(04 Jan 2016, 6:17 pm)Dan wrote Nothing wrong with a refresh, keeping the fleet smart and tidy, is there?

If you ask me; it's about time we saw quality being treated as a primary focus, amongst bus operators in the North East.

could have it a similar style like this except black and where the thing is at the back could replace that with Gateshead Millennium Bridge the routes would have 93/94 and the places it serves like Gateshead, Heworth, Team Valley and Gateshead College, https://www.flickr.com/photos/95122727@N...NoU-brPUJP

(04 Jan 2016, 6:17 pm)Dan wrote Nothing wrong with a refresh, keeping the fleet smart and tidy, is there?

If you ask me; it's about time we saw quality being treated as a primary focus, amongst bus operators in the North East.

The Sunderland Connect Solo's should be going in this year, as its coming up to 5 years for them (expect for 640, which i would think would be done at the same time anyway...)


Any news on the contract though?, as i'm sure it was on for 5 year before it re-newed and its also funded by Sunderland Uni/nexus and i think the council?

Anyone else think its daft that the Tynedale Links is going use MPDs and Solo's along with the Scania?

Why didn't GNE just replace all the MPDs on the Tynedale Links?

(04 Jan 2016, 7:04 pm)Michael wrote Anyone else think its daft that the Tynedale Links is going use MPDs and Solo's along with the Scania?

Why didn't GNE just replace all the MPDs on the Tynedale Links?

I suppose money is a factor...!

(04 Jan 2016, 7:07 pm)R852 PRG wrote I suppose money is a factor...!

Well instead of buying Solo's for the North Tyne Links they could of just bought them for the Tynedale Links and just replace the NTL MPD's in future.

(04 Jan 2016, 7:10 pm)Michael wrote Well instead of buying Solo's for the North Tyne Links they could of just bought them for the Tynedale Links and just replace the NTL MPD's in future.

No they couldn't.....more to these decisions than you lot ever see 

(04 Jan 2016, 7:04 pm)Michael wrote Anyone else think its daft that the Tynedale Links is going use MPDs and Solo's along with the Scania?

Why didn't GNE just replace all the MPDs on the Tynedale Links?

How many Solos is the Tynedale Links services getting again and what is the PVR required for them services?

Can only assume that some will be kept there as spares instead of having spare Solo SR's. Can't see where the Tynedale Links would be as big in terms of money making as the likes of the Venture and IndiGo services are, perhaps a full Solo allocation was unjustifiable. Then of course you will still have a Venture Solo SR going round on Tynedale Links services between runs on the once a day service 689.

(04 Jan 2016, 7:10 pm)Michael wrote Well instead of buying Solo's for the North Tyne Links they could of just bought them for the Tynedale Links and just replace the NTL MPD's in future.

You've got to consider the shelf lives of these buses though, Michael. There are a couple at Hexham that are a couple of years younger than the others, which are all 53-reg. At Percy Main; all of those MPDs date from 2003 if memory serves. Their expected lifetime is up, so they're being replaced.

(04 Jan 2016, 7:13 pm)Jimmi wrote How many Solos is the Tynedale Links services getting again and what is the PVR required for them services?

Can only assume that some will be kept there as spares instead of having spare Solo SR's. Can't see where the Tynedale Links would be as big in terms of money making as the likes of the Venture and IndiGo services are, perhaps a full Solo allocation was unjustifiable. Then of course you will still have a Venture Solo SR going round on Tynedale Links services between runs on the once a day service 689.

They are getting 5 and not sure on the PVR for them.

(04 Jan 2016, 7:12 pm)citaro5284 wrote No they couldn't.....more to these decisions than you lot ever see 

, i still don't see why half of the passengers should benefit from new buses and the rest don't, like you said we don't see the decisions made.

(04 Jan 2016, 7:13 pm)R852 PRG wrote You've got to consider the shelf lives of these buses though, Michael. There are a couple at Hexham that are a couple of years younger than the others, which are all 53-reg. At Percy Main; all of those MPDs date from 2003 if memory serves. Their expected lifetime is up, so they're being replaced.

Aye that's true, they also have 3, 52 reg MPD's to replace.

(04 Jan 2016, 7:17 pm)Michael wrote , i still don't see why half of the passengers should benefit from new buses and the rest don't, like you said we don't the decisions made.

You can please some of the people some of the time but not all of the people all of the time.

I suspect the other half of passengers will benefit when the time is right.

(04 Jan 2016, 7:20 pm)MurdnunoC wrote You can please some of the people some of the time but not all of the people all of the time.

I suspect the other half of passengers will benefit when the time is right.

You can't, i live no where near the route so i'm not sure why i'm even moaning about it!

We must remember that some of the services at Hexham are only contracted services, which Go North East may not be awarded with in future. Indeed; it's a possibility that Northumberland County Council may decide in the future that they cannot afford to offer the current level of service in the long-term, and terminate the contract after five years (which, to my memory, is the length for the contract for services 680 and 682)! I suppose it'd be difficult to justify spending a large amount of money to buy new buses, when there's uncertainty of the future for the services the bus would operate on?

The minibus PVR at Hexham is 7 vehicles (with one spare - presumably one of the AD122 branded examples which haven't been de-branded):
1. 682
2. 683
3. 74, 686, 687
4. 74, 686, 688
5. 112, 74, 686
6. 185, 681, X81
7. 141, 688

The seventh must be operated by a vehicle with seatbelts (and at the moment the only minibus with seatbelts at Hexham is 618), owing to a contractual requirement on the 141 scholars service. The 680 service is operated by a Scania L94/Wright Eclipse Solar. I cannot see either of these allocations changing, especially when Go North East went to the expense of refurbishing and retrofitting 618 with seatbelts, specifically for use on the aforementioned contract.

Unnecessary comments removed. It'd be a shame to spoil a good debate!

(04 Jan 2016, 7:27 pm)Dan wrote We must remember that some of the services at Hexham are only contracted services, which Go North East may not be awarded with in future. Indeed; it's a possibility that Northumberland County Council may decide in the future that they cannot afford to offer the current level of service in the long-term, and terminate the contract after five years (which, to my memory, is the length for the contract for services 680 and 682)! I suppose it'd be difficult to justify spending a large amount of money to buy new buses, when there's uncertainty of the future for the services the bus would operate on?

The minibus PVR at Hexham is 7 vehicles:
1. 682
2. 683
3. 74, 686, 687
4. 74, 686, 688
5. 112, 74, 686
6. 185, 681, X81
7. 141, 688

The seventh must be operated by a vehicle with seatbelts (and at the moment the only minibus with seatbelts at Hexham is 618), owing to a contractual requirement on the 141 scholars service. The 680 service is operated by a Scania L94/Wright Eclipse Solar. I cannot see either of these allocations changing, especially when Go North East went to the expense of refurbishing and retrofitting 618 with seatbelts, specifically for use on the aforementioned contract.

No doubt they have plans for that already!, it would be good, if that happens, for GNE to change the routes to keep at least a service in the area's which will loose a service. 

I would imagine the Scania will go in soon for repaint, so only 3 (1 spare) MPD's are staying at Hexham?

4899 has been spotted at Stanley Bus Station - this will be the replacement for 5160.

(04 Jan 2016, 7:51 pm)S813 FVK wrote 4899 has been spotted at Stanley Bus Station - this will be the replacement for 5160.

Didn't take long for it to be spotted - only arrived at Stanley this afternoon at 15:00!

(04 Jan 2016, 7:57 pm)Dan wrote Didn't take long for it to be spotted - only arrived at Stanley this afternoon at 15:00!

Still no sign of #### at Crook! 

We could do with it asap to replace 6021, which still hasn't been replaced lol

(04 Jan 2016, 8:06 pm)pdiddy wrote Still no sign of #### at Crook! 

We could do with it asap to replace 6021, which still hasn't been replaced lol

StreetDeck 9119 transferred from Riverside to Chester-le-Street an hour or two ago - you should have it tomorrow! 

(04 Jan 2016, 8:07 pm)Dan wrote StreetDeck 9119 transferred from Riverside to Chester-le-Street an hour or two ago - you should have it tomorrow! 

9119 is starting to build up a very nice fleet archive section haha 

(04 Jan 2016, 8:07 pm)Dan wrote StreetDeck 9119 transferred from Riverside to Chester-le-Street an hour or two ago - you should have it tomorrow! 

Big'un is thrilled. Thrilled. He loves that bus.

(04 Jan 2016, 8:27 pm)BusLoverMum wrote Big'un is thrilled. Thrilled. He loves that bus.

Bet he cannot wait until the new ones arrive.....complete with Next Stop Announcements!

(04 Jan 2016, 8:42 pm)citaro5284 wrote Bet he cannot wait until the new ones arrive.....complete with Next Stop Announcements!

I received a text of a Chester driver earlier, he reckons the StreetDeck's for the X21 (Possibly 21 after seeing earlier on VOSA that it is changing.... It seems to have disappeared now though) will be on the road 8th February.

Apparently they'll have e-leather seats, Wi-Fi etc.


I also saw on VOSA that the X1, 28/28A and X25 will be changing.

(04 Jan 2016, 8:42 pm)citaro5284 wrote Bet he cannot wait until the new ones arrive.....complete with Next Stop Announcements!

It's littl'un who loves those. But not as much as bells.

Will they be coming fitted with full body restraints so I can get him from A to B on one without having to hold his hands the entire journey?

(04 Jan 2016, 8:52 pm)LeeCalder wrote I received a text of a Chester driver earlier, he reckons the StreetDeck's for the X21 (Possibly 21 after seeing earlier on VOSA that it is changing.... It seems to have disappeared now though) will be on the road 8th February.

Apparently they'll have e-leather seats, Wi-Fi etc.


I also saw on VOSA that the X1, 28/28A and X25 will be changing.

dont believe everything you read.....must of been from John W was it 

(04 Jan 2016, 8:52 pm)LeeCalder wrote I received a text of a Chester driver earlier, he reckons the StreetDeck's for the X21 (Possibly 21 after seeing earlier on VOSA that it is changing.... It seems to have disappeared now though) will be on the road 8th February.

Apparently they'll have e-leather seats, Wi-Fi etc.


I also saw on VOSA that the X1, 28/28A and X25 will be changing.

Think that comes as standard on new vehicles now.

(04 Jan 2016, 8:55 pm)citaro5284 wrote dont believe everything you read.....must of been from John W was it 

Na... Not at all ;-)

He's a good man, I'd like to believe he's correct haha.

(04 Jan 2016, 8:56 pm)R852 PRG wrote Think that comes as standard on new vehicles now.

Not necessarily.

Surely the company asks for certain interior specifications.

(04 Jan 2016, 8:52 pm)LeeCalder wrote I received a text of a Chester driver earlier, he reckons the StreetDeck's for the X21 (Possibly 21 after seeing earlier on VOSA that it is changing.... It seems to have disappeared now though) will be on the road 8th February.

Apparently they'll have e-leather seats, Wi-Fi etc.


I also saw on VOSA that the X1, 28/28A and X25 will be changing.

This one  - back on NYE

1. PB0002400/458 - GO NORTHERN LTD T/A GO NORTH EAST, 117 QUEEN STREET, GATESHEAD, NE8 2UA
   • Variation Accepted by SN: Operating between Bishop Auckland Bus Station and Newcastle Eldon Square Bus Station given service number X21 effective from 04-Jan-2016. To amend Route.