(14 Nov 2017, 7:26 pm)Michael wrote Go North East

We are sorry, but due to continued acts of vandalism and anti-social behavior, we have again temporarily removed all buses from Houghton le Spring Church & Newbottle St. Please walk to the stops on Hillside Way (outside Lidl) to board your bus.

Following the earlier anti-social behaviour in Houghton, all services are now reverting to their normal routes serving Houghton Church and Newbottle street.

I found the kids around HLS to be absoloute terrors. The little darlings once threw stuff at my car as I drove past.

Wright Streetlite 9101 has again returned to Go North East for further use. It has been in use at Washington today as a staff shuttle, but transferring to Chester-le-Street tonight (for use on service 34) in exchange for 9092 which will be used at Washington in service instead.

What is 9092 again Dan

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(15 Nov 2017, 4:47 pm)Swiny1 wrote What is 9092 again Dan

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The full-size Micro-Hybrid 3 Streetlite.

Ah right ta

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(15 Nov 2017, 3:55 pm)Dan wrote Wright Streetlite 9101 has again returned to Go North East for further use. It has been in use at Washington today as a staff shuttle, but transferring to Chester-le-Street tonight (for use on service 34) in exchange for 9092 which will be used at Washington in service instead.

Have you got interior pictures of 9092?

(15 Nov 2017, 7:33 pm)Michael wrote Have you got interior pictures of 9092?

Here's one from Flickr.
Wright Streelite SK17HHL - Interior Front to Back (GF) (080717-07) by George Figuerola, on Flickr

If you want a view from the back to the front, check out my YouTube video of it during it's trial at Arriva North East: https://youtu.be/TppDyBhJHz

(15 Nov 2017, 7:43 pm)Jimmi wrote Here's one from Flickr.
Wright Streelite SK17HHL - Interior Front to Back (GF) (080717-07) by George Figuerola, on Flickr

If you want a view from the back to the front, check out my YouTube video of it during it's trial at Arriva North East: https://youtu.be/TppDyBhJHz

Doesn't look bad, basically like the ones they currently have.

(15 Nov 2017, 3:55 pm)Dan wrote Wright Streetlite 9101 has again returned to Go North East for further use. It has been in use at Washington today as a staff shuttle, but transferring to Chester-le-Street tonight (for use on service 34) in exchange for 9092 which will be used at Washington in service instead.

Guessing this will be on the 4 & 5/50 then.

(15 Nov 2017, 7:47 pm)Malarkey wrote Guessing this will be on the 4 & 5/50 then.

According to the news, 9092 will go on the 4.

The Citaro's look like they're going back to 2 a week, as 5333 has also returned this week, and will enter service at Deptford tomorrow, 5325 has gone for refurbishment.

I think 5298 will be the next to arrive back from Blackburn, as i'm sure that went after 5333.

(16 Nov 2017, 5:37 pm)Michael wrote According to the news, 9092 will go on the 4.

Have you seen the quote on there?

It will see allocation to "Connections4" service 4, to evaluate suitability of this vehicle type on the service and to compare against the present Mercedes Citaro 0530N/Mercedes Citaro allocation.

I despair...

(16 Nov 2017, 11:03 pm)Andreos1 wrote I despair...

Roughly translates as "Can we scrimp on yet another route to please the accountants?"

(16 Nov 2017, 11:52 pm)mb134 wrote Roughly translates as "Can we scrimp on yet another route to please the accountants?"

I'm sure Go North East's accountants would be equally as happy if the company choose not to invest in routes, instead running fully depreciated assets... What would be over a £2m investment in new vehicles for the "Connections4" route (11 PVR + 1 spare), depending on the outcome of this vehicle trial, could go out to shareholders instead! Great news!

In reality, I think this means that Go North East are acknowledging that the vehicles on this service are 4 years old, and will shortly need to start considering replacement vehicles on this service (and while they have a demonstrator available to them which would be natural progression for the service in terms of investment, it'd be mad not to try it out).

As an enthusiast; I'd agree that a Streetlite is a downgrade compared to a Citaro (I personally think the Mercs are one of the best buys since the Volvo B10BLEs, even if they are more expensive to run and very expensive to maintain), but from a passenger perspective, there's probably not a great deal of difference other than the fact we can assume USB charging points would be made available (bringing this service up to standard with most other routes, as it currently lacks this feature).

The centenary year of investment was a strange one, especially the intake of this batch of Mercedes Citaros. Outside looking in at the time, it possibly looked like the choice for vehicle type was based on what could be made available the soonest at a specific time (they took delivery of a batch of Solos, Versas, Streetlites and Citaros pretty much all at the same time - the Volvo B9s being the only examples which followed a bit later than the rest, a month or so after all of the single-decks).

There was certainly no urgent 'need' to provide a heavy-weight vehicle on this route, in my opinion. Within our community, it looks worse that Go North East would be replacing a heavy-weight vehicle (Mercedes Citaro) with a light-weight one (Streetlite) - whereas if this choice had been made in the first instance, the Streetlite would have been replacing Scania L94s, which I doubt would look as "bad".

(16 Nov 2017, 7:58 pm)Michael wrote The Citaro's look like they're going back to 2 a week, as 5333 has also returned this week, and will enter service at Deptford tomorrow, 5325 has gone for refurbishment.

I think 5298 will be the next to arrive back from Blackburn, as i'm sure that went after 5333.

Friday routine scuppered!

(17 Nov 2017, 5:26 am)Dan wrote Friday routine scuppered!

With six 10 reg Citaro's returning from Blackburn and allocated to Deptford. Will they be branded after all of the See It Do It Citaro's return?, So the 10 reg Citaro's can be used on the 35 for the time-being?

I personally dont think streetlites would cope with the demand of service 4. However I appreciate I may be proved wrong.

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(16 Nov 2017, 11:52 pm)mb134 wrote Roughly translates as "Can we scrimp on yet another route to please the accountants?"

From a passenger perspective, I'm convinced there's no comparison between the two. Only one winner.

From a financial perspective (particularly the short term one), unfortunately there's only one winner.

From an enthusiasts (who regularly uses the 4) perspective, I would dread the day they introduce stop/start technology alongside a Streetlite on the 4.
It has been well documented in the past, that I live near or around the end of the southern portion of the route.
Preferring to choose the Metro and 4 over a combination of a walk & X1 or the 4 and X1, I haven't got a clue what I will do if a quality bus like the Citaro is replaced by the likes of a stop/start Streetlite.

Fare increases and the price of petrol, may point towards using the car more.

Ive heard this Mornong the no. 4 and 57 have collided at Wardley feom.a lad on my team who lives that way. Anyone heard anything?

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* Morning

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(17 Nov 2017, 5:18 am)Dan wrote As an enthusiast; I'd agree that a Streetlite is a downgrade compared to a Citaro (I personally think the Mercs are one of the best buys since the Volvo B10BLEs, even if they are more expensive to run and very expensive to maintain), but from a passenger perspective, there's probably not a great deal of difference other than the fact we can assume USB charging points would be made available (bringing this service up to standard with most other routes, as it currently lacks this feature).

(17 Nov 2017, 8:33 am)Andreos1 wrote From a financial perspective (particularly the short term one), unfortunately there's only one winner.

I think we all know that Streetlites are cheaper to buy initially, run and to an extent maintain, than the current heavyweight vehicles available. Indeed, the Government isn't going to pay companies to operate Citaros and B8RLEs.

However my concern is that, as we've seen with multiple Arriva examples, operators are thinking short term a bit too much. Obviously, we have no evidence to base the life expectancy of a Streetlite on, but I think it fair to assume in majority of cases that it will be nowhere near as long as the vehicles they're replacing. I know it may not be the case in this instance, going back to the point Dan made about the Citaros probably not being needed on this route initially, but in quite a few cases across both companies, they have been allocated to routes where a heavyweight vehicle would probably be more suited. It also begs the question, if Stagecarriage can buy heavyweight vehicles when required, why can't 2 of the main North East operators?

Obviously, my main experience with Streetlites are with First in Aberdeen. All of which are allocated to inner-city routes, and yet at just 3 and a half years old, there are a number that feel shockingly bad to travel on. I boarded one last night, and as it dropped me off home, an alarm was ringing in the cab. About an hour later, by chance I caught it home from Morrisons and the same alarm was ringing, this time for pretty much the duration of the journey. As I got off, the driver switched it off, and then it completely failed to start up on first time of asking. Second time was alright, though it was evident something wasn't quite right.

(17 Nov 2017, 10:44 am)mb134 wrote I think we all know that Streetlites are cheaper to buy initially, run and to an extent maintain, than the current heavyweight vehicles available. Indeed, the Government isn't going to pay companies to operate Citaros and B8RLEs.

However my concern is that, as we've seen with multiple Arriva examples, operators are thinking short term a bit too much. Obviously, we have no evidence to base the life expectancy of a Streetlite on, but I think it fair to assume in majority of cases that it will be nowhere near as long as the vehicles they're replacing. I know it may not be the case in this instance, going back to the point Dan made about the Citaros probably not being needed on this route initially, but in quite a few cases across both companies, they have been allocated to routes where a heavyweight vehicle would probably be more suited. It also begs the question, if Stagecarriage can buy heavyweight vehicles when required, why can't 2 of the main North East operators?

Obviously, my main experience with Streetlites are with First in Aberdeen. All of which are allocated to inner-city routes, and yet at just 3 and a half years old, there are a number that feel shockingly bad to travel on. I boarded one last night, and as it dropped me off home, an alarm was ringing in the cab. About an hour later, by chance I caught it home from Morrisons and the same alarm was ringing, this time for pretty much the duration of the journey. As I got off, the driver switched it off, and then it completely failed to start up on first time of asking. Second time was alright, though it was evident something wasn't quite right.

This demo example arrived in to Houghton just after 10 this morning if anyone is trying to track it down.

What I noticed on this one, was the seating. Appreciate GNE may look at alternatives, but dear me...

I also started to think about this particular vehicle and it's maintenance. Granted fitters are required to work and maintain a specific standard, but if each depot within a group has its own quirks, imagine how many quirks depots within multiple groups have.

Will Wright (or whoever is maintaining the vehicle between trials) be able to fix and iron out these depot quirks, or will it reflect on the performance?

Some of the red arrows buses have had the tagline "Up to every 10 minutes" replaced with "Fast & Frequent links into the heart of the city" also have had the square variet of the Go North East logo appiled on the top deck

A full bus of people just got dumped off 3965 at gateshead on a busy trip to chester. A lot of confusion

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5303 is branded now tynedale links

A bit late,been busy,4971 was taken out of service at 11.30 this morning due to a faulty ramp,6033 replaced it as i was on it when the swap occured,also 6033 smelled like it had been painted somewhere inside it (if not all of it)

When will 6044 be repainted?

Next week, all being well.

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Which are the longest double deckers?
Some B9TL/Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 seem to have a 'small' window (like the RMLs) - but are they the longest ones or shorter (because of the smaller window)?
Dennis Trident 2/Alexander Enviro 400 seems to have 7 windows all the same size.

(17 Nov 2017, 9:36 pm)G-CPTN wrote Which are the longest double deckers?
Some B9TL/Wright Eclipse Gemini 2 seem to have a 'small' window (like the RMLs) - but are they the longest ones or shorter (because of the smaller window)?
Dennis Trident 2/Alexander Enviro 400 seems to have 7 windows all the same size.

E500s would be longer than all. Same length (roughly) as a B10BLE iirc.

(Though out of those 2, I believe the E400 with 7 'full length' upstairs windows are longer than the B9TL)