(07 Jun 2016, 7:45 pm)Dan wrote I'm impressed that I know where it is, now that I've seen it on a map!

Seems a strange place to send a school bus mind!

Weardale's depot at Consett is close to the top. You can see the tops of the buses in the corner of 'Derwentside Leisure Vehicle Services'.

There are no houses on it the road at all, why they send it up there to turn around at the top and come back down I don't know.

Got a message yesterday notifying me that 9101 had broke down on the 1819 82 out of Birtley.

As to whether there is any truth in this, I'm unsure.

(07 Jun 2016, 8:02 pm)biglugs@yahoo.com wrote Can double deckers appear on the 33?

Which 33? Not too familiar with the route in Sunderland, but there's nothing preventing double-deckers being used on the 33/33A between Newcastle and Hollywood Avenue/Fawdon. In days of Busways and TWPTE, the 33 (and the 4 which operated more or less the same route the current 33 does now) was often allocated a double-decker as seen in the examples below:

 
(Source: http://www.britishmodelbuses.com/Real_bu..._Large.jpg)


(Source: https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5505/9817...c963_b.jpg)

(07 Jun 2016, 8:02 pm)biglugs@yahoo.com wrote Can double deckers appear on the 33?

If it's regarding the service 33 in Sunderland then the answer is yes as there are no low bridge on the route.

Optare MetroCity 9102 has returned to Go North East for further trials - but it's now got a new look... It's blue!

(08 Jun 2016, 3:37 pm)Dan wrote Optare MetroCity 9102 has returned to Go North East for further trials - but it's now got a new look... It's blue!

Wonder where it will end up this time.

EDIT my thoughts are Riverside routes, Citylink and the Crusader come to mind, Though it could end up on the South Tyne

(08 Jun 2016, 3:39 pm)South Tyne Lad wrote Wonder where it will end up this time.

EDIT my thoughts are Riverside routes, Citylink and the Crusader come to mind, Though it could end up on the South Tyne  

You can hope...
I hope the Q3

3982 seems to have a problem with its indicators. Not working at all!

5430 has entered service at Deptford: https://www.flickr.com/photos/bazza90/27544144965/
as has 5437: https://www.flickr.com/photos/bazza90/26935393263/

Also, 5243 has been branded 'Whey Aye Five 0': https://www.flickr.com/photos/bazza90/27...otostream/

(08 Jun 2016, 5:01 pm)S813 FVK wrote 5430 has entered service at Deptford: https://www.flickr.com/photos/bazza90/27544144965/
as has 5437: https://www.flickr.com/photos/bazza90/26935393263/

Also, 5243 has been branded 'Whey Aye Five 0': https://www.flickr.com/photos/bazza90/27...otostream/

Thanks for the updates.

(08 Jun 2016, 3:37 pm)Dan wrote Optare MetroCity 9102 has returned to Go North East for further trials - but it's now got a new look... It's blue!

Is it Blue because Optare have decided to change its colour or another operator have requested it....... Or will it now be Blue because GNE would of requested it that way, ready for trials?

The Metrocity was photoed at some technology development place in Leyland a few days ago - https://www.flickr.com/photos/gcbp/27231...2tm-F9EJt2

(08 Jun 2016, 5:21 pm)thetravelman wrote Is it Blue because Optare have decided to change its colour or another operator have requested it....... Or will it now be Blue because GNE would of requested it that way, ready for trials?

It is blue to match the MetroDecker demonstrator.

(08 Jun 2016, 6:49 pm)GMitchelhill wrote The Metrocity was photoed at some technology development place in Leyland a few days ago - https://www.flickr.com/photos/gcbp/27231...2tm-F9EJt2

I believe the vehicle has recently been fitted with an AVID e-fan - it is possible that it was fitted and/or tested at the location of this photograph.

(08 Jun 2016, 6:51 pm)Dan wrote It is blue to match the MetroDecker demonstrator.



I believe the vehicle has recently been fitted with an AVID e-fan - it is possible that it was fitted and/or tested at the location of this photograph.

I like that colour Blue.

GNE fleet list states, the following new buses have arrived but not yet in service

Streetlites:


5438 - NK16 BWZ
5439 - NK16 AZU

Both the "Go North East" versions. 


Coaching unit:

7130 - BX16 CKP
7131 - BX16 CLO
7132 - BX16 CLU

6042 now has front LED destination, no longer has flipdots.

(08 Jun 2016, 7:28 pm)EL1TE wrote 6042 now has front LED destination, no longer has flipdots.

Was fitted on 29th May. The other Volvo B7TLs in the fleet with flipdots should shortly be gaining LEDs too.

On the subject of Eldon Square bus station, indoor or underground stations evoke memories of the 80's for me, Sunderland CBS, filled with diesel fumes, extractors on the roof doing nothing, good times! Might be a good idea for a new feed.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

(08 Jun 2016, 7:51 pm)Dan wrote Was fitted on 29th May. The other Volvo B7TLs in the fleet with flipdots should shortly be gaining LEDs too.

Will some of the scania's at Deptford be having their coloured LEDs swapped around as 5211 looks odd being the only fast cats with a coloured number, and 4976 and 4992 being the only 2 light red scania's without coloured route numbers?

(08 Jun 2016, 8:41 pm)Dans_bus_photos wrote Will some of the scania's at Deptford be having their coloured LEDs swapped around as 5211 looks odd being the only fast cats with a coloured number, and 4976 and 4992 being the only 2 light red scania's without coloured route numbers?

Long term; we are looking to have some consistency with the colour route number displays, yes.

There's a number of corporate liveried buses in the fleet (mainly Volvo B7s) which really don't need the colour route number displays, and they would be of much greater benefit on a branded vehicle. It's a bit of a pain to get the LED displays back out of a Volvo B7 though.

There's nothing in the pipeline for the immediate future though, as the main priority at the moment is making sure everything has a front LED display.

Bus Services Bill 2nd reading going through House of Lords now: (New link as tv session has ended):
http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2016-17/busservices/stages.html
Lord Whitty (Labour) making some very good points in response to the reading (Timed, starting at 16:52 on Parliament TV link)

Seems my post - re-entered above - was removed without reason given!! If admin has done this, then it should be explained as valid reason for duplication was given. (Hopefully not because employment with GNE is a conflict of interest)

The content of the attached is very relevant to bus operations and specifically to Go North East if the time is given to watch and listen to full video of the responses to second reading of bill. Further to my posting the debate further developed into Franchising as alternative to QCS and its effect on Go Ahead and other operators. - Please take the time to read/watch, as if passed into law will significantly effect GNE's (among others') operations in the North East

(08 Jun 2016, 9:27 pm)Venturego wrote (Hopefully not because employment with GNE is a conflict of interest)

You can view the members of the forum team on the link below:
http://northeastbuses.co.uk/forum/showteam.php

Without wishing to pee on your chips - none of the above users have any association with Go North East (or indeed any of the 'big three' operators in the region), so I can assure you there is no conflict of interest!

(08 Jun 2016, 9:27 pm)Venturego wrote
Seems my post - re-entered above - was removed without reason given!! If admin has done this, then it should be explained as valid reason for duplication was given. (Hopefully not because employment with GNE is a conflict of interest)

The content of the attached is very relevant to bus operations and specifically to Go North East if the time is given to watch and listen to full video of the responses to second reading of bill. Further to my posting the debate further developed into Franchising as alternative to QCS and its effect on Go Ahead and other operators. - Please take the time to read/watch, as if passed into law will significantly effect GNE's (among others') operations in the North East

Your post was removed as a duplicate, as you'd already posted it in the 'Bus Services Bill' thread. If people want to read about the bill, then they can find a relevant discussion about it in the mentioned thread.

I've no employment contract with GNE or any other operator for that matter, so for you to suggest there's been a conflict of interest, is unfounded and out of order. This was a routine moderation task to remove a duplicated post, and as such, it wasn't necessary to give an explanation of removal.

Noticed Olympian 3830 has a freshly repainted set of silver wheels today. Getting ready for disposal or planning to keep it a bit longer?

(08 Jun 2016, 3:37 pm)Dan wrote Optare MetroCity 9102 has returned to Go North East for further trials - but it's now got a new look... It's blue!

Go North East: 9102 / YJ64DWK by Daniel Graham, on Flickr

(08 Jun 2016, 9:49 pm)Dan wrote Go North East: 9102 / YJ64DWK by Daniel Graham, on Flickr

Looking forward to seeing this out and about

(08 Jun 2016, 8:32 pm)MrPottski wrote On the subject of Eldon Square bus station, indoor or underground stations evoke memories of the 80's for me, Sunderland CBS, filled with diesel fumes, extractors on the roof doing nothing, good times! Might be a good idea for a new feed.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Really for another thread, but I remember, not long before it closed, there was a serious accident at Sunderland CBS. It did get horribly crowded in there and there wasn't a lot of space for passengers to wait - it was a bit like Gateshead interchange's old layout, squashed into half the space. And there's always one pillock who tries to cross the road rather than take the footpaths around the outside.

(08 Jun 2016, 9:49 pm)Dan wrote Go North East: 9102 / YJ64DWK by Daniel Graham, on Flickr

Would that be a clue, then?

(08 Jun 2016, 9:57 pm)BusLoverMum wrote Would that be a clue, then?

Yes - a very big clue!

It will be used on the Durham Diamond 16/16A services for the first two weeks.

(08 Jun 2016, 9:58 pm)Dan wrote Yes - a very big clue!

It will be used on the Durham Diamond 16/16A services for the first two weeks.

When is it expected to enter service roughly (giving a few days for Driver familiarisation)?