According to a post on Facebook, 4966 has returned to Riverside from Hexham this afternoon. Can Dan the main Man confirm?

Its not permanently restricted to 45mph,  In all new Volvo Buses there is a set limiter where I believe its located somewhere on the dash. from there you can set the limiter from example 15mph up with the maximum confirmed by Volvo speed is 60mph on the B8RLE so you just need to adjust the limiter to the maximum 60mph to get the full out of this High Quality vehicle.

It's highly unlikely to be located on the dash. While limiters in any vehicle can be adjusted, it usually has to be done through the engine management system. This requires the correct lead/cable and computer program as well as the knowledge of how to make the adjustment. It's similar to remapping.

According to a post on Facebook, 4966 has returned to Riverside from Hexham this afternoon. Can Dan the main Man confirm?

Yes, it has. In theory should see 5148 off!

Yes, it has. In theory should see 5148 off!

I get the impression you're smirking at that when you know it is the end of an era for the ''Toon Link''. 

We used to reckon:- "20 inches one bum, 20 bums one ton." - but that was a rule of thumb that has been exceeded by people being heavier these days (at least heavier than 8 stone, though it included women and children).

I notice that the chassis is rated at 18 tonnes (also the maximum for two-axle double deckers - though I see that Volvo quote 18 tonnes for the B9TL ?) but I haven't found any unladen weights yet.

If you average passengers at 12 stone (though many might be heavier so you might have to allow for 15 stone average to remain within the GVM) then a full load (without luggage) should be within 10 tonne - that only leaves 8 tonne for unladen weight.
I believe that B9TLs are about 11 or 12 tonnes unladen (with extra bodywork of course).

I wonder if any bus has ever been caught being overweight?

We used to reckon:- "20 inches one bum, 20 bums one ton." - but that was a rule of thumb that has been exceeded by people being heavier these days (at least heavier than 8 stone, though it included women and children).

I notice that the chassis is rated at 18 tonnes (also the maximum for two-axle double deckers - though I see that Volvo quote 18 tonnes for the B9TL ?) but I haven't found any unladen weights yet.

If you average passengers at 12 stone (though many might be heavier so you might have to allow for 15 stone average to remain within the GVM) then a full load (without luggage) should be within 10 tonne - that only leaves 8 tonne for unladen weight.
I believe that B9TLs are about 11 or 12 tonnes unladen (with extra bodywork of course).

I wonder if any bus has ever been caught being overweight?

I'm going to guess the MPDs for a start.

According to a post on Facebook, 4966 has returned to Riverside from Hexham this afternoon. Can Dan the main Man confirm?

What will replace it? Assuming not 9108 

What will replace it? Assuming not 9108 

No good asking me, Mr. Graham or Mr. 5284 could possibly tell you.

No good asking me, Mr. Graham or Mr. 5284 could possibly tell you.

It could be trialled on the 688.

A capacity of 100 sounds very optimistic. Our Streetlites are 67 which I have actually put to the test, and managed, once but it was very snug! As for Streetlites, yes the emergency doors rattling seems to affect them badly... As do the panels above the cab. The bolts that hold the steering column surround together also vibrate out after a few weeks. For the first month or so we were finding nuts and bolts all over the cabs with no clue where they came from...!

It could be trialled on the 688.

Don't think that will happen. 9108 will most likely see use on trial on another mainstream route. I'm putting my money on the ''Coaster'' or the ''Citylink''.

What will replace it? Assuming not 9108 

Replaced by an MPD from Peterlee.

Replaced by an MPD from Peterlee.

I think I saw it in Hexham today - 618? - still with adverts on both sides for East Durham College IIRC.

I think I saw it in Hexham today - 618? - still with adverts on both sides for East Durham College IIRC.

618 is there for a new scholars contract (interworking with service 688), hence why it is fitted with the same seats as the coaches (with seatbelts):
Go North East: 618 / NK55RUV by Daniel Graham, on Flickr

560, 561 and 619 are the other ex-Deptford/Peterlee MPDs now at Hexham. Both 618 and 619 have the pink East Durham ads.

618 is there for a new scholars contract (interworking with service 688),
Both 618 and 619 have the pink East Durham ads.

618 was running service 682 (Hexham West End to Acomb).

Don't think that will happen. 9108 will most likely see use on trial on another mainstream route. I'm putting my money on the ''Coaster'' or the ''Citylink''.

I think that the Coaster and Citylink will end up with deckers for any future orders particularly the latter because of the Cobalt traffic situation worsens and GNE can't afford to or just plain can't get any more 'red sheds' to provide extra vehicles for the Cobalt Clipper during Monday to Friday afternoon peak times, then I can see the 58x being withdrawn all together or limited to 1 run each way for 9am starts and 5pm finishes with any other frequency dockings being used on the X39 which needs capacity. Also, the bendies were very well used and got packed at peak times like the Versas do.

I think that the Coaster is a much more stable route now and I do think that it justifies deckers.

As what Dan said about the top speed of the B8 was today, 45mph, I'm not looking as forward to riding this when I do as I hate the StreetDeck mainly for the speed of the vehicle was the biggest let down of the ride to me, and I hope that this bus does not disappoint me.

The thing with the B8 only being able to achieve 45mph, pretty much the whole 20/20A route is 50mph so it's pretty pointless it being able to do more than 50mph, that said it would be better if it could actually do 50mph.

Hope to sample it myself tomorrow.

The thing with the B8 only being able to achieve 45mph, pretty much the whole 20/20A route is 50mph so it's pretty pointless it being able to do more than 50mph, that said it would be better if it could actually do 50mph.

Hope to sample it myself tomorrow.

We're going out on an arriva family ticket to morrow, so merely viewing the demonstrator bus would be a bonus. Littl'un goes back to school on Thursday, so long distance journeys will be curtailed during the week, after then. Might get a home-Durham-Sunderland-either home round trip or back the way we came in with big'un before he goes back, the week after, though.

Volvo B8RLE demo 9108 is on the 06:39am 20A to Durham from South Shields (due to arrive 0825).

Providing it is not replaced and put onto a different running board, the times are therefore as follows:-

Times from South Shields:
0639 (20A), 1012 (20), 1342 (20A), 1718 (20)

Times from Durham:
0829 (20), 1201 (20A), 1531 (20).

Been meaning to say. For the past few days (on two occasions) I've seen Tynedale Links branded 556 on the AD122.

4932 has arrived at saltmeadows for repaint

4932 has arrived at saltmeadows for repaint

Was reported a couple days ago

4932 has arrived at saltmeadows for repaint

Was reported a couple days ago

What wasn't reported is the fact it has been repainted into Go North East's corporate livery.

Let the speculation commence on what is to come for the Highwayman...?

What wasn't reported is the fact it has been repainted into Go North East's corporate livery.

Let the speculation commence on what is to come for the Highwayman...?

Well i did ask the other day if it was going in to corporate livery....


I think well see the brand dropped off the scania's and replaced by new/newer buses in the future, allowing a full re-brand on the routes - allowing only the 96/96A/97 as the branded routes, if changes happen.

The above, like said all depends on what is replaced in the fleet.

Edit: added something in!

Well i did ask the other day if it was going in to corporate livery.... [emoji14]


I think well see the brand dropped off the scania's and replaced by new/newer buses in the future, allowing a full re-brand on the routes - allowing only the 96/96A/97 as the branded routes, if changes happen.

The above, like said all depends on what is replaced in the fleet.

Edit: added something in!

Wasn't the recent consultation to pretty much group the northern half of the 43/44, with similar highwayman services? At least that's how the questions came across to me.

5286 Is the latest Citaro to be repainted https://flic.kr/p/xUKYQu

Well i did ask the other day if it was going in to corporate livery....


I think well see the brand dropped off the scania's and replaced by new/newer buses in the future, allowing a full re-brand on the routes - allowing only the 96/96A/97 as the branded routes, if changes happen.

The above, like said all depends on what is replaced in the fleet.

Edit: added something in!

apparently all Y reg ones are going into red due to them being too old now

5286 Is the latest Citaro to be repainted https://flic.kr/p/xUKYQu

wasn't expecting to see that nobody notified me only people who took photos when i was there was David, Steven, and Keith plus me

apparently all Y reg ones are going into red due to them being too old now

Ye, the scania's will be the next bus to take a spare role in the fleet, well the older ones will be.