The new buses for the "indiGo" network of services were launched today, Monday 10th August 2015, with eight vehicles entering service from morning run-out and the remaining five being deployed after a photoshoot which took place at Crimdon Dene.

Bus-mad Peter Witham, from Sunderland, wrote a passionate letter to Go North East's Managing Director to express that his "dream job" would be to become a bus driver for Go North East.

Managing Director Kevin Carr, touched by the boy's interest in his company, chose Peter to become Go North East's 'celebrity' for the day, launching the new "indiGo" buses for Peterlee. Armed with a pair of scissors and dressed in his very own bus driver uniform, Peter cut the ribbon to commemorate the £1.7m investment, and to declare the 14 brand new indiGo buses officially open for business today (Monday 10 August).

Go North East: indiGo Launch by Daniel Graham, on Flickr

Go North East: indiGo Launch by Daniel Graham, on Flickr

Go North East: indiGo Launch by Daniel Graham, on Flickr


Following the photoshoot; the buses were driven in a convoy to Peterlee Bus Station, where they replaced the remaining "East Durham" branded Mini Pointer Darts in service.

Go North East: 666 / NK15EMJ by Daniel Graham, on Flickr

Go North East: 662 / NK15GFO by Daniel Graham, on Flickr

I think a proper publicity launch in Durham and Peterlee would have been better than a private launch. Don't know about anybody else.

I think a proper publicity launch in Durham and Peterlee would have been better than a private launch. Don't know about anybody else.

Where is there in Peterlee that could hold a launch?

Where is there in Peterlee that could hold a launch?

Dope house........ 

I think a proper publicity launch in Durham and Peterlee would have been better than a private launch. Don't know about anybody else.

The launch at Crimdon Dene wasn't really intended as a publicity launch; I'd suggest that there's nothing to say that there won't be any publicity launches in future, similar to those that we have seen in the past, so keep your eyes on Go North East's website for that. I'm not sure where Go North East could hold a launch at Peterlee, as there isn't really a great deal of space to park a bus where there's going to be a great enough footfall. Perhaps a launch in Durham would work well, but you'd have to find a suitable location with a heavy footfall to make the event worthwhile, especially as there's just three main services which go to Durham from the entire network (204, 208 and 265).

I think today's event worked really well; whilst enthusiasts weren't invited to the launch at Crimdon Dene, Go North East did invite everyone along to see the old being replaced by the new. The 11:00am slot seemed to attract around ten enthusiasts (so there was plenty of interest in that side of the "launch"), and no doubt other enthusiasts arrived before and after this time too.

It's great to see Go North East supporting the enthusiast community - especially younger enthusiasts like Peter - in my opinion.

Where is there in Peterlee that could hold a launch?

I haven't got a clue. Never been myself and there is probably a good reason for that too.

The launch at Crimdon Dene wasn't really intended as a publicity launch; I'd suggest that there's nothing to say that there won't be any publicity launches in future, similar to those that we have seen in the past, so keep your eyes on Go North East's website for that. I'm not sure where Go North East could hold a launch at Peterlee, as there isn't really a great deal of space to park a bus where there's going to be a great enough footfall. Perhaps a launch in Durham would work well, but you'd have to find a suitable location with a heavy footfall to make the event worthwhile, especially as there's just three main services which go to Durham from the entire network (204, 208 and 265).

I think today's event worked really well; whilst enthusiasts weren't invited to the launch at Crimdon Dene, Go North East did invite everyone along to see the old being replaced by the new. The 11:00am slot seemed to attract around ten enthusiasts (so there was plenty of interest in that side of the "launch"), and no doubt other enthusiasts arrived before and after this time too.

It's great to see Go North East supporting the enthusiast community - especially younger enthusiasts like Peter - in my opinion.

I waited for the 265 so you could count all those who waited on the "Indigo" routes for a Solo.

The launch at Crimdon Dene wasn't really intended as a publicity launch; I'd suggest that there's nothing to say that there won't be any publicity launches in future, similar to those that we have seen in the past, so keep your eyes on Go North East's website for that. I'm not sure where Go North East could hold a launch at Peterlee, as there isn't really a great deal of space to park a bus where there's going to be a great enough footfall. Perhaps a launch in Durham would work well, but you'd have to find a suitable location with a heavy footfall to make the event worthwhile, especially as there's just three main services which go to Durham from the entire network (204, 208 and 265).

I think today's event worked really well; whilst enthusiasts weren't invited to the launch at Crimdon Dene, Go North East did invite everyone along to see the old being replaced by the new. The 11:00am slot seemed to attract around ten enthusiasts (so there was plenty of interest in that side of the "launch"), and no doubt other enthusiasts arrived before and after this time too.

It's great to see Go North East supporting the enthusiast community - especially younger enthusiasts like Peter - in my opinion.

Enthusiasts and chavs! Was certainly fun having chavs shout "Bus W-word" at us, not that I care.

Durham, you could probably only really do Durham Market Place which can be done as Arriva launched the MAX X12 and Sapphire 22/24 there. I have no idea where you could put a bus in Peterlee for a publicity event.

The numbers on the rear LED screens are enormous!
Go North East: 656 / NK15 GDO by Jimmi's Transport Photos, on Flickr

There could of done a launch at Dalton park since service 202 and 265 goes there, then GNE could make it so the launch was more than 1 hour and 10 minutes better than Arriva's launch at Dalton Park.

The numbers on the rear LED screens are enormous!

Can't say I didn't warn you! 

The numbers on the rear LED screens are enormous!
Go North East: 656 / NK15 GDO by Jimmi's Transport Photos, on Flickr

it will be for the visual impaired public passengers in East Durham

I haven't got a clue. Never been myself and there is probably a good reason for that too.

Short of asda car park which is always full, but where they do hold a market on a bank holiday, it does lack accessible public spaces which are also sufficiently desirable for people to want to visit.

It's a pity people weren't invited along to Crimdon Dene for the photo opportunities. I can't see why it would need to be kept a big secret?

Trying to rack my brains and think of the launches this year. Correct me if I'm wrong, but have they not all been carried out with the target audience of young children? Even the family fun day, whilst I think the attendance was fantastic, was geared at parents bringing young children along.

The old to new changeover was a good idea in principal, and one geared at enthusiasts, but most people on this board would have pointed out that Peterlee is a bad place to do this. It's one of the few places I'm wary of, and I know I'm not the only one of this opinion. The fact people have had abuse thrown at them backs this up.

It'd probably a better idea to line them up at Saltmeadows for a photo opportunity, whether that be as well or instead of, if there are reasons people couldn't be invited to Crimdon Dene. Stagecoach seem to have managed this with two of their orders (and giving people more than a day or two's notice), and both times have had fantastic turnouts.

Oh and 6061 NSAs have been turned right down, to the point they're whispering. Certainly the case upstairs.

In addition, the screen upstairs seems to be indented about 2 inches in from the left, cropping the right hand side. I've noticed this on a few now mind.

It's a pity people weren't invited along to Crimdon Dene for the photo opportunities. I can't see why it would need to be kept a big secret?

Trying to rack my brains and think of the launches this year. Correct me if I'm wrong, but have they not all been carried out with the target audience of young children? Even the family fun day, whilst I think the attendance was fantastic, was geared at parents bringing young children along.

The old to new changeover was a good idea in principal, and one geared at enthusiasts, but most people on this board would have pointed out that Peterlee is a bad place to do this. It's one of the few places I'm wary of, and I know I'm not the only one of this opinion. The fact people have had abuse thrown at them backs this up.

It'd probably a better idea to line them up at Saltmeadows for a photo opportunity, whether that be as well or instead of, if there are reasons people couldn't be invited to Crimdon Dene. Stagecoach seem to have managed this with two of their orders (and giving people more than a day or two's notice), and both times have had fantastic turnouts.

I opted not to go up to Peterlee this morning as I knew there was going to be more than 10+ Enthusiasts taking photos in the same place at the same time which I found quite off putting, as everyones photos of each individual vehicle in Peterlee Bus Station would be exactly the same pretty much, for me at the moment in my current mindset is quite boring if im honest, I seem to have lost the enjoyment of going out and taking photos and I dont really have much motivation to go out and do just that at the moment, perhaps after 3 Years of constantly taking photos I think I need a break from this side of the hobby, but on the flipside if I do that I think I might loose interest in that side of the hobby altogether.

It's a pity people weren't invited along to Crimdon Dene for the photo opportunities. I can't see why it would need to be kept a big secret?

Trying to rack my brains and think of the launches this year. Correct me if I'm wrong, but have they not all been carried out with the target audience of young children? Even the family fun day, whilst I think the attendance was fantastic, was geared at parents bringing young children along.

The old to new changeover was a good idea in principal, and one geared at enthusiasts, but most people on this board would have pointed out that Peterlee is a bad place to do this. It's one of the few places I'm wary of, and I know I'm not the only one of this opinion. The fact people have had abuse thrown at them backs this up.

It'd probably a better idea to line them up at Saltmeadows for a photo opportunity, whether that be as well or instead of, if there are reasons people couldn't be invited to Crimdon Dene. Stagecoach seem to have managed this with two of their orders (and giving people more than a day or two's notice), and both times have had fantastic turnouts.

Couldn't agree more about Crimdon Dene, it would have provided a much better photo opportunity than Peterlee Bus Station where they will be appearing on services there all the time so it wasn't really a unique photo opportunity at all. It's not the first time either as it was the same for the X66 with the StreetLite's where they had another secret photo shoot. Don't get why they are so secretive, even if they only let us know via this forum it wouldn't attract many people. Back to Peterlee Bus Station was it really best publising that today, Peterlee is awful for photos and then you have all the people hanging around the bus station waiting for their buses which certainly attracted their attention to us and ended up with some of us getting abuse for it which is partly why I briefly ducked out from the bus station at points to get my photos. The reason I never normally bother with GNE events is because it feels like to some extent they don't want us there, and all these secret launches sort of backs up my opinion I feel.

Oh and 6061 NSAs have been turned right down, to the point they're whispering. Certainly the case upstairs.

In addition, the screen upstairs seems to be indented about 2 inches in from the left, cropping the right hand side. I've noticed this on a few now mind.

Many of the Angels NSA either are very quiet or do not talk at all and some of the screens do not work as well on them also noted I was on 5409 on the 28 the other day and it said welcome aboard the. And when pulling into a stop it was saying you are now at. Would be great if the red spare buses with NSA had all the routes programmed in them so when there on a service eg waggonway it would say welcome aboard the waggonway and then read the stops out it would help for visitors to beamish museum I would think as well.

Oh and 6061 NSAs have been turned right down, to the point they're whispering. Certainly the case upstairs.

In addition, the screen upstairs seems to be indented about 2 inches in from the left, cropping the right hand side. I've noticed this on a few now mind.

Seems to be a common fault that, 6100 was the same on the 20/20A the other day. It's not a problem unique to GNE either, some of the Arriva Sapphire 7 Pulsar's are the same.

Couldn't agree more about Crimdon Dene, it would have provided a much better photo opportunity than Peterlee Bus Station where they will be appearing on services there all the time so it wasn't really a unique photo opportunity at all. It's not the first time either as it was the same for the X66 with the StreetLite's where they had another secret photo shoot.

This indiGo launch could have seen not just enthusiasts but the general public come along and have a look if advertised properly (which it wasn't) but GNE obviously wanted it to be a private event and shouldn't be disputed. Just like we are entitled as people to maintain our privacy. Enthusiasts were given the chance to photograph the buses at Peterlee which is what a majority of people would have done anyway.

The X66 was a different kettle of fish completely. The shoot was in one of the car parks (the Green car park to be exact) and obviously, as it is a car park, they couldn't stay there all day as the area was required for customer and staff parking. A company can not please enthusiasts who take photos all of the time.

The X66 was a different kettle of fish completely. The shoot was in one of the car parks (the Green car park to be exact) and obviously, as it is a car park, they couldn't stay there all day as the area was required for customer and staff parking. A company can not please enthusiasts who take photos all of the time.

Like the photoshoot at the Metrocentre to promote the investment into new vehicles for the X66 service, the controlled photoshoot today was also held in a car park (albeit a public one rather than on private property like the Metrocentre). The buses had to be moved once it got busy, and like the X66 photoshoot, it was only an hour (or thereabouts) in duration.

As I said before, Go North East gave enthusiasts the heads up on the photo opportunities available in Peterlee Bus Station. A lot of enthusiasts turned up (some ignoring the plea to enthusiasts to stay on the footpaths rather than darting across the bus station behind buses which were reversing out from bays), so it was pretty successful if you ask me. The local and national media got their photographs and a nice story, while enthusiasts got some photographs of the old and new together.

I would have thought that everyone was a winner today..?

Like the photoshoot at the Metrocentre to promote the investment into new vehicles for the X66 service, the controlled photoshoot today was also held in a car park (albeit a public one rather than on private property like the Metrocentre). The buses had to be moved once it got busy, and like the X66 photoshoot, it was only an hour (or thereabouts) in duration.

As I said before, Go North East gave enthusiasts the heads up on the photo opportunities available in Peterlee Bus Station. A lot of enthusiasts turned up (some ignoring the plea to enthusiasts to stay on the footpaths rather than darting across the bus station behind buses which were reversing out from bays), so it was pretty successful if you ask me. The local and national media got their photographs and a nice story, while enthusiasts got some photographs of the old and new together.

I would have thought that everyone was a winner today..?

Know who your on about running behind reversing buses I admit I didn't stay on the footpath but I waited for buses to leave and go over when the Bus Station was empty, also when you telling us about the cascades. Finally I think it was great watching the buses be swapped.

Know who your on about running behind reversing buses I admit I didn't stay on the footpath but I waited for buses to leave and go over when the Bus Station was empty, also when you telling us about the cascades. Finally I think it was great watching the buses be swapped.

I'll tell you the secret, he's got a cat!

I opted not to go up to Peterlee this morning as I knew there was going to be more than 10+ Enthusiasts taking photos in the same place at the same time which I found quite off putting, as everyones photos of each individual vehicle in Peterlee Bus Station would be exactly the same pretty much, for me at the moment in my current mindset is quite boring if im honest, I seem to have lost the enjoyment of going out and taking photos and I dont really have much motivation to go out and do just that at the moment, perhaps after 3 Years of constantly taking photos I think I need a break from this side of the hobby, but on the flipside if I do that I think I might loose interest in that side of the hobby altogether.

There's not really anywhere suitable to stand at Peterlee though, apart from the area as the buses come in and out at the bottom. More than a handful of enthusiasts, and then you're getting in the way of the general public. Like you would be if you're standing outside the doors taking photos.

I'd have not bothered attending, even if I knew enough in advance to juggle my calendar about, to allow me to take time out to go. Like I said above, the idea was good in principal, but the location doesn't work for me. No matter how easy it is to get to.

I wouldn't say I've lost any interest in the hobby. I just don't think that the launches are particularly targeted for the audience that I fit into, hence why I don't bother with them. As much as I'd love to have a 99, whilst having my face painted.  

Couldn't agree more about Crimdon Dene, it would have provided a much better photo opportunity than Peterlee Bus Station where they will be appearing on services there all the time so it wasn't really a unique photo opportunity at all. It's not the first time either as it was the same for the X66 with the StreetLite's where they had another secret photo shoot. Don't get why they are so secretive, even if they only let us know via this forum it wouldn't attract many people. Back to Peterlee Bus Station was it really best publising that today, Peterlee is awful for photos and then you have all the people hanging around the bus station waiting for their buses which certainly attracted their attention to us and ended up with some of us getting abuse for it which is partly why I briefly ducked out from the bus station at points to get my photos. The reason I never normally bother with GNE events is because it feels like to some extent they don't want us there, and all these secret launches sort of backs up my opinion I feel.

Aye it's a nice setting over at Crimdon Dene. I guess there's a bit of sense in it though, now that you've mentioned the Metro Gnome/X66 photo shoot. I had forgot about that one! I'm thinking, how productive would a photo shoot be, when you've got the usual clowns that this hobby seems to attract pissing about at the same time? 

Both the X66 launch and the Peterlee launch have been done a bit different, and managed to attract significant press coverage. The one today in particular, because of the story attached to it. Just because they send a photographer down by no means results in it ending up in the press. Few articles from today:

http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/13..._bus_firm/
http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/nort...er-9829281
https://bdaily.co.uk/industrials/10-08-2...nvestment/

I still think that having an enthusiast event, even the odd one biennial or something, would go some way to appeasing the massive enthusiast following that GNE has. Given what I've said above, it'd probably need to be in addition to normal launches. 

I know I'd touched on people getting abuse at Peterlee in my earlier post, but that was solely based on what you had wrote Jimmi. A number of others that attended seemed to have not attracted any sort of attention, so maybe you're just a bit unlucky with that one?

Many of the Angels NSA either are very quiet or do not talk at all and some of the screens do not work as well on them also noted I was on 5409 on the 28 the other day and it said welcome aboard the. And when pulling into a stop it was saying you are now at. Would be great if the red spare buses with NSA had all the routes programmed in them so when there on a service eg waggonway it would say welcome aboard the waggonway and then read the stops out it would help for visitors to beamish museum I would think as well.

Without pretending to know the ins and outs of an NSA screen, I'd imagine they're simple enough to either work or not work, and perhaps not a system that can develop a huge range of faults. Given that the audio has just been very quiet on 6061 (and one or two other angels - I'll try and note the numbers), I'd hazard a guess that they've in fact just been turned right down, rather than develop a fault. Unacceptable if that's the case.

Like the photoshoot at the Metrocentre to promote the investment into new vehicles for the X66 service, the controlled photoshoot today was also held in a car park (albeit a public one rather than on private property like the Metrocentre). The buses had to be moved once it got busy, and like the X66 photoshoot, it was only an hour (or thereabouts) in duration.

As I said before, Go North East gave enthusiasts the heads up on the photo opportunities available in Peterlee Bus Station. A lot of enthusiasts turned up (some ignoring the plea to enthusiasts to stay on the footpaths rather than darting across the bus station behind buses which were reversing out from bays), so it was pretty successful if you ask me. The local and national media got their photographs and a nice story, while enthusiasts got some photographs of the old and new together.

I would have thought that everyone was a winner today..?

It was definitely a winner for big'un. He had a great time - and even remembered to have his Camera charged. The two events last week were just too noisy and crowded for him and more about promoting the brand than enjoying the buses.

Oh and on another note. I bumped in to 9119 twice today in Durham Bus Station. It appears to have developed the jet engine noise, that you'd normally associate with the Vykings. I can't wait for it's TTX trial.

A number of the older MPDs have now been withdrawn and are in storage at Saltmeadows Road.

Cascades for the newer vehicles will take place when all fourteen vehicles arrive at Peterlee, which is when I'll be able to confirm the movements.

Any surprise movements then Dan?

Oh and on another note. I bumped in to 9119 twice today in Durham Bus Station. It appears to have developed the jet engine noise, that you'd normally associate with the Vykings. I can't wait for it's TTX trial.

The new Dyson is it, think I'll do it from Newcastle to Middlesbrough if it doesn't break down.

I'd have not bothered attending, even if I knew enough in advance to juggle my calendar about, to allow me to take time out to go. Like I said above, the idea was good in principal, but the location doesn't work for me. No matter how easy it is to get to.

Aye it's a nice setting over at Crimdon Dene. I guess there's a bit of sense in it though, now that you've mentioned the Metro Gnome/X66 photo shoot. I had forgot about that one! I'm thinking, how productive would a photo shoot be, when you've got the usual clowns that this hobby seems to attract pissing about at the same time? 

I still think that having an enthusiast event, even the odd one biennial or something, would go some way to appeasing the massive enthusiast following that GNE has. Given what I've said above, it'd probably need to be in addition to normal launches. 

I know I'd touched on people getting abuse at Peterlee in my earlier post, but that was solely based on what you had wrote Jimmi. A number of others that attended seemed to have not attracted any sort of attention, so maybe you're just a bit unlucky with that one?

Peterlee isn't a great area for this sort of thing especially with the layout of Peterlee Bus Station especially when you are swapping buses around in the case of today.

There is the worry that if a event marketed to enthusiasts it would be mistreated, there apparently was a few messing around at the Quaylink launch last Monday.

What happened was two chavs went up to some of us asking what we were doing etc. Then later we had bus ******* shouted at us, although some of us had left by this point and some may not have been paying attention. Not the biggest fan of Peterlee especially the Bus Station.

Without pretending to know the ins and outs of an NSA screen, I'd imagine they're simple enough to either work or not work, and perhaps not a system that can develop a huge range of faults. Given that the audio has just been very quiet on 6061 (and one or two other angels - I'll try and note the numbers), I'd hazard a guess that they've in fact just been turned right down, rather than develop a fault. Unacceptable if that's the case.

To be honest there can be a quite a number of faults that can go wrong with them.  Each unit is basicaly a PC, and we all know what they are like when they go wrong - the kits in the Quaylinks are coming up to 5 year old (how many of us would keep a laptop that long), each unit also has the software on to run the NSA programme.  Then there is a Flash Card (which can and will corrupt in time) which holds all the data.  Then you have all the associated wiring from the unit to the monitor(s) and speakers (which can come loose with going over road humps etc) along with linking the unit actually into the vehicles electrical system - they are not that straight forward piece of kit.