I noticed 5332 parked on one of the eastbound slip roads of the A167(M) as I was starting the GNR. It appeared to be out of service and couldn't have been going anywhere in a hurry as the central motorway was closed for the run.

I also noticed it passing Heworth following the back of the field runners with 5332 moving at walking pace. Looks like it might have been used as a safety vehicle.

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Anyone know what they're like inside, like the condition etc?

Not bad for a 6 year old bus

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Not bad for a 6 year old bus

They aren't, i do like like the seating.

I take it, they won't be refurbished?

How many Solos are we expecting from Thames Travel.

Come to think of it, I probabley have a photo of one or two of them from when I visited Bracknell in 2013.

How many Solos are we expecting from Thames Travel.

Come to think of it, I probabley have a photo of one or two of them from when I visited Bracknell in 2013.

I posted a link a few weeks before the Solo news was released in the SE operations thread.
It details the routes cut under OCC spending cuts and which ones were TT operations.  There is also a post earlier in the SE ops thread, that details the fleet disposition at Thames Travel too. You may be able to work out how many are (or could be) arriving from the information there

With the 33 and 39 becoming "Black Cats", i would like to see the brand extended to the 237/238 when they get new Solo's, which are due before end of January 2017 - http://www.northeastbuses.co.uk/forum/sh...p?tid=1864&page=14, along with another 1 for Deptford for the 38 to join the brand too.


So the Black Cats brand will contain services.... 33/38/39/237/238 meaning that could become a flag ship route for Sunderland, where was Washington, North Tyneside and East Durham have Indigo.


Edit:  Above is just a suggestion and isn't CONFIRMED they'll be all branded "Black Cats"

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It also looks to be... 4 new Solo's for Percy Main to replace 625, 627, 631, 632 which will head to Washington to replace the MPD's on the 85/86 allowing those services to join Indigo.


701-704 looks to be the Solo's from Thames Travel , Wonder if 705 will be a another Solo from Thames Travel...(as said before on here)


BusmanT: next batch of Solo will be 691-705, due to arrive before the end of January 2017. http://www.northeastbuses.co.uk/forum/sh...p?tid=1864&page=14

Edit:  Above is just a suggestion and isn't CONFIRMED (expect fhe next batch of Solo's, which is confirmed)

6001 broken down near boldon, heard it over the tanoy.

4933 is also leaking a lot of fluid out of the rear right cap. Wonder how long this'll last.

With the 33 and 39 becoming "Black Cats", i would like to see the brand extended to the 237/238 when they get new Solo's, which are due before end of January 2017 - http://www.northeastbuses.co.uk/forum/sh...p?tid=1864&page=14, along with another 1 for Deptford for the 38 to join the brand too.


So the Black Cats brand will contain services.... 33/38/39/237/238 meaning that could become a flag ship route for Sunderland, where was Washington, North Tyneside and East Durham have Indigo.


Edit:  Above is just a suggestion and isn't CONFIRMED they'll be all branded "Black Cats"

--------

It also looks to be... 4 new Solo's for Percy Main to replace 625, 627, 631, 632 which will head to Washington to replace the MPD's on the 85/86 allowing those services to join Indigo.


701-704 looks to be the Solo's from Thames Travel , Wonder if 705 will be a another Solo from Thames Travel...(as said before on here)


BusmanT: next batch of Solo will be 691-705, due to arrive before the end of January 2017. http://www.northeastbuses.co.uk/forum/sh...p?tid=1864&page=14

Edit:  Above is just a suggestion and isn't CONFIRMED (expect fhe next batch of Solo's, which is confirmed)

Wasn't it mentioned on this forum that service 237 will be running from peterlee? Unless it has changed.


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Michael - 701-704 are the Thames Travel fleet numbers of the arrivals. There's nothing to state that they'll be numbered the same by GNE, once they've been painted and prepped for service.

Michael - 701-704 are the Thames Travel fleet numbers of the arrivals. There's nothing to state that they'll be numbered the same by GNE, once they've been painted and prepped for service.

Ah right thought it was confirmed they were staying the same... Must of been seeing things

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Wasn't it mentioned on this forum that service 237 will be running from peterlee? Unless it has changed.


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Ah well there goes that plan haha

Wasn't it mentioned on this forum that service 237 will be running from peterlee? Unless it has changed.


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The 237 has a PVR of two. Previously, the bus that started at Easington Lane used to work off a 33 but is now worked by Peterlee (who also do the 168?). The other board starts at Barnwell and runs off the 238.

I would advise everyone try to avoid using the 20s , I'm on 5429 to Durham and it's broken & I have seen the 20/20A go past in 2s

I would advise everyone try to avoid using the 20s , I'm on 5429 to Durham and it's broken & I have seen the 20/20A go past in 2s

This will be another reason


Services heading into Durham via Sunderland Road and Gilesgate are suffering delays due to heavy traffic

Ive not saw it happen recently but the 309/310 were doing that a few weeks back

I can't find owt on the GNE website (is it just me who struggles to find info on there?), but the 36 is on diversion today and tomorrow.

It will be following the route of the 237 between Houghton and Fencehouses along Mulberry Way for two days.
Nexus have attached notices to bus stops affected by the diversion advising passengers to use alternative services.

Ah right thought it was confirmed they were staying the same... Must of been seeing things

I was under the impression that they were keeping the same fleet numbers too as suggested in the caption to this photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/apt358/2952...ateposted/

Following requests from parents, Go North East have now extended the £47 term time ticket for St Bede's students to people in years 12 and 13 as opposed to being available to the main school only.

I must admit though, I probably won't make the switch from the £58 ticket as, for £11 extra, I can use it wherever and whenever I want rather than only being able to use it 5 days a week, 12 hours a day.

I was under the impression that they were keeping the same fleet numbers too as suggested in the caption to this photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/apt358/2952...ateposted/

They are keeping the same fleet numbers. They were added to our fleet list last week - see below:
http://northeastbuses.co.uk/fleet/gnefle...o=Fleet+No.®=Registration&chassis=Chassis&bodywork=Bodywork&depot=Depot&livery=thames+travel&year=Year&euro=Euro&submit.x=0&submit.y=0

Just noticed on 5359 that there is a piece of equipment at the top of the windscreen that looks somewhat camera-like. Any ideas on what it could be as none of the other Mercs have it?

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Just noticed on 5359 that there is a piece of equipment at the top of the windscreen that looks somewhat camera-like. Any ideas on what it could be as none of the other Mercs have it?

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I think this will be the new 'drivecam'.

It is in the process of being rolled out across the fleet. It has been in use on National Express for a number of years now.

I think this will be the new 'drivecam'.

It is in the process of being rolled out across the fleet. It has been in use on National Express for a number of years now.

It was on Arriva's 7474 and 684 in gne

Has all the Merits been withdrawn from Washington yet?

It was on Arriva's 7474 and 684 in gne

Yes, it's definitely on all of the new Solos at Washington. It was fitted prior to the vehicles entering service.

Has all the Merits been withdrawn from Washington yet?

Yes.

8261/62 are now at Saltmeadows Road and 8263-65 are at Washington until some of the vehicles being sold for scrap are cleared.

Not bad for a 6 year old bus

Have got any forward facing interior or cab pics ?

Yes, it's definitely on all of the new Solos at Washington. It was fitted prior to the vehicles entering service.


Yes.

8261/62 are now at Saltmeadows Road and 8263-65 are at Washington until some of the vehicles being sold for scrap are cleared.

Thanks Dan

This will be another reason


Services heading into Durham via Sunderland Road and Gilesgate are suffering delays due to heavy traffic

I mentioned how bad it was in the arriva odd workings thread. The 64s were running up to an hour late! Have honestly never seen it so bad in the 13 years I've lived here.

Yes, it's definitely on all of the new Solos at Washington. It was fitted prior to the vehicles entering service.


Yes.

8261/62 are now at Saltmeadows Road and 8263-65 are at Washington until some of the vehicles being sold for scrap are cleared.

Is there a particular reason why it is taking so long to get rid of the vehicles that are going for scrap? Seems like some of the MPDs and cadets have been there for ages, I could understand if they were being sold on but not scrapped.

Is there a particular reason why it is taking so long to get rid of the vehicles that are going for scrap? Seems like some of the MPDs and cadets have been there for ages, I could understand if they were being sold on but not scrapped.

They just dont want to leave GNE.....its like a kid leaving home 

Had a ride on either 3995/3996 (it operated an early out of Consett on the X71 on Monday (6:20 I think) and two things I noticed. 

Internally the seats upstairs are in a right state, I'm very surprised it was allowed to go into service in the condition. With it being an Open Top bus I noticed it didn't have any internal poles and the bells were on the back of the seats (i hadn't seen this before)

I also noticed when it reversed out of Eldon Square it didn't make any noise to warn people, only the reverse light came on.

I'm a big lover of the Omnidekkas and the majority seem in decent condition, find them a lot faster than the rest of Stanleys Deckers. I think the seats being redone makes a massive difference visually, it has on the other ones that have been done. 

I know they're old buses, but think they would look great internally if they had some sort of full refurb, especially the ones on front line services. I understand it may not be viable in the long run, spending money on them, but would be nice from a passenger point of view.