(18 May 2017, 5:33 pm)Jackamcardle wrote Rumour -

Hexham scanias are transferring to Deptford and the Tynedale Express is getting mercs. Is this one true? (Hope so!)

TENs are apparently getting repainted green for 'Tyne Valley Ten'. Now I am aware that GNE 'leaked' the name in a timetable published on the website but does this count for the whole TEN brand?

It would be great to see TynedaleXpress receive some Mercs as an upgrade or could they possibly get New buses?

However to keep depot standardisation would this mean that Hexham would need 6 Mercs / New Buses
4 x TynedaleXpress
1 x Tynedale Links
1 x Corporate Spare

Since both the Tynedale Links service 680 and Spare are also both Scanias.


Also very interested to see what's going to happen with the TEN and the possibility of Rebrand to Tyne Valley Ten, if this happens can we have a full set of branded vehicles for the route?

Also the x85 and x84 are going to be extended to newbrough and 683 just for town services starting from July and no more going to highford park on morning and night services

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(18 May 2017, 6:37 pm)thetravelman wrote It would be great to see TynedaleXpress receive some Mercs as an upgrade or could they possibly get New buses?

However to keep depot standardisation would this mean that Hexham would need 6 Mercs / New Buses
4 x TynedaleXpress
1 x Tynedale Links
1 x Corporate Spare

Since both the Tynedale Links service 680 and Spare are also both Scanias.


Also very interested to see what's going to happen with the TEN and the possibility of Rebrand to Tyne Valley Ten, if this happens can we have a full set of branded vehicles for the route?

The driver I was talking to told me they are getting mercs for the express 84-85  and getting rid of the 618-619 buses

Does anybody know if 9099 is still in service? Haven't seen it for some time now.

(18 May 2017, 8:24 pm)EL1TE wrote Does anybody know if 9099 is still in service? Haven't seen it for some time now.

It is reported as being taken out of service on the latest GNE fleet update on their website, suggesting it has been returned to Optare.

(18 May 2017, 6:37 pm)thetravelman wrote It would be great to see TynedaleXpress receive some Mercs as an upgrade or could they possibly get New buses?

However to keep depot standardisation would this mean that Hexham would need 6 Mercs / New Buses
4 x TynedaleXpress
1 x Tynedale Links
1 x Corporate Spare

Since both the Tynedale Links service 680 and Spare are also both Scanias.


Also very interested to see what's going to happen with the TEN and the possibility of Rebrand to Tyne Valley Ten, if this happens can we have a full set of branded vehicles for the route?

It certainly would be interesting. It's more interesting for me with the services up in Hexham because there's some great places to get some shots, particularly the X84/X85.

I can't really think of where the mercs (if so) are to come from. I do hope it's them as GNE have only recently purchased Streetlites for single deckers and I can't see them suiting a fast paced route like these.

(18 May 2017, 8:40 pm)Jackamcardle wrote I can't really think of where the mercs (if so) are to come from. I do hope it's them as GNE have only recently purchased Streetlites for single deckers and I can't see them suiting a fast paced route like these.

Some are going to be released for cascade at Deptford when the 36 transfers to Chester-le-Street next month.

(18 May 2017, 8:40 pm)Jackamcardle wrote It certainly would be interesting. It's more interesting for me with the services up in Hexham because there's some great places to get some shots, particularly the X84/X85.

I can't really think of where the mercs (if so) are to come from. I do hope it's them as GNE have only recently purchased Streetlites for single deckers and I can't see them suiting a fast paced route like these.

36 is getting versas so from there I would think

Ah right, that will make sense. I'm assuming they'll be going off for refurbishment first. What brand will the 36 be getting? Or is it still under wraps?

With the ToonLink Scannys getting repainted, I doubt that the TEN will get new buses as the most destined deckers for the Crusader would be the Volvo B5LHs from CLS. The most likely addition for the TENS would be 3x ex TTX B9s with the other 3x getting kept back as spares.

6084 could also be kept but could end up elsewhere depending on service changes.

(18 May 2017, 10:15 pm)L469 YVK wrote With the ToonLink Scannys getting repainted, I doubt that the TEN will get new buses as the most destined deckers for the Crusader would be the Volvo B5LHs from CLS. The most likely addition for the TENS would be 3x ex TTX B9s with the other 3x getting kept back as spares.

6084 could also be kept but could end up elsewhere depending on service changes.

Having 3 somewhat premium buses spare is rather anti-GNE. They could go with 6084 to anything with a PVR of 4. Even if its like the redkites now with a mixed allocation. You could even increase the PVR of the TENs or whatever until around 4pm and then just put the then spare buses on peak 53/54s and X66s.

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(18 May 2017, 10:15 pm)L469 YVK wrote With the ToonLink Scannys getting repainted, I doubt that the TEN will get new buses

The TEN deckers couldn't go on the Toon Link anyway because of their height.

(18 May 2017, 8:24 pm)EL1TE wrote Does anybody know if 9099 is still in service? Haven't seen it for some time now.

(18 May 2017, 8:29 pm)S813 FVK wrote It is reported as being taken out of service on the latest GNE fleet update on their website, suggesting it has been returned to Optare.

Noted on our fleet list too:
http://northeastbuses.co.uk/fleet/item.php?operatorF=2&fleetnoF=9099

It may be returned yet following PSV. I think Optare are getting quite a vast amount of data from the vehicle, so it suits them having it on long-term demonstration to Go North East.

(18 May 2017, 8:45 pm)Jackamcardle wrote Ah right, that will make sense. I'm assuming they'll be going off for refurbishment first. What brand will the 36 be getting? Or is it still under wraps?

I've often wondered which is the stronger portion of the route and which part maybe needs promoting. If the Sunderland leg of the 36 is the one they're wanting to push, then having it linked with the 35 in some sort could be an idea.

However, I have wondered if there is the potential to tie it in with the 34, given the common vehicle type and shared depot.
I'm not sure the current branding would work around the North Sunderland Estates.

(18 May 2017, 8:45 pm)Jackamcardle wrote Ah right, that will make sense. I'm assuming they'll be going off for refurbishment first. What brand will the 36 be getting? Or is it still under wraps?

It was said before that the Citaro's at Riverside was only going to be refurbished at the minute (bar the ones on the X5 at Deptford which came from DD and the 10 reg Citaro's). 



On our fleet list what Dan does, for the Blue Versa's it has: "As Chester-le-Street do not have any Mercedes Citaros at the moment; service 36 will instead be allocated Optare Versas in a new blue base livery (albeit with amendments to the branding), which will standardise the vehicle types at each depot".

(16 May 2017, 5:44 pm)Dan wrote As for the Merc badge - it's been without it for a considerable amount of time now, I doubt it will get one again unless it's found! Same applies for the other one without a badge too (5281?)

5281 has received a Mercedes badge - donated from 5322, which has gone away for refurbishment today.

Small advertisement in this week's RouteOne...

9097 has now transferred to Hexham, in use today on X81/185/681 cycle.

(19 May 2017, 11:44 am)Dan wrote Small advertisement in this week's RouteOne...

Shame it's a photo of a 55 plater, 5229 

8346 broken down near the Redheugh petrol station. 1001 came with an engineer (about an hour ago).

(19 May 2017, 3:51 pm)RBZ 5459 wrote Shame it's a photo of a 55 plater, 5229 

Had to show a red one with minimal vinyls, and that one depicted an example in the best condition (the photo at the time being taken shortly after repaint).

Reg and fleet number blanked out for a reason!

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(18 May 2017, 10:15 pm)L469 YVK wrote With the ToonLink Scannys getting repainted, I doubt that the TEN will get new buses as the most destined deckers for the Crusader would be the Volvo B5LHs from CLS. The most likely addition for the TENS would be 3x ex TTX B9s with the other 3x getting kept back as spares.

6084 could also be kept but could end up elsewhere depending on service changes.

Think Dan already confirmed the 27 keeping its Mercs

When the 18 Streetlites arrive will they directly replace 18 Scania's in the fleet?, just i know on previous orders, sometimes it hasn't happened.

(19 May 2017, 6:37 pm)Michael wrote When the 18 Streetlites arrive will they directly replace 18 Scania's in the fleet?, just i know on previous orders, sometimes it hasn't happened.

Previous orders have replaced B10s or Merits/ Cadets

I'd imagine that the they would replace the last 3 B10s as they are currently being held back due to refurbs? Everything after I would imagine be the L94s

(19 May 2017, 6:41 pm)JP6004 wrote Previous orders have replaced B10s or Merits/ Cadets

I'd imagine that the they would replace the last 3 B10s as they are currently being held back due to refurbs? Everything after I would imagine be the L94s

Ye, as they were the oldest in the fleet.

I can't find the post but Dan said the B10's will be withdrawn after the refurbishments were complete on the Citaro's, they're currently float vehicles, so it should only be Scania's getting withdrawn.

Unless i'm making all that up!

(19 May 2017, 6:49 pm)Michael wrote Ye, as they were the oldest in the fleet.

I can't find the post but Dan said the B10's will be withdrawn after the refurbishments were complete on the Citaro's, they're currently float vehicles, so it should only be Scania's getting withdrawn.

Unless i'm making all that up!

Your right but id imagine, they would still be in float after the streetlites arrive, so would imagine they would replace the 3 B10 floats with 3 L94 floats

(19 May 2017, 4:20 pm)Dan wrote Had to show a red one with minimal vinyls, and that one depicted an example in the best condition (the photo at the time being taken shortly after repaint).

Reg and fleet number blanked out for a reason!

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Yeah I guessed! Looks the part on there.

Just seen 3890 getting a lift back towards percy main

(19 May 2017, 8:40 pm)dannygee wrote Just seen 3890 getting a lift back towards percy main

Initially withdrawn having sustained defects uneconomical to repair, there may have been a change of plan subject to the availability of a part from a Trident recently withdrawn for scrap.

This is because there will be a large number of Park and Ride / shuttle services in operation again this summer - so any double-decks which can be retained, will be, for now.

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There was an empty "Fab Fifty Six" decker sat on Wessington Way in Sunderland with its hazard lights on at approximately 11:00 this morning.

There was no driver present.

Go North East

We are sorry, but the 13:30 X10 from Middlesbrough to Newcastle will not operate today due to problems on its journey from Newcastle.