Just seen a FAB 56, B9, heading along Hylton Retail Park towards where the shops are, its not in service

(04 May 2016, 3:42 pm)Tom wrote Wonder what route that will be trailed on? One of the indiGo routes maybe to compare against the Solos.

Maybe 82/85/86...

Has someone mixed the boards up today? 4898 has just operated the short 88A to Jarrow 5 mins ago, 5 mins later 8295 appears on another short 88A to Jarrow.

Though earlier there was a large gap between services around half 3, So maybe now is the earliest they could fill the time gap between buses?

(04 May 2016, 4:37 pm)South Tyne Lad wrote Has someone mixed the boards up today? 4898 has just operated the short 88A to Jarrow 5 mins ago, 5 mins later 8295 appears on another short 88A to Jarrow.

Though earlier there was a large gap between services around half 3, So maybe now is the earliest they could fill the time gap between buses?

Could 4898 not have been 25 minutes late? Half an hour (and an 88 Lukes Lane) separates the 88A shorts

(04 May 2016, 4:43 pm)S813 FVK wrote Could 4898 not have been 25 minutes late? Half an hour (and an 88 Lukes Lane) separates the 88A shorts

There's only 1 Short 88A to Jarrow, The 88A half an hour earlier runs to Lukes Lane. I haven't took notice of the times today mind.

On a Saturday the short 88A just runs as a full 88A to Lukes Lane.

5277 has had its original style front destination refitted, replacing the white one.

(04 May 2016, 4:37 pm)JP6004 wrote Maybe 82/85/86...

Maybe but I'd think they would want to compare it against the Solos.

(04 May 2016, 4:47 pm)South Tyne Lad wrote There's only 1 Short 88A to Jarrow, The 88A half an hour earlier runs to Lukes Lane. I haven't took notice of the times today mind.

On a Saturday the short 88A just runs as a full 88A to Lukes Lane.

You sure? One 88A departs South Shields to Jarrow at 17:08 followed by the 88 to Lukes Lane at 17:25. There is then another 88A to Jarrow from South Shields at 17:40.

(04 May 2016, 4:54 pm)S813 FVK wrote You sure? One 88A departs South Shields to Jarrow at 17:08 followed by the 88 to Lukes Lane at 17:25. There is then another 88A to Jarrow from South Shields at 17:40.

Ah, Prior to Riverside gaining the 88/88A, The 17:08 Short 88A used to be a 17:05 88A to Lukes Lane while the 17:40 has always been a short.
Apoligies.

Was another B10BLE ever withdrawn following the transfer of 4942 & 4943 to Riverside?

Nope something is definitely wrong as 8298 has past on a timetabled Short 88A to Jarrow, 1 of them was not timetabled to terminate short at Jarrow.

(04 May 2016, 2:39 pm)GuyParkRoyal wrote Wright Streetlite WF demonstrator at Saltmeadows today.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/gpr_bus_ph...208964723/

Allocated fleet number 9101.

(04 May 2016, 4:50 pm)park5354 wrote 5277 has had its original style front destination refitted, replacing the white one.

The white one was removed on 4th April.

(04 May 2016, 6:22 am)Michael wrote New Prince Bishops livery on 5423:




It looks alright on the Steetlite

Thanks to the The Northern Road Transport Trust and Mark Williams for the photo. =)

5420 is now branded - https://www.flickr.com/photos/bazza90/26...ateposted/

Thanks to Bazza for the photo

I think 9101 should he sent to Crook for the 18...

It can cover for 572 which is VOR

5201 has been on the 18s today

(04 May 2016, 6:28 pm)pdiddy wrote I think 9101 should he sent to Crook for the 18...

It can cover for 572 which is VOR

5201 has been on the 18s today

You want everything at Crook for these 18's don't you

My opinion of more Streetlites isn't family friendly.

I don't think the Streetlites are too bad, now that I'm used to them. They're not an enthusiast friendly bus, but it seems that the majority of customers seem to like them? We'll see how 9101 does, but it's an ugly looking thing!

(04 May 2016, 7:00 pm)Adrian wrote I don't think the Streetlites are too bad, now that I'm used to them. They're not an enthusiast friendly bus, but it seems that the majority of customers seem to like them? We'll see how 9101 does, but it's an ugly looking thing!

Yes the colour doesn't do it any favours. Saying that, didnt they have a white one on extended trial a few years back? That wasn't the prettiest of things either

(04 May 2016, 7:00 pm)Adrian wrote I don't think the Streetlites are too bad, now that I'm used to them. They're not an enthusiast friendly bus, but it seems that the majority of customers seem to like them? We'll see how 9101 does, but it's an ugly looking thing!

I like the ones on the C&C but i do agree on 9101 looking ugly!

(04 May 2016, 7:02 pm)JP6004 wrote Yes the colour doesn't do it any favours. Saying that, didnt they have a white one on extended trial a few years back? That wasn't the prettiest of things either

Yes - CRZ7495


CRZ7495 by C522LJR, on Flickr

(04 May 2016, 7:00 pm)Adrian wrote I don't think the Streetlites are too bad, now that I'm used to them. They're not an enthusiast friendly bus, but it seems that the majority of customers seem to like them? We'll see how 9101 does, but it's an ugly looking thing!

I find them hit and miss really, it depends on what route they are on, the road surface and how it is being driven. Possibly the best Streetlite I've been on is Dales & District's WF example MX62GUG. I didn't mind the Coast and Country example I recently had on the 15 to Consett, a big improvement on the usual Presidents. Some advice I'd give is don't sit next to the emergency exit door if you hate rattles.

(04 May 2016, 7:11 pm)Jimmi wrote I find them hit and miss really, it depends on what route they are on, the road surface and how it is being driven. Possibly the best Streetlite I've been on is Dales & District's WF example MX62GUG. I didn't mind the Coast and Country example I recently had on the 15 to Consett, a big improvement on the usual Presidents. Some advice I'd give is don't sit next to the emergency exit door if you hate rattles.

5401 is one of/if not the worst offender for rattly doors for me, Shocking vehicle that one.
Only batch I enjoy riding is the MAX X1 batch, Drivers rip the **** out of them! Back in the day they was a lot better Pulsar's on there though which I wish still operated it.

I've sampled 3 red kite examples on Monday and Tuesday.

They all rattled badly.
Ride quality was poor.
Kangerooing gearbox on 2 different vehicles, suprisingly I didn't end up with whiplash.
The lights were dimming and brightening every time the driver removed or added pressure to the accelerator.
The next stop announcements got confused on the approach to Metrocentre saying the bus was arriving at Clayton Street, the bus was heading to Consett, the NSA then stopped working altogether though I could only assume it got off and boarded a Red Kite heading to Clayton Street.

(04 May 2016, 7:35 pm)GMitchelhill wrote I've sampled 3 red kite examples on Monday and Tuesday.

Kangerooing gearbox on 2 different vehicles, suprisingly I didn't end up with whiplash.

That's one of the things I enjoy riding them for,I Just find it interesting.

(04 May 2016, 7:35 pm)GMitchelhill wrote I've sampled 3 red kite examples on Monday and Tuesday.

They all rattled badly.
Ride quality was poor.
Kangerooing gearbox on 2 different vehicles, suprisingly I didn't end up with whiplash.
The lights were dimming and brightening every time the driver removed or added pressure to the accelerator.
The next stop announcements got confused on the approach to Metrocentre saying the bus was arriving at Clayton Street, the bus was heading to Consett, the NSA then stopped working altogether though I could only assume it got off and boarded a Red Kite heading to Clayton Street.

When did it stop working? It's a problem when drivers are changing the destinations before the next run. It's almost a constant on the X1, where you'll get a driver changing it on the Tyne bridge or at the foot of John Dobson St. It'll result in St Nicholas Cathedral being announced as the next stop, and the actual termination point not being announced - not great if you're carrying passengers with vision difficulties.

(04 May 2016, 7:00 pm)Adrian wrote I don't think the Streetlites are too bad, now that I'm used to them. They're not an enthusiast friendly bus, but it seems that the majority of customers seem to like them? We'll see how 9101 does, but it's an ugly looking thing!

I agree with you, they are actually good buses except for all the Arriva examples (except 1583) and the X66 examples

(04 May 2016, 7:02 pm)JP6004 wrote Yes the colour doesn't do it any favours. Saying that, didnt they have a white one on extended trial a few years back? That wasn't the prettiest of things either

I don't think plain silver paintwork does any vehicle any favours. I never understood the trend for it and we've actively discounted cars for being silver, in the past, when that was the colour of every other car in a car park

(04 May 2016, 7:35 pm)GMitchelhill wrote I've sampled 3 red kite examples on Monday and Tuesday.

They all rattled badly.
Ride quality was poor.
Kangerooing gearbox on 2 different vehicles, suprisingly I didn't end up with whiplash.
The lights were dimming and brightening every time the driver removed or added pressure to the accelerator.
The next stop announcements got confused on the approach to Metrocentre saying the bus was arriving at Clayton Street, the bus was heading to Consett, the NSA then stopped working altogether though I could only assume it got off and boarded a Red Kite heading to Clayton Street.

I've only encountered the gearbox juddering on the GNE coast and countries. I ride on an arrive Sapphire streetlite pretty much every time I go out by bus, since that's what's normally allocated to my local route and I have no choice. Never had a judder in over a year, now.

Agre about the rattles, mind - tempted to go at the emergency exits on ours with some blu tack, just to damp it all down a bit. Must give the drivers a right old headache after a continuous 3 hours on one.

NSAs doing stuff like that tends to be an issue with the GPS. Ours do a loop of a particular village and almost always get lost on the anticlockwise loop. What Adrian said holds, too - though the Arriva NSAs have an end of route announcement, which probably informs the driver as much as the passengers that a switch over can now be made.

Does anyone know how many buses tend to be used on the DFDS service. I've only ever seen 2 in use parked behind each other near Central Station. Therefore having 4 branded seems over the top?

Having said that I don't know what days are busiest,I'm may have just noticed quiet days.

(04 May 2016, 10:28 pm)Wybus wrote Does anyone know how many buses tend to be used on the DFDS service. I've only ever seen 2 in use parked behind each other near Central Station. Therefore having 4 branded seems over the top?

Having said that I don't know what days are busiest,I'm may have just noticed quiet days.

There were 6 today that i seen. A saturday when newcastle are at home tend to be the busiest days.