Think it is quite obvious now that 8310 to 8318 are going to be in the Green Variation of the Quaylink for the Q3, and 8328 to 8338 will be in the Purple Varation for the Q1/Q2 with the exception of one Vehicle which will receive the Rainbow Quaylink Livery in support of the LGBT Pride Festival, Purely judging by the fact that 8311 has gained the Green Quaylink Branding with Sub-Branding for the Q3, and 8336 has recieved the Purple Quaylink Branding with Sub-Branding for the Q1/Q2, hardly rocket science to work out really is it.

(09 Jul 2015, 9:28 pm)Bus_User wrote Nothing wrong with trying to create a bit of discussion though? Or shall we just be boring and not speculate on anything because we will find out in the end anyways?

My point is though, it is quite obvious what will be the green or purple variations etc.

(09 Jul 2015, 4:58 pm)Dan wrote Go North East is supporting this year's LGBT Pride Festival with a specially-designed bus.

Based on the new Quaylink livery, and incorporating the LGBT rainbow, the bus will be at the Pride Festival at Exhibition Park in Newcastle on Saturday 18 July, along with the company's promotional team. Go North East will be bringing along a 'selfie bus', games, and face painting. As usual, there will be a give-away too. The main aim is to have some fun, and the more that come, the better!

Beyond the festival the bus will become a regular sight on the streets of Newcastle and Gateshead, as part of the new Quaylink service.

As an aside, the latest Optare Versas to arrive at Saltmeadows Road for repaint include former "Orbit" branded 8330 (NK11 HDO) and 8331 (NK11 HJX).

Its quite warming to know that GNE are taking such a public display of support for pride. Apart from the emergency services and the unions, I believe this is the first large corporate company to show this kind of interaction with the LGBT community. Hopefully more will follow suit in the coming years

Actually the break down is likely to be as follows.....

Q1 / Q2 has a PVR of 13
Q3 has a PVR of 6.

8310-8315 are likely to be branded for Q3

8317/8318/8328-8338 are likely to be branded for Q1/Q2.

8316 could be the Pride bus. However, 8316 could be branded for either route with either 8310 or 8338 receiving the pride livery.

(09 Jul 2015, 10:46 pm)GMitchelhill wrote Actually the break down is likely to be as follows.....

Q1 / Q2 has a PVR of 13
Q3 has a PVR of 6.

8310-8315 are likely to be branded for Q3

8317/8318/8328-8338 are likely to be branded for Q1/Q2.

8316 could be the Pride bus. However, 8316 could be branded for either route with either 8310 or 8338 receiving the pride livery.

looking forward to see it and yes i will be attending the event for some reasons just to watch but i will get photos more than likely of the pride bus

To reduce the effects caused by the Milburngate Bridge maintenance work in Durham, Go North East is making some alterations to "Prince Bishops" services 20/20A/X20 and "East Durham" services 204, 208 and 265 from this Sunday. Go North East has published details of these changes on their website here. Like Arriva; to allow for increased running / layover time, the PVR of each group of services has increased by one vehicle. As such, dual-door Volvo B10BLE/Wright Renowns 5161 (T811 CBW) and 5162 (T812 CBW) have transferred from Riverside to Deptford. No vehicles have been transferred to Riverside in exchange, as these were extra vehicles in the fleet following recent cascades. I'd imagine that Peterlee will gain an additional Dennis MPD from Deptford as a result (hopefully either 542 or 544 with these being yellow - but I would expect the allocation to remain fluid).

It's also worth noting that Volvo B12M/Plaxton Paragon 7087 (NA52 RMZ) was stripped of its Driver Training vinyls earlier in the week at Saltmeadows Road, with large Go North East vinyls applied instead. It also gained a front LED destination, although retained its flipdot side and its rear destination is still painted over. It entered service at Hexham a few days ago on scholars services.

Bit of a long shot here, but a ''#x33 test'' tweet was posted on the GNE twitter page this morning, possible new route coming?

(10 Jul 2015, 5:53 pm)Tom wrote Bit of a long shot here, but a ''#x33 test'' tweet was posted on the GNE twitter page this morning, possible new route coming?

possibility wonder where the route will operate to and from

(10 Jul 2015, 8:32 pm)Diamond One wrote possibility wonder where the route will operate to and from

Sunderland to Newcastle.

(10 Jul 2015, 5:06 pm)Dan wrote To reduce the effects caused by the Milburngate Bridge maintenance work in Durham, Go North East is making some alterations to "Prince Bishops" services 20/20A/X20 and "East Durham" services 204, 208 and 265 from this Sunday. Go North East has published details of these changes on their website here. Like Arriva; to allow for increased running / layover time, the PVR of each group of services has increased by one vehicle. As such, dual-door Volvo B10BLE/Wright Renowns 5161 (T811 CBW) and 5162 (T812 CBW) have transferred from Riverside to Deptford. No vehicles have been transferred to Riverside in exchange, as these were extra vehicles in the fleet following recent cascades. I'd imagine that Peterlee will gain an additional Dennis MPD from Deptford as a result (hopefully either 542 or 544 with these being yellow - but I would expect the allocation to remain fluid).

It's also worth noting that Volvo B12M/Plaxton Paragon 7087 (NA52 RMZ) was stripped of its Driver Training vinyls earlier in the week at Saltmeadows Road, with large Go North East vinyls applied instead. It also gained a front LED destination, although retained its flipdot side and its rear destination is still painted over. It entered service at Hexham a few days ago on scholars services.

That explains why I seen Scania L94 5218 in a convoy with 5162 on the A1 Western Bypass earlier. That explains 5162...it was moving from Riverside to Deptford though it showed 67 Winlaton on its front Destination Display. will 5218 have come from Deptford with 2 engineers and on arrival at Riverside 1 would switch to 5162 and drive that to Deptford and the other drive 5218 to Deptford?

(10 Jul 2015, 5:53 pm)Tom wrote Bit of a long shot here, but a ''#x33 test'' tweet was posted on the GNE twitter page this morning, possible new route coming?

Peak Time Express from Doxford International to Sunderland City Centre maybe.

(10 Jul 2015, 8:44 pm)Malarkey wrote Peak Time Express from Doxford International to Sunderland City Centre maybe.

Competing with Stagecoach's X1? Could quite see that happening.

But don't they have extra X35's already?

Both take a pretty similar time from Doxford to Park Lane too.

(10 Jul 2015, 8:46 pm)S813 FVK wrote Competing with Stagecoach's X1? Could quite see that happening.

But is there really any point though when you have the following.

33 - Every 30 Minutes - Doxford Int to Sunderland - 22 Minutes (Fawcett Street)
39 - Every 15 Minutes - Doxford Int to Sunderland - 26 Minutes (Holmeside) - 32 Minutes (Park Lane)
X35 - Every 30 Minutes - Doxford Int to Sunderland - 18 Minutes (Park Lane)

On the other the SNE X1 takes 17 Minutes from Doxford International to Sunderland(John Street).

Of course, the tweet could not mean a thing