6319 is on the 21, 0932 off Eldon Sq to Durham.

(16 Dec 2017, 9:35 am)Dan wrote I tell a lie - start of February - following the entry into service of the first few Streetlites on the 49.

Either way quite a long time! Agree that the year has gone over quite quickly though.

, still though, it seems to of gone quick, although its a long time.


Will rest of the Omnicities at Percy Main go in to "Go North East" Colours?

(16 Dec 2017, 9:37 am)XUP254F wrote 6319 is on the 21, 0932 off Eldon Sq to Durham.

6316 also in service - 08:44 off Eldon Square to Durham.

6320 undergoing final preparation for service at Chester-le-Street, following Next Stop Announcement testing yesterday.
6317 also ready for collection by Chester-le-Street from Saltmeadows Road for final preparation for service at the depot. Likely to enter service on Monday.

(16 Dec 2017, 9:40 am)Michael wrote Will rest of the Omnicities at Percy Main go in to "Go North East" Colours?

Nope!

(16 Dec 2017, 9:41 am)Dan wrote Nope!

Hopefully some come to Deptford for the 35!

(16 Dec 2017, 9:48 am)Michael wrote Hopefully some come to Deptford for the 35!

Use logic they are probably 11 & 19... theyve had them over 10 year to get them N theyve only had 1 ever on loan which was 5254 ....

(16 Dec 2017, 9:35 am)Dan wrote I tell a lie - start of February - following the entry into service of the first few Streetlites on the 49

Would January not be right? 5284-5291 were the first ones to go and the Durham diamond Streetlites entered service first?

(16 Dec 2017, 9:56 am)S813 FVK wrote Would January not be right? 5284-5291 were the first ones to go and the Durham diamond Streetlites entered service first?

I shouldn't let Michael make me doubt myself!

(16 Dec 2017, 8:23 am)Dan wrote Received the "35 million miles" tagline yesterday, for anyone keeping tabs on that.

5232 has the 'Never Miss Your Stop' tagline: https://www.flickr.com/photos/bazza90/25...ateposted/

Also, has a decision been made as to whether the Angel Streetdecks will gain the feature symbols on the sides yet?

(16 Dec 2017, 9:53 am)Citaro5326 wrote Use logic they are probably 11 & 19... theyve had them over 10 year to get them N theyve only had 1 ever on loan which was 5254 ....

Probables will be, we could see a lot of Scania's withdrawn if its true that some of the Toonlink Omnicities will be replaced by Gemini's. 


Whats the PVR of the 19?

(16 Dec 2017, 10:21 am)Michael wrote Probables will be, we could see a lot of Scania's withdrawn if its true that some of the Toonlink Omnicities will be replaced by Gemini's. 


Whats the PVR of the 19?

4 for the 19, 8 for the 11, then 2 to Washington. That makes perfect sense to me!

(16 Dec 2017, 10:24 am)Tom wrote 4 for the 19, 8 for the 11, then 2 to Washington. That makes perfect sense to me!

It does, and with the Toonlink supposedly dropping some of the Omnicities for the Gemini's meaning 1 of the Omnicities can replace 5248 at Stanley.

Edit:

Although i think the odd balls at Percy Main will be removed from the Depot, so they can keep 5261-74:


Percy Main:
 
5251 – Whey Aye Five-0
5252 – Whey Aye Five-0
5254 – Go North East - Washington
 
5261 – 5268 - Blue Arrow (8)
5269 - 5272 – 19 (4)
5273, 5274 – Spares at Percy Main (2)

(16 Dec 2017, 10:32 am)Michael wrote It does, and with the Toonlink supposedly dropping some of the Omnicities for the Gemini's meaning 1 of the Omnicities can replace 5248 at Stanley.

Yeah - will be a big upgrade for the 11 and 19 if it happens, the Solars are ok but are freezing cold most of the time. Passengers don't seem to like them.

My thoughts would be the 19 staying in corporate livery but you never know.

(16 Dec 2017, 10:43 am)S813 FVK wrote I, personally, am still a bit sceptical on whether the B9TLs are for the Toon Link, purely because I can think of plenty of evidence to support the 'yes' and 'no' camps and can't quite decide which one is the more credible option.

Ye, defiantly, i don't think we'll see the Gemini's enter service from Blackburn until at least the start of February, due to checks and so on. 

Loads of speculation till then

Wonder when the last 3 MPD's will get withdrawn?

(16 Dec 2017, 8:21 am)Dan wrote Few photos below.

Aside from the obvious cost impact it would have had to renew all of the seats and change the seating layout, I don't think it was needed? I personally think that the seats in 5337 and 5338 are more comfortable than Go North East's standard seating in Mercedes Citaros. They're a bit wider.

Cosmetically they look a little strange with the new leather - the shape of the seats means that the fabric has to stretch over - but I don't think many passengers would notice that.

Go North East: 5338 / HF06FUB by Daniel Graham, on Flickr

Go North East: 5338 / HF06FUB by Daniel Graham, on Flickr

Granted the refurbs on the acquired Solars happened a lot sooner in to their working life; but they have the same standard seating.
Even if the costs in installing all brand new seats was prohibitive, I would have thought some sort of compromise or work-around would have been possible.

In some aspects the seats in 5338 are comfier than those in the native examples. However, I feel lack of a headrest, takes some of the positives away.

(16 Dec 2017, 11:08 am)S813 FVK wrote It's the scholars bit that gets me. I see no reason why it can't work given that they manage fine now. Perhaps it is be down to jealousy with them having a bus with WiFi and I don't (I certainly made use of 6141's WiFi yesterday, although I was surprised that nobody else seemed to make a big thing of it).

On the topic of scholars services, complaints have apparently being coming in from passengers regarding the state of the bus that does the 16:52 10X - I can only apologise on the behalf of those cretins who can't find anything else to entertain themselves other than throwing bottles, cans and whatever else at people and don't bother clearing their mess up.

Scholars services and the cleanliness of them has alway been an issue and I think the introduction of the 'school bus' Metrobuses 17/18 years ago was partly down the issue of keeping the main fleet away from scholars work.
Obviously this continued with the Olympians, but the policy seems to have stopped.

Way back when - my school regularly had contact from local depots, with threats made about removing the scholars services completely.
They never did during the years I was there.
Maybe the money they made, compensated for any rubbish, graffiti and bus seat fires!

I think I have mentioned in the past about the numbers which squeezed on.
Having my face pushed and squashed to the front of a Mk1 National windscreen isn't up there with my favourite school memories.

6320 on 1425 ex eldon to chester le street

(16 Dec 2017, 11:08 am)S813 FVK wrote It's the scholars bit that gets me. I see no reason why it can't work given that they manage fine now. Perhaps it is be down to jealousy with them having a bus with WiFi and I don't (I certainly made use of 6141's WiFi yesterday, although I was surprised that nobody else seemed to make a big thing of it).

On the topic of scholars services, complaints have apparently being coming in from passengers regarding the state of the bus that does the 16:52 10X - I can only apologise on the behalf of those cretins who can't find anything else to entertain themselves other than throwing bottles, cans and whatever else at people and don't bother clearing their mess up.

This works off 825 St Bedes to Lanchester

From a friend.... more Angel buses at Heysham today:


NK67GMG (6315)
NK67GMZ (6321)
NK67GNN (6324)

(16 Dec 2017, 3:28 pm)Michael wrote From a friend.... more Angel buses at Heysham today:


NK67GMG (6315)
NK67GMZ (6321)
NK67GNN (6324)

Go North East 'Angel' Left : NK67GNN (6324) Middle: NK67GMG (6315) Right: NK67GMZ (6321) by BG Transport Pictures, on Flickr

(16 Dec 2017, 3:30 pm)Dan wrote Go North East 'Angel'  Left : NK67GNN (6324)  Middle: NK67GMG (6315)  Right: NK67GMZ (6321) by BG Transport Pictures, on Flickr

Thanks Dan, i don't follow him on Flickr, so didn't know there was a pic, must of where he got his information from!

(16 Dec 2017, 3:26 pm)westy3738 wrote This works off 825 St Bedes to Flint Hill

Indeed it does. The folk of South Moor and South Stanley don’t tend to understand the importance of keeping a public place clean. I bet they wouldn’t leave their bedrooms at home in such a state!

(16 Dec 2017, 8:27 am)Dan wrote Photo below.

Sits really well on the Gemini, in my opinion. Pity about the advert frames which will cover much of the branding at the top, but I'm led to believe that only half of them are planned to receive the frames (like Red Arrows).

Nice to see the green credentials being pushed too. The 'ELECTRIC HYBRID' above the brand name is subtle but works, and the design of the leaf with the electric bolt inside of it is a really clever idea. It seems to be a common theme around the Go-Ahead Group, with Brighton & Hove's latest batch of StreetDecks featuring the tagline above the upper-deck windows "low-emission bus" and Oxford Bus Company heavily promoting the Hybrids in their various brands.

Go North East: 6061 / NK62CJE by Daniel Graham, on Flickr

Looks stunning. Really suits the B9s

(16 Dec 2017, 11:21 am)Michael wrote Wonder when the last 3 MPD's will get withdrawn?

Contacted someone within GNE with regards to spare MPD parts for 574, and they said they would have a full list by the end of January - so not too long I would imagine.

D

(16 Dec 2017, 4:06 pm)JP6004 wrote Looks stunning. Really suits the B9s

I agree, I think it looks very smart in the Coaster livery.

(16 Dec 2017, 4:06 pm)JP6004 wrote Looks stunning. Really suits the B9s

It's a Volvo B5LH.

Also will it be receiveing any additonal branding to the front, just looks a bit bare thats all.

Quite surprised to see all 3 Citaro's returning to Washington. I thought 5324 might have transferred to Riverside to act as the spare for the 26/27 along with 5323 with one of the Omnicity's from Percy Main replacing it at Washington

(16 Dec 2017, 7:22 pm)Rapidsnap wrote It's a Volvo B5LH.

Also will it be receiveing any additonal branding to the front, just looks a bit bare thats all.

Typo  

(16 Dec 2017, 7:59 pm)JP6004 wrote Typo  

I agree they look bare but then it's common with all the other latest brands. Tynedale Express just looks like an afterthought on the side of an orange bus.

(16 Dec 2017, 7:47 pm)Dans_bus_photos wrote Quite surprised to see all 3 Citaro's returning to Washington. I thought 5324 might have transferred to Riverside to act as the spare for the 26/27 along with 5323 with one of the Omnicity's from Percy Main replacing it at Washington

Of course, nothing to suggest that won't happen yet...

None of the Hybrids have yet entered service at Percy Main to release the OmniCitys anywhere else.