(15 Jan 2017, 1:01 pm)Jamie M wrote They weren't exactly going to trial those modifications on 15 year old buses at Stanley or Crook, though. The B9/B5LHs were the only vaguely new buses then - and at the time the 56/309/310 were the newest deckers (63 reg). I feel it was down to this, more than anything.
Logically, the company would be looking to upgrade the route which costs the most to run by fuel (crawling through town and challenging hill work or travelling flat out along national speed limit). This gives a shortlist of everything BUT the 309/310: X9/X10 (A19), 10/A/B/X (Town -> Station -> Metro -> Stocksfield), 21 (Past Chester to Durham or Bishop), X1 (Wrekenton) and 56 (Donwell -> Wrekenton).
I could be wrong in ruling out the 309/310, but the others seem to have a more challenging route than just coasting at 30, which I'd guess at being the most economical speed for a bus.
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(15 Jan 2017, 1:35 pm)L469 YVK wrote I don't mean that but on a route where a bus isn't being stretched to it's capabilities, surely it would make more sense to utilise the fuel savings there rather than on a more challenging route. Having a B9TL running around the estates around Shields, West Chirton, Battle Hill, High Farm, Cobalt, Whitley Bay Town Centre would surely prove to be costly in comparision to what the operational cost of a Streetdeck would offer.Stanley doesn't require quality as such, just something to make numbers meet.
On top of this, 6101 would also allow a grace period for new 'suitable' buses to be sourced for the X9/X10 as this alongside 6084 could be used to give 6043-48 more downtime to conserve them for one more year as well as allow more maintenance to be carried out on them.
(16 Jan 2017, 2:20 pm)Jamie M wrote Stanley doesn't require quality as such, just something to make numbers meet.
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(28 Jan 2017, 11:37 am)Michael wrote In July it'll be 5 years since the B9's arrived for the X9/X10...... i would say new buses are due soon..... [emoji14] [emoji14]I was just about to type how you got 5 years from vehicles which are 62 plate, but I realised it's 2017 now haha.
(12 Feb 2017, 6:56 pm)Dan wrote I would expect so. Go North East usually orders around 50 buses in each financial year now.
(12 Feb 2017, 7:25 pm)L469 YVK wrote Well going by the fact that no more than 20 are due, we could filter down the 3x options:
Option 1: Angel
Option 2: TEN or Cobalts
Option 3: More Coaches and New Deckers for TTX
(12 Feb 2017, 8:03 pm)Dan wrote Don't forget about the 10 Solos (3x Service 33 and 7x indiGo Washington) ordered as part of this year's financial year!
And I did say 'around 50' - could be more, could be less!
(12 Feb 2017, 8:42 pm)Ambassador wrote I'm resigned to no Angel upgrade in 2017. They seem perfectly happy to throw out whatever has wheels on it at the moment along at Picktree Lane.
I'm not sure if 9099 reappearing is a sign that GNE want a second look or just covering shortages
(12 Feb 2017, 9:08 pm)GX03 wrote My thinking is the TTX needs upgrading, probably streetdecks. Angel unlikely in this financial year, but I wouldn't rule out streetdecks arriving in this calendar year!!. Might get a laugh but the saltwell park may just get new streetlites (judging by the versas were 09 plates and they were replaced by streetlites after 4 years, nearly 4 years for those). But other than that I'm not sure what other prime route might be upgraded
(20 Feb 2017, 2:57 pm)L469 YVK wrote Unless very faint, 6105 missing branding between upper / lower deck window on rear.Panels are hit and replaced all of the time. Look at the redkits and ventures - they're about 5% branded now!
Not saying any route is getting investment, looking for tell tale signs though.