Latest News for September 2017

Have anymore B5s been delivered? Only 2 days to go...

(01 Sep 2017, 11:44 am)JP6004 wrote Have anymore B5s been delivered? Only 2 days to go...

four should've been delivered this week, yesterday and today to be more precise as 6308 was only one delivered prior to that, the other two are due next week.

(01 Sep 2017, 11:44 am)JP6004 wrote Have anymore B5s been delivered? Only 2 days to go...

(01 Sep 2017, 11:47 am)Malarkey wrote four should've been delivered this week, yesterday and today to be more precise as 6308 was only one delivered prior to that, the other two are due next week.

10 days to go:
https://www.gonortheast.co.uk/x9-x10/

The website was updated to show that the new vehicles would be entering service on 11th September. I believe 6084 will be the seventh bus allocated to the X9/X10 next week, until the new buses enter service.

6308 was branded up today.

(01 Sep 2017, 1:17 pm)Dan wrote 10 days to go:
https://www.gonortheast.co.uk/x9-x10/

The website was updated to show that the new vehicles would be entering service on 11th September. I believe 6084 will be the seventh bus allocated to the X9/X10 next week, until the new buses enter service.

6308 was branded up today.

I imagine one will sit at Gateshead Interchange most of next week for Driver Familiarisation.

(01 Sep 2017, 1:17 pm)Dan wrote 10 days to go:
https://www.gonortheast.co.uk/x9-x10/

The website was updated to show that the new vehicles would be entering service on 11th September. I believe 6084 will be the seventh bus allocated to the X9/X10 next week, until the new buses enter service.

6308 was branded up today.

A kool. Bet it looks sleek as

645 repainted:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/140920997@...ateposted/

6308 branded (sorry for poor photo):
https://www.flickr.com/photos/140920997@...ateposted/

According to a Stanley fitter, 3888 is being withdrawn today due to end of mot.

(01 Sep 2017, 2:12 pm)nk55 wrote According to a Stanley fitter, 3888 is being withdrawn today due to end of mot.

I was just wondering the other day when all the Vyking talk was going on if there would be any scope in using the Vykings to replace the older Trident and B7 Presidents instead of withdrawing them directly. It would look good from a company perspective anyway, bringing the average vehicle age down, even if only by a small amount.

2 more B5's have just arrived at GNE - currently parked at Riverside

(01 Sep 2017, 2:04 pm)EL1TE wrote 6308 branded (sorry for poor photo):
https://www.flickr.com/photos/140920997@...ateposted/

View without an obstruction: https://www.flickr.com/photos/bazza90/36...otostream/

I'll be honest and say it isn't my favourite livery out there but it would still catch my eye if I was to see it which is the ultimate aim of the branding.

Little competition here, lets caption the image on the back of the bus and here's mine:

We apologise that the xx:xx X10 has broken down and will regrettably not operate, service X9 will be diverted via Peterlee and Dalton Park.

(01 Sep 2017, 2:28 pm)S813 FVK wrote I was just wondering the other day when all the Vyking talk was going on if there would be any scope in using the Vykings to replace the older Trident and B7 Presidents instead of withdrawing them directly. It would look good from a company perspective anyway, bringing the average vehicle age down, even if only by a small amount.

Hopefully Go North East might get some second Volvo B9's from Ensignbus - http://www.ensignbus.com/2011-volvo-b9tls.html

(01 Sep 2017, 7:01 pm)Malarkey wrote Hopefully Go North East might get some second Volvo B9's from Ensignbus - http://www.ensignbus.com/2011-volvo-b9tls.html

Don't look too bad condition wise, although they are from 2011. Go North East
could easily remove the middle door and add a extra pushchair place with folding seats.

Nottingham City Transport have some longer wheelbase Omnidekkas going following the arrival of the Biogas Scania E400Citys. Heard that they have been going quite fast though.

(01 Sep 2017, 2:12 pm)nk55 wrote According to a Stanley fitter, 3888 is being withdrawn today due to end of mot.

If they are going to start withdrawing this batch (not including 3890/1) surely the Olympians must be going to go soon. I know they are only allocated to the Jewish school contract but surely it would give Riverside more flexibility with allocations having a fully DDA compliant fleet of double deckers.

(01 Sep 2017, 5:15 pm)S813 FVK wrote View without an obstruction: https://www.flickr.com/photos/bazza90/36...otostream/

I'll be honest and say it isn't my favourite livery out there but it would still catch my eye if I was to see it which is the ultimate aim of the branding.

I quite like it. Although shame about the vinyl slapped on the top deck back window. A slight after thought by the looks of it.

(01 Sep 2017, 5:15 pm)S813 FVK wrote View without an obstruction: https://www.flickr.com/photos/bazza90/36...otostream/

I'll be honest and say it isn't my favourite livery out there but it would still catch my eye if I was to see it which is the ultimate aim of the branding.

The back looks decent with the interior view – shame about the rest of the branding.  Such a missed opportunity to promote the Tyne and Tees features of the route (agree with whoever said a Black Cats/Toon Link style approach could have worked) – instead of whatever the coloured splodges are supposed to be.

Also a shame GNE never seem to have their vehicles ready for the launch or relaunch of routes (normally going around in base colours for weeks/months) – admittedly only a week late this time but still poor form for a relaunch.

(01 Sep 2017, 8:26 pm)stagecoachbusdepot wrote The back looks decent with the interior view – shame about the rest of the branding.  Such a missed opportunity to promote the Tyne and Tees features of the route (agree with whoever said a Black Cats/Toon Link style approach could have worked) – instead of whatever the coloured splodges are supposed to be.

Also a shame GNE never seem to have their vehicles ready for the launch or relaunch of routes (normally going around in base colours for weeks/months) – admittedly only a week late this time but still poor form for a relaunch.

Cannot do much when the vehicles are delayed by the manufacturer.

(01 Sep 2017, 5:15 pm)S813 FVK wrote View without an obstruction: https://www.flickr.com/photos/bazza90/36...otostream/

I'll be honest and say it isn't my favourite livery out there but it would still catch my eye if I was to see it which is the ultimate aim of the branding.

It looks really smart. Dont like the rear at all especially since all the windows are covered up

(01 Sep 2017, 8:31 pm)citaro5284 wrote Cannot do much when the vehicles are delayed by the manufacturer.

That's just poor planning though. Having some sort of give in delivery is surely a must?
Just incase there's an issue with production, PDI's, ferry crossings etc

(01 Sep 2017, 8:58 pm)JP6004 wrote It looks really smart. Dont like the rear at all especially since all the windows are covered up

The downstairs rear isn't too much of an issue to me, the windows are usually higher than the seats so you can't see out of them very well anyway. I don't like the vinyl on the top window though. If I was sat there I would look out of the rear window every now and then, something I wouldn't be able to do here. I am not necessarily part of the #saveourwindows gang but in the instance where the vinyl blocking the window looks out of place, I don't think it should be there.

It was mentioned when the drawing was first published online but I wish they had swapped Peterlee and Dalton Park around, likewise with the Wear Xpress Solo SRs. I was initially ok with them being in that order but then I remembered that I was contradicting myself since I am not a massive fan of Sunderland and Durham being the wrong way round on the Prince Bishops cant rail vinyl.

Compared to the Tyne Tees Xpress, the new livery looks far more superior and eye-catching. I have never really understood why the 'NE' is a different colour to the 'TY' - it is something I have never been a fan of. My opinion of the branding is guaranteed to change from 'it isn't the best' to 'wow that is really good' when I actually see it for myself but there will always be parts that I'd like to see changed.

(01 Sep 2017, 9:18 pm)Andreos1 wrote That's just poor planning though. Having some sort of give in delivery is surely a must?
Just incase there's an issue with production, PDI's, ferry crossings etc

Agreed, if I'd spent £1.6 million on something I'd want it delivered on time.  I'd have hoped GNE would have told Wright the launch was mid-August to ensure on-time delivery -common sense?

I really like the livery, given recent incidents are GNE now pre-applying fire effect vinyls?   

And putting an image of a full bus with standees to tempt motorists following behind on the A19? Hmmmm

(01 Sep 2017, 9:29 pm)James101 wrote And putting an image of a full bus with standees to tempt motorists following behind on the A19? Hmmmm

Haha good point hadn't clocked that - maybe they still need to add the tagline 'you too could stand for an hour and a half instead of sitting in your comfy car for half that long'

(01 Sep 2017, 10:51 pm)stagecoachbusdepot wrote Haha good point hadn't clocked that - maybe they still need to add the tagline 'you too could stand for an hour and a half instead of sitting in your comfy car for half that long'

Perhaps it should be 'This is what our passengers on The Castles Express need to put up with but on the X9|X10, bigger buses means you're guaranteed a seat!'

I think from the side it looks good, from the rear though - awful.

(01 Sep 2017, 9:18 pm)Andreos1 wrote That's just poor planning though. Having some sort of give in delivery is surely a must?
Just incase there's an issue with production, PDI's, ferry crossings etc

Not really.  You order a bus a months in advance and are given a rough delivery date, it is not nearer the time you are given a more robust delivery plan, but by then like the X9/X10, the service has be registered 8 weeks in advance, so you can register a service before you know the proper delivery plan of the vehicles. 

Other bus companies have exactly the same issue when they order new vehicles - all cannot have bad planning.

(02 Sep 2017, 6:00 am)citaro5284 wrote Not really.  You order a bus a months in advance and are given a rough delivery date, it is not nearer the time you are given a more robust delivery plan, but by then like the X9/X10, the service has be registered 8 weeks in advance, so you can register a service before you know the proper delivery plan of the vehicles. 

Other bus companies have exactly the same issue when they order new vehicles - all cannot have bad planning.

Exactly, and you can't expect a business like GNE to quote an August relaunch date when they intend to launch the following month, only for Wrightbus to deliver on time and the assets to be sitting around for weeks before earning their keep.

(02 Sep 2017, 6:00 am)citaro5284 wrote Not really.  You order a bus a months in advance and are given a rough delivery date, it is not nearer the time you are given a more robust delivery plan, but by then like the X9/X10, the service has be registered 8 weeks in advance, so you can register a service before you know the proper delivery plan of the vehicles. 

Other bus companies have exactly the same issue when they order new vehicles - all cannot have bad planning.

Agreed that it's all operators.
It's the same with any industry that relies on assets being delivered. Whether that's a car dealership or a haulage firm.
Heck, if I was wanting to see a sequel to a film, I would be disappointed to pay my money having seen the launch in the media, to find out the cinema was still showing an earlier version. Only because theres an issue with delivering the film.

An operator knows they have that 8 week window, knows vinyls need applying, know that type training may need completing and knows there could be delays in delivery.
It's not rocket science to plan a bit give.

(01 Sep 2017, 9:29 pm)James101 wrote And putting an image of a full bus with standees to tempt motorists following behind on the A19? Hmmmm

(01 Sep 2017, 10:51 pm)stagecoachbusdepot wrote Haha good point hadn't clocked that - maybe they still need to add the tagline 'you too could stand for an hour and a half instead of sitting in your comfy car for half that long'

(02 Sep 2017, 4:01 am)LeeCalder wrote I think from the side it looks good, from the rear though - awful.

The rear is different to anything what we've seen in recent designs. There'll be five different designs - one showing a businessman, another showing a woman shopping, another showing a student, etc... 'Synergy' comes to mind - linking the brand to the service itself - the woman could have been shopping at Dalton Park, the student going to the college/uni served by the X10...

I'd suggest that there is a strong public perception that people who travel on public transport are beneath those on the Social Class hierarchy compared to those who travel by car - bus users smell, aren't as clean, and similar. Possibly not helped at times by the internal cleanliness of the buses themselves (picked up on recently elsewhere on the forum).

This idea is clever, and although it possibly isn't as obvious at first glance as it ought to be (unless it's planned to be supported by other forms of marketing associated with the new brand and new vehicles), I believe the intention is to show car users that they do have some commonality with bus users. These people shown inside the bus don't show the stereotypical signs of being smelly, unclean, and similar. Maybe they could try out the bus and see what it's like for themselves - especially based on the messages suggesting that fares are 'great value' etc. Obviously, it isn't to show someone standing on a full bus.