(25 Feb 2017, 1:18 pm)Jamie M wrote The only thing that isn't streetlite in that merc are the bell ringers!
It does look good, though.
Have the engines being touched up at all? I remember 5291 especially was like an elderly couple crossing a road when attempting to pull out from Stanley Roundabout. That was their major fallback from my perspective.

Yes, I don't like the Mercedes signage on the Streetlites either 

(25 Feb 2017, 1:11 pm)Dan wrote They aren't fast charge. I got about 15% battery in an hour's charge - so about average for USB chargers on a bus.

The seating is red and navy blue - the same colour as present on Streetlites with e-leather seating.

Ah, decent then.

Ahh it looked black

(25 Feb 2017, 1:22 pm)JP6004 wrote Yes, I don't like the Mercedes signage on the Streetlites either 

I escape this one because the new engines are daimler powered, which is sort of historically relevant to mercedes benz!

(25 Feb 2017, 1:45 pm)Jamie M wrote I escape this one because the new engines are daimler powered, which is sort of historically relevant to mercedes benz!

I wasnt on about the engine.

You said the only thing NOT Streetlite about the refurbed Mercedes is the bells........I said yes I don't like Mercedes signage (on the cab door) on the Streetlite either.

Not as funny when you have to explain a joke...

(25 Feb 2017, 1:50 pm)JP6004 wrote I wasnt on about the engine.

You said the only thing NOT Streetlite about the refurbed Mercedes is the bells........I said yes I don't like Mercedes signage (on the cab door) on the Streetlite either.

Not as funny when you have to explain a joke...

I tried.

5324:

Go North East 5324 / NK58 DWA. by Guy Park-Royal, on Flickr

Big improvement to the yellow message - hopefully that is the style that they have chosen to roll out as opposed to the style seen on 633. A shame that there is no WiFi blob there though!

(25 Feb 2017, 12:33 pm)Dan wrote Well now that it's at Deptford - yes, here's some photos of 5284 after it was returned to Saltmeadows Road following repaint and refurbishment.

JP6004 saw it while it was returning to the depot following testing of the Next Stop Announcements on service X5.

Go North East: 5284 / NK08CFP by Daniel Graham, on Flickr

Go North East: 5284 / NK08CFP by Daniel Graham, on Flickr

Go North East: 5284 / NK08CFP by Daniel Graham, on Flickr

Go North East: 5284 / NK08CFP by Daniel Graham, on Flickr

Go North East: 5284 / NK08CFP by Daniel Graham, on Flickr

Looks Excellent!!

Has drivers seat gone leather too. Heard most drivers dont like leather seats especially in summer thats why the solos and new streetlites have got the driver seat as fabric.

---

Dan when will the cobalt clippers get the updated NSAs? Thought they were in the pipeline as soon

(25 Feb 2017, 7:36 pm)dannygee wrote Dan when will the cobalt clippers get the updated NSAs? Thought they were in the pipeline as soon

...and how long until we hear Emma on Citylink58 and Quaylinks?

Can we have these back on the 58 where they started instead of the Versasa?

A blue arrows is being towed away by alpha at gatesheadm

(25 Feb 2017, 12:33 pm)Dan wrote Well now that it's at Deptford - yes, here's some photos of 5284 after it was returned to Saltmeadows Road following repaint and refurbishment.

JP6004 saw it while it was returning to the depot following testing of the Next Stop Announcements on service X5.

Go North East: 5284 / NK08CFP by Daniel Graham, on Flickr

Go North East: 5284 / NK08CFP by Daniel Graham, on Flickr

Go North East: 5284 / NK08CFP by Daniel Graham, on Flickr

Go North East: 5284 / NK08CFP by Daniel Graham, on Flickr

Go North East: 5284 / NK08CFP by Daniel Graham, on Flickr

Veh nice, vast improvement, in fact, but I'm wincing at the thought of how hard those seats are, now - they never were the kindest to my poor achy hips.

Will this now be the seat colour of choice moving forward or is just for a select few Citaros currently being refurbed, with the others to receive the recent choice of blue e leather?

I was also wondering, when the vehicles are away being refurbed does the engine get any sort of overhaul or tweak. Or if not whilst away for the internal refit will they get a onceover/overhaul where needed else where?

(25 Feb 2017, 8:25 pm)Jamie M wrote A blue arrows is being towed away by alpha at gatesheadm

There was a coaster parked in the corner this afternoon looked rather dead

(25 Feb 2017, 9:12 pm)dannygee wrote There was a coaster parked in the corner this afternoon looked rather dead

Where's the corner? Next to the staff shelter just after the Eldon departures?

(25 Feb 2017, 9:12 pm)thetravelman wrote Will this now be the seat colour of choice moving forward or is just for a select few Citaros currently being refurbed, with the others to receive the recent choice of blue e leather?

I was also wondering, when the vehicles are away being refurbed does the engine get any sort of overhaul or tweak. Or if not whilst away for the internal refit will they get a onceover/overhaul where needed else where?

Hope this is adapted, As the plain blue/grey inside the Streetlite's is pretty unexciting.

Much prefer the Red and Blue/Grey in the Citaro's.

(26 Feb 2017, 2:37 am)L469 YVK wrote I'd imagine that the 58 would get done at the same or similar time as the Cobalts due to the shared stops between Civic Centre and Battle Hill Drive.

Dan, do you think they will be done before the summer?

The 57/58 swapped!

(25 Feb 2017, 9:48 pm)Jamie M wrote Where's the corner? Next to the staff shelter just after the Eldon departures?

Yep thats right

(26 Feb 2017, 2:37 am)L469 YVK wrote I'd imagine that the 58 would get done at the same or similar time as the Cobalts due to the shared stops between Civic Centre and Battle Hill Drive.

Dan, do you think they will be done before the summer?

The new media for the Quaylinks and Citylink 58s was done a while ago - it just needs to be uploaded to the buses. Different from what has already been uploaded to 5389/90 and a handful of the green Quaylinks (they were all my test buses!)

You'll notice that if you travel on 5452 (if it is allocated to either of those groups of services), this bus has the announcements working.

Not sure when the Cobalt Clipper will have the announcements done again. Before summer I would hope, but couldn't guarantee it. Lots of things going on at the moment - there's more than just the Blaydon Racers and Durham Diamonds being refurbished for starters! Of course every bus with Next Stop Announcements needs to be updated as soon as possible, given the old references to simplygo.com and inclusion of the old logo.

(26 Feb 2017, 6:07 am)Dan wrote You'll notice that if you travel on 5452 (if it is allocated to either of those groups of services), this bus has the announcements working.

Do the Venture SRs have the NSAs for the Red Kite/Durham diamond programmed or will they be put on when the Venture network is done given that they will take longer to make due to being in the 'line plan' format? With them being allocated to the 16 on evenings and Sundays, offering NSAs is the least that they can do given passengers will still lose out to Free WiFI and USB sockets (and it uses the equipment which has been paid for!)

(26 Feb 2017, 7:29 am)S813 FVK wrote Do the Venture SRs have the NSAs for the Red Kite/Durham diamond programmed or will they be put on when the Venture network is done given that they will take longer to make due to being in the 'line plan' format? With them being allocated to the 16 on evenings and Sundays, offering NSAs is the least that they can do given passengers will still lose out to Free WiFI and USB sockets (and it uses the equipment which has been paid for!)

No, not yet. When the Venture network is re-done, the announcements for Red Kite and Durham Diamond will also be programmed in the TFT monitor format.

The indiGo Washington minibuses have the announcements programmed for 82/82A/82B and 85/86, and I intend to create a TFT monitor version for the odd journeys which are operated by Fab Fifty Six, Red Arrows and Connections4 branded buses.

We've moved away from the line plan format now on TFT monitors. Nice idea but a bit too difficult to maintain! Hanover are currently developing some new software to help make the process easier, so we could possibly go back to the line plan in future... Who knows!

(26 Feb 2017, 7:41 am)Dan wrote No, not yet. When the Venture network is re-done, the announcements for Red Kite and Durham Diamond will also be programmed in the TFT monitor format.

The indiGo Washington minibuses have the announcements programmed for 82/82A/82B and 85/86, and I intend to create a TFT monitor version for the odd journeys which are operated by Fab Fifty Six, Red Arrows and Connections4 branded buses.

We've moved away from the line plan format now on TFT monitors. Nice idea but a bit too difficult to maintain! Hanover are currently developing some new software to help make the process easier, so we could possibly go back to the line plan in future... Who knows!

Ok thanks. It does seem to make more sense to do 1 big update with everything as opposed to 2 smaller ones. I do agree with each bus with Next Stop Announcements having all programmes installed, even if it is not the route that the bus would normally operate.

Its a shame the line plan format is being abandoned. It looks really good but if it is too hard to handle then obviously it has to be changed. Hopefully something similar could be introduced in the future, depending on how good this new software is once completed.

The Durham Diamond NSAs work on the Castle Streetdecks

(25 Feb 2017, 8:40 pm)BusLoverMum wrote Veh nice, vast improvement, in fact, but I'm wincing at the thought of how hard those seats are, now - they never were the kindest to my poor achy hips.

I agree. It reminds me of the VTEC scheme in first class for some reason.

(26 Feb 2017, 1:39 pm)8222 wrote I agree. It reminds me of the VTEC scheme in first class for some reason.

Yeah, Funny enough it does have a similar look to the new VTEC First Class

(26 Feb 2017, 3:03 am)Jamie M wrote The 57/58 swapped!

Opps, was shattered when I posted that this morning, my mistake!

Saw Cornwall solos 220 and 221 at Saltmeadows today. There was also 2 more solos parked behind 220 that I couldn't identify. What fleet numbers will 220 and 221 be?

(26 Feb 2017, 2:40 pm)EL1TE wrote Saw Cornwall solos 220 and 221 at Saltmeadows today. There was also 2 more solos parked behind 220 that I couldn't identify. What fleet numbers will 220 and 221 be?

710 and 711.

(26 Feb 2017, 2:40 pm)EL1TE wrote Saw Cornwall solos 220 and 221 at Saltmeadows today. There was also 2 more solos parked behind 220 that I couldn't identify. What fleet numbers will 220 and 221 be?

Thanks EL1TE, they seem to be arriving quick now.

(26 Feb 2017, 2:45 pm)S813 FVK wrote 710 and 711.

Brilliant, thanks.