(17 Mar 2016, 8:14 am)biglugs@yahoo.com wrote Is 9102 out today

Yes! It's the 09:12 20 from Durham Bus Station. I'm on it right now!

(16 Mar 2016, 10:49 am)Andreos1 wrote Does anyone know where the light running X1's come from on a morning prior to picking up northbound X1's from Easington Lane?

Often see 2 or 3 heading south between the Western Bypass and Rainton Bridge (depending on the time of morning) all NIS in addition to the scheduled 921's.

Obviously in the past, they would have worked the 921 from Newcastle earning revenue, before running light to the Lane from Rainton Bridge.

6051 was one of the examples today.
Parked up at the stop next to the Chilton Diner NIS without a driver.
Wonder if the urge for a bacon sandwich got too much?

9102 has been removed from the 20 and I saw it heading though Houghton-le-Spring not in service, presumably it's going to be dropped back in service somewhere along the route. Fuming as I was stood just outside Houghton-le-Spring Town Centre waiting for it for half an hour and I planned a brilliant shot as well

(17 Mar 2016, 12:20 pm)Jimmi wrote 9102 has been removed from the 20 and I saw it heading though Houghton-le-Spring not in service, presumably it's going to be dropped back in service somewhere along the route. Fuming as I was stood just outside Houghton-le-Spring Town Centre waiting for it for half an hour and I planned a brilliant shot as well

I would have given up on your day, bought chocolate or cake and made my way home, by now

(17 Mar 2016, 12:47 pm)BusLoverMum wrote I would have given up on your day, bought chocolate or cake and made my way home, by now

Got another photo in Gilesgate, front was completely shadowd.

Completely sick now!

(17 Mar 2016, 12:50 pm)Jimmi wrote Got another photo in Gilesgate, front was completely shadowd.

Completely sick now!

Deep breath.
Put it down to experience.
Know there will be other opportunities. Maybe even better ones.
Eat cake.

(17 Mar 2016, 12:53 pm)BusLoverMum wrote Deep breath.
Put it down to experience.
Know there will be other opportunities. Maybe even better ones.
Eat cake.

I'm going to be telling exactly what I think of them as they screwed up the original plan for the day and then the revised plan!!!

(17 Mar 2016, 12:54 pm)Jimmi wrote I'm going to be telling exactly what I think of them as they screwed up the original plan for the day and then the revised plan!!!

Does it really matter that much Jimmi, I'm pretty sure there will be other opportunities. It's not the end of the world...

You've got whole month to get it. Put it this way, most people on here will have better oppotunities to get it than me.

You'll be pleased to hear that I did actually get a photo of 9102, before I turned totally insane!
Go North East: 9102 / YJ64DWK by Matthew Jimmison, on Flickr

This photo's okay, but I had something better planned which sadly was unachievable due to it being removed from service whilst I was waiting for the photo leaving me stood like a numpty in the Houghton-le-Spring area for half an hour.

What time is 9102 due at South Shields?

(17 Mar 2016, 3:01 pm)Jimmi wrote You'll be pleased to hear that I did actually get a photo of 9102, before I turned totally insane!
Go North East: 9102 / YJ64DWK by Matthew Jimmison, on Flickr

This photo's okay, but I had something better planned which sadly was unachievable due to it being removed from service whilst I was waiting for the photo leaving me stood like a numpty in the Houghton-le-Spring area for half an hour.

So I take it the 20 goes straight to South Shields via nowhere?

From one extreme to another, taking an eternity to scroll and now there's no via points!

(17 Mar 2016, 3:04 pm)Michael wrote What time is 9102 due at South Shields?

If I've worked this out right, it should be the 15:59 20 from Durham Bus Station then the 17:40 20 from South Shields - Sunderland Park Lane Interchange.

Matthew (Jimmi) is not to be held responsible if these times are incorrect or the bus is removed from service.

(17 Mar 2016, 3:11 pm)Jimmi wrote If I've worked this out right, it should be the 15:59 20 from Durham Bus Station then the 17:40 20 from South Shields - Sunderland Park Lane Interchange.

Matthew (Jimmi) is not to be held responsible if these times are incorrect or the bus is removed from service.

Sod that, i'm not waiting till then, ill be in shields soon on the metro.

Haha

(17 Mar 2016, 3:06 pm)LeeCalder wrote So I take it the 20 goes straight to South Shields via nowhere?

From one extreme to another, taking an eternity to scroll and now there's no via points!

Mobitec blind and had to get Optare to build the blind - exactly the same as the 3 Optare Solo's at Hexham.

They do not have time to spend building destinations with all the via points in!!

(17 Mar 2016, 3:24 pm)citaro5284 wrote Mobitec blind and had to get Optare to build the blind - exactly the same as the 3 Optare Solo's at Hexham.

They do not have time to spend building destinations with all the via points in!!

Lee's interest in destination displays is admirable but comes across as yet another instance of enthusiasts not appreciating the work and processes that go on behind the scenes, especially where there is third party involvement.

(17 Mar 2016, 3:24 pm)citaro5284 wrote Mobitec blind and had to get Optare to build the blind - exactly the same as the 3 Optare Solo's at Hexham.

They do not have time to spend building destinations with all the via points in!!

As if Go North East would be the only one of the big three in the north east to have Mobitc screens without via points...
Arriva North East: 4812 / WX61 FXO by Matthew Jimmison, on Flickr

(17 Mar 2016, 3:01 pm)Jimmi wrote You'll be pleased to hear that I did actually get a photo of 9102, before I turned totally insane!
Go North East: 9102 / YJ64DWK by Matthew Jimmison, on Flickr

This photo's okay, but I had something better planned which sadly was unachievable due to it being removed from service whilst I was waiting for the photo leaving me stood like a numpty in the Houghton-le-Spring area for half an hour.

I love the "enhancing the environment" claim. "Not destroying the environment any more than it needs to." isn't quite as snappy, though.

If the new Solos for Hexham are going to be launched next week, when will the Scania Wright Solar and MPDs receive their new look branding to match?

is there going to be a Launch event for Tynedale Links?


The New branding for both Tynedale Links and AD122 looks great!

(17 Mar 2016, 4:01 pm)BusLoverMum wrote I love the "enhancing the environment" claim. "Not destroying the environment any more than it needs to." isn't quite as snappy, though.

The MetroCity doesn't have the leaves down the side like the Solo SR Weardale recently loaned.
Weardale Motor Services: YJ64DWD by Matthew Jimmison, on Flickr

(17 Mar 2016, 9:16 am)Jimmi wrote Yes! It's the 09:12 20 from Durham Bus Station. I'm on it right now!

Did you ride it?

(17 Mar 2016, 12:20 pm)Jimmi wrote 9102 has been removed from the 20 and I saw it heading though Houghton-le-Spring not in service, presumably it's going to be dropped back in service somewhere along the route. Fuming as I was stood just outside Houghton-le-Spring Town Centre waiting for it for half an hour and I planned a brilliant shot as well

Deptford broke it...

(17 Mar 2016, 3:31 pm)Dan wrote Lee's interest in destination displays is admirable but comes across as yet another instance of enthusiasts not appreciating the work and processes that go on behind the scenes, especially where there is third party involvement.

I do appreciate the work and processes that go on behind the scenes, having been involved in the uploading of blinds to buses etc, and the designing of the information placed on them.

(17 Mar 2016, 3:24 pm)citaro5284 wrote Mobitec blind and had to get Optare to build the blind - exactly the same as the 3 Optare Solo's at Hexham.

They do not have time to spend building destinations with all the via points in!!

Well they should do haha!

It was just an observation, given how long the 20 route is.

(17 Mar 2016, 4:07 pm)thetravelman wrote If the new Solos for Hexham are going to be launched next week, when will the Scania Wright Solar and MPDs receive their new look branding to match?

is there going to be a Launch event for Tynedale Links?


The New branding for both Tynedale Links and AD122 looks great!

Hopefully the Scania and MPD's are branded this week..

Not sure if they'll be having a launch.

Will the Solar/MPDs be fitted with WiFi?

Agree both brands look very smart especially the AD122 one.

(17 Mar 2016, 4:09 pm)DanPicken wrote Did you ride it?
Deptford broke it...

I think the removal of 9102 from the 20 was due to delays as it racked up a fair delay on the previous trip, as it was quite busy as it was heading round Houghton around 09:30, so obviously you had all the pass holders come out for that bus which obviously slowed things down and presumably it didn't make any time up after I jumped off on Fawcett Street for that photo.

I actually quite liked it, the seats were pretty comfortable, thought it performed reasonably okay, there wasn't much in the way of rattles. It got up Houghton Cut pretty okay, especially as we stopped at the bus stop on it to rescue the passengers from a broken down Fast Cats Solar. Basically I thought it just felt like it was a larger Solo SR.

Do you think GNE are likely to invest into any other bus supplier other than Wrightbus, for the foreseeable future, in terms of a full size single decker or even a double decker. 

I know they use Optare for the Solos (of which I really like the new ones) but I like the idea of a varied mixed fleet, I understand that this isn't always cost effective from a maintenance point of view or from a driver training point of view.

I think it would be nice to see maybe some new Mercs, Scanias or Optares added to the fleet in future orders. 

I think a nice new Merc on the TynedaleXpress would be great! (My Opinion I know)


I'm not trying to say there is anything wrong with the Streetlites or Streetdecks, infact I like both.

(17 Mar 2016, 4:09 pm)DanPicken wrote Did you ride it?

I had a brief ride of it - same journey I did on the Volvo B8RLE demonstrator (Stadium of Light Metro to Houghton-le-Spring). Probably not the best journey to truly test its performance, but I'd timed it around finishing work and getting a photo with the sun behind me.

From an enthusiast point of view, the ride was pretty dull. It felt very much like a long Solo, but with a bit less power.

From a passenger point of view, hit all the right boxes. Was comfortable, there was relatively few rattles, and it managed to stick to the timetable. Downside was the fact that there was only one wheelchair bay (which was occupied by a pushchair on my journey), meaning that two buggies got left behind at the bus stop.

(17 Mar 2016, 4:09 pm)DanPicken wrote Deptford broke it...

No they didn't. It was regulated to get the bus back on-time.

It was out in service yesterday but removed because the driver did not know how to find the X20 destination. Again, troublesome Mobitec destination coming into play.

(17 Mar 2016, 4:07 pm)thetravelman wrote If the new Solos for Hexham are going to be launched next week, when will the Scania Wright Solar and MPDs receive their new look branding to match?

is there going to be a Launch event for Tynedale Links?


The New branding for both Tynedale Links and AD122 looks great!

Speaking of the AD122, GNE had this today for the AD122 at the North Tourism Fair at Hexham Auction Mart, would've gone as live near Hexham but didn't see the post on Facebook until after 2pm

Should maybe be pointed out, if it hasnt been already, that the Metrocity carries the fleet number 9108 on the vehicle itself:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/nebp2/2576...ateposted/