Gutted they'll be going soon, i really like the L94's

I'll be sad to see them go as a bit of variety is always good, but when you get a bad one they can be a right pain to drive. The engines are good but the suspension is too far gone on lots of examples, and when the dashboard indication for the bell doesn't work (a common fault), you need to have very good ears to hear it above all the rattle and din.

Will 5298 be branded before it goes to Hexham?, has the brand changed much?

It's already at Hexham, unbranded.

Now that all of the Mercedes Citaros have returned from refurbishment, the branding should be sorted in the coming weeks. There's a couple of other things that need to be branded first (there's one Venture outstanding and a couple of other things which need to be done).

The branding has changed quite a lot - a much needed refresh.

I'll be sad to see them go as a bit of variety is always good, but when you get a bad one they can be a right pain to drive. The engines are good but the suspension is too far gone on lots of examples, and when the dashboard indication for the bell doesn't work (a common fault), you need to have very good ears to hear it above all the rattle and din.

Ye you can definitely notice that the suspension has gone in some of them.

Spotted this in the news:


IN 6 DAYS GO NORTH EAST (1st December)

#5201

Following repaint and completion of annual PSV test, this vehicle has returned to service at Riverside Depot. At Riverside; this vehicle should be primarily allocated to services 67/69, allowing the fleet livery Optare Versas on these services to be temporarily allocated to another service.





Wonder where the Versa's are going?

Spotted this in the news:

There is also 5334 following 5328-5333 in not getting a tagline or advert frames. Unless it relates to the South Tyneside changes in the New Year that are being discussed in other threads, it pretty much rules the 9 out.

There is also 5334 following 5328-5333 in not getting a tagline or advert frames. Unless it relates to the South Tyneside changes in the New Year that are being discussed in other threads, it pretty much rules the 9 out.

Citaro's on the 88/88A?, I don't know how busy the routes get, so not sure if they would gain Citaro's, the 9 could also be changing in these rumoured changes


Also what if the they're just dropping the 35 from the See It Do it brand?, having all 10 reg Citaro's allocated to it, there's 7 done, the PVR for the 35 is 8. 


5305-09 moves elsewhere.

Citaro's on the 88/88A?, I don't know how busy the routes get, so not sure if they would gain Citaro's, the 9 could also be changing in these rumoured changes


Also what if the they're just dropping the 35 from the See It Do it brand?, having all 10 reg Citaro's allocated to it, there's 7 done, the PVR for the 35 is 8. 

Don't have a clue really, I'm in the dark about as much as you with that one.

As for the 35, I think that it would be better if it remained in the Seeit Doit brand with the 36, preferably using Versas, to provide a level of consistency (including specification) on the shared corridor with the 36, especially as the 15 minute frequency is advertised between Houghton and Sunderland. 

Talking of consistency, the Toon Link Omnidekkas still don't appear to have WiFi. Delay in the kits being delivered or something else?

Don't have a clue really, I'm in the dark about as much as you with that one.

As for the 35, I think that it would be better if it remained in the Seeit Doit brand with the 36, preferably using Versas, to provide a level of consistency (including specification) on the shared corridor with the 36, especially as the 15 minute frequency is advertised between Houghton and Sunderland. 

Talking of consistency, the Toon Link Omnidekkas still don't appear to have WiFi. Delay in the kits being delivered or something else?

Doubt Deptford will get Versa's again.

Don't have a clue really, I'm in the dark about as much as you with that one.

As for the 35, I think that it would be better if it remained in the Seeit Doit brand with the 36, preferably using Versas, to provide a level of consistency (including specification) on the shared corridor with the 36, especially as the 15 minute frequency is advertised between Houghton and Sunderland. 

Talking of consistency, the Toon Link Omnidekkas still don't appear to have WiFi. Delay in the kits being delivered or something else?

Lots going on at the moment... All will become clear in due course!

6056 in service:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/140920997@...635255941/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/140920997@...602849492/

6056 in service:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/140920997@...635255941/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/140920997@...602849492/

Looks smart in the Blue.

Looks smart in the Blue.

See they have put advertising boards on. Hope they dont spoil the livery they put on with adverts like they have with 5274

---

With some feedback for destinations i prefer the style on the X9/10 and X21. Better to have some via points compared to none like the 27/49 blinds

Kind of going the full circle for the Coaster. In 2007 we lose the Double Deckers from the Coaster replaced by Omnicities from the Angel. Now the Omnicities are being desplaced from the Coaster by ex Angel vehicles again. But nontheless, I am looking forward to seeing the B5LHs on the Coaster.

If the 19 gets reallocated Omnicites, will it get a brand again?

Would be good for marketing if GNE  put it under the 'Cobalt Clipper' brand of services but a revised colour scheme for the Omnicities, maybe blue / silver like the original 2007 livery.

Ive heard alot of course but all im speculating is the 9s extending and 88s getting dropped and replaced by it.
Also rumours all versa except 63 plates getting refurbished like citaros.

It has been suggested on this forum previously that the early Optare Versas would be the most likely to be next in line for refurbishment, but I would be very surprised if it was in the immediate future, especially given that the rumoured service changes in South Tyneside have been alluded to come into effect from early in the new year and the vehicle refurbishment takes between 6 and 8 weeks.

The order for new vehicles for the Angel has now been confirmed representing a massive £4.3 million investment. As well as this, a further £1.6 million was spent on new vehicles for X9/X10 and £1.5 million on new coaches for the National Express fleet. In excess of £7 million has been invested in new vehicles, and that's before we include the refurbishment of a further 28 Mercedes Citaros in the fleet and any other investment which has yet to be confirmed. Any further investment into refurbishment of existing vehicles in the fleet would come at another cost, when Go North East has already been quite spend-happy this year!

The pattern for refurbishment investment has seen 36 Citaros in the 2016/17 financial year and 28 Citaros in the 2017/18 financial year. Logically the next refurbishment would come in the 2018/19 financial year (i.e. from next July onwards).

Wonder if the Versa's which are allocated to the 67/69 are heading to Deptford for the shuttle service between Timber Beach Road and Hylton retail park in Sunderland.... Although 4 shouldn't be needed.

More info:

Later this year, a section of Timber Beach Road and Hylton Park Road, which runs through Sunderland Business Park, will be closed for three weeks to enable a new section of road, which will run under the bridge, to be connected to the existing road network

6056 in service:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/140920997@...635255941/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/140920997@...602849492/

There are no plans to refurbish any Optare Versa.

The company that fits the advertising to the buses was told some weeks ago not to fit them to 5452 and 5274.

There are no plans to refurbish any Optare Versa.

The company that fits the advertising to the buses was told some weeks ago not to fit them to 5452 and 5274.

I seen 5274 other day on 1 with them on sides

Has the 29 changed it route? It now seems to be going via coatsworth road in Bensham rather than prince consort road?

Also if the 21's buses are going to the 1 and 1a what was the point in the 21 night bus getting repainted to advertise the night bus route?

Has the 29 changed it route?  It now seems to be going via coatsworth road in Bensham rather than prince consort road?

Also if the 21's buses are going to the 1 and 1a what was the point in the 21 night bus getting repainted to advertise the night bus route?

The 29 (and 67) are on a diversion route during the period 24/11 to 1/12 due to utility works the details are on the GNE website.
GCT Taxibus TB29 is also using the same diversion.

Confirmation of the new depot at Consett:

Go North East given the green light for new Consett depot

Due to open in Feb 2019

http://newsroom.gonortheast.co.uk/news/g...pot-280457

6100 is to be branded , im pressuming big days out

Confirmation of the new depot at Consett:

Go North East given the green light for new Consett depot

Due to open in Feb 2019

http://newsroom.gonortheast.co.uk/news/g...pot-280457

Will the new Consett depot HAVE to close at 10.30pm every evening or does it just a fact that buses will leave before 0730 (starting from when the depot opens) and return after 2230 (when the depot closes)?

"If the application is approved, all service buses would leave the new Consett depot before 7.30am and return after 10.30pm."

Source: http://consettstanleyadvertiser.co.uk/ne...tt/?ref=rl&lp=4

Will the new Consett depot HAVE to close at 10.30pm every evening or is that just what was said in the paper?

The TC or DCC may be able to help with that one.
Often, restrictions are put in to place after concerns are put forward by local residents.
It can be restricted operating hours or even specifying which direction vehicles are required to turn when leaving the site.

Also if the 21's buses are going to the 1 and 1a what was the point in the 21 night bus getting repainted to advertise the night bus route?

Thats what I was thinking.

Confirmation of the new depot at Consett:

Go North East given the green light for new Consett depot

Due to open in Feb 2019

http://newsroom.gonortheast.co.uk/news/g...pot-280457

Looks like it's going to be built along similar lines to the Riverside depot.

Looks like it's going to be built along similar lines to the Riverside depot.

Does that mean that most of the buses will be parked outside in the open with inside kept for buses being worked on?


Stanley garage looks like all buses are inside:-       Stanley bus garage

Although maybe the buses were out in service?

Yes, the current depot sees most buses being stored inside with a small area for buses (believe the minibuses appear there quite often) being parked out the back.

A few deckers are usually parked around the back, too.

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