(23 Mar 2017, 8:06 pm)Michael wrote But why Riverside, Deptford could use with another one too, as it seems the ones on the 35/36 are always off the road.

If the 9 is to gain a full allocation, 3 spares should be allocated. (one of the See it Do it Citaro's included in that 3) 


I hope after the Citylink 57 Citaro's get refurbished, the Citaro's at Deptford go next.

A lot of 35/36s may be off the road but they have vehicles to cover it most of the time - riverside have to use branded vehicles on the wrong routes - which are not nearly the same specification. Having floats will help to reduce it, where deptford have a comfortable amount of corp spares to cover, in my eyes.

(23 Mar 2017, 8:11 pm)Jamie M wrote A lot of 35/36s may be off the road but they have vehicles to cover it most of the time - riverside have to use branded vehicles on the wrong routes - which are not nearly the same specification. Having floats will help to reduce it, where deptford have a comfortable amount of corp spares to cover, in my eyes.

I don't think all the cascades are completed though, as not of the all Citaro's for the X5 has entered service yet, Deptford should lose more Scania's.

I think it's only 5290 and 5291 left to arrive back from the DD batch, unless they've arrived back?

(23 Mar 2017, 8:13 pm)Michael wrote I don't think all the cascades are completed though, as not of the all Citaro's for the X5 has entered service yet, Deptford should lose more Scania's.

I think it's only 5290 and 5291 left to arrive back from the DD batch, unless they've arrived back?

5290 has arrived back and reentered service. Other than that, just 5291 to remerge as far as I am aware.

(23 Mar 2017, 8:13 pm)Michael wrote I don't think all the cascades are completed though, as not of the all Citaro's for the X5 has entered service yet, Deptford should lose more Scania's.

I think it's only 5290 and 5291 left to arrive back from the DD batch, unless they've arrived back?

5290 back in service now.
5291 returned from refurb today.

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

Thanks S813 and Dan.

With NK07KPG spotted in Black, it shouldn't be long before that batch starts to arrive back.

Suggestion :-  10+1 Streetlite for 2/2A allowing 8319-28 to go to Riverside (in corporate livery) and branded 'The 97'.

Suggestion :-  8302/8303/8304/8305 to Riverside (in corporate livery) for 67/69.
                           8306/8307/8308 to Riverside (in corporate livery) as spare for 67/69/97
                           8309 to Riverside for S1

8266 withdrawn, with 4932/4933 and 4947/48 and 4949 transferred to Percy Main for service 19, in corporate with 4932/33/47/48 gaining 'the 19' branding and 4949 staying in poppy as a spare.  4978/79/80/81/82 transferred to Deptford for service 61, gaining blue rears and branded 'the 61'.  4967/5218/5227/5228 to Chester, in corporate for 34/34A.  4938/4940/4941 transfer to Deptford in corporate.

4898/4899/4922/4926/4927/4929/4930/4931/4935/4936/4937/4944 withdrawn

5234/35/36/37/38 to Chester for 28/28A, keeping Toonlink for time being.

4956/57/58/59/60 withdrawn
4942/4943 replace 4926/27

(23 Mar 2017, 8:25 pm)park5354 wrote Suggestion :-  10+1 Streetlite for 2/2A allowing 8319-28 to go to Riverside (in corporate livery) and branded 'The 97'.

Suggestion :-  8302/8303/8304/8305 to Riverside (in corporate livery) for 67/69.
                           8306/8307/8308 to Riverside (in corporate livery) as spare for 67/69/97
                           8309 to Riverside for S1

8266 withdrawn, with 4932/4933 and 4947/48 and 4949 transferred to Percy Main for service 19, in corporate with 4932/33/47/48 gaining 'the 19' branding and 4949 staying in poppy as a spare.  4978/79/80/81/82 transferred to Deptford for service 61, gaining blue rears and branded 'the 61'.  4967/5218/5227/5228 to Chester, in corporate for 34/34A.  4938/4940/4941 transfer to Deptford in corporate.

4926/4927/4929/4930/4931/4935/4936/4937/4942/4943/4944 withdrawn

Whoar!!!! A lot of corporate going on there like! However the allocation does seem most logical thing to do

(23 Mar 2017, 8:28 pm)JP6004 wrote Whoar!!!! A lot of corporate going on there like! However the allocation does seem most logical thing to do

Branding would follow the 49 style,  thus no more gimmicky colours etc, on the less profitable services.

650 is now back at Percy Main (in the new corporate livery), with 651 taking its place at Saltmeadows Road for repaint.

I hope we don't get too excited over the fact that 650 has the "never miss your stop" tagline...

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

(24 Mar 2017, 6:04 am)Dan wrote 650 is now back at Percy Main (in the new corporate livery), with 651 taking its place at Saltmeadows Road for repaint.

I hope we don't get too excited over the fact that 650 has the "never miss your stop" tagline...

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

Were they touched under the hood? I know one or two at Stanley don't appear to be mechanically sound, the usual Stanley depot problems (spontaneous crunching sounds from the central spot near the front of the bus, under the floor - to name one). After rattling through dipton, burnopfield and ebchester for the past 3 years non-stop, a bit of TLC would see advisable from my perspective, but maybe I'm wrong.

(24 Mar 2017, 6:04 am)Dan wrote 650 is now back at Percy Main (in the new corporate livery), with 651 taking its place at Saltmeadows Road for repaint.

I hope we don't get too excited over the fact that 650 has the "never miss your stop" tagline...

Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk

Ive heard that these are going to allocated to indigo services with 2 indigos being allocated to W1and W1A why is this

A full 6084 is knackered and passengers are being deposited onto Poppy Bus at Gateshead .

Maths not quite ire working out and some very irate passengers

Mod note: Little tidy up... several posts moved to the order predictions thread.

What wear xpresses are left to enter ? Do we know we're 5292 will go ?

I`m not sure how true it is, but the driver on the 57 last was waiting to get his ticket machine changed and while waiting told the passenger in front of me that their testing contactless payment in the next couple of weeks on the Quaylinks and if its successful it will be rolled out to all routes.

(24 Mar 2017, 9:06 pm)Ryan99 wrote What wear xpresses are left to enter ? Do we know we're 5292 will go ?

I asked yesterday and it looks like only 5291 is to enter service.

No idea about 5292, hopefully Deptford.

(23 Mar 2017, 8:06 pm)Michael wrote But why Riverside, Deptford could use with another one too, as it seems the ones on the 35/36 are always off the road.

If the 9 is to gain a full allocation, 3 spares should be allocated. (one of the See it Do it Citaro's included in that 3) 

I hope after the Citylink 57 Citaro's get refurbished, the Citaro's at Deptford go next, hopefully that awful brand on the 35/36 will be removed!

Agree See it do it Sunderland is a weak brand name, but at least it's better than the 49 and the unoriginal repetition of indiGo which was bad as a brand let alone being repeated in two other areas which had perfectly acceptable brand names before with local identities.

(23 Mar 2017, 8:50 pm)park5354 wrote Branding would follow the 49 style,  thus no more gimmicky colours etc, on the less profitable services.

Boring. No more unoriginal corporate livery "brands" please and we've got the established ten, so avoid numbers as "brands". Any route with four or more vehicles should have a brand, corporate livery buses on only the most minor of routes. A bright livery and identity would help promote less profitable routes.

(25 Mar 2017, 9:46 am)Expresslink wrote I`m not sure how true it is, but the driver on the 57 last was waiting to get his ticket machine changed and while waiting told the passenger in front of me that their testing contactless payment in the next couple of weeks on the Quaylinks and if its successful it will be rolled out to all routes.

Aye, using Ticketers I believe.

And all these tag lines are unnecessary and pretty naff. Route details along the side are OK, although those in the white strip like the Prince Bishops spoil the livery, but the rubbish tag lines should go. And stop covering windows, still perpetuated on the recent 49 and Wear Express buses.

5337 now at Washington
https://m.flickr.com/#/photos/gpr_bus_ph...in/people/

Heard from a driver deptford is expecting 18 streetlites later this year

(26 Mar 2017, 1:25 pm)Ryan99 wrote Heard from a driver deptford is expecting 18 streetlites later this year

Hopefully but remember never believe drivers.

---

(26 Mar 2017, 1:02 pm)Greg in Weardale wrote And all these tag lines are unnecessary and pretty naff. Route details along the side are OK, although those in the white strip like the Prince Bishops spoil the livery, but the rubbish tag lines should go. And stop covering windows, still perpetuated on the recent 49 and Wear Express buses.

Yup, you post it everytime you come on, i think we all know your opinion on the "Tag lines and branding over the windows" from GNE...

(26 Mar 2017, 1:02 pm)Greg in Weardale wrote And all these tag lines are unnecessary and pretty naff. Route details along the side are OK, although those in the white strip like the Prince Bishops spoil the livery, but the rubbish tag lines should go. And stop covering windows, still perpetuated on the recent 49 and Wear Express buses.

Maybe it is age or something else, but I have become apathetic to the constant changes in branding, design, livery etc.

I used to keep track of all the changes we saw, seeing how the organisation evolved or changed. It has got to the stage now, where I can't keep up with the constant revisions or changes to the identity.
It is seemingly trying to find an identity and ending in a state of flux.

The latest tag-lines add to that, as well as the clutter seen on the side of vehicles.
If it has to be done, my own thoughts would involve using the space to promote something about that specific route or that specific vehicle.
Not something I consider irrelevant, such as going to the moon and back. Or, something that has been touched on in the past, a 'look what you could have won' prize, mentioning equipment on a bus used somewhere else in the region.

I think streetlites should be for 35/36/61

(26 Mar 2017, 4:01 pm)Ryan99 wrote I think streetlites should be for 35/36/61

Anything for the 61, just get rid of those horrid Versa's haha

I've heard loads of rumours lately such as 35/36 is getting streetlites , the 61 is getting the eclipses but better of waiting to see what happens

(26 Mar 2017, 5:14 pm)Michael wrote Anything for the 61, just get rid of those horrid Versa's haha

Its like the 34s though, they're awful but somebody has to have them.

If the simplicity versas and lambton worm ones go to riverside if them routes get streetlites

(26 Mar 2017, 6:00 pm)Ryan99 wrote I've heard loads of rumours lately such as 35/36 is getting streetlites , the 61 is getting the eclipses but  better of waiting to see what happens

I've heard the same too, i think the Versa's would be better on the 19, with the Eclipses on the 61 but Percy Main has never had Versa's so not sure if they would ever get them.