Nothing wrong with the "Angel" brand; but assuming new vehicles are coming there must be enough to ensure that the PVR is covered by branded buses, plus at least one branded spare, as there should be at least one on each major branded route - out of 15 or so buses it'll be almost impossible to have 15 on the road at one time. Too many vehicles are getting the red & blue. I'm a strong believer in branding - and there's nothing wrong with area liveries like "Black Cats" and "Venture" ...... as long as nothing much obscures the view from the windows! Although "Indigo" and "The 49" are meaningless poor brands and I cannot understand why "Tyne Tees Xpress" was dropped.

Sent from my SM-A520F using Tapatalk

(24 Oct 2017, 7:49 am)Jamie M wrote I've heard nothing from the panel since joining it in 2015

Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk

It's amazing what a company can get from its customers, when they decide to put something in themselves.
Whether it be time, effort or serious thought.

I won't specify which TOC panels I have been involved with on a professional level, but the ones that I think have been the most succesful, have been the ones where the TOC has really got involved in the idea.
Some of the things that I have seen/heard panel members get involved in are quite high level. Others less so.
However, the toc's spent time vetting (and in one case interviewing) panel members beforehand - so they are picking the demographics and the talent that they require.

In the cases where panel members havent been consulted, it is quite remarkable to see feedback or comments from customers being quite negative.
This hasn't always been the case with examples where panel members have been involved. Granted not everyone will approve of every recommendation, but ultimately these recommendations are being made by customers, who just happen to sit on a panel.

It makes you wonder how detached the people are, who make the decisions without consultation.

(21 Oct 2017, 5:32 pm)Jamie M wrote NK16BXF / 6306 : Wright Streetdeck by Jamie MP, on Flickr

NK16BXF / 6306 : Wright Streetdeck by Jamie MP, on Flickr

NK16BXF / 6306 : Wright Streetdeck by Jamie MP, on Flickr


Not impressed with the quality - I'll try again on Monday (or tomorrow evening if I'm free)

Thank You!  Hopefully these will be on all GNE Buses

(24 Oct 2017, 10:34 am)Greg_in_Weardale wrote Nothing wrong with the "Angel" brand; but assuming new vehicles are coming there must be enough to ensure that the PVR is covered by branded buses, plus at least one branded spare, as there should be at least one on each major branded route - out of 15 or so buses it'll be almost impossible to have 15 on the road at one time. Too many vehicles are getting the red & blue. I'm a strong believer in branding - and there's nothing wrong with area liveries like "Black Cats" and "Venture" ...... as long as nothing much obscures the view from the windows! Although "Indigo" and "The 49" are meaningless poor brands and I cannot understand why "Tyne Tees Xpress" was dropped.

Sent from my SM-A520F using Tapatalk

Go North East have bought at least one spare bus with most batches of vehicles recently, for example the 20 PVR Prince Bishops came with 2 spare buses as did the 16 PVR Black Cats.

Is there any sign of the double deck demonstrator that Arriva had coming to GNE ?
also is there  a list of the new series of staff vans available ?

(25 Oct 2017, 10:26 am)Coppercap40 wrote Is there any sign of the double deck demonstrator that Arriva had coming to GNE ?
also is there  a list of the new series of staff vans available ?

It was with Arriva Yorkshire the weekend just gone on service 110, unsure if it's still there or not.

But were they branded spares or in fleet livery; I can't remember.

Sent from my SM-A520F using Tapatalk

(25 Oct 2017, 10:41 am)Greg_in_Weardale wrote But were they branded spares or in fleet livery; I can't remember.

Sent from my SM-A520F using Tapatalk

Fleet livery, don’t see the point in having buses in brand being spare capacity. I understand your point of not all liveried buses might be available all the time, but when they are then a branded bus will be put on a different route therefore causing confusion.

(25 Oct 2017, 12:11 pm)nk55 wrote Fleet livery, don’t see the point in having buses in brand being spare capacity. I understand your point of not all liveried buses might be available all the time, but when they are then a branded bus will be put on a different route therefore causing confusion.

I think it makes sense to have a spare in branded livery when the PVR is high and unlikely to ever be met by the branded buses, and when the service the spare branded bus would otherwise be used on is only misc works and scholars.

This would apply to the Angel, the Red Arrow, Hexham's half of the Ten and the Cobalt Clipper.

What will Go North East use on the 40/40A/40B? (Durham cathedral/local buses)

(26 Oct 2017, 5:13 am)Michael wrote What will Go North East use on the 40/40A/40B? (Durham cathedral/local buses)

Two out of the batch of three "baby" Solos which will be at Stanley, come next week.

(26 Oct 2017, 5:18 am)Dan wrote Two out of the batch of three "baby" Solos which will be at Stanley, come next week.

Thanks, what will replace the solo's at the depot(s) which are losing them.

(26 Oct 2017, 5:28 am)Michael wrote Thanks, what will replace the solo's at the depot(s) which are losing them.

Hopefully peterlee if there losing the 209/210 and some 201?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Think i've just seen a B10 just leave Deptford, heading towards Sunderland City Centre

---

(26 Oct 2017, 5:38 am)cbma06 wrote Hopefully peterlee if there losing the 209/210 and some 201?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I thought they we're keeping it until 209/210 for the time-being?

(26 Oct 2017, 5:47 am)Michael wrote Think i've just seen a B10 just leave Deptford, heading towards Sunderland City Centre

---

I thought they we're keeping it until 209/210 for the time-being?

Is that one of the emergency extensions until beginning of 2018?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

The 209/210 is one of the current contracts extended until the end of January.

The contract for Chester-le-Street services 700/701/702/703 is also extended until January, meaning Scarlet Band will continue to operate these services for the time being.

Sent from my F5321 using Tapatalk

635 and 636 will be free now - perhaps these will free two of 707-709 to Stanley?

(26 Oct 2017, 5:18 am)Dan wrote Two out of the batch of three "baby" Solos which will be at Stanley, come next week.

Aren't there four "baby" Solos? Or is this is in reference to the three that currently aren't at Stanley.
I imagine 618 and 619 will move to Riverside for the ASDA Shuttle and the 13 allowing 709 to move to Stanley and 559 to move to Peterlee displacing 707 or 708 so that there is a spare vehicle suitable for the 168 contract.

(26 Oct 2017, 8:43 am)peter wrote Aren't there four "baby" Solos? Or is this is in reference to the three that currently aren't at Stanley.
I imagine 618 and 619 will move to Riverside for the ASDA Shuttle and the 13 allowing 709 to move to Stanley and 559 to move to Peterlee displacing 707 or 708 so that there is a spare vehicle suitable for the 168 contract.

Sorry, yes - poorly worded on my part. The existing "baby" Solo already allocated to Stanley for the Tesco Free Bus will be joined by two others.

There won't be a spare "baby" Solo allocated to Stanley, but if ever one of them is off the road, the Cathedral Bus should be prioritised for the "baby" Solo allocation, with the Tesco Free Bus seeing the allocation of a larger Solo.

(26 Oct 2017, 5:18 am)Dan wrote Two out of the batch of three "baby" Solos which will be at Stanley, come next week.

Which depot will the Cathedral Bus.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Stanley

Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk

Is this 40/40A/40B permanent or temporary cus yes its in Durham,but wont it still cause confusion on gne's website

How can "40/40A/40B Durham City Cathedral - Durham" be confused for "40/41 Wallsend - Hadrian Park" ??

Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk

I'm not sure if Go North East are in a position to change the route numbers to fit in with their current network given that its a contracted route. Just need to live with the duplication - people manage already with the 13 and 33/33A in Nexus land

(26 Oct 2017, 12:59 pm)Jamie M wrote Stanley

Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

(26 Oct 2017, 2:29 pm)S813 FVK wrote I'm not sure if Go North East are in a position to change the route numbers to fit in with their current network given that its a contracted route. Just need to live with the duplication - people manage already with the 13 and 33/33A in Nexus land

Service 7,  Shildon to Spennymoor which is currently operated by Weardale will be renumbered as service 99 when Scarlet Band take over the service next week which is another Durham County Council contracted service, so it must be possible to change the service numbers in some cases. Thing is, it would probably cause more confusion to change a service number whenever Go North East win a contracted service which has the same number as another service they already operate in another area, like the examples given.

5329 has returned in "Go North East" colours, no tagline or web URL vinyl, or any advert frames on the side and rear.

5336 has gone for refurbishment

(27 Oct 2017, 9:33 am)Michael wrote 5329 has returned in "Go North East" colours, no tagline or web URL vinyl, or any advert frames on the side and rear.

5336 has gone for refurbishment

Seems like the 35 or 9 going to be branded in fleet livery like the 49

(26 Oct 2017, 2:04 pm)V514DFT wrote Is this 40/40A/40B permanent or temporary cus yes its in Durham,but wont it still cause confusion on gne's website

That's if they bother to put the timetable on the site, or even that they'll be running them.

---

(27 Oct 2017, 11:03 am)JP6004 wrote Seems like the 35 or 9 going to be branded in fleet livery like the 49

I would say the 35 would be more likely... I think the 9 will get the "Black Cat" Scania's, with 5305-5309 on the 61, as they wanted to keep the batches the same for each service.

I think that the 9 will get this lot of Mercs. The 35 is linked with the 36 through the advertising of a combined frequency so them sharing a brand should be guaranteed, even if the specification on both services is different.