5209 at Chester-le-Street and is on the 13/X25 today

(01 Sep 2017, 8:19 pm)RBZ 5459 wrote 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.

Not an after thought at all. Sell, sell, and sell again. Some brands have meaning - this one less so. It's a hard sell, and it does exactly what it says on the tin. There's a lot of repetition of the features available on the X9/X10 services (free Wi-Fi, contactless payments, etc) and it's all done in the interests of getting more people on the bus on a heavily competitive route with rail services.

It was originally planned for the 'bus user' photograph to be further up the bus, with the yellow 'block' on the rear upper-deck window to be at the very bottom (easier for cars behind to see). Clearly this wouldn't have been possible based on the bus design and where the rear destination display is, so things were shuffled around. It's not the best in terms of design, but nobody can deny it stands out a mile, which can only be a good thing?

(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

Lets hope the stickers hold better than the Streetdecks on Castles or the poor bloke - he will end up legless on the A19...and we all know that could be dangerous 

How many adults look out of the rear window on a bus?, because i don't.


I see no one complaining about the Stagecoach Gas buses which have their rear window covered. (well apart from a few)

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(02 Sep 2017, 9:21 am)citaro5284 wrote Lets hope the stickers hold better than the Streetdecks on Castles or the poor bloke - he will end up legless on the A19...and we all know that could be dangerous 

The flowers are starting to come off the FAB 56 too.


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Go North East haven't uploaded the new 33/33A timetable.

(02 Sep 2017, 9:24 am)Michael wrote The flowers are starting to come off the FAB 56 too.

Vinyls are only ever expected to last around five years, so should ideally be replaced before this point. Go North East usually repaints its fleet on a four-year cycle which should solve the majority of issues.

A stronger adhesive is now being used for any vinyls being applied to the rears of buses, due to how warm this area on the bus gets. All of the Castles Express StreetDecks had their rear vinyls replaced a month or two ago with the new stronger adhesive. 6302 has also had a new vinyl fitted to the rear of the bus, covering the Wrightbus logo, with a large Go North East logo and the company's new slogan (Journeys taken care of).

(02 Sep 2017, 9:31 am)Dan wrote Vinyls are only ever expected to last around five years, so should ideally be replaced before this point. Go North East usually repaints its fleet on a four-year cycle which should solve the majority of issues.

A stronger adhesive is now being used for any vinyls being applied to the rears of buses, due to how warm this area on the bus gets. All of the Castles Express StreetDecks had their rear vinyls replaced a month or two ago with the new stronger adhesive. 6302 has also had a new vinyl fitted to the rear of the bus, covering the Wrightbus logo, with a large Go North East logo and the company's new slogan (Journeys taken care of).

I hope when they go for a repaint, they don't come back with flowers on......

Didn't take 3888 long to find it's way to Saltmeatows. Noted there 0800 this morning.

(02 Sep 2017, 9:06 am)S813 FVK wrote 5209 at Chester-le-Street and is on the 13/X25 today

Yes that vehicle was transferred to Chester-le-Street this morning from Deptford.

(02 Sep 2017, 9:05 am)Dan wrote 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.

Actually, after 6 weeks of entertaining 2 young lads through the medium of public transport, I can assure you that many bus users do indeed smell!

(02 Sep 2017, 9:13 am)Dan wrote Not an after thought at all. Sell, sell, and sell again. Some brands have meaning - this one less so. It's a hard sell, and it does exactly what it says on the tin. There's a lot of repetition of the features available on the X9/X10 services (free Wi-Fi, contactless payments, etc) and it's all done in the interests of getting more people on the bus on a heavily competitive route with rail services.

It was originally planned for the 'bus user' photograph to be further up the bus, with the yellow 'block' on the rear upper-deck window to be at the very bottom (easier for cars behind to see). Clearly this wouldn't have been possible based on the bus design and where the rear destination display is, so things were shuffled around. It's not the best in terms of design, but nobody can deny it stands out a mile, which can only be a good thing?

I think the brand looks decent on the bus, and a lot better than it did on paper. 

I do think the back lets it down, although I appreciate what the company are trying to achieve with it. It just looks a bit too cluttered for me. I'd have preferred to see the 'features' box better placed further down the vehicle in place of the 'bus user' image. At least on 6308, this image tells me nothing about the service, other than I might have to stand for my journey. It also takes away from what is an incredibly smart colour imo.

(02 Sep 2017, 4:16 pm)Adrian wrote I think the brand looks decent on the bus, and a lot better than it did on paper. 

I do think the back lets it down, although I appreciate what the company are trying to achieve with it. It just looks a bit too cluttered for me. I'd have preferred to see the 'features' box better placed further down the vehicle in place of the 'bus user' image. At least on 6308, this image tells me nothing about the service, other than I might have to stand for my journey. It also takes away from what is an incredibly smart colour imo.

Haven't seen the new livery yet on the bus, but does GNE still think Peterlee is between Newcastle and Dalton Park yet on the side of the bus?.


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(02 Sep 2017, 5:16 pm)cbma06 wrote Haven't seen the new livery yet on the bus, but does GNE still think Peterlee is between Newcastle and Dalton Park yet on the side of the bus?.

Yeah, unfortunately! You can just about see it in Bazza's photo.

(02 Sep 2017, 5:24 pm)Adrian wrote Yeah, unfortunately! You can just about see it in Bazza's photo.

Geography is not a strong point with GNE, as the X6/X7 solos still have Dalton park between Peterlee and Hartlepool.


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(02 Sep 2017, 5:43 pm)cbma06 wrote Geography is not a strong point with GNE, as the X6/X7 solos still have Dalton park between Peterlee and Hartlepool.


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Perhaps someone is hoping or anticipating for Dalton Park to be uprooted and moved further south? 

I would of put the "Go North East | Journey's Taken Care Of" slogan on the rear upper deck window, then put the feature symbols on the rear advert itself above the X9/X10. Furthermore I would of aimed the rear adverts towards local attractions across the route, similar to what Transdev have with the Yorkshire Coastliner B5's.

(02 Sep 2017, 6:10 pm)Malarkey wrote I would of put the "Go North East | Journey's Taken Care Of" slogan on the rear upper deck window, then put the feature symbols on the rear advert itself above the X9/X10. Furthermore I would of aimed the rear adverts towards local attractions across the route, similar to what Transdev have with the Yorkshire Coastliner B5's.

Then people would have said "they are just copying Transdev"

New user here. Long time reader though.

I've been a passenger on the Coaster, Quaylink, Blue Arrow, The Crusader, Nexus Bus 32A, Red Kite, Fab 56, Tynedale Links, the Loop and the Cobalt Clipper. Always happy with the service. GNE have nice features, never have NSA when needed though. I hope to ride Nexus Buses 13 and 33/33A, indiGo 42A, CityLink 57, and TynedaleXpress X84/X85 soon. When is TynedaleXpress getting Citaros?

Does the Nexus Bus 32A go through Haymarket sometimes? There are images of the bus leaving the bus station on this service. GNE operates the 32A better than Arriva did. Not sure why it doesn't continue to Walker like the Stagecoach 32/32A.

Apologies if this is off-topic, did there used to be Go Northern buses in Kenton around 2005 or so? Can't find any reference to any but I am sure I remember them!

Worth noting 5333 - 5336 have wifi now

(02 Sep 2017, 6:19 pm)citaro5284 wrote Then people would have said "they are just copying Transdev"

And how many bus companies have route branding, all copy off each other when it comes to promoting a bus service.

(02 Sep 2017, 7:15 pm)Malarkey wrote And how many bus companies have route branding, all copy off each other when it comes to promoting a bus service.

Quite a few, but that does not stop people, maybe it could promote the smart EasyRider for the Tees Valley 

Which depot operates the Nexus-secured Go North East 32A?

(02 Sep 2017, 11:55 pm)OrangeArrow49 wrote Which depot operates the Nexus-secured Go North East 32A?

Riverside - Using "49" branded Streetlites.

(02 Sep 2017, 11:59 pm)S830OFT wrote Riverside - Using "49" branded Streetlites.

Thank you. Where does the service commence from on Monday-Saturday evenings? There is a picture of it leaving Haymarket Bus Station, which I don't believe it ever serves?

The "49" branded Streetlites are nice buses. 

This might be the wrong place for this, forgive me. Are Go North East Buzzfare tickets valid on 32A/33A secured routes?

GNE drivers have their meal breaks in the Arriva Haymarket canteen, so might have had something to do with that.

From today all sundays  service X5 has got 681 689 and 690 , it was a head office decision and it's obviously the wrong one !

(03 Sep 2017, 7:27 am)Citaro5326 wrote From today all sundays  service X5 has got 681 689 and 690 , it was a head office decision and it's obviously the wrong one !

Especially since the peterlee fair is still on today, could of getting more passengers on the X5 between Hartlepool and peterlee from Arriva and also potentially more from the north side .


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(03 Sep 2017, 7:29 am)citaro5284 wrote Why is it the wrong one? - X5 has never ran all the way to Hartlepool on a Sunday, so use a vehicle that gets more MPG than a Merc, and if it is a success, then a Merc might be allocated in the future.

Other than it not being route branded for the X5, I don't see a problem with this, like you say it is likely to be for the reason given, I'd rather have a service run with a little bus than use a big bus only for the service to swiftly be withdrawn because it can't cover the increased costs of running a large bus, probably just enthusiasts not happy about beastie Solo mates being used over Citaro's. Do the Black Cats Solo SRs have WiFi or USBs? As if not, that's the only other downside to that allocation.

Solo's being used on Sunday's on routes that use full size buses during the week ain't nothing new either, Arriva do the same.

(03 Sep 2017, 8:19 am)Jimmi wrote Other than it not being route branded for the X5, I don't see a problem with this, like you say it is likely to be for the reason given, I'd rather have a service run with a little bus than use a big bus only for the service to swiftly be withdrawn because it can't cover the increased costs of running a large bus, probably just enthusiasts not happy about beastie Solo mates being used over Citaro's. Do the Black Cats Solo SRs have WiFi or USBs? As if not, that's the only other downside to that allocation.

Solo's being used on Sunday's on routes that use full size buses during the week ain't nothing new either, Arriva do the same.

They should not use streetlites on the 9 on Sunday and put them on the X5 , i think it is a bad idea because it is a route what has usbs aswell as wifi and nsa , they will change there mind soon i can gather that because ive had a few drivers say they will need bigger buses for it , if thats the case why does the 56 need deckers on sundays ? It doesn't even need them on sundays imo doesnt get full enough.

(03 Sep 2017, 8:44 am)Citaro5326 wrote They should not use streetlites on the 9 on Sunday and put them on the X5 , i think it is a bad idea because it is a route what has usbs aswell as wifi and nsa , they will change there mind soon i can gather that because ive had a few drivers say they will need bigger buses for it , if thats the case why does the 56 need deckers on sundays ? It doesn't even need them on sundays imo doesnt get full enough.

And to back my point up i seen a 56 at southwick with 2 people on about 20 minutes ago to Newcastle.

(03 Sep 2017, 9:36 am)Citaro5326 wrote And to back my point up i seen a 56 at southwick with 2 people on about 20 minutes ago to Newcastle.

Maybe so, but who's going to travel all the way from Sunderland to Newcastle on the 56, other than enthusiasts and pensioners? Surely the route will do more business between, say, Springwell and Newcastle, where it effectively operates as a local service?