NK67 EBP spotted at Heysham yesterday. (6312?)

https://www.flickr.com/photos/nsf323alis...ateposted/

(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the reason given, I'd rather have a service run with a little bus than use a big bus only for the service to swiftly be withdrawn because it can't cover the increased costs of running a large bus, probably just enthusiasts not happy about beastie Solo mates being used over Citaro's. Do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.

A low-carbon emission Optare Solo achieves, on average, 10 MPG. As well as this; Go North East can claim a BSOG payment of an additional 6p per kilometre, operated in public service. By comparison, a Mercedes Citaro achieves around 8 MPG, with no additional BSOG payments.

Let's say that a trip on the X5, between Sunderland and Hartlepool, is approximately 27 miles (or 43.5km). A round trip would be 54 miles (or 87km). Looking at the timetable, there's around 10 round trips per day (so 540 miles or 870 kilometres, for the Sunday operation).

According to the Go Ahead year end results, Go North East has hedged its fuel price at 36.4p per litre.

So if my mental arithmetic is up to scratch on this fine Sunday afternoon, excluding driver costs, it would cost the following to run the bus itself:

Mercedes Citaro - £111.70
Low-carbon Optare Solo - £89.36, less £52.20 (which Go North East would receive in additional BSOG) = £37.16

Of course these are just rough numbers, but that equates to a difference of £74.54. Just for a change in vehicle allocation. It is the downside of branding and a difficult choice for the operator to make, but for a developmental service, it makes sense to run the service at as small a cost as possible.

The internal specification of the buses isn't vastly different (the Solos have Wi-Fi and Next Stop Announcements, only missing the USB power sockets of the Mercedes Citaros normally allocated).

Should the Sunday service operate profitably and with high passenger numbers, I am sure we will see an upgrade in capacity provided. The Optare Solos could easily be deployed on the likes of services 135/136, with Streetlites instead being allocated to the X5 service, if the lower capacity on the Solos causes that much of an issue on the X5. For now, let's walk before we can run...

Have any other allocations changed on a Sunday due to the changes or during the week? (expect for the X9/X10, which will change at a later date and the X21).

(03 Sep 2017, 11:23 am)Michael wrote Have any other allocations changed on a a Sunday due to the changes?

Streetdecks now on X21

(03 Sep 2017, 11:25 am)citaro5284 wrote Streetdecks now on X21

Just edited my post to include the X21 haha

(03 Sep 2017, 9:55 am)Michael wrote NK67 EBP spotted at Heysham yesterday. (6312?)

https://www.flickr.com/photos/nsf323alis...ateposted/

Yes - that's 6312, but the registration on the photo is incorrect. It is actually registered as NK67 EBF.

You can see that the registrations on our fleet list are already taxed:
https://vehicleenquiry.service.gov.uk/

(03 Sep 2017, 11:23 am)Michael wrote Have any other allocations changed on a Sunday due to the changes or during the week? (expect for the X9/X10, which will change at a later date and the X21).

There are a large number of changes to weekday peak-time allocations - with some examples including a Chester-le-Street Scania L94 being allocated to service 20, a Riverside Scania L94 being allocated to service X21, a Stanley Scania OmniDekka being allocated to service 10X, etc.

On Sundays, no major changes. Deptford summarised as below:

Service 8 - Solo (Fleet livery)
Service 9 - Streetlite (Black Cats or Fleet Livery)
Service 38C - Solo SR (Fleet livery)
Service 135/136 - Streetlite (Black Cats)
Service X5 - Solo SR (Black Cats), fleet livery Streetlite as spare.

Guessing the Stanley 10X is the 16:52 to Prudhoe?

With a load of Vykings forming part of the Special Events fleet, will they be repainted white the same as the coaches?

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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 

Nothing worse im sure!  

(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

Agreed. Front and sides good, rear rubbish. It'll make inside at the back dark and dismal.

(03 Sep 2017, 5:11 pm)Greg in Weardale wrote Agreed. Front and sides good, rear rubbish. It'll make inside at the back dark and dismal.

The passengers on Transdev's buses seem to cope alright. There's plenty of lighting.

Transdev Yorkshire Coastliner: 3630 / BT66MVN by Daniel Graham, on Flickr

Transdev Harrogate & District 3620 BL65 YYT on 36 (Rear), Leeds Bus Stn by sambuses, on Flickr

(03 Sep 2017, 5:11 pm)Greg in Weardale wrote Agreed. Front and sides good, rear rubbish. It'll make inside at the back dark and dismal.

at least nothing on the windows - cannot have it all ways 

#saveourwindows

Not happy at the 35A sunday timetable ! At hylton castle shops towards heworth 08,28 then a 40 minute gap ! Nice to see it on time although my mate was driving ...

(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.

Aye. Tees flyover. Stockton nick. Peterlee er...

(03 Sep 2017, 5:46 pm)Citaro5326 wrote Not happy at the 35A sunday timetable ! At hylton castle shops towards heworth 08,28 then a 40 minute gap ! Nice to see it on time although my mate was driving ...

That's daft, but it's probables due to the 35A not changing to the X5 at Houghton throughout the day now.

(03 Sep 2017, 6:24 pm)BusLoverMum wrote Aye. Tees flyover. Stockton nick. Peterlee er...

**like**

(03 Sep 2017, 6:28 pm)Michael wrote That's daft, but it's probables due to the 35A not changing to the X5 at Houghton throughout the day now.

Its stupid but its better in a way , the 12 and 12A is the same at winlaton.

(03 Sep 2017, 5:42 am)citaro5284 wrote GNE drivers have their meal breaks in the Arriva Haymarket canteen, so might have had something to do with that.

Seems an odd idea, having meal breaks in a competitor's canteen! Might explain it though. Thanks for the reply.

New user, looking forward to more discussions across the forums!

Any plans for Blue Arrow and Cobalt Clipper to get new buses?  

I think the Angel wll be prioritised over the CC as like the Ten; dont have a full standarised allocation......yet

(03 Sep 2017, 8:41 pm)JP6004 wrote I think the Angel wll be prioritised over the CC as like the Ten; dont have a full standarised allocation......yet

Usually the Angel was operated by the branded vehicle, but more recently has been allocated red buses.

CC likewise is usually a branded Wright Gemini, with Presidents sometimes used and occasionally a red single deck vehicle (can't remember what they are called!). Blue Arrow is not bad for short journeys but could perhaps do with something better eventually as it gains popularity.  

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(03 Sep 2017, 8:41 pm)JP6004 wrote I think the Angel wll be prioritised over the CC as like the Ten; dont have a full standarised allocation......yet

Tyne Valley Ten still has some (not sure how many) silver Ten branded examples. I thought the vehicles allocated were standardised though? Occasionally 10A/10B has been allocated a red bus,  not sure what.

I'm a bus enthusiast but still learning everything. So far, I think I like the Streetlites the best and the Citaros are good. When is the X84/X85 getting Citaros? Does 27 and X84/X85 have NSAs? Some destination blinds are white, others are orange, will this ever be standard? 

     

(03 Sep 2017, 8:58 pm)OrangeArrow49 wrote

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To reply, you have to click out of the box, not in.

If you don't click out of it, it just looks like you are adding on to the previous post and people won't know your reply.

Example attached

(03 Sep 2017, 8:41 pm)JP6004 wrote I think the Angel wll be prioritised over the CC as like the Ten; dont have a full standarised allocation......yet

Be interesting to see how many they'd order for the 21, indeed if it would even stay as Angel. The use of Castles Express on Sundays means they can now fully concentrate on needed capacity vs express service table gimmicks if they order new. No idea what I'd order for it. Heavy loads, stop start, high intensity work. Tough one to cater for and track record proves GNE have nevr got it quite right, disastrously wrong on occasion.

A weird brand is the Angel. Nice looking and fits well over its 3 incarnations (temporary red, inexplicable pink and now bus grant green) but never really taken on by its passengers in the way Red Arrows or even Fab 56 has. Even on their own Facebook and twitter replies they call it the 21, they barely use the Angel brand. I like the idea of bringing back 'the twenty one' brand.

(03 Sep 2017, 9:08 pm)Michael wrote To reply, you have to click out of the box, not in.

If you don't click out of it, it just looks like you are adding on to the previous post and people won't know your reply.

Example attached

Apologies for that. 

Thank you for your help.

(03 Sep 2017, 10:32 pm)Ambassador wrote Be interesting to see how many they'd order for the 21, indeed if it would even stay as Angel. The use of Castles Express on Sundays means they can now fully concentrate on needed capacity vs express service table gimmicks if they order new. No idea what I'd order for it. Heavy loads, stop start, high intensity work. Tough one to cater for and track record proves GNE have nevr got it quite right, disastrously wrong on occasion.

A weird brand is the Angel. Nice looking and fits well over its 3 incarnations (temporary red, inexplicable pink and now bus grant green) but never really taken on by its passengers in the way Red Arrows or even Fab 56 has. Even on their own Facebook and twitter replies they call it the 21, they barely use the Angel brand. I like the idea of bringing back 'the twenty one' brand.

I dont understand how tables are gimmicks....should northerns new trains be table free?

Anyway the B5s (well certainly the X10 examples) have a higher capacity with tables (77) than the B9s (71) nevermind the reduced capacity on the hybrids (66)

(03 Sep 2017, 11:09 pm)JP6004 wrote I dont understand how tables are gimmicks....should northerns new trains be table free?

Anyway the B5s (well certainly the X10 examples) have a higher capacity with tables (77) than the B9s (71) nevermind the reduced capacity on the hybrids (66)

Trains are entirely different to buses in that they tend to be more used by business workers.  Expectations are they have workspaces and wifi.

You're unlikely to find a businessman sitting working on his laptop on the 15 minute run from low fell to Newcastle. Potentially on longer runs you'd see it but doubtful on the 21. 

Capacity is king and anything that adds more seating should win out on a stopping service which should be treated differently to an X21 X10 style service . Hope that makes sense

Anyone help on Arriva/GNE past operation for Nexus 32/32A? I am not sure where to ask this, but interested to know when it has previously switched operators as I hadn't noticed other than when it changed from Arriva to GNE in April. Please move this if needed, perhaps to past operations of Arrive/GNE, I am not sure as it covers two operators. Did Phoenix ever run it?

Thank you.

(04 Sep 2017, 10:40 am)Ambassador wrote Trains are entirely different to buses in that they tend to be more used by business workers.  Expectations are they have workspaces and wifi.

You're unlikely to find a businessman sitting working on his laptop on the 15 minute run from low fell to Newcastle. Potentially on longer runs you'd see it but doubtful on the 21. 

Capacity is king and anything that adds more seating should win out on a stopping service which should be treated differently to an X21 X10 style service . Hope that makes sense

Totally agree with the first two points.

As for the last point - as long as there is sufficient leg room!

(04 Sep 2017, 4:58 pm)Andreos1 wrote Totally agree with the first two points.

As for the last point - as long as there is sufficient leg room!

GNE has more leg room than Stagecoach in my experience. Definitely needs to be a sensible balance when it comes to seating capacity and leg room.

When will the new buses be out on the X9/X10?

(04 Sep 2017, 5:21 pm)big mac wrote When will the new buses be out on the X9/X10?

11th September.