(18 Aug 2015, 2:04 pm)MurdnunoC wrote The 46 I'm on (5417) seems to be running around 13-15 minutes late. Any ideas why?

Problems near the Redheugh Bridge? Have just seen an X66 going up Bensham Bank towards Gateshead.

Maybe. It hasn't affected the 45 behind me though.

(18 Aug 2015, 2:14 pm)MurdnunoC wrote Maybe. It hasn't affected the 45 behind me though.

The 45 behind you won't be picking up many passengers if the one in front is 15 minutes late - hence it makes up time and the other gets later and later and later.

Common of all frequent streamlined frequency services, as discussed many times in the past.

(18 Aug 2015, 2:13 pm)Dan wrote Problems near the Redheugh Bridge? Have just seen an X66 going up Bensham Bank towards Gateshead.

Mine and Davies X66 went along Centre link but we saw a couple do that and the X66 was running in threes.

I saw the Streetdeck demonstrator for the first time yesterday, as I was on my X12 back to Newcastle. It does look like a very smart vehicle, and I do like the classic Gemini oval shaped front windows, it also looked like it was doing a fair speed. I don't know if it was just because of the silver paint job, but it definitely did catch the eye, the headlights in particular.

If GNE decide that it isn't a viable purchase for the X21(?), I'd love to see them go for it on a more local, city/town based route. Not sure what it's like internally though.

(18 Aug 2015, 9:28 pm)mb134 wrote I saw the Streetdeck demonstrator for the first time yesterday, as I was on my X12 back to Newcastle. It does look like a very smart vehicle, and I do like the classic Gemini oval shaped front windows, it also looked like it was doing a fair speed. I don't know if it was just because of the silver paint job, but it definitely did catch the eye, the headlights in particular.

If GNE decide that it isn't a viable purchase for the X21(?), I'd love to see them go for it on a more local, city/town based route. Not sure what it's like internally though.

Internally, it's very uninspiring and ordinary. When it's doing any sort of speed, there's a deep painful noise from the engine that goes right through you - it sounds strained and it rattles like hell. Defo more suited to more local routes. Would be fine on the 21 route to CLS but is awful on the A167 stretch towards Durham. Would be a good bus if the loop needed more capacity.

And I hate the external look, but I hate silver cars, too. They look bald. It's exaggerated on this by the shallow windows, somewhat.

(18 Aug 2015, 9:28 pm)mb134 wrote I saw the Streetdeck demonstrator for the first time yesterday, as I was on my X12 back to Newcastle. It does look like a very smart vehicle, and I do like the classic Gemini oval shaped front windows, it also looked like it was doing a fair speed. I don't know if it was just because of the silver paint job, but it definitely did catch the eye, the headlights in particular.

If GNE decide that it isn't a viable purchase for the X21(?), I'd love to see them go for it on a more local, city/town based route. Not sure what it's like internally though.

Looks can be deceiving! It's not the best in terms of speed, I had another ride on it on Friday afternoon and wasn't it wasn't great, you can even tell just by riding it that it's slow. I don't think it's the ideal choice for the X21, would be fine on say a cross city/town route but I don't feel it's a perfect fit for the X21.

Even less of a good fit if they're seriously considering it for the X9/10. Most of that route is high speed. The Geminis they already have are better.

Heck, even the old, clapped out Presidents on the X21 are better - they go like the clappers when they're working.

(18 Aug 2015, 10:01 pm)BusLoverMum wrote Even less of a good fit if they're seriously considering it for the X9/10. Most of that route is high speed. The Geminis they already have are better.

Heck, even the old, clapped out Presidents on the X21 are better - they go like the clappers when they're working.

I'd say the StreetDeck has a similar level of performance to the Pronto branded Presidents.

With the thoughts about the StreetDeck being trialled, I'm not going to give an opinion on how I think it will perform on the X9/X10 before actually sampling it on these routes as I can only give an opinion based on my two journeys on the X21 and the X9/X10 routes are a different nature to the X21. Problem is those Gemini's currently used on the X9/X10 won't last forever especially on a route as demanding as these, I can see Go North East making investment in these routes again sometime before the end of 2017 and the trial of the StreetDeck makes me think this is possibly going to happen. It's just a shame they couldn't have kept the Enviro 400MMC demonstrator for a few more weeks and trialled it on the X9/X10 although I am uncertain as to whether it was fitted with a tachograph which it obviously needs to operate these services.

Don't all commercial buses need a tachograph?

No - those that operate a route of no longer than 50 km (31 miles) don't need tachographs.

The drivers still have to comply with UK drivers' hours of course.

Some operators split longer routes into sections under 50 km long.

This is considered an acceptable 'fudge'.

The bus and driver continue, but the destination is changed.

Arriva run their 685 from Newcastle to Carlisle via Haydon Bridge.

(18 Aug 2015, 9:44 pm)BusLoverMum wrote Internally, it's very uninspiring and ordinary. When it's doing any sort of speed, there's a deep painful noise from the engine that goes right through you - it sounds strained and it rattles like hell. Defo more suited to more local routes. Would be fine on the 21 route to CLS but is awful on the A167 stretch towards Durham. Would be a good bus if the loop needed more capacity.

And I hate the external look, but I hate silver cars, too. They look bald. It's exaggerated on this by the shallow windows, somewhat.

Doesn't sound great then, I'm not a fan of the interiors of Arriva Geminis, I find everything very dull and, like you find the demonstrator, ordinary. 

If it's sounding strained now, I can't imagine what it'll be like after 5 years on the route... 

(18 Aug 2015, 9:57 pm)Jimmi wrote Looks can be deceiving! It's not the best in terms of speed, I had another ride on it on Friday afternoon and wasn't it wasn't great, you can even tell just by riding it that it's slow. I don't think it's the ideal choice for the X21, would be fine on say a cross city/town route but I don't feel it's a perfect fit for the X21.

Although it seems slow when riding, have you ever been on it and it's been late, maybe the driver has just been driving a bit slower to avoid running early?

I can't imagine it being bang on time on every journey though, so I hope for the sake of X21 passengers,  GNE go for the E400MMC.

(19 Aug 2015, 8:00 am)mb134 wrote Doesn't sound great then, I'm not a fan of the interiors of Arriva Geminis, I find everything very dull and, like you find the demonstrator, ordinary. 

If it's sounding strained now, I can't imagine what it'll be like after 5 years on the route... 

Although it seems slow when riding, have you ever been on it and it's been late, maybe the driver has just been driving a bit slower to avoid running early?

I can't imagine it being bang on time on every journey though, so I hope for the sake of X21 passengers,  GNE go for the E400MMC.

The first time I rode it the bus left Bishop Auckland a few minutes late and it wasn't quick and continued to run late throughout the journey and trying to get up the slip road for the A1(M) with an almost full seating load didn't go well. It is possible it's just the driving style of the two drivers I've had but I don't think it's all down to the drivers for the StreetDeck. People are saying that the Enviro 400MMC demonstrator was quick although on my journey it wasn't as fast as others say it is, whether I have a different idea of fast to some of the other forum members or it was just the driving style the drivers I had when I rode it.

The Enviro 400MMC is still the better option for the X21 I feel and if they are looking to invest in the X9/X10 anytime soon I'd say it would be the better choice in terms of performance for that route to.

I'd be surprised if it gets anywhere near being early with its performance. I'm lead to believe it's been tweaked somewhat now but it's still limited to 50mph (as are all Wright Street products) which I expect will get found out badly on the X9/X10.

Looking at the early and late running over the course of an entire day gives a good representation (at least to this forum) of the StreetDeck's performance on service X21. Clearly, there are other factors that Go North East management would have to consider when evaluating suitability of a vehicle type on certain routes.

I believe that the maximum delay the StreetDeck incurred yesterday on service X21 was 6 minutes - once in Gateshead (in a queue of traffic once you come out of Gateshead Interchange), and once on the Bishop Auckland to Durham stretch. In both instances, the bus was on-time again within 30 minutes (although admittedly in the former instance this was primarily owing to layover at Newcastle). With this in mind; either Go North East has a pretty loose schedule for the X21, or the StreetDeck is capable of running on-time for most of the day..?

By what I can gather, contrary to what tyresmoke said he would have thought, early running is prevalent on the StreetDeck. Indeed, I noticed that there was quite a few instances of the StreetDeck running over 1 minute early yesterday (although drivers stopped at the nearest timing points to alleviate any additional early running). Time appears to be easily made up on the A1(M) and A167, where, despite the engine sounding strained, must provide sufficient power and speed. Alas, I doubt I'll be able to say this for the X9/X10, but time will tell when the StreetDeck eventually transfers to Riverside. The additional power on the ADL Enviro400MMC may be beneficial at peak times where delays owing to heavy traffic and passenger loadings are more likely, but it's certainly not absolutely needed.

We must keep in mind that it's difficult to compare the two demonstrator vehicles like-for-like from a passenger perspective, as the luxury provided on the ADL Enviro400MMC would win every time. Obviously we know that Esteban Civic V3 seating (ie what the StreetDeck has with headrests) is standard on Go North East's new vehicles on longer-distance services, and it's unlikely that we'd see Go North East move away from this type of seating for the X21 in my opinion, although I'd suggest that there's scope for long-distance express services to have tables in the future, depending if this feedback is given on the survey Go North East is running regarding the StreetDeck..?

https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=0DQep-HMoNg
Video of the East Durham launch.

I counted at least 3 'members'

(19 Aug 2015, 10:23 am)Andreos1 wrote https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=0DQep-HMoNg
Video of the East Durham launch.

I counted at least 3 'members'

All having a mere 2 Seconds of Fame in the process  .

(19 Aug 2015, 11:00 am)Malarkey wrote All having a mere 2 Seconds of Fame in the process  .

If Strictly don't knock on the door for Dan, they're missing a trick!
The people of Peterlee haven't seen moves like that since... Ever!

(19 Aug 2015, 11:07 am)Andreos1 wrote If Strictly don't knock on the door for Dan, they're missing a trick!
The people of Peterlee haven't seen moves like that since... Ever!

Thought he was about to do the Cha-Cha Slide for a second.

(19 Aug 2015, 10:23 am)Andreos1 wrote https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=0DQep-HMoNg
Video of the East Durham launch.

I counted at least 3 'members'

Thought you were better at stalking than that, Andreos..! I can spot five members of the forum at the very end of the clip alone!

(19 Aug 2015, 10:23 am)Andreos1 wrote https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=0DQep-HMoNg
Video of the East Durham launch.

I counted at least 3 'members'

Me and Davie are in it.

Don't suppose anyone has seen new Crusader liveried 5300 today?

Think that's the right fleet number.

(19 Aug 2015, 12:28 pm)Jimmi wrote Don't suppose anyone has seen new Crusader liveried 5300 today?

Think that's the right fleet number.

5330.

(19 Aug 2015, 9:03 am)tyresmoke wrote I'd be surprised if it gets anywhere near being early with its performance. I'm lead to believe it's been tweaked somewhat now but it's still limited to 50mph (as are all Wright Street products) which I expect will get found out badly on the X9/X10.

Why are they limited to 50mph? I can think of quite a few 60mph roads that Streetlites in the North East use, and I imagine others around the country will also be used on routes with 60mph roads, seems a bit weird, especially if time needs to be made up? 

Between Durham and Newcastle, the Streetdeck will surely be the same, and although Dan states in his post that it made the time up, I can't help but think the extra 10mph would help a lot?

What Diamond Citaro was being prepared for repaint at Saltmeadows on Monday?

(19 Aug 2015, 2:07 pm)GX03 SVC wrote What Diamond Citaro was being prepared for repaint at Saltmeadows on Monday?

I'd guess 5291 - can't recall it being noted that it had been repainted and was sent to Saltmeadows a few days ago. Apologies if it has.

(19 Aug 2015, 10:23 am)Andreos1 wrote https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=0DQep-HMoNg
Video of the East Durham launch.

I counted at least 3 'members'

(19 Aug 2015, 11:54 am)danpick wrote Me and Davie are in it.

yes one was me dan dan davie

(19 Aug 2015, 8:25 pm)Diamond One wrote yes one was me dan dan davie

Four of you in one?

...and our young friend Peter, who views the forum (so I'm told!)

Dan...and our young friend Peter, who views the forum (so I'm told!)

MOVING  ON !!   ..... - Grow Up !!........ Boys!   (And Dump the Anoraks......)

Please  get back to discussing interesting topics ...or Shut Up!


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