(24 Nov 2015, 5:47 pm)R852 PRG wrote Was going to say; Washington and Chester-le-Street are the best allocators in the fleet in terms of branded vehicles.

I agree although they should of bought 2 more B5LH's knowing the PVR was going up soon. With Washington it's only ever the South Tyne for Spares or X1 but a couple are allocated to that and 1 to the 88.

(24 Nov 2015, 5:49 pm)DanPicken wrote I agree although they should of bought 2 more B5LH's knowing the PVR was going up soon. With Washington it's only ever the South Tyne for Spares or X1 but a couple are allocated to that and 1 to the 88.

I imagine the B5LH's were ordered before the decision or the idea was even thought of to increase the PVR of the 21 owing to service changes being made to improve the reliability of the service, I think the B5LH's entered service a week before the timetable was changed if I remember correctly. Think 3962 & 3965 were originally meant to be spares but now they seem to make part of the PVR. If any bus has to be VOR corporate liveried buses on the 21 are going to be more noticeable. Same applies to the 309/310 as an extra bus was added to the PVR to make the service more reliable and the same has now happened to the 45/46 as well in the recent service changes.

(24 Nov 2015, 5:56 pm)Jimmi wrote I imagine the B5LH's were ordered before the decision or the idea was even thought of to increase the PVR of the 21 owing to service changes being made to improve the reliability of the service, I think the B5LH's entered service a week before the timetable was changed if I remember correctly. Think 3962 & 3965 were originally meant to be spares but now they seem to make part of the PVR. If any bus has to be VOR corporate liveried buses on the 21 are going to be more noticeable. Same applies to the 309/310 as an extra bus was added to the PVR to make the service more reliable and the same has now happened to the 45/46 as well in the recent service changes.

Indeed, and new vehicle orders are placed months in advance of their arrival.

(24 Nov 2015, 5:45 pm)DanPicken wrote Not for the 88, the 82/A never seems to have a full Cadet/Merit Allocation.

But providing the bus is red, what is the issue?

Washington will try to replace like for like as much as possible, but if there are no single decks left in the depot, they cannot allocate a single deck bus to the 82 service in place of an SB120.

Come on guys, it was a tongue in cheek comment.

If a route diversion due to road closure because of roadworks is such that passengers need to walk to stops not usually served by the route (and there is no chance of seeing the bus coming so that passengers can move to the alternative stops) should the diversion be applied only during the road closure - or during the scheduled  closure?

Corbridge Newcastle Road is being resurfaced and closure is scheduled between 07:30 and 16:00, however, today, the planned construction work was completed early and the road closure was suspended before 15:00.

X84/X85 resumed the normal route - leaving some passengers standing at the wrong (alternative) stops.
I believe that I was able to warn the waiting passengers in time for them to walk to the original stops in time to catch their intended bus, but without my warning they would have stood 'no chance' . . .

I realise that this is debatable, and operators might prefer to return to the normal route as soon as possible.

(24 Nov 2015, 4:48 pm)Dan wrote Go North East have a number of service performance supervisors who board random services and undertake quality audits, making note of missing branding and other quality issues.

I believe these supervisors also make note of passenger numbers on-board and sometimes undertake revenue protection checks.

We've had a couple of ticket inspections by them, over the past couple of months. Once on the 20 and once on, I think, the X21.

(24 Nov 2015, 7:38 pm)G-CPTN wrote If a route diversion due to road closure because of roadworks is such that passengers need to walk to stops not usually served by the route (and there is no chance of seeing the bus coming so that passengers can move to the alternative stops) should the diversion be applied only during the road closure - or during the scheduled  closure?

Corbridge Newcastle Road is being resurfaced and closure is scheduled between 07:30 and 16:00, however, today, the planned construction work was completed early and the road closure was suspended before 15:00.

X84/X85 resumed the normal route - leaving some passengers standing at the wrong (alternative) stops.
I believe that I was able to warn the waiting passengers in time for them to walk to the original stops in time to catch their intended bus, but without my warning they would have stood 'no chance' . . .

I realise that this is debatable, and operators might prefer to return to the normal route as soon as possible.

Arriva certainly don't return to usual route after a scheduled road closure until end of service. It causes enough inconvenience to passengers to walk to the alternative stop. Drivers are advised to follow the diversion at all times, even if the road is open. This happened with the 35 a few weeks back, High Market in Ashington was closed and buses were diverting via Morpeth Road. The roadworks had been delayed so the road was still open.

Ahhh the ole chestnut that is the 82, nothing in this conversation that hasn't already been done to death before.

Malarkey yawns endlessly at this. 

Anyway look on the bright side chaps, reliability has slightly improved since the Merits replaced the 52Reg Cadets 

(24 Nov 2015, 9:46 pm)Malarkey wrote Ahhh the ole chestnut that is the 82, nothing in this conversation that hasn't already been done to death before.

Malarkey yawns endlessly at this. 

Anyway look on the bright side chaps, reliability has slightly improved since the Merits replaced the 52Reg Cadets 

I want the merits, they are considerably better than the Cadets, especially NK04 ZLE

(24 Nov 2015, 9:48 pm)NK53 TKT wrote I want the merits, they are considerably better than the Cadets, especially NK04 ZLE

I'll have the Cadets/Merits and the Versa's can go on the 82/A.

(24 Nov 2015, 9:49 pm)DanPicken wrote I'll have the Cadets/Merits and the Versa's can go on the 82/A.

Nope, I'll have them for the Q3  
EDIT:You can have my **** Versas Malarkey

(24 Nov 2015, 9:51 pm)NK53 TKT wrote Nope, I'll have them for the Q3  

EDIT:You can have my **** Versas Malarkey

Its fine I'll find some Plaxton Darts instead or a couple of Prestiges.

(24 Nov 2015, 9:53 pm)DanPicken wrote Its fine I'll find some Plaxton Darts instead or a couple of Prestiges.

555 or 619 please  
If they are unavailable I will claim 5394

(24 Nov 2015, 9:55 pm)NK53 TKT wrote 555 or 619 please  

If they are unavailable I will claim 5394

They're Transbus/Alexander engined so its fine.

(24 Nov 2015, 9:57 pm)DanPicken wrote They're Transbus/Alexander engined so its fine.

Great, I would take 547 if necessary

(24 Nov 2015, 9:41 pm)GX03 SVC wrote Arriva certainly don't return to usual route after a scheduled road closure until end of service. It causes enough inconvenience to passengers to walk to the alternative stop. Drivers are advised to follow the diversion at all times, even if the road is open.

Yes, the Arriva/Stagecoach buses were following the diversion until 16:00.

(24 Nov 2015, 9:51 pm)NK53 TKT wrote Nope, I'll have them for the Q3  
EDIT:You can have my **** Versas Malarkey

Yeah you can keep them lilac streaks of turd, already got enough of the purple number 2s on the 2 thanks.

What's the issue with the Versas? Decent modern bus in my opinion, and if it means it's not another Streetlite, well then that's a bonus!

(24 Nov 2015, 10:36 pm)Adrian wrote What's the issue with the Versas? Decent modern bus in my opinion, and if it means it's not another Streetlite, well then that's a bonus!

They don't seem to offer much over the streetlite, to be honest. And the seating layout is a bit pants.

(24 Nov 2015, 10:47 pm)BusLoverMum wrote They don't seem to offer much over the streetlite, to be honest. And the seating layout is a bit pants.

Sitting sideways on the Q2(?, Gateshead to Heworth via Leam Lane) killed my back, can't complain though, I was travelling on a free B+P BuzzFare!

(24 Nov 2015, 10:36 pm)Adrian wrote What's the issue with the Versas? Decent modern bus in my opinion, and if it means it's not another Streetlite, well then that's a bonus!

I agree with BusLoverMum, the layout is rubbish on the Versa's, i like the Versa's but the streetlites are better.

(24 Nov 2015, 10:36 pm)Adrian wrote What's the issue with the Versas? Decent modern bus in my opinion, and if it means it's not another Streetlite, well then that's a bonus!

I actually prefer the Versa's to the StreetLite's, rattle far less than the StreetLite's so certainly more comfortable then! Although I don't think I've been on one since about March.

StreetDeck is on the 12:00 X9 from Middlesbrough.

Arriving in Middlesbrough around 8 minutes late.

(24 Nov 2015, 10:55 pm)GX03 SVC wrote Sitting sideways on the Q2(?, Gateshead to Heworth via Leam Lane) killed my back, can't complain though, I was travelling on a free B+P BuzzFare!

The front is a bit of a strange layout, and there's not much room for luggage, but I can't deny that the legroom at the very back on the right hand side of the bus is the absolute best!

I see some of the Venture solos have started to lose some of the local fares slogans. 650 has lost the wording from the back and 648 from the top on one side only. At first I thought it might be accident repairs but you can see where the lettering has been.
Also streetlite 5415 running around with a plain red panel on the offside where the Red in Red Kite should be.

(25 Nov 2015, 3:50 pm)Olympian3520 wrote I see some of the Venture solos have started to lose some of the local fares slogans. 650 has lost the wording from the back and 648 from the top on one side only. At first I thought it might be accident repairs but you can see where the lettering has been.
Also streetlite 5415 running around with a plain red panel on the offside where the Red in Red Kite should be.

Slogans from the Ventures to removed can be found in this post: http://northeastbuses.co.uk/forum/showth...p?tid=1479&pid=137380#pid137380

649s rear 'Facebook' vinyl was starting to peel away from when i saw it this morning.

(25 Nov 2015, 3:55 pm)S813 FVK wrote Slogans from the Ventures to removed can be found in this post: http://northeastbuses.co.uk/forum/showth...p?tid=1479&pid=137380#pid137380

649s rear 'Facebook' vinyl was starting to peel away from when i saw it this morning.

Some of the Tynedale Links MPDs are like that the rear end evidence look on LeeCalderPhotograpy on flickr

I approve of the NSAs on the 78. Between Stanley and St Stephens Church anyway.

(24 Nov 2015, 9:57 pm)DanPicken wrote They're Transbus/Alexander engined so its fine.

Transbus / Alexander don't make the engines. All of the Darts operated by GNE either have a Cummins 6BT engine (up to 51 plate) or a Cummins ISBe engine (52 Plate onwards). Though 8222 was retrofitted with a Cummins ISBe engine at some point.