(25 Nov 2013, 6:53 pm)Dan wrote They weren't on the TTX when they first arrived - if you look at photos from the Quayside launch, no seats have the red headrests.
Were later implemented on the TTX lot mid-September, if memory serves.

The 2 original 724 working Geminis were without headrests too

(25 Nov 2013, 6:16 pm)Dan wrote Just to strike some discussion (hopefully), a photo appeared on Facebook earlier of a Gemini destined for the GNE's 56 service - still at Wrights:


Copyright unfortunately unknown.

me encanta May start using the 56 more instead of the 28, X1 or X25. I'm presuming they're coming with WiFi?

(25 Nov 2013, 8:09 pm)Adam wrote me encanta May start using the 56 more instead of the 28, X1 or X25. I'm presuming they're coming with WiFi?

As standard!
Believe it's plug socket standard too, but could be wrong on that one.

EDIT: Of course we can't forget the Next Stop Announcements too...!

(25 Nov 2013, 8:16 pm)Dan wrote As standard!
Believe it's plug socket standard too, but could be wrong on that one.

EDIT: Of course we can't forget the Next Stop Announcements too...!

Good, i know what bus i'll be getting home from college now..

Except the announcements can get annoying....

On the subject of next stop announcements. Are the Saltwell Park Streetlites getting them? Noticed the absence of them last Friday.

(25 Nov 2013, 8:31 pm)aureolin wrote On the subject of next stop announcements. Are the Saltwell Park Streetlites getting them? Noticed the absence of them last Friday.

The drifter one's haven't got them either, must just need turning on.

(25 Nov 2013, 8:31 pm)aureolin wrote On the subject of next stop announcements. Are the Saltwell Park Streetlites getting them? Noticed the absence of them last Friday.

Don't think so - believe the screen at the front will be used to promote things, like on the X1.

(25 Nov 2013, 8:32 pm)Michael wrote The drifter one's haven't got them either, must just need turning on.

The Drifters do - I noted it when they were first turned on. I believe I've travelled on every single one now, and it works on them all. It won't work if you're on the 42.

(25 Nov 2013, 8:32 pm)Michael wrote The drifter one's haven't got them either, must just need turning on.

Yeah I assumed they're just waiting the recording or testing

(25 Nov 2013, 8:33 pm)Dan wrote Don't think so - believe the screen at the front will be used to promote things, like on the X1.

Does anyone remember the short lived adverts on the 724 and 21s? Blaring out at loud levels

(25 Nov 2013, 8:16 pm)Dan wrote As standard!
Believe it's plug socket standard too, but could be wrong on that one.

EDIT: Of course we can't forget the Next Stop Announcements too...!

Yeah, you can deffo expect to see me on the 56 more often than usual. Thank you

(25 Nov 2013, 8:33 pm)aureolin wrote Yeah I assumed they're just waiting the recording or testing

As said above, I don't believe they are getting them.
Further evaluation of Go North East's website would suggest the same - the Saltwell Park page has no mention of the Next Stop Announcements, whereas the Connections 4, Drifter and Venture do.

(25 Nov 2013, 8:38 pm)Dan wrote As said above, I don't believe they are getting them.
Further evaluation of Go North East's website would suggest the same - the Saltwell Park page has no mention of the Next Stop Announcements, whereas the Connections 4, Drifter and Venture do.

Does it not now make you wonder why? Free Wi-Fi and next stop announcements have become standard with new additions to the fleet. Seems strange to omit the Saltwell Park solely.

(25 Nov 2013, 8:41 pm)aureolin wrote Does it not now make you wonder why? Free Wi-Fi and next stop announcements have become standard with new additions to the fleet. Seems strange to omit the Saltwell Park solely.

They might of forgot to put it on and haven't updated yet but it does seem strange they haven't put it on.

(25 Nov 2013, 8:41 pm)aureolin wrote Does it not now make you wonder why? Free Wi-Fi and next stop announcements have become standard with new additions to the fleet. Seems strange to omit the Saltwell Park solely.

Admittedly is quite strange, though I do believe one of our GNE reps mentioned it long before their arrival.
I'd have chosen to give the Parks NSA over the Venture network, but there must be a reason.

(25 Nov 2013, 8:34 pm)gtomlinson wrote Does anyone remember the short lived adverts on the 724 and 21s? Blaring out at loud levels

It wasn't just those two routes.
They never seemed to work either.

(25 Nov 2013, 8:34 pm)gtomlinson wrote Does anyone remember the short lived adverts on the 724 and 21s? Blaring out at loud levels

lol yes! I'm sure they ran at about 5fps. Shocking quality. Loud & annoying. Glad they got rid.

(25 Nov 2013, 8:44 pm)Dan wrote I'd have chosen to give the Parks NSA over the Venture network, but there must be a reason.

We're full of information tonight!

A further four Solo SRs for the "Venture" network arrived today, bringing the total to 10/12.

(25 Nov 2013, 9:06 pm)Dan wrote We're full of information tonight!

A further four Solo SRs for the "Venture" network arrived today, bringing the total to 10/12.

That was really quick

(25 Nov 2013, 8:51 pm)aureolin wrote lol yes! I'm sure they ran at about 5fps. Shocking quality. Loud & annoying. Glad they got rid.

I think they used to have them on 'Silver Arrows' as well. They were rubbish, especially if you had to listen to them over and over on a longer journey. Also, going back to the X1 displays - there's a new design that looks a little bit like a mix between the 'Connections 4' and 'Tynedale Express' displays.

(25 Nov 2013, 8:38 pm)Dan wrote As said above, I don't believe they are getting them.
Further evaluation of Go North East's website would suggest the same - the Saltwell Park page has no mention of the Next Stop Announcements, whereas the Connections 4, Drifter and Venture do.

Correct - Saltwell Park won't be having next stop announcements, but the buses are unique in having a bigger buggy bay than the Drifter Streetlite's in response to comments raised in a customer research

This is what I personally think will happen with the Omnicities from the 309/310:

5250 (NK56KHW)
5253 (NK56KHZ)
5254 (NK56KJA)
5255 (NK56KJE)
5256 (NK56KJF)
5257 (NK56KJJ)
5258 (NK56KJN)
5259 (NK56KJO)
5260 (NK56KJU)
5273 (NK56KKJ)

Key:
Wear Tees Express
Whey-Aye-Five-0
Cobalt Spare

(25 Nov 2013, 8:51 pm)aureolin wrote lol yes! I'm sure they ran at about 5fps. Shocking quality. Loud & annoying. Glad they got rid.

Personal injury lawyers too. Marvellous

Picking up on a few comments, why does a buggy bay have any impact on next stop announcements? Now I'm in the minority by which I mean I don't mind next stop announcements and I think I'd be very happy to have them them if I was getting on a bus for the first time. I'd have thought the Streetlites may have came with two screens like the 2011 Versas one for information & one for next stop, I wonder if advertising space may have been a impact for Saltwell Park not getting next stop? They have the opportunity for a more localised advertising on Saltwell Park as opposed to Drifter which goes across county border perhaps? I don't know it wouldn't surprise me if this was a reason. Wifi not included on Saltwell Park/Venture was something I didn't really get either- most new buses have had them so why not these? Venture to get next stop is also strange considering they are a very local routes, bar a few expections like the 689/V8/V9 maybe I can't imagine them getting many non-local travellers?

On another note, I don't suppose there's any plans to include next stop on the 61? As I believe it will be the first routes to have received 'Second hand' a next stop announcement vehicle? As the Versas had next stop when on the SimpliCity 36. There's two screen on those 2011 Versas as mentioned above, so one just feature a 'SimpliCity' logo and is surplus to requirements. 8319 also had said screen, it'll look odd when branded for the 39 (whenever that happens) with one bus having an extra screen.

(25 Nov 2013, 10:01 pm)CatsFast101 wrote Picking up on a few comments, why does a buggy bay have any impact on next stop announcements? Now I'm in the minority by which I mean I don't mind next stop announcements and I think I'd be very happy to have them them if I was getting on a bus for the first time. I'd have thought the Streetlites may have came with two screens like the 2011 Versas one for information & one for next stop, I wonder if advertising space may have been a impact for Saltwell Park not getting next stop? They have the opportunity for a more localised advertising on Saltwell Park as opposed to Drifter which goes across county border perhaps? I don't know it wouldn't surprise me if this was a reason. Wifi not included on Saltwell Park/Venture was something I didn't really get either- most new buses have had them so why not these? Venture to get next stop is also strange considering they are a very local routes, bar a few expections like the 689/V8/V9 maybe I can't imagine them getting many non-local travellers?

On another note, I don't suppose there's any plans to include next stop on the 61? As I believe it will be the first routes to have received 'Second hand' a next stop announcement vehicle? As the Versas had next stop when on the SimpliCity 36. There's two screen on those 2011 Versas as mentioned above, so one just feature a 'SimpliCity' logo and is surplus to requirements. 8319 also had said screen, it'll look odd when branded for the 39 (whenever that happens) with one bus having an extra screen.

I'd thought that exact first point. I can't logically think of a reason why they wouldn't be included, as they've became a standard installation on new vehicles. The justification for adding them was to improve the experience for disabled passengers (as has been mentioned here a number of times in their defence). That being said, what's the justification for not installing them in one batch out of four that we know of?

I made an enquiry to nexus regarding the new style signs. Confirmed it was costing nexus too much money to keep going out updating bus numbers on stops and therefore signs would be numberless and only the timetable would be updated from now on. However after I saw that bus stop sign today on Newcastle road could nexus be doing a u turn??? We still have odd old signs up they can't keep up. I wonder if the 56 will use Newcastle road hmmm!!!! I think nexus have caved in with all the go north east changes every few months

Anyone know why the X30/X31/X70/X71 dont have a specific vehicle type at the moment, Ive heard they have plans for the routes in the future, personally I wouldnt of minded seeing the Vykings operate that route after they left the 21/24, they cant be any worse than the Presidents/Lolynes can they ?

Absolutely.

The Vykings are horrifically unreliable. They couldn't cope on the Angel. The services you talk about would kill them. Very demanding

(25 Nov 2013, 10:58 pm)Ely1992 wrote Anyone know why the X30/X31/X70/X71 dont have a specific vehicle type at the moment, Ive heard they have plans for the routes in the future, personally I wouldnt of minded seeing the Vykings operate that route after they left the 21/24, they cant be any worse than the Presidents/Lolynes can they ?

Could be down to the sheer number of complaints regarding the vehicle type.
The recent Dennis Trident swaps with Lolynes allow the X30/X31 to have both a wheelchair and a buggy bay, assuming correct allocations.
I believe the current plan is still for the Omnicitys from Cobalt Clipper (5250, 5253/54 and 5273) to head to Stanley for use on services X30/X31. I imagine the final vehicle will be a Renown, with 3886-9 seeing use on X70/X71.

haha I take that back then! I wasnt aware they were that bad!

I travel on the X30/X31 alot from Lanchester to Newcastle, its an awful ride, and although i prefered the Omnicities back then, smoother ride, its not ideal.

(25 Nov 2013, 9:29 pm)Tom wrote This is what I personally think will happen with the Omnicities from the 309/310:

5250 (NK56KHW)
5253 (NK56KHZ)
5254 (NK56KJA)
5255 (NK56KJE)
5256 (NK56KJF)
5257 (NK56KJJ)
5258 (NK56KJN)
5259 (NK56KJO)
5260 (NK56KJU)
5273 (NK56KKJ)

Key:
Wear Tees Express
Whey-Aye-Five-0
Cobalt Spare

See Post 3143.

Note that the Cobalt Clipper is to receive two red B9s to act as spares - it would not require a third spare in the form of an Omnicity.