(14 Dec 2015, 10:05 pm)DaveyBowyer wrote Alreet then, Streetdecks for the X21 I suppose!

and 5p fare increases too?

Streetdecks are a briliant idea for X21 been inside of a Wright Streetdeck today and i think X21 would suit these compared to the ones they have on there now

I don't actually think it will be the Red Arrows though as I think come the next set of changes, it'll get dropped to every 12 minutes with 6001 and 6004 acting as spares or working the 921 (if not interworked) and although the argument stands that the Galleries - Newcastle section warrants a 10 minute frequency, so did the 56 warrant such frequency 'at times' but if the frequency was dropped and a PVR of 12 was to be used, then the reliability of the service would also improve meaning more buses and less chance of passengers having to stand.

However, given the routes that the Streetdeck has been trialed on, here's my two predictions:
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
One:
- 14 + 2(spare) Wright Streetdecks for Hexham / Riverside for TEN services 10/10A/10B.
- 6071 to 6077 transfer to Crook for Pronto service X21.
- 6078 to 6081 remain at Riverside but are branded for Red Kite 47 to provide commonality with the 45/46.
- 6082 to 6083 move to Percy Main with Cobalt Clipper vinyls and branding (no repaint) to allow the PVR of the Cobalt Clipper to increase to 17 (still be 19 with 2x 'red sheds' thrown in at peak times but the extra vehicle would improve the flow particularly during the afternoons).
- 6084(T) remains at Riverside as a dedicated TTX spare.
- 6116 and 6117 go back to their intended roles as spare vehicles.
- 6084 becomes a dedicated TTX spare.
- 6118 and 6119 become corporate spares at Chester Le Street with 6120 and 6121 also moving but acting as the extra 2x vehicles on the Angel fulfilling the PVR requirement of Angel service 21. The latter two could be fitted with NSA's or refurbished to the exact same standards as the B5s or even all of this including GKN mods. (note that they already have Wi-Fi).

- The best out of 3941,42,62,63,64,65; then provide where needed in the following order based on route and vehicle demands:
 
 Crook (spare), Riverside (spare), Percy Main (DFDS x2), wherever needed (spare x2)
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Two:
- 14 + 2(spare) Wright Streetdecks for Hexham / Riverside for TEN services 10/10A/10B.
- 16 (or 17) +2(spare) Wright Streetdecks for Percy Main for Cobalt Clipper service 309/310/X39.
- 6101 to 6103, 6105 to 6116 and 6071 to 6076 transfer to Deptford for Prince Bishops service 20. (PVR 20)
- 6117 transfers to Deptford and acts as a spare for Prince Bishops service 20 and the Fab 56 alongside 6099 and 6100 covering a PVR of 32 vehicles (1 spare B9 for every 8x branded B9s). Note that the 4th spare B9 would result in 6104 (GKN) also transferring and being rebranded for the Fab 56 and one of the NON GKN vehicles on there at present, being repainted  into corporate livery as a spare.
- 6077 to 6083 transfer to Crook for Pronto service X21. (PVR 7)
- 6084(T) remains at Riverside as a dedicated TTX spare.

- The best out of 3941,42,62,63,64,65; then provide where needed in the following order based on route and vehicle demands:
 
 Crook (spare), Riverside (spare), Percy Main (DFDS x2), wherever needed (spare x2)

Way off Davey sorry

(15 Dec 2015, 11:23 pm)Michael wrote Way off Davey sorry

Can't see any Davey's predictions happening as some buses that would have their allocations changed have only been on the routes for a limited time, the Red Kite Volvo B9TL's haven't even been in service for a year yet! I know that the Toon Link Omnicitys changing services happened in such a short space of time but that was different as the only real change that needed to be made to the buses was the destinations being changed on the branding. Can't see the X1 being reduced in frequency as it is busy enough as it is, reducing the frequency would only likely make things worse. 20/20A double deckers, unlikely.

The 500 Group's final newsletter for 2015 reports the following vehicles due (citaro/Dan, here's your time to confirm/deny these):

• 13 Volvo B11R (confirmed)
  
• 7 Wright Streetdecks
  
• 22 Wright Streetlites
  
• 14 Optare Solos
  

(15 Dec 2015, 11:41 pm)Kuyoyo wrote The 500 Group's final newsletter for 2015 reports the following vehicles due (citaro/Dan, here's your time to confirm/deny these):

• 13 Volvo B11R (confirmed)
  
• 7 Wright Streetdecks
  
• 22 Wright Streetlites
  
• 14 Optare Solos
  

That's exactly what i heard was on order to by a friend.. seems he could be right.

Well we all know where those 7 Streetdecks will go if the list is right.....

(15 Dec 2015, 11:48 pm)Michael wrote That's exactly what i heard was on order to by a friend.. seens he could be right.

Well we all know where those 7 Streetdecks if the list is right.....

StreetDeck's - Tyne Tees Xpress, seems as forum members love them so much on the X9/X10 despite not actually sampling them on these routes

Joking, StreetDeck's for X21.

Wild guess, StreetLite's for 20/20A?

No idea for Solo SR's.

(15 Dec 2015, 11:53 pm)Jimmi wrote StreetDeck's - Tyne Tees Xpress, seems as forum members love them so much on the X9/X10 despite not actually sampling them on these routes

Joking, StreetDeck's for X21.

Wild guess, StreetLite's for 20/20A?

No idea for Solo SR's.

Ye, i think the current streetdeck demo will stop and stay as a spare for the X21.

Streetlites would be good on the Prince Bishops.

Solo SR's.... maybe split allocation.

(15 Dec 2015, 11:56 pm)Michael wrote Ye, i think the current streetdeck demo will stop and stay as a spare for the X21.

Streetlites would be good on the Prince Bishops.

Solo SR's.... maybe split allocation.

Wonder how long until someone says how awful they, the fact that they can only do 50mph is a problem, even though virtually the whole 20/20A route is 50 or less by law and they will most certainly roll down Houghton Cut as they apparently have no power. I'd take them over the Solar's currently used on that route.

(16 Dec 2015, 12:06 am)Jimmi wrote Wonder how long until someone says how awful they, the fact that they can only do 50mph is a problem, even though virtually the whole 20/20A route is 50 or less by law and they will most certainly roll down Houghton Cut as they apparently have no power. I'd take them over the Solar's currently used on that route.

Ye, the ones on the 8/8A/78/78A are coping with the long route so i would'nt be suprised if they could'nt cope on the 20/20A... although 2 totally different routes....

As for the Solo SR's... heres a couple of ideas...
10 - North Tyne links
2 - 18
2 spares for another depot(s)

Or

9 - Tynedale Links
5 - 85/86

Or 

7 Deptford for 38/238. (Means all can be solo and have a brand)
2 - 18
5 - Washington - 85/86.

(15 Dec 2015, 11:41 pm)Kuyoyo wrote The 500 Group's final newsletter for 2015 reports the following vehicles due (citaro/Dan, here's your time to confirm/deny these):

• 13 Volvo B11R (confirmed)
  
• 7 Wright Streetdecks
  
• 22 Wright Streetlites
  
• 14 Optare Solos
  

Haha, held them bang to 'wrights' there if this is true. You should work as a political journalist or whatever else out there, you'd make a good job of it!

(16 Dec 2015, 12:16 am)DaveyBowyer wrote Haha, held them bang to 'wrights' there if this is true. You should work as a political journalist or whatever else out there, you'd make a good job of it!

He would make a good journalist. Haha

What do u think then Davey?

Hows the new predictions coming on?.

(16 Dec 2015, 12:18 am)Michael wrote He would make a good journalist. Haha

What do u think then Davey?

Hows the new predictions coming on?.

From you guys? 95% but them 2x from me? Well lets not go there.

(16 Dec 2015, 12:31 am)DaveyBowyer wrote From you guys? 95% but them 2x from me? Well lets not go there.

???

I meant on the order list, your opinon on it lol.

(16 Dec 2015, 12:33 am)Michael wrote ???

I meant on the order list, your opinon on it lol.

I think the list seems fairly accurate TBH. I personally think GNE would've got a better deal through upgrading the Red Arrows and allowing the B9s to not only upgrade the Pronto but supplement other B5LH/B9TL routes whilst also having another tachographed vehicle which could've been used to provide backup to the TTX and help keep the B9s going for another 4-5 year.

The Streetdeck has seemed OK in the short term but long term, who knows?

I think Streetlites are OK though for what they are being a typical single decker and will suit the 20/20a fine. I just don't like the idea of a lightweight double decker tugging 70-90 passengers around on a daily basis for many years but maybe the Streetdeck will prove me wrong overtime like the Euro 5+ E400 has.

Solos for the North Tyne Links..?

(16 Dec 2015, 8:45 am)GX03 SVC wrote Solos for the North Tyne Links..?

Can't decide whether I think they'll go on Tynedale Links or North Tyne Links. Then there is the matter of where the remaining new Solo SR's would go - 18, Nexus services, Deptford services?

(16 Dec 2015, 1:37 am)DaveyBowyer wrote I think the list seems fairly accurate TBH. I personally think GNE would've got a better deal through upgrading the Red Arrows and allowing the B9s to not only upgrade the Pronto but supplement other B5LH/B9TL routes whilst also having another tachographed vehicle which could've been used to provide backup to the TTX and help keep the B9s going for another 4-5 year.

The Streetdeck has seemed OK in the short term but long term, who knows?

I think Streetlites are OK though for what they are being a typical single decker and will suit the 20/20a fine. I just don't like the idea of a lightweight double decker tugging 70-90 passengers around on a daily basis for many years but maybe the Streetdeck will prove me wrong overtime like the Euro 5+ E400 has.

Those Volvo B9TL's probably will not last another 4/5 years on the TTX, look what happened with the Volvo B7TL's, when they had reached the age of 7/6 years old, they were frequently breaking down so I doubt Go North East wouldn't want to push the B9's to around 8 years on them routes, I imagine that in the next financial year new buses will be bought, most likely StreetDeck's.

I do worry what state StreetLite's and StreetDeck's will end up in after a fair few years in services.

(16 Dec 2015, 9:31 am)Jimmi wrote Those Volvo B9TL's probably will not last another 4/5 years on the TTX, look what happened with the Volvo B7TL's, when they had reached the age of 7/6 years old, they were frequently breaking down so I doubt Go North East wouldn't want to push the B9's to around 8 years on them routes, I imagine that in the next financial year new buses will be bought, most likely StreetDeck's.

I do worry what state StreetLite's and StreetDeck's will end up in after a fair few years in services.

But if the facility was there to use 6049 as well as 6084 (by allocating 6050 on the TEN in place when needed, then the B9s could go off the road for more servicing, maintenance etc.

I think that the Streetlites will probably be OK depending on how the setup works with the Cummins lump. They'll probably rattle to death though.

On the otherhand, I honestly don't know about the long term durability of the Streetdeck. Worst case, if after a year or 2 the Streetdecks fail to perform as anticipated on the X21, then GNE could if the road infrastructure has been sorted by 2018 (Silverlink, A191 between Cobalt and Holystone) swap 7x Streetdecks for 7x B9s from Percy Main (GKN mods shouldn't be an issue bar a potential penalty charge from the grant providers) and use B9s instead.

The 309 / 310 (X39) would then be a split allocation and not interwork bar a few morning 310s to Newcastle running as B9s before working the early morning 309s to Cobalt/Blyth, resulting in the 309 using 10x B9s and the 310 (X39) using 7x Streetdecks. Sundays could either be a split allocation or 9x B9s get used only leaving 1x spare on a Sunday.

(16 Dec 2015, 12:06 am)Jimmi wrote Wonder how long until someone says how awful they, the fact that they can only do 50mph is a problem, even though virtually the whole 20/20A route is 50 or less by law and they will most certainly roll down Houghton Cut as they apparently have no power. I'd take them over the Solar's currently used on that route.

Everyone who uses the 20's are used to rattles and struggles up Houghton Cut.

If the rumours are true, then it looks like those traditions are continuing.

(16 Dec 2015, 12:59 pm)Andreos1 wrote Everyone who uses the 20's are used to rattles and struggles up Houghton Cut.

If the rumours are true, then it looks like those traditions are continuing.

I don't think they struggle on hills as much as people would make them out to do so, they seem to handle the demanding Sapphire routes down on Teesside and East Cleveland fairly well, they don't exactly fly but don't seem to have any real problems. I actually rode one on the X3 between Redcar and Middlesbrough yesterday afternoon and it even seemed going down duel carriageways.

(16 Dec 2015, 1:04 pm)Jimmi wrote I don't think they struggle on hills as much as people would make them out to do so, they seem to handle the demanding Sapphire routes down on Teesside and East Cleveland fairly well, they don't exactly fly but don't seem to have any real problems. I actually rode one on the X3 between Redcar and Middlesbrough yesterday afternoon and it even seemed going down duel carriageways.

It is the last stop on the slip road heading east, that causes the issues.
Ditto if they can't get a good run up from the roundabout.

No idea what the gearing set up is like, but the limiter placed on them, won't help.

sorry if this as been asked but if GNE are getting rid of the MPDs dose that mean the 18 in bishop auckland will get 2 solos

(15 Dec 2015, 11:41 pm)Kuyoyo wrote The 500 Group's final newsletter for 2015 reports the following vehicles due (citaro/Dan, here's your time to confirm/deny these):

• 13 Volvo B11R (confirmed)
  
• 7 Wright Streetdecks
  
• 22 Wright Streetlites
  
• 14 Optare Solos
  

Reckon those 14 Solos will be (x5) for Tynedale Links, (x9) North Tyne Links, Predicting some Service Changes to Services 17/17A and NTL 40/41/80.

Was hoping for B8RLEs for the Prince Bishops, obviously GNE are continuing at looking to investing towards a greener fleet, thus saving them money in the long run on running costs etc, which I think is a good thing.

(16 Dec 2015, 9:04 pm)Malarkey wrote Reckon those 14 Solos will be (x5) for Tynedale Links, (x9) North Tyne Links, Predicting some Service Changes to Services 17/17A and NTL 40/41/80.

Was hoping for B8RLEs for the Prince Bishops, obviously GNE are continuing at looking to investing towards a greener fleet, thus saving them money in the long run on running costs etc, which I think is a good thing.

I thought the PVR for the Tynedale Links was about 7 or 8 or is that just in the Summer?

I think the Prince Bishops brand will look good on the Streetlites... if they are for them....

The 22 Solars could get rid of the last 18 Cadets/Merits in service along with at least 2-3 B10's.

The Streetlites could be for service 61,33,39, the list of speculation could be endless unless someone who works for the bus company passes the information on before it comes public knowledge, and stop shooting down people suggestions because the person or persons know what services these will be for.

(17 Dec 2015, 5:03 pm)cbma06 wrote The Streetlites could be for service 61,33,39, the list of speculation could be endless unless someone who works for the bus company passes the information on before it comes public knowledge, and stop shooting down people suggestions because the person or persons know what services these will be for.

It would be a good idea for the Streetlites to go on the 61, then it can join the Drifter brand again.... hopefully a future Drifter route ticket will be introduced for uses on the 60/61 - if the 61 got Streetlites. 


33/33A/39 is also a good suggestion, how is the 33/33A doing on passenger number wise?, I've rarely seen them the last few months so not sure if it would be worth getting new buses for those services.

If the Prince Bishops for Streetlites then i think the Scania's will move on to the 33/33A/39 allowing them to be branded.

(17 Dec 2015, 5:14 pm)Michael wrote It would be a good idea for the streetlites to go on the 61, then it can join the Drifter brand again.... hopefully a future Drifter only ticket will be introduced.


33/33A/39 is also a good suggestion, how is the 33/33A doing on passenger number wise?, I've rarely seen them the last few months so not sure if it would be worth getting new buses for those services.

If the Prince Bishops for Streetlites then i think the Scania's will move on to the 33/33A/39 allowing them to be branded.

would like to see the silver citarios go onto service X35 with a new brand and wifi etc.. compete against arriva service 23 between Hartlepool and peterlee, and drop the fast cats brand x36 to a X56 in a express version brand of the fab56.

if there put new buses on the 33/33a with wifi, sockets etc... then there might get more passengers from the stagecoach service 12 old crappy buses.

I don't think the loadings on service 20/20A would cope with streetlites? especially a peak times.

(17 Dec 2015, 5:26 pm)cbma06 wrote would like to see the silver citarios go onto service X35 with a new brand and wifi etc.. compete against arriva service 23 between Hartlepool and peterlee, and drop the fast cats brand x36 to a X56 in a express version brand of the fab56.

if there put new buses on the 33/33a with wifi, sockets etc... then there might get more passengers from the stagecoach service 12 old crappy buses.

I don't think the loadings on service 20/20A would cope with streetlites? especially a peak times.

A solar has a capacity of 72 (43 sitting and 29 standing) and the streetlite has a capacity of 73 (45 sitting and 28 standing) so the capacity is very similar. The streetlite stats are based on 5395-5419.