(09 Jul 2016, 8:03 am)Adrian wrote Forgive my ignorance, but what's to not understand? Two services that share a common section of route, with almost a grouped brand? Makes perfect sense to me, and the colour will clearly help to differentiate the two to a customer.

Same concept applies to the Citylink 57 and 58.

I understand the grouping etc, but I don't understand the brand itself. What significance does the Blue/ Green Arrow hold?

The other brands have at least some connection/ significance like the Angel, Hexham Links, Red Kite etc

(09 Jul 2016, 8:56 am)JP6004 wrote I understand the grouping etc, but I don't understand the brand itself. What significance does the Blue/ Green Arrow hold?

The other brands have at least some connection/ significance like the Angel, Hexham Links, Red Kite etc

Who says all brands need to be significant (or relate) to the routes they operate on? While it may be a common thing, i wouldn't say that it is a 'must' when designing brands. I would say the main purpose of branding is to help identify the route the bus is operating which i would say the brands do quite well at.

(09 Jul 2016, 8:56 am)JP6004 wrote I understand the grouping etc, but I don't understand the brand itself. What significance does the Blue/ Green Arrow hold?

The other brands have at least some connection/ significance like the Angel, Hexham Links, Red Kite etc

The original Red Arrows (whether here or in Notts), was obviously a link to the fast jets we know so we'll.

The Silver version we saw on the 2's, was in my opinion, a watered down version of this.
As far as I can see, sticking 12year old + vehicles in an even thinner version, is (echoing back to the many comments in the branding thread) branding for brandings sake.

I wonder if the silver arrows was linked in to the Mercedes operating the service.

(09 Jul 2016, 8:30 am)Michael wrote Well really, the 39 should be simplicity to, as that services mostly shares its route with the 2/2A but its going to be a brand on red base.

I know i criticized the brand name but the brand does look like quite good on a blue base but could they not of come up with something else?

As Adrian said - two services which share a common route have been grouped together by having a similar brand name, albeit on a different base coat. This gives Go North East some clear messages to sell to people in Gateshead and Newcastle, and allows the company to present things such as combined frequencies etc to key points along the route (ie Metrocentre).

This concept is not new, but it's something which appears to becoming more of a common trend now so perhaps we'll see more of it in the future in other areas. One of the first times this was used was of course with the Fab56 and Fab57, but in its current form, service 57 was actually linked more to service 58 than to service 56, which is why these services are now grouped together under the "Citylink" brand.

I'm sure Go North East could have come up with something else if they so wished, but it's clear to me that marketing the links to the more successful 97 service is of greater importance to the company than coming up with a random brand name to encompass the new 11 service. Regardless of what the service is actually branded as, it's a huge step up for the current 96 service. Having route branding on this service allows potential for growth, and it brings it on the hierarchy of receiving newer vehicles in future.

(09 Jul 2016, 10:44 am)Dan wrote As Adrian said - two services which share a common route have been grouped together by having a similar brand name, albeit on a different base coat. This gives Go North East some clear messages to sell to people in Gateshead and Newcastle, and allows the company to present things such as combined frequencies etc to key points along the route (ie Metrocentre).

This concept is not new, but it's something which appears to becoming more of a common trend now so perhaps we'll see more of it in the future in other areas. One of the first times this was used was of course with the Fab56 and Fab57, but in its current form, service 57 was actually linked more to service 58 than to service 56, which is why these services are now grouped together under the "Citylink" brand.

I'm sure Go North East could have come up with something else if they so wished, but it's clear to me that marketing the links to the more successful 97 service is of greater importance to the company than coming up with a random brand name to encompass the new 11 service. Regardless of what the service is actually branded as, it's a huge step up for the current 96 service. Having route branding on this service allows potential for growth, and it brings it on the hierarchy of receiving newer vehicles in future.

Both the passengers of the 17/17A and 96 are getting better buses, which is good, will they be launching new ticketing for the route?, such as: Blue Arrow day/week tickets.

If its successful, wouldn't be surprised to see new buses on the 11/11A in the next few years, hopefully we see new buses on the 2/2A and 61 this year.

(09 Jul 2016, 10:51 am)Michael wrote Both the passengers of the 17/17A and 96 are getting better buses, which is good, will they be launching new ticketing for the route?, such as: Blue Arrow day/week tickets.

If its successful, wouldn't be surprised to see new buses on the 11/11A in the next few years, hopefully we see new buses on the 2/2A and 61 this year.

Yes - younger buses being allocated to these services should, in theory, improve reliability too. Improved reliability (both in terms of timekeeping and fewer breakdowns) should improve customer confidence in this service which could also result in increased passenger numbers.

I'm not sure what the plans are for ticketing options on the new 11 service, but when service 57 joined the "Citylink" brand, the existing "Citylink" route saver for service 58 was extended to cover the 57 service too.

Im probably going off topic here, but 5214 has 2 of the left windows smashed, after a collision with 5293, which has lost its mirror and a little bit of the front window. Police, ambulances and engineers are currently at the scene. 5219 has stopped infront of 5214, but I dont know if that has been damaged. All buses using stand C and D are using stand A and B.

(09 Jul 2016, 11:00 am)EL1TE wrote Im probably going off topic here, but 5214 has 2 of the left windows smashed, after a collision with 5293, which has lost its mirror and a little bit of the front window. Police, ambulances and engineers are currently at the scene. 5219 has stopped infront of 5214, but I dont know if that has been damaged. All buses using stand C and D are using stand A and B.

At Park Lane?

(09 Jul 2016, 11:03 am)Michael wrote At Park Lane?

Gateshead probably.

(09 Jul 2016, 11:03 am)Michael wrote At Park Lane?

No, it's at Heworth. Forgot to say!

(09 Jul 2016, 11:05 am)EL1TE wrote No, it's at Heworth. Forgot to say!

No worries, =)

Also remembered after my post that 5293 is a Riverside bus

(09 Jul 2016, 11:00 am)EL1TE wrote Im probably going off topic here, but 5214 has 2 of the left windows smashed, after a collision with 5293, which has lost its mirror and a little bit of the front window. Police, ambulances and engineers are currently at the scene. 5219 has stopped infront of 5214, but I dont know if that has been damaged. All buses using stand C and D are using stand A and B.

5219 is ok, it's now at Gateshead Interchange

Once again, Go North East was awarded with the contract to operate the Park & Ride service for the Mouth of the Tyne Festival this year. In previous years, the service operated with "North Tyne Links" branded MPDs, with this year being the first year of operation for the new "indiGo" branded Optare Solo SRs.

Go North East: 0677 / NK16BXV by Daniel Graham, on Flickr


A full-size photo of recently repainted 627 can also be viewed on the link below:

Go North East: 0627 / NK61DBY by Daniel Graham, on Flickr

Was going back to the car today and spotted 8297 parked up in MetroCentre coach park near the entrance, wonder why it was there


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Chances are that it was getting used as Staff Transport from Riverside to Metrocentre.

3963 and 3964 have been popping up a bit in the treasures section. Is 3964 perhaps the most repainted 10 year old bus in any fleet in the Northeast?

(09 Jul 2016, 6:45 pm)BusLoverMum wrote 3963 and 3964 have been popping up a bit in the treasures section. Is 3964 perhaps the most repainted 10 year old bus in any fleet in the Northeast?

Must be!

(09 Jul 2016, 11:00 am)EL1TE wrote Im probably going off topic here, but 5214 has 2 of the left windows smashed, after a collision with 5293, which has lost its mirror and a little bit of the front window. Police, ambulances and engineers are currently at the scene. 5219 has stopped infront of 5214, but I dont know if that has been damaged. All buses using stand C and D are using stand A and B.

Here is 5214 with the windows smashed. I was only meeting my friend until i noticed BLUE LIGHTS

Talking of service changes & vehicle features, I think its a bit of a shame that any blind or visually impaired residents of Hadrian Park, that currently benefit from Next Stop Announcements on Citylink58 services will lose this aid when the route is cut short, and replaced with the non-NSA equipped Citylink57 service.

(09 Jul 2016, 9:59 pm)ne14ne1 wrote Talking of service changes & vehicle features, I think its a bit of a shame that any blind or visually impaired residents of Hadrian Park, that currently benefit from Next Stop Announcements on Citylink58 services will lose this aid when the route is cut short, and replaced with the non-NSA equipped Citylink57 service.

I still dunno why its being changed to the 57,ive been giving it some thought and i just dont get it,is it to keep the brand fresh,are the versas in a bad shape that they cant run the full journey to hadrian park,or simply just cus they want to,on a side note its gonna be nice seeing mercs over here again on this route cus some of them coming across actually served most of their lives on the 58 before going on the old 43/44 in 2012

(10 Jul 2016, 1:10 am)V514DFT wrote I still dunno why its being changed to the 57,ive been giving it some thought and i just dont get it,is it to keep the brand fresh,are the versas in a bad shape that they cant run the full journey to hadrian park,or simply just cus they want to,on a side note its gonna be nice seeing mercs over here again on this route cus some of them coming across actually served most of their lives on the 58 before going on the old 43/44 in 2012

The 58 is going to operate every 12 minutes according to the new timetable online, so you could not have every other one like now going to Hadrian Park and the service must not warrant everyone going to Hadrian Park, so replace that section of route with the 57 that operates on a 20 minute frequency as the Hadrian Park extension does now so the service is maintained, quite simple really

Am sorry to ask and change the subject X21 on Sunday is it still done by Chester le street or by crook depot

(10 Jul 2016, 7:59 am)jaimzm wrote Am sorry to ask and change the subject X21 on Sunday is it still done by Chester le street or by crook depot

Evening and Sunday X21's are done by Chester-le-Street depot interworking with the 21 using the Angel Hybrids.

(10 Jul 2016, 7:59 am)jaimzm wrote Am sorry to ask and change the subject X21 on Sunday is it still done by Chester le street or by crook depot

The evening and Sunday operation of service X21 runs from Chester-le-Street, using the "Angel" branded Hybrids (interworking with service 21 at Durham).

Go North East

Durham Road beside Bede Campus heading into Sunderland closed services 20 and 35 diverted via Premier Road and Silksworth Lane


Pretty sure the 35 doesn't run on a Sunday....

(10 Jul 2016, 8:37 am)Michael wrote Go North East

Durham Road beside Bede Campus heading into Sunderland closed services 20 and 35 diverted via Premier Road and Silksworth Lane


Pretty sure the 35 doesn't run on a Sunday....

You could always go and point the mistake out to them

Services 135 136 unable to get on to A1231 Wessington Way and are doing a double run on Colima Avenue to get access to/from Castletown

Might be able to get some decent pictures

(10 Jul 2016, 9:22 am)S813 FVK wrote You could always go and point the mistake out to them

I could but i cba haha

(10 Jul 2016, 8:37 am)Michael wrote Go North East

Durham Road beside Bede Campus heading into Sunderland closed services 20 and 35 diverted via Premier Road and Silksworth Lane


Pretty sure the 35 doesn't run on a Sunday....

35A runs via silksworth on Sunday's and evenings