(31 Aug 2016, 4:10 pm)Dan wrote Bus was only at Saltmeadows for 20 minutes before the guys who brand the buses arrived!

This is quite unusual compared to the speed I've seen!

Also, why was the dual door renown sent to riverside like? I was a little confused to see it there, with all the displays wired up etc.

(31 Aug 2016, 4:10 pm)Dan wrote Bus was only at Saltmeadows for 20 minutes before the guys who brand the buses arrived!

Not bad timing ?

(31 Aug 2016, 3:36 pm)Dan wrote Solos 681, 682, 683, 684, 685 and 688 were all delivered to Go North East today. Of these, 685 has already received "indiGo" branding. 682 is pictured below:
Go North East: 0682 / NK66CWX by Daniel Graham, on Flickr

Volvo B10BLEs 4901, 4902, 4907, 4918, 4920, 4925 and 5167 have all been withdrawn from service. The native examples are all now at Saltmeadows Road, but 5167 is on the VOR line at Riverside.
Go North East: 4925 / X935WGR by Daniel Graham, on Flickr

As mentioned already, the "Sunderland Connect" branded Optare Solo Hybrids are now undergoing repaint. 640 was returned to Deptford today:
Go North East: 0640 / NK62DWY by Daniel Graham, on Flickr

Can you confirm where the "Red" Solo's are going, if so where are they heading too?

(31 Aug 2016, 4:31 pm)Michael wrote Can you confirm where the "Red" Solo's are going, so where are they heading too?

A GNE depot 

(31 Aug 2016, 3:36 pm)Dan wrote Solos 681, 682, 683, 684, 685 and 688 were all delivered to Go North East today. Of these, 685 has already received "indiGo" branding. 682 is pictured below:
Go North East: 0682 / NK66CWX by Daniel Graham, on Flickr

Is 681 NK66 CWU and 688 NK66 CXD? The others were easy to work out using 682 and 685 (given there are only 2 letters of the alphabet left after X).

(31 Aug 2016, 5:43 pm)S813 FVK wrote Is 681 NK66 CWU and 688 NK66 CXD? The others were easy to work out using 682 and 685 (given there are only 2 letters of the alphabet left after X).

681 is CWW
688 as above

(31 Aug 2016, 5:50 pm)busmanT wrote 681 is CWW
688 as above

Thank you. Not sure why I discounted CWW or maybe it was just me forgetting the alphabet

(31 Aug 2016, 3:48 pm)Dan wrote Go North East: 0685 / NK66CXA by Daniel Graham, on Flickr

men at work....

(31 Aug 2016, 2:31 pm)streetlite5402 wrote Can remember when the Omnicities first came back to Chester in early 2014 for the 50, a few drivers found the ''hand brake on to open doors'' system difficult to get used to again. 3889 had it fitted years ago, think there was some sort of incident so it was brought in on that one, can't recall 3885-3888 getting it done though.

You sure it's 3889? It's a real quick release if it is.

(31 Aug 2016, 6:21 pm)Jamie M wrote You sure it's 3889? It's a real quick release if it is.

Yes, I'm sure.

(31 Aug 2016, 4:31 pm)Michael wrote Can you confirm where the "Red" Solo's are going, if so where are they heading too?

I was talking to a Deptford Driver apparently they are expecting 3 solos in September for the 237 and 238 services

They are coming later in the year

What buses other than the branded ones oftenly run on 5/50 services

(31 Aug 2016, 7:46 pm)busmanT wrote They are coming later in the year

???

(31 Aug 2016, 7:55 pm)Michael wrote ???

YES its deffo 3889 that you have to have the handbrake on to open/close the doors. It's been like that for years. It's the only trident like this.

Also 6135 arrived at Crook today

I do have a feeling that these solos will be for Deptford though. Maybe the 33 branded the same as the 39? They look to be the same shade of red as the Solars and they may just want to launch the services at the same time (hence the delay in branding the solars).

(31 Aug 2016, 9:12 pm)S813 FVK wrote I do have a feeling that these solos will be for Deptford though. Maybe the 33 branded the same as the 39? They look to be the same shade of red as the Solars and they may just want to launch the services at the same time (hence the delay in branding the solars).

If so i hope the Scania's gain WIFI and stop anouncements...

(31 Aug 2016, 9:15 pm)Michael wrote If so i hope the Scania's gain WIFI and stop anouncements...

Doubt it, those routes don't seem to be flagship enough as-is.

I, too, hope the northerns at stanley get wifi at some point but this is unlikely given the lack of vehicles with even half life left being allocated to them.

(31 Aug 2016, 9:22 pm)Jamie M wrote Doubt it, those routes don't seem to be flagship enough as-is.

I, too, hope the northerns at stanley get wifi at some point but this is unlikely given the lack of vehicles with even half life left being allocated to them.

4934 got WiFi what's stopping 03,04 plate omnidekkas getting them.
I hope 6135 gets WiFi as it'll be spare for x21s

(31 Aug 2016, 10:15 pm)biglugs@yahoo.com wrote 4934 got WiFi what's stopping 03,04 plate omnidekkas getting them.
I hope 6135 gets WiFi as it'll be spare for x21s

Which brings me to my next question of why didn't they order another streetdeck or send a B9 over from somewhere to be used?

(31 Aug 2016, 10:51 pm)Jamie M wrote Which brings me to my next question of why didn't they order another streetdeck or send a B9 over from somewhere to be used?

Why pay £200,000 plus a bit more for a bus just so it can sit around in a bus station all day until it is required?