(27 Aug 2016, 9:00 am)Michael wrote Anyone know the fleet numbers for the above Solo's on the photo's. (this batch will start from 681?)

Also any details about them, such as length, euro engine? etc

They look the same length as the last two batches, judging by those photos. So 9.2m?

(27 Aug 2016, 9:27 am)Adrian wrote They look the same length as the last two batches, judging by those photos. So 9.2m?

Ah right, was just checking.

31 seats should be enough for the 82/82A/83.... 

We don't know where the red ones are going so we can't say

When are Go North East going to publicly announce they new buses?

(27 Aug 2016, 9:40 am)Ds1197 wrote When are Go North East going to publicly announce they new buses?

In the past, there has been Facebook posts, when they're branded up and ready to go into service.

I don't think they'll get much of a launch mind, as they don't seem to have bothered with the Prince Bishops or indiGo North Tyne.

(25 Aug 2016, 10:29 am)South Tyne Lad wrote I'm thinking the same thing, Though with one being red id think if it's destined for Deptford it will be Black Cats branded.

Or a red spare

(27 Aug 2016, 4:53 pm)NK53 TKT wrote Or a red spare

They are a different shade of red - a 'Red Arrows' red.

Already have leaflets out on the Washington Based Services, but no Launch Date is specified.

Would assume the red ones will be for the 33/33A/38/99/237 & 238, depending on how many there is due of course, hopefully Crook may get two for the 18 also.

(27 Aug 2016, 7:05 pm)Malarkey wrote Already have leaflets out on the Washington Based Services, but no Launch Date is specified.

Would assume the red ones will be for the 33/33A/38/99/237 & 238, depending on how many there is due of course, hopefully Crook may get two for the 18 also.

33A and 99 no longer run Malarkey.

(27 Aug 2016, 7:05 pm)Malarkey wrote Already have leaflets out on the Washington Based Services, but no Launch Date is specified.

Would assume the red ones will be for the 33/33A/38/99/237 & 238, depending on how many there is due of course, hopefully Crook may get two for the 18 also.

Cascades can also occur 547,554 are in need of being withdrawn.
Also 570 at Washington I wonder if that'll be replaced

(27 Aug 2016, 8:00 pm)biglugs@yahoo.com wrote 547,554 are in need of being withdrawn.

In your opinion

Heard the "Red" Solo's are for the 85 and 86... not sure how true this is though, if it is, then i really think they should of just been included in the "Indigo Washington" brand.

Like i said... this isn't confirmed!

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Wonder when we'll see rest of the GNE order appearing, wonder if they've gone off and bought from a different company this year... probables not though haha

(29 Aug 2016, 10:24 am)Michael wrote Heard the "Red" Solo's are for the 85 and 86... not sure how true this is though, if it is, then i really think they should of just been included in the "Indigo Washington" brand.

Like i said... this isn't confirmed!

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Wonder when we'll see rest of the GNE order appearing, wonder if they've gone off and bought from a different company this year... probables not though haha

What is this " New Order? "

Was a bit surprised to find a second order of the year for GNE, But no details of it seem to have been posted on here.

(29 Aug 2016, 11:40 am)South Tyne Lad wrote [/b]

What is this " New Order? "

Was a bit surprised to find a second order of the year for GNE, But no details of it seem to have been posted on here.

Well, the Solo's which getting prepared for GNE, looks to be part of a "new" order because its the start of a new financial year for Go-Ahead.

Like i said previously, its a wait and see what else has been ordered.

I think a lot of details about this order have been posted in this thread alone over the past few days


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(29 Aug 2016, 10:24 am)Michael wrote Heard the "Red" Solo's are for the 85 and 86... not sure how true this is though, if it is, then i really think they should of just been included in the "Indigo Washington" brand.

Like i said... this isn't confirmed!

I would be very surprised if those red Solos went on the 85/86. The route isn't anything in the way of a big hitter, and I reckon they'll be able to squeeze two year out of those 54-reg MPDs with ease.

Plus Dan has already said it'll be indiGo operated on an evening, with MPDs throughout the day. Given the buses have been built and will be delivered together, I would suggest this rules out the 85/86...

I would expect that 603-606 still have 12 months left in the fleet, but it depends on what Nexus decide to do with secured services as part of their current review.

(29 Aug 2016, 10:24 am)Michael wrote Wonder when we'll see rest of the GNE order appearing, wonder if they've gone off and bought from a different company this year... probables not though

Maybe uograde for the 10 & Northern?

I can't see the TEN getting new buses till they are at least 5 years old.

(29 Aug 2016, 2:56 pm)busmanT wrote I can't see the TEN getting new buses till they are at least 5 years old.

Next year then 

Can see both the TEN and Angel getting upgraded next year.

I would put the TEN B9s on the Northern, and the Angel B5s on the Coaster or Crusader, and the Mercs or Omnicities can then replace older vehicles in the fleet on services like the Waggonway and 19 and the Omnidekkas can replace B7s etc. and put into a spare role.

Coaster and crusader definitely need deckers at times

(29 Aug 2016, 2:43 pm)JP6004 wrote Maybe uograde for the 10 & Northern?

Although I don't think the Northerns / TENS are due yet, Dan came up with the thought a few weeks back that given the current situation on the TEN as well as other general issues around Riverside such as the TTX. If yous were both right, it could work out like this:

* 16 + 2 spare new deckers for TEN services 10/10A/10B/10X.

* 6071 - 6080 to Stanley for Northern Services 6 / X70 / X71 + 6081 as a spare vehicle.

* 6084 remains at Riverside as a spare for the X9 / X10.

Option 1 for 6082 / 6083:
* 6082 to Stanley as an additional spare vehicle.

* 6083 to Percy Main and either gets new vinyls for the Cobalt Clipper (thus forming the PVR of 16) with 6116 or  6117 going back as spare vehicles or 6116 gets branded with 6083 going red and acting as a spare alongside 6116 or 6117. One consideration for the decision would be 6083 not having USB charging sockets like 6101 - 6117 but nevertheless not too big of an issue.

Option 2 for 6082 / 6083:
* 6082 - 6083 to Percy Main and either get new vinyls for the Cobalt Clipper with 6116 and 6117 going back as spare vehicles or 6116 and  6117 get branded with 6082 and  6083 going red and acting as a spares.

* This option reflecting upon Friday and Saturday just gone, would give an opportunity to increase the PVR of the 309 & 310 to 17 vehicles consequently meaning that excluding peak times, curtail times (early evenings on Saturdays etc) and Sunday daytimes, the 309 & 310 could operate independently of each other with a 10/7 split and buses going back and forth from either Blyth or North Shields retrospectively but still combining accordingly as per now between Cobalt South and Newcastle.
 
The benefit of this would be that should any major or critical disruption occur on one route like seen on Friday and Saturday, this won't affect the other route and allow a continuity of service on the shared corridor between Cobalt South and Newcastle. Should anything happen to service 310, some 309 journeys could divert via High Farm to pick up passengers waiting for the 310. If the shoe was on the other foot, some 310 journeys could operate a partial diversion via New York Way, Silver Fox Way and Cobalt Travel Centre subsequently joining back onto normal route from Cobalt South to Newcastle thus allowing some sort of a service to operate via the Cobalt (well some parts excluding the Village Hotel and Quicksilver Way) if needed.

Although the disruption seen is rare, serious (but less than seen) could still occur at times.

(29 Aug 2016, 3:26 pm)L469 YVK wrote Although I don't think the Northerns / TENS are due yet, Dan came up with the thought a few weeks back that given the current situation on the TEN as well as other general issues around Riverside such as the TTX. If yous were both right, it could work out like this:

* 16 + 2 spare new deckers for TEN services 10/10A/10B/10X.

* 6071 - 6080 to Stanley for Northern Services 6 / X70 / X71 + 6081 as a spare vehicle.

* 6084 remains at Riverside as a spare for the X9 / X10.

Option 1 for 6082 / 6083:
* 6082 to Stanley as an additional spare vehicle.

* 6083 to Percy Main and either gets new vinyls for the Cobalt Clipper (thus forming the PVR of 16) with 6116 or  6117 going back as spare vehicles or 6116 gets branded with 6083 going red and acting as a spare alongside 6116 or 6117. One consideration for the decision would be 6083 not having USB charging sockets like 6101 - 6117 but nevertheless not too big of an issue.

Option 2 for 6082 / 6083:
* 6082 - 6083 to Percy Main and either get new vinyls for the Cobalt Clipper with 6116 and 6117 going back as spare vehicles or 6116 and  6117 get branded with 6082 and  6083 going red and acting as a spares.

* This option reflecting upon Friday and Saturday just gone, would give an opportunity to increase the PVR of the 309 & 310 to 17 vehicles consequently meaning that excluding peak times, curtail times (early evenings on Saturdays etc) and Sunday daytimes, the 309 & 310 could operate independently of each other with a 10/7 split and buses going back and forth from either Blyth or North Shields retrospectively but still combining accordingly as per now between Cobalt South and Newcastle.
 
The benefit of this would be that should any major or critical disruption occur on one route like seen on Friday and Saturday, this won't affect the other route and allow a continuity of service on the shared corridor between Cobalt South and Newcastle. Should anything happen to service 310, some 309 journeys could divert via High Farm to pick up passengers waiting for the 310. If the shoe was on the other foot, some 310 journeys could operate a partial diversion via New York Way, Silver Fox Way and Cobalt Travel Centre subsequently joining back onto normal route from Cobalt South to Newcastle thus allowing some sort of a service to operate via the Cobalt (well some parts excluding the Village Hotel and Quicksilver Way) if needed.

Although the disruption seen is rare, serious (but less than seen) could still occur at times.

Do the clipper branded buses run the X39

(29 Aug 2016, 3:29 pm)Brian13 wrote Do the clipper branded buses run the X39

Bar the 16:05 journey from Cobalt to Newcastle / Gateshead, yes.

(29 Aug 2016, 3:29 pm)L469 YVK wrote Bar the 16:05 journey from Cobalt to Newcastle / Gateshead, yes.

Thought they did. What runs the 1605 then

(29 Aug 2016, 4:31 pm)Brian13 wrote Thought they did. What runs the 1605 then

Believe that it's a B7TL / Plaxton President which then works the 1 at either 16:57 or 17:07. (16:57 I think??)

(29 Aug 2016, 3:03 pm)Tom wrote Can see both the TEN and Angel getting upgraded next year.

I would put the TEN B9s on the Northern, and the Angel B5s on the Coaster or Crusader, and the Mercs or Omnicities can then replace older vehicles in the fleet on services like the Waggonway and 19 and the Omnidekkas can replace B7s etc. and put into a spare role.

Don't take the B9s off the TEN.

Whatever is available wouldn't be as good IMO, though I haven't experienced the ex-B&H Omnidekkas - what service have they seen at B&H?

They are rather old . . .

(29 Aug 2016, 5:11 pm)L469 YVK wrote Believe that it's a B7TL / Plaxton President which then works the 1 at either 16:57 or 17:07. (16:57 I think??)

Cheers. Will go and have a look for it today

(29 Aug 2016, 8:02 pm)G-CPTN wrote Don't take the B9s off the TEN.

Whatever is available wouldn't be as good IMO, though I haven't experienced the ex-B&H Omnidekkas - what service have they seen at B&H?

They are rather old . . .

To be honest, I think the TEN suits B9s west of Prudhoe and the Cobalt Clipper would benefit from bigger fuel savings by using Streetdecks in spite of the GKN mods being unsuccessful.

Given their use on the X21, although the B9 is a more proven vehicle type, the Streetdeck shouldn't have any reliability issues on the TEN and would cope if setup correctly. If the TENs were to be replaced despite bigger fuel savings being available on other routes such as those shortlisted for GKN mods, the TTX B9s could get another year or two of service out of them with 6084 becoming a dedicated spare to assist with servicing, maintenance, testing schedules. Not only this but if 17 vehicles (plus 2x spare) were ordered, the link between Blackhall Mill and Crawcrook / Ryton / Blaydon could go back to a half hourly service.

On the other foot though, do the Northerns justify a high specification vehicle? I could see the Northerns being replaced by Washington's B9s by 2018/19 when they'll be due for replacement with the Omnidekkas then taking a back seat role like the Tridents / Vykings and Presidents do now.

(29 Aug 2016, 1:29 pm)S813 FVK wrote I think a lot of details about this order have been posted in this thread alone over the past few days


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This is the first order of the new financial year - first buses now at Saltmeadows Road.