I've seen the 33 round the docks a few times carrying a little bit more than fresh air... Fresh air plus the driver!

(31 May 2016, 10:52 pm)idiot wrote I've seen the 33 round the docks a few times carrying a little bit more than fresh air... Fresh air plus the driver!

Probably to be expected for the interim period of the Stagecoach 5 operating alongside the Go North East 33.

The Nexus liners hadn't been updated in time for the service changes, so the locals (largely those of the older generation) weren't aware of the 33's existence.

(31 May 2016, 8:46 am)streetlite5402 wrote Been informed by a Yardman at Chester-le-Street that the B10BLEs are due to be sent back to Saltmeadows Road today, as they're no longer required.

4905 and 5168 withdrawn again, while 4924 and 5170 have been temporarily transferred to Washington due to a high VOR.

4924 on services 5/50 today
5170 on services 82/82A today

Both were used on misc works boards yesterday evening - covering for Volvo B7s on peak-time X1s.

(01 Jun 2016, 8:14 am)Dan wrote 4905 and 5168 withdrawn again, while 4924 and 5170 have been temporarily transferred to Washington due to a high VOR.

4924 on services 5/50 today
5170 on services 82/82A today

Both were used on misc works boards yesterday evening - covering for Volvo B7s on peak-time X1s.

Do you no 4924 whereabouts?

(01 Jun 2016, 8:41 am)biglugs@yahoo.com wrote Do you no 4924 whereabouts?

10:06 #5 x Jarrow.

Looks like 6 Scania's at Deptford are now Red, meaning they only need to repaint one more for the 39, as i think the PVR for the 39 is 7?

(01 Jun 2016, 10:16 am)Michael wrote Looks like 6 Scania's at Deptford are now Red, meaning they only need to repaint one more for the 39, as i think the PVR for the 39 is 7?

Probably be the case , then once all pb streetlites are in service 4968-73 transfer out to Percy main

Does anyone know when all the PB streetlites will have entered service

(01 Jun 2016, 11:50 am)NK53 TKT wrote Does anyone know when all the PB streetlites will have entered service

And will they gain route details?

Probables be around end of June before all of them enter service fully, although only 6 are due to arrive.


5430 has now arrived, according to the news.


Dan said a few days ago that 5431/38 were are both undergoing PDI at the moment, also of one the Red versions were spotted (NK16 BWZ) so they should be arriving soon by end of the week.


They should gain route details, well i hope they do.

(01 Jun 2016, 11:56 am)Michael wrote They should gain route details, well i hope they do.

So do i although they don't look too bad without them. I only ask because 5423 was branded with route details but had them removed prior to entering service as seen in the attachment.

(01 Jun 2016, 11:56 am)Michael wrote Probables be around end of June before all of them enter service fully, although only 6 are due to arrive.


5430 has now arrived, according to the news.


Dan said a few days ago that 5431/38 were are both undergoing PDI at the moment, also of one the Red versions were spotted (NK16 BWZ) so they should be arriving soon by end of the week.


They should gain route details, well i hope they do.

5437 awaiting delivery at Heysham Docks - fingers crossed it'll get delivered this week.

5431 and the first red Streetlite, 5438, are awaiting shipping at Belfast Docks, while the second red Streetlite, 5439, is undergoing PDI at the moment. The first two will probably come across on tonight's sailing, and delivered on either Thursday or Friday all being well!

Note that the red spares aren't at the end of the batch which they usually are.

Could this suggest that 5440/5441 will have Euro 6 engines as planned so they have decided to take them out of the main Euro 5 lot and place them at the end of the total batch? I'm guessing its down to something as simple as registrations, though.

570 is now corporate red on service 86 today
38 minutes past of concord

(01 Jun 2016, 1:03 pm)S813 FVK wrote Could this suggest that 5440/5441 will have Euro 6 engines as planned so they have decided to take them out of the main Euro 5 lot and place them at the end of the total batch? I'm guessing its down to something as simple as registrations, though.

The vehicles with the tachographs are usually branded, and at the start of a batch. 5420/21 were not fitted with tachographs, so 5440/41 have been fitted with tachographs instead.

(01 Jun 2016, 1:11 pm)biglugs@yahoo.com wrote 570 is now corporate red on service 86 today
38 minutes past of concord

All vehicles in the fleet will be having the 'Northern' fleet name removed over the next few weeks.

(01 Jun 2016, 1:14 pm)Dan wrote The vehicles with the tachographs are usually branded, and at the start of a batch. 5420/21 were not fitted with tachographs, so 5440/41 have been fitted with tachographs instead.

Ah right - makes sense now.

(01 Jun 2016, 8:14 am)Dan wrote 4905 and 5168 withdrawn again, while 4924 and 5170 have been temporarily transferred to Washington due to a high VOR.

4924 on services 5/50 today
5170 on services 82/82A today

Both were used on misc works boards yesterday evening - covering for Volvo B7s on peak-time X1s.

And both were caught this afternoon at The Galleries, having quite a busy day today ahead my trip up to Glasgow tomorrow, so I didnt have time to go to more scenic locations which I would of preferred, and also avoided another run in with the Security aswell.

Nevertheless 5170 on the 82 and 4924 on the 50. 

(01 Jun 2016, 1:14 pm)Dan wrote The vehicles with the tachographs are usually branded, and at the start of a batch. 5420/21 were not fitted with tachographs, so 5440/41 have been fitted with tachographs instead.


All vehicles in the fleet will be having the 'Northern' fleet name removed over the next few weeks.

Will all of them be repainted?

(01 Jun 2016, 1:57 pm)Michael wrote Will all of them be repainted?

Long-term - the majority will be repainted.

For the short-term, removing the dated 'Northern' fleet name just has everything in a red base livery with company logos.

(01 Jun 2016, 2:00 pm)Dan wrote Long-term - the majority will be repainted.

For the short-term, removing the dated 'Northern' fleet name just has everything in a red base livery with company logos.

Cheers for the info.

Any news on those Omnidekkers, which are rumoured to be coming up from Brighton?

(01 Jun 2016, 2:08 pm)Michael wrote Cheers for the info.

Any news on these Omnidekkers rumoured to be coming from Brighton?

Bit more than 'rumoured' - this photo confirms that further OmniDekkas will be migrating north!

I believe the first two new StreetDecks are due to enter service this week, releasing two Scania OmniDekkas.

(01 Jun 2016, 2:14 pm)Dan wrote Bit more than 'rumoured' - this photo confirms that further OmniDekkas will be migrating north!

I believe the first two new StreetDecks are due to enter service this week, releasing two Scania OmniDekkas.

Guessing the lolynes will be first to go

(01 Jun 2016, 2:14 pm)Dan wrote Bit more than 'rumoured' - this photo confirms that further OmniDekkas will be migrating north!

I believe the first two new StreetDecks are due to enter service this week, releasing two Scania OmniDekkas.

, that's good.


No doubt they'll go to Stanley, can you tell us how many will arrive from Brighton?, or do we have to wait and see? .


How many double deckers in the fleet aren't DDA?

Buses that could be replaced.
Stanley .
3814,22,30,31,32,64,76,80.
Lolynes and olympians
Also not forgetting 6024 can be replaced plus those b7 presidents can be taken of the 15 and placed onto scholars .
Chester-le-Street
3869,72,75,78
These would be the main choice of buses to leave and theres also the b7 presidents.
Percy main
The 2x lolynes
Riverside could get cascades from other depots and if the omnidekkas go to chester it can release 3983 to Riverside to displace a olympian.
I do wonder if 1 can go to crook to act as the spare allowing 6038 to another depot.

(01 Jun 2016, 2:14 pm)Dan wrote Bit more than 'rumoured' - this photo confirms that further OmniDekkas will be migrating north!

I believe the first two new StreetDecks are due to enter service this week, releasing two Scania OmniDekkas.

I've heard a few of the next batch of OmniDekkas are rumoured to see allocation at Chester-le-Street, displacing 3869, 3872, 3875 and 3878.

(01 Jun 2016, 2:17 pm)biglugs@yahoo.com wrote Guessing the lolynes will be first to go

Buses may not necessarily be withdrawn immediately.

Go North East has been awarded a contract to operate Metro Replacement services between Four Lane Ends and Whitley Bay for 16 days, commencing Saturday 23rd July.

Whilst some vehicles will be made available due to scholars services not operating, I'm inclined to suggest that some cascades may be postponed until the Metro Replacement Blockade is out of the way.

Tridents 3873 and 3874 were withdrawn from service at Stanley without permanent replacement (though 4896 and 6024 are currently covering for them as float/reserve vehicles), and likewise 3859 at Percy Main was withdrawn without replacement. It's important that permanent replacements are sourced as soon as possible to restore the depot's normal engineering spare vehicle percentage.

(01 Jun 2016, 2:19 pm)Michael wrote , that's good.

No doubt they'll go to Stanley, can you tell us how many will arrive from Brighton?, or do we have to wait and see? .

How many double deckers in the fleet aren't DDA?

It's one of the 'wait and see' situations!

There are 8x Volvo Olympians in the fleet (five at Stanley, three at Riverside), and 9x Dennis Tridents in the fleet (three at Stanley, four at Chester-le-Street and two at Percy Main). 17x non-DDA double-decks in the fleet in total.

I'd imagine that the priority will be to dispose of the five Olympians at Stanley and the nine Dennis Tridents at various locations. The three Volvo Olympians at Riverside are only allocated to the Jewish Scholars 850/851 contract, and as it's a private contract, I don't think the buses allocated to the services have to be DDA-compliant.

Not forgetting that Go North East may lose some double-deck misc works contracts from September - this could also allow the disposal of further double-decks without replacements being sourced.

(01 Jun 2016, 2:33 pm)Dan wrote Buses may not necessarily be withdrawn immediately.

Go North East has been awarded a contract to operate Metro Replacement services between Four Lane Ends and Whitley Bay for 16 days, commencing Saturday 23rd July.

Whilst some vehicles will be made available due to scholars services not operating, I'm inclined to suggest that some cascades may be postponed until the Metro Replacement Blockade is out of the way.

Tridents 3873 and 3874 were withdrawn from service at Stanley without permanent replacement (though 4896 and 6024 are currently covering for them as float/reserve vehicles), and likewise 3859 at Percy Main was withdrawn without replacement. It's important that permanent replacements are sourced as soon as possible to restore the depot's normal engineering spare vehicle percentage.


It's one of the 'wait and see' situations!

There are 8x Volvo Olympians in the fleet (five at Stanley, three at Riverside), and 9x Dennis Tridents in the fleet (three at Stanley, four at Chester-le-Street and two at Percy Main).

I'd imagine that the priority will be to dispose of the five Olympians at Stanley and the nine Dennis Tridents at various locations. The three Volvo Olympians at Riverside are only allocated to the Jewish Scholars 850/851 contract, and as it's a private contract, I don't think the buses allocated to the services have to be DDA-compliant.

Not forgetting that Go North East may lose some double-deck misc works contracts from September - this could also allow the disposal of further double-decks without replacements being sourced.

All 14 will need replacing by 1.1.17, so hopefully GNE will get 14 (maybe a couple of spares?) in to replace the five Olympians at Stanley and the nine Dennis Tridents....

------------------

I would like to see some misc work put in to normal services, such as the 36 replacing the 8: Monday-Friday service 8 journey departing Enterprise Park at 4.40pm is replaced by the revised service 36, departing Enterprise Park at 4.53pm.

When the ad122 finnishes for the year where will the solos go?

(01 Jun 2016, 4:28 pm)biglugs@yahoo.com wrote When the ad122 finnishes for the year where will the solos go?

That's a thing Bazza asked me on Flickr the other day.

The Contract's which require Seatbelts can not be ran by 635/636, So they cannot be spares for Hexham I don't think.
I wouldn't be surprised if there put in storage for the winter till the AD122 starts again next year.

With regards to 6085 and 6104, what problem has the GKN mods posed to these vehicles? Has the performance of these 2x vehicles been adversely affected or has the fuel saving expectations not been living up to standard?