Speaking of the Streetlites, I forgot to mention that 8302 returned to Deptford at approximately 14:30 today. Certainly one to look out for tomorrow for those wanting photos of the exclusives!

Bet its green.. haha

Bet its green.. haha

Haha, where's your guess for the fleet numbers?!

Speaking of the Streetlites, I forgot to mention that 8302 returned to Deptford at approximately 14:30 today. Certainly one to look out for tomorrow for those wanting photos of the exclusives!

Well I can't see it been that different if its gone green like the current Lambton Worm, has it been branded or just repainted?. If I'm lucky I might catch it on the 60 tomorrow morning.

Well I can't see it been that different if its gone green like the current Lambton Worm, has it been branded or just repainted?. If I'm lucky I might catch it on the 60 tomorrow morning.

Just repainted.
I should get the opportunity to see four workings tomorrow, so hopefully will be able to get a photo for everyone. Will update anyone with the timings for it if I see it too.

Haha, where's your guess for the fleet numbers?!

Think they will:
Versa's - 8339-8353 (incase the extra 15 buses are Versa)
Streetlite - 8369+

Bet its green.. haha

Sure is.

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Think they will:
Versa's - 8339-8353 (incase the extra 15 buses are Versa)
Streetlite - 8369+

Close, but no cigar!

We'll start with the Versas - remember, these are a different length to the Versas that are currently in the fleet. Can you think of where else they may fit in?

As for the Streetlites... Let's just talk about the "Drifter" examples for now. As we know, these are the longer vehicles of the two batches (the "Saltwell Park" examples are slightly smaller in length).
You may be right with the last two numbers for NL63XAZ... I wonder what the first two numbers are though?

Close, but no cigar!

We'll start with the Versas - remember, these are a different length to the Versas that are currently in the fleet. Can you think of where else they may fit in?

As for the Streetlites... Let's just talk about the "Drifter" examples for now. As we know, these are the longer vehicles of the two batches (the "Saltwell Park" examples are slightly smaller in length).
You may be right with the last two numbers for NL63XAZ... I wonder what the first two numbers are though?

cba to go though every number

Saltwell Park 10.8m Streetlites: 5369 - 5376(?)
Citylink Versa: 5377-5390
Drifter 11.5m Streetlites : 8339 - 8346
Sorry to spoil Michael's Game

cba to go though every number

You're so close though!

Remember that these Streetlites are 11.5m in length...
What other vehicles do we have in the fleet at present that are 11.9m?

Close, but no cigar!

We'll start with the Versas - remember, these are a different length to the Versas that are currently in the fleet. Can you think of where else they may fit in?

As for the Streetlites... Let's just talk about the "Drifter" examples for now. As we know, these are the longer vehicles of the two batches (the "Saltwell Park" examples are slightly smaller in length).
You may be right with the last two numbers for NL63XAZ... I wonder what the first two numbers are though?

5369 onwards for Drifter streetlites seems likely then. I thought they might go there.

Oh beat there by Matt. Oh I thought the Saltwell park ones might follow the Versas.

Saltwell Park 10.8m Streetlites: 5369 - 5376
Citylink Versa: 5377-5390
Drifter 11.5m Streetlites : 8339 - 8346

Cheer's i don't know why it matters when it comes to length of the buses etc for fleet numbers, they just should be:

All new single Deckers should be 8339+
All new Decker's should be 6083+

Untill it gets to the end and re-set it at 1 haha

Saltwell Park 10.8m Streetlites: 5369 - 5376
Citylink Versa: 5377-5390
Drifter 11.5m Streetlites : 8339 - 8346
Sorry to spoil Michael's Game

Very close!

11.5m "Drifter" branded Streetlites will be allocated fleet numbers 5369 - 5376.
10.8m "Saltwell Park" branded Streetlites will be allocated fleet numbers 8339 - 8346.

You are indeed correct in regards to the "Citylink" branded Versas. They are to be allocated fleet numbers 5377 – 5390.

Oh beat there by Matt. Oh I thought the Saltwell park ones might follow the Versas.

They do.

Very close!

11.5m "Drifter" branded Streetlites will be allocated fleet numbers 5369 - 5376.
10.8m "Saltwell Park" branded Streetlites will be allocated fleet numbers 8339 - 8346.

You are indeed correct in regards to the "Citylink" branded Versas. They are to be allocated fleet numbers 5377 – 5390.

Ah so what I said. Yeah predictable that they would go with the length of the bus.

Very close!

11.5m "Drifter" branded Streetlites will be allocated fleet numbers 5369 - 5376.
10.8m "Saltwell Park" branded Streetlites will be allocated fleet numbers 8339 - 8346.

You are indeed correct in regards to the "Citylink" branded Versas. They are to be allocated fleet numbers 5377 – 5390.

My bad. Knew what I meant

Fleet list will look very different by the end of January with all the new buses and the new depot opening - is it still in line to open then?

I'm hoping when the streetlites enter service, we will have only a few MPD at Deptford.

So, for the arrivals that have been noted so far...

• 5369 - NL63 XAZ
  
• 5370 - NL63 XBA
  
• 5371 - NL63 XBB
  

Like I said earlier, a complete list may follow on Sunday... :p

Can anyone explain why they are sticking with the Lambton Worm brand on a service which goes nowhere near the site of the Lambton Worm or anywhere near anything that has a connection to the story?

I'm half expecting a Toon Link brand appearing in Sunderland

Can anyone explain why they are sticking with the Lambton Worm brand on a service which goes nowhere near the site of the Lambton Worm or anywhere near anything that has a connection to the story?

I'm half expecting a Toon Link brand appearing in Sunderland

It's a decent brand. There's no other service to put in on really, so the 34 needed a brand stick it on there. Works okay, looks nice.

It's a decent brand. There's no other service to put in on really, so the 34 needed a brand stick it on there. Works okay, looks nice.

71 serving Fencehouses.

It's a decent brand. There's no other service to put in on really, so the 34 needed a brand stick it on there. Works okay, looks nice.

The Tyne Tees Express is a decent brand but I wouldn't stick it on the 28

What if GNE named all their buses starting with Fab..


Fab Fourty two
Fab Fifty Eight
Fab Fifty Fifty haha

What if GNE named all their buses starting with Fab..


Fab Fourty two
Fab Fifty Eight
Fab Fifty Fifty haha

I think the word Fab became extinct in the 60s. I'm hoping the new buses on the 56 will result in a less cheesy brand.

It's a decent brand. There's no other service to put in on really, so the 34 needed a brand stick it on there. Works okay, looks nice.

I know we're potentially getting off-topic and regardless whether it looks nice or not on MPD's, DAF's or Versa's...

The brand has nowt to do with Ouston, Pelaw Estate, Chester or Waldridge Estate though - whether it looks nice or not.

Branding divides people, (some love it, some don't) and putting my opinions on branding to one side, sticking a big worm on the side of those Versa's seems like a pointless excercise.
The Toon Link in Sunderland is an extreme example, but the Lambton Worm has as much in common with Urpeth Grange as the Toon has with Pennywell.

Same, i hope we see no flowers on it but its a popular brand so i think it will be continued

I know we're potentially getting off-topic and regardless whether it looks nice or not on MPD's, DAF's or Versa's...

The brand has nowt to do with Ouston, Pelaw Estate, Chester or Waldridge Estate though - whether it looks nice or not.

Branding divides people, (some love it, some don't) and putting my opinions on branding to one side, sticking a big worm on the side of those Versa's seems like a pointless excercise.
The Toon Link in Sunderland is an extreme example, but the Lambton Worm has as much in common with Urpeth Grange as the Toon has with Pennywell.

Well I agree it has nothing to do with the area it serves. But not all the brands have something to do with area it serves, speaking of Pennywell the Doxford clipper doesn't have anything to do with Pennywell (and yeah I know it serves Doxford Park but I mean it's not always about the area it serves) What does Simplicity even mean?
But obviously I know it's different as Lambton refers to a place, but what route could it be put on instead?
I'm just playing devils advocate as I agree it's a little daft but a few brands are daft.

I think the word Fab became extinct in the 60s. I'm hoping the new buses on the 56 will result in a less cheesy brand.

Route 56?

I'm amazed they haven't tried a cheesy Americana 'Route 66' branding yet

I'd be even more open to not having brands if they had more than a half arsed attempt at Northern branding as a new corporate identity

If I remember rightly, "SimpliCity" was introduced to Sunderland on services 36 and 42 to act as a 'simple' brand identity - and it was marketed as making the passenger experience easier. When it was first introduced, both services had a 10 minute frequency which gives us the brand's slogan, 'Simply turn up and go'.
These services also offered a 'money back guarantee'. This was perhaps more heavily weighted towards the 36 rather than the 42, as the 36 competed with several of Stagecoach in Sunderland's services in North Sunderland.
It would also seem that Go North East played on the fact that Sunderland is a city, rather than a town (it's likely you've heard about this on the radio too recently, as Sunderland has had a 'city' status now for 21 years). The letter 'C' is capitalized. This also looks stylish, but fits in well with with the idea of the "SimpliCity" brand being the Sunderland equivalent of Peterlee's "East Durham", Consett's "Venture" or indeed Hexham's "Tynedale Links".

I'd love for the brand to be expanded further.

I'm in agreement with you here Andreos1, For the Branding to Work and to have meaning, The Service should at least Serve Fatfield Riverside/Lambton which the 34/34A goes no where near, leading to it's Branding being of Irrelevant.

Whereas if GNE Re-Introduced the old 777 between Sunderland and Chester le Street via Fatfield Riverside and have it under the Lambton Worm Brand,Then the Service and the Branding would then be Relevant. GNE Could even put the 8 under the Lambton Worm instead of the Meaningless Lime Branding.

If I remember rightly, "SimpliCity" was introduced to Sunderland on services 36 and 42 to act as a 'simple' brand identity - and it was marketed as making the passenger experience easier. When it was first introduced, both services had a 10 minute frequency which gives us the brand's slogan, 'Simply turn up and go'.
These services also offered a 'money back guarantee'. This was perhaps more heavily weighted towards the 36 rather than the 42, as the 36 competed with several of Stagecoach in Sunderland's services in North Sunderland.
It would also seem that Go North East played on the fact that Sunderland is a city, rather than a town (it's likely you've heard about this on the radio too recently, as Sunderland has had a 'city' status now for 21 years). The letter 'C' is capitalized. This also looks stylish, but fits in well with with the idea of the "SimpliCity" brand being the Sunderland equivalent of Peterlee's "East Durham", Consett's "Venture" or indeed Hexham's "Tynedale Links".

I'd love for the brand to be expanded further.

I particularly liked the SimpliCity advertising campaign. Now that was innovative!